Category: Tour Announcements

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Ruiins Make Strong Statement With “Nobody”

Mid-North Coast duo The Ruiins have knocked it out of the park with their epic new single “Nobody.” It’s got a bigger, moodier sound than previous releases, and I think it’s better for it.

“It takes a more dynamic approach which we haven’t yet explored. It highlights raw emotion and the difficulties of relationships, getting caught up in thought and realising when to act upon your emotions,” noted the band’s drummer and vocalist, Adam Dooker.

“Nobody” is the title track from The Ruiins’ debut EP, which is out now. Fresh from shows in Bali, The Ruiins will launch the EP with the following shows on Australia’s East Coast.

8 June 2018 – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
9 June 2018 – The Union Hotel, Sydney
15 June 2018 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
16 June 2018 – The Pink Motel, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from WHO Collective

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Liam Gale & The Ponytails Go Their Own Way With “It’s Alright, Speak Nice”

Liam Gale & The Ponytails are offering an exciting taste of their upcoming release “’The Desire Lines,” dropping the single “It’s Alright, Speak Nice” for your listening pleasure.

This is such an original track, with a trippy psychedelic rock feel meeting some sexy jazz grooves. Rosie Jackson brings some soul to the track, which touches on reckless drinking, religion, forlorn love, and bushfires.

Liam Gale & The Ponytails are playing several shows around Sydney over the coming weeks, including one in Marrickville tonight. Here are the places you can catch this talented band.

17 April 2018 – Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville
29 April 2018 – Upstairs at Fred’s, Camden
11 May 2018 – Sofar Sounds, Sydney (secret show)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Baby Animals Back to Best With “Tonight”

Baby Animals were the real surprise packet of this year’s Red Hot Summer shows for me. They were one of the only acts I’d never seen live before, and their blistering sets made me wonder why I’d left it this long. Suze deMarchi oozes cool and the band is one of the tightest I’ve ever seen. I also appreciate that they weren’t like so many other acts resting on their laurels. Trading on nostalgia is easy, but bringing new music to an audience takes balls. The new single “Tonight” was a highlight of the set, a track I wanted to make sure you all wrapped your ears around.

Baby Animals do too, so they’re touring the country as headliners to support its release. Expect to hear more tracks from their forthcoming EP along with all your old favourites at the following shows.

22 June 2018 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
23 June 2018 – The Gov, Adelaide
29 June 2018 – Doyalson RSL, Doyalson
30 June 2018 – Waves, Wollongong

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Leading Rock Musicians Celebrate AC/DC as Bon But Not Forgotten

AC/DC cover bands are a dime a dozen, but few have the credentials of Bon But Not Forgotten. This supergroup features some of the leading names in Australian music, including former AC/DC members Simon Wright and Tony Currenti, premiere guitarist Phil Emmanuel, The Angels and Choirboys member James Morley, and Electric Mary frontman RUSTY.

Bon But Not Forgotten will play shows around the country this July to celebrate Bon’s birthday. They’ll play all your favourite and some hidden gems most of the tribute shows are too scared to trot out. The next best thing to seeing the originals, don’t miss Bon But Not Forgotten.

6 July 2018 – The Charles Hotel, Perth
7 July 2018 – The Yarraville Club, Yarraville
8 July 2018 – Cherry Bar, Melbourne
13 July 2018 – The Factory Theatre, Marrickville
14 July 2018 – Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“This Home is Mine” – Stumps

I must admit, I didn’t get Stumps’ new EP This Home is Mine right away. It felt like this Sydney band was trying too hard to be The Smiths. But I have a rule that I won’t turn off any recording before it gets to the end. I know bands have spent time slaving away in the studio laying down their tracks, so they deserve to be heard out.

It all clicked for me somewhere around the third track, “Matthew McConaughey.” I found myself having fun, tapping my feet along in time with the chorus, which clicks this song into gear. From that moment I was firmly on board.

After listening to this EP once, I felt compelled to go back to the start and try again. Second time around, those early tracks made so much more sense to me. Each song from This Home is Mine is like a sucker punch. Not one clocks in at over four minutes – most tracks are around the three-minute mark – so there’s no time for the band to muck around. They go hard, dropping F-bombs and embracing big chords and thumping drums.

Stumps won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but This Home is Mine is bloody good fun. It’s bold and raucous, unashamedly unapologetic. Crank it up and give it a chance. If you’re like me, you’ll be glad you did.

I have an inkling this music is going to sound even better in a packed pub with a beer in hand. If you do too, make sure you don’t miss Stumps’ upcoming shows.

14 April 2018 – Waywards, Sydney (supporting Maddy Jane)
20 April 2018 – Gasometer, Melbourne (supporting Maddy Jane)
2 May 2018 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane (FREE)
4 May 2018 – Waywards, Sydney
5 May 2018 – Yah Yah’s, Melbourne (FREE)

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ryan Downey Drops New Single Ahead Of Album Release and Tour

Just a week out from the release of his debut album Running, Ryan Downey has dropped another stellar single. “1+1” is a dreamy ballad featuring guest vocals from Zoe Randall.

Zoe’s voice is lovely, but I think Ryan is the real star here. He reminds me a little of Chris Isaak, which his rich, resonant voice, but I find his music much more compelling and captivating than the American crooner’s.

I also love the clip, which again sees Ryan collaborating with filmmaker Alex Badham. It has such a simple premise, but like the song itself it draws you in and hits you right in the heart.

Ryan is set for a busy couple of months with shows supporting Sarah Blasko and his own headlining dates for the album. See him at the following venues.

11 May 2018 – The Great Northern, Byron Bay (with Sarah Blasko)
12 May 2018 – The Triffid, Brisbane (with Sarah Blasko)
17 May 2018 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
23 May 2018 – Canberra Theatre Centre (with Sarah Blasko)
24 May 2018 – The Junk Bar, Brisbane
26 May 2018 – Oxford Art Factory Gallery, Sydney
1 June 2018 – Metro Theatre, Sydney (with Sarah Blasko)
8 June 2018 – The Gov, Adelaide (with Sarah Blasko)
14 &15 June 2018 – The Rosemount, Perth (with Sarah Blasko)
21 June 2018 – The Capital, Bendigo (with Sarah Blasko)
22 June 2018 – 170 Russell, Melbourne (with Sarah Blasko)

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Canada’s Terra Lightfoot Ready for Aussie Album Tour

I intended to listen to “Pinball King,” the current single from Terra Lightfoot’s new album New Mistakes to decide whether it was putting on your radar ahead of her Aussie tour this month. But Terra Lightfoot music is a little like Easter chocolate. It’s impossible to stop at just one song. Needless to say, this article got put on the back burner because I needed to listen to the entire album. Twice. It’s just that good. And no doubt her upcoming tour will be as well.

Terra is playing shows along the East Coast, both as a headliner and in supporting duties for Letters to Lions.

“We came to Australia for the first time in the spring, and were welcomed with open arms. Each city we visited was more beautiful than the last—and I was properly initiated when I got stung by a bluebottle on the beach in Cronulla,” Terra explained. “I felt very at home in Australia; I loved all the musicians we met, and we made so many friends and can’t wait to see them all again! We are going to have so much fun.”

Get on this one music lovers. If her new album is any indication, Terra’s shows are sure to be excellent.

18 April 2018 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
19 April 2018 – The Gasometer (Upstairs), Melbourne (with Letters to Lions)
20 April 2018 – The Loft, Warrnambool (with Letters to Lions)
22 April 2018 – The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne
24 April 2018 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
27April 2018 – Gumball Festival, Dashville
28 April 2018 – Beaches, Thirroul
29 April 2018 – The Quarterdeck, Narooma
2 May 2018 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
3 May 2018 – Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane
4 May 2018 – Nightquarter, Gold Coast
5 May 2018 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
6 May 2018 – Kingscliff Beach Hotel, Kingscliff

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Out of Sadness Comes Pop Smash for Iluka

It’s a case of turning lemons into lemonade, or heartbreak into indie pop gold for Iluka, who’s just released her new track “Ritual.”

“When I wrote ‘Ritual’ it was quite melancholic and full of longing and sadness,” she explained. “The original demo is slow and kind of heart breaking. I was in this place of loneliness, this bitter sweet kind of feeling that comes after a relationship has ended and you’re reflecting back and in this self-searching phase trying desperately to figure out who you are again. Then as I began playing it with the band and eventually took it into the studio, it became more of this celebration and defiant kind of song. The ritual of falling in and out of love, learning to stand on your own two feet again. To be defined as yourself, by yourself, and follow your own star. Everyone has their own ritual, and this is mine.”

Ritual is the title track of Iluka’s new EP, which is available through her website from Friday. Not so coincidentally, that’s when Iluka kicks off her East Coast tour. Check her out at the following venues.

6 April 2018 – Mo’s Clubhouse, Gold Coast
7 April 2018 – Bloodhound Bar, Brisbane
12 April 2018 – Transit Bar, Canberra (FREE)
14 April 2018 – Grace Darling, Melbourne
20 April 2018 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
21 April 2018 – Waywards, Sydney

Image used with permission from Mucho Bravado

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Perch Creek Offer Soulful Taste of New Album

Melbourne band Perch Creek have taken me back to the ‘70s with their soulful new single “Gold Shop.” I love its funky bass groove and those honey vocals from Eileen Hodgkins. The retro inspired film clip is also stellar.

“We came up with the general concept of a ‘70s style action chase (inspired by the classic Beastie Boys film clip for Sabotage) featuring our Kingswood, maybe a fake moustache and the backdrop of the North Coburg industrial zone [in Melbourne’s north],” explained the band’s bassist, James Chandler. “It wasn’t until we met Sasha, who directed and shot the film with Honey Editorial, that the screenplay really took shape. They capitalised on our comic acting and made full use of our vintage car and bike collection to create an epic, hilarious and at times confounding four-and-a-half minute action flick. It’s definitely the coolest video we’ve done yet.”

“Gold Shop” comes from Perch Creek’s new self-titled album, which will hit stores on April 13. The band will celebrate its release with shows in the capitals and major regional centres around the country.

31 May 2018 – Fly by Night, Fremantle (18+)
2 & 3 June 2018 – Denmark Festival of Voice, Denmark (ALL AGES)
7 June 2018 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle (ALL AGES)
8 June 2018 – The Metropole Guesthouse, Katoomba (ALL AGES)
10 June 2018 – Smiths Alternative, Canberra (18+)
14 June 2018 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane (18+)
15 June 2018 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast (ALL AGES – FREE)
16 June 2018 – Star Court Theatre, Lismore (ALL AGES)
17 June 2018 – Pelican Playhouse, Grafton (ALL AGES)
21 June 2018 – The Workers Club, Geelong (18+)
22 June 2018 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine (18+)
23 June 2018 – The Evelyn, Fitzroy (18+)
29 June 2018 – Jive Bar, Adelaide (18+)
1 July 2018 – Thornbury Bowls Club, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
6 July 2018 – Major Tom’s, Kyneton (ALL AGES)
7 July 2018 – Sandy Point Music Club, Sandy Point (ALL AGES)

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mary Webb Goes Her Own Way With “Gecko Fingers”

Adelaide singer-songwriter Mary Webb is doing music differently. You can get a taste of how she’s breaking the mould with her new single “Gecko Fingers.”

It’s such a unique track, folky and a little jazzy, poetically written and so endearing.

“Gecko Fingers” comes from Mary’s recently released album Love Like Planets, which was recorded in Montana. Mary is currently bringing music from this unique album to music lovers all around the country. Here are all the places you can see her play.

6 April 2018 – Willie’s Apple Shed, Tasmania (FREE ALL AGES WITH PARENT)
22 April 2018 – Milk Factory, Brisbane (4pm ALL AGES)
28 April 2018 – Smiths Alternative Bookshop, Canberra
4 May 2018 – The Edwards Newcastle (ALL AGES)
27 May 2018 – Cheese Factory Studio Gallery, Meadows (1pm ALL AGES)

Image used with permission from On the Map PR