Barry Southgate Impresses with “Don’t You Think?”

Longtime readers will know that I’m always interested to see where our former Australian Idol contestants pop up. After making the top 30 in the second season of the reality TV contest, Barry Southgate seemed to disappear. But little did I know he’s been quietly working away, writing songs for South African Idol winner Sasha-Lee and German girl band Monrose to name a few, and performing with Christian acts Darlene Zschech and Israel & New Breed.

With his forthcoming seven-track Epitome, Barry is stepping back into the spotlight. The first taste is “Don’t You Think?” a tune which combines sweet vocals with a summery island vibe. It reminds me a lot of Bruno Mars, and we all know how he’s exploding on the charts right now. If everything is to this standard, something tells me Barry’s going to do the same.

Red Jezebel Give Free Download for Aussie Cricket Team

Red Jezebel BodylineRed Jezebel is giving us all an early Christmas present! The Western Australian act is currently offering its new single “Bodyline” as a free download.

Apparently the staple of the band’s live set was intended as a Christmas release, but the staunch cricket fans figured maybe an early release would help boost team morale. You can nab the track for nix until February 6, which is not so coincidentally the final Australia versus England ODI game of the season.

But why wait until then? Point your browser to the official Red Jezebel website and download away!

And if you haven’t made any New Year’s Eve plans yet, why not join Red Jezebel at the Rosemount Hotel? They’re headlining the pub’s New Year’s Eve Fiesta, sharing the bill with Will Stoker and the Embers, Sons of Rico, Emperors, and heaps more. I hear a couple of surprises are in store, so fans shouldn’t miss this one. Doors open at 6, and make sure you get there early because the first 50 through the door will get a limited edition hard copy version of “Bodyline”!

Tickets are available for $20 plus booking fee from Planet Video, Mills Records, Star Perth and Heatseeker.

Image used with permission from Sweet Mate Promotions

The Delta Riggs Back Home for Aussie Single Shows

The Delta Riggs have been far from idle since releasing their self titled EP in March.

The lads packed their bags and traveled to the United Kingdom to begin work on their debut album, which should hit stores in the middle of next year. While they were visiting the Old Dart the band worked with Martin “Youth” Glover of Killing Joke and BBC Radio’s Daniel Carter.

With some new songs under their belt, The Delta Riggs are back home to play some other big shows around the country. These include The Big Day Out on the Gold Coast, Peats Ridge Festival on the Central Coast, Brisbane’s New Years Eve celebrations at Southbank, the Rock ‘n’ Race show with The Gunners at Sydney’s V8 Supercars, and the Oxford Arts Factory’s Christmas party.

Before all that gigging they’ll also head back into the studio, this time with ARIA award winning producer Scott Horscroft. Considering his work with Birds of Tokyo, Little Red, The Presets, and Silverchair, he’s sure to bring something special to The Delta Riggs’ new single “Pretty Wasting.” The track will be available as a free download ahead of the run of summer shows, so keep an eye on the band’s website for that!

And if you want to see The Delta Riggs in the flesh, make sure you get to one of the following shows.

4 December 2010 – V8 Supercars @ ANZ Stadium, Sydney
10 December 2010 – Hard Rock Café, Surfers Paradise
12 December 2010 – Birdee Num Num, Brisbane
17 December 2010 – Oxford Arts Factory Christmas Party, Sydney
29 December 2010 – Peats Ridge Festival, Glenworth Valley
31 December 2010 – Southbank, Brisbane
23 January 2011 – Big Day Out, Gold Coast Parklands

Image used with permission from Andy Kent & Associates

Dereb the Ambassador Brings Retro Ethiopian Soul to Oz

From Ethiopia to Sydney, soul singer Dereb Desalegn has come a long way. After moving to our shores he took up with the band Lion of Judah, but now he’s striking out on his own with the self-titled project, Dereb the Ambassador.

The first cut from this endeavor is “Etu Gela,” a dance floor filler taken from Dereb’s forthcoming self-titled album. This long-player, scheduled for a March 4 release, covers soul tracks made famous by Ethiopian artists in the 60s and 70s. To stay true to Dereb’s creative vision the album was recorded using equipment made before 1970.

Dereb will launch the single “Etu Gela” backed by a seven-piece band at Sydney’s Gaelic Club on December 15. It sounds like it’s going to be a foot-stomping good night!

Image used with permission from Other Tongues

The Verses Duet with Dan Sultan

The Verses are one of my favorite new acts from 2010, and I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for Dan Sultan, so when I heard they’d teamed up for a single I knew it’d be good.

If the song “Running Away” sounds familiar it’s because you’ve heard it on The Verses debut album Seasons. I loved the original, but I think it works even better as a duet. The chemistry between Ella Hooper and Dan Sultan is only natural as they’ve been close mates for years.

“As soon as we met we knew we had a really strong musical chemistry and incredibly similar taste, so we’ve been plotting and planning, waiting for the right moment to do something together and ‘Running Away’ was one of Dan’s favorite songs of mine,” Ella explained. “The song really came to life when Dan started singing along one day when we were demo-ing it, so we turned it into a duet. He often jumps up at our gigs and sings and I was very proud and excited to sing backing vocals and a duet on his record. It’s
a fantastic feeling to sing with one of my best friends who also happens to be one of the country’s best talents!”

This new version of “Running Away” is available as a digital download from iTunes.

British India’s New Single and Website

British India may be swanning about the UK, but that doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten their local fans. They’ve just released a brand new single, which ups Paul Simon’s efforts and offers “90 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” and launched a brand new website to boot.

In conjunction with the website launch you can receive a free demo of a new song “It Happens All The Time” when you sign up to the new British India mailing list. The tune gives us a sneak peek at the band’s forthcoming album, which will hit stores in 2011.

Head to www.britishindia.com.au to check out everything else that’s brand spanking new, including the upcoming United Kingdom and New Zealand tour dates!

Butterfingers’ Singer Evil Eddie’s Ode to Queensland

Former Butterfingers’ front man Evil Eddie is paying tribute to his home state with his new single “Queensland.” Butterfingers enthusiasts should love this solo effort, as has that same hip hop/punk core and “brilliantly uncouth” lyrics that made the iconic band so successful.

The “Queensland” single offers real value for music fans, with the inclusion of a radio edit and Bewilderbeats remix. It comes from the forthcoming debut album, tentatively titled Welcome to Flavour Country. We may not know exactly what it’ll be called yet, but we do know that Eddie plays almost all the instruments himself, bar drums, which is pretty impressive.

No doubt we’ll get to hear “Queensland” and some more new tracks when Evil Eddie takes to the stage at the upcoming Peats Ridge Festival on the Central Coast on December 29, and the Woodford Folk Festival on December 30 and 31. He’ll be backed by an all star band boasting members of Butterfingers, Laneous and the Family Yah, Bang Boss Kelly, The Disables, and Spitfireliar. I hear they might also pop up and play a few secret shows, so keep your eyes peeled and your ears to the ground music fans!


Image used with permission from Reckoning Entertainment

Glenn Richards Releases “Torpor & Spleen” Video

Last month I was waxing lyrical about “Torpor & Spleen,” the first single from Glenn Richards’ first Augie Marchless-album Glimjack. Now with the release of the official music video, you all get a chance to hear it.

The video’s every bit as organic as the song, with live footage shot in a Melbourne warehouse. It’s not very flashy, but music this good doesn’t need bells and whistles.

This is a nice little taster of what’s to come when Glimjack hits record stores on October 29.

You Am I’s “Trigger Finger”

You Am I’s self titled album has only been in stores for a week, but already the band is itching to release another single.

Following on from the album’s debut cut “Shuck” comes the cool grooves of “Trigger Finger.” This isn’t like the You Am I that we’ve come to know and love, but don’t let that scare you. The song, featuring guest vocals from Sydney’s Lanie Lane, has got a gorgeous sultry swagger about it that really revs me.

“Trigger Finger” gets a digital release on October 29. I do miss the old fashioned physical single, but at least You Am I is bundling the tune with a B-side: a punky cut called “Do It” which you can’t get anywhere else!