Most of us have a crowded concert calendar in the summer months, but things tend to peter out once autumn hits. If you’re keen to keep the party going, make sure you snag some tickets for HERE COMES THE SUN, a cool music festival that runs alongside some of the nation’s biggest surfing events.
It’s bigger than ever in 2024, with organisers adding a Victorian date alongside the Bells Pro. This complements the flagship event in Western Australia, which has run alongside the World Surf League Margaret River Pro for the last four years. Next year’s lineup is also stacked, with Ocean Alley, Ball Park Music, Ruby Fields, Jack Botts, South Summit, and Clews all gracing the HERE COMES THE SUN stage. Tickets are on sale now.
Xavier Rudd turns the romance all the way up to 11 with his new single “High Times.” It’s a tender acoustic guitar ballad which celebrates the beauty of long-term love.
“I’m stoked to release this song for summer,” Xavier enthused. “No matter what’s going on in our lives we can be thankful for the natural beauty that surrounds us and the freedom to take a breath in those spaces when we can find a little time. The high times.”
When you put your heart into music, when you lay your soul bare and let your listeners see all parts of yourself, I don’t think you can ever go wrong. That’s exactly what Eliza Hull has done with her new EP, Here They Come. You might remember me raving about the single “Running Underwater.” It set my expectations high, but the songs that support it on this five-track EP are every bit as strong.
It’s no coincidence that Eliza released Here They Come a few weeks ago on December 1, to coincide with International Day of People With Disability.
“I wanted to release the EP during the week of International Day of People With Disability because this record is about celebrating my disabled identity; it’s about all the parts of myself I hid away for so long because of stigma,” Eliza explained. “I also want to be the representation I was seeking as a disabled emerging musical artist.”
While these songs are bound to connect with listeners with disabilities who may have felt underrepresented or marginalised, I connected with this music on a purely human level. These are songs of struggle and strength, of acceptance and liberation. Eliza is a superb songwriter with an incredible voice, and that combination is showcased so powerfully here. She keeps the instrumentation simple, ensuring we can catch every important word she sings. Every song is a triumph, from the gentle piano ballad “Stay” to the epic slow burner, “Lilac Dreams.”
I’ve sat with this EP for a few days and I am falling more in love with every listen. It really is such a special release. I’ve been a fan of Eliza’s work for many years. It feels like everything she’s done before has been building towards this. Here They Come is out now. She’ll play the following shows next year to support its release.
DULCIE are back with another irresistible indie-pop banger, “Off By Heart.” It’s incredibly catchy, with sweet harmonies and empowering lyrics about moving on from the wrong relationship.
“There’s a fine line between giving someone another chance and finally calling it quits. ‘Off By Heart’ is about learning to stop ignoring the red flags and to put yourself first above all the excuses and false promises.” DULCIE said. “Ash (Carr-White) wrote the song around the phrase ‘Off By Heart’ with the intention of creating something emotive and relatable. It started out as a soft, slow piano ballad that eventually evolved into much more of a pop anthem! We tried recording it a few different ways but could never get it quite right; it wasn’t until our producer Konstantin Kersting messaged us, ‘I had a dream last night – and we need to completely redo the drum timing and tempo’ that we found the synth-infused, beat-driven direction we wanted to take. The contrast between the lyrics and production gives the song a feeling of empowerment and strength.”
DULCIE haven’t long wrapped up an East Coast tour, but they’re itching to get back on the road again with some choice supporting slots and festival gigs. Here are all the places you can see them play in the coming months.
This unseasonably warm weather must mean that festival season is nearly upon us. Our calendars always get crowded over summer, so why not ease your way into the season and head to Wanderer Festival next month? Held at Pambula Beach on Yuin Country/Sapphire Coast from September 29 to October 1, it’ll be an incredible weekend of fantastic art and good vibes.
International acts Sampa the Great and Lonnie Holley were just announced along with local talents Ben Lee, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Little Quirks, Tijuana Cartel and heaps more. They join the already stacked bill which includes Kevin Morby, Django Django, Ben Ottwell and Ian Ball from Gomez, Thelma Plum, Montaigne, and Melbourne Ska Orchestra. And if that wasn’t already enough to convince you to get along, there’ll also be comedians, dancers, and circus acts to entertain you.
Wanderer Festival returns to Pambula Beach, NSW this 29 Sept – 1 Oct, 2023. One-day, two-day, and three-day festival tickets along with camping and glamping options are all available through Moshtix. Tickets start from just $50 and Moshtix offers Pay in 4 payment plans to help you budget for this amazing weekend.
Image used with permission from beehive; credit: David Rogers Photography
James Johnston has just dropped his latest country charmer, and he’s got some friends along for the ride. “Some Things Never Change” features Zac & George, a country duo from Eora/Sydney who now split their time between Australia and Nashville. James teamed up with Zac & George in the final hours of a songwriting pilgrimage to America’s country capital, and the rest is history.
“Listening back to the demo on the plane ride home, I knew we had captured something special,” James said. “I wanted to record and release it in a way I had never seen anyone do before.”
So he produced the song in secret with just one thing missing: Zac & George’s vocals, which they recorded during their next visit home. The day after laying down the tracks, they were heading to James’ hometown of Dharawal Country/Wingham to shoot the music video.
“The video was truly special, to be back in my hometown with the boys at the local pub I used to go to every Friday night, it just felt right that the video for ‘Some Things Never Change’ was captured there,” James said. The people you see in the video are also James’ fans, who descended on the pub to create the right party atmosphere after he put the call out on social media.
Riding high on the release of “Some Things Never Change,” James will start touring with another friend, Morgan Evans. He’ll also appear at some choice festivals in the coming months. Catch him anywhere you can!
31 August 2023 – Fortitude Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane (with Morgan Evans)
2 September 2023 – Canberra Theatre, Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country/Canberra (with Morgan Evans) (SOLD OUT)
4 September 2023 – Civic Theatre, Mulubinba/Newcastle (with Morgan Evans)
5 September 2023 – Civic Theatre, Mulubinba/Newcastle (with Morgan Evans)
7 September 2023 – The Powerstation, Auckland (with Morgan Evans)
9 September 2023 – Civic Theatre, Mulubinba/Newcastle (with Morgan Evans) (SOLD OUT)
11 September 2023 – Fortitude Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane (with Morgan Evans) (SOLD OUT)
14 September 2023 – Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne (with Morgan Evans)
15 September 2023 – Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne (with Morgan Evans) (SOLD OUT)
17 September 2023 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Tartanya/Adelaide (with Morgan Evans)
19 September 2023 – Astor Theatre, Boorloo/Perth (with Morgan Evans) (SOLD OUT)
20 September 2023 – Astor Theatre, Boorloo/Perth (with Morgan Evans)
30 September 2023 – Deni Ute Muster, Barababaraba Country/Deniliquin
6 October 2023 – Savannah in the Round, Muluridji Country/Mareeba
1–8 December 2023 – Cruisin’ Country
Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity
Fresh from signing a deal with United Talented Agency for representation in the Americas, Budjerah has released what might just be his best single to date, “Video Game.” If you’ve seen Budjerah live, it’s probably already one of your favourites. Now it’s time for the rest of the world to hear it.
“I’ve been waiting a very long time for this song to be ready, and finally after performing it for a year on stage, I think you guys are ready to hear one of my most personal songs yet,” Budjerah said. “This is a thank you to all my fans who’ve supported me at my shows over the last year. Hope you guys are ready for Video Game!” says Budjerah.
Budjerah has already had a massive year supporting Ed Sheeran, selling out an Opera House show for Vivid LIVE, and even appearing at Paris Fashion Week. But it shows no signs of slowing down, with several festival appearances scheduled before the year’s end. Make sure you don’t miss him at these events.
I know it’s hard to think about camping with winter’s chill in the air, but spring will be here before you know it. And what better way to celebrate the season than pitching a tent in the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country/Sunshine Coast Hinterland for the second annual KickAss Music & Camping Festival.
Back bigger and better in 2023, the two-day event will feature performances from James Reyne, The Beautiful Girls, Kingswood, Dragon, Ash Grunwald, GANGgajang, and heaps more.
“We are overjoyed to be continuing our journey and hosting our second music and camping festival,” confirmed KickAss manager, Josh Allen. “Last year was just a dip in the ocean compared to what we have planned this time around. We can’t wait to share this lineup with you and believe those who love great music and the great outdoors will absolutely love this festival.”
The KickAss Festival hits Kenilworth Showgrounds on September 8 and 9. It’s also a family-friendly event, so bring the kids and enjoy connecting over superb local music in the great outdoors. One- and two-day festival passes, including VIP and premium tickets, are available now from Oztix.
Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Kane Hibberd
I’m probably showing my age, but phones at concerts are one of my bugbears. I don’t mind people taking photos or even recording songs with their phone cameras or using them as makeshift lighters in epic ballads, but I bristle every time I see people taking selfies, scrolling through social media, and texting while the bands play. If you’re like me and think more people should be in the moment, you’re going to love This Never Happened, a new series of phone-free electronic dance festivals.
Attendees will have their phones taped upon arrival, ensuring they can live in the moment and appreciate what’s going on around them. Organisers have assembled a line-up worthy of disconnecting including American electronic artist Le Youth, Canadian duo Sultan & Shepard, and Eora/Sydney-born DJ and producer, PARIS. If you don’t capture an event, did it even happen? We’re about to find out.
Tickets for This Never Happened are on sale right now for the following events:
With a brand-new lineup announcement this morning, this year’s Wanderer Festival is shaping up to be one of the hottest tickets in town. Ocean Alley, Django Django, Thelma Plum, and Gomez’s Ben Ottewell and Ian Ball are among the artists just announced. They join previously revealed acts including Spiderbait, Lisa Mitchell, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, and The Jungle Giants.
“I’m thrilled with how Wanderer is shaping up this year. We’re curating a really strong program consistent with what Wanderer is all about. It is diverse in every sense and includes plenty of well-known favourites as well as amazing new talent,” confirmed the festival’s organiser, Simon Daly. “We are really proud to be delivering such a world-class event in the Sapphire Coast. It is really rewarding creating something so equally loved by both the local community as well as travellers coming from all over Australia for an unforgettable experience in this stunning part of the world.”
Wanderer Festival hits Yuin Country/Pambula Beach from September 29 to October 1. Tickets range from $50 and $320 and are available now through the Wanderer Festival website.
Image used with permission from beehive; credit: David Rogers Photography
When you put your heart into music, when you lay your soul bare and let your listeners see all parts of yourself, I don’t think you can ever go wrong. That’s exactly what 
