Category: Tours

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ocean Alley Drops Sexy New Single Ahead of New Album Release

I’ve been impressed with Sydney’s Ocean Alley since the release of their sophomore EP In Purple way back in 2015. But the strength of their new single “Confidence” makes me wonder whether their new album Chiaroscuro may be their most accomplished to date.

There’s a, dare I say it, confidence in this track. The groove is laidback but the band so tight. The song’s lyrics won’t change the world, but the vocals are utterly sexy. I’m also a sucker for any clip that involves roller skating.

Chiaroscuro drops on March 9. Ocean Alley will tour the album around the country with appearances at Groovin the Moo and some headlining dates.

14 April 2018 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
21 April 2018 – The Enmore, Sydney
27 April 2018 – Groovin The Moo, Wayville
28 April 2018 – Groovin The Moo, Maitland
29 April 2018 – Groovin The Moo, Canberra
5 May 2018 – Groovin The Moo, Bendigo
6 May 2018 – Groovin The Moo, Townsville
11 May 2018 – Metropolis, Fremantle
12 May 2018 – Groovin The Moo, Bunbury
19 May 2018 – The Forum, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Bianca Blancato

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get Ready to Fall For “Love” by The Avenue

The Avenue have me punching my fist in the air with the release of their awesome new synth-rock anthem “Love.”

This song is seriously catchy, with killer vocals from Sam Thomas and lyrics about desire that are so relatable.

“’Love’ is by far our heaviest and most punk/grunge song,” Sam explained. “It’s about the feeling of your body screaming out for a person but your mind detesting the thought of them.”

“Love” is the first track lifted from The Avenue’s sophomore EP, Names. They’re currently on the road celebrating its release. You can catch The Avenue at Ric’s Bar in Brisbane on March 3 before the big EP launch at the Evelyn Hotel in Melbourne on March 10.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Iluka Releases New Video and Announces Tour

I adored Iluka’s single “Sympathy” when I first heard it in December, but I’ve fallen in love with it all over again with the release of the music video.

It’s the perfect foil for her girl power anthem, with a 1960s housewife abandoning domestic drudgery upon seeing Iluka.

“The whole premise of the song is about radical self expression in an all too often repressive society. The video serves as an expressive response, through art, through colour, through movement, and through community. My vision was to bring together a bunch of beautiful, creative people – dancers, painters, sculptors, circus performers, photographers, musicians – in a wild, dreamlike world and simply give them the freedom to be themselves,” Iluka explained. Joining forces with award winning writer and director Kate Haplin, the video seeks to inspire. Their period piece reminding viewers things weren’t so different 50 years ago and Iluka is leading the charge to fight the good fight.

“Sympathy” comes from Iluka’s forthcoming EP Ritual, which drops on April 6. Wasting no time, Iluka will start her EP tour the same day. Tickets are on sale now.

6 April 2018 – Mo’s Clubhouse, Gold Coast
7 April 2018 – Bloodhound Bar, Brisbane
12 April 2018 – Transit Bar, Canberra (FREE)
14 April 2018 – Grace Darling, Melbourne
20 April 2018 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
21 April 2018 – Waywards, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tom Lee-Richards Charms Me With Amazing New Single “Out of the Oddness”

Aussies have a habit of claiming any talented Kiwi as our own. And when they base themselves here and they’re as amazing as Tom Lee-Richards, I think it’s totally justified. I’ve raved about his previous releases “Madness” and “What Could Otherwise,” and I’m every bit as enamoured with his latest effort, “Out of the Oddness.”

I love Tom’s uniqueness. He has such an original, haunting sound. “Out of the Oddness” is a mesmerising song. I’m well and truly under its spell.

This is the title track from Tom’s first mini LP, which drops on February 23. He’ll kick off an Australian tour on the same day before heading to New Zealand and Europe.

23 February 2018 – Flow Bar, Old Bar
1 March 2018 – Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast
3 March 2018 – Sheoak Shack, Fingal Head
4 March 2018 – Milk Factory, Brisbane
10 March 2018 – Smiths alt, Canberra
11 March 2018 – Birdhouse, Wagga Wagga
16 March 2018 – The Exeter, Adelaide
21 March 2018 – The Gasometer, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rapaport Lays Down Cool Grooves With “Don’t Sweat It” Single

Rapaport offers words to live by with the release of his catchy new single, “Don’t Sweat It.” While the track could be a mantra for life, it was inspired by a chance encounter with an ex.

“I wrote ‘Don’t Sweat It’ after running into an ex-girlfriend, thinking it might cheer me up,” Rapaport said. “It didn’t. But now it’s fun to annoy my new girlfriend by playing it.”

“Don’t Sweat It” is the latest single from Rapaport’s sophomore album Village Idiot, set to drop on March 2. Rapaport will join Butterfingers on their Bullet to the Head tour, an opportunity that he calls “an honour.” Make sure you arrive early enough for his set at the following shows:

29 March 2018 – Club 54, Launceston
30 March 2018 – Republic Bar, North Hobart
31 March 2018 – Ed Castle, Adelaide
1 April 2018 – Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood
5 April 2018 – The Basement, Belconnen
6 April 2018 – Gearin Hotel, Katoomba
7 April 2018 – Factory Floor, Marrickville
13 April 2018 – Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
14 April 2018 – The Brightside, Fortitude Valley
19 April 2018 – Settler’s Tavern, Margaret River
20 April 2018 – The Sewing Room, Perth
21 April 2018 – Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury
4 May 2018 – Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heights
5 May 2018 – Miami Tavern, Miami

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Thomas Keating Flies Solo With “Begin Again”

Sydney singer-songwriter Thomas Keating honed his craft with the bands Thieves and Good Counsel. Now we get the chance to hear what he can do solo with the release of his first single, “Begin Again.” It’s a beautiful modern folk-rock track which hints at a promising solo career ahead.

If you like what you hear, there’s plenty more where that came from. Thomas Keating will hit the road this autumn with a full band and a backlog of great new tunes. Catch him at the following shows this March.

23 March 2018 – The Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
24 March 2018 – The Factory Marrickville Floor, Sydney
31 March 2018 – The Grace Darling, Melbourne

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Abbe May on Tour With “Seventeen” Single and “Fruit” Album

Abbe May isn’t afraid to lay her heart and life bare in her new single “Seventeen,” an intimate reflection on her formative years and the experiences that shaped her.

I love this track’s dark brooding grittiness. Its sultry groove and Abbe’s vocals are also right on point. “Seventeen” was the first song written for Abbe’s new album Fruit, which is in stores now. It sets the theme for her first release since coming out last year.

“It took 30 years to be in a position to write this song. It’s intended as a letter for my niece to read when she turns 17, 21 and 28. It’s a love letter detailing all the stupid and wonderful things I’ve done in my life,” Abbe explained. “If she ever doubts herself, she’ll have this song to remind her everyone struggles but that it is finding purpose, not pleasure or happiness that makes life worth living.” said Abbe.

Abbe is currently touring Fruit around the country. Here are all the remaining dates.

16 February 2018 – Ed Castle, Adelaide
17 February 2018 – Clancy’s, Dunsborough
23 February 2018 – Yah Yah’s, Melbourne
24 February 2018 – Hobart Brewing Co, Hobart
8 March 2018 – Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney
10 March 2018 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle

Image used with permission from Minor Major

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Female Voices On Show at WOW Festival in Queensland

Strong female voices will be celebrated in Queensland this April as part of the WOW (Women of the World) Festival. The Queensland-based event features an outstanding arts program culminating with a special edition of Queensland Music Festival’s Songs That Made Me show at QPAC’s Concert Hall on April 8.

The show features performers from all corners of the Commonwealth including ShoShona Kish from Canadian duo Digging Roots, Fijian Queen of Pop Laisa Lualala Vulakoro, and our own Clare Bowditch, Deborah Conway, and Emily Wurramara.

“The energetic WOW program will be full of fun and laughter with serious reflection for women and girls, men and boys from all walks of life, ages and nationalities, with Songs That Made Me as a glittering and inspiring finale in the Concert Hall at QPAC,” confirmed Cathy Hunt, WOW’s Australian executive producer.

“Music is a deeply personal experience, but the themes and feeling it elicits are universal. Hearing from musicians about what music has moved them will not just be interesting, but uplifting and inspiring,” added John Kotzas, QPAC’s chief executive.

Tickets for Songs That Made Me and all other WOW Festival events are on sale now.

Image used with permission from Agency North

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Join Dallas Frasca on Tour With A Hitch to the Sticks Festival

If you’ve ever wanted to live the rock and roll lifestyle on a tour bus, now you get your chance thanks to Dallas Frasca’s revolutionary new music festival, A Hitch to the Sticks.

This unique band-tour-meets-VIP-experience will see 50 music fans spending three days on a regional tour bus with Dallas and some special guests including Nicky Bomba and Liv Cartledge. The bus leaves from Melbourne on March 16 and heads north to six secret locations and four public events across Violet Town, Lima, Myrrhee, Tatong, Thoona, Wangaratta, and Moyhu. I’ve got to admit, I haven’t even heard of half those places, so I assume they don’t get a lot of live music! Along the way, ticket holders will take part in a hedge maze “artist hunt” to find live local artists, a rock and roll slumber party, meet celebrity hitchhikers, and see a performance by a special international mystery guest.

There are still some bus tickets remaining as I write this, but since there are just 50 I don’t expect them to last long. If you miss out, you can catch up with Dallas and the passengers at the public events, like the Down by the River Festival in Wangaratta. Keep an eye on the A Hitch to the Sticks website for details of public event. Festival tickets are also available through the site.

Image credit: Mark Jesser. Used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Acclaimed South African Singer-Songwriter Jeremy Loops Announces May Tour

Ordinarily when I tell you to go check out a touring artist, it’s because I’ve heard their new music and fallen love. Funnily enough, that’s not what’s happened with Jeremy Loops. The new single from this South African singer-songwriter, “Waves” is a little predictable for my tastes. It sounds like the sort of thing that could do very well on the charts, but there was nothing to really get me excited.

But then Spotify kept playing and I heard some of Jeremy’s earlier material. Songs like “Sinner,” “Skinny Blues,” and “Trip Fox” had this cool rootsy folky vibe that I really love. So if like me “Waves” isn’t thrilling you, please dig a little deeper. You might just find yourself heading to one of the following shows.

22 May 2018 – The Capitol, Perth
23 May 2018 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide
24 May 2018 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
26 May 2018 – The Zoo, Brisbane
27 May 2018 – Factory Theatre, Sydney

Image used with permission from SGC Media