Category: Tour Announcements

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anna Smyrk and the Appetites Anticipate the Apocalypse

Can you believe it’s one week until Christmas? I hope most of you aren’t working as hard as I am. It’s a time of year when we should all be winding down, yet it seems so many people I know are operating on hyper speed.

If you’re feeling a bit ragged, give yourself just a few minutes to listen to “Apocalypse,” the sublime debut single from Melbourne’s Anna Smyrk and the Appetites. She’s got the voice of an angel and it works so beautifully in this moving song. And isn’t it wonderful to hear a modern song with a saxophone in a starring role?

Anna will launch the single with a string of intimate shows dubbed The Garden Party at the End of the World. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, but at least there’ll be good music at the end, right?

22 December 2013 – Open Sesame Festival @ Bar Open, Melbourne (4 pm til midnight)
3 January 2014 – Treehouse, Byron Bar (FREE @ 7:30 pm)
4 January 2014 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore (FREE @ 6 pm)
5 January 2014 – Queen Street Mall (FREE @ noon)
6 January 2014 – The Cave, Gold Coast (8 pm)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

South Africa’s Mango Groove Head to Australia

Like everyone across the world it seems, I was saddened to hear news this morning of Nelson Mandela’s passing. I thought about writing about it, but then decided that others probably had more to offer on the subject than a music blogger from Australia.

But then I came across an e-mail telling me Mango Groove are heading to our country next year. I must admit, I hadn’t heard of them, but then I read through their list of achievements and it seemed fortuitous that I stumbled across them today. They played at Freddie Mercury’s tribute. They played at the Hong Kong reunification concert, and at the Paris SOS Racism concert. And perhaps most importantly, this South African act played at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration.

And so I watched their performance from the Montreux jazz festival in 1992 and marvelled at their joy and positivity. It was a similar energy to the one which radiated from Mr Mandela. I remember being a young girl and not really understanding who he was, but loving his big wide smile. I’ll bet he liked this band.

So have a listen and remember the joy, and if you like what they do consider checking out Mango Groove when they visit Australia next year.

21 February 2014 – Red Hill Auditorium, Perth
23 February 2014 – Forum Theatre, Melbourne
28 February 2014 – Big Top Sydney @ Luna Park, Sydney
1 March 2014 – Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane
4 March 2014 – Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Darren Hanlon Plays Christmas Shows

Darren Hanlon will ring in the festive season once again with a string of Christmas shows. For the eighth year running, Darren will play solo, intimate shows in the major capitals, culminating with a set of shows at the Woodford Folk Festival.

The gigs are a kind of homecoming for Darren, who’s been spending time writing and recording his next album in the American South. He’s promising to play some of those new tunes as well as favourites from his back catalogue at the dates ahead.

Tickets for the following shows are on sale now.

21 December 2013 – St Stephens Anglican Church, Newtown
22 December 2013 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
23 December 2013 – Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley
27, 29 & 30 December 2013 – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodfordia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kingswood and Calling All Cars Unite for Beachy Shows

Kingswood and Calling All Cars are joining forces for what’s sure to be one of summer’s hottest tours. The Life’s A Beach shows will see the lads following the East Coast, playing in some of the best beachy beer barns our country has to offer.

Kingswood are particularly excited to get back in front of local audiences after an extended stay in the United States. They’ve got a new single, “Sucker Punch,” to plug and their long awaited debut LP on the way. Expect to hear a sneak peek of some of its songs ahead of its release early next year.

Meanwhile Calling All Cars are riding high on the success of their latest single “Werewolves.” It’s also a taste of more music to come; Calling All Cars will release album number three next year.

As if two great local talents wasn’t enough, She Rex will join the tour from January 4. Here are all the places you can get a massive dose of Aussie rock this summer.

27 December 2013 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
28 December 2013 – Tarwin Social Club, Tarwin Lower
29 December 2013 – Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads
30 December 2013 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
2 January 2014 – Carmens, Miranda
3 January 2014 – Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale
4 January 2014 – Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay
5 January 2014 – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
7 January 2014 – Yamba Bowling Club, Yamba
8 January 2014 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
9 January 2014 – Club Forster, Forster
10 January 2014 – The Northern, Byron Bay
11 January 2014 – The Tempo Hotel, Brisbane
12 January 2014 – Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast

Image used with permission from Remedy PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Rolling Stones Heading to Australia

Two weeks after announcing they’ll play the newly revamped Adelaide Oval next March, the Rolling Stones have released dates for a full-scale Australian tour.

The British rock veterans will kick off the Aussie leg of their 14 on Fire shows in Perth before making their way around the capitals. A show at Hanging Rock is sure to be the pick of them, although I’m sure there’ll be plenty of demand for all these gigs.

“We’re all looking forward to coming back Down Under,” Keith Richards said. “I can’t wait to get back on the stage with the boys.” Bandmade Mick Jagger adds that he “can’t wait to reconnect” with local fans.

There are whispers this will be The Stones’ last shows in this country, so if you’re a fan I wouldn’t second-guessing picking up tickets when they go on sale on December 16. Note that the Adelaide show has already sold out through an earlier sale.

19 March 2014 – Perth Arena
22 March 2014 – Adelaide Oval (SOLD OUT)
25 March 2014 – Allphones Arena, Sydney
28 March 2014 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
30 March 2014 – Hanging Rock, Macedon Ranges
2 April 2014 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Sunnyboys Release Best Of, and Announce Album Tour

The Sunnyboys are celebrating the songs that made them famous with a greatest hits album, dubbed Our Best Of, and the announcement of their first shows since 1991.

The greatest hits album features 16 of the Sunnyboys most iconic tracks, all remastered and handpicked by the band. There are the hit singles like “Alone With You” of course, but also some fan favourites and previously unreleased material. Our Best Of will be released on CD and digitally on December 6. I might be biased, but I’d opt for the CD which includes a 14-page booklet charting the band’s history and the meanings behind their songs.

The Sunnyboys will recruit fellow 80s icons including The Stems, The Frowning Clouds, and ex-Died Pretty frontman Ron S. Peno for the following reunion shows. Tickets are on sale now.

14 & 15 March 2014 – The Northern, Byron Bay
21 March 2014 – The Forum, Melbourne
23 March 2014 – The Gov, Adelaide
28 March 2014 – Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane
29 March 2014 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney

Image credit: Lucinda Bilson

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jimi Beavis Unleashes “Gentleman Giant”

Brisbane bluesman Jimi Beavis takes the road less travelled with the quirky new album Gentleman Giant.

The lead single “You’re Much too Young for Me” gives us a taste of what we can expect from this unusual artist. The track has a gorgeous old-timey blues feel, but it’s imbued with a thoroughly modern sense of humour. Jimi says the track came about when he returned to university as a mature age student and found himself surrounded by so many much younger, incredibly attractive women.

Jimi says Gentleman Giant has been in the makings since he was a teen listening to the music of Bob Dylan and his contemporaries, and later the music that inspired their sound. Through this period of keen musical discovery he amassed an insane knowledge of roots music as well as some serious harmonica skills. It comes on the back of Jimi’s two EPs, which gave him the studio experience he needed to tackle this ambitious long-player.

To celebrate Gentleman Giant’s release, Jimi will play a trio of launch shows in the East Coast capitals later this month.

Jimi Beavis will release Gentleman Giant independently on November 29. It’ll be available online from Jimi’s Bandcamp site, at selected Brisbane music stores, and at the following shows.

28 November 2013 – The Public Bar, Melbourne
1 December 2013 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
8 December 2013 – Coogee Diggers, Sydney

Image used with permission from Pricewar Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Human Nature Come Home for Christmas Shows

In the 90s there were plenty of opportunities to see Human Nature. It seemed they were always appearing at a local shopping centre, performing on a TV program, or playing anywhere from an RSL to an entertainment centre. Those were the days. I remember fondly making glittery signs, queuing for hours to get the best possie, and screaming my teenage lungs out from the front row.

We’re all a little older now and plenty of things have changed. I resigned myself to the fact that Toby and I just weren’t meant to be and found a husband that makes a pretty good stand-in. I also expanded my musical tastes although I still turn up their songs when they come on the radio. And Toby, Phil, Andrew, and Mike packed their bags and moved to Las Vegas where they’ve been wowing crowds for the last six years.

They’re half a world away from home, but the guys from Human Nature make the trip back every December to spend Christmas with their families and play shows for the fans who miss them terribly. This December is no exception. Human Nature tickets are now on sale for The Christmas Tour. As its name suggests, this tour will see the four-piece vocal group performing Christmas classics alongside their smash pop singles and the Motown hits that took them to Vegas all those years ago. Many of those festive tunes will also be featured on Human Nature’s The Christmas Album, which will hit Aussie stores tomorrow.

If like me you remember your heart skipping a few beats over Australia’s own boy band, you can see Human Nature at one of the following shows next month.

5-8 December 2013 – The Palms at Crown, Melbourne
13 & 14 December 2013 – Jupiter’s Casino, Brisbane
17 & 18 December 2013 – State Theatre, Sydney
19 December 2013 – Festival Theatre, Adelaide
20 December 2013 – Perth Zoo

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Poppy Positivity from Fox & Fowl

Canberra-formed and now Brisbane-based five-piece Fox & Fowl have exploded onto the music scene with a pop of positivity in the form of their first single “Pilot.” I challenge you to listen to this one without a smile on your face. “Pilot” is summery and full of hooks, driven by an effortlessly energetic performance from frontman Lachlan Smart.

Lachlan and his Fox & Fowl buddies all met in early 2011 when they relocated from regional NSW to study in the nation’s capital. After finishing uni, the band were at a crossroads so they decided to head to the fertile creative ground of Brisbane.

The band actually penned “Pilot” way back in those early uni days, but a little massaging from Brisbane producer Yanto Browning has it sounding fresh as a daisy. It’s not just Fox & Fowl’s first single. It’s also our first taste of their debut EP, which is scheduled for a release in early 2014.

Fox & Fowl will play shows supporting Kite Club and High-Tails, as well as a few headlining gigs, to support “Pilot’s” release.

6 November 2013 – Beach Road Hotel, Bondi, Sydney
7 November 2013 – Boney, Melbourne (supporting Kite Club and High-Tails)
9 November 2013 – The Gasometer, Melbourne (supporting Kite Club & High-Tails)
21 November 2013 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney (supporting Kite Club & High-Tails)
13 December 2013 – MUM World Bar, Sydney

Image used with permission from Recon Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

StormChasers Tour Funky New Single

It’s been one hell of a year for Brisbane’s StormChasers. The jazzy seven-piece have been busy touring, recording, releasing, and crowdfunding, all the while honing their signature brassy sound into something truly stellar. They’re capping off 2013 with the release of a brand new single “Figurout,” an irresistible number with a delicious, easy groove.

I love the way the song effortlessly melds jazz, hip-hop, soul, and funk. The track’s the first lifted from their forthcoming EP Hey Girl, which will be released digitally and on vinyl and CD next February.

To celebrate the release, StormChasers have scored a slot at the prestigious Woodford Folk Festival. They’ll also headline their own shows in the East Coast capitals.

“Figurout” will be available digitally on iTunes from November 13, which is not so coincidentally the start of the tour.

13 November 2013 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
22 November 2013 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
30 November 2013 – The Grace Darling Basement, Melbourne
31 December 2013 – Bazaar @ Woodford Folk Festival, Woodfordia
2 January 2014 – Bazaar @ Woodford Folk Festival, Woodfordia

Image used with permission from Pricewar Music