Stevie Wonder Announces Aussie Visit

Soul music legend Stevie Wonder is heading to Australia for the first time since the 1980s!

The Grammy-award-winning megastar will bring his acclaimed band to capital cities around the country for some very special shows in October.

They’re set to be jam-packed with hits, thanks to his impressive back catalogue which includes “Signed Sealed Delivered (I’m Yours),” “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” “Higher Ground,” “Master Blaster,” “My Cherie Amore” and stacks more.

You can grab your tickets to see this living legend when they go on sale on 24 July. Here are the dates!

14 October 2008 – Burswood Dome, Perth
16 October 2008 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
19 October 2008 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
22 October 2008 – Acer Arena, Sydney
25 October 2008 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre

Image source: Antonio Cruz @ Wikimedia Commons

Angus and Julia Stone Tour the World

The coolest brother and sister duo around, Angus and Julia Stone, have just wrapped up their sold-out Australian tour, but don’t expect them to sit idly for too long. After a short break, the Sydney siblings are heading overseas to join the European summer festival circuit.

The Stones will kick off their European jaunt with an appearance at Ledbury’s Big Chill Festival on August 1. From there they’ll play festivals in Scotland, Holland, and Germany, and a very special gig at The Roundhouse in London.

Angus and Julia Stone have earned rave reviews in Europe for their album A Book Like This, so this tour should be huge for them. UNCUT described it as “A triumph of intimacy,” while MOJO said “The virtue’s in the detail.”

After The Stones conquer Europe they’ll head to the USA for their first ever shows in support of their American album release. Then it’s back to Europe for a full tour, because they head back here in December!

If you can’t wait quite that long for your Angus and Julia Stone fix, make sure you catch their recent performance at The Basement. It’ll screen on ABC 1 on Thursday July 31 at 11 pm.

Image source: Pn57 @ Wikimedia Commons

Disturbed Ready to Rock Oz

Metal fans have something to celebrate with news that Disturbed are heading to Australia for a massive tour.

Disturbed have reached heights most bands of their genre can only dream of, selling in excess of ten million albums worldwide. That success has only continued with the release of their fourth album, Indestructible, which recently reached number one on the Aussie and American charts.

Disturbed will play shows with the acclaimed P.O.D., Alter Bridge, and Behind Crimson Eyes. Fans are going to snap these tickets up, so make sure you get yours when they go on sale on 10 July. This monster metal lineup will play the following shows:

29 August 2008 – Metro City, Perth
31 August 2008 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
2 August 2008 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
3 September 2008 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
4 September 2008 – Newcastle Entertainment Centre
6 September 2008 – Festival Hall, Melbourne

Image source: Razvan Orendovici @ Wikimedia Commons

Big Names and Blues at Aussie Wineries

Winter weather tends to make me a little stir-crazy. I love the cold, but my concert calendar always looks a little threadbare. But with the announcement of the first Day of the Green concert of the year, I’m reminded that summer isn’t too far away.

The season kicks off with a massive double bill: John Mellencamp (I believe he’s dropped the Cougar again) and Sheryl Crow. This is the sort of show where you will literally know every song, and have a mighty fine time singing along.

If you don’t live near one of the wineries, you can probably catch the show at your local ent cent. The indoor gigs have the added bonus of Aussie troubadour Shane Nicholson, but they will lose out on atmosphere. If there’s any way you can get yourself to one of the Day on the Green events, I strongly advise it.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 7 July for the following shows:

15 November 2008 – Sandalford Wines, Swan Valley
19 November 2008 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
21 November 2008 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
22 November 2008 – Rochford’s Eyton Winery, Yarra Valley
25 November 2008 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
28 November 2008 – Acer Arena, Sydney
29 November 2008 – Bimbadgen Estate, Hunter Valley

If November seems a little far away, why not consider heading to the Hunter Valley for the annual Bimbadgen Blues Festival? The amazing line-up brings you Australia’s finest blues musicians including Josh Pyke, Chain, Dallas Frasca and her Gentleman, Mojo Webb, Paul Greene, and heaps more.

Two stages will keep the entertainment coming thick and fast. You can also indulge in a gourmet picnic hamper from the award winning Esca restaurant, not to mention all that lovely Bimbadgen wine! Tickets are priced at $55, which isn’t bad value at all for six hours of fantastic music.

“What better way to kick off spring, and our festival season, than to relax with a selection of Bimbadgen reds and whites while enjoying the sounds of the blues?” asks Bimbadgen Estate General Manager John Quirk. What better way indeed!

Bimbadgen Blues is on at Bimbadgen Estate on Saturday 6 September. Check the website for further details and tickets.

Image source: Symbiosis @ Flickr

Sneaky Sound System Release Album Number 2

It’s been a long time since we’ve heard anything from Australia’s hottest dance outfit, Sneaky Sound System, but all that’s soon about to change. Miss Connie, Black Angus, and MC Double D are back with album number two called, funnily enough, 2.

No points for originality there, but it’s still going to do well thanks to a killer first single called “Kansas City.” The album will be repackaged in the UK to include the new stuff plus the best tracks from the first album. The British are going with “Pictures” for the first single, but it won’t be the same old thing. The UK recording will have a distinctly British flavour thanks to remixing by Rich Costey, the man behind Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, and Muse.

2 will hit Aussie shelves in August 16 before the Brits get it on September 22. To celebrate the release Sneaky Sound System will play a couple of east coast dates in August. Tickets are on sale from July 3 for the following dates.

16 and 17 of August 2008 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
26 and 27 of August 2008 – The Queensbridge, Melbourne
29 and 30 August 2008 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney

Image source: Hooverdust @ Flickr 

Missy Higgins Kicks Off American Tour

Missy Higgins has just wrapped up an American tour, and what better way to celebrate than starting another one?

The Aussie ex-pat is hitting the Midwest and America’s North East. It all kicks off on July 10 in Madison Wisconsin.

Missy is one of Australia’s finest singer-songwriters, so if you get the chance make sure you check her out.

Here are all the dates!

10 July 2008 – Majestic Theatre, Madison
11 July 2008 – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaulkee
12 July 2008 – Basilica Block Party, Minneapolis
13 July 2008 – People’s, Des Moines
15 July 2008 – Music Mill, Indianapolis
16 July 2008 – The Crofoot, Detroit
18 July 2008 – Madison Theatre, Covington
19 July 2008 – Phoenix Hill Tavern, Louisville
20 July 2008 – Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, Cleveland
22 July 2008 – The Tralf Music Hall, Buffalo
23 July 2008 – The Phoenix, Toronto
24 July 2008 – Les Saints, Montreal
26 July 2008 – Revolution Hall, Troy
27 July 2008 – Iron Horse, Northampton
29 July 2008 – Wilbur Theatre, Boston
30 July 2008 – The Hi Hat, Providence
31 July 2008 – Webster Hall, New York
2 August 2008 – Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia
3 August 2008 – The Birchmere, Alexandria
5 August 2008 – The Record Bar, Kansas City

Coaster Festival Kicks Off

There’s a brand new all-ages festival bringing the cream of Aussie talent to the Central Coast. It’s called Coaster, and it’s on for the very first time on September 20 at Gosford Showgrounds.

The lineup is massive, with The Living End, Kisschasy, The Potbelleez, Blue King Brown, Cog, and the Coast’s favourite sons Something with Numbers leading the charge.

With bands like this on the bill tickets won’t last. So make sure you get yours, and take advantage of the $10 earlybird discount, when they go on sale on Wednesday 2 July.

Image source: Pop Weasle @ Flickr

Paul Greene Hits the Road

Paul Greene is one of Australia’s best kept secrets. His album Distance Over Time recently hit number one on the iTunes blues and roots charts, and critics are raving about it.

Paul’s sold almost 30,000 albums locally, and played everything from major festivals to bar rooms to concert halls. You might have also caught him recently supporting American singer-songwriter supremo Patty Griffin and country king Adam Brand.

He’s just announced a bunch of new dates supporting this brand new disc. There are plenty of shows in the regional centres and capitals, so he’s bound to play near you soon. If you haven’t checked Paul out before, now’s the perfect time.

Click the link below for all the dates!

28 June 2008 – Royal Hotel, Corowa
29 June 2008 – Home Tavern, Wagga Wagga
3 July 2008 – Pot Belly, Canberra
10 July 2008 – Locomotive Hotel, Tamworth
11 July 2008 – Gunnedah Services Club
12 July 2008 – Moree Golf Club
20 July 2008 – Bateau Bay Hotel
25 July 2008 – Colac RSL (with Adam Brand)
26 July 2008 – Kinross Woolshed, Thurgoona (with Adam Brand)
30 July 2008 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
31 July 2008 – North Star Hotel, Melrose
1 August 2008 – Pier Hotel, Port Lincoln
2 August 2008 – Ceduna Sailing Club
7 August 2008 – Tanglehead Brewing Company, Albany
8 and 9 August 2008 – Quindanning Tavern
9 August 2008 – Cape Wine Bar, Dunsborough
10 August 2008 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
14 August 2008 – The Railway Hotel, Fremantle
15 August 2008 – Ronsard Bay Tavern, Cervantes
16 August 2008 – Freemason’s Hotel, Geraldton
27 August 2008 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay (with Andrew Morris & The Huckleberry Swedes)
28 August 2008 – The Troubadour, Brisbane (with Andrew Morris & The Huckleberry Swedes)
29-31 August 2008 – Toyota Muster, Amamoor State Forest via Gympie
6 September 2008 – Bimbadgen Blues, Pokolbin (with Josh Pyke, Chain and more)
7 September 2008 – CoastFest 2008, Point Wolstoncroft (with Jeff Lang, Epicure and many more)
4 October 2008 – Deni Ute Muster, Deniliquin (with Kasey Chambers, James Reyne & Mark Seymour, The Living End)
23 October 2008 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
24 October 2008 – Milton Playhouse Theatre
25 October 2008 – Kidgee Ridge Music Festival, Lake Conjola
26 October 2008 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli

Image supplied by Australian Music Biz

Operator Please Play Valley Fiesta

The lineup for Brisbane’s biggest free music festival, Valley Fiesta, was announced today and it’s an absolute doozie.

The coolest kids around, Operator Please, will headline the star-studded lineup, which includes Urthboy, DJ Dexter of The Avalanches, Jeff Lang, Little Birdy’s Katy Steele, Sparkadia, and stacks more.

You can catch all the fun in the Fortitude Valley from September 12 to 14.

Image source: Christoph! @ Flickr 

Rocket Science Dare to be Different

Melbourne rock gods Rocket Science are back with a brand new album and tour.

Their fourth release, Different Like You, is due out in July. Hopefully it will bring a change of fortune for this unlucky band. It’s their first album since singer Roman Tucker was involved in a car accident which left him a coma. Paul Maybury broke his leg not long after.

Barring anymore nasty mishaps, the laps will embark on a national tour in August. Here are the dates!

21 August 2008 – The Peninsula Lounge, Moorooduc
22 August 2008 – The Corner Hotel, Richmond
23 August 2008 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
28 August 2008 – Jive, Adelaide
29 August 2008 – Sandbar, Mildura
30 August 2008 – Green Room, Canberra
4, 5 and 6 September 2008 – Hopetoun Hotel, Surry Hills
11 September 2008 – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury
12 September 2008 – The Norfolk, Fremantle
13 September 2008 – Amplifier Bar, Perth
11 October 2008 – Sounds of Spring Festival, RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane