Groovin’ the Moo is back and ready to rock regional Australia once again.
The organisers have assembled an impressive lineup for 2013, including international acts They Might Be Giants, Tegan and Sara, The Kooks, and Example. The local talent is hardly lacking either, with The Temper Trap, Tame Impala, Hungry Kids of Hungary, Flume, and Urthboy all on the bill.
Punters will also enjoy local food stalls, markets, slingshot rides, and chill-out areas for those moments when it all gets too much.
Maitland and Canberra festival goers can get their tickets from 9 am on February 5, and music lovers in Bendigo, Townsville, and Bunbury can get theirs on February 6. How clever yet simple to see a festival staggering sales to prevent system meltdown! All tickets will be available from the Groovin’ the Moo website and Moshtix for $99.90 plus booking fee.
27 April 2013 – Maitland Showground, Maitland
28 April 2013 – University of Canberra, Canberra
4 May 2013 – Prince of Wales Showground, Bendigo
5 May 2013 – Murray Sports Complex @ Townsville Cricket Grounds, Townsville
11 May 2013 – Hay Park, Bunbury
They’ve taken their own sweet time about it, but Panama will finally tour their debut EP It’s Not Over.
I suppose we can’t really blame Panama. After the record dropped in November there was Christmas madness to contend with, and then the New Year festivities. Now that everyone’s lives have calmed down, it’s now the perfect time for the Sydney quintet to play for the masses.
They’ll kick off their national tour with a hometown show tomorrow night before looping around the country. If that’s not enough notice for you Sydney, don’t worry about it. You’ll get another chance to see Panama when they complete the tour where it began late next month.
30 January 2013 – Beach Road Hotel, Bondi
14 February 2013 – The Ripe 1st Birthday @ Workers Club, Melbourne
15 February 2013 – Cats @ Rocker Bar, Adelaide
16 February 2013 – Perth Festival, Perth
22 February 2013 – O-Fest @ UTS, Sydney
If you loved Mama Kin’s new single “Was It Worth It” as much as I did, you’ll be excited to hear the Fremantle songstress will hit the road this spring to support the release of her new album The Magician’s Daughter.
The album will drop on February 22 and Mama will hit the road just a week later with special guest, Melbourne multi-instrumentalist Spender. I saw Mama supporting The Waifs a while ago and she threatened to overshadow the support act. Music lovers are in for a very special night at the following shows. Tickets are on sale now from the venues.
1-4 March 2013 – Nannup Music Festival, Nannup
7 March 2013 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
13 March 2013 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
14 March 2013 – The Basement, Sydney
15 March 2013 – Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba
23 March 2013 – West Coast Blues N Roots, Fremantle
11 April 2013 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
12 April 2013 – The Loft, Warrnambool
17 April 2013 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
19 April 2013 – Mullum Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
20 April 2013 – No. 5 Church Street, Bellingen
21 April 2013 – The Pelican Playhouse, Grafton
26-28 April 2013 – Fairbridge Folk Festival, Fairbridge
30 May 2013 – Fly By Night, Fremantle
31 May 2013 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Dunsborough
Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water
Pete Murray is back with The Byron Sessions, a reimagining of his last album Blue Sky Blue.
It might seem a bit superfluous to rerecord the album that only hit stores in 2011, but I think there’s method in the madness. While the album got to number six on the Aussie charts, it certainly didn’t make the impact of Feeler or even See the Sun. Whatever he did the first time didn’t resonate, but this new recording might thanks to some well selected special guests.
The lead single “Blue Sky Blue” features a great rap bridge from up and coming urban act Fantine. I love the edge it brings to Pete Murray’s gentle song. Other tracks on the album feature Ash Grunwald, Busby Marou, Bernard Fanning, and Katie Noonan. Rather than feeling like he’s relying on big names to sell the songs, the rerecordings feel like spontaneous jam sessions, so much richer than the originals.
“The Byron Sessions is about community, from the original idea jamming at home with mates, right through to its realization as an album, so it makes sense to get out there and see the people that have really supported me over the years, no matter what corner of Australia they’re from,” Pete explained. “It’s about celebrating the last decade coming full circle and sharing it with a community of people around the country who have all had their own journeys and life experiences at the same time.”
He’s clearly proud of The Byron Sessions, which hits stores on February 1, because he’s taking it just about everywhere starting with a show in Byron tonight. Seriously, can you believe how many gigs he’s doing? Here are all the places you can see Pete Murray play over the coming months.
24 January 2013 – The Brewery, Byron Bay
14 February 2013 – The Spirit Bar & Lounge, Traralgon
15 February 2013 – The Forge Theatre, Bairnsdale
16 February 2013 – The Wool Exchange, Geelong
17 February 2013 – Riverboats Music Festival, Echuca
20 February 2013 – Yamba Bowls Club, Yamba
21 February 2013 – Lismore Workers Club, Lismore
22 February 2013 – Armidale Ex Services Club, Armidale
23 February 2013 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
27 February 2013 – Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany
28 February 2013 – Esperance Civic Centre, Esperance
1 March 2013 – Goldfields Arts Centre, Kalgoorlie
2 March 2013 – Capitol, Perth
3 & 4 March 2013 – Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle
7 March 2013 – Commercial Hotel, South Morang
8 March 2013 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
9 March 2013 – Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully
10 March 2013 – Pier Hotel, Frankston
14 March 2013 – Regent Multiplex, Ballarat
15 March 2013 – Corner Hotel, Richmond
16 March 2013 – The Depot, Adelaide
17 March 2013 – Nautilus Theatre, Port Lincoln
21 March 2013 – Port Macquarie Panthers, Port Macquarie
22 March 2013 – Club Forster, Forster
23 March 2013 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
24 March 2013 – West Tamworth Leagues Club, Tamworth
4 April 2013 – Orange Ex Services Club, Orange
5 April 2013 – Dubbo RSL, Dubbo
6 April 2013 – Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay
7 April 2013 – Hornsby RSL, Hornsby
9 & 10 April 2013 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why
11 April 2013 – The Abbey, Canberra
12 April 2013 – The York Theatre, Sydney
13 April 2013 – Waves, Wollongong
14 April 2013 – Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, Batemans Bay
18 April 2013 – Harvey Road Tavern, Gladstone
19 April 2013 – Magnums Hotel, Airlie Beach
20 April 2013 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
21 April 2013 – Brothers Leagues Club, Cairns
23 April 2013 – Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich
24 April 2013 – Hi-Fi, Brisbane
26 April 2013 – Villa Noosa, Noosaville
27 April 2013 – The Northern, Byron Bay
28 April 2013 – Twin Towns, Tweed Heads
Thought the Byron Bay Bluesfest lineup couldn’t get any bigger? Think again. The organisers have just announced a fresh crop of incredible international and local artists.
The most exciting for me is the coming together of Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite. These blues icons have just recorded a new album together called Get Up which they’ll showcase with their set. It seems meant to be as they actually met Bluesfest way back in 1996.
After Zac Brown Band were announced as Jason Mraz’s support act, I suspected they’d soon announce a Bluesfest show. It seems my hunch was correct; they’ll play on Easter Monday.
It’ll also be great to see the oldies from The Music Maker Blues Revue, including Ironing Board Sam and Major Handy, showing the young things how it’s done.
Music lovers will also enjoy sets from Leonardo’s Bride, Skipping Girl Vinegar, and Kim Churchill. And that’s along with everyone else we already knew about, including Robert Plant, Santana, Paul Simon, and Bonnie Raitt!
Bluesfest hits Byron Bay on the Easter long weekend, from March 28 to April 1. There are still some tickets left but I wouldn’t wait too long to get yours. This announcement should encourage a few more folks to indulge!
Madchester legends Happy Mondays are finally making their first visit to Australia.
It should be worth the wait for fans, as we’re getting the original line-up and the promise of plenty of classic tracks. While nostalgia is sure to abound we’re also likely to hear some new songs too, as the band have been in the studio recording an album which should hit stores later this year.
The highly anticipated tour will take in the East Coast capitals and Perth in May. Ticketek will sell tickets for the East Coast shows while Oztix will take over in The West. Get them from 9 am on January 23.
3 May 2013 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
4 May 2013 – UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney
5 May 2013 – Palace Theatre, Melbourne
8 May 2013 – Capitol, Perth
Image used with permission from RiotHouse Publicity
I’m hot. Really hot. The news tells me it was 46 degrees in Sydney, and it can’t be too far off on the Central Coast. My air-conditioning unit and fans are feeling pretty ineffectual at the moment.
And that may be why Sun City’s latest film clip looks extra inviting. The band’s name is pretty summery, but for the clip accompanying “High” the Perth outfit headed to Alberta, Canada. Icy, icy Alberta. All those frozen creek beds and thick snowy surfaces look like heaven right now. I’m sure the crew might have complained about the -20 degree temps, but I think they sound perfect.
I’m sure the band’s longing for them as they’ll start braving our sweltering local conditions on a national tour tonight. You can show them some love at the following venues.
18 January 2013 – The Rocket Bar, Adelaide
19 January 2013 – Slam Festival, St Kilda
20 January 2013 – Slam Festival, Scarborough
25 January 2013 – Can’t Say @ Vault 8, Melbourne
26 January 2013 Falcona Saturdays @Beach Road Hotel, Bondi (FREE)
The Snowdroppers are celebrating summer with a string of dates along the East Coast.
The bluesy punk act promises to play plenty of old favourites and offer a sneak peek of their forthcoming album Moving Out of Eden, which hits stores on March 22.
All the fun kicks off tomorrow in Katoomba and winds up a month later in Cronulla. Tickets are available from the following pubs and clubs.
18 January 2013 – Lady Luck Festival, Katoomba
19 January 2013 – The Esplande Hotel, St Kilda
20 January 2013 – The Old Bar, Fitzroy
24 January 2013 – Moonshine Bar @ The Steyne Hotel, Manly
25 January 2013 – Hoey Moey Hotel, Coffs Harbour
26 & 27 January 2013 – The Joynt, South Brisbane
3 February 2013 – The Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland
14 February 2013 – The Vanguard, Newtown
15 February 2013 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
Image used with permission from Reckoning Entertainment
Aussie expats Civil Civic have been generating plenty of buzz in the UK press and blogosphere for their electric sets at key European festivals. And finally next month, they’ll bring the music to the place where it all began.
To celebrate the February 1 release of their album Rules, the European-based musos are planning one hell of a homecoming. They’ll bring their enigmatic ‘Box’ and gritty, experimental sound to hip venues along the East Coast.
7 February 2013 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
8 February 2013 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
16 February 2013 – ATP: I’ll Be Your Mirror @ Westgate Entertainment Centre and Grand Star Receptions, Altona
19 February 2013 – The Tote, Melbourne
I’ve been crossing my fingers for this announcement since they announced their inclusion at this year’s Bluesfest and I’m thrilled it’s finally official: the Counting Crows will play a string of shows later this year.
The Counting Crows are one of those bands that have been with me an awfully long time. I remember excitedly finding August and Everything After in my Santa sack when I was just 13 years old. I’ve loved them ever since. The last time I caught them they were playing short sets in big venues as part of The Who’s tour, so I’m thrilled to see them downsizing this time around. The intimate venues make these dates a must for fans.
Tickets go on sale on January 21 for the following shows.
27 March 2013 – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane
30 March 2013 – Hamer Hall, Melbourne
3 April 2013 – Concert Hall, Perth
6 April 2013 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
9 April 2013 – Opera House, Sydney
27 April 2013 – Maitland Showground, Maitland
