In 2017, James Reyne celebrates a 30-year solo career. To mark the milestone, he’ll re-release his solo album on vinyl and play two very special live shows.
That self-titled album built upon his artistry developed with Australian Crawl. Even if you don’t own it, you’ll know the songs, tracks like “Fall of Rome,” “Motor’s Too Fast,” “Rip It Up,” and one of my favourites, “Hammerhead,” performed so beautifully here.
James will play with a full band at Memo Music Hall in St Kilda on April 28 and The Basement in Sydney on May 5. Tickets are on sale from the venues now.
It’s hard to believe that next year marks the 20th anniversary of Todd McKenney singing the songs of Peter Allen. He’ll celebrate the occasion with a string of shows in Queensland and New South Wales. After his years as a Dancing with the Stars judge, you’d be forgiven for forgetting just how good a performer Todd really is. As a reminder, check out this performance of “Tenterfield Saddler” from the vault.
These shows are worth getting to, even if you’ve seen Todd paying tribute to the late, great Peter Allen before. He promises he’ll play more Peter Allen songs than ever before and share plenty of new stories and laughs as well. Tickets are available from the venues for the following shows.
31 March & 1 April 2017 – Kedron Wavell Services Club, Chermside
7 April 2017 – Bankstown Sports Club, Bankstown
8 April 2017 – Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill
21 April 2017 – Laycock Street Community Theatre, Gosford
22 April 2017 – Blue Mountains Theatre, Springwood
28 & 29 April 2017 – The Piano Sessions, The Studio @ Sydney Opera House, Sydney
6 May 2017 – Norths Leagues, North Sydney
13 May 2017 – Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill
19 May 2017 – Revesby Workers Club, Revesby
20 May 2017 – Dee Why RSL, Dee Why
26 May 2017 – Evan Theatre @ Penrith Panthers, Penrith, NSW
27 May 2017 – The Juniors, Kingsford
2 June 2017 – Hornsby RSL, Hornsby
3 June 2017 – Blacktown Workers, Blacktown
I have a lot of love for Busby Marou. They’re one of Australia’s most unassuming musical acts, but they’re stellar songwriters with harmonies that are second to none. I can’t wait to hear more of their music when their third studio album, Postcards from the Shell House, drops on February 17.
Until then we’ll just have to be content with the release of the lead single “Getaway Car.” Busby Marou isn’t a band that needs studio trickery, so it’s only fitting to bring you a stripped back version of this song recorded on Great Keppel Island, where the duo wrote and recorded much of the album. It’s an idyllic setting which is perfectly suited to Busby Marou’s laidback style of music.
You can hear more of it when Busby Marou take their new album around Queensland next year. Hopefully it won’t be too long before they announce shows around the rest of the country.
18 February 2017 – The Great Western Hotel, Rockhampton
23-25 February 2017 – The Reef Casino, Cairns
2 March 2017 – Mt Pleasant, Mackay
3 March 2017 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
4 March 2017 – Dalrymples, Townsville
9 March 2017 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
10 March 2017 – Wharf Tavern, Mooloolaba
11 March 2017 – Bay Central Hotel, Hervey Bay
Not content with appearing in Sydney’s Celebrating David Bowie concert or his shows at Melbourne Zoo as part of the summer’s Twilight Sessions, Paul Dempsey will tour regional centers around the country this summer.
Expect to hear plenty of his solo hits and Something for Kate classics at the following gigs. Tickets are on sale now through Paul’s website.
19 January 2017 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
20 January 2017 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
21 January 2017 – Entrance Leagues Club, The Entrance
25 January 2017 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
27 January 2017 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
3 February 2017 – The Studio @ Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin
9 February 2017 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
10 February 2017 – NightQuarter, Gold Coast
11 February 2017 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
Image used with permission from International Music Concepts
The beautiful songs from Love is a Dog just keep coming with the release of Tinpan Orange’s latest single, “See You In the Water.”
This is such a stunning song, with ethereal vocals and delicate strings. I definitely recommend taking a moment to stop what you’re doing and just listening to it, without distractions.
The Aussie trio has spent months touring, but they’re not done yet. Check out the following shows in Australia and abroad.
14 & 15 January 2017 – Illawarra Folk Festival, Wollongong
26 January 2017 – The Rocks Australia Day Festival, Sydney (FREE)
20 February 2017 – Haldern Pop, Haldern
21 February 2017 – Prinzenbar, Hamburg
22 February 2017 – Wohngemeinschaft, Köln
23 February 2017 – L’alimentation générale, Paris
25 February 2017 – Hafen 2, Offenbach/Frankfurt
26 February 2017 – Wohnzimmer Matinee, Dresden
27 February 2017 – Lido, Berlin
3 March 2017 – The Odd Fellow, Fremantle
4 & 5 March 2017 – Nannup Music Festival, Nannup
11 & 12 March 2017 – A Festival Called Panama, Golconda
24 & 25th March 2017 – Yackandandah Folk Festival, Yackandandah
26 March 2017 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (matinee show 2pm)
Tubular Bells is one of those albums that continues to endure. I remember Dad playing Mike Oldfield’s classic to me as a kid. Now decades later, my twenty-something sister and her boyfriend have discovered it. No matter when you first heard Tubular Bells, if you fell in love with it you’re going to want to see Tubular Bells for Two.
This unique show has sold out in festivals around the world, and it’s finally coming to Australia. Mike Oldfield had the benefit of some of the world’s first multi-tracking technology when he recorded this classic album. But to bring it to life, this show has just two guys – Austalia’s Aidan Roberts and Daniel Holdsworth – juggling more than 20 instruments, all live.
17 & 18 February 2017 – Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide
10 & 11 March 2017 – York Theatre @ Seymour Centre, Sydney
24 March 2017 – Glasshouse, Port Macquarie
25 March 2017 – Lismore City Hall, Lismore
30 March 2017 – Armitage Centre @ HBA, Toowoomba
31 March 2017 – Redland PAC, Cleveland
1 April 2017 – Ipswich Civic Centre, Ipswich
2 April 2017 – Majestic Theatre, Pomona
6 April 2017 – Dubbo Regional Theatre, Dubbo
7 April 2017 – The Capitol, Tamworth
8 April 2017 – Orange Civic Theatre, Orange
22 April 2017 – Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford
5-7 May 2017 – Street Theatre, Canberra
It’s been five long years since Carus Thompson has released any new music, but he’s making a real statement with his comeback single “Beach Fires.” The track explores the ice epidemic and way this terrible drug erodes friendships and communities.
“Beach Fires” comes from Carus’ forthcoming album Island, which is slated for release in early 2017. Expect more big themes on the record, with songs exploring isolation, refugees, apathy, and other issued affecting our social climate.
Carus will take these songs on the road with local shows in February and March.
12 February 2017 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide (Matinee)
17 February 2017 – Mojos, Fremantle
25 February 2017 – Piping Hot Chicken Shop, Ocean Grove
26 February 2017 – Grampians Festival, Halls Gap
3 March 2017 – Republic Bar, Hobart
4 March 2017 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
5 March 2017 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
10 March 2017 – The Quarry Ampitheatre, City Beach
George Martin was one of the great talents we lost this year. Next February, some of our brightest local stars will honour to his extraordinary work with the Beatles in a tour dubbed From Mania to Revolution: A Beatles Tribute to George Martin.
Davey Lane, Ashley Naylor, Kram, Linda Bull, Jim Fleming, Nick Murphy, Brett Wolfenden will play two sets jampacked with Beatles classics every night, joined with some other very special guests.
Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.
1 February 2017 – The Athenaeum, Melbourne (with Deborah Conway, Dan Kelly, and Ella Thompson)
2 February 2017 – The Triffid, Brisbane (with Kellie Lloyd, Darren Middleton, and Luke Peacock)
3 February 2017 – Manning Bar, Sydney (with Abby Dobson, Steve Kilbey, Jodi Phillis, and Rob Younger)
9 February 2017 – The Gov, Adelaide (with Koral Chandler, Taasha Coates, Dusty Lee, and Ben Marwe)
10 February 2017 – Badlands, Perth (with Justin Burford, Felicity Groom, and Dom Mariani)
Image used with permission from Remedy PR
Now based in Los Angeles, Perth-bred musician Cameron Avery is coming home to play shows supporting his dreamy new single “C’est Toi.”
Cameron penned the stunning piano ballad about the last time he fell in love. It’s got a nostalgic vibe about it that I really love, as well as some gorgeous poetic lyrics. It’s the first track lifted from Cameron’s highly anticipated album.
You’ll no doubt get a sneaky listen to more of the album tracks at the following shows.
14 January 2017 – Freo Arts Centre Courtyard, Fremantle
18 January 2017 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
19 January 2017 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
It’s been some time since I’ve heard a true girl power anthem. Thankfully Amber Lawrence has filled the void, with the help of Catherine Britt and Fanny Lumsden. Their new single “Cheers to the Girls” is everything I’ve been waiting for.
It tells the story of women each broken in their own way who draw from their inner strength to reclaim their identities. I also like that it doesn’t stoop to blanket male bashing, as so many feminist things do. Instead it deals with very specific circumstances and focuses on what women did to overcome them.
“I’m really proud of this song. A lot of courage went into writing this song, and telling it how it actually is for some women. This song in part eludes to domestic abuse, but also praises women of all types – those that were bullied at school, those that didn’t know their inner strength until the only choice left was to rely on and stand up for themselves,” Amber explained. “It’s a rousing song of strength and is already a crowd favourite – add to this, the stunning vocals of Catherine Britt and Fanny Lumsden, and this is also one of my favourites.”
“Cheers to the Girls” is the latest single lifted from Amber’s fifth studio album Happy Ever After. She will tour the album with Catherine Britt next year. Fanny Lumsden will appear at selected shows. More dates will be announced, so if there’s not one close to you keep an eye on Amber’s website.
3 March 2017 – Gloucestor Soldiers Club, Gloucestor
4 March 2017 – Muswellbrook RSL, Muswellbrook
31 March 2017 – Red Hot Music, Devonport
1 April 2017 – Granada Tavern, Hobart
7 April 2017 – Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill
8 April 2017 – Soul Central, Dee Why
9 April 2017 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
13 May 2017 – Ettalong Diggers, Ettalong Beach
18 May 2017 – Loxton Club, Loxton
19 May 2017 – Pretoria Hotel, Mannum
20 May 2017 – Trinity Sessions, Adelaide
25 May 2017 – Glen Innes & District Services Club, Glen Innes
26 May 2017 – South Grafton Ex-Servicemen’s Club
27 May 2017 – Sawtell RSL Club, Sawtell
29 June 2017 – Barham Services Club, Barham
30 June 2017 – Commercial Club, Albury
1 July 2017 – Club Mulwala, Mulwala
