Category: Tour Announcements

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bob Evans & Kirsty Akers Puppets Star in “In Spite of Ourselves” Video

Give me puppets in a music video and I’m a happy girl. Add in some great musical talents and so much the better. So predictably I’m going wild for “In Spite of Ourselves,” the recent collaboration by Bob Evans and Kirsty Akers.

The song’s going great guns on the AirIt chart, hitting number one despite strong challenges from Seeker Lover Keeper and Josh Pyke. It’s the first tune to be lifted from Kirsty’s recently released album, Naked.

If you like what you hear you can catch Kirsty playing shows with America’s Jace Everett later this month. I can’t promise she’ll bring the puppet, but you can see her at the following venues.

18 August 2011 – The Basement, Sydney
19 August 2011 – Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill
20 August 2011 – Hotel Gearin, Katoomba
21 August 2011 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
23 August 2011 – Hallam Hotel, Melbourne
24 August 2011 – Lizottes, Newcastle
25 August 2011 – Lizottes, Central Coast
26 August 2011 – Gympie Muster, Gympie

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bad Seeds’ Hugo Race Comes Home

Bad Seeds founder Hugo Race is returning to our shores to play intimate shows supporting his new album Fatalists this August.

Melbourne-born Hugo is truly a man of the world, after spending much of the last 25 years living in Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the United States. During that time he recorded 14 albums with the world music outfit True Spirit, two with the Sicilian act Sepiatone, and a host of other cross-cultural collaborations. Amazingly Fatalists is his first solo venture.

Blink and you’ll miss him; Hugo Race will play The Zoo in Brisbane on August 25 before moving on to Sydney’s Vanguard the following night.

Image used with permission from Other Tongues

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australia Gets Nick Drake Tribute Shows

The songs of Nick Drake, some of the world’s best performers, and some of Australia’s most gorgeous venues sounds like a recipe for some pretty fabulous evenings. So it’s exciting to see that the internationally acclaimed Nick Drake tribute show Way to Blue is winging its way to Oz.

The show should be very close to what Nick Drake may have imagined had he lived long enough, as it’s curated by his original producer Joe Boyd. It’ll star musicians from around the world including Robyn Hitchcock, Lisa Hannigan, Krystle Warren, Vashti Bunyan, and Scritti Politti singer Green Gartside. And of course we’ll also see a bunch of local stars added to the lineup.

Way to Blue will play the Sydney Opera House on November 11 and Melbourne’s Recital Center on November 14 and 15. Tickets go on sale on August 22, so there’s plenty of time to get saving!

Image source: Wikimedia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ben Salter Tours “The Cat”

It seems Ben Salter has the touring bug. He’s about to hit the road to support Felix Reibl, and his just announced some solo shows once those dates wrap up. Ben’s will head out to support the release of his long-awaited debut album The Cat.

The disc doesn’t even hit stores until August 5, and critics are already calling it “an album to remember.” That shouldn’t come as a great surprise though; as a founding member of bands like The Gin Club, Giants of Science, and The Wilson Pickers Ben certainly knows his stuff.

You can see him doing his stuff supporting Felix Reibl next month, but if you’re looking for a longer set get yourself along to one of the following headliner shows.

1 September 2011 – The Bird, Perth
2 September 2011 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
3 September 2011 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide
7 September 2011 – Big Sound Showcase @ Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
9 September 2011 – The Vanguard, Sydney
15 September 2011 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
16 September 2011 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
17 September 2011 – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
22 September 2011 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
23 September 2011 – The Zoo, Brisbane
24 September 2011 – The Spotted Cow, Toowomba

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Stonefield Finally Tour Australia

A good eight months have gone by since Stonefield turned my head with their rocking debut single “Through the Clover.” I waited for these young Aussie sisters to blow up, and waited, and waited. Patience is a virtue, as they say though, and it seems all that waiting is finally about to pay off.

After spending rocking Glastonbury, the girls are back with a brand new single “Black Water Rising” and a national tour in the works. It’s also been announced that after these shows wrap up they’ll warm up the stage for the legendary Cold Chisel.

It’s taken some time, but Stonefield are bound to hit those dizzy heights I predicted. If you want to see them before everyone else catches on make sure you head to one of the following shows.

25 August 2011 – Fowlers, Adelaide
26 August 2011 – The Villa ‘Speakeasy’ Perth
28 August 2011 – Hyperfest, Perth (All ages)
1 September 2011 – The Bended Elbow, Geelong
2 September 2011 – East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
3 September 2011 – The Karova Lounge, Ballarat
9 September 2011 – New York Hotel, Launceston
10 September 2011 – Republic Bar, Hobart
10 September 2011 – The Grand Poobah, Hobart (Underage event)
15 September 2011 – The Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
16 September 2011 – Food & Wine Festival, Toowoomba
17 September 2011 – Powerhouse, Brisbane (All ages)
17 September 2011 – The Zoo, Brisbane
22 September 2011 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
23 September 2011 – The Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Glenn Richards and Dan Luscombe Team Up for Aussie Tour

Two of Australia’s favorite frontmen are joining forces for a big double-header tour. Glenn Richards of Augie March and Dan Luscombe of The Drones will travel all around the country this August, September, and October, showcasing songs from their respective solo albums, Glimjack and Songs from Sunset Studies.

The lads have been good mates and sometime collaborators since meeting backstage at The Church’s famous Last Ever shows. They’ve toured together within their bands many times, so the chemistry is sure to be right when they leave those familiar outfits behind.

The rest of The Drones won’t be entirely forgotten though. Mike Noga, who’s riding high on the success of his own solo endeavour The Balladeer Hunter, will warm up the crowds at the following shows.

25 August 2011 – Toff in Town, Melbourne
26 August 2011 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
27 August 2011 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
2 September 2011 – Manhattan Wine Bar, Launceston
3 September 2011 – The Grand Poobah, Hobart
8 September 2011 – Mullum Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
9 September 2011 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
10 September 2011 – Old Museum @ Studio 3, Brisbane
15 September 2011 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why
16 September 2011 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
17 September 2011 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
18 September 2011 – Transit Bar, Canberra
21 September 2011 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide
23 September 2011 – Bended Elbow, Geelong
24 September 2011 – Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh
29 September 2011 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
30 September 2011 – Notes, Newtown
1 October 2011 – Hotel Gearin, Katoomba

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Blood Thinner” – Jordie Lane

I’ve been enjoying a lot of back-to-basics music lately, but few artists strip things back as much as Jordie Lane on his sophomore effort, Blood Thinner.

Jordie recorded the disc in hotel rooms and basements on a four-track machine, with whatever instruments he could get his hands upon. His acoustic guitar and harmonica drive these tracks, but they’re complemented by all manner of unusual music makers, including wine glasses and Tupperware containers. It sounds quirky in principle, but the result is an album that feels far from gimmicky.

With this release Jordie presents himself as a troubadour in the vein of the dearly departed Tim Buckley. There’s a similar emotional core to this music, but I also hear overtones of Neil Young and Bob Dylan in there. He’s an old soul, whether he’s writing music that feels wiser than his years or separating his CD into sides A and B.

The songs are an easy marriage of folk and blues, gentle and unadorned. The simple recording process captures a moment in time, and you really hear that immediacy in the tunes. “Thin My Blood” takes me to an open desert highway, a scene where the world whizzes by from a car window. The title of “On the Net Till Morn” seems very modern, but the track itself takes its sound right back to the birth of blues. I also loved “Not From Round Here,” a gorgeous tale of isolation exquisitely told with just a little finger-picking on the guitar and some plaintive lyrics.

There’s a real beauty to Blood Thinner that I think might only be realised after a few listens. But from that first spin there’s a truth and a talent to what Jordie Lane does. If you’re impressed by this disc, or just keen to discover what it’s all about, you can see Jordie in the flesh on his upcoming tour. It kicks off in Ararat on Thursday and travels all the way around the country.

21 July 2011 – Ararat Hotel Red Room, Ararat
22 July 2011 – Harvester Moon, Bellarine
23 July 2011 – Baby Black Café, Bacchus Marsh
24 July 2011 – Lot 19, Castlemaine
27 July 2011 – Front Gallery, Canberra
28 July 2011 – Wickham Park Hotel, Newcastle
29 July 2011 – The Vanguard, Sydney
30 July 2011 – Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland
31 July 2011 – Lizottes, Kincumber
4 August 2011 – Beetle Bar, Brisbane
5 August 2011 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi
6 August 2011 – Mullum Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
11 August 2011 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
12 August 2011 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
13 August 2011 – Barwon Heads Bowling Club, Barwon Heads
14 August 2011 – Old Hepburn Hotel, Daylesford
17 August 2011 – The Loft, Warrnambool
18 August 2011 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide
19 August 2011 – Indi Bar, Scarborough
20 August 2011 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
21 August 2011 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
7 September 2011 – Deck Bar, Darwin
8 September 2011 – Mindle Beach Markets, Mindle Beach
9 September 2011 – Darwin Railway Club, Somerville Gardens
10 Setember 2011 – Jabiru Mahbilil Festival, Jabiru
11 September 2011 – Darwin Sailing Club, Darwin

Image source: JB Hi-Fi website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Bedroom Philosopher’s Cheeky Winter Shows

The Bedroom Philosopher is looking to warm up your winter with his Head Sex and Bed Socks tour. Nothing beats those chills like a good belly laugh after all!

The Bedroom Philosopher will perform an intimate set featuring songs from his previous albums, including last year’s surprise smash Songs from the 86 Tram, as well as cuts from his forthcoming album Man. I’m pretty intrigued by this release which is set to feature “a series of manthems for the modern day retrosexual.”

You can get a good dose of The Bedroom Philosopher’s raw masculinity at the following shows.

18 August 2011 – Beavs Bar, Geelong
19 August 2011 – The Promethean, Adelaide
20 August 2011 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
25 August 2011 – Powerhouse, Brisbane
26 August 2011 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
27 August 2011 – The Vanguard, Sydney
9 September 2011 – Republic Bar, Hobart

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Folk Uke: The Other Nelson and Guthrie

Few acts can boast the pedigree of Folk Uke. The band’s name gives nothing away, but the two-piece act is made up of Cathy Guthrie, the daughter of Arlo and granddaughter of Woody, and Amy Nelson, the spawn of Willie. They apparently resisted getting into the family business for as long as they could, but you just can’t waste such incredible musical genes.

While their parents were pals in the 70s, the girls didn’t find one another until fate saw them employed at the same restaurant in the 90s. They bonded over their shared childhood experiences sleeping in guitar cases and riding on tour buses, and became fast friends.

The next chapter of that friendship will see the pair conquering Australia with a string of shows this October and November. The girls will play songs from their self-titled debut and the current album Reincarnation, a disc which Snoop Dogg describes as “Off the motherfuckin’ chain … Dope as fuck.” High praise indeed.

You can see exactly what’s gotten Snoop so excited when these talented ladies take to the following local stages.

26 October 2011 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
27 October 2011 – Lizotte’s, Central Coast
28 October 2011 – Notes, Newtown
29 & 30 October 2011 – Sydney Blues & Roots Festival, Windsor
2 November 2011 – Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
3 November 2011 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi
4 November 2011 – The Old Museum, Brisbane
5 November 2011 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
7 & 8 November 2011 – The Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
9 November 2011 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
10 November 2011 – Caravan Club, Oakleigh
11 November 2011 – East Brunswick Club, Brunswick
12 November 2011 – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide
13 November 2011 – Currant Shed, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Folk Uke

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Little Scout’s Beautiful Ballet Clip

After stealing my heart last month with “We Are Walking Out,” Brisbane’s Little Scout have released a film clip to accompany the single, and announced a string of East Coast shows.

This beautiful ballet-themed clip is the perfect accompaniment to this lush, uplifting single. And what a relief to see a dance-focused piece of art that’s nothing like Black Swan!

Little Scout’s upcoming gigs will support the release of their debut album Take Your Light, which hits stores on August 5. If this song worms its way into your heart as it’s done mine you won’t want to miss these concerts. Tickets are available from the venues and usual outlets.

26 August 2011 – Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane
27 August 2011 – The Spotted Cow Hotel, Toowoomba
2 September 2011 – Workers Club, Fitzroy
10 September 2011 – Notes Live, Sydney