Category: Tour Announcements

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bobby Alu Tours New Single, “Take It or Leave It”

Bobby Alu is stepping out from behind the drum kit for the release of his new single “Take It Or Leave It.” The track comes from Bobby’s debut album, which was released last year.

This is such a simple reggae number, stripped back and relaxed. That’s part of its beauty though. In a world with so much overproduced, overlayered music this tune really stands out. It also has me craving summer despite my love of chilly weather, which is some achievement.

Bobby has spent the past six years earning a reputation as one of our finest roots percussionist. He’s a member of the bands OKA and Kooii, and also a regular performer with Watussi, Mal Webb, Nicky Bomba, and a host of other local musicians.

Bobby will promote the new single with shows along the east coast, including performances at Byron Bay Bluesfest.

Here are the places you can catch him!

16 April 2011 – High Tide on the Harbour, Noosa
17 April 2011 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
21 April 2011 – The Esplanade Hotel, Melbourne
24 & 25 April 2011 – Byron Bay Bluesfest, Byron Bay
29 April 2011 – Soundlounge, Currumbin
30 April 2011 – Hi Fi Bar, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Scott Spark, Tash Parker, and The Rescue Ships Say Three’s Company

Scott Spark, Tash Parker, and The Rescue Ships are putting sporting allegiances and state rivalries aside for one big East Coast tour next month.

The Three’s Company shows will take in each act’s home state over three big consecutive nights. Fittingly, the hometown hero will headline their own city, supported by the other singer-songwriters on the bill.

The Rescue Ships is the brand new outfit of Sydney’s Elana Stone and Brian Campeau. You might be familiar with their solo work, but with their forces combined their sound is incredible. They’ve been wowing crowds overseas, so the Three’s Company dates will be a kind of homecoming.

Scott Spark impressed me last year with his quirky single “Fail Like You Mean It” and won over crowds while supporting Washington and Tim Rogers. But there’s more to this Brisbane boy than meets the eye. He’s ambitiously co-writing OMFG, a stage show he calls an anti-musical.

Tash Parker rounds out the bills. She’s a bit of a ring-in, as she originally hails from Kununurra in far northern Western Australia, but she now calls Melbourne home. With the debut album Waking Up under her belt Tash has supported major Aussie artists like Gotye, Missy Higgins, and Clare Bowditch.

If you love music for lyrics, melody, and heart rather than flash, I heartily suggest checking out these shows. Tickets are a bargain costing just $10 on the presales and $12 at the door.

5 May 2011 – The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
6 May 2011 – The Globe, Brisbane
7 May 2011 – Spectrum, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Short Stack Tour “This Is Bat Country”

The boys from Budgewoi better known as Short Stack are riding high on the success of their brand new album This is Bat Country. The disc has already gone gold and spawned three hit singles, so the lads are planning to celebrate with another national tour.

Short Stack are sure to be in fine form as they’ve just finished supporting Good Charlotte at their shows around the country. No doubt they’ll be hungry to be the headliners again. Heroes for Hire and Because They Can will join the Central Coast band on the road this July.

Short Stack have sold out their last four tours, so I suggest getting your tickets soon if you hope to catch them at the following venues!

1 July 2011 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
2 July 2011 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
8 & 9 July 2011 – Astor Theatre, Perth
15 & 16 July 2011 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
22 July 2011 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
23 July 2011 – Royal Theatre National Convention Centre, Canberra
29 July 2011 – Evans Theatre @ Penrith Panthers, Penrith
30 July 2011 – Newcastle Panthers, Newcastle

Image used with AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Emmure Reschedule Aussie Shows

When Emmure postponed their January tour, they swore they’d reschedule for later this year. Now the New York metal act is making good on its promise, announcing shows all around the place this June.

The band should be performing like a well oiled machine, as our shows will come off the back of dates in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Fans will be treated to tunes from all four Emmure albums, including the newie Speaker of the Dead.

Sydney’s Shinto Katana will join Emmure for their Aussie odyssey. Tickets go on sale on Monday April 18.

10 June 2011 – Expressive Grounds, Gold Coast (All Ages)
11 June 2011 – Thriller, Brisbane (18+)
12 June 2011 – Bald Faced Stag, Sydney (Licensed All Ages)
14 June 2011 – Oasis Youth Centre, Wyong (All Ages)
15 June 2011 – Tuggeranong Youth Centre, Canberra (All Ages)
16 June 2011 – City Band Hall, Mt Gambier (All Ages)
17 June 2011 – Enigma Bar, Adelaide (Licensed All Ages)
18 June 2011 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (Under 18s – afternoon)
18 June 2011 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (18+ – night)
19 June 2011 – HQ, Perth (All Ages – afternoon)
19 June 2011 – Amplifier Bar, Perth (18+ – night)

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Skipping Girl Vinegar Launch Album with Aussie Tour

Skipping Girl Vinegar will launch their new album Keep Calm Carry the Monkey with a massive winter tour.

The band’s sophomore album hits record stores on May 7, which should give us just enough time to become familiar with the new material before they hit town. They’ll play capital cities and major regional centers all around the place this June, July, and August.

No doubt Skipping Girl Vinegar will be keen to showcase their new tunes, which are a bit darker than those of their debut. However I’m sure we’ll hear plenty of old favourites too. I hear the shows will have a bit of a woodland set, complete with animals and homemade baked goods. Colour me intrigued!

Skipping Girl Vinegar are playing some small, intimate theatres this time around, so if you want to see them I’d get in and grab your tickets early!

4 June 2011 – The Arts Centre @ Fairfax Studio, Melbourne
11-12 June 2011 – Snowy Mountains of Music Festival, Jindabyne
24 June 2011 – Old Museum @ STUDIO 3, Brisbane
26 June 2011 – Hotel Great Northern, Byron Bay
30 June 2011 – Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
1 July 2011 – Notes, Sydney
2 July 2011 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
3 July 2011 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
7 July 2011 – Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra
8 July 2011 – Street Theatre, Canberra
21 July 2011 – Higher Ground, Adelaide
22 July 2011 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
23 July 2011 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
26 August 2011 – West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul

Image used with permission from AUM Marketing

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

DIG Back in Action

Does anyone else out there remember 90s acid jazz band DIG? Hell, does anyone out there even remember the genre known as acid jazz? It’s been eight years since DIG wowed local crowds, but they’re preparing to do it all again with a string of New South Wales shows to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

This isn’t one of those lame reboots where the band limps on stage without key original members. The shows will feature the original DIG lineup: keys man and vocalist Scott Saunders, Rick Robertson on sax, Tim Rollinson on lead guitar, Alex Hewetson on bass, and Terepai Richmond on the drums. They’ll be joined on tour by a new guest vocalist Laura Stitt.

The reunion tour kicks off this week at my favorite venues, Lizotte’s. Following the three intimate shows the band will return to some of their favorite Sydney haunts. I wouldn’t feel too put out if you’re living in the other states, because this isn’t just a final hurrah. DIG has been in the studio writing and recording a brand new album, which I’m sure they’ll want to tour around once its done.

In the meantime, you can catch DIG at the following New South Wales venues.

7 April 2011 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
8 April 2011 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why
10 April 2011 – Lizotte’s, Central Coast
16 April 2011 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
24 June 2011 – Notes, Newtown

Image source: Revolutions

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lowtide Impresses with Debut 7″, “Underneath Tonight”

Melbourne band Lowtide are taking me back to my youth with their debut 7”, “Underneath Tonight.”

The track reminds me of something The Cure might have released, with its spontaneous energy and reverb drenched guitars. But the sweet vocals of Lucy Buckeridge take away the edge, softening the tune just a little without making it too saccharine. There are so many layers to this tune; I like it instantly but I feel it’s going to take some time for me to appreciate its true beauty.

The B-side “Memory No. 7” takes things down a notch, but it’s no less compelling. This atmospheric ballad assures us that Lowtide are no one-trick ponies.

The band will play shows along the east coast in April and May before cloistering themselves away to write and record their debut album which is scheduled for a 2012 release. Make sure you see Lowtide while you can!

29th April 2011 – Petersham Bowls Club, Sydney
30th April 2011 – Blackwire Records, Sydney
7th May 2011 – The Hangar, Brisbane
8th May 2011 – NSC, Melbourne (matinee show with Baptism of Uzi)

Image used with permission from Show Off Services

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mike Noga Tours The Balladeer Hunter

The Balladeer Hunter, the sophomore solo album from The Drones’ drummer Mike Noga hits record stores today. To celebrate Mike’s announced that he’ll play a string of shows in May. That should give us all time to get familiar with the new material!

Mike should be in fine form as he’s just returned from a European tour that saw him supporting Band of Horses. He’ll play his Australian gigs alongside longtime collaborators Pat Bourke, or Dallas Crane, and Gus Agars of The Gin Club. They should be well and truly familiar with the material as they also appeared on the album.

Tickets for the following shows are on sale now from the venues.

7 May 2011 – The Toff, Melbourne
12 May 2011 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
13 May 2011 – The Republic Bar, Hobart
14 May 2011 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
15 May 2011 – The Bird, Northbridge
18 May 2011 – Notes, Sydney
19 May 2011 – Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
20 May 2011 – Step Inn, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Other Tongues

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Brazil’s Fernanda Takai Comes to Australia

Brazilian songstress Fernanda Takai is coming to Australia for the first time next month to play two very special shows.

Fernanda’s a household name back home, but you might know her better as the frontwoman of Pato Fu. No? Well cross Suzanne Vega with Norah Jones and you’re somewhere in the ballpark. Her solo album Onde Brilhem Os Olhos Seus has sold more than 80 thousand copies in her native Brazil, and become popular in Portugal, Japan, and China.

Fernanda will pay tribute to her Japanese Roots at Canberra’s All for Japan Benefit show at The Playhouse Theatre on April 19. A portion of the ticket sales will benefit the Japanese Red Cross and its work in recovery efforts following the earthquakes and tsunami. Then it’s off to The Basement in Sydney on April 20, where she’ll play an intimate dinner show.

While in Australia Fernanda will sing in Brazilian, Portugese, English, and Japanese, and pay tribute to her influences which range from Buarque and Ze Keti to James Taylor and Annie Lennox. It sounds like an amazing night for anyone willing to take a chance on something new.

Image used with permission from Positive Feedback

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Miley Cyrus Announces First Aussie Tour

When Miley Cyrus announced she was heading our way in 2008, it sent fans on my former blog into a frenzy. I received comments for months later demanding to know when we’d get some dates.

Goodness she left us waiting, but finally the patience of the fans is being rewarded. She’ll bring her Gypsy Heart show to Australia this June.

“Gypsy Heart is not just a tour for me, but a mission to spread love,” she said in a press statement. Right …

What a shame for parents that Miley’s finally coming out when her image has taken a turn. Try telling those young Hannah Montana fans that they can’t see their idol because her show’s too racy. I really don’t envy the mums of Australia right now.

If you are old enough to appreciate she who “can’t be tamed,” you can grab your tickets from April 12.

21 June 2011 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
23 June 2011 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
26 June 2011 – Acer Arena, Sydney
29 June 2011 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
2 June 2011 – Burswood Dome, Perth

Image source: Wikimedia Commons