Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fight Poverty and Win with Global Citizen Tickets

If you think that scoring free concert tickets for doing good sounds like a win-win, you’ll want to check out Global Citizen Tickets Australia.

To be a part of it, just go and register at the website. Then you can start earning points for your online poverty-beating actions, like sharing videos on Facebook, signing petitions to world leaders, and e-mailing Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with your concerns. You then use these points to enter a draw for a pair of tickets to the concert of your choice. There are plenty of great shows available, including gigs from local acts like The Jezabels, Christine Anu, and Dragon, as well as international artists like Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes.

“Music not only has the ability to stir every last emotion inside you; but also has the power to inspire, educate, and stop and make you think about certain issues,” explained the program’s chairman Danny Rogers. “We’re really glad that so many amazing Aussie bands are donating tickets to their shows and raising awareness with their fans about social change.”

The initiative is part of the Global Poverty Project, the brainchild of Pearl Jam’s manager Kelly Curtis. It’s so timely, as there are currently 1.2 billion people living in extreme poverty around the world. How great to see it here in Oz!

Image source: Deepay @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

INXS Score a Month of Number Ones

Way to go INXS! The classic rock outfit continue to reign supreme on the albums charts with their greatest hits album The Best Of, making it four straight weeks at the top spot. Kick’s finally fallen out of the top 10, but clearly a new generation of fans is discovering those hit singles!

They’re keeping company in the top ten with Hillsong United. The church’s latest release, The White Album [Remix Project] has debuted at number nine. Talk about strange bedfellows!

5 Seconds of Summer and Joel Fletcher continue to impress on the singles charts. “She Looks So Perfect” has fallen a few positions this week, but it’s still more than respectable at number seven. It’s a similar story for “Swing,” which has dropped two to sit at number nine.

Click below to see the rest of the top tens!

Continue reading “INXS Score a Month of Number Ones” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

INXS Continue to Rule the Charts

INXS have done it again! For the third week running the classic rock band has claimed the top spot on the ARIA charts with their The Very Best greatest hits album. Their beloved 1987 release Kick is also performing well with a number three finish. That’s pretty impressive considering the miniseries finished up weeks ago. How long with their streak last?

The John Butler Trio have taken a tumble this week. Their latest release Flesh & Blood has fallen five places to finish at number eight.

Our latest boy band 5 Seconds of Summer have zoomed into the charts this week. “She Looks So Perfect” is sitting pretty at number three on debut. Sixteen weeks after its release, “SWING” just won’t quit. Joel Fletcher’s smash is currently sitting at number seven.

Click below to see all this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “INXS Continue to Rule the Charts” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Vernons Score T-Mobile Ad


Queensland rockers The Vernons have scored a major coup, with their song “Shake n Roll” featuring in the latest advertisements for American mobile phone giant T-Mobile. The 12-month campaign is amazing exposure for the band, who spent 2013 working hard on breaking into the US market.

Just as they’ve got the world wanting to hear more, they’re also hard at work on their sophomore EP, not so originally titled Volume II. That recording, which is expected to drop in July, will see the group working with The Wrecking Crew’s legendary guitarist Louie Shelton.

It sounds like all the stars are aligning for this great Aussie act!

Image used with permission from Shake Appeal

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

INXS Claim Number One and Two

It’s another great week for INXS on the ARIA charts, with their The Very Best greatest hits collection maintaining its number one position on the album charts. Kick has also moved up five spots to claim the number two slot. This is the first time in the history of the ARIA charts that we’ve seen a single Aussie act claiming the two top spots. They’ve also got four more albums in the top 40: Live At Wembley Stadium 1991 (#17), The Swing (#25), Shabooh Shoobah (#33) and Listen Like Thieves (#36).

We see another Aussie act at number three. The John Butler Trio might have slipped down a spot, but considering the INXS juggernaut they’re probably thrilled that Flesh & Blood’s still near the pointy end of the charts.

Adelaide metalcore act I Killed the Prom Queen are also making their presence felt with their third studio album. Beloved sits at number six on debut, a real improvement from their last studio album, Music For The Recently Deceased, which peaked at number 27.

The Aussies aren’t exactly firing on the singles charts, but it’s nice to see Joel Fletcher and Savage holding steady. “SWING” is still at number four, an impressive 15 weeks after its debut.

Click below for this week’s top tens!

Continue reading “INXS Claim Number One and Two” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

INXS Score New Number One

Channel Seven’s screening of Never Tear Us Apart has no doubt helped INXS claim their fourth number one on of the ARIA albums charts. Their greatest hits collection, The Very Best, sits on the top of the charts after three previous weeks hovering around the top ten. The band’s 1987 smash Kick is also back at number seven, and their Live at Wembley Stadium 1991 has made its ARIA chart debut, entering at number 17.

All the INXS buzz has kept The John Butler Trio’s latest album Flesh & Blood from the top of the charts. No doubt their first studio album in nearly four years would have done better than its second place if not for all the INXStyria.

Joel Fletcher has the sole local song in the singles top 10 with “Swing.” The song which features Savage slipped down a position this week, but its number four spot is nothing to sneeze at.

Click below for all this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “INXS Score New Number One” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

RÜFÜS Get American Name Change

RÜFÜS fans in North America take note. In order to avoid a copyright lawsuit, the Aussie band will change their name for North American audiences to RÜFÜS DU SOL. They’ll still be known as RÜFÜS in Oz, but the North American name change will allow them to tour the US and release their album ATLAS there without infringing an existing copyright.

RÜFÜS DU SOL have also recently been signed up to Columbia Records, making them just the third Aussie act to join the legendary label after Men at Work and The Temper Trap. To celebrate, RÜFÜS DU SOL will play a string of shows including appearances at SXSW this March. Note the name change so you don’t miss their US and Canadian gigs!

7 March 2014 – Popscene @ Rickshaw, San Francisco
8 March 2014 – CYP2 @ Echoplex, Los Angeles
11 March 2014 – Bang Bang, San Diego
12-15 March 2014 – SXSW Austin
19 March 2014 – Commonwealth Bar, Calgary
20 March 2014 – Fortune Sound Club, Vancouver
21 March 2014 – Neumo’s, Seattle
22 March 2014 – Holocene, Portland
26 March 2014 – Highline Ballroom, New York
27 March 2014 – U Street Music Hall, Washington
28 March 2014 – Winter Music Conference, Miami
4 April 2014 – Bottom Lounge, Chicago
6 April 2014 – Venue TBA, Denver

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Katie Noonan Goes to the Circus

If you can count on Katie Noonan for one thing, it’s that you never know which musical direction she’ll head next. Her latest project sees her partnering with Circa for Love-Song-Circus, a fusion of song, circus, and history. Yep, you read that right.

Katie’s already roadtested the show, which pays tribute to Australia’s convict women, at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2012 and The Famous Spiegeltent in Melbourne last year. Now it’s Brisbane’s turn.

Katie was inspired to create Love-Song-Circus when she saw an exhibition called Love Tokens at the National Museum. It told the story of the way convicts would engrave pennies with messages and images for the loved ones they’d left behind.

“As a woman and mother I felt deeply compelled to explore these stories. I soon discovered that the lives of the first female convicts is a part of our history that has been explored by few,” she said.

She began researching these stories with trips all over the country, but felt her project needed a visual element. So she found Circa, a contemporary circus group that would help bring her dream to life.

This video gives you just a taste of what Love-Song-Circus is all about.

Love-Song-Circus hits The Cremorne Theatre at QPAC on March 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The soundtrack, Fierce Hearts, hits stores on February 28.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Appleonia Gives Away Album to Help Oz Harvest

What if the albums you download could do more than just filling up your MP3 player and making you happy? What if they could fill the bellies of people in need and put smiles on their faces? They could if the album you buy is OH from Sydney songstress Appleonia.

Appleonia’s teamed up with Vittoria Coffee, who’s promised to donate the value of every copy downloaded to Oz Harvest. That’s the equivalent of three meals for hungry Aussies. And do you know the best part? The downloads are actually free, so you can support this cause and enjoy some great new local music without putting your hand in your pocket!

Click here to own the album and spread the word! And if you love what you hear, make sure you show your support when Appleonia launches at the album at the FBi Social Club on February 20.

Image used with permission from Umbrella Artist Management & PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

PBS Announces Drive Live Schedule

It’s just about that time again folks. PBS are preparing to bring you the best up-and-coming Aussie acts with their annual Drive Live event.

Between 5 pm and 7 pm every night from Monday 3 February to Friday 7 February, some of the best exciting new acts will enter the PBS studios for some exclusive performances. Forces, The Stevens, Hiatus Kaiyote, Bad Vision, The Murlocs, DD Dumbo, and Courtney Barnette are all scheduled to appear.

You can tune in on 106.7 on your radio dial or online at www.pbsfm.org.au. But if you really want to get up close and personal with these live acts, head to the PBS website to see how you can get on the guest list.

Image used with permission from Show Off Recordings