Category: Tours

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Love Brings Harmony

Harmony is a band born out of love, quite literally. When The Nation Blue’s Tom Lyngcoln married Alex Kastaniotis in 2009, they knew they had to make beautiful music together. They wrote and recorded a song each Saturday until they had enough to fill an album and a 7”.

That 7-incher, Cacophonous Vibes, hit stores earlier this year and now it’s time to hear the album. With the help of bassist John Chapple and some good friends taking care of the backing vocals those songs began to find their final form. The tunes are somber and downbeat, but incredibly touching and honest.

Harmony will kick off a national tour next week to support their self titled album, which hits stores on July 1.

17 June 2011 – Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
18 June 2011 – The Zoo, Brisbane
25 June 2011 – The Tote, Melbourne
1 July 2011 – The Metro, Adelaide
6 July 2011 – The Brisbane Hotel, Hobart

Image used with permission from Other Tongues

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Stone Parade Announce Homecoming Tour

After rocking Canadian Music Week Sydney’s Stone Parade are heading home to take Australia by storm.

The band are still riding high on the success of Stratosphere, which hit shelves on October 2010. The album was a real labour of love, self written and self produced in their beloved Sydney. It’s a bit edgier than their debut, and it seems the new fans and the faithful love the new direction. You can hear it for yourself by heading to Stone Parade’s website. Everyone who joins their mailing list will score a generous four free songs.

Stone Parade will kick off an Aussie tour to promote Stratosphere in their hometown this Friday. Here are all the places you can check them out.

10 June 2011 – The Annandale Sydney
9 July 2011 – The Metro, Sydney
29 July 2011 – The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
12 August 2011 – Queen St Mall, Brisbane (All Ages 6 pm, 7 pm, 8 pm)
13 August 2011 – X & Y Bar, Brisbane
14 August 2011 – Queen St Mall, Brisbane (All Ages noon, 1 pm, 2 pm)

Image used with permission from Karen Lindsay

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Farnham Announces “Whispering Jack” Anniversary Tour

When John Farnham told us way back in 2003 that he was touring for “the last time” I’m not sure anyone really believed it. Since then he’s had almost as many comebacks as The Seekers, but when he continues to sound so good I’m not sure anyone’s complaining.

With the upcoming anniversary of Whispering Jack, Farnsy’s most successful album, he just couldn’t resist going on the road again. He’ll play shows in the major capitals’ most intimate venues. The first half of the show will see John and his band performing a variety of hits completely unplugged. Then in the second it’ll be all Whispering Jack, with the album performed in its entirety by the original band.

These shows are sure to be something special for any Aussie music fan. We’re glad to have you back Farnsy. Tickets go on sale on June 21.

5 & 7 October 2011 – AEC Theatre, Adelaide
11 & 12 October 2011 – State Theatre, Sydney
2 & 4 November 2011 – QPAC Theatre, Brisbane
9 & 11 November 2011 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
22 & 23 November 2011 – Burswood Theatre, Perth

Image source: Jeaneeem @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sydney Celebrates Blues & Roots with Hawkesbury Festival

Who needs Byron Bay or Fremantle? Sydney’s holding its own with its own blues and roots festival this October.

OK, so there’s no Bob Dylan, no BB King, and no Elvis Costello, but the predominantly local artists who have made the bill are first class. Jeff Lang, Ash Grunwald, and The Tea Party’s Jeff Martin are amongst the acts already announced, and there’s more to come when the second crop are named on July 1.

The bands will take over restaurants, cafes, and hotels in the picturesque Hawkesbury River region from October 28 to 30. Discounted early bird three-day passes are currently available for $119 from the Sydney Blues and Roots festival website. It sounds like an excellent opportunity for a road trip to me!

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gurrumul Yunupingu Tours Rrakala

Gurrumul Yunupingu rarely takes his extraordinary talents on the road, so it’s pretty exciting that he’s planning to tour the country through August and September.

The run of shows sees Gurrumul play his first ever solo concerts in Brisbane, Adelaide and Tasmania. Even if you have seen him before, these shows will be worth another look. His collaborator and producer Michael Hohnen says he’s worked hard to create a night which reflects the full, complex orchestration of Gurrumul’s new album Rrakala.

“Gurrumul and I have been talking about the best way of presenting a special concert to a larger audience and the challenges of this. On “Rrakala” Gurrumul plays drums, electric and acoustic guitars and grand piano.  I thought it was a touching but also a more varied performance at Bluesfest in Byron recently where some 8000 people simply stood, mesmerised, and listened for the entire hour, as if we were playing in their collective lounge room. This was a show where we had some extra people play with him – he loves playing with musicians backing him up,” he explained.

Tickets for the following shows go on sale on June 1. Considering how rare Gurrumul’s live performances are, and how intimate the venues, I don’t expect them to last long.

24 August 2011 – Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart
26 August 2011 – Riverside Theatre Perth Convention Centre, Perth
29 August 2011 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney
1 September 2011 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
3 September 2011 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
5 September 2011 – Royal Theatre @ Canberra Convention Centre, Canberra
7 September 2011 – The Palais, St Kilda

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Barrel House Bring Back Old School Blues

Port Macquarie trio Barrel House have brought their down and dirty blues to the masses with the recent release of their long-awaited debut album Species Vagabond.

The three-piece has honed their live show with performances across this wide brown land over the last couple of years, including slots at Festival of the Sun, East Coast Blues and Roots, and supports for Ani Difranco, Blue King Brown, Mama Kin, and Ash Grunwald.

Listen to one of the album tracks, “Stop Me” here, and if you dig it check out Barrel House at the following shows. All shows are free to attend, so there are really no excuses! More dates are to be announced, so if you don’t see one near you keep your ear to the ground. They still may be headed your way!

16 June 2011 – Fotheringham Hotel, Taree
17 June 2011 – Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland
18 June 2011 – CBD, Newcastle
23 June 2011 – Woody’s, Byron Bay
30 July 2011 – The Lennox Point Hotel, Lennox Point

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Natalie Gauci Tours New Single

I’d all but assumed we’d heard the last of 2007 Australian Idol winner Natalie Gauci, but it seems she’s still kicking around. She released her EP I’m Ready last year, and in case you missed it she’s preparing to release a new single from it, “Best of Me.”

Whether it really delivers the best of Natalie, I’m not sure. But it’s got some powerful vocals and strong lyrics, so we’re certainly more than halfway there. It should generate a bit of buzz as it’ll feature in the new Aussie rom-com Big Mamma’s Boy. Natalie also makes a cameo in the flick, so keep your eyes peeled!

Natalie will hit the road next month to promote the single at the following shows.

23 June 2011 – Brisbane Jazz Club, Brisbane
24 June 2011 – El Rocco, Kings Cross
25 June 2011 – Coogee Diggers, Coogee
26 June 2011 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
30 June 2011 – The Promethean, Adelaide
3 July 2011 – Bennett’s Lane, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ash Grunwald Tours Country For Doco

Ash Grunwald seems determined to play for just about everyone over the next couple of months as he makes his way around Australia.

It’s not all about the shows though. Ash is actually making a doco about life on the road, contrasting the differences between the Aussie towns he plays and introducing us to some of the characters he meets along the way.

The gigs will meld Ash’s two great loves: surfing and music. Surfers Dave Rastovich, Neal Purchase Jnr, Matt Hoy, and Beau and Nat Young will join Ash at various locations on the tour, there’ll be surf photography displayed at the venues, and surf films will play in between the sets.

You could dismiss the whole thing as an excuse to catch a few waves if Ash wasn’t also promoting his new single “Tear the Roof Off” from the album Hot Mama Vibes. Being such a nice guy, he’s offering it as a free download from his website. If you like what you hear make sure you head out to one of the following shows. With so many dates on the agenda I’m sure there’ll be one near you!

28 July 2011 – The Sandbar, Mildura
29 July 2011 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
30 July 2011 – Echuca & Moama Winter Blues, Moama
3 August 2011 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
4 August 2011 – Pier Live, Frankston
5 August 2011 – The Corner, Melbourne
6 August 2011 – Westernport Hotel, Hastings
8 August 2011 – Snowbird Inn, Mount Hotham
10 August 2011 – The Smiggins Hotel, Perisher
11 August 2011 – ANU Bar, Canberra
12 August 2011 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
13 August 2011 – Waves, Towradgi
14 August 2011 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
17 August 2011 – Beachcomber Hotel, Toukley
18 August 2011 – South West Rocks Country Club, South West Rocks
19 August 2011 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
20 August 2011 – Pacific Hotel, Yamba
21 August 2011 – Coolum Civic Centre, Coolum
25 August 2011 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
26 August 2011 – Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta
27 August 2011 – The Hi Fi, Brisbane
28 August 2011 – Gympie Muster, Gympie
1 September 2011 – Mainstreet Nightclub, Mackay
2 September 2011 – A.J Hacketts, Cairns
3 September 2011 – Uni Club Townsville, Townsville

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Children Collide Looking For Love on “Loveless” Tour

Children Collide are bidding a fond farewell to their album Theory of Everything with the Loveless tour, a run of dates which celebrates the final single from the epic disc.

The song has made a massive impact since its online release last week, helped in no small part by this David Michod directed film clip. He’s the man behind Animal Kingdom, and this vid is every bit as unsettling as that Aussie crime flick.

DZ Deathrays and Damn Terran will join the band on the following dates, so make sure you get there early to catch their sets!

3 August 2011 – Pelly Bar, Frankston
4 August 2011 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
5 August 2011 – The Bended Elbow, Geelong
6 August 2011 – Republic Bar, Hobart
7 August 2011 – Republic Bar, Hobart
11 August 2011 – Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
12 August 2011 – Manning Bar, Sydney
13 August 2011 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
20 August 2011 – Gove Youth Concert, Gove
25 August 2011 – Studio 146, Albany
26 August 2011 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
27 August 2011 – Capitol, Perth

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wollombi Music Festival Rocks The Hunter Valley

With the success of the Day on the Green shows and the enduring Jazz in the Vines festival, folks are starting to realize the beauty of getting out of the big city and seeing a show in more intimate, natural surrounds. I know I’ll always choose one of these organic ampitheatres over a cold, impersonal entertainment center so I was thrilled to learn of another event in The Valley.

The Wollombi Music Festival will hit the region on Saturday September 17. Now in its second year, the event has grown to feature a second intimate stage inside its Chai Tent, more bands, and more market stalls. Watussi, Benjalu, Rachael Brady, and local supergroup Wollombi Radio are all part of this year’s eclectic lineup.

You probably won’t be in any hurry to return to the big smoke, so it’s impressive that the entry to the VIP camping area is included with all tickets. They only cost $80 a piece too (or $100 on the day), so you’ll see real value even if you don’t plan on pitching a tent. And if you just don’t want to rough it there are also plenty of hotels and bed and breakfasts in the local area.

There are just 500 tickets available to ensure the event stays intimate and personal, so don’t delay in getting yours from the Wollombi Music Festival website.

Image used with permission from Wollombi Music Festival