Category: Tour Announcements

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Flo Rida Announces Aussie Tour

It seemed like “Low” had the number one spot in Australia for an eternity, so I’m sure there are plenty of folks excited about the news that Flo Rida is bringing his show Down Under.

Sadly for some urban music fans, he’ll only visit Sydney and Melbourne. He’ll hit the Queensbridge Hotel in South Melbourne on August 29 before playing Luna Park’s Big Top in Sydney the following night. Hopefully, the gigs will go well enough to encourage the soul superstar to come back and explore more of our fine country.

Ticketek will sell tickets for both shows from 9 am on Monday 21 July.

Image source: Darkroomdemons.com @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Xavier Rudd Releases "Dark" New Album

Gee that Xavier Rudd is a busy boy isn’t he? He’s been touring virtually nonstop for years, yet somehow he’s managed to release four studio albums since 2002 and a swag of live discs. And soon he’ll add album number five to the list: Dark Shades of Blue.

The album, which is scheduled for an August 19 release, promises to have more of a rock flavour than his previous discs. With Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens of the Stone Age) behind the mixing desk, it sounds like he’s on the right track.

Somewhere in there Xavier’s also found time to pen the score for the upcoming Matthew McConaughey film Surfer Dude. Wow!

Australia will get to see the hardest working man in the industry when he showcases Dark Shades of Blue later this year. If you’ve never caught this multi-instrumental genius live before, I urge you to check out one of the following shows. You will not be disappointed!

28 October – The Hifi, Melbourne
3 November – Canberra Uni Refectory
4 November – Waves Nightclub, Wollongong
6 November – The Metro Theatre, Sydney
9 November – Civic Theatre, Newcastle
11 November – Coffs Ex-Serviceman’s Club, Coffs Harbour
12 November – Ballina RSL
14 November – The Events Centre, Caloundra
15 November – The Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane
18 November – The Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
21 November – Townsville Civic Theatre
22 November – Kuranda Amphitheatre
27 November – Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth
28 November – Old Broadwater Farm, Busselton
30 November – Elder Park, Adelaide

Image source: f2g2 @ Flickr 

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Whitlams Hit the Road

If you can’t make it to The Whitlams’ Good Music Month show at the State Theatre you needn’t stress. The band has just announced a full run of dates to support their soon-to-be-released best of.

The lads will play shows in some of the major capitals and a few regional towns as well. But if you can make it to Sydney, Hobart, or Melbourne they’re really the pick of things. The Whitlams will be backed by full symphonies in these cities, so they’re sure to be something special.

The two-disc greatest hits album will draw from The Whitlams six studio releases. It’ll hit record stores all around the country on August 2. You can see The Whitlams doing their thing live at the following venues.

15 August 2008 – Wrest Point Casino, Hobart (with The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra)
22 and 23 August 2008 – The Gov, Adelaide
4 and 5 September 2008 – The Zoo, Brisbane
12 September 2008 – State Theatre, Sydney (w/ Symphonie Des Femmes)
25 and 26 September 2008 – Hamer Hall, Melbourne (w/ The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)
4 October 2008 – Belmont Sailing Club, Newcastle
11 and 12 October 2008 – Tilley’s, Canberra
17 October 2008 – Caloundra Festival, Caloundra
24 October 2008 – Tank Art Centre, Cairns
1 November 2008 – Regal Theatre, Perth

Image source: Mystikeel @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

More 80s Legends Head Down Under

Is it just me, or does it feel kind of like it’s 1985? We’ve just had the announcements that The Bangles and Def Leppard are coming and now we can add a couple more 80s icons to the list.

The lead singer of Spandau Ballet, Tony Hadley, is teaming up with Paul Young for some massive shows jampacked with nostalgic tracks.

Tony Hadley was the voice of classic songs like “Gold,” “To Cut a Long Story Short,” “Only When You Leave” and my absolute favourite guilty pleasure “True.”

I also love Paul Young’s hits “Wherever I Lay My Hat,” “Everytime You Go Away,” and “Love of the Common People.”

Suffice to say, these shows are going to be awesome, and probably not all that pricy considering they’re playing some RSLs.

The dates are:

22 October 2008 – West Leagues Club, Newcastle
23 October 2008 – Palms @ Crown Casino, Melbourne
24 October 2008 – Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL
25 October 2008 – Fairfield RSL Club
29 October 2008 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
31 October 2008 – Regal Theatre, Perth

Image source: giorgioerriquez @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Stevie Wonder Announces Aussie Visit

Soul music legend Stevie Wonder is heading to Australia for the first time since the 1980s!

The Grammy-award-winning megastar will bring his acclaimed band to capital cities around the country for some very special shows in October.

They’re set to be jam-packed with hits, thanks to his impressive back catalogue which includes “Signed Sealed Delivered (I’m Yours),” “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” “Higher Ground,” “Master Blaster,” “My Cherie Amore” and stacks more.

You can grab your tickets to see this living legend when they go on sale on 24 July. Here are the dates!

14 October 2008 – Burswood Dome, Perth
16 October 2008 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
19 October 2008 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
22 October 2008 – Acer Arena, Sydney
25 October 2008 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre

Image source: Antonio Cruz @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Disturbed Ready to Rock Oz

Metal fans have something to celebrate with news that Disturbed are heading to Australia for a massive tour.

Disturbed have reached heights most bands of their genre can only dream of, selling in excess of ten million albums worldwide. That success has only continued with the release of their fourth album, Indestructible, which recently reached number one on the Aussie and American charts.

Disturbed will play shows with the acclaimed P.O.D., Alter Bridge, and Behind Crimson Eyes. Fans are going to snap these tickets up, so make sure you get yours when they go on sale on 10 July. This monster metal lineup will play the following shows:

29 August 2008 – Metro City, Perth
31 August 2008 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
2 August 2008 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
3 September 2008 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
4 September 2008 – Newcastle Entertainment Centre
6 September 2008 – Festival Hall, Melbourne

Image source: Razvan Orendovici @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Big Names and Blues at Aussie Wineries

Winter weather tends to make me a little stir-crazy. I love the cold, but my concert calendar always looks a little threadbare. But with the announcement of the first Day of the Green concert of the year, I’m reminded that summer isn’t too far away.

The season kicks off with a massive double bill: John Mellencamp (I believe he’s dropped the Cougar again) and Sheryl Crow. This is the sort of show where you will literally know every song, and have a mighty fine time singing along.

If you don’t live near one of the wineries, you can probably catch the show at your local ent cent. The indoor gigs have the added bonus of Aussie troubadour Shane Nicholson, but they will lose out on atmosphere. If there’s any way you can get yourself to one of the Day on the Green events, I strongly advise it.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 7 July for the following shows:

15 November 2008 – Sandalford Wines, Swan Valley
19 November 2008 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
21 November 2008 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
22 November 2008 – Rochford’s Eyton Winery, Yarra Valley
25 November 2008 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
28 November 2008 – Acer Arena, Sydney
29 November 2008 – Bimbadgen Estate, Hunter Valley

If November seems a little far away, why not consider heading to the Hunter Valley for the annual Bimbadgen Blues Festival? The amazing line-up brings you Australia’s finest blues musicians including Josh Pyke, Chain, Dallas Frasca and her Gentleman, Mojo Webb, Paul Greene, and heaps more.

Two stages will keep the entertainment coming thick and fast. You can also indulge in a gourmet picnic hamper from the award winning Esca restaurant, not to mention all that lovely Bimbadgen wine! Tickets are priced at $55, which isn’t bad value at all for six hours of fantastic music.

“What better way to kick off spring, and our festival season, than to relax with a selection of Bimbadgen reds and whites while enjoying the sounds of the blues?” asks Bimbadgen Estate General Manager John Quirk. What better way indeed!

Bimbadgen Blues is on at Bimbadgen Estate on Saturday 6 September. Check the website for further details and tickets.

Image source: Symbiosis @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sneaky Sound System Release Album Number 2

It’s been a long time since we’ve heard anything from Australia’s hottest dance outfit, Sneaky Sound System, but all that’s soon about to change. Miss Connie, Black Angus, and MC Double D are back with album number two called, funnily enough, 2.

No points for originality there, but it’s still going to do well thanks to a killer first single called “Kansas City.” The album will be repackaged in the UK to include the new stuff plus the best tracks from the first album. The British are going with “Pictures” for the first single, but it won’t be the same old thing. The UK recording will have a distinctly British flavour thanks to remixing by Rich Costey, the man behind Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, and Muse.

2 will hit Aussie shelves in August 16 before the Brits get it on September 22. To celebrate the release Sneaky Sound System will play a couple of east coast dates in August. Tickets are on sale from July 3 for the following dates.

16 and 17 of August 2008 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
26 and 27 of August 2008 – The Queensbridge, Melbourne
29 and 30 August 2008 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney

Image source: Hooverdust @ Flickr 

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paul Greene Hits the Road

Paul Greene is one of Australia’s best kept secrets. His album Distance Over Time recently hit number one on the iTunes blues and roots charts, and critics are raving about it.

Paul’s sold almost 30,000 albums locally, and played everything from major festivals to bar rooms to concert halls. You might have also caught him recently supporting American singer-songwriter supremo Patty Griffin and country king Adam Brand.

He’s just announced a bunch of new dates supporting this brand new disc. There are plenty of shows in the regional centres and capitals, so he’s bound to play near you soon. If you haven’t checked Paul out before, now’s the perfect time.

Click the link below for all the dates!

28 June 2008 – Royal Hotel, Corowa
29 June 2008 – Home Tavern, Wagga Wagga
3 July 2008 – Pot Belly, Canberra
10 July 2008 – Locomotive Hotel, Tamworth
11 July 2008 – Gunnedah Services Club
12 July 2008 – Moree Golf Club
20 July 2008 – Bateau Bay Hotel
25 July 2008 – Colac RSL (with Adam Brand)
26 July 2008 – Kinross Woolshed, Thurgoona (with Adam Brand)
30 July 2008 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
31 July 2008 – North Star Hotel, Melrose
1 August 2008 – Pier Hotel, Port Lincoln
2 August 2008 – Ceduna Sailing Club
7 August 2008 – Tanglehead Brewing Company, Albany
8 and 9 August 2008 – Quindanning Tavern
9 August 2008 – Cape Wine Bar, Dunsborough
10 August 2008 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
14 August 2008 – The Railway Hotel, Fremantle
15 August 2008 – Ronsard Bay Tavern, Cervantes
16 August 2008 – Freemason’s Hotel, Geraldton
27 August 2008 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay (with Andrew Morris & The Huckleberry Swedes)
28 August 2008 – The Troubadour, Brisbane (with Andrew Morris & The Huckleberry Swedes)
29-31 August 2008 – Toyota Muster, Amamoor State Forest via Gympie
6 September 2008 – Bimbadgen Blues, Pokolbin (with Josh Pyke, Chain and more)
7 September 2008 – CoastFest 2008, Point Wolstoncroft (with Jeff Lang, Epicure and many more)
4 October 2008 – Deni Ute Muster, Deniliquin (with Kasey Chambers, James Reyne & Mark Seymour, The Living End)
23 October 2008 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
24 October 2008 – Milton Playhouse Theatre
25 October 2008 – Kidgee Ridge Music Festival, Lake Conjola
26 October 2008 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli

Image supplied by Australian Music Biz

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rocket Science Dare to be Different

Melbourne rock gods Rocket Science are back with a brand new album and tour.

Their fourth release, Different Like You, is due out in July. Hopefully it will bring a change of fortune for this unlucky band. It’s their first album since singer Roman Tucker was involved in a car accident which left him a coma. Paul Maybury broke his leg not long after.

Barring anymore nasty mishaps, the laps will embark on a national tour in August. Here are the dates!

21 August 2008 – The Peninsula Lounge, Moorooduc
22 August 2008 – The Corner Hotel, Richmond
23 August 2008 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
28 August 2008 – Jive, Adelaide
29 August 2008 – Sandbar, Mildura
30 August 2008 – Green Room, Canberra
4, 5 and 6 September 2008 – Hopetoun Hotel, Surry Hills
11 September 2008 – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury
12 September 2008 – The Norfolk, Fremantle
13 September 2008 – Amplifier Bar, Perth
11 October 2008 – Sounds of Spring Festival, RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane