Category: Tour Announcements

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kate Miller-Heidke’s Caught in the Crowd

Kate Miller-Heidke is showing her sensitive side with her latest single “Caught in the Crowd.” This moving song about bullying is a world away from her most recent anti-dance hit “Can’t Shake It.”

The tune is currently featured in a nation-wide anti-bullying campaign in conjunction with MySpace, the Department of Education, The Daily Telegraph and Kids Helpline. In conjunction with the awareness campaign, students have the chance to win some awesome prizes including a Kate Miller-Heidke concert at their school and a Sony professional video hardware pack. To enter students should make a video for “Caught in the Crowd” and upload it to www.myspace.com/caughtinthecrowd.

But the MySpace profile is about more than this competition. It’s also a forum for people of any age to share their stories about bullying.With one in six Australian students bullied every week, it sounds like a great cause.

Kate will play shows in support of the single in April and May. You can catch the “Caught in the Crowd” tour at the following venues.

30 April 2009 – Prince of Wales Bandroom, Melbourne
1 May 2009 – Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne
2 May 2009 – Hi Fi Bar, Brisbane
7 May 2009 – The Metro, Sydney
8 May 2009 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Solo Dan Auerbach Heads to Australia

Dan Auerbach made a big impression as the lead singer and guitarist for The Black Keys. Now he’s continuing to impress with his first solo effort, Keep It Hid.

Dan will showcase tracks from this amazing release, plus plenty of Black Keys hits, at his very first Australian shows in April. He’s out here to play the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival in Byron and the Boogie Festival in Melbourne, but there are also plenty of chances to see him up close and personal at some intimate side shows.

Here are all the dates!

3 April 2009 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
4 April 2009 – The Zoo, Brisbane
6 April 2009 – The Basement, Sydney
7 April 2009 – The Annandale Hotel, Sydney
9 April 2009 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
10 April 2009 – East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Byron Bay
11 April 2009 – Boogie Festival, Melbourne

Image source: PR Photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lily Allen Announces Aussie Tour

Australia loves Lily Allen. Local music fans sent her sophomore album It’s Not Me, It’s You straight to the top of the charts, and now the loudmouthed Brit is heading Down Under to say thanks.

But if you don’t live on the east coast, or you’re under the age of 18, you’re going to miss out. Lily’s announced just three gigs, and a MySpace Secret Show.

Given the small venues and Lily’s massive popularity, I’d get in quick when tickets go on sale March 2 if I were you. Consider yourself warned!

8 June 2009 – Tivoli, Brisbane
9 June 2009 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
10 June 2009 – The Forum, Melbourne

Image source: PR Photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Abby Dobson Releases "Horses"

The voice of Leonardo’s Bride Abby Dobson is preparing to release “Horses,” the latest single from her debut solo album Rise Up. The track has already earned critical acclaim, placing second in the 2008 International Songwriting Competition.

The single, which will drop on March 13, will include an exclusive bonus track “High Like Heaven” which was recorded live at Abby’s Spiegeltent show in Melbourne last November. Abby worked with acclaimed director Bart Borghesi (Eskimo Joe, You Am I, The Living End, Something For Kate) on the “Horses” video, which was shot at Melbourne Museum.

To celebrate the single’s release, Abby will embark on an Australian tour in March. Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

13 March 2009 – Garden of Unearthly Delights, Spiegeltent, Fringe Festival, Adelaide
18 March 2009 – The Gearin Hotel, Katoomba
19 March 2009 – The Basement, Sydney
20 March 2009 – Tempus Two Winery, Hunter Valley
21 March 2009 – Manly Boat Shed
24 March 2009 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
26 March 2009 – Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave
27 March 2009 – The Studio, Geelong
28 March 2009 – Capers, Hawthorn
2 April 2009 – Sound Lounge, Gold Coast
4 April 2009 – Bon Amici, Toowoomba
5 April 2009 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay

Image used with permission from Original Matters

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Living End Play for Victorian Bushfire Victims

The Living End packed up their instruments and toured the bushfire ravaged parts of Victoria on Monday.

The Aussie three-piece entertained locals and support teams at the Yea Relief Centre before heading to Alexandra. There was no power there, so they played a stripped back set with Chris Cheney on acoustic guitar and Andy Strachan using a garbage for his drum kit.

“Throughout the day we got to meet some amazing people, all of whom have been directly affected by the fires and we would like to thank those communities for allowing us to come and play for them. It was an honour to do so,” Chris Cheney said in a statement.

“Although the aim was to entertain and provide a distraction for these people, we would like to stress that what is needed more than anything else is money. If you haven’t already donated to the appeal, please do so.”

Remember every little bit counts. Online donations are still accepted through Red Cross and Wildlife Victoria.

Image source: Michael Spencer @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sparkadia Dreams of European Success

Sparkadia hopes to crack the tough European market with a move to Germany later this year. The Sydney four-piece will base themselves in Berlin, where they plan to record a new album and tour Europe.

You can say goodbye (or should that be auf Wiedersehen?) to the band at their farewell shows in March and April. Brisbane’s John Steel Singers and Sydney’s The Jezabels will join them on the road.

Here are the dates!

8 March 2009 – Rock It Festival, Joondalup
12 and 13 March 2009 – The Zoo, Brisbane
21 March 2009 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
4 April 2009 – The Factory, Sydney

Image source: KingDaveRa @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jason Mraz Back for Blues Festivals and Sideshows

Jason Mraz’s love affair with Australia continues. The laid-back American troubadour will embark on his sixth local tour next April.

This is bound to be the biggest tour yet thanks to the popularity of this smash hit single “I’m Yours” and the album it came from, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

So it’s fitting that Jason will tour with a seven-piece band and two big support acts. In a stroke of synchronicity, Jason will take fellow Californian Eric Hutchinson on the road with him. Eric’s song “Rock & Roll” appeared in recent advertisements for Channel Seven’s series Packed to The Rafters, replacing the drama’s original tune “I’m Yours.” Australia’s own Lisa Mitchell will round out the stellar bill for these shows.

The tour’s highlights will include performances at the Bluesfest Byron Bay and the West Coast Blues & Roots Festival. He’ll also co-headline Adelaide’s Music in the Park concert with Missy Higgins.

If you still haven’t grabbed a copy of the album, you might want to hold off. We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. will be released as a 2CD/DVD expanded edition on March 6. It includes the album, three previously unreleased EPs, a 20-page booklet with lyrics and additional artworks, and a full band live DVD. It’s enough to tempt me to fork out for another copy!

Every show sold out on Jason’s last tour, and I expect this one’s going to go the same way. Tickets go on sale on Thursday 19 February, so get in quick! Here are all the dates!

13 April 2009 – Byron Bay Bluesfest, Belongil Fields
14 April 2009 – Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane
15 April 2009 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
17 April 2009 – Bonython Park, Adelaide (Missy Higgins to perform instead of Lisa Mitchell)
18 April 2009 – West Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Fremantle
20 April 2009 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne

Image source: Bauer-Griffin

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Victorian Bushfires Force Simply Red Show Cancellation

Raging bushfires throughout Victoria have forced Simply Red to cancel their Day on the Green show at the state’s Rochford Winery.

Country Fire Authorities and state government officials advised the promoter Roundhouse Entertainment that the weather situation was too unpredictable to risk the safety of concertgoers.

As I write this 108 people have been confirmed dead in the fires, while 750 homes have been destroyed. That makes these fires the worst in Australia’s history. Given the scale of the tragedy, I doubt anyone would have felt up to attending the concert anyway.

Ticket holders are advised to hang on to their tickets at this point, as A Day on the Green organisers are attempting to reschedule the concert around lead singer Mick Hucknall’s international commitments.

Image source: Simply Red gallery

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Decoder Ring Ready to Support Coldplay

Sydney band Decoder Ring has scored the prestigious support slot for Coldplay’s Viva La Vida Australian tour. The local lads, who were hand-selected by the British band, will play for 150, 000 fans at 11 Aussie arena shows.

Decoder Ring’s organic sounds and psychedelic electronic arrangements are sure to set the stage for Coldplay’s spectacular audiovisual show.

There are strictly limited tickets available through Ticketek. Here are all the dates.

27 and 28 February 2009 – Burswood Dome, Perth
3, 4, and 5 March 2009 – Rod Laver Arena, Rod Laver Arena
8 and 9 March 2009 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
11, 12, 14, and 15 March 2009 – Acer Arena, Sydney

Image used with permission from Liz O’Grady

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bob Evans’ Rocking New Album

No one could ever accuse Kevin Mitchell of getting stale. As part of Jebediah, he gave us slices of alternative rock like “Leaving Home” and “Fall Down.” Then under the moniker Bob Evans he dabbled in a more mainstream sound, combining pop with a quirky indie sensibility. Now as Bob, Kevin says he’s ready to rock once more.

So it might seem an unlikely choice to record Goodnight, Bull Creek, his third album as Bob Evans, in the home of country music, Nashville. Brad Jones has produced the recording, as he did with Bob’s last album Suburban Songbook.

“This is my rock album. I’m saying goodbye to the suburbs,” Bob said.

You can get a taste of the new rocking tracks when Bob hits the road in April and May.

18 April 2009 -West Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Fremantle
7 May 2009 – Tivoli, Brisbane
8 May 2009 – The Sands Tavern, Maroochydore
9 May 2009 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
10 May 2009 – Great Northern, Byron Bay
12 May 2009 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
13 May 2009 – Newcastle University
14 May 2009 – Wollongong University
15 May 2009 – Metro, Sydney
16 May 2009 – ANU Canberra
20 May 2009 – Peninsula Lounge, Moorooduc
21 May 2009 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
23 May 2009 – Republic Bar, Hobart
28 May 2009 – The Gov, Adelaide

Image source: Monototo @ Wikimedia Commons