Category: Tour Announcements

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Michael Paynter Tours Long Awaited Debut Album

Michael Paynter has long been one of the hardest working singer-songwriters in the country, but it took his stint on The Voice for him to really hit the big time. It took that exposure for Michael to finally release his debut album Weary Stars a couple of days ago.

He wrote the album shortly after parting ways with Sony Music, and he said he’s thrilled for the public to finally hear it. It comes with a clip recorded in just one day in Avalon, Victoria, with the health of Pete Seamons from EPIK Films.

“I’ve loved his work with The Paper Kites, New Empire and Simple Plan, so I was incredibility excited to work with Pete,” Michael said. “ We went down to scope out the location with one idea and as soon as we stepped out of the car, all these new concepts started floating to our heads … the location kinda told us what it wanted to say.”

Michael will promote the album with some solo shows, as well as a couple of gigs with his old buddies from Icehouse.

12 February 2014 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
13 February 2014 – The Toff In Town, Melbourne
14 February 2014 – The Basement, Sydney
20 February 2014 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
21 February 2014 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why
22 February 2014 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
23 February 2014 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
7 March 2014 – Forest Edge Music Festival, Neerim East
19 March 2014 – Belmont Sailing Club, Belmont (with Icehouse)
20 March 2014 – Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill (with Icehouse)
22 March 2014 – The Astor Theatre, Perth
27 March 2014 – Jive, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Growlers Announce First Aussie Tour

Cool Californian act The Growlers have played venues everywhere from London to Brazil, and the stages of Coachella and Lollapalooza. Now they’re preparing to add Australia to the list with their first ever Aussie tour this March.

The band will be here to promote their EP Gilded Pleasures, which features the surf-drench, psychedelic-influenced rootsy grooves of “Humdrum Blues.” If you love it, you can hear more at the following shows.

5 March 2014 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
6 March 2014 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
7 March 2014 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
8 March 2014 – The Tote, Melbourne

Image used with permission from SCG Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Boy & Bear Announce Regional Dates

So many bands focus on the capitals, so it’s refreshing to see Boy & Bear heading out to regional centres for their next tour. After conquering Europe and America, the lads will return home to play regional towns in almost every state and territory in the country.

“This will be the most extensive regional tour the band has done and we are very much looking forward to it,” gushed the band’s singer-songwriter Dave Hosking.  “We love the idea of playing to new people in new and exciting parts of the country.”

The 30-date regional run will celebrate the recent release of “Harlequin Dream,” the title track from their most recent album. I love the clip, which reminds us of the beauty of the Philippines. It was shot in Palawan just two weeks before Typhoon Haiyan hit. YouTube assures us that the people and locations we see in the clips are safe, as they were sheltered by the surrounding mountains, but it does offer links to Unicef, Oxfam, Australian Red Cross, and Save the Children Australia to make it easier to give to the cause.

Boy & Bear will play the following regional shows between April and May.

13 April 2014 – West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots @ Fremantle Park, Perth
16 April 2014 – Mackay Entertainment Centre, Mackay (ALL AGES)
17 April 2014 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
19 April 2014 – Brothers, Cairns (15+ must be accompanied by adult)
20 April 2014 – The Venue, Townsville
22 April 2014 – Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton (ALL AGES)
23 April 2014 – Harvey Road Tavern, Gladstone
24 April 2014 – Sugarland Tavern, Bundaberg
26 April 2014 – Sunshine Coast Function Centre, Caloundra
27 April 2014 – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba (ALL AGES)
30 April 2014 – Divers Tavern, Broome
2 May 2014 – Discovery, Darwin
8 May 2014 – Black Swan Hotel, Bendigo
9 May 2014 – Regent Cinema, Ballarat (ALL AGES)
10 May 2014 – Deakin’s Costa Hall, Geelong (ALL AGES)
11 May 2014 – Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool (ALL AGES)
14 May 2014 – Lismore Workers Club, Lismore
15 May 2014 – C.ex Club, Coffs Harbour
16 May – Panthers, Port Macquarie
17 May – Panthers, Newcastle (ALL AGES)
18 May 2014 – Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay
21 May 2014 – The Crow Bar @ CSU, Wagga (STUDENT ONLY EVENT)
22 May 2014 – Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra (ALL AGES)
23 May 2014 – ANU Bar, Canberra
24 May 2014 – Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury (ALL AGES)
25 May 2014 – Eastbank Centre, Shepparton (ALL AGES)
28 May 2014 – West Tamworth Leagues Club, Tamworth
29 May 2014 – Charles Sturt University, Bathurst
30 May 2014 – Orange Ex Services Club, Orange
31 May 2014 – Dubbo Ex Services Club, Dubbo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Ten Tenors Do Broadway

One of Australia’s most respected vocal acts, The Ten Tenors, will celebrate classic musicals with their new tour, The Ten Tenors on Broadway. They’ll warm up in the United States before bringing the shows back to their home turf from May.

This is the Ten Tenors like you’ve never seen them before, putting their own spin on iconic tunes from Oklahoma, Jersey Boys, Wicked, Phantom the Opera, West Side Story, Miss Saigon, and heaps more. An all-female string section and orchestration from the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra will bring these showstoppers to a brand new level.

“The On Broadway show is the best example yet of what this group can deliver, and they are thrilled to be performing such powerful repertoire,” said their producer D-J Wendt. “I guarantee this live show will have audiences coming back for more.”

And with plenty of shows on the schedule, fans can do just that!

4 February 2014 – Chester Fritfz Auditorium, Grand Forks
5 February 2014 – The Sanford Center, Bermidji
7 February 2014 – Peoria Civic Center, Peoria
8 February 2014 – Sangamon Auditorium @ The University of Illinois, Springfield
13 February 2014 – Keller Auditorium, Portland
15 February 2014 – INB Performing Arts Center, Spokane
17 February 2014 – The Smith Center @ Reynolds Hall, Las Vegas
24 February 2014 – Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, Wickenburg
1 March 2014 – Arnold Hall Theater, Colorado Springs
5 March 2014 – Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Providence
8 & 15 March 2014 – Hanover Theater for the Performing Arts, Worcester
13 & 14 March 2014 – Stephens Auditorium @ Iowa State Center, Ames
20 March 2014 – Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham
22 March 2014 – Akoo Theater at Rosemont, Rosemont
30 March 2014 – Von Braun Center Concert Hall, Huntsville
22 April 2014 – Emens Auditorium @ Ball State University, Muncie
24 April 2014 – Luhrs Performing Arts Center @ Shippensburg University, Shippensburg
25 April 2014 – Community Theater @ Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, Morristown
29 April 2014 – Centre in the Square, Kitchener
18 & 19 May 2014 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
23-25 May 2014 – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
28-31 May 2014 – Sydney Theatre @ Walsh Bay, Sydney
5-7 June 2014 – Lyric Theatre @ QPAC, Brisbane
11-14 June 2014 – Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne
16-19 July 2014 – Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra
23-25 July 2014 – Theatre Royal, Hobart

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Superjesus Celebrate Australia Day with Three Big Shows

After celebrating the festive season, you’re probably feeling all partied out. However, you’ll recover soon enough and you’ll be looking for some way to ring in Australia Day. The Superjesus are helping you get organised with three big shows of the Australia Day long weekend.

The Superjesus have been working hard on new material since reforming early in last year, and they can’t wait to roadtest it for their loyal fans. They’ll get all patriotic at the following New South Wales shows.

24 January 2014 – Waves, Wollongong
25 January 2014 – Bateau Bay Hotel, Bateau Bay
26 January 2014 – Australia Day concert @ Garrison Point, Bankstown (FREE)

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Busby Marou Going Coastal for Summer Tour

Like so many other Aussies, Busby Marou are heading to the coast for their summer holidays. Happily for them, their sun-seeking is a tax write-off as they’ll be playing shows supporting their stellar sophomore album Farewell Fitzroy along the way.

British singer-songwriter and keen surfer Ryan Keen will join the Queenslanders for the run of shows in Australia’s best beachside locales.

Busby Marou’s Going Coastal tour will kick off in Bomaderry on January 2.

2 January 2014 – Bomaderry Hotel, Bomaderry
3 January 2014 – Captain’s @ Mariners, Bateman’s Bay
4 January 2014 – Milton Theatre, Milton
10 January 2014 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
11 January 2014 – The Loft, Warrnambool
12 January 2014 – The Westernport Hotel, San Remo
16 January 2014 – The Northern, Byron Bay
17 January 2014 – The Pacific Hotel, Yamba
18 January 2014 – The Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
19 January 2014 – Pier One @ Panthers, Port Macquarie

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

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