James Reyne Plays Greatest Hits

I’ve always thought of James Reyne as the perfect model for how an Australian musician should conduct their career. He continues to produce top quality albums and gig all around the country, delicately striking the balance of giving the fans what they want to hear while developing his artistry. There hasn’t been a lot of fanfare around his more recent album releases, but they’re always fabulous.

Late in 2013, James celebrated those songs and all his old favourites at his A Crawl to Now shows at The Basement in Sydney. It seems it had so much fun that he’s taking the show on the road. The gigs which will feature the hits from James’ Australian Crawl days, his time with Company of Strangers, and his stellar solo songs. They’ll be all acoustic too, with able support from Tracy and Brett Kingman.

“Whilst I’m not inclined to get all nostalgic, it feels like the right time to go through this material and present it songbook style,” James said in a press release. “The songs we’ve chosen are a lot of fun to perform – and it scratches my never-ending itch to tour, to play live!”

If you’ve never seen James play, this is the perfect opportunity. And if you have, you know you won’t want to miss these greatest hits sets.

4 April 2014 – Wrestpoint, Hobart
5 April 2014 – Country Club, Launceston
11 April 2014 – Flying Saucer Club, Caulfield
12 April 2014 – Royal Theatre, Castlemaine
13 April 2014 – Caravan Club, Oakleigh
17 April 2014 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
18 April 2014 – The Basement, Sydney
19 April 2014 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why
20 April 2014 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
30 April 2014 – Friends Restaurant, Perth
1 May 2014 – The Deck Restaurant, Busselton
2 May 2014 – Charles Hotel, Perth
4 May 2014 – Boab Tavern, Wycombe
9 May 2014 – Norwood Hotel, Adelaide
10 May 2014 – Goolwa Aquatic Centre ‘Concert Club’, Goolwa

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Christopher Coleman Collective Wows Me with “Go Home”

In my humble opinion, Tasmania is producing some of the best folk musicians in the country. Think Dewayne Everettsmith, Lincoln le Fevre, and The Blue Mosquitoes to name a few. Now we can add Christopher Coleman Collective to the list.

Tassie’s been keeping him a state secret for a few years, but he’s finally starting to earn some mainland recognition with the recent release of his self-titled debut album. It features the new single “Go Home,” a stunning song with guest vocals from The Choir of High Hopes Hobart.

If you love Christopher Coleman Collective’s honest vocals and poetic lyrics, you can soak them up at the following shows.

15 March 2014 – Baby Black Espresso Bar, Bacchus Marsh
19 March 2014 – Babushka Bar, Ballarat
20 March 2014 – The Music Man Megastore, Bendigo
21 March 2014 – Shebeen, Melbourne
27 March 2014 – The Front Gallery, Lyneham
28 March 2014 – Royal Exchange, Newcastle
29 March 2014 – The Newsagency, Marrickville NSW
3 April 2014 – Grand Junction, Maitland
4 April 2014 – The Pier, Port Macquarie NSW
5 April 2014 – No 5 Church Street, Bellingen NSW
10 April 2014 – Dowse Bar, Paddington
11 April 2014 – The Singing Gallery, McLaren Vale
12 April 2014 – A Music Warehouse Project, Adelaide
19 April 2014 – The Pav, Launceston

The Jezabels Announce Headline Shows

I’ve been loving The Jezabels’ latest songs from their new album The Brink, so I’m pretty excited to hear the band’s playing their first headline dates for the year next month. These shows are in addition to their upcoming appearances at the Groovin the Moo festival.

Blink and you’ll miss them; The Jezabels will play just five shows including two at the prestigious Sydney Opera House.

28 & 29 April 2014 – Opera House, Sydney
2 May 2014 – The Palais Theatre, Melbourne
6 May 2014 – The Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane
9 May 2014 – The Astor Theatre, Perth

Image used with permission from Secret Service Public Relations

Twelve Foot Ninja Prepare for Troll Burger Tour

After setting the internet ablaze with their record breaking crowdfunded video for “Ain’t That a Bitch,” Twelve Foot Ninja are hitting the road for their aptly named The Troll Burger tour.

After this tour wraps the Melbourne band’s heading to the United States to play the festival circuit, so this might be your last chance to see them for a while. Tickets are available from their website for the following shows.

21 March 2014 – The Zoo, Brisbane
22 March 2014 – Miami Tavern, Shark Bar Gold Coast
27 March 2014 – ANU Bar, Canberra
28 March 2014 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
29 March 2014 – Manning Bar, Sydney
4 April 2014 – 170 Russell, Melbourne
11 April 2014 – The Gov, Adelaide (ALL AGES)
19 April 2014 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR

123 Agency Artists Unite for Mi Casa Su Casa

Do you want to see the best up and coming talents sharing one stage? Well you’ve got it, because the 123 Agency’s massive Mi Casa Su Casa tour is kicking off tonight. It features some of the agency’s brightest talents – Tales in Space, Pierce Brothers, Stillwater Giants, Yeo, Gena Rose Bruce, and Blonde On Blonde –joining forces to put on one hell of a show.

Line ups don’t get much more diverse than this. We’ve got dance infused rock, indie-folk, and pop, all existing in harmony to delight punters around the country. The line up will change each night, so fans will always get a new, fresh, Mi Casa Su Casa experience!

7 March 2014 – Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane (Tales In Space, Blonde On Blonde, Pierce Brothers)
8 March 2014 – Solbar, Maroochydore (Tales In Space, Blonde On Blonde, Pierce Brothers)
9 March 2014 – The Brewery, Byron Bay (Tales In Space, Blonde On Blonde, Pierce Brothers)
14 March 2014 – Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne (Pierce Brothers, Tales In Space, Gena Rose Bruce)
15 March 2014 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay (Pierce Brothers, Tales In Space, Gena Rose Bruce)
20 March 2014 – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury (Stillwater Giants, Tales In Space – FREE)
22 March 2014 – Amplifier, Perth (Stillwater Giants, Tales In Space)
23 March 2014 – Newport Hotel, Fremantle (Stillwater Giants, Tales In Space – FREE)
27 March 2014 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla (Tales In Space, Pierce Brothers)
29 March 2014 – Upstairs Beresford, Sydney (Yeo, Tales In Space, Pierce Brothers – FREE)
30 March 2014 – The Small Ballroom, Newcastle (Yeo, Tales In Space, Pierce Brothers)

Dewayne Everettsmith Releases Long-Awaited Solo Album

I can’t say that tourism ads are generally where I go looking for great music, but I found it when Tourism Australia featured Dewayne Everettsmith’s song “It’s Like Love” in their last campaign. I feel head over heels for the tune way back in 2012, and was desperate to hear more. He’ll finally show us what else is in his bag of tricks when he releases his debut album Surrender on March 14.

“When I wrote most of these songs, I was obviously in emotional turmoil – difficult things in my life,” he explained. “The idea was that when someone listens to it, it touches a nerve but they take a positive from it. That was the ultimate aim.”

If that intrigues you, make sure you grab a copy of the album and see Dewayne playing its songs live at a venue near you.

6 March 2014 – Kulcha, Fremantle
8 March 2014 – Kings Park, Perth (supporting Gurrumul)
9 March 2014 – Spiegeltent (10 Days On The Island), Hobart
11 March 2014 – Arts Centre Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise
14 March 2014 – Factory Floor, Marrickville
16 March 2014 – Casterton/Sandford Football/Netball Club, Casterton
20 March 2014 – Captains at Mariners, Batemans Bay
21 March 2014 – Southern Cross Club, Canberra
23 March 2014 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
26 March 2014 – Civic Centre, Wagga Wagga
27 March 2014 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
28 March 2014 – Lizotte’s, Central Coast
29 March 2014 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Postblue Get Ugly, and I Like It

The fuzzy, unpolished sound of Postblue isn’t the sort of thing I’d normally go for, but there’s something about this meeting of Byron Bay and Melbourne musicians that’s gotten underneath my skin. I couldn’t help thinking of the grunge acts of the ‘90s as I listened to “Ugly,” the latest song lifted from their debut album I Hope They’re Praying For Me.

The album is scheduled to hit stores on March 21, and they’ll celebrate with a string of shows all around the country. Stablemates Luca Brasi will serve as support act for the following dates.

14 March 2014 – Magpies Club, Canberra
15 March 2014 – Hermann’s Bar, Sydney
16 March 2014 – Beatdisc Records, Parramatta (ALL AGES)
21 March 2014 – John Curtin Hotel, Melbourne
22 March 2014 – Crowbar, Brisbane
23 March 2014 – The Lab, Brisbane (ALL AGES)
11 April 2014 – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
12 April 2014 – Secret Venue, Hobart (ALL AGES)
12 April 2014 – Royal Oak Hotel, Launceston

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR

Sam Buckingham Tours “Shackles”

Aussie folk songstress Sam Buckingham spends most of her time in the United States these days, so opportunities to see her play are few and far between. But she’ll play her first, and possibly her last Australian shows for 2014 when she promotes her single “Shackles” this month.

Fans of this blog might remember watching Sam playing the song with Buffalo Tales last October. Now the song’s got an official release and a gorgeous black and white video to match. Following this tour, Sam will head back to New York to get back to collaborating with some of America’s top producers and songwriters. Who knows when we’ll see this bright talent again, so catch her live while you’ve got the chance!

19 February 2014 – Revolver, Prahran
20 February 2014 – Baha’s, Mornington Peninsula
21 February 2014 – Fringe Festival, Adelaide
26 February 2014 – The Rhythm Hut, Gosford
1 March 2014 – The Shack, Narrabeen
2 March 2014 – The Newsagency, Marrickville
13 March 2014 – The Front, Canberra

The Preatures Release Latest Single & Take on the World

Following up “Is This How you Feel?” was always going to be a big ask for The Preatures. That song was just so good. But I think they’ve made a good effort with their latest release “Better Than It Ever Could Be.”

This song’s got great energy and infectious hooks. I’m not sure if I like it quite as much as “Is This How You Feel?” but if you ask me again, after I’ve heard it as many times as that song, I might answer differently. Following up a track that’s done so well is always tough, and I think The Preatures have done a great job. It certainly sends the message that this band is no one-hit wonder.

They’ll cement their reputation as one of Australia’s hottest new acts with the following shows in Europe and the United States. If you’re living abroad, make sure you don’t miss them!

17 February 2014 – Water Rats, London
18 February 2014 – King Tuts, Glasgow
19 February 2014 – Bodega, Nottingham
22 February 2014 – Lido, Berlin
23 February 2014 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
24 February 2014 – Prinzenbar, Hamburg
25 February 2014 – Boule Noir, Paris
28 February 2014 – Night and Day Café, Manchester
4 March 2014 – 100Club, London
6 March 2014 – The Mercury Lounge, NYC
11-16 March 2014 – SXSW, Austin
11 & 18 April 2014 – Coachella, Palm Springs

Stonefield Finally Play WA

Western Australia, your patience has been rewarded. Sister act Stonefield will finally bring their album tour to your part of the country next week.

Expect plenty of energy and big heavy guitar riffs when the girls from Victoria touch down next week! Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

13 February 2014 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
14 February 2014 – Clancy’s, Dunsborough
15 February 2014 – The Capitol, Perth

Image used with permission from the 123 Agency