Matchbox Twenty Kicking Off North Tour Down Under

Matchbox Twenty have made no secret of their love for Australia, so perhaps it’s unsurprising that they’ll kick off their world tour here in October. However it’s still enough to send a long-time fan like me into a tailspin.

The band will play songs from their new album North, which will hit local record stores on August 31, as well as the rest of their back catalogue. They’ll also have our own INXS in tow.

Tickets go on sale on August 31 through LiveNation, which should make that day pretty special for the rest of the Matchbox lovers out there!

20 October 2012 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
25 October 2012 – AIS Arena, Canberra
27 October 2012 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
30 October 2012 – Entertainment Centre, Sydney
3 November 2012 – Hope Estate, Hunter Valley
6 November 2012 – Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
8 November 2012 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
11 November 2012 – Perth Arena, Perth

John Butler Takes Tin Shed Tales to Queensland

John Butler will take his acclaimed solo and acoustic Tin Shed Tales to North Queensland through September and October.

The new dates follow on from the Tin Shed Tales shows John Butler played around Australia earlier this year. They saw John recreating his own tin shed in intimate venues, complete with vintage skateboards and guitars and other sources of inspiration. In this personal setting, John shared personal anecdotes and songs from his vast back catalogue.

Queensland fans can look forward to the same special treatment at their long awaited shows.

“Unfortunately I couldn’t bring the Tin Shed to Queensland on the last run,” John explained. “It felt weird like we had forgotten to invite dear friends to a party. So I am stoked to be bringing the solo show over and completing the circle. Queensland family have always held a special place in my heart. They’re always so passionate and giving as an audience. I can’t wait.”

And as an extra special treat, Mia Dyson will serve as support act. These shows will act as a warm-up for some summer festival slots, which are also printed below. Tickets for the solo Queensland gigs go on sale tomorrow.

30 September 2012 – Mackay Entertainment Centre, Mackay
1 October 2012 – Townsville Civic Theatre, Townsville
3 October 2012 – Moncrieff Entertainment Centre, Bundaberg
28 October 2012 – Rock It Festival, Perth
31 December 2012 – Peats Ridge Festival, Peats Ridge NSW

Image used with permission from Jones PR, credit: Leon Morris

The Snowdroppers Still Rocking

The Snowdroppers are back with a brand new single, a shiny new contract, and an album on the way.

The Sydney based blues rockers just signed up to ABC Music’s hot new label FOUR | FOUR. This home of left-of-centre acts proved the perfect launchpad for The Snowdroppers’ new single “White Dress.”

The song shows the way the band’s sound has evolved since they released their debut album Too Late to Pray in 2009. Their Americana and swamp leanings have been tempered somewhat, but it’s got all the swagger and blues sensibility we loved the first time around.

“White Dress” is our first taste of The Snowdropper’s sophomore album Moving Out of Eden, which will hit stores in early 2013. In the meantime you can catch The Snowdroppers supporting Kiwi rock stalwarts Shihad at the following shows.

6 September 2012 – The Hi Fi, Melbourne
7 September 2012 – The Metro, Sydney
8 September 2012 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane

Image source: Premier Artists

Sola Rosa and Special Guests Visit Oz

Genre defying Kiwi urban act Sola Rosa will return to Australia next month to support the recent release of their fifth album Low and Behold, High and Beyond.

The album sees a host of guest performers joining founding member Andrew Spraggon and his regular collaborators for songs that fuse soul, funk, jazz, hip hop, and other musical styles.

Sola Rosa started as Andrew’s one man band, but in time Spikey Tee, Ben White, and Matt Short have become key members of the project. This core group will be joined on the Aussie tour by guest singers Cherie Mathieson and L.A. Mitchell, who appears on the album’s cruisy first single “Spinning Top.”

Sola Rosa will play the following Aussie venues next month. Tickets are on sale now.

13 September 2012 –  The Standard, Sydney
14 September 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
26 September 2012 – Indi Bar, Scarborough
28 September 2012 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Dunsborough
29 September 2012 – Amplifier, Perth
30 September 2012 – Wave Rock Weekender, Wave Rock Beach

Zoophyte Finally Release Second Album

After five years, Zoophyte are finally ready to release their sophomore album. Somewhere Elsewhere will hit music stores on September 21.

It’s unusual for an act to wait so long to release a new record, but the last five years have been a tumultuous time for the band. Their line-up’s changed, their sound’s evolved. Needless to say, this won’t simply be Another Point of View Part II.

“The old format of the band was a five-piece and we were all into different styles and types of music,” explained Zoophyte front man Cam Lee. “But now, everyone is on the same track and it feels like a new band. It’s a much bigger, larger sound; we use a lot of delayed guitars and everyone sings – there’s definitely a stronger, rockier edge to our sound.”

Zoophyte will take Somewhere Elsewhere on the road next month. Don’t worry if they’re not visiting your town, as more dates will be announced soon.

1 September 2012 – The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, Adelaide
2 September 2012 – Wheelers Hill Hotel, Melbourne
6 September 2012 – Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich
7 September 2012 – Miami Tavern, Gold Coast
8 September 2012 – Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
9 September 2012 – Wheelers Hill Hotel, Melbourne
16 September 2012 – Wheelers Hill Hotel, Melbourne
23 September 2012 – Wheelers Hill Hotel, Melbourne
30 September 2012 – Wheelers Hill Hotel, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Alpha Entertainment

Australia’s Got Talent Rebel Owen Campbell Tours “Sunshine Road”

Owen Campbell made a splash on this year’s Australia’s Got Talent competition for all the wrong reasons. He was clearly a talented singer songwriter, but taking pot shots at one of the judges is never a smart move.

Owen might not have won a lot of friends on the reality TV show, but he’s hoping to capitalise on his notoriety with the release of his album Sunshine Road. It seems to be working, as the independently recorded long player’s peaked at number one on both the national iTunes charts and the AIR Independent Music chart.

Owen will also take those songs and his six-piece band on the road for a launch tour which kicks off tonight in Melbourne:

15 August 2012 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
17 August 2012 – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
23 August 2012 – The Basement, Sydney
25 August 2012 – The Abbey, Canberra

Image used with permission from Heapsflash

All the Young Tour Oz

All the Young hail from Stoke on Trent, a small town where its residents are expected to earn money in the warehouse and spend it in the pub. The locals don’t expect anyone to break out of this monotony, least of all some motley lads who spend more time daydreaming about music than applying themselves.

But All the Young did, and now they’re heading to Australia. If their friends could only see them now.

The Aussie tour is well timed, as All the Young’s debut album Welcome Home will hit local stores on August 31. It will feature the current single “Another Miracle,” which is one of the most irresistible songs I’ve heard in some time.

See these old school rockers with Australia’s own King Cannons at the following shows:

29 August 2012 – The Loft, Warrnambool
30 August 2012 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
31 August 2012 – The Bended Elbow, Geelong
1 September 2012 – The Corner, Melbourne
5 September 2012 – The Patch, Wollongong
6 September 2012 – Transit Bar, Canberra
7 September 2012 – The Annandale, Sydney
8 September 2012 – Hotel Great Northern, Newcastle
13 September 2012, Big Sound, Brisbane
14 September 2012 – Miami Shark Bar, Gold Coast
15 September – The Northern, Byron Bay

The Delta Riggs and Money for Rope Band Together for Double Vision Tour

The Delta Riggs and Money for Rope are joining forces for one big tour!

The Melbourne rock acts are both in fine form after some relentless gigging. The Delta Riggs have barely drawn breath since releasing Talupo Mountain Music Vol. II in late May. The band had their launch tour, and then frontman Elliott Hammond played keys for Wolfmother at a swag of European festivals.

Money for Rope have also been pretty busy with their This Epic Tour, which saw them sharing the bill with Kingswood and Damn Terran. They whipped crowds into a frenzy at Cherry Rock and Splendour, so they’re the perfect foil for the exuberant Delta Riggs.

If you like your rock straight up, without ice, make sure you get down to the following shows. The bands will be swapping out headlining duties throughout the tour, so don’t think you can arrive late!

15 August 2012 – Beach Road Hotel, Bondi (Free)
17 August 2012 – Side Bar, Newcastle
18 August 2012 – Annandale Hotel, Sydney
19 August 2012 – Transit Bar, Canberra
23 August 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
24 August 2012 – The Loft, Warrnambool
25 August 2012 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
30 August 2012 – Barsoma, Brisbane
31 August 2012 – Shark Bar, Gold Coast

Paul Kelly Gets Poetic with Conversations with Ghosts

Paul Kelly will deliver a very different kind of show with the upcoming Conversations with Ghosts concerts.

Paul will join recorder wiz Genevieve Lacey and musicians from the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) for performances based on poetry. Pieces from Les Murray, W.B. Yeats, Lord Alfred Tennyson, Emily Dickinson, Kenneth Slessor, Norman MacCaig, and even Paul Kelly will receive brave new treatments. Paul worked on the project with  ANAM’s 2011 composer James Ledger.

Conversations with Ghosts will play Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on October 10 before moving to the Melbourne Recital Centre on October 12 and 13. These don’t sound like shows for every Paul Kelly fan, but they should offer something different to people with an appreciation for poetry and music.

Image used with permission from Jones PR

Split Seconds Tour Debut Album

Split Seconds have been steadily building buzz over the last couple of years. No doubt those fans they’ve collected along the way will be ecstatic that their debut album You’ll Turn Into Me will finally hit stores tomorrow.

The album release comes at a busy time for Split Seconds. They recently made the big move from their native Perth to the musical hub of inner city Melbourne. They also just released a new single “Top Floor,” which is already enjoying plenty of airplay.

So why not add more chaos to the mix? Split Seconds will stay busy with a quickie tour this month and the next. See them launching You’ll Turn Into Me at the following shows:

25 August 2012 – Amplifier, Perth
31 August 2012 – The Standard, Sydney
8 September 2012 – Ding Dong, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment