Category: Tours

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ben Salter Tours “The Cat”

It seems Ben Salter has the touring bug. He’s about to hit the road to support Felix Reibl, and his just announced some solo shows once those dates wrap up. Ben’s will head out to support the release of his long-awaited debut album The Cat.

The disc doesn’t even hit stores until August 5, and critics are already calling it “an album to remember.” That shouldn’t come as a great surprise though; as a founding member of bands like The Gin Club, Giants of Science, and The Wilson Pickers Ben certainly knows his stuff.

You can see him doing his stuff supporting Felix Reibl next month, but if you’re looking for a longer set get yourself along to one of the following headliner shows.

1 September 2011 – The Bird, Perth
2 September 2011 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
3 September 2011 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide
7 September 2011 – Big Sound Showcase @ Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
9 September 2011 – The Vanguard, Sydney
15 September 2011 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
16 September 2011 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
17 September 2011 – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
22 September 2011 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
23 September 2011 – The Zoo, Brisbane
24 September 2011 – The Spotted Cow, Toowomba

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Full Fat as Butter Line-Up Announced

I was pretty excited when I heard Naughty by Nature and The Living End would headline this year’s Fat as Butter festival. Thankfully the rest of the line-up lives up to that early promise.

There’s plenty of top quality local talent, with Empire of the Sun, Sparkadia, Cloud Control, The Jezabels, British India, Calling All Cars, and Evil Eddie all on the bill. And there are more international acts too, including Flo Rida and Sinden.

Tickets to the website presale go on offer from August 1, which doesn’t give music lovers a lot of saving time. Thankfully though there’s an innovative Time to Pay ticket option, which allows students and other punters strapped for cash to pay for their tickets in three installments. You’ll need to register for presale tickets on the Fat as Butter website to take advantage of that option.

Fat as Butter hits Newcastle’s Camp Shortland at The Foreshore on October 22.

Image source: Fat as Butter website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

New Names Added to Falls Line-Up

The line-up for this year’s Falls Music & Arts Festival is looking even more irresistible with the latest round of announcements.

Amongst the latest international additions are old-school soul man Aloe Blacc, unhinged American electro-dance wiz Dan Deacon, quirky Brits The Kooks, French popsters Nouvelle Vague, and Young MC. Yes that Young MC, of “Bust a Move” fame. I’m not sure he’ll be able to entertain the crowds much beyond that 90s gem, but I’m loving the novelty factor.

The shows will also mark the homecoming of Aussie songbird Missy Higgins. She’ll play alongside other recently announced local talent including Emma Louise, Pnau, and the hilarious Josh Thomas.

Add in all the other already announced names, including Arctic Monkeys, Fleet Foxes, Josh Pyke, The Jezabels, and Arj Barker and you’ve got an incredible way to ring in the New Year.

They’ll all play the all ages event in Marion Bay, Tasmania from December 29 to 31 and the adults only version in Lorne, Victoria from December 28 to 31. To secure your possie, make sure you add your name to the ticket ballot on the Falls Festival website before August 5. The majority of tickets will be distributed amongst these Falls die-hards before the general sale on August 17.

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Stonefield Finally Tour Australia

A good eight months have gone by since Stonefield turned my head with their rocking debut single “Through the Clover.” I waited for these young Aussie sisters to blow up, and waited, and waited. Patience is a virtue, as they say though, and it seems all that waiting is finally about to pay off.

After spending rocking Glastonbury, the girls are back with a brand new single “Black Water Rising” and a national tour in the works. It’s also been announced that after these shows wrap up they’ll warm up the stage for the legendary Cold Chisel.

It’s taken some time, but Stonefield are bound to hit those dizzy heights I predicted. If you want to see them before everyone else catches on make sure you head to one of the following shows.

25 August 2011 – Fowlers, Adelaide
26 August 2011 – The Villa ‘Speakeasy’ Perth
28 August 2011 – Hyperfest, Perth (All ages)
1 September 2011 – The Bended Elbow, Geelong
2 September 2011 – East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
3 September 2011 – The Karova Lounge, Ballarat
9 September 2011 – New York Hotel, Launceston
10 September 2011 – Republic Bar, Hobart
10 September 2011 – The Grand Poobah, Hobart (Underage event)
15 September 2011 – The Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
16 September 2011 – Food & Wine Festival, Toowoomba
17 September 2011 – Powerhouse, Brisbane (All ages)
17 September 2011 – The Zoo, Brisbane
22 September 2011 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
23 September 2011 – The Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Glenn Richards and Dan Luscombe Team Up for Aussie Tour

Two of Australia’s favorite frontmen are joining forces for a big double-header tour. Glenn Richards of Augie March and Dan Luscombe of The Drones will travel all around the country this August, September, and October, showcasing songs from their respective solo albums, Glimjack and Songs from Sunset Studies.

The lads have been good mates and sometime collaborators since meeting backstage at The Church’s famous Last Ever shows. They’ve toured together within their bands many times, so the chemistry is sure to be right when they leave those familiar outfits behind.

The rest of The Drones won’t be entirely forgotten though. Mike Noga, who’s riding high on the success of his own solo endeavour The Balladeer Hunter, will warm up the crowds at the following shows.

25 August 2011 – Toff in Town, Melbourne
26 August 2011 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
27 August 2011 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
2 September 2011 – Manhattan Wine Bar, Launceston
3 September 2011 – The Grand Poobah, Hobart
8 September 2011 – Mullum Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
9 September 2011 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
10 September 2011 – Old Museum @ Studio 3, Brisbane
15 September 2011 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why
16 September 2011 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
17 September 2011 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
18 September 2011 – Transit Bar, Canberra
21 September 2011 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide
23 September 2011 – Bended Elbow, Geelong
24 September 2011 – Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh
29 September 2011 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
30 September 2011 – Notes, Newtown
1 October 2011 – Hotel Gearin, Katoomba

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Blood Thinner” – Jordie Lane

I’ve been enjoying a lot of back-to-basics music lately, but few artists strip things back as much as Jordie Lane on his sophomore effort, Blood Thinner.

Jordie recorded the disc in hotel rooms and basements on a four-track machine, with whatever instruments he could get his hands upon. His acoustic guitar and harmonica drive these tracks, but they’re complemented by all manner of unusual music makers, including wine glasses and Tupperware containers. It sounds quirky in principle, but the result is an album that feels far from gimmicky.

With this release Jordie presents himself as a troubadour in the vein of the dearly departed Tim Buckley. There’s a similar emotional core to this music, but I also hear overtones of Neil Young and Bob Dylan in there. He’s an old soul, whether he’s writing music that feels wiser than his years or separating his CD into sides A and B.

The songs are an easy marriage of folk and blues, gentle and unadorned. The simple recording process captures a moment in time, and you really hear that immediacy in the tunes. “Thin My Blood” takes me to an open desert highway, a scene where the world whizzes by from a car window. The title of “On the Net Till Morn” seems very modern, but the track itself takes its sound right back to the birth of blues. I also loved “Not From Round Here,” a gorgeous tale of isolation exquisitely told with just a little finger-picking on the guitar and some plaintive lyrics.

There’s a real beauty to Blood Thinner that I think might only be realised after a few listens. But from that first spin there’s a truth and a talent to what Jordie Lane does. If you’re impressed by this disc, or just keen to discover what it’s all about, you can see Jordie in the flesh on his upcoming tour. It kicks off in Ararat on Thursday and travels all the way around the country.

21 July 2011 – Ararat Hotel Red Room, Ararat
22 July 2011 – Harvester Moon, Bellarine
23 July 2011 – Baby Black Café, Bacchus Marsh
24 July 2011 – Lot 19, Castlemaine
27 July 2011 – Front Gallery, Canberra
28 July 2011 – Wickham Park Hotel, Newcastle
29 July 2011 – The Vanguard, Sydney
30 July 2011 – Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland
31 July 2011 – Lizottes, Kincumber
4 August 2011 – Beetle Bar, Brisbane
5 August 2011 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi
6 August 2011 – Mullum Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
11 August 2011 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
12 August 2011 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
13 August 2011 – Barwon Heads Bowling Club, Barwon Heads
14 August 2011 – Old Hepburn Hotel, Daylesford
17 August 2011 – The Loft, Warrnambool
18 August 2011 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide
19 August 2011 – Indi Bar, Scarborough
20 August 2011 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
21 August 2011 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
7 September 2011 – Deck Bar, Darwin
8 September 2011 – Mindle Beach Markets, Mindle Beach
9 September 2011 – Darwin Railway Club, Somerville Gardens
10 Setember 2011 – Jabiru Mahbilil Festival, Jabiru
11 September 2011 – Darwin Sailing Club, Darwin

Image source: JB Hi-Fi website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wollongong Goes Retro with 80s Music Fest

Wollongong’s never really had a big music festival, but it’s saved up something special for its first. From October 28 to 30 Kembla Grange will embrace all things retro with the 80s Rewind Music Festival.

The bill is out of this world, with international acts like The Human League, Kool & The Gang, Sister Sledge, Bananarama, Nik Kershaw, Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet, and Go West all taking part. There’ll be a strong local presence too with Ross Wilson, Mental as Anything, John Paul Young, and Pseudo Echo all taking part. Tickets go on sale on July 25 from Moshtix.

Needless to say, I just wish it didn’t clash with Jazz in the Vines! Side shows anyone?

Image source: Andy Mac @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Bedroom Philosopher’s Cheeky Winter Shows

The Bedroom Philosopher is looking to warm up your winter with his Head Sex and Bed Socks tour. Nothing beats those chills like a good belly laugh after all!

The Bedroom Philosopher will perform an intimate set featuring songs from his previous albums, including last year’s surprise smash Songs from the 86 Tram, as well as cuts from his forthcoming album Man. I’m pretty intrigued by this release which is set to feature “a series of manthems for the modern day retrosexual.”

You can get a good dose of The Bedroom Philosopher’s raw masculinity at the following shows.

18 August 2011 – Beavs Bar, Geelong
19 August 2011 – The Promethean, Adelaide
20 August 2011 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
25 August 2011 – Powerhouse, Brisbane
26 August 2011 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
27 August 2011 – The Vanguard, Sydney
9 September 2011 – Republic Bar, Hobart

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Folk Uke: The Other Nelson and Guthrie

Few acts can boast the pedigree of Folk Uke. The band’s name gives nothing away, but the two-piece act is made up of Cathy Guthrie, the daughter of Arlo and granddaughter of Woody, and Amy Nelson, the spawn of Willie. They apparently resisted getting into the family business for as long as they could, but you just can’t waste such incredible musical genes.

While their parents were pals in the 70s, the girls didn’t find one another until fate saw them employed at the same restaurant in the 90s. They bonded over their shared childhood experiences sleeping in guitar cases and riding on tour buses, and became fast friends.

The next chapter of that friendship will see the pair conquering Australia with a string of shows this October and November. The girls will play songs from their self-titled debut and the current album Reincarnation, a disc which Snoop Dogg describes as “Off the motherfuckin’ chain … Dope as fuck.” High praise indeed.

You can see exactly what’s gotten Snoop so excited when these talented ladies take to the following local stages.

26 October 2011 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
27 October 2011 – Lizotte’s, Central Coast
28 October 2011 – Notes, Newtown
29 & 30 October 2011 – Sydney Blues & Roots Festival, Windsor
2 November 2011 – Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
3 November 2011 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi
4 November 2011 – The Old Museum, Brisbane
5 November 2011 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
7 & 8 November 2011 – The Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
9 November 2011 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
10 November 2011 – Caravan Club, Oakleigh
11 November 2011 – East Brunswick Club, Brunswick
12 November 2011 – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide
13 November 2011 – Currant Shed, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Folk Uke

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Naughty by Nature and The Living End for Fat as Butter

We haven’t even seen the full line-up announcement yet, but this year’s Fat As Butter Festival is already shaping up to be pretty spectacular. How many other opportunities do you have to catch American hip hop legends Naughty by Nature and our own Living End on the same stage?

Fat as Butter will take over Newcastle’s Camp Shortland on October 22. Those early leaks have me salivating to see who else will make the complete line-up when it’s announced on July 25. If you’re keen for tickets I suggest signing up for the presale list through the Fat as Butter website. Anyone on that list can score tickets on August 1, two full days before the general public, and five lucky eager beavers will win a VIP pass!

Image source: Fat as Butter website