After wowing crowds in 2022 and 2023, British indie-folk band Palace are heading back to Australia later this month to support their new EP Greyhound.
I must admit, I wasn’t across Palace’s music until I received the press release, but I’ve had the Greyhound EP on repeat for a couple of days now. If you dig lush, honest folk music in the vein of Fleet Foxes and Bright Eyes, I know you’ll be into these guys too.
Tickets are selling fast, with some shows already sold out, so if you’re keen make sure you grab yours soon!
Harrison Storm is injecting a little folky goodness into your Thursday with his gorgeous new single “Find A Way.” Penned in a quiet moment during a solo cabin retreat, it’s a celebration of self-care and comfort that so many of us need.
“This song is a conversation between myself and the anxious part of me that I have been nurturing for years. The part that doesn’t feel safe in the world,” Harrison explained. “It’s a very literal song in that sense. The place I’m singing from is the calm, peaceful, and compassionate part of me that exists within, and the version of myself I’m singing to is this part that needs a lot of care and support.”
“Find A Way” gives us our first taste of Harrison’s sophomore album, which he’ll release later this year. He’ll play a couple of shows here in Australia before heading to the United Kingdom and Europe in November. Here are all the dates you need:
Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Hassall hits all the right notes with her relatable new indie-pop single, “Overpopulator.” With intricate lyrics and unpredictably addictive melodic movements, just see if you can resist playing this one a few times in a row.
The song’s music video, filmed by Willem Kingma (Bones & Jones, The Grogans), was shot in several locations around the regional Victorian town of Kolijon Country/Colac. Hassall said the clip aims to replicate the song’s over-caffeinated vibe.
“My favourite part of the day was shooting at our friend Maggie’s house,” she added. “It was a beautiful old house with feature pieces of furniture, and each room was painted a totally different colour, which made it ideal for filming.”
“Overpopulator” comes from Hassall’s debut album Means More to Me Than It Does to You, which drops on July 3. Before that she’ll support Killing Heidi on their 25 Years of Reflector shows, so if you’ve got some tickets make sure you don’t miss her set!
After taking a year off in 2024, Lighthouse Rock is back with a massive line-up for 2025. Tim Finn, Birds of Tokyo, Richard Clapton, You Am I, Ross Wilson, The Superjesus and heaps more will all hit Taribelang Country/Burnett Heads this October.
Joining all these household names will be the winner of Triple M Battle of the Bands. If you’d like the chance to play in front of more than 5,000 people, head to the Lighthouse Rock website to register.
“We are so excited to be bringing this amazing lineup of Aussie rock to the region again!” Gavin Hales from Lighthouse Presents said. “This year will be even bigger and better than anything we have done before!”
For the first time, Lighthouse Rock will be an all-ages event. Organisers understand the cost-of-living crisis, so kids 10 and under can go for free and tickets for 11- to 17-year-olds are half price.
The 2022 and 2023 events both sold out, and with such a stellar lineup I expect 2025 to do the same. Don’t get caught sleeping on this one. Tickets are available from the Oztix website now.
Is this gloomy winter weather getting you down? Don’t stress. Sunshine will be here before you know it, and with it the festival season. Wanderer Festival is one of the first cabs off the rank. Its stacked lineup featuring local talents Missy Higgins, The Living End, and Boy & Bear alongside international up-and-comers Saint Motel and Jacob Banks will hit Yuin Country/Pambula this October.
The music runs alongside an arts program featuring circus performers, a morning dance party, morning yoga, a hair dressing salon, and Welcome To Country and Smoking Ceremony with Duurunu Miru Dancers. I’m also assured the food will be “heavenly,” so this is one of those events that ticks all the boxes.
Wanderer Festival hits Pambula Beach on October 4 and 5. The campgrounds open on Friday October 3 so you can get settled before the music kicks off. Single day and weekend tickets are on sale now, so start planning your Yuin Country/ Sapphire Coast getaway. This is a biennial event, so if you miss this one you’ve got to wait another two years. That’s far too long. Just do the thing!
If you’re struggling to get through the working week, give yourself a moment to crank up “So What!”, the latest track from Naarm/Melbourne-based emo pop-punk act Cordiform.
I don’t throw the term perfect around lightly, but this might just be the perfect pop-punk song. Its energetic intro piqued my interest, but those relatable lyrics delivered so convincingly by James Hibble assured me these guys are the real deal. Then when the intensity of those drums went up a notch to match the power of Liam Nolan’s grittier vocals in the second verse, my adoration went to another level. “So What!” is anthemic, perfect for singing along to when life gets too much.
“[So What!] was one of the first songs we started working on after we released our debut EP, Growth & Despair, in October 2023,” Liam said. “The original idea was Tim Irwin’s [drummer] really early in writing, always looking at it wondering how we would use it. It went through a lot of changes but the foundations were always linked back to the original demo. It took working with [producer Ionei] Heckenberg to really pull a chorus together that felt big enough to give the energy to the song we thought it deserved.”
Ionei also shot, directed, and edited the music video for “So What!” with Jaydon Colvin. The clip sees the band coming together with Cordi Club, their playful take on Fight Club. While it’s lighthearted, it also emphasized how even the most mundane things can become meaningful when they’re shared.
“Working with [Jayden and Ionei] was so effortless,” Liam enthused. “They really took our ideas and our lack of experience and really guided us through a massive day. They are so energetic and uptempo with their work and they really want you to walk away with the best product possible. It was something like 36c when we filmed that day and everyone was struggling under all the lights in the cramped spaces but they never showed it, even if we did.”
Cordiform are wasting no time celebrating the release of “So What!”, kicking off an epic East Coast tour supporting Chasing Ghosts tomorrow. Tickets are still available, so get on it!
If your day has been anywhere as busy as mine, allow “tell me something,” the latest single from Swedish-born, Meeanjin/Brisbane-based singer-songwriter Hazlett, to soothe your soul. I instantly felt calmer as I listened to its gentle vocals and acoustic arrangement. Just make sure you’re not so chilled that you miss those heartbreakingly beautiful lyrics.
“If you’re lucky enough to find someone to throw your whole self into, nobody warns you about the untangling that happens if it ends,” Hazlett said. “The daily things you leaned on them for are no longer around and it feels like the pillow’s missing from under your head. There comes a time when I think holding on isn’t doing anyone any favours. That doesn’t mean those feelings need to turn into anger or disdain, but you might have to swallow that bitter pill that what once was might never be again – and that’s okay.”
If Hazlett’s music is like therapy for you too, you’ll be pleased to know there’s more on the way. “tell me something” comes from Hazlett’s sophomore album last night you said you missed me, which drops on September 12. Hazlett is currently wowing crowds abroad but hopefully he’ll treat us to some local shows once those international gigs wrap up.
The first time I saw Anthony Callea, he was performing the songs of George Michael at Taronga Zoo. I was so impressed that I’ve seen him several more times over the years. So it was a bit of a full-circle moment to catch him at the Civic Theatre on Saturday night reprising those George Michael classics. This time around though, the show’s gotten a bit bigger with the addition of Anthony’s husband Tim Campbell and some Elton John classics. It all added up to a hell of a lot of fun.
If you’ve ever watched Tim and Anthony’s social media videos, you’d know this show was always going to be pretty loose. The laughs came thick and fast as the pair chatted to the audience like they were old friends. Tim even bowed to the crowd’s peer pressure and did a shooey, much to Anthony’s disgust.
But while there was plenty of time for jokes, these guys know how to switch gears. Although they can be irreverant, they’re serious about music and the artists they pay homage to. Separately, emotional songs like “Kissing a Fool,” “Father Figure,” “Daniel,” and “Your Song” were so powerful. But then watching them together, harmonising so beautifully on tracks like “Jesus to a Child” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” was pure magic. The show’s sombre moments were balanced beautifully with Elton and George’s many dance hits. Getting on my feet to groove along to “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” and a Wham! medley was so much fun. Anthony and Tim surround themselves with such quality talent, so I was thrilled to see long-serving backing vocalist Susie Ahern and Rocky Loprevite get moments out front for “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” and “As.”
Anthony and Tim’s The Songs of Elton John and George Michael show delivered exactly what it promised. It was a celebration of classic hits delivered by two talents who are as funny as they are fantastic singers. With George already passed and Elton hanging up his microphone, we are so lucky to have Anthony and Tim celebrating their legacy. Limited tickets are available for their remaining shows, so get on them!
Emerging Meeanjin/Brisbane indie punk act Bad Neighbour have just become the latest band to sign with new Aussie label Ninth Life Records. To celebrate, they’ve just dropped a killer new single “Snarling” which really shows their teeth.
“’Snarling’ was written after the end of a long relationship,” explained Bad Neighbour frontman Cooper Riley. “I was coming to terms with letting someone down, and how my life had changed and what the landscape of my future looked like.”
After dropping their debut album Millions last September, the release of “Snarling” marks a new chapter for Bad Neighbour. They’ll celebrate by joining The Smith Street Band on their upcoming shows all around the country, so make sure you don’t miss their sets.
Flynn Gurry effortlessly blends earnest folk with pop energy on “Don’t Stop Dreaming,” his first single released under ABC Music. If you’re into artists like Vance Joy and Mumford & Sons, I know you’ll dig this.
“This song was written post-comedown from my first big tour,” Flynn said. “The last show I had played on that tour is still one of my most memorable shows and I had begun writing the lyrics in the green room whilst the headline band was playing. Feelings of bittersweet. There was a period after that tour where I spent a lot of my time wondering what was next because essentially, I had ticked off a very important bucket list moment – and the chorus came from this place. Ultimately this song is a reminder to myself to not stop dreaming, reminding me to keep pushing and not forget the little person with his guitar just wanting to play the fuck out of it in front of people.”
Since Flynn penned “Don’t Stop Dreaming” during some post-tour blues, it’s no surprise that he’s back on the road next month to support its release. This will be his first headlining tour, so make sure you get out there and show your support.
