Ordinarily when someone announces a greatest hits tour, I’m well across their music. However, I must admit the music of Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi has passed me by even though the Zimbabwean singer has been in the business since 1975.
Since that time he’s cut an impressive 61 albums that speak out against violence and hatred and celebrate self-discipline and peace. He’s all about changing hearts and minds, which sounds like just what we all need after the recent events in Paris.
This week he’ll kick off his Australian tour with six-piece band The Black Spirits. If you like what you hear in this NPR Radio video, tickets are still available for the following shows.
26 November 2015 – Max Watts, Sydney
27 November 2015 – Max Watts, Melbourne
28 November 2015 – Charles Hotel, Perth
Swim Season bowled me over in February with their single “Hide and Seek.” Now they’ve done it again with their latest cut, “Soldiers.”
This track is so accessible that I can easily see it earning a place on commercial radio, and that’s no criticism. It’s wonderful to hear a song that you can immediately connect with. It has such a great feel to it, it reminds me of summer barbeques and beers.
“Soldiers” is the latest track lifted from Swim Season’s debut EP Cascades. They’re currently celebrating its release with some launch parties. Catch them at The Roxbury in Sydney on November 28 or the Workers Club in Geelong on December 11.
Unless you were one of the lucky fans at Josh’s Fans First shows, this will be your first chance to hear the new material up close and personal. A couple of zoo shows and beautiful theatre dates will ensure these will be some very special concerts.
“I’m extremely excited to share this tour news with you!,” Josh said in a press release. “It’s been ages since I’ve done a full band tour, but it’s all happening next year, and I’ve tried to make as many shows ‘All Ages’ as possible.”
Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.
29 January 2016 – Twilight at Taronga, Sydney (ALL AGES)
30 January 2016 – Canberra Theatre Playhouse, Canberra (ALL AGES)
4 February 2016 – Studio 56 @ Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
5 February 2016 – The Triffid, Brisbane
6 February 2016 – Star Court Theatre, Lismore (ALL AGES)
12 February 2016 – Melbourne Zoo Twilights, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
13 February 2016 – The Wool Exchange, Geelong
19 February 2016 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide (ALL AGES)
20 February 2016 – Astor Theatre, Perth (Under 18s permitted with parent or guardian)
After playing 40 dates in the United States, Melbourne songstress Shelley Segal is back home playing concerts and showing off her softer side with her new single “Background Noises.”
I don’t think I’ve ever been let down by a Shelley Segal song, and she keeps her record intact with this one. It’s an insightful track reflecting on the breakdown of her friends’ marriage and how she might fare in the same circumstances.
“The chorus seems to mean something different to me each time I sing it. Sometimes a shock, a deep loss, a painful reminder, an acceptance, a coming to terms with, a finality, a longing, an assertiveness, a future, a determinedness. As such a change would at different times of reflection,” she explained in the press release. “It’s not just a love or relationship lost but a physical place – a space and time that was all encompassing and is now gone.”
After all those US dates, she’s bound to be in fine form. Here are all the remaining shows of her Aussie tour.
21 November 2015 – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide (18+ FREE)
22 November 2015 – Hickenbotham of Dromana, Dromana (ALL AGES FREE)
26 November 2015 – Bennetts Lane, Melbourne (18+)
27 November 2015 – Collins Square, Docklands (ALL AGES FREE)
28 November 2015 – Paynesville Wine Bar, Paynesville (18+)
29 November 2015 – The Milk Factory, South Brisbane (Under 18s permitted after contacting venue)
9 December 2015 – Albion Hotel, Albury (18+ FREE)
13 December 2015 – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide (18+ FREE)
18 December 2015 – Collins Square, Docklands (ALL AGES FREE)
I’ve been bouncing off the walls this week with the news that Rob Thomas is finally touring this country again. It’s been too many years since he was here with Matchbox Twenty, and even longer since we were treated to solo shows. But finally, fans like me have some dates to start looking forward to.
Rob’s heading our way to promote The Great Unknown, a fantastic album that really should have lingered longer in the charts. Hopefully his recent promo tour can put it back in the top 50, because it really deserves to be heard. I’ve been playing it most days since its release and while my husband’s probably over it, I’m still not sick of it.
Rob seems to love a winery as much as I do, so there are a few winery shows as with his tours in the past. He’s playing traditional entertainment centres as well, but the real pick of them is bound to be his show on the steps of the Opera House. During his promo tour this week I’ve heard him talking about the fond memories he has of that Crowded House farewell show on the steps, and how consequently that gig has some real significance for him. I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear a Crowded House cover on the night.
As a member of the fan club, I’ve already got my tickets, but there’s a Live Nation presale on November 23 ahead of the general sale on November 25. To get you in the mood, here’s the charming video for his new clip “Hold On Forever.”
20 February 2016 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
22 February 2016 – Royal Theatre, Canberra
24 February 2016 – ‘On The Steps’ Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney
27 February 2016 – Hope Estate Winery, Hunter Valley
28 February 2016 – Sirromet Wines, Mt Cotton
2 March 2016 – Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth
5 March 2016 – Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley
6 March 2016 – Clipsal 500, Adelaide
Archie Roach is one of Australia’s most beloved artists, a veteran of the industry after 25 years in the business. Charcoal Lane is the album that kicked it all off, and a quarter of a century after its release Archie is celebrating with a reissued album and shows all around the country.
The new deluxe edition of Charcoal Lane features new versions of the songs with guest vocals from some of Archie’s best mates including Paul Kelly, Dan Sultan, Emma Donovan, Gurrumul, and Dewayne Everett-Smith. His 1990 Triple J Live at the Wireless records are also included, along with a booklet full of previously unseen images from the era and insightful liner notes. Isn’t it exciting to get a CD with decent liner notes these days? I think so.
The reissued version of Charcoal Lane is in stores now. Tickets are still available for the following shows.
21 November 2015 – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
22 November 2015 – Homeground 2015 @ Sydney Opera House, Sydney (FREE)
3 December 2015 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
4 December 2015 – The Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury
6 December 2015 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
11 December 2015 – Fremantle Arts Centre Front Garden, Fremantle
I’ve always had a soft spot for bluesy Gold Coast act The Vernons. So even though I didn’t get to the press release spruiking their new single “Keep On Dreaming” and EP Snap until the launch tour was well and truly underway, I couldn’t resist posting it. Because whether you wanted to get to the shows or not, this song is one of those songs that you should hear. It’s a break-up song the way it should be done, so raw that it bleeds.
And if you’re living in Melbourne or Sydney, you’re in luck, because they haven’t visited your town yet. Tickets are still available for the shows at The Grace Darling on November 13 and Brighton Up Bar on November 14.
Kiwi rockers Villainy have been dominating across the ditch, selling out shows and shooting to number four on the charts with their new album Dead Sight, which features the ballsy new single “Safe Passage.” Now it’s time for Australia to see what the buzz is all about.
Villainy will join our own Jerrico and Sydonia for shows in the major capitals this November. This is the first time the quartet’s been in Australia since Bigsound in 2013, and who knows how long it’ll be before they make it to our shores again. If you like your music loud, make sure you don’t miss these shows.
13 November 2015 – The Zoo, Brisbane
14 November 2015 – Factory Theatre, Marrickville (with Majora)
20 November 2015 – Prince Bandroom, St Kilda (with Majora and Gatherer)
21 November 2015 – Jive Bar, Adelaide (with Colibrium and Baltimore Poet. Sydonia now appearing)
There’s nothing like a little 80s inspired electro-pop to wake me up in the morning. This Humpday slice comes courtesy of Adelaide duo Nakatomi and their latest single “The Knife.”
“The Knife is about the downward spiral of bad experiences or relationships, but choosing to see some beauty in the fall rather than getting consumed by it,” lead vocalist Emily Smart explained in the press release. “We worked with Badcop (Tkay Maidza) on the sound design and sought out Melbourne producer-engineer, Jimi Maroudas (Kimbra, Bertie Blackman) to produce and mix, and tracking was done at the amazing Chapel Lane Studios in Adelaide.”
She also explained a little about the very cool retro film clip.
“We had this idea to go with a sci-fi 80s vibe for this clip, so we contacted a great local film director named Aaron Schuppan and set him the challenge to create something inspired by movies such as Blade Runner,” she said. “Thankfully Aaron was just as excited about this idea as we were and proposed that our film clip take the form of a movie trailer for an amazing, lost tech-noir film from the 80s, but something with genuine emotion at its core. Aaron threw together a crazy script, and our only thought was, if he can pull this off, this is going to be epic!”
And epic it is! Now given their love for all things 80s, it’s hardly surprising that Nakatomi took their name from Nakatomi Plaza in the Die Hard flicks. However, the duo’s quick to point out that it’s also the ancestral name of the great Fujiwara clan.
Nakatomi will be hitting the road in just a couple of days to promote “The Knife.” Here are all the places you can see them do their thing.
30 October 2015 – Rocket Bar, Adelaide
20 November 2015 – Pow! @ Mynt Lounge, Werribee
22 November 2015 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
26 November 2015 – Oxford Art Gallery Bar, Darlinghurst
Patrick James is currently keeping company with The Paper Kites, but it won’t be too long before we see him headlining his own shows around the country. It’s all in support of Outlier, Patrick’s brand new LP which features the fantastic singles “California Song” and “Bugs.”
This tour will be James’ first largescale headline tour in almost two years, so it’s a real must-see for fans. Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.
19 February 2016 – The Foundry, Brisbane
25 February 2016 – Workers Club, Geelong
26 February 2016 – Howler, Melbourne
27 February 2016 – Anita’s Theatre, Wollongong
4 March 2016 – The Basement, Sydney
5 March 2016 – Transit Bar, Canberra
12 March 2016 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
18 March 2016 – Pirie & Co Social Club, Adelaide
19 March 2016 – Jimmy’s Den, Perth
26 November 2015 – Max Watts, Sydney
The always reliable