Category: Festivals

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Big Names Assemble for Katie Noonan’s Queensland Music Festival

Kate Ceberano, Lior, Steve Kilbey, and David Hobson are just some of the big names playing the Queensland Music Festival this year. In her first year as the artistic director, Katie Noonan has put together an incredible line-up for the Sunshine State.

“I want the talented and passionate people of Queensland to be empowered to join the 2017 festival and help create performances that truly reflect the life of our diverse and vibrant state,” she said.

In all there’ll be 100 performances in 45 locations over the three-week event. Here are just some of the highlights:

You’re The Voice – Saturday 29 July @ South Bank Piazza
Kate Ceberano, Isaiah, Katie Noonan and thousands of other singers shine a light on the domestic violence crisis through the power of song at.

Songs That Made Me – Sunday 16 July @ The Tivoli
Deborah Conway, Clare Bowditch, and Hannah Macklin perform together to celebrate women in music after mentoring the next generation.

Silver Memories – Aged-care centers in Brisbane, Toowoomba, and the Sunshine Coast
Intimate concerts of classical and jazz music, performed by Queensland Conservatorium ensembles, to show the power of healing music has for elderly Australians.

The Bach to Bush tour – Thursday 13 to Sunday 23 July in remote Western Queensland towns
Joint performances, workshops, and masterclasses with percussionist John Morrison and virtuoso cellist Louise King.

Hang with QYO – Saturday 29 July
A world premiere concerto written by emerging Queensland composer Dr Thomas Green honouring the father of Australia’s youth orchestra movement, John Curro. The show will feature acclaimed composer and Bjork drummer Manu Delago.

16 Lovers Lane – Friday 14 July @ QPAC
A special concert paying tribute to one of Australia’s greatest albums, featuring the Go-Betweens’ Lindy Morrison, Amanda Brown and John Willsteed, with Dan Kelly, Danny Widdicombe, Luke Daniel Peacock, and a guest line-up including Steve Kilbey (The Church), Mark Callaghan (GANGgajang), Ron S Peno (Died Pretty), Katie and Tyrone Noonan (george), Montaigne, Sam Cromack and Jen Boyce (Ball Park Music), Tim Nelson and Zoe Davis (Cub Sport), Sahara Beck, and Kirin J Callinan.

Joh for PM – Friday 7 to Sunday 16 July @ Brisbane Powerhouse
Colin Lane stars in this satirical musical created by playwright Stephen Carleton and composer Paul Hodge.

And that’s just for starters. Visit the Queensland Music Festival website for the full schedule.

The Queensland Music Festival runs from July 7 to 30. If you’re local, make sure you get out there and experience some of the great talent on show.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Leaps and Bounds Announces Show For Nursing Home Residents

We often hear of the importance of making music accessible to young people who can’t visit the country’s pubs and clubs. But what about people on the other end of the age spectrum? Our senior population is often ignored by concert organisers, so I’m thrilled to see the good folks behind the Leaps and Bounds Music Festival is doing something about it with “I’ve Been Everywhere,” a free concert for residents of aged care homes, their friends, families, and carers.

The show features music from The Band Who Knew Too Much, who promise to play all the seniors’ favourites with accordions, washboards, and other classic instruments.

“I’ve Been Everywhere” hits the Melba Spiegeltent in Collingwood on Friday July 21. It runs from noon to 3 pm, the perfect time for Victoria’s elderly residents. Register your seats for free at the Leaps and Bounds Music Festival website.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Party in Kings Cross With Keep Sydney Open Music Festival

Like so many other cities, Sydney has lost many of its great live music venues. Keep Sydney Open is fighting back with Meet Me In The Cross, a big musical party staged at seven of the Cross’s most beloved venues on July 1.

One $30 ticket will grant you entry to Kings Cross Hotel, The World Bar, Candys Apartment, Potts Point Hotel (formerly Kit & Kaboodle ), Crane Bar, Jangling Jack’s, and Sweethearts Rooftop. You’ll also get some great deals from awesome food vendors and traders plying their wares through the night. You can bounce between the venues, taking in the great music across all stages, until it wraps up at 3 am.

“We’re super excited to be partnering with Keep Sydney Open and the rest of the Kings Cross Precinct,” says Greg Turton of The World Bar. “A music festival is a great opportunity to highlight just some of the awesome talent that is on show every weekend in Eastside Sydney. Hopefully this will be the first of many.”

Tickets are on sale now from Eventbrite.

Image used with permission from Keep Sydney Open

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Big Names Headline Maroochydore Music and Vis Arts Festival

With diverse Aussie acts like Alison Wonderland, The Presets, Bernard Fanning, and Gang of Youths headlining, the 2017 Maroochydore Music and Vis Arts Festival is set to be massive.

These big names will be joined by exciting up-and-comers like Horrorshow, Northeast Party House, Skegss, Mallrat, Billy Davis & The Good Lords, OK Badlands, and Norway’s Anna of the North.

Unlike so many festivals, this one has a one-stage policy so you don’t have to miss a moment. There’ll also be a stunning visual arts display, with inflatable, illuminated installations and street art decorating the Gold Coast.

The 2017 Maroochydore Music and Vis Arts Festival hits the new Maroochydore CDB, the site of the Old Horton Park Golf Course, on August 26. Tickets are on sale now.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Company

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Save the Dates for Leaps and Bounds Festival

The music scene tends to get a bit quiet over winter, as more people decide to stay home rugged up than getting out to the pubs and clubs supporting live acts. The City of Yarra fights against our hibernation though with its annual Leaps and Bounds Festival, now in its fifth year.

Organisers recently made the first program announcement, and it’s already shaping up to be something special. Feast your eyes upon this:

  • Acid Country PBS106.7FM – LIVE TO AIR with Rich Davies, Ayleen O’Hanlon, Brooke Russell and The Mean Reds, and Miles and Simone at The Gem
  • A Moment In Time: The North Fitzroy Beat (Little Bands) Scene: Featuring Primitive Calculators, Use No Hooks, Hot To Rot at The Tote
  • Blake Scott of The Peep Tempel at LongPlay
  • Blues n’ Bounds every night at The Evelyn Hotel, Catfish, Rainbow Hotel, Rooks Return, Labor In Vain, Old Bar and Checkerboard Lounge
  • Ed Kuepper “(I’M) STRANDED” – 40 YEARS ON by request show and exclusive in conversation talk at The Melba Spiegeltent
  • friendships vs. HABITS at The Nightcat
  • GL and more at The Corner Hotel
  • Ollie Olsen’s Class Of 2018 with Vacuum, Kollaps & Simon Karis & Ollie Olsen at The Tote Upstairs
  • Paint To Improv: Featuring Taipan Tiger Girls, Zond & No Sister at The Evelyn Hotel
  • Persecution Blues film screening (including a 2008 live set from Eddy Current Suppression Ring) at The Tote
  • Smith Street Dreaming Street Festival at the corner of Stanley & Smith Street, Collingwood
  • Some Velvet Nights with Broads, Amarillo, The Darling Downs, Mikelangelo By Request, Amaya Laucirica, Lost Ragas Duo, Jess Parker & The Troubled Waters, and Dave Graney By Request at Some Velvet Morning
  • The Letter String Quartet at The Melba Spielgeltent
  • The Professional Development Program at The Rainbow Hotel and The Melba Spiegeltent
  • The Push Pop Up Shop at Collarts Brunswick St. Campus
  • Yarra’s Women Of Country with Freya Josephine Hollick, Jemma Nicole, Jemma Rowlands, Sue Ray, Brooke Russell & the Mean Reds, Mick Thomas & The Roving Commission’s newest recruit Ayleen O’Hanlon at The Standard Hotel
  • Fee B Squared’s Class Of 2018 with Shrimpwitch + more TBA at The Gasometer
  • The Strange World of Library Music with Joe Brnadic, James Pianta, and David Rietmen at The Fitzroy Town Hall
  • An Otherwise Quiet Room with Mandy Connell and more at The Yarra Hotel
  • I’ve Been Everywhere Gypsy Carnivale with The Band Who Knew Too Much at The Melba Spiegeltent
  • Front Bar Pub n’ Grub Crawl across various venues
  • Hungry Ghosts (Reformation Show) with Ninety Nine at The Gasometer
  • Dream On Dreamer All Ages Matinee Show at The Evelyn Hotel
  • The Hard-Ons with Miss Destiny & Tankerville at The Old Bar
  • New War + Rites Wild at The Grace Darling Hotel
  • Riflebirds at The Rochester Hotel
  • The Braves with lost Talk and more TBA at The Yarra Hotel
  • Rich Davies & The Low Road at Labour In Vain
  • Ramshackle Army plus special guests at The Bendigo Hotel
  • Slow Dissolve at The Fitzroy Pinnacle
  • The Fck Ups + The Second Sex at Woody’s At Forrester’s Hall
  • The Hitmen + The Pro Tools at The Tote
  • The Stu Thomas Paradox at Labour In Vain
  • Uncomfortable Science with Las Mar and Special Guests at Bar Open
  • Zockapilli with The Scraggers at Woody’s Bar

Surely there’s something to take your fancy in all that! And remember, this is only the first announcement. This event is only going to get bigger. The Leaps and Bounds Festival takes place at venues in Fitzroy, Collingwood, Richmond, Abbotsford, North Carlton, Clifton Hill, and North Fitzroy from July 13 to 23.  All dates, times, and ticket information can be found on The Leaps and Bounds Festival website.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Save the Date for Red Deer

Brisbane’s favourite BYO “booze and couch” event, the Red Deer Music & Arts Festival, is gearing up for a big seventh year this October.

There’s bound to be a little Bowie influence in this year’s Space Oddity theme. With a third stage celebrating the talents of regional and emerging artists, there’ll also be more live music than ever. The line-up will be announced in a month or so, but with acts like Art vs Science, The Grates, Regurgitator, and Clare Bowditch playing in previous years you know it’ll be good. You’ll also see unique art installations and an immersive camping experience. I’m not a camper, but that sounds just interesting enough to change my stance.

“Red Deer is basically a house party at your mate’s place, except your mate lives on 40 acres of pristine grazing land beneath the rolling hills of the D’Aguilar Range,” explained festival co-founder Bas Pelly. “Instead of listening to an awful playlist on your mate’s iPod, you’ll boogie to an exciting and eclectic mix of emerging acts from around the country while you sip your BYO bevvie of choice, on your BYO couch, while you ponder which food truck’s menu you’ll explore first.

The Red Deer Music & Arts Festival hits Mount Samson on Saturday October 14. Tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite.

Image used with permission from Pompadour PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ben Lee, Carlotta, and More Heading to Port Douglas Carnivale

I swear no sooner I’m back from a holiday I’m itching to go on another one. If I could convince my husband to get away again, a trip to the Port Douglas Carnivale in Tropical North Queensland next month would be high on my list.

Now in its 23rd year, the family-friendly event continues to attract impressive musical talent like this year’s headliners Ben Lee, Carlotta, Leanne Tennant, and Hillbilly Goats. Other highlights include the Macrossan Street Parade, the Family Beach Day, performances from theatrical troupe La Soiree, and the Tropic Destinations Photographic Exhibition.

Port Douglas Carnivale runs from May 26 to 28. Learn more about this vibrant event at the Port Douglas Carnivale website.

Image used with permission from Encore PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Missy Higgins and Justine Clarke Announced for 2017 Barunga Festival

One of Australia’s most beloved and eclectic cultural events, the Barunga Festival, has announced its 2017 program. Missy Higgins, Bunna Laurie, Skinnyfish Sound System, and Justine Clarke will all take the stage during the three-day celebration. In addition, there are opportunities to learn traditional dance, spear throwing, weaving, damper making, and how to play the didgeridoo.
Barunga is an Indigenous word for “a happy place for families to live,” and that’s exactly what this event represents. Parents can breathe easy bringing their kids, knowing the event is 100 percent drug, alcohol, and smoke free. More than 4,000 people attend every year to hear some amazing music, learn more about the nation’s Indigenous culture, and discover all the delights of the Katherine region.

The Barunga Festival runs from June 9 to 11. Tickets are available now from Moshtix.

Image used with permission from SGC Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Boy & Bear Headlines Second Ever Sea N Sound

Sea N Sound has gotten bigger and better for its second year, with an amazing line-up of local musical talent including Boy & Bear, Busby Marou, Tijuana Cartel, and heaps more.

Add in some impressive local seafood and top-notch craft beer and you’ve got a great recipe for a day out. Last year 2,000 people turned out so event organisers have upgraded the space to hold 3,000. You can expect it to sell out, so don’t delay getting your tickets.

It all happens outside The Wharf Tavern in Mooloolaba on Saturday June 10. Tickets are on sale now through Moshtix.

Image used with permission from Call & Response

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jazz Party Knocks It Out of the Park With “Talking in Your Sleep”

Melbourne band Jazz Party has taken me back to a 1930s speakeasy with the soulful new single “Talking In Your Sleep.”

The song is the perfect combination of soul and jazz, with on-point vocals from Loretta Miller and an irresistible old school feel. I love the way it builds from this demure little thing to a heartbreaking climax. You just try to resist this.

If you like what you hear, make sure you get out and see Jazz Party launching the single with shows around Victoria this month.

11 March 2017 – Golden Plains Festival, Meredith
24 March 2017 – Castlemaine State Festival, Castlemaine
31 March 2017 – Howler, Brunswick
1 April 2017 – By the Meadow, Bambra

Image used with permission from This Much Talent