Can you believe it’s been three years since Mumford & Sons treated us to their breakthrough album Sigh No More? The Brits will finally unleash their sophomore effort in September, and they’re wasting little time in bringing the music to Aussie fans.
Mumford & Sons will play 10 shows around the country in October including some often forgotten capitals and unusual regional centres. They’re also bringing some choice international acts along for the ride. American indie-folksters Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes will play all but the final Queensland shows, while fellow Yank Willy Mason will appear at all 10 gigs.
Tickets will go on sale from the usual outlets on Monday July 9, which gives us all a little time to save the cash!
13 October 2012 – Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth
15 October 2012 – Entertainment Centre Theatre, Adelaide
17 October 2012 – Riverstage, Brisbane
18 October 2012 – Entertainment Centre, Sydney
23 October 2012 – Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart
25 October 2012 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
26 October 2012 – Royal Theatre, Canberra
28 October 2012 – Kuranda Amphitheatre, Cairns
29 October 2012 – Convention Centre, Townsville
31 October 2012 – Convention Centre, Gold Coast
With their debut album Foundations receiving critical acclaim and a top 30 debut, far North Queensland breakout actThe Medics are taking their music on the road.
The Medics have received rave reviews for their slots at Groovin’ The Moo, Woodford Folk Festival, Splendour, and Big Day Out, and they’re sure to bring the same energy to these headliner shows.
Fans can catch The Medics playing their new single “Griffin” and plenty more at the following shows.
6 July 2012 – The Annandale Hotel, Sydney
29 July 2012 – Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay
4 August 2012 – Four Walls Festival @ Queensland Academy for Creative Industries, Brisbane (All Ages)
11 August 2012 – National Indigenous Music Awards @ Darwin Amphitheatre, Darwin
17 August 2012 – Brothers League’s Club, Cairns (Licensed 15+)
18 August 2012 – The Uni Club, Townsville
31 August 2012 – Hotel New York, Launceston
1 September 2012 – Waratah Hotel, Hobart
6 September 2012 – The Loft, Warrnambool
7 September 2012 – Jive, Adelaide
8 September 2012 – Amplifier, Perth
12 September 2012 – Spectrum, Darlinghurst
14 September 2012 – The National, Geelong
15 September 2012 – The Toff In Town, Melbourne
27 September 2012 – Transit Bar, Canberra
28 September 2012 – The Patch, Fairy Meadow
29 September 2012 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
5 October 2012 – Hotel Great Northern, Byron Bay
With their new single “Flaws” enjoying plenty of radio love, Hunting Grounds figure the time is right to take their life show to the people. The Victorian indie rock act will play a string of gigs this August for what will be their first headline tour in more than two years.
The tour will celebrate the release of the single and Hunting Grounds’ new album In Hindsight, which hits stores on July 6. The album is already generating some major buzz. If you believe Hunting Grounds’ Facebook page (and you probably shouldn’t), even Oprah Winfrey’s a fan!
If you are too you can see Hunting Grounds at the following venues in August.
3 August 2012 – Elsewhere Bar, Gold Coast
4 August 2012 – X and Y Bar, Brisbane
5 August 2012 – The Hotel Great Northern, Byron Bay (Free)
8 August 2012 – Plantation, Coffs Harbour (Free)
9 August 2012 – Yours and Owls, Wollongong
10 August 2012 – Good God Small Club, Sydney
11 August 2012 – Transit Bar, Canberra
16 August 2012 – Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury (Free)
17 August 2012 – Amplifier, Perth
18 August 2012 – Rocket Bar, Adelaide
24 August 2012 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
25 August 2012 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
Sophie Koh wowed me with her most recent single “I Understand,” so I’m thrilled to see its album and accompanying tour aren’t too far away.
Oh My Garden, Sophie’s third record, will hit stores on July 6. It saw Sophie stepping away from her guitar and exploring new musical terrain through recording sessions with Brad Wood and Ben Lee in Los Angeles. The singles “Lo-Fi” and “I Understand” have been so strong that I expect big things from this release.
Sophie will celebrate Oh My Garden’s birth by playing some of her favourite venues over the next few months.
13 July 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
21 July 2012 – WheatSheaf Hotel, Adelaide
2 August 2012 – FBi Social, Sydney
12 August 2012 – Powerhouse, Brisbane
8 September 2012 – Alice Springs Festival, Alice Springs
Sydney folk-pop duo The Rescue Ships have well and truly charmed me with their new single “City Life.”
The track speaks of the ironic isolation so many city dwellers feel. They’re surrounded by crowds, yet they’re still searching for real connection. Despite the dark subject matter the song is a so catchy and sweet that you can’t help but smile in spite of it!
“City Life” comes from The Rescue Ships forthcoming debut album, which they’re currently recording with friends in their Newtown studio. They’ll treat fans to the single and other new tunes at the following “City Life” launch shows:
5 July 2012 – Beavs Bar, Geelong (Free)
6 July 2012 – The Grace Darling, Collingwood
13 July 2012 – The Red Rattler, Marrickville
18 July 2012 – The Lass O’Gowrie, Wickham
20 July 2012 – 5 Church Street, Bellingen
26 July 2012 – The Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley
3 August 2012 – The Front Bar, Lyneham
11 August 2012 – The Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
With a name like Fun Machine, I knew the Canberra trio behind the new single “Ready for the Fight” would serve up good vibes. But I wasn’t quite prepared for how much I’d love the song.
This cheerful ditty is the perfect remedy for the winter blues. It’s got delicious harmonies and the sort of sparse instrumentation that really allows the song to sing. I love a band that understands that often less is more. The resourceful act created beats using car hubcaps and metal handles, and laid down the piano track after sneaking their recording equipment into their local university’s concert hall! “Ready for the Fight” has pop leanings, but it’s much more unique than anything they’re playing on commercial radio.
Fun Machine will spread some sunshine along the East Coast this winter at the following shows:
29 June 2012 –Burdekin Bar, Darlinghurst (Free)
6 July 2012 –The Polish White Eagle Club, Canberra
7 July 2012 – SYDNEY: De Ja Vu, Marrickville (Free)
13 July 2012 – Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle (Free)
14 July 2012 – Good Jelly, Wollongong
20 July 2012 – Bar Open, Melbourne (Free)
“Blind” has long been one of the highlights of the band’s set, so I’m thrilled to see it’ll hit a wider audience. I love the way the track builds to a dramatic crescendo. That’s helped in no small part by the appearance of Band of Horses’ Bill Reynolds on the recording.
“It’s once in a blue moon that I come across a group with such great harmonies and great songs,” he explained. “When my manager sent me the demos for the LP I knew I had to find a way to work with them.”
Georgia Fair will launch “Blind” with a hometown show on July 6 at The Standard before playing Melbourne’s Toff in Town on July 12.
Acclaimed New Zealand reggae act House of Shem are hoping to spread a little sunshine next month with their first Australian shows.
It seems kind of strange for a reggae act to tour during winter, but perhaps they can make us forget that chill in the air! House of Shem are set to play tracks from their albums Keep Rising and Island Vibration, which have both achieved gold status in their native New Zealand. As they’re recording a new album on their return to the Land of the Long White Cloud, perhaps we’ll even hear some new tracks!
Tickets are on sale now from the usual outlets.
12 July 2012 – Wanneroo Tavern, Wanneroo
13 July 2012 – Eliot St Bar, Bunbury
14 July 2012 – Rosemount Hotel, North Perth
15 July 2012 – Leisure Inn, Rockingham
19 July 2012 – Kings Beach Tavern, Sunshine Coast
20 July 2012 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
21 July 2012 – The Zoo, Brisbane
22 July 2012 – Byron Bay Brewery, Byron Bay
26 July 2012 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
27 July 2012 – The Standard, Sydney
28 July 2012 – Deep Roots @ The Espy, Melbourne
It seems a back injury isn’t the only thing Shannon Noll’s nursing. It sounds like he’s caught the touring bug! Shannon hasn’t even wrapped up the shows to support his last single, but he’s just announced dates to support the the album A Million Suns. And there’s not even a week to rest in between!
Shannon’s promising to be match fit after that Dancing with the Stars injury. And he’d better be, because travelling to New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tassie sounds pretty daunting!
He’s getting fans in the mood with the live music video for his latest single “Living in Stereo.” If it’s got you fired up making sure you take in one of the following shows:
6 July 2012 – Revesby Heights Ex-Serviceman’s Club, Revesby
7 July 2012 – Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill
13 July 2012 – Country Club Showroom, Launceston
14 July 2012 – Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, Hobart
20 July 2012 – Mounties, Mt Prichard
21 July 2012 – Canberra Southern Cross Club Events Centre, Canberra
27 July 2012 – Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill
28 July 2012 – Wentworthville Leagues Club, Wentworthville
3 August 2012 – Dapto Leagues, Dapto
4 August 2012 – The Cube at Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown
10 August 2012 – Mingara Recreation Club, Tumbi Umbi
11 August 2012 – Penrith Panthers, Penrith
17 August 2012 – Marlin Hotel, Ulladulla
18 August 2012 – Belmont 16FT Sailing Club, Belmont
23 August 2012 – Gympie Music Muster
25 August 2012 – Outback Quarry, Alice Springs (with band Squid Munchies)
31 August 2012 – Wagga Wagga Civic Centre, Wagga Wagga
1 September 2012 – Annual Moama On Murray Resort Concert, Moama
6 September 2012 – Nautilus Theatre, Port Lincoln
7 September 2012 – Middleback Theatre, Whyalla
8 September 2012 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
9 September 2012 – Sir Robert Helpman Theatre, Mt Gambier
21 September 2012 – Taren Point Hotel, Taren Point
25 September 2012 – BHP Esso Wellington Centre, Sale
26 September 2012 – Capital Theatre, Bendigo
27 September 2012 – Wangaratta PAC, Wangaratta
5 October 2012 – Dubbo RSL, Dubbo
6 October 2012 – Bathurst Panthers, Bathurst
7 October 2012 – Club Mudgee, Mudgee
11 October 2012 – West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul
12 October 2012 – Ballarat Regent Multiplex, Ballarat
13 October 2012 – Eastbank Centre, Shepparton
14 October 2012 – Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool
18 October 2012 – Keith Michell Theatre, Port Pirie
19 October 2012 – Chaffey Theatre, Renmark
26 October 2012 – Goulburn Soldiers Club, Goulburn
27 October 2012 – Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury
28 October 2012 – Australian Children’s Music Foundation fundraising event @ Hillston Showgrounds, Hillston (Free – acoustic set)
1 November 2012 – Port Macquarie Panthers, Port Macquarie
2 November 2012 – Yamba Bowling Club, Yamba
3 November 2012 – Sawtell RSL, Sawtell
As someone who’s happily married to a man I met online, I know all too well the power of a cyber-connection. So I was thrilled to discover Collarbones, an electronic duo featuring online pals Travis Cook from Adelaide and Marcus Whale from Sydney. Though dividing by some 1150 kays the lads began to create beautiful music together.
Their latest offering is the haunting “Missing,” a track from their forthcoming second album scheduled for release later this year. This is a really powerful tune, with a heartbreaking falsetto, lush orchestration, and some of the most plaintively simple lyrics I’ve heard in some time.
Collarbones are bridging the distance and touring “Missing” this month. The run of dates kicks off tomorrow in Melbourne before taking in capital cities and regional towns along the East Coast.
16 June 2012 – The Gasometer, Melbourne
23 June 2012 – The Gate at Pablos, Epping (All Ages)
24 June 2012 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
28 June 2012 – Terrace Bar, Newcastle
29 June 2012 – Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane
5 July 2012 – FBi Social, Sydney
Image used with permission from Remote Control Records
13 October 2012 – Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth
5 July 2012 – Beavs Bar, Geelong (Free)
12 July 2012 – Wanneroo Tavern, Wanneroo
16 June 2012 – The Gasometer, Melbourne