It’s been five long years since Carus Thompson has released any new music, but he’s making a real statement with his comeback single “Beach Fires.” The track explores the ice epidemic and way this terrible drug erodes friendships and communities.
“Beach Fires” comes from Carus’ forthcoming album Island, which is slated for release in early 2017. Expect more big themes on the record, with songs exploring isolation, refugees, apathy, and other issued affecting our social climate.
Carus will take these songs on the road with local shows in February and March.
12 February 2017 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide (Matinee)
17 February 2017 – Mojos, Fremantle
25 February 2017 – Piping Hot Chicken Shop, Ocean Grove
26 February 2017 – Grampians Festival, Halls Gap
3 March 2017 – Republic Bar, Hobart
4 March 2017 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
5 March 2017 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
10 March 2017 – The Quarry Ampitheatre, City Beach
Now based in Los Angeles, Perth-bred musician Cameron Avery is coming home to play shows supporting his dreamy new single “C’est Toi.”
Cameron penned the stunning piano ballad about the last time he fell in love. It’s got a nostalgic vibe about it that I really love, as well as some gorgeous poetic lyrics. It’s the first track lifted from Cameron’s highly anticipated album.
You’ll no doubt get a sneaky listen to more of the album tracks at the following shows.
14 January 2017 – Freo Arts Centre Courtyard, Fremantle
18 January 2017 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
19 January 2017 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Show me a band that can harmonise beautifully and I’ll show you a very happy music lover. The acts that get it right tend to have a close relationship. They might be siblings, for example, or in the case of >The Campervan Dancers, husband and wife. The Sydney folk duo has entranced me with their debut single “Starlight (Pickin’ Pears).”
The song has such a timeless appeal that despite being written in 2012 it hasn’t dated one jot. Ryan and Chelsea Collings wrote the song while they were falling in love; perhaps that’s what gives this song that extra bit of magic. I love the way the duo has layered sounds underneath their vocals, like the bossa nova drums from their grandma’s old organ, cats from YouTube, samples from astronauts, and even the sound of a real star.
“Starlight (Pickin’ Pears)” will feature on The Campervan Dancers’ self-titled EP, which will be available next year. Hopefully the other songs on this five-track recording will be every bit as special.
I like to think of the late 90s and early 2000s of the glory days of Aussie pop-rock. We produced so many quality acts like Invertigo, Taxiride, Vanessa Amorosi, and Bachelor Girl. It was a time when Australian musicians were mainstream, and that wasn’t a dirty word. The local music industry might have moved away from pop-rock, but when you hear the genre done well you stop and wonder why we don’t make more of this music.
I’m glad Casey Barnes is still flying the flag though. Every song he releases is excellent, and his newie “Just Like Magic” is no exception. It’s ridiculously catchy, perhaps because Casey collaborated with the MSquared Boys (Michael Paynter and Michael Delorenzis).
“The song touches on a guy’s complete and utter fascination with a girl who basically has him under her ‘spell’. I’m sure a lot of people can relate to that feeling!” Casey explained in a press release. “Writing and producing ‘Just Like Magic’ with Michael Paynter and Michael Delorenzis was such a great experience, and I think it shows in how the song turned out. It’s one of my favourite tracks on the album … it gets people dancing.”
“Just Like Magic” is the latest track lifted from Casey’s current album Live as One.
It’s the weekend! The time when we can forget about the stress of our working week and just relax. Saturdays are my favourite days because the weekend is finally here with all its possibilities and Monday seems so far away. A day like Saturday deserves a feel-good song, and I’ve found the perfect one. Meet Fatty Boomba.
The name of this band from Melbourne’s outer western suburbs might not be very PC, but you’ll soon forget that when you’re listening to this super catchy song. I guarantee it’ll get stuck in your head, and you’ll find yourself humming it to yourself for days. You have been warned!
“It’s the Life” is the lead track from Fatty Boomba’s EP New Year, which will drop on February 28.
It’s been some time since I’ve heard a true girl power anthem. Thankfully Amber Lawrence has filled the void, with the help of Catherine Britt and Fanny Lumsden. Their new single “Cheers to the Girls” is everything I’ve been waiting for.
It tells the story of women each broken in their own way who draw from their inner strength to reclaim their identities. I also like that it doesn’t stoop to blanket male bashing, as so many feminist things do. Instead it deals with very specific circumstances and focuses on what women did to overcome them.
“I’m really proud of this song. A lot of courage went into writing this song, and telling it how it actually is for some women. This song in part eludes to domestic abuse, but also praises women of all types – those that were bullied at school, those that didn’t know their inner strength until the only choice left was to rely on and stand up for themselves,” Amber explained. “It’s a rousing song of strength and is already a crowd favourite – add to this, the stunning vocals of Catherine Britt and Fanny Lumsden, and this is also one of my favourites.”
“Cheers to the Girls” is the latest single lifted from Amber’s fifth studio album Happy Ever After. She will tour the album with Catherine Britt next year. Fanny Lumsden will appear at selected shows. More dates will be announced, so if there’s not one close to you keep an eye on Amber’s website.
3 March 2017 – Gloucestor Soldiers Club, Gloucestor
4 March 2017 – Muswellbrook RSL, Muswellbrook
31 March 2017 – Red Hot Music, Devonport
1 April 2017 – Granada Tavern, Hobart
7 April 2017 – Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill
8 April 2017 – Soul Central, Dee Why
9 April 2017 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
13 May 2017 – Ettalong Diggers, Ettalong Beach
18 May 2017 – Loxton Club, Loxton
19 May 2017 – Pretoria Hotel, Mannum
20 May 2017 – Trinity Sessions, Adelaide
25 May 2017 – Glen Innes & District Services Club, Glen Innes
26 May 2017 – South Grafton Ex-Servicemen’s Club
27 May 2017 – Sawtell RSL Club, Sawtell
29 June 2017 – Barham Services Club, Barham
30 June 2017 – Commercial Club, Albury
1 July 2017 – Club Mulwala, Mulwala
Queensland songbird Aquila Young has unleashed her seductive new single “Crimson Criminal.” This is one of those songs that gets underneath your skin with its raw, dark lyrics and lush synth sounds. It’s given me chills.
Aquila will play NightQuarter on the Gold Coast on New Year’s Eve. Seeing her set sounds like a wonderful way to ring in 2017!
Tom West has gone back to the vault for his latest single “All My Friends are Scientists.”
“This is an older song that has lingered around the edges of my repertoire for ages without ever settling into a place,” he explained. “As I was writing the music for the new album, ‘Scientists’ seemed to fit amongst the newer tracks and it began to take on a new life as all the arrangements developed.”
I’m thrilled he went back to the track, because it’s stunning. I love its ominous driving rhythm and darkly poetic lyrics.
“All My Friends are Scientists” is the first track lifted from Tom’s forthcoming album, which should get released in the middle of 2017. It was recording in an ad-hoc cottage studio in the Adelaide Hills, which sounds like a pretty fabulous place to lay some songs down.
Tom West has big plans for this album, which shows planned in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, and here at home.
Fresh from signing a deal with massive American indie music label Razer + Tie, Australia’s own Harts has announced he’ll tour around the country early next year.
The shows are promoting Harts’ album Smoke Fire Hope Desire, which features a slew of singles including the newie “Fear in Me.” The song’s clip gives you a little taste of the kind of rock star energy you can expect at these gigs.
17 February 2017 – 170 Russell, Melbourne
18 February 2017 – SS&A Club, Albury (FREE)
24 February 2017 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
25 February 2017 – Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool
2 March 2017 – The Beery, Terrigal
3 March 2017 – The Metro Theatre, Sydney
4 March 2017 – Uni Bar, Wollongong
5 March 2017 – Urban Jungle Festival, Perth
11 March 2017 – The Triffid, Brisbane
Sydney songstress ILUKA has got my toes tapping with her new folk-pop single “Blue Jean Baby.” It’s an irresistible track which bounces along with the help of a driving acoustic guitar and ILUKA’s angelic voice.
“Blue Jean Baby” comes from ILUKA’s forthcoming EP, Blue My Soul. It explores similar themes of breaking away from the ordinary and the self-discovery that can come from such escape. Look out for it in February 2017. Image used with permission from Mucho Bravado
