Category: Tours

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tom West Launches Debut Album with Aussie Shows

I became enamoured with Tom West when I heard his first single “Jonathan’s Farm” in May. Back then I said his album was sure to be something special. We get to find out when Tom tours his first-long player A Spark in the Dark around the country.

That song, and the follow-up “Malecón” unfold slowly, taking their time to draw us in. Perhaps that’s not surprising, as the album took some time to come together too. Tom spent a year travelling and writing songs before heading in to the studio with fellow Adelaide musicians Alister Douglas and Todd Sibbin. I use the term studio loosely, but really the trio worked together in a shed equipped with two microphones and a laptop. That gives these tracks a really raw, organic quality which is so appealing.

Tom’s been playing solo shows locally and around North America for the first half of the year, but he thought it only fitting that he take Alister and Todd on the road with him for the A Spark in the Dark shows.

21 August 2013 – Folk Club @ The Soda Factory, Sydney
22 August 2013 –The Great Northern, Newcastle
23 August 2013 –The Aztec, Forster
24 August 2013 –The Hideaway, Brisbane
25 August 2013 –The Evelyn, Melbourne
30 August 2013 –The Hotel Metro, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jinja Safari Tour “Dozer”

Jinja Safari inject a little African flavour into your working week with their funky new single “Dozer”. The track comes from Jinja Safari’s self-titled debut album, which was released in May.

Jinja Safari are celebrating the release of this very funky single with their largest national tour to date. With so many shows, I’m sure they’re coming somewhere near you!

11 September 2013 – Woombye Pub, Sunshine Coast
12 September 2013 – Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
13 Sept 2013 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane
14 September 2013 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
18 September 2013 – ANU, Canberra
19 September 2013 – Uni Bar, Wollongong
20 September 2013 – Cambridge, Newcastle
21 September 2013 – The Metro, Sydney (ALL AGES)
25 September 2013 – Loft, Warrnambool
26 September 2013 – Barwon Club, Geelong
27 September 2013 – Forum, Melbourne
28 September 2013 – Karova, Ballarat
3 October 2013 – Adelaide Uni Bar, Adelaide
4 October 2013 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
5 October 2013 – The Astor, Perth (ALL AGES)
6 October 2013 – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Blackwater Fever Tour New Bluesy Single

The Blackwater Fever are celebrating their recent deal with Brisbane management company Pricewar Music with the release of a brand new single “Won’t Cry Over You” and an accompanying tour.

I just love this song. It’s so swampy and bluesy and dirty. It gets underneath your skin from the first listen. It comes from The Blackwater Fever’s third album The Depths, which critics and the band themselves claim is their best yet.

“The Depths is our best release yet and the first we have made entirely under our own steam,” said lead singer and guitarist Shane Hicks. “It was a huge learning curve with much trial and error but in the end I think the result has vividly realised our ideas and vision. This is how we will make albums from now on.”

You can hear tracks from this stellar release, including “Won’t Cry Over You” at the following shows.

3 August 2013 – El Grande Festival, Gladstone
16 August 2013 – The Zoo, Brisbane
23 August 2013 – Spectrum, Sydney
24 August 2013 – Lass O’Gowrie Hotel, Newcastle
6 September 2013 – Solbar, Maroochydore

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Beasts of Bourbon Celebrate 30 Years with Live Album & Shows

The Beasts of Bourbon are celebrating three decades in the business with a 3CD live set dubbed 30 Years of Borrowed Time.

The CDs feature sets from All Tomorrow’s Parties, Byron Bay Bluesfest, and a show at Festival Hall.

To celebrate the release, band fixtures Tex Perkins and Spencer P Jones will play their hits and fan favourites with a different Beasts of Bourbon line-up each night in Sydney and Melbourne. Each show promises a different set too, so why not get along to all three? Tickets cost $44 for a single show, $79 for two, and $110 for all three in your nearest capital.

30 Years of Borrowed Time will be available exclusively at the following shows ahead of its digital and in store release in mid-September.

22 Aug 2013 – Factory Theatre, Marrickville (Original line-up)
23 Aug 2013 – Factory Theatre, Marrickville (Low Road line-up)
24 Aug 2013 – Factory Theatre, Marrickville (Current line-up)
29 Aug 2013 – The Memo, St Kilda (Original line-up)
30 Aug 2013 – The Memo, St Kilda (Low Road line-up)
31 Aug 2013 – The Memo, St Kilda (Current line-up)

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Parklife Crew Brings Us Listen Out

The organisers of Parklife have decided to put their famous dance festival on hold to concentrate on a smaller party dubbed Listen Out. The creators have gone to great pains to stress this isn’t a festival; it’s an “intelligent dance music party”.

The 2013 line-up looks good, with Disclosure, Azealia Banks, and TNGHT – a collaboration between Hudson Mohawke and Lunice – all heading up the bill. The philosophy’s even better though. Listen Out’s been created as an antidote to the big music festivals, with a handpicked of lineup that’s the best rather than the biggest. You can also say goodbye to those timetable clashes, long hikes to stages, and the crowds you can’t relate to.

Get your tickets from the Listen Out website for the following shows. They’ll get more expensive as the date nears, so go procrastinating!

28 September 2013 – Centennial Park, Sydney
29 September 2013 – Ozone Reserve, Perth
5 October 2013 – Observatory Precinct @ Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
6 October 2013 – Cultural Forecourt @ South Bank, Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sam Buckingham Charms with New Album & Single

Sydney folk songstress Sam Buckingham is back with a brand new album I’m a Bird. It’s a collection of songs about travel, love, and life’s other adventures. The album is the follow-up to her EP Fragile Heart, which debuted at number three on the iTunes singer/songwriter charts.

The album features the single “Follow You”, which might just be one of the sweetest and most romantic tracks I’ve heard in months. There’s nothing grandiose about it, but it’s impossible not to get swept away by Sam’s angelic voice and heartfelt lyrics.

Sam’s been spending time in Nashville and New York City, but she’s back on home soil to launch I’m a Bird with the following intimate shows.

21 July 2013 – The Bird, Northbridge
28 July 2013 – The Workers Club, Fitzroy
1 August 2013 – The Front, Lyneham (Entry by donation at the door)
3 August 2013 – Hibernian House, Surry Hills
7 August 2013 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
10 August 2013 – Royal Exchange Theatre, Newcastle
11 August 2013 – The Powerhouse, Brisbane (FREE)
28 August 2013 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why
30 August 2013 – The Wheatsheaf, Thebarton (FREE)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

360, Drapht, and Seth Sentry Headline Sprung Hip Hop Festival

After delighting hip hop fans in Brisbane for the past two years, the Sprung Festival is travelling down south. After playing Brisbane’s Victoria Park Cricket Ovals on September 21, the festival will move to Melbourne’s Kevin Bartlett Sport and Rec Complex on October 19.

This year’s all-ages event is shaping up to be something special, with 360, Drapht, Seth Sentry, Urthboy, and Thundamentals all on the bill. Considering the level of talent, the tickets are a steal at just $79 plus booking fee. Get yours through Oztix or the Sprung website.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Basics Announce Reunion Shows

If you thought the rise of Gotye spelled the end of The Basics, you’re in luck. Gotye’s back working with Tim and Kris, and the Melbourne trio are preparing to play a string of shows to celebrate.

The tour will promote the best of album Ingredients and the rarities disc Leftovers, both released earlier this year. But really we all know it’s just an excuse to have a good time with a Melbourne act we all thought we’d seen the last of.

“I think of this tour and every possibility that might come out of it as a sign from on high,” explained Kris Basic. “The break has been very healthy for us (aside from the actual near-death experiences) – a good bit of time to focus on ourselves, build on our strengths and see this band of ours from the outside. Talking to Tim and Wally lately, it’s evident how this new perspective has got us all excited about where we might go next.”

But before that next chapter, it’s time to reminisce about the music that was at the following shows.

12 September 2013 – The Spiegeltent, Brisbane
21 September 2013 – Republic Bar, Hobart
26 September 2013 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
27 & Saturday 28 September – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
3 October 2013 – Transit Bar, Canberra
4 October 2013 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
6 October 2013 – Caloundra Music Festival, Caloundra

Image used with permission from SGC Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lenka Returns Home for Shadows Shows

With her third album Shadows now on record store shelves, Lenka’s preparing to take her new music to the masses with launch shows in the major capitals.

Lenka’s been spending much of her time in New York these days, so these shows are a bit of a home-coming for the former frontwoman of Decoder Ring. See her while she’s in town at the following shows.

24 October 2013 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
25 October 2013 – The Vanguard, Sydney
26 October 2013 – Workers Club, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Remedy PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

For Our Hero Makes Girls Swoon with “Young Wolves”

For Our Hero are sure to set hearts fluttering with their new single “Young Wolves”, the album of the same name, and its launch tour.

Honestly as I started to listen to the lyrics, which are so poetically sensual that they’re cheesy, I cringed. But as I listened further, my deeply buried inner teenager came out, and I couldn’t help getting sucked in by it all. This is just the sort of thing that would have got me screaming as a teen, and I’m sure it’ll have exactly that effect on Australia’s younger generation.

“Young Wolves” is the title track from For Our Hero‘s latest EP, and the result of a collaboration with Alex DeLeon of The Cab. Alex met up with the lads while in Australia supporting Maroon 5, and his stamp is all over this irresistible track.

In a very smart move, For Our Hero will play mostly all ages shows in August to support their latest album. Bassist Geoffrey Taylor says fans can look forward to “a stadium show squeezed into a sweaty room.” If you want to share a little of this hot band’s sweat, make sure you get yourself to one of these shows.

11 August 2013 – The Old Museum, Brisbane (All Ages)
17 August 2013 – HQ, Leederville (All Ages)
22 August 2013 – Next @ Colonial Hotel, Melbourne
24 August 2013 – Wrangler Studios, Melbourne (All Ages)
25 August 2013 – The Prom, Adelaide (All Ages)
31 August 2013 – The Lair @ Metro Theatre, Sydney (All Ages)