Category: Tour Announcements

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges, Matt Andersen, & Ray Beadle Tour with Blues Caravan

The Blues Caravan, featuring America’s Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges, Canada’s Matt Andersen, and our own Ray Beadle, will roll its way into local venues next week.

The Blues Caravan project was conceived as a way to introduce new international and local blues acts to Aussie music lovers. The first Blues Caravan shows will see the acts performing individual sets before coming together for a big finale.

The Blues Caravan arrives in Sydney’s suburbs next Wednesday before looping its way around the country and returning to the New South Wales capital the following week. Tickets are on sale from the venues for the following shows:

16 May 2012 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
17 May 2012 – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
18 May 2012 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
19 May 2012 – The Vault, Windsor
20 May 2012 – The Basement, Sydney

Image used with permission from Revolutions Per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Thomas Oliver Band Play First Aussie Shows

One of New Zealand’s most beloved bands, The Thomas Oliver Band, are crossing the ditch for their first Australian shows.

The Kiwis love TOB’s gutsy, rootsy brand of soulful rock. Their debut album Baby I’ll Play became an instant classic, and their live shows earned rave reviews. Now it’s Australia’s turn to discover what all the fuss is about.

I’m really digging the brassy bass line of their single “Goin’ Home,” which received the beast blues video away at last year’s Australian Independent Music Video Awards. Not bad for a band who hadn’t even visited our shores!

The Thomas Oliver Band will make a fleeting visit to Oz, with a show at Sydney’s Annandale Hotel on May 31 and a second at The Evelyn in Melbourne on June 1.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

East 17 Bring New Music to Oz

When I was a teenager Justin Beiber and One Direction weren’t out of nappies. Scary thought. I remember religiously buying TV Hits magazine each month, which was filled with articles about two bands: Take That and East 17. One spawned Robbie Williams and mounted a semi-successful comeback, and the other seemed to fade into obscurity. Until now.

In a world where Wheatus can tour again perhaps it’s not so strange to see East 17 back on our shores. The boys from Walthamstow aren’t quite the same as they were back in the early 90s. They’ve got a few wrinkles, they’ve lost Brian Harvey (sadly the one with the most vocal talent), and started to play 80s style rock. But I’m sure plenty of mums will pack the clubs to hear “House of Love,” “It’s Alright” and “Deep.”

If you’re keen for a blast from the past and the chance to hear their new material you can see East 17 at the following shows.

7 June 2012 – Metropolis, Fremantle
8 June 2012 – Trak, Melbourne
10 June 2012 – HiFi, Sydney
14th 2012 – HiFi, Brisbane
15 June 2012 – HQ Complex, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Riot House Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chet Faker Takes on The World

Chet Faker has just signed a deal with American label Downtown Records which will see his debut EP Thinking in Textures released across the United States. The CD will hit US stores on May 22 with a vinyl release to follow on June 19.

No doubt Chet will be keen to return to the States to capitalise on the release, but right now he’s ready to kick off his United Kingdom tour. The Brits loved his EP when it was released there through Chess Club Records in March. He’ll be back on home soil soon enough too. Chet’s already booked in to support The Temper Trap as part of Sydney’s Vivid Festival, and he’s got some slots at Splendour.

Here are all the places you can see Chet Faker play in the coming months:

8 May 2012 – BBC Introducing @ Social, London
10 May 2012 – YoYo @ Notting Hill Arts Club, London
11 May 2012 – Chess Club & Neon Gold Showcase @ The Great Escape Festival, Brighton
12 May 2012 – Sounds Australia Showcase @ The Great Escape Festival, Brighton
31 May & 1 June 2012 – Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House, Sydney (supporting The Temper Trap)
27-29 July 2012 – Splendour in the Grass Festival, Byron Bay

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Liz Martin Wants Us to Dance a Little, Live a Little

Sydney’s Liz Martin charms with her jaunty new single “So Long,” the latest cut from her brand new album Dance a Little, Live a Little.

I love the track’s playfulness and Liz’s husky vocals. It’s pop music with a hard attitude that’s so compelling. The album promises more of that alongside some moving ballads and whimsical instrumental numbers.

It’s a little strange that this song is so much fun, because Liz wrote the album while recovering from hip surgery. When you’re bedbound for five months, what else is a musician to do but create? It would have been easy to pour her pain into the record, but instead Liz opted to create songs filled with joy and good humor.

Now that she’s back on her feet, Liz is taking Dance a Little, Live a Little on the road with an all-star band featuring Elana Stone and Jacqueline Amidy. Catch Liz at the following shows:

10 May 2012 – Gold Coast Arts Centre, Gold Coast
11 May 2012 – The Waiting Room, Brisbane
18 May 2012 – The Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
19 May 2012 – Notes Live, Sydney
25 May 2012 – Cuda Bar, Lorne
27 May 2012 – The Grace Darling, Melbourne
31 May 2012 – Yours and Owls, Wollongong
1 June 2012 – Front Gallery, Canberra
8 June 2012 – Metro, Adelaide
16 June 2012 – The Waratah Bandroom, Hobart

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wheatus Announce Aussie Tour

I frankly haven’t thought of Wheatus since their song “Teenage Dirtbag” unexpectedly tore up charts around the world ten years ago. But it seems that despite line-up changes, lawsuits, intellectual property theft, interstate art heist investigations, and a lack of any discernible hit since the New York indie rock act are still kicking on.

And strangely enough, they’re bringing their “Still a Teenage Dirtbag” tour to Australia. They’ve even scored a slot at Newcastle’s Fat as Butter Festival! When they play here you’ll get to hear that big hit and god knows what else, but that’s the main thing right?

Any surprise that the venues are small, and that tickets for the headlining shows cost just $35?

19 September 2012 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
20 September 2012 – Metropolis Fremantle
21 September 2012 – The Hi-Fi Sydney
22 September 2012 – Fat As Butter Festival, Newcastle
23 September 2012 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sui Zhen Releases “Two Seas”

The nomadic Sui Zhen has used her travels as creative fodder for her debut album Two Seas.

It’s truly a global release, with tracks written, mixed, and recorded here, there, and everywhere. Songs written in the bustle of Sydney were laid down in the calmer surrounds of a Southern Highlands church before being arranged in Berlin and finally mixed in on the New South Wales South Coast. While visiting family in Bahrain, Sui Zhen knew the time was right to stop collecting songs and unleash them on the public.

The internationally influenced disc is best described as indie-folk, although the dashes of country, pop, and other genres mean it doesn’t neatly fit in any box. The single “Little Frog” gives you some indication of what’s in store.

Two Seas hits stores today, which gives fans a few weeks to familiarise themselves with the songs before Sui Zhen takes the album on the road. See this exciting singer-songwriter and her full band at the following launch shows:

30 May 2012 – The Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood
1 June 2012 – The Lass’O’Gowrie, Wickham
3 June 2012 – FBi Social, Kings Cross
6 June 2012 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
13 June 2012 – Yours and Owls, Wollongong (Free)
14 June 2012 – The Front Café & Gallery, Canberra

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Busby Marou Announce Final Aussie Tour for 2012

If the old saying that there’s no rest for the wicked is true, the lads from Busby Marou must be very bad boys. Fresh from shows in North America, this hardworking Rockhampton duo is preparing to hit local stages again.

The forthcoming tour celebrates the recent release of the deluxe edition of their self-titled debut album. If you still don’t have it yet, the addition of the new single “I Still Don’t Believe,” some old EP tracks, and a few choice cover versions might convince you to invest!

The single tour is your last chance to see Busby Marou before they return to North America for the rest of the year. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

14 June 2012 – Lizottes, Kincumber
15 June 2012 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
16 June 2012 – Diggers Grand Ballroom, Tamworth
20 June 2012 – Heritage Hotel, Wollongong
22 June 2012 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
23 June 2012 – Zierholz, Canberra
24 June 2012 – The New Albury Hotel, Albury (Free)
27 June 2012 – Bended Elbow, Geelong
28 June 2012 – The Corner, Melbourne
29 June 2012 – Fowlers, Adelaide
6 July 2012 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
7 July 2012 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth
8 July 2012 – Newport Hotel, Fremantle
12 July 2012 – Woombye Pub, Sunny Coast
13 July 2012 – The Sound Lounge, Gold Coast
14 July 2012 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
15 July 2012 – Great Northern, Byron Bay

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

George Michael Finally Confirms Aussie Tour

I was thrilled to wake up to the news that George Michael is returning to our shores. I was disappointed when illness derailed his plans to bring his Symphonica tour to Australia earlier this year, so it’s exciting to see he hasn’t forgotten about us during his recovery.

George put on one of the best shows of the year when he toured here in 2010. With the addition of a symphony orchestra and the promise of some long awaited new material, these Aussie dates are sure to take things up a notch. While I look forward to hearing some new tunes, I’m also excited to hear he’ll play hits from way back in the Wham! days and some choice cover versions.

Tickets for the following shows go on sale to the public on May 10 at noon:

13 November 2012 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
17 November 2012 – All Phones Arena, Sydney
21 November 2012 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
27 November 2012 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
1 December 2012 – Hope Estate Winery, Hunter Valley

Image source: Insasse @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Autumn Isles Play Melbourne

Perth act The Autumn Isles are taking their brand of psychedelic pop to Melbourne and its suburbs for four big shows in just three nights!

Kicking off tonight, the band will treat discerning music lovers to tracks from their colourful debut album Kaleidoscopes. This isn’t a band that relies on studio trickery, so I’m sure they’ll shine in the live setting. Melbournites can catch them at the following shows over the next few days:

3 May 2012 – Bertha Brown, Melbourne
5 May 2012 – Purepop Records, St Kilda (3 pm)
5 May 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
6 May 2012 – The Retreat, Abbotsford

Image used with permission from The Autumn Isles