Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sounds Like Hits the Central Coast

The Florida Beach Bar at Terrigal has always been one of the hottest nightspots on the Central Coast, but it’s set to become even more sizzling with the launch of Sounds Like nights. Safia, Boo Seeka, and Surfdisco will headline the first of these indie-electronic club nights. Local DJs Steve Pike, Blake Richardson, and Kahl Page will warm up the crowds.

Sounds Like #1 will take over Terrigal’s Florida Beach Bar on December 4 from 6 pm until late. Tickets cost just $20, or $40 for VIP, and are available now from Oztix.

 

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Boy & Bear Claim Aussie Number One Album

Boy & Bear’s Limit of Love has become the tenth Aussie album to top the charts this year. The achievement is the latest in a dream run for the Sydney indie-folk band, who also hit number one with their last album Harlequin Dream and number two with their debut, Moonfire.

Boy & Bear’s success has pushed Triple J’s Like a Version Volume 11 down to number two this week. Last week’s second-place getters Cold Chisel have to be content with a fall to number four, as Selena Gomez has charted at number three with her latest effort Revival. Parkway Drive have also slipped a few spots this week to land at number seven with Ire.

Hats off to Cyrus Villanueva, who sits at number six on the singles charts with his cover of “Wicked Game.” This strong showing, well above any of the other X Factor efforts makes me think my husband might be right in believing Cyrus has this competition in the bag. Personally I’m pinning my hopes on Matt & Jess, so we’ll see.

Here’s what’s charting in the top 10s this week.

Top 10 Albums
1. Limit of Love – Boy & Bear
2. Triple J Like a Version Vol. 11 – Various
3. Revival – Selena Gomez
4. The Perfect Crime – Cold Chisel
5. If I Should Go Before You – City & Colour
6. 1989 – Taylor Smith
7. Ire – Parkway Drive
8. I’ll Take Everything – James Blunt
9. Beauty Behind the Madness – The Weeknd
10. I Cry When I Laugh – Jess Glynne

Top 10 Singles
1. “Downtown” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz
2. “What Do You Mean?” – Justin Bieber
3. “On My Mind” – Ellie Goulding
4. “Sugar” – Robin Schulz feat. Francesco Yates
5. “Hotline Bling” – Drake
6. “Wicked Game” – Cyrus Villanueva
7. “Lay It All On Me” – Rudimental feat. Ed Sheeran
8. “Dessert” – Dawin
9. “Locked Away” – R. City feat. Adam Levine
10. “The Hills” – The Weeknd

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anna Cordell Launches These Walls in Sydney Tomorrow Night!

For most of us in Australia, mid-week nights are spent vegging out in front of reality TV. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to actually get out and do something more memorable?

Sydneysiders, consider this a reminder that Anna Cordell is launching her EP These Walls at The Vanguard tomorrow night with support from William Crighton and Sarah Belkner. Tickets are available from The Vanguard website. This promises to be a night of live music that’s much more memorable than watching Sam Frost break another man’s heart.

Be there or be square!

Image used with permission from Anna Cordell

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Like a Version Beats Out Cold Chisel for Number One Album

I was sure that Cold Chisel would take out the top spot on the ARIA charts this week, but another Aussie release has swooped in and overshadowed these local legends. Chisel had to be content with The Perfect Crime charting at number two after Triple J Like a Version Vol. 11 claimed the top spot. Last week’s number one, Ire by Parkway Drive, fell to number three. How good is it to see three local releases at the top of the albums charts?

Jessica Mauboy is the lone Aussie on the top 10 singles charts. Her latest track “This Ain’t Love” climbed three spots to sit at number five this week.

Here are this week’s top 10s.

Top 10 Albums
1. Triple J Like a Version Vol. 11 – Various
2. The Perfect Crime – Cold Chisel
3. Ire – Parkway Drive
4. We Are the Generation – Rudimental
5. I’ll Take Everything – James Blunt
6. Get Up – Bryan Adams
7. Silence in the Snow – Trivium
8. 1989 – Taylor Smith
9. Beauty Behind the Madness – The Weeknd
10. Stories – Avicii

Top 10 Singles
1. “Downtown” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz
2. “What Do You Mean?” – Justin Bieber
3. “On My Mind” – Elly Goulding
4. “Sugar” – Robin Schulz feat. Francesco Yates
5. “This Ain’t Love” – Jessica Mauboy
6. “Hotline Bling” – Drake
7. “Locked Away” – R. City feat. Adam Levine
8. “Hula Hoop” – Omi
9. “Wildest Dreams” – Taylor Swift
10. “The Fix” – Nelly feat. Jeremih

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Delta Holds On to Number One Spot on ARIA Charts

I missed writing about the charts last week when Delta Goodrem earned another number one single with “Wings,” but with her song standing firm and three Aussie artists debuting in the top five on the albums charts, I knew I had to get typing this week.

“Wings” is on line to become Delta’s longest standing number one. “Out of the Blue” lasted for three weeks at the top spot, but that was all pre-Voice, so it’ll be interesting to see whether this song has the legs to eclipse that record. She’s actually the only Aussie act in the singles top 10, but Vance Joy is climbing up the charts with “Fire and the Flood,” so hopefully he can keep her company soon.

It’s much rosier for Aussies on the album charts. Wales’ Bullet for my Valentine held out local acts at bay, Dead Letter Circus are nipping at their heels with Aesthesis. It’s their third album to debut at number two.
Right behind them at number three is everyone’s favourite rocker Jimmy Barnes with a compilation album Best of the Soul Years. If you don’t already have Soul Deep, Soul Deeper, and The Rhythm and the Blues, this is a must.

Fans have shown they were hungry for another Waifs album. Their first in four years, Beautiful You, sits at number five on debut.

After a big showing last week, The Rubens have slipped to number nine with Hoops.

Click below for this week’s top 10s.

Top 10 Albums
1. Venom – Bullet for my Valentine
2. Aesthesis – Dead Letter Circus
3. Best of the Soul Years – Jimmy Barnes
4. Compton – Dr Dre
5. Beautiful You – The Waifs
6. 1989 – Taylor Smith
7. X – Ed Sheeran
8. Title – Meghan Trainor
9. Hoops – The Rubens
10. Chaos and the Calm – James Bay

Top 10 Singles
1. “Wings” – Delta Goodrem
2. “How Deep is Your Love” – Calvin Harris & Disciples
3. “Can’t Feel My Face” – The Weeknd
4. “Are You With Me (Original Mix)” – Lost Frequencies
5. “Ghost Town” – Adam Lambert
6. “Peanut Butter Jelly” – Galantis
7. “That’s How You Know” – Nico & Vinz feat. Kid Ink & Bebe Rexha
8. “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” – Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend
9. “Do It Again” – Pia Mia feat. Chris Brown & Tyga
10. “Get Stupid” – Aston Merrygold

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amateur Hour TV Brings Aussie Music and More to the Web

When I was younger, there was plenty of live music on TV. My parents weren’t into Countdown, but I remember tuning in to catch bands play on Hey Hey It’s Saturday. Later there was always a live performance on Rove Live and The Panel. I even remember seeing a lot of cool acts on Good Morning Australia and Midday. Today RocKwiz brings us live music when it’s on, The Loop’s started to give us live interviews and performances, and the morning shows and singing reality programs are happy to book acts once they’ve hit the mainstream, but we don’t see nearly as much live music. Where do young artists go when they release a single or album?

Well, next month they’ll probably start heading to Amateur Hour TV, a new half hour-ish web series created by Laura Imbruglia. Each episode promises to feature live performances, interviews, comedy skits, and other assorted entertainment filmed in Melbourne’s bars and rehearsal spaces.

Laura created the series after lamenting the lack of Australian variety shows. She insisted she’d make her own, and after asking for volunteers to join her quickly amassed a crew of more than 30 willing folks. They’ve pulled the show together on a shoestring, and it deserves your attention.

Episode one of the six episode pilot season will hit the web on September 1. New episodes will air every two weeks. Head to the Amateur Hour TV website and subscribe to the channel to stay up to date with everything Amateur Hour TV.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

4 Best Melbourne Hotels for Spotting Visiting Musicians

I think most music lovers would be lying if they said they’d never visited a hotel in the hope of meeting their favourite musician. I’m only slightly embarrassed to look back on the moments I spent loitering around a Melbourne hotel bar trying to spot Human Nature, or that time I stayed in the same hotel as John Mayer in Sydney. So I figured I’d put together this guide of the best hotels for star-spotting in Melbourne.

4. The Olsen: Trendy Boutique Accommodation

Superior service and a quiet neighbourhood have helped make the Olsen a celebrity favourite. This boutique Art Series hotel isn’t as flashy as many star magnets, but that’s actually part of its appeal. Until the word gets out, paparazzi don’t expect the big stars will stay here, so they can go about their stay without being pestered. A few years back a handful of Justin Bieber fans were lucky enough to get autographs from the Canadian singer when he emerged from the Olsen; most of his followers were sure he’d be at the Langham. Dead Daisies singer Jon Stevens also says the Olsen is the only place he’ll stay in Melbourne.

3. The Langham: Kanye West’s Favourite Hotel

Image via Flickr by Traveloscopy

When Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian visited Melbourne as part of 2014’s Yeezus tour, there was just one place they wanted to stay: the opulent Langham. The Kardashian-Wests rented the hotel’s presidential suite and the entire 23rd floor for the duration of their stay for the princely sum of $10,000 a night. If you visit, make sure you remember Australia’s musical past with a meal at Melba Restaurant, named after Melbourne-born opera great Dame Nellie Melba.

2. Park Hyatt Melbourne: Parkside Luxury Hotel

Some of the world’s most famous female singers love the Park Hyatt Melbourne. Both Pink and Lady Gaga have stayed at this five-star hotel just a block back from Fitzroy Gardens. No doubt they loved its quiet location on the outskirts of the CBD, and its three entrances which made it easier for them to evade the paparazzi.

1. Crown Towers: Five-Star Celebrity Magnet

Image via Flickr by a.meins

It costs big bucks to stay here, but if you can swing the room tariff you’re almost guaranteed to run into a musician at the Crown Towers. After all, this is the place where Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown were shown the door after trashing their suite. Its Palladium Ballroom is the home of the Logies, so those international acts that we always fly in always stay here. In recent years, Crown Towers has also hosted Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Kings of Leon, Andrea Bocelli, and our own Kylie Minogue.

If you do happen to bump into a musical superstar while you’re around one of these Melbourne hotels, just remember to be respectful. They might be supremely talented, but they’re also human beings entitled to space during their downtime. Treat them as you’d hope to be treated, and you might just have a special moment with one of your favourite stars.

This post was written as part of the #HipmunkCityLove project. Have you ever had a hotel encounter with a musician you love? Let me know in the comments!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Northlane Scores First Number One

Sydney metalcore band Northlane has made a big impact on the ARIA charts, debuting at number one on debut with the latest effort Node. It’s their first number one, and their first album featuring new frontman Marcus Bridge.

With Northlane and another strong debut from Lamb of God, last week’s number one, Tame Impala’s Currents, has been pushed down to number three.

Another previous number one, Two Strong Hearts from living legends John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John, has dropped a few spots to land at number 10 this week.

Delta Goodrem’s the lone Aussie representing us in the singles top 10. Her new single “Wings” sits at number eight, making it the week’s highest debut.

Click below for this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Northlane Scores First Number One” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kickstart Your Career with Melbourne Music Bank

Are you a Victorian musician looking for your big break? Then you might want to consider applying for the Melbourne Music Bank.

An initiative of the Bank of Melbourne, the competition will give one talented local muso some recording time at Sing Sing studios, a film clip, album artwork, printed CDs, and the chance to get their song on a Bank of Melbourne TV ad. The prize also includes access to a dedicated team of Victoria’s finest music industry professionals.

“Being involved in the Melbourne Music Bank 2014 was an extremely valuable experience for me as an artist,” said last year’s winner, Heloise. “I received some incredible prizes and tools that have made networking, promoting and growing my fan base much easier, tools that I otherwise wouldn’t have had access to. I have met some incredible people who have been an excellent support base and offered precious guidance and knowledge, something that is invaluable in a tough industry.”

To enter, just submit an original song on the Melbourne Music Bank webpage before August 23. Good luck!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

A Music Lovers’ Guide to Newtown

After waxing lyrical about St Kilda, I figured it was only fair to celebrate a musical hotspot a little closer to home. While the Sydney CBD might boast big-name venues like the Sydney Opera House, State Theatre, and Sydney Entertainment Centre (for the time being anyway), it’s a bit too touristy for my tastes. If you really want to get a sense of the spirit of Sydney music lovers, head to Newtown instead.

See Live Music

Image credit: Lauren Katulka

You wouldn’t be a music lover if you didn’t come to Newtown wanting to see live music. Newtown’s biggest venue is the Enmore Theatre, an intimate space where I’ve seen some of my favourite acts including Joshua Radin, Counting Crows, and John Mayer. Death Cab for Cutie, James Reyne, and Blood, Sweat, and Tears will all play here in the coming months.

I also love a dinner and show at the Vanguard, and the pokie-free policy at Newtown Social Club (formerly Sandringham Hotel). Bench Wine Bar has live jazz every Thursday night and soul on Sunday evening. One of my favorite Voice contestants, Mitch Anderson, also plays at Newtown’s Cooper’s Bar every Wednesday.

Attend the Newtown Festival

Top Aussie acts like The Whitlams, Sarah Blasko, and Thundamentals have all performed at the Newtown Festival. The event celebrates the best of the local area with music, food, beer, a dog show, and a kids’ zone. It hits Camperdown Memorial Rest Park on November 8 this year. It’s free to attend, but please drop a few dollars in the collection buckets to help support the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre.

Shop Up a Storm

Newtown has some of my favourite music-related shops, so make sure you stop by when you’re visiting. Egg Records has an eclectic range of new and used vinyl, CDs, and music memorabilia. If you like punk music, you’re going to love Repressed Records. This independent record store has a great range of new and used vinyl, T-shirts, and even zines (remember zines?). Pete’s Musicians Market is the perfect place for expanding your musical instrument collection. Pete sells new and second-hand instruments, including many rare collectibles. The collection of funky electric guitars is something to behold.

Where to Stay

Newtown is popular amongst young people, so its accommodation options tend to be fairly basic but really affordable. Australian Sunrise Lodge’s King Street location puts you close to everything. With a swimming pool and barbecue area, Billabong Gardens claims to be Sydney’s best value budget accommodation. If you really want to see how the locals live, skip the hotels in Sydney and consider staying at an Airbnb property.

How to Get There

When I visit Newtown, I tend to catch a train from Central Station. If you prefer to bus it, the numbers 423, 426, and 428 leave from Circular Quay and travel through major inner-city locations like Eddy Avenue, near Central, and George Street before stopping at Newtown. There’s plenty of parking if you want to drive, but I wouldn’t recommend tourists navigating Sydney’s notorious traffic.

This post was written as part of the #HipmunkCityLove project. Which Sydney suburb do you love most?