Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Apes Set for British Domination

Apes really impressed me with their fun single “Pull the Trigger,” and it seems I’m not the only one taking note. The Melbourne lads recently inked a deal with British booking agency 13 Artists, the same group representing the likes of Artic Monkeys, Radiohead, and Bloc Party.

To celebrate the achievement, Apes have headed across the pond for four shows this week. See them before everyone else discovers them at the following gigs.

1 October 2014 – Water Rats, London
2 October 2014 – Fallow Café, Manchester
3 October 2014 – Nice n’ Sleazy, Glasgow
4 October 2014 – Alfie Birds, Birmingham

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

It’s a Small World in Marrickville

Sydneysiders looking for a way to spend their Saturday should head on down to Marrickville. Tickets are still available for Small World, a fantastic one-day festival which celebrates the fantastic music, food, and craft beer of Sydney’s inner-west.

The lineup is fantastic, with enduring rockers Tumbleweed, punk string band Little Bastard, bluesters The Snowdroppers, hip hop act True Vibenation, and heaps more entertaining crowds.

Top inner-west eateries Bloodwood, Cornersmith, Mary’s, and Porteno will keep the punters bellies full. Finally, local brewery Young Henrys, the team behind the entire event, will showcase their drops including the Newtowner, the Cloudy Cider, and their new Nobile Cut Hand Crafted Gin.

Small World will hit Jabez Street, Marrickville, this Saturday, September 20. Tickets are on sale now from the Small World Festival website.

Image used with permission from Spark and Opus

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Augie March Offer Fans Extras with Album Pre-Order

We’ve been waiting for years, but Augie March are finally preparing to release their fifth studio album Havens Dumb. The album, which hits stores on October 3, will be released on vinyl, CD, and digital formats.

If you’re a fan you’ll want to pre-order it through the Augie March website. The vinyl comes with a free digital download, the CD comes with a signed lyric print, and if you go digital you’ll get the song “Definitive History” for free. I’m a bit old school when it comes to music, so I reckon you should go for the vinyl or CD versions and just listen to “Definitive History” here.

Augie March are celebrating the release with a string of hometown shows at Howler. The first three have already sold out, and the others are likely to follow. If you do want to see the band up close and personal, I suggest you get your tickets for the November 1 or 2 shows from Oztix soon.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hilltop Hoods Earn Fourth Straight Number One Album

It’s another week with another act at the top of the Aussie charts. The Hilltop Hoods have dethroned Angus & Julia Stone with their seventh studio album Walking Under Stars. It’s their fourth consecutive number one album in this country!

Angus & Julia Stone’s self-titled album hasn’t slipped too far though. They should be pretty happy at number two.

Adam Brand has debuted at number five with My Side of the Street, his tenth studio album. It’s the second time he’s found himself in the top five, after the release of There Will Be Love in 2012.

I’m really impressed to see The Kite String Tangle sitting at number eight with the Vessel EP. The Brisbane electronic act’s singles had peaked at number 77, so cracking the top 10 is a real achievement.

5 Seconds of Summer have slipped just one spot this week to sit at number nine with their self-titled debut.

And we’ve got an Aussie act back in the singles top 10! Sydney DJ Timmy Trumpet is at number 10 with his new single “FREAKS.” With Dami Im debuting at 11 with “Gladiator,” hopefully we’re going to see more local acts creeping back into these charts. Continue reading “Hilltop Hoods Earn Fourth Straight Number One Album” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Angus and Julia Stone on Top of ARIA Albums Charts

We’ve got two new number ones this week, and one of them is from our very own Angus and Julia Stone. The beloved brother-sister team have claimed the top spot with their self-titled album, their third LP and second number one album.

It’s an all-Aussie podium, with local acts also claiming the second and third slots. At number two we’ve got Sydney hip hop act One Day with their debut album Mainline. They’ve pipped Sticky Fingers, who’ve improved on the highest position of their debut album by a whopping 36 places with the follow-up, Land of Pleasure.

5 Seconds of Summer are also going great guns with their self-titled debut. It sits at number eight this week. Sheppard round out the top ten Bombs Away.

Sadly we don’t have any Aussie singles in the top ten this week. With 5 Seconds of Summer on the way up with “Amnesia,” hopefully that changes soon.

Click below for this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Angus and Julia Stone on Top of ARIA Albums Charts” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Taylor Henderson On Top of Albums Charts

Sure it’s a little late in the week to be talking charts, but with Aussie acts claiming the number one and two spots on the albums charts I figured it was better late than never. Taylor Henderson proved he’s got real post-reality show staying power, clocking up his second number one with his sophomore album Burnt Letters.

That’s no mean feat, but when you consider that he beat out Sheppard for the top spot it’s doubly impressive. After all, Sheppard’s Bombs Away album has already spawned a pair of number ones in “Geronimo” and “Let Me Down Easy.” Perhaps the band will be able to claim that coveted spot next week to coincide with their national tour.

These new kids on the block have pushed some previous number ones down the charts. Last week’s chart topper, Sia, has fallen to number five with 1000 Forms of Fear. 5 Seconds of Summer have also dropped a couple of spots to number six with their self-titled album.

No Other Name, Hillsong’s latest effort, rounds out the Aussie top ten.

Justice Crew seem to be on the downwards slide with “Que Sera,” which is at number five this week. It’s now been on the charts for 11 weeks, and gone three-times platinum.

Another stayer, “Geronimo,” is at number nine 17 weeks after its release. Sheppard’s smash has also reached triple platinum status.

Click below for this week’s top tens.
Continue reading “Taylor Henderson On Top of Albums Charts” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kate Ceberano Headlines Royal Flying Doctors Fundraiser

Enjoy a night of great music for a good cause at Altitude. Kate Ceberano, jazz chanteuse Ali Bodycoat, soulful Stratosfunk, and rock-pop string quartet ISQ will provide the entertainment at the swanky event to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of WA.

Altitude 2014 promises to be the highlight of Perth’s social calendar, with an innovative audio visual display, a recreated airport runway stage, and custom Altitude bar. VIP tables of 10 will also receive premium seating luxury accommodation at Crown Metropol, valet parket, CIP gift bags, priority check-in, and access to pre=show drinks at La Vie Champagne Lounge and the after-party at NOBU.

This glamorous even has a serious purpose though. Your support will ensure every person living, working, or travelling in Western Australia can stay connected to first-class health services at all times.

Altitude will hit the Grand Ballroom at Crown Perth in August 23.

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sia Tops ARIA Albums Chart

The Madden Brothers might have brought Justice Crew’s record-breaking run to an end, but Sia’s given us a reason to smile this week. Her sixth studio album 1000 Forms of Fear has hit number one on debut. This album’s gone one better than her last, We Are Born, which peaked at number two. Her smash single “Chandelier” is also still selling well. It’s at number five.

Sia’s one of four Aussie acts sitting in the ARIA top five this week. Last week’s number one and two, 5 Seconds of Summer and Hillsong’s No Other Name, are at four and five respectively, edged out by the debut of Adelaide-born rapper Allday’s debut LP Startup Cult.

The McClymonts’ fourth album Here’s To You & I is their third to hit the top ten. It’s debuted at number eight this week, just ahead of Chet Faker’s Built on Glass which slipped two to land at number nine.

Click below for this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Sia Tops ARIA Albums Chart” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Justice Crew Make Chart History

I ordinarily try to write about the ARIA charts whenever an Aussie act’s on top. However, other work commitments have seen me missing a few of the weeks during Justice Crew’s impressive reign. It’d be remiss of me to not publish an article now though, as their song “Que Sera” has broken the record for the most number of weeks an Aussie act’s spent at the top of the ARIA Singles Chart. With nine weeks, they’ve gone one better than Austen Tayshus’ “Australiana,” Savage Garden’s “Truly, Madly, Deeply,” and Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know.” They’re still a few weeks away from equalling the overall record 13 weeks that Coolio spent on top with “Gangsta’s Paradise,” but very close to eclipsing the pre-ARIA record of 10 weeks that Daddy Cool’s “Eagle Rock” spent at number one in 1971.

Justice Crew have got some stiff competition in the form of fellow Aussie Sia, who’s having a comeback with “Chandelier.” After it appeared to be on the downslide, the song’s jumped six spots to land at number two.

Aussies are also seeing joy on the album charts, with 5 Seconds of Summer landing the number one spot with their self-titled album on debut. This album’s already spawned six top 20 hits, including the number one “She Looks so Perfect,” so its dominance was probably inevitable, but it’s still a real victory for the boys. They managed to head off the might of the Hillsong Church, who sit at number two in their first week with No Other Name.

Like Sia, Chet Faker’s also back on the upswing. His former number one album Built on Glass is back in the top ten for the first time since May. Clearly his current national tour is paying dividends!

And as if that wasn’t enough local love in the charts, 360’s also making his presence felt with his album Utopia. It sits at number eight this week.

Click below for all this week’s top 10s.

Continue reading “Justice Crew Make Chart History” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Vale Jim Keays

It’s not a good time to be an Australian music lover right now. It seems like we were all still mourning the loss of Doc Neeson, and now we have to deal with the loss of another of our greats. Today Jim Keays succumbed to multiple myeloma after seven years battling the disease. He was just 67.

It was pretty easy to forget Jim was sick. He seemed permanently on the road with Darryl Cotton and Russell Morris, and he was still putting out albums right to the end. It might be some consolation to fans that there’s another on the way which Jim was apparently really excited for us all to hear.

But it’s no doubt be the music he made with the Masters Apprentices that is his greatest legacy. This song’s not just my favourite Masters Apprentices song, but also one of my favourite songs of all time. We’ll miss you Jim.