Category: Tours

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kelly Joe Phelps Returns to Oz for Album Launch Shows

American blues legend Kelly Joe Phelps will make a pit stop in Australia this spring to promote his latest album Brother Sinner & The Whale.

The album marks a return to form for Kelly Joe, who’s refocusing on the marriage of simple songwriting and his acclaimed slide guitar melodies. Kelly Joe calls Brother Sinner & The Whale a gospel album, but his blues and folk leanings bring something new to that genre. Incredibly it was recorded in just three days.

The Australian shows are nestled amongst more than 200 dates around the world, including shows in Europe, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, and even Iceland. The local dates are especially exciting for fans as Kelly Joe hasn’t performed here in around five years.

Kelly Joe Phelps will launch Brother Sinner & The Whale with the following Aussie shows.

30 October 2012 – Blue Beat, Double Bay
31 October 2012 – Camelot’s Lounge, Marrickville
1 November 2012 – Lizottes, Kincumber
2 November 2012 – Lizottes, Newcastle
3 November 2012 – The Substation, Melbourne
5 November 2012 – Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh
7 November 2012 – Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane
8 November 2012 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
9 November 2012 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
10 November 2012 – Mullumbimby Civic Hall, Mullumbimby

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mama Kin Single Offers Magical Album Sneak Peek

The incomparable Mama Kin will give us a taste of her forthcoming album The Magician’s Daughter with the new single “Was It Worth It.” The album won’t hit stores until early next year, but we can enjoy the single when it’s released on September 28.

The new album showcases an artist exploring new musical styles and the human condition.

“I got used to the idea that I have to be out of my comfort zone to make the kind of art I want to make, I have to feel pushed. I have to be on the edge to be able to jump in and get as deep as I want and need,” Mama Kin explained. “Magic for me is when there is a transformation inspired by subtle forces, and this is what we aim to bring to our audiences.”

Fans can enjoy “Was It Worth It” and a sneak peek of songs from the new album when Mama Kin tours around the country for the next few months. Tickets for her Talisman tour are on sale now.

27 & 28 September 2012 – Caloundra Music Festival,
6 October 2012 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
19 October 2012 – Town Hall, Nannup
20 October 2012 – Clancys Fish Pub, Dunsborough
21 October 2012 – Mojos, North Fremantle
25 October 2012 – Jive, Adelaide
26 October 2012 – The Railway Club, Darwin
28 October 2012 – Island Vibes Festival, North Stradbroke Island
30 October 2012 – Camelot, Marrickville
31 October 2012 – Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
1 November 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
24 & 25 November 2012 – Mullum Music Festival, Mullumbimby

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Claude Hay Announces Massive Album Tour

He’s currently playing shows in the United Kingdom, but these are just a warm-up for local bluesman Claude Hay. Before long he’ll be back on home soil and playing gigs to support the release of album number three, I Love Hate You.

The album pays tribute to Claude’s influences, with parts recorded at the legendary Sun Studios and Claude’s own self-built Vader Studios in the Blue Mountains (so named because a massive back-lit Dark Vader oversees production). Claude’s a regular traveller, so it’s only fitting that many of the album’s songs were inspired by his experiences on the road.

“I do over one hundred thousand km per year for about 11 months of the year, a lot of it in a tour van I’ve personally customized to be my home away from home, so you get to see a lot of things,” Claude explained. “The last 12 months has seen me cover France, US, and so much of Oz, I never found I had not much to write about.There was always something somewhere that I loved or hated.”

The disc sees Claude experimenting with his traditional blues roots and exploring his passion for rock and funk. The signature slide guitar and four-on-the-floor rhythms should ensure it doesn’t alienate longtime fans too much though. It’s a concept album too, about the things Claude loves, hates, and hates to love. The concept album is rarely attempted these days, but it always makes an impression. Consider me intrigued!

I Love Hate You hit record stores across Australia today. You can see Claude and his pimped out tour bus at the following shows.

28 September 2012 – The Velvet Lounge, Mt Lawley
29 September 2012 – The Fly By Night, Flytrap, Fremantle
1 October 2012 – The Perth Concert Hall, Perth (supporting Joe Bonamassa)
5 October 2012 – The State Theatre, Sydney (supporting Joe Bonamassa)
6 October 2012 – The Northern Star, Newcastle
12-13 October 2012 – The Mission Evolve Festival, Mission Beach
19 October 2012 – Solbar, Maroochydore
20 October 2012 – The Byron Bay Brewery, Byron Bay (FREE @ 4 – 6 pm)
20 October 2012 – The Australian Hotel, Ballina (FREE @ 7:30 pm)
21 October 2012 – The Joynt, Brisbane
26-28 October 2012 – The Sydney Blues & Roots Festival, Windsor
27 October 2012 – Food ‘n’ Groove Festival, Bexley Park, Bexley
28 October 2012 – The Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland (FREE)
2 November 2012 – Baha Tacos, Rye
3 November 2012 – The Blues Train, Queenscliff
4 November 2012 – The Workers Club, Fitzroy
9 November 2012 – The Albion Hotel, Albury
10 November 2012 – The Bendigo Blues Fest, Bendigo
11 November 2012 – The Glenelg Surf Club, Glenelg (FREE)
15 November 2012 – The Heritage, Bulli
16 November 2012 – The Front, Canberra
17 November 2012 – Club Sapphire, Merimbula (FREE)
22 November 2012 – The Peachtree Hotel, Penrith (FREE)
23 November 2012 – The Oxford Arts Factory Gallery, Darlinghurst
24 November 2012 – The Katoomba RSL, Katoomba
29 November 2012 – The Odyssey Tavern and Brewery, Geelong
30 November 2012 – Harvester Moon, Bellarine
1 December 2012 – The Bluestrain, Queenscliff
2 December 2012 – The Westernport Hotel, San Remo (FREE)
6 December 2012 – The Port Macquarie Hotel, Port Macquarie (FREE)
7 December 2012 – The Cabarita Sports Club, Cabarita (FREE)
8 December 2012 – The Royal Mail Hotel, Goodna (FREE)
9 December 2012 – The Bucca Hotel, Bucca (FREE)
12 December 2012 – R-Bar, Hamilton Island (FREE)
13-15 December 2012 – Paddy Shenanigans, Airlie Beach (FREE)
16 December 2012 – Longboard Bar, Townsville (FREE)
19 December 2012 – The Rails, Byron Bay (FREE)
21 December 2012 – The Vanguard, Newtown
22 December 2012 – The Victoria Hotel, Orange

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jeff the Brotherhood Announce Big Day Out Sideshows

Nashville wunderkinds Jeff the Brotherhood will complement their appearances at the Big Day Out next year with a string of sideshows.

Jeff the Brotherhood have honed their live performances with more than 400 shows in the last two years. These sideshows give fans an opportunity to catch the pair playing sounds from their new album Hypnotic Nights in some of Australia’s most beloved nightspots. The intimate atmosphere those venues afford should make them much more tempting than the festival dates.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning, September 21, for the following Jeff the Brotherhood sideshows.

17 January 2013 – The Standard, Sydney
19 January 2013 – Great Northern, Byron Bay
23 January 2013 – Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine
24 January 2013 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
27 January 2013 – Mojo’s, Fremantle

Image used with permission from Shows in Space Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gypsy & The Cat Announce Album Tour

It’s been a bit quiet on the Gypsy & The Cat front, but the Melbourne duo are almost ready to unleash the follow-up to their smash hit Gilgamesh.

The Late Blue promises to build on the unique soundscapes the band created on their debut. There are dreamy ballads, driving rock numbers, and synth-laden floor fillers. It’s also the first to be released through Gypsy & The Cat’s own label, Alsatian Music.

The Late Blue will hit record stores on October 19, which should give fans just enough time to become familiar with the songs before Gypsy & The Cat kicks off their national tour. These shows are the only opportunities to see this in demand band on Aussie soil this year. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, September 21, for the following dates.

26 October 2012 – The Palace Theatre, Melbourne
1 November 2012 – HQ, Adelaide
2 November 2012 – Capitol, Perth
8 November 2012 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
10 November 2012 – Hi-Fi Brisbane

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Big Names To Play 2013 Bluesfest

The first of four Bluesfest line-up announcements has been released, and already it’s enough to make me salivate. The bill includes big international names like Ben Harper, Santana, Iggy and the Stooges, Chris Isaak, the Steve Miller Band, Wilco, Bonnie Raitt, and Glen Hansard and the Frames.

We haven’t heard about any of the local acts who’ll play, but no doubt they’ll come in some of the next announcements. This current crop is definitely enough to whet my appetite!

Bluesfest will take over Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm in Byron Shire from March 28 to April 1. Tickets are on sale now through the Bluesfest website. Are you excited?

Image source: Festival Eurockeennes @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Split Seconds Extend Album Launch Tour

Split Seconds are having so much fun on their You’ll Turn In To Me album launch tour, they’ve announced a brand new batch of dates. The Perth born act will continue playing around the country through September, October, and November.

The new collection of shows includes support slots for local band Oh Mercy and former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus with his new outfit The Jicks, as well as appearances at Wave Rock Weekender and a star-studded show at Perth Zoo.

Here are all the new places you can see this hard-working Aussie act rocking out!

21 September 2012 – The Zoo, Brisbane (supporting Oh Mercy)
22 September 2012 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi (supporting Oh Mercy)
28 September 2012 – The Rosemount, Perth (supporting Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks)
29 September 2012 – Wave Rock Weekender, Hyden
5 October 2012 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle (supporting Oh Mercy)
6 October 2012 – The Bakery, Perth (supporting Oh Mercy)
12 October 2012 – The Loft, Warrnambool (supporting Oh Mercy)
13 October 2012 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat (supporting Oh Mercy)
19 October 2012 – The Bended Elbow Geelong (supporting Oh Mercy)
25 October 2012 – Hi-Fi, Melbourne (supporting Oh Mercy)
17 November 2012 – Perth Zoo, Perth (with Gurrumul and Angus Stone)

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Saints Announce New Album and Tour

After six long years, The Saints are preparing to release a brand new album. King of the Sun will hit record stores around the country on September 24. It features 11 brand new Chris Bailey penned tunes a bonus disc of classic Saints material, dubbed Songs from the Stash.

The album’s been an awfully long time coming for fans. Chris Bailey and drummer Peter Wilkinson have been flexing their musical muscles in France of late, but they’ve now returned to the fold.

“The Saints have always been my main passion,” Chris Bailey admitted in a press release. “Despite my promiscuity and desire for musical experiment I feel that The Saints are an unfinished musical journey. This album is one step closer on this road.”

The Saints will play the following shows around the country to celebrate King of the Sun’s release.

23 November 2012 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
30 November 2012 – Fly by Night, Perth
8 December 2012 – Homebake, Sydney

Image used with permission from Premier Artists

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lisa Mitchell Announces New Album and Tour

It’s been three long years coming, but Lisa Mitchell is almost ready to release a new full-length album. Bless This Mess, her follow-up to the acclaimed debut Wonder, will hit stores on October 12.

Bless This Mess sees Lisa experimenting with some heavier rock sounds than her first album. However with her trademark whimsical lyrics and sweet melodies still at the fore, fans should lap up the evolution of this exciting singer-songwriter. The album contains the current single and title track “Bless This Mess” and “Spiritus,” the lead single from her recent EP.

Lisa will give us a little time to become acquainted with the new songs before she takes them on the road. Lisa will tour the major capitals and regional centres with a six-piece band and special guests Alpine and Danco (Evermore’s Dann Hume) in tow.

Tickets for the following shows go on sale tomorrow, September 13, at 10 am.

18 October 2012 – Bar on the Hill, Newcastle
19 October 2012 – The Metro, Sydney (All Ages Licensed)
20 October 2012 – Uni Bar, Wollongong
26 October 2012 – The Astor, Perth (All Ages Licensed)
27 October 2012 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
28 October 2012 – HQ, Adelaide
31 October 2012 – Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne (All Ages Licensed)
2 November 2012 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
3 November 2012 – Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta
4 November 2012 – Woombye Pub, Woombye
5 November 2012 – Byron Bay Community Centre, Byron Bay (All Ages Licensed)

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Electric Empire Announce Homecoming Shows

Fresh from a sell-out tour of Japan, Aussie soul act Electric Empire are returning home for an east coast tour. The big brassy outfit will play shows in the capitals and key regional centres to support their new EP Changin’.

Changin’ doesn’t actually hit stores until October 26, but this warm-up tour should generate plenty of buzz before its release. The disc features Electric Empire’s first new material since 2011’s acclaimed Yes I Will record. Changin’ showcases the quartet’s more mature sound, which builds on their soulful leanings and takes them to the next level.

“We’re opening our minds to mixing a bit of a fresher, wider sound,” the band explained. “It’s 2012 and we’re making a record with all that history, but created with a modern feel.”

Electric Empire are getting plenty of attention abroad. Radio Nova in France and key British publications like The Sun and Q Magazine have thrown their support behind the band. They also played the Royal Albert Hall, Glastonbury, and some headline shows in Kazakhstan.

After all that globetrotting they’re keen to play for Aussie audiences. See them doing just that at the following shows. Tickets go on sale at 9 am tomorrow, September 11.

12 September 2012 – Bigsound, Brisbane
1 November 2012 – Heritage Hotel, Wollongong
2 November 2012 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
3 November 2012 – Gearins Hotel, Katoomba
15 November 2012 – AWME @ The Hi Fi, Melbourne
17 November 2012 – Golden Days Festival, Sunshine Coast
23 November 2012 – Mullum Festival, Byron Bay
24 & 25 November 2012 – Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff

Image used with permission from Niche Productions