Fall in Love With Michael Burrows’ New Single


Melbourne singer-songwriter Michael Burrows has created another crowd-pleasing earworm, the title track from his forthcoming EP Turn This Love Around. The single doesn’t officially drop until September 10, but I wanted to give you the inside scoop.

“Turn This Love Around” a delightful blend of pop, country, and folk, with relatable lyrics about a relationship facing tough times. The track comes from Michael’s recent recording sessions in Nashville, where he rubbed shoulders with Frank Myers, who’s written tracks for John Michael Montgomery and Lonestar, and Jimmy Nichols, the former musical director of Faith Hill and Reba McEntire.

Michael Burrows isn’t reinventing the wheel here, but there’s something about his straightforward brand of music that’s so likeable. He recently wrote on Facebook that he’s ready for some live gigs, so hopefully it won’t be too long before we can see him do his thing in person.

Image used with permission from Australian Radio Promotion

Peter Combe Takes Christmas Album on the Road

When I was a kid, we didn’t have giants of children’s entertainment like The Wiggles or Hi-5. They weren’t tempting us with merchandise or wearing colourful costumes. They were far more unassuming. Peter Combe might not have attracted the global fanbase of today’s kiddie megastars, but he found a special place in our hearts. So I’m sure plenty of my readers will be thrilled to hear Peter isn’t just rereleasing his beloved 1990 festive recording, Christmas Album; he’s taking the album on tour!

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of wonderful letters, emails, Facebook messages and many many more comments from families for 28 years expressing their love for this particular album,” says Peter. “I’ve been deeply touched by these expressions of love for the songs.”

“The album expresses the optimism of the Christmas message. I like to think the audiences will be uplifted by the joy expressed in the songs and the care that went into the writing them. It was a genuine labour of love. Christmas is unique in that it can be appreciated at a deep level whether you are Christian, agnostic or atheist.”

This album’s fans will know one of the things that makes its songs so special are the choirs that elevate the tracks. Determined to bring that same feel to the live shows, he’s contacted high schools in all the capitals to find great choirs to accompany him at each gig.

If you want to spend this festive season with the one and only Peter Combe, make sure you book your tickets now. Surely these nostalgic seasonal shows will sell out!

25 November 2018 – Subiaco Arts Centre, Perth
2 December 2018 – Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane
8 December 2018 – Dunstan Playhouse @ Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide
12 December 2018 – Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
14 & 15 December 2018 – Wrest Point, Hobart
18 & 19 December 2018 – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, Queanbeyan
21 December 2018 – Monkey Baa, Sydney

Image used with permission from Hot Off the Press Publicity

Ocean Alley Prepare for Final Aussie Tour of 2018 to Promote “Happy Sad” Single

As I listened to Ocean Alley’s current single “Happy Sad” for the umpteenth time today, I came to a shocking realisation. Somehow I neglected to write about it. With the song’s video just released and a regional tour approaching, there seemed no better time to correct the oversight.

I just love this song, with its wailing guitars that seem to cry in response to the yearning lyrics. Vocalist Baden Donegal captures those bittersweet feelings of a relationship gone wrong so perfectly. Then there’s that fantastic video, with footage captured on four cameras over Ocean Alley’s recent Aussie and American tour.

Punters are snapping up tickets at a cracking pace for what will be Ocean Alley’s last headlining shows of the year. Get yours now, if they haven’t already sold out!

29 September 2018 – Yours & Owls Festival, Wollongong
5 October 2018 – The Beery, Terrigal
7 October 2018 – UC Refectory, Canberra
12 October 2018 – The Roundhouse, Sydney
14 October 2018 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
19 October 2018 – HQ, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Bianca Blancato

Nollsy Re-Releases “Lean On Me” for Drought Angels

We’re all trying to do our bit to support the farmers battling drought around the country. Whether it’s donating formal wear, food, or our spare change at the checkout, Aussies are banding together. However, what if you could lend a helping hand simply by listening to music? It sounds like a win-win to me!

Condoblin’s favourite son Shannon Noll has made it simple with the re-release of his 2012 anthem “Lean On Me.” 100% of the money raised from the single’s sale and digital streams will go straight to Drought Angels.

“This is essentially my shout out song for all city folk, especially, to lend a hand to their country cousins. People on the land are quite proud. We need them to know we are here for them and that they are not alone, it could provide them with some hope when many are, sadly, feeling hopeless due to this natural disaster,” Shannon said.

“Lean On Me is the song that came to me straight away when I was thinking what could I do within the industry to help. It came to me because the words are not my personal story, they are words for everyone to interpret how they feel with their own personal situation. All I hope is that the farmers and volunteers know it is really about and for them.”

Download or simply stream “Lean on Me” on Spotify or iTunes to do your bit. Look, I’ve made it easy for you by embedding the Spotify player. No excuses!

Image used with permission from Rock This Country

Max C Bud Delivers First Solo Single, “Temptress”

After 20 years spent collaborating with other artists, Sydney’s Max C Bud has gone solo. His debut single “Temptress” has an effortless cool about it, with thoughtful lyrics and vocals that sit right in the sweet spot.

“I wrote Temptress during a confronting time in my life. It’s about dealing with an issue head-on and being honest with someone about a troubled relationship that couldn’t be changed,” Max explained.

Of course, even solo artists don’t work in a vacuum. Max credit Sam Croft of Boo Seeka with helping him find the right sound.

“Music has always been my personal creative outlet, but working with Croft on this track, allowed me to interpret my music in a new way,” he said.

“Temptress” is available from all your favourite digital stores now.

Image used with permission from Marshmallow Pavement Records

Thando Charms With Soulful Single “Happy”

Zimbabwean-born, Melbourne-based soul singer Thando has me under her spell with her brand new single “Happy.” It’s a hypnotic soul cut, with killer lyrics to match those outstanding vocals.

Thando explained the song is “a letter to my conscious self from the perspective of my anxiety. From my perspective, my often forgotten villain sneaks up on me when I’m feeling my most content and consequentially risks relationships and opportunities for happiness. I personified and gave her a voice, so that I may attempt to better understand her and learn how to keep her at bay.”

After playing sold-out dates with Odette around the country, Thando is in fine form. Catch her at the following upcoming shows.

6 September 2018 – Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley
21 & 22 September 2018 – Wollombi Music Festival, Wollombi
28 & 29 September 2018 – Wallaby Creek Festival, Rossville

Image used with permission from Mucho Bravado

Asha Jefferies Drops Gorgeous New Single Ahead of BIGSOUND Shows

Following her fantastic single “Chaos,” Brisbane’s Asha Jefferies offers another personal insight into her life with her intimate newie, “Everybody Talks.” It’s a gorgeous song, with Asha’s unique voice soaring as it interplays with delicate guitars and crashing cymbals. Those lyrics should give anyone who’s seen a friendship fracture all the feels.

“’Everybody Talks’ is about a falling out I had with a friend,” she explained. “We never spoke again; I heard a lot though. The whole experience left me feeling voiceless and powerless and it wasn’t until I wrote this song that I felt like I took my power back and made room for some closure about it all.”

Following recent supports for the likes of Radnor & Lee, Bec Sandridge, and Oh Mercy, Asha will step into the spotlight for BIGSOUND 2018. Queenslanders can catch her at the following venues.

4 September 2018 – Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley
6 September 2018 – The Foundry, Fortitude Valley

Jaguar Jonze Destined For Big Things With “You Got Left Behind”

As I heard the cry of the slide guitar, I thought Jaguar Jonze was a country artist. But those distinctive instruments don’t tell the full story. While there’s a Southern twang to her latest single “You Got Left Behind,” her haunting voice takes the song somewhere different. Then there are those orchestral strings adding another layer of drama. These elements shouldn’t work in harmony, but there they are.

“’You Got Left Behind’ is about a few things – namely growing up and seeing people have a resistance to do so,” Jaguar Jonze explained. “With that came the torment of watching loved ones fall into a cycle of self-victimisation, self-harm and self-medication. I wrote the song around the time I was drawing a particular piece for my artistic project, Spectator Jonze.”

Despite never playing in front of a live audience before, Jaguar Jonze has been invited to performance at the Singapore Music Matters Festival and International Indie Music Festival in Indonesia. She’s just that good. In between she’ll launch the single for hometown audiences in Brissie. Catch Jaguar Jonze before everyone learns how special she is.

7-12 September 2018 – Music Matters Festival, Singapore
14 September 2018 – The Foundry, Brisbane (Single launch)
26 September – 1 October 2018 – International Indie Music Festival, Indonesia

Kav Temperley Releases First Solo Single “Pollyanna”

When Kav Temperley releases music, you know you’re in good hands. The solo thing might be new for him, but the frontman of Eskimo Joe is such an accomplished musician it was never going to be a difficult transition. His new single “Pollyanna,” our first taste of his solo album All Your Devotion, is just what the doctor ordered.

“A friend once told me that our happiness is always relative, whether we live in a war zone or paradise – our happiness always swings back to the same place,” explained Kav of the song’s inspiration. “I had just lost my marriage and the band had decided to take a break, all of these things that defined me were now no longer around. It was one of the first times in my life I felt like a stranger just rolling along, but I realised that amongst all of this I was a Pollyanna, someone despite the bad news always looks on the bright side. This was a song I was singing to myself to remember to stay light.”

That headspace informs All Your Devotion, an album about figuring things out, letting ourselves be vulnerable, starting over, and moving on. It also sees Kav exploring more of a pop-folk sound than many of his previous rock releases. It sounds superb.

All Your Devotion gets a digital and vinyl release on September 28. He’ll celebrate its launch with shows all around the country. Sorry kids, they’re all strictly adults only. Snap up your tickets soon because they will not last.

5 October 2018 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
6 October 2018 – Villa Noosa Hotel, Sunshine Coast
7 October 2018 – Public Bar @ Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast (FREE)
11 October 2018 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
12 October 2018 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
13 October 2018 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
19 October 2018 – Leadbelly, Sydney
20 October 2018 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
27 October 2018 – Mojos, Fremantle
2 November 2018 – River Hotel, Margaret River
3 November 2018 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury

Fall in Love With Franks’ First Single “Heart Wants”

A full-time ferry master, Brisbane’s Franks hopes to make us swoon with his debut single “Heart Wants.”

Its release has been a long time coming. Franks wrote the track nearly 20 years ago about a young man running away to the sea. The song celebrates having the courage to follow through on your instincts. He penned the track while at sea, sailing around Great Keppel Island, then the seas off Alaska on a salmon fishing boat.

I love the simplicity of this song. The melody isn’t elaborate and the lyrics are so straightforward, but there’s nowhere to hide here. After discovering Franks’ music, I can’t wait to hear more.