Category: Tours

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Thirsty Merc Tour Tommy & Krista This Spring

Thirsty Merc are hitting the road again with a brand new tour to promote their brand new single “Tommy & Krista.”

The song is one of my favourite cuts from Mousetrap Heart with its piano pop hooks and fantastic lyrics. It’s clear that Australia agrees, with the song becoming the fifth most added on radio in its first week.

The tour will see the band play 24 shows all around the country this October and November, starting with dates in regional New South Wales. The lads are a well oiled machine at this point, having played some 300 dates together.
Tickets to the following shows go on sale from the venues today.


12 October 2010 – Soldiers Club, Leeton
13 October 2010 – Bended Elbow, Geelong
14 October 2010 – Mac’s Hotel, Melton
15 October 2010 – HQ, Adelaide
16 October 2010 – The Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne
20 October 2010 – RSL Club Resort, Dubbo
21 October 2010 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
22 October 2010 – Bowling Club, Yamba
23 October 2010 – Harrigans, Harrington Waters
24 October 2010 – Caves Beach Resort, Newcastle South
27 October 2010 – Players Bar, Mandurah
28 October 2010 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
29 October 2010 – Astor Theatre, Perth
30 October 2010 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
3 November 2010 – Powerhouse, Toowoomba
4 November 2010 – Joes Waterhole, Eumundi
5 November 2010 – The Hi Fi, Brisbane
6 November 2010 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
12 November 2010 – Wrest Point Showroom, Hobart
13 November 2010 – Saloon Bar, Launceston
17 November 2010 – ANU Bar, Canberra
18 November 2010 –Grand Hotel, Wollongong
19 November 2010 – Metro Theatre, Sydney (All Ages)
20 November 2010 – A Day In The Desert Festival, Kalgoorlie

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Marcia Hines Does Carole King for 40th Anniversary

Marcia Hines is taking on the music of Carole King with her latest album, not so originally titled Marcia Sings Tapestry.

“Carole King’s Tapestry is an album that has been very integral in my life,” explained Marcia in a statement. “I love singing and these songs allow me to sing.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: Australian singer Marcia Hines performs at the 70's Disco International party held at the Equilibrium Hotel on July 14, 2007 in Sydney, Australia. The event is the first in a series of 24 parties held in over 24 cities over a 6-month period, re-living the music, colours and fashion of the 70's era. (Photo by Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images)


Like Marcia, and a great many other girls out there, I also hold Tapestry really close to my heart. I only hope she can do those beautiful songs justice. I’m nervous, as I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone cover those songs just right, but I’ll withhold my judgement until I take a listen.

The release of the album coincides with the 40th anniversary of Marcia’s foray into show business. Goodness isn’t she looking good for it! To celebrate it all, Marcia will perform two intimate shows: one at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre on November 20 and the other at Sydney’s State Theatre on December 4. The first half of the concerts will be dedicated to four decades of Marcia Hines hits, while the second will bring the songs of Tapestry to the stage.

“It’s going to be two very different moods and that’s a beautiful thing,” Marcia said. “I love them both.”

I could say that ending a show on the songs of someone else probably isn’t the best way to celebrate your own career, but I love Marcia too much to be catty about it. Tickets for both shows go on sale on September 15, and the album will hit stores on October 1.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Guns N’ Roses Rock Out with KoRn

Guns N’ Roses have announced a couple of sideshows to complement their appearance at the V8 Supercar Championships in Sydney later this year. The band will headline shows in Townsville, Adelaide, and Perth this December alongside fellow countrymen KoRn.

“This is a very exciting tour for us,” said promoter Andrew McManus. “I saw Guns N’ Roses perform in Helsinki earlier this year and I’ve never seen a bigger crowd. It was a wild concert with over 60,000 fans going freakin’ berserk! They were really well behaved and were there purely to give the band as much energy back as the band gave them, which believe me was a ton full! I got goose bumps hearing the crowd leave the venue all as one singing ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’.”

This tour has been a long time coming, as the band haven’t played Oz since 2007. Personally I think things will never be the same without Slash, but I have no doubt fans will turn out to catch tracks like “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Paradise City,” and “ November Rain.”

Tickets for all shows go on sale at noon on September 7.

1 December 2010 – Reid Park, Townsville
7 December 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
11 December 2010 – Motorplex, Perth

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jinja Safari Launch Debut EP with Sydney and Melbourne Shows

Jinja Safari will launch their self-titled debut EP with two shows in Sydney and Melbourne this September.

Even before it hits shelves the recording has been named Indie Album of the Week in The Brag, and its single “Forest Eyes” is enjoying steady airplay on independent radio stations. Not bad for a duo that only met earlier this year!

See Jinja Safari at their EP launch shows, and the following festivals.

8 September 2010 – Big Sound, Brisbane
11 September 2010 – Valley Fiesta, Brisbane
18 September 2010 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
19 September 2010 – Changing Lanes, Sydney
23 September 2010 – Goodgod Small Club, Sydney
25 September 2010 – Coaster Festival, Gosford
30 December 2010 – Falls Festival, Lorne

Image used with permission from Other Tongues

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Skipping Girl Vinegar Get Wasted

Being as it’s a Saturday it seems only right to chat about Skipping Girl Vinegar and their new song “Wasted.”

Inspired by a big night out at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel, the track is deliciously organic with a drum kit found in a dumpster, rubbish bins, and roadside hard rubbish all providing percussion. It’s raucous and just the kind of song you want to play as you head out for your own Saturday evening.

The song is a sneak peek of what lies ahead for the band, a little taster of what to expect from the as-yet-untitled sophomore album which should hit stores early next year. Skipping Girl Vinegar can’t wait that long to get in front of their local fans though, so they’re heading out next month on their Drown It Out single tour.

3 September 2010 – Troubadour, Brisbane (with special guests Autumn Sun & The Lucky Wonders)
10 September 2010 – Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor
11 September 2010 – Funk N Grooves Festival, Hunter Valley
11 September 2010 – RAVAL, Sydney (with special guest Ruby for Lucy)
18 September 2010 – The Toff In Town, Melbourne (with special guests Hello Satellites & Young Werther)

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Who’s Comin’ Along to Earthworker’s Tour?

After supporting Ash Grunwald around the traps in June, Earthworker, or Dean Carroll as he’s known to his mates, will set out on his own for the Who’s Comin’ Along tour.

The tour supports the single of the same name, which is the first cut from Earthworker’s debut album Seeds of Light, due to hit stores in January. The single’s release will be accompanied with a music video which sees Earthworker do his upbeat blues rock thing live, with just a hint of pirate. And don’t we all need more pirate in our lives?

If you do, make sure you get along to these shows next month. He’ll perform some with a four-piece band, and others solo and intimate, so you’ll never know quite what you’re going to get. I love an artist that keeps you guessing!

2 September 2010 – Hotel Maroochydore, Maroochydore
3 September 2010 – Coolum Beach Hotel, Coolum
5 September 2010 – Doing Dads Proud Festival, Sunshine Coast
11 September 2010 – The Chippo, Darwin
25 September 2010 – Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Re:enactment Spruik Single on East Coast Tour

Upbeat Brisbane electro rock act re:enactment are heading out on the road to promote their double A-side single “Talent for Retail,” which features the songs “Problematic” and “Nintendogs.” There’s even a bonus B-side “Don’t Even” and a live version of fan favourite “Steel Drums” to add value.

Honestly, with physical singles being on their last legs thanks to the introduction of digital downloads I’m thrilled to see a band offering so much in this format. If you are too, make sure you get out and show your support at re:enactment’s upcoming shows.

18 September 2010 – The Troubadour, Brisbane (with Hunz, Moon Jog and Toy Balloon)
23 September 2010 – The Old Bar, Melbourne (with Sleep Decade and Cast& Crew)
25 September 2010 – Pony, Melbourne (with Caught Ship, Tantrums and No Real Need)
30 September 2010 – Excelsior, Sydney (with World Champion, Lumiere and Solkyri)
1 October 2010 – World Bar, Sydney (with Paper Moon, Howl at the Moon, Convaire)

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Arrested Development and N*E*R*D Headline Pyramid Rock

If you’re looking for something to fill the void left by Homebake, consider a trip to Phillip Island for this year’s Pyramid Rock Festival. It might not be entirely home grown, but this year’s festival is shaping up to be something pretty special with an eclectic line-up of international and local acts.

Overseas talent N*E*R*D, Arrested Development and Chromeo will join big name Aussies including The Temper Trap, supergroup The Basement Birds, reformed rockers Tumbleweed, Xavier Rudd, Gyroscope, and heaps more.

Pyramid Rock will take over Phillip Island from Wednesday December 29 to January 1. I can’t think of a better way to ring in the New Year, can you? Let’s just hope the rain stays away!

To that end, if you were one of the folks let down by last year’s event you’ll be interested to note that organisers are looking to make amends. If you were caught in that mother of all electrical storms, you’ll receive discounted entry and priority tickets to this year’s show. Head to the Pyramid Rock website for more details.

Tickets for Pyramid Rock go on sale from the official website on September 14.

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Homebake Festival Scrapped for 2010

The Homebake Festival will be rested this year, but don’t count the event out just yet.

Organisers say they came to the tough decision as this year’s show simply wasn’t shaping up to Homebake standard. They’re now focusing their efforts on the future.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 05: Tim Finn performs on stage during Homebake 2009 in the Domain on December 5, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)


“As we’ve not been able to have the ‘planets align’ to a standard we feel appropriate to the long standing reputation of Australia’s largest ‘locals only’ event, we’d rather focus on a positive future and are instead planning for a unique return version of Homebake Festival to take place during the first week of December 2011,” the press release reads.

With the quality of local acts, it blows my mind that organisers couldn’t field a stellar festival in 2010. At any rate though, I’m glad they’re not throwing in the towel. In the overcrowded festival calendar, I really liked Homebake’s unique homegrown vision, and I hope to see it realised again in 2011.