Category: Album Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Katie Noonan & Karin Schaupp Do Down Under Covers

Katie Noonan is something of a musical enigma. You never know quite what you’re going to get as she flits between bands, duos, and solo endeavours. Her latest project sees her joining forces with classical guitarist Karin Schaupp for a brand new album, dubbed Songs of the Southern Skies.

As the album’s title suggests, this disc is all about exploring the music close to their collective hearts. It features covers of tracks from some of Australia and New Zealand’s best. There’s everything from the Cold Chisel to Gotye to classical guitarist Richard Charlton represented. It’s also got an enviable guest list, with Iva Davies, Gurrumul, and Chris Cheney all making appearances.

“This project brings together my two main musical loves, classical and pop music,” Katie Noonan explained. “As an artist I love blurring the boundaries of genre and hearing musical worlds collide. This project is a wonderful opportunity for Karin and I to do exactly that!  Karin is a wonderful, virtuosic and sensitive player and combined with our fantastic arrangers and some of Australia’s leading composers, it is really great to hear these songs we know and love come to life in a new and exciting way!’

Songs of the Southern Skies hits music stores in August. Katie Noonan and Karin Schaupp will play the following shows to support its release.

4 August 2012 – Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Townsville
13 September 2012 – Community Centre, Byron Bay
14 September 2012 –  Jetty Theatre, Coffs Harbour
15 September 2012 – Glasshouse Theatre, Port Macquarie
19 September 2012 – Capital Theatre, Bendigo
20 September 2012 – Wellers Restaurant, Kangaroo Ground
21 September 2012 – Recital Centre, Melbourne
22 September 2012 – Performing Arts Centre, Wangaratta
27 September 2012 – Entertainment Centre, Albany
28 September 2012 – Winthrop Hall, Perth
29 September 2012 – Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah
1 October 2012 – The White House, Adelaide Hills
5 October 2012 – Empire Church Theatre, Toowoomba
6 October 2012 – Starcourt Theatre, Lismore
11 October 2012 – Lizotte’s Restaurant, Newcastle
12 October 2012 – Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford
13 & 14 October 2012 – Street Theatre, Canberra
18 October 2012 – The Majestic Theatre, Pomona
19 October 2012 – Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane
26 October 2012 – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong
27 October 2012 – City Recital Hall, Sydney

Image used with permission from AVM Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Def Wish Cast Tour New Album

Australian hip hop pioneers Def Wish Cast are heading back on the road to support the release of their new album Evolution Machine, and the third single lifted from it, “Forever.”

Evolution Machine hits stores today, proving the band is just as relevant today as they were on their inception in 1990. The album’s seen the band working with an all-star production roster including M-Phazes, Plutonic Lab, Katalyst, and Dave Atkins and Katch from Resin Dogs, as well as diverse artists like beatboxerTom Thumb, funk guitarist Xela, and hardcore punk singer Scotty Mac. As you can imagine with all of those musical influences, the album is a diverse collection of songs that really pushes the envelope of urban music.

See why Def Wish Cast have influenced Australian chart toppers like Hilltop Hoods and Bliss N Eso at the following shows:

25 May 2012 – The Standard, Sydney
1 June 2012 – Republic Bar, Hobart
2 June 2012 – Laundry Bar, Melbourne
7 June 2012 – Mustang Bar, Brisbane
8 June 2012 – Runaway Bay Tavern, Gold Coast
9 June 2012 – Seaview Hotel , Townsville
10 June 2012 – The Jack, Cairns

Australian hip hop pioneers Def Wish Cast are heading back on the road to support the release of their new album Evolution Machine, and the third single lifted from it, “Forever.”

Evolution Machine hits stores today, proving the band is just as relevant today as they were on their inception in 1990. The album’s seen the band working with an all-star production roster including M-Phazes, Plutonic Lab, Katalyst, and Dave Atkins and Katch from Resin Dogs, as well as diverse artists like beatboxerTom Thumb, funk guitarist Xela, and hardcore punk singer Scotty Mac. As you can imagine with all of those musical influences, the album is a diverse collection of songs that really pushes the envelope of urban music.

See why Def Wish Cast have influenced Australian chart toppers like Hilltop Hoods and Bliss N Eso at the following shows:
25 May 2012 – The Standard, Sydney
1 June 2012 – Republic Bar, Hobart
2 June 2012 – Laundry Bar, Melbourne
7 June 2012 – Mustang Bar, Brisbane
8 June 2012 – Runaway Bay Tavern, Gold Coast
9 June 2012 – Seaview Hotel , Townsville
10 June 2012 – The Jack, Cairns

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Arachnids Unleash “The Vulture”

Brisbane rockers The Arachnids are celebrating the release of their debut EP The Vulture with a string of electric and acoustic shows.

The quartet’s sound takes its cues from local acts that have come before including Regurgitator and Custard. The modest lads would probably blush at the comparisons, but the band is already earning a reputation for their energetic live shows.

See what all the fuss is about at the following East Coast gigs:

19 May 2012 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane (“No More Reason” single launch)
30 June 2012 – Twilight Markets, Brisbane (Acoustic)
2-5 July 2012 – Race Café, Brisbane (Acoustic)
5 July 2012 – Transit Bar, Canberra
6 July 2012 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
7 July 2012 – Great Northern, Newcastle
14 July 2012 – Revolver Upstairs, Melbourne
15 July 2012 – The Wesley Anne, Melbourne (Acoustic)
20 July 2012 – The Beetle Bar, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Snowman’s Joe McKee Goes Solo

Former Snowman singer Joe McKee is going it alone with his first solo release, Burning Boy.

The recording of Burning Boy saw Joe returning to his hometown of Perth after four years living in London. He came back with a head full of songs about the dissolution of his old band, his life in the United Kingdom, and the return to the land of his birth. Once back on home soil he reconnected with his long-time collaborator Dave Parkin and set about putting the songs he’d collected over the past three years down.

The album represents a real shift in Joe’s sound. The pulsing rhythm section we associate with Snowman is gone, replaced by more intimate vocals.

Burning Boy hits record stores on May 25.

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eliza Hull Releases Long Awaited “Dawn” EP

Melbourne songstress Eliza Hull is preparing to unleash her debut EP Dawn on the public.

After three years perfecting her craft, Eliza’s laid down seven breathtaking tracks including the first single “Without Words.”

“’Without Words’ is about the pull and shift within a relationship and the questioning that can often happen,” Eliza explained. “It captures the beautiful confusion love can stir inside us. It’s one of the earlier songs written for the EP and is still one of my favourites.”

The disc has a compelling organic quality which comes from shunning big budget studios and opting to record in garages, churches, and home studios. Although perhaps that may have come from necessity, as Eliza funded the release herself. You’ve got to admire that sort of commitment!

You can show your support by picking up a copy of Dawn when it hits stores and iTunes on May 18, or seeing Eliza launch the disc at Melbourne’s The Toff in Town on May 31.

Image used with permission from Show Off Services

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Butler Releases Live Double Acoustic CD

If you missed John Butler stripped back and acoustic at his recent Tin Shed Tales shows, or you simply want to relive the magic, you’re in luck. A double CD of songs from these rare solo shows hits music stores today.

The discs don’t simply capture John Butler’s musical prowess but also his relaxed on stage demeanour. Listening to the discs you feel like you’re witnessing someone simply having a jam session with a bunch of mates. The songs are interspersed with personal anecdotes which make the tunes even richer. Those numbers touch on his entire back catalogue. Listeners will enjoy new songs, reworked versions of old songs, and of course plenty of favourites.

The Tin Shed Tales recording is available digitally from iTunes, but with a sexy digipack hitting stores I reckon it’s much smarter to enjoy the hard copy. It’s sure to become a collector’s item!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

My City Screams Releases “Surroundings” EP

Sydney post hard-core outfit My City Screams released their long awaited new EP, Surroundings, to iTunes today.

The mini-album features six full throttle tracks including the first single “Counterparts.” The band says this sophomore EP is their biggest achievement to date. It shows a band that’s matured since recording their debut, No Mirrors, No Reflections, and notching up plenty of live experience. Their trademark energetic sound, with big guitar breaks and heavy hitting bass, is there, but it’s more seasoned this time around.

My City Screams will back up the EP release with a national tour in June. Watch this space for dates!

Image used with permission from RAWR Music!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sui Zhen Releases “Two Seas”

The nomadic Sui Zhen has used her travels as creative fodder for her debut album Two Seas.

It’s truly a global release, with tracks written, mixed, and recorded here, there, and everywhere. Songs written in the bustle of Sydney were laid down in the calmer surrounds of a Southern Highlands church before being arranged in Berlin and finally mixed in on the New South Wales South Coast. While visiting family in Bahrain, Sui Zhen knew the time was right to stop collecting songs and unleash them on the public.

The internationally influenced disc is best described as indie-folk, although the dashes of country, pop, and other genres mean it doesn’t neatly fit in any box. The single “Little Frog” gives you some indication of what’s in store.

Two Seas hits stores today, which gives fans a few weeks to familiarise themselves with the songs before Sui Zhen takes the album on the road. See this exciting singer-songwriter and her full band at the following launch shows:

30 May 2012 – The Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood
1 June 2012 – The Lass’O’Gowrie, Wickham
3 June 2012 – FBi Social, Kings Cross
6 June 2012 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
13 June 2012 – Yours and Owls, Wollongong (Free)
14 June 2012 – The Front Café & Gallery, Canberra

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nine Sons of Dan Tour Forthcoming EP

Nine Sons of Dan have introduced us to their forthcoming EP The New Kids with the rocking new single “Diamond Skin.”

The single shows us the way Nine Sons of Dan have matured since their last release, no doubt under the guidance of American producer J.R. McNeely (Amberlin, Paramore). It hits harder, but it’s got this strong melodic core that anchors it so well. While J.R. McNeely took the reins on “Diamond Skin” the remaining five tracks were overseen by Forrester Savell (Karnivool, The Butterfly Effect).

The New Kids should be a big release for the band who took out the rock category in last year’s New Artist to Radio Awards. It’ll hit record store shelves around the world on June 29, not long after the band wraps up their support slots for The Darkness.

Drummer Morgan “Flakey” Blake says the single captures the energy of Nine Sons of Dan’s live shows, so if you dig it you’ll probably want to see them in the flesh. Conveniently enough once their dates with The Darkness wrap up they’re taking the EP on the road. Catch the Gold Coast lads at the following shows this July:

12 July 2012 – Port Macquarie Hotel, Port Macquarie (18+)
13 July 2012 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (18+)
14 July 2012 – Youth Arts Warehouse @ Metrodome, Gosford (All Ages)
15 July 2012 – The Lair @ Metro Theatre, Sydney (All Ages)
19 July 2012 – The Zoo, Brisbane (18+)
21 July 2012 – The PA @ Jupiters Casino, Gold Coast (18+)
27 July 2012 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide (All Ages)
28 July 2012 – Revolver Upstairs, Melbourne (18+)
29 July 2012 – Spensers Live, Melbourne (Under 18s, 2 pm)
4 August 2012 – The Hive, Brisbane (All Ages)

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Buckley Ward Tour Album Number 2

Buckley Ward will take their new album So Pretend to the masses this month.

The follow-up to Something in the Night is jampacked with perfect pop music with heart. The layered organic sounds and pitch perfect harmonies are what the genre should sound like. The singles “Into the Darkening Blue” and the title track sit amongst new favourites.

So Pretend hits stores on April 20, which gives fans at the first show in Adelaide a little more than a week to learn the words! Here are all the shows on Buckley Ward’s album tour.

28 April 2012 – Edinburgh Castle, Adelaide
11 May 2012 – X&Y, Brisbane
19 May 2012 – The Toff, Melbourne
27 May 2012 – Pure Pop Records, Melbourne
2 June 2012 – FBi Social, Sydney

Image used with permission from Show Off Services