Category: Tour Announcements

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Brad Butcher to Tour “Jamestown”

Brad Butcher earned a place in the new songwriter category of the APRA awards with his single “Believer” late last year. Now he’s set to show everyone he’s no one-trick pony with the release of his sophomore album Jamestown.

Brad was a kid raised on classic music who spent his nights writing songs on a second-hand guitar. He loved music but listened to his head rather than his heart and pursued a career as a cabinetmaker. He later began working in the coal mines, which left plenty of time for him to focus on his true passion. Yet he kept his songs to himself for more than a decade, privately honing his craft until he released his self-titled debut album in 2012.

The recording of Jamestown took him to Shorefire Recording Studios in New Jersey. It was cut live over just seven days with musicians who’ve played with Paul McCartney, Ryan Adams, and Sheryl Crow. Most songs were recorded in the first or second take, creating that sort of spontaneous organic energy we rarely hear on studio albums any more.

That approach means that you know Brad’s going to be able to reproduce this stuff on stage. You can see for yourself when he tours the album through autumn. Jamestown will be release on March 27, the day the tour commences.

27 March 2015 – Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane
28 March 2015 – Currumbin Creek Tavern, Gold Coast
29 March 2015 – TAPS, Mooloolooba
9 April 2015 – 12 Bar Blue, Cairns
23 April 2015 – Frankies Pizza by the Slice, Sydney
24 April 2015 – Goulburn Club, Goulburn
25 April 2015 – Smiths Alternative, Canberra
7 May 2015 – The Grace Darling, Melbourne
8 May 2015 – Babushka Bar, Ballarat
21 May 2015 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
22 May 2015 – The Singing Gallery, McLaren Vale
23 May 2015 – Royal Oak Hotel, Launceston
24 May 2015 – The Homestead, Hobart

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mass Sky Raid Rock with “Enemy”

Queensland rockers Mass Sky Raid are ready to release their brand new single, the epic anthem “Enemy.” I love the soaring vocals on the track and those big hooky guitar riffs. It gets an official release on Thursday, but you can wrap your ears around it here.

If you love what you hear, make sure you catch Mass Sky Raid when they tour the song along the East Coast this month.

13 March 2015 – The Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
19 March 2015 – New Globe Theatre, Brisbane
26 March 2015 – Worker’s Club, Melbourne
27 March 2015 – Studio Six, Sutherland
28 March 2015 – Factory Floor, Sydney

Image used with permission from Collision Course PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Little Earthquake” Release Life-Affirming “I Am Alive”

Fellow Coasties Little Earthquake have struck gold with their new single “I Am Alive.” It’s such a jubilant, positive piece of pop with lush harmonies and a beautiful synthscape.

The film clip, directed by Rob Sherwood, is pretty fabulous too. The stunning homegrown landscapes and surf footage is just the cure for whatever’s ailing you this Humpday.

Little Earthquake are currently touring the single around the country, giving fans a sneaky listen to songs from their debut album which will hit stores later this year.

20 February 2015 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
21 February 2015 – Mountain Sounds, Kariong
25 February 2015 – Newcastle Uni, Newcastle
25 February 2015 – Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
28 February 2015 – Sly Fox, Enmore
6 March 2015 – Penny Black, Melbourne
7 March 2015 – Baho Tacos, Rye
12 March 2015 – Bull and Bush, Windsor
13 March 2015 – Tattersall’s, Penrith
14 March 2015 – Good God Small Club, Sydney
18 March 2015 – Bald Faced Stag, Leichardt

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Join Tkay Maidza’s M.O.B.

I’ve been a little slow to join the Tkay Maidza party, but I’m really feeling her new single “M.O.B.” It’s got a great pop sensibility and some seriously skilled rapping, but then you start listening to the lyrics and you start to realise its genius. The song’s a letter to Tkay’s future 19-year-old self, a reminder of what she needs to do to stay true to herself and succeed.

“M.O.B.” comes from Tkay Maidza’s debut album, which is scheduled to hit stores later this year. Tkay’s got a few shows coming up including slots at Groovin the Moo and supporting Charli XCX.

21 February 2015 – Mountain Sounds, Kariong
29 April 2015 – Metro Theatre, Sydney (supporting Charli XCX)
1 May 2015 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne (supporting Charli XCX)
2 May 2015 – Groovin the Moo, Bendigo
3 May 2015 – Groovin the Moo, Canberra
7 May 2015 – The Met, Brisbane (supporting Charli XCX)
9 May 2015 – Groovin the Moo, Maitland
10 May 2015 – Groovin the Moo, Townsville

Image used with permission from Dew Process

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Benny Walker Tours “Through the Forest”

Victorian troubadour Benny Walker has spent the last year writing, recording, and touring across this wide brown land. The process helped him create Through the Forest, his forthcoming album featuring the brilliantly bluesy new single “The Fool.”

The album saw Benny reuniting with Shane O’Mara, who produced his debut album Sinners & Saints in 2012. “There’s something that comes from Shane and I working together, that makes it sound like a record,” he explained.

Benny will support Through the Forest’s release with a national tour this autumn.

7 March 2015 – Moama Bowling Club, Moama
13 March 2015 – Twilight at Taronga Zoo, Sydney (supporting Dan Sultan)
27 March 2015 – Darwin Railway Club, Darwin
28 March 2015 – The Arnhem Club, Nhulunbuy
9 April 2015 – Skukum Lounge @ The Junk Bar, Brisbane
10 April 2015 – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
12 April 2015 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
18 April 2015 – Suttons House of Music, Ballarat
19 April 2015 – The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide
24-26 April 2015 – Mount Beauty Music Festival, Mount Beauty
1 May 2015 – Beaches Hotel, Thirroul
3 May 2015 – Rhythm Hut, Gosford
6 May 2015 – Mothers Milk, Sawtell
10 May 2015 – Redcliffe On the Murray, Pinjarra

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tempest Riding, Red Bee, and Let the Number be X Team Up for Massive Metal Tour

Three of Australia’s most exciting metal acts – Perth’s Tempest Rising, Sydney’s Red Bee, and Newcastle’s Let the Number be X – have joined forces for one massive East Coast tour this autumn. The acts will bust eardrums in the capitals and key regional centres this March and April.

Take a listen to this little sampler of their music, and if you like what you hear make sure you get along to the following shows. Let the Number Be X will have to miss the New South Wales shows, but Not Another Sequel, Just Another Prequel will do a fine job filling in. Tickets are just $10 at the door except for Penrith which is free!

19 March 2015 – Barwon Club, Geelong
20 March 2015 – The Music Man Megastore, Bendigo
21 March 2015 – The Worker’s Club, Melbourne
3 April 2015 – Bald Faced Stag, Sydney
4 April 2015 – Tattersalls, Penrith (FREE)
16 April 2015 – Currumbin Creek Hotel, Gold Coast
17 April 2015 – VIBE, Indoroopilly
18 April 2015- Chardons Corner Hotel, Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mzaza Get me Excited About World Music

You know what I don’t write about enough? World music. I’m not sure whether Australians just aren’t making enough of it or whether it doesn’t find itself on my radar, but considering we’re a multicultural society it’s severely underrepresented.

Honestly, my exposure to world music doesn’t go too far beyond the annual Eurovision and San Remo song contests, but the songs in languages other than English are often my favourites. So I was thrilled to come across Mzaza this week. It seems I’m a little late to the party, as the Brisbane band are preparing to release their third album Ghosts on March 20 but better late than never right?

The album’s first single “Enfants du Chemin” (which translates to children of the road) gives you a taste of what this band’s all about. It’s fronted by Pauline Maudy, who has French and Spanish Sephardic roots and the voice of an angel. She sings in French, Spanish, Ladino, Turkish, and even English. Then there’s that rich instrumentation which takes its cues from France, the Balkans, the Middle Easy, and Sephardic Spain. It’s very cool, and worth a listen, especially if you don’t normally play this sort of stuff. Open up your minds folks.

Mzaza will support the release of Ghosts with shows all around the country next month. Check them out!

26 & 27 March 2015 – Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane
2 April 2015 – The Spotted Mallard, Brunswick
4 April 2015 – The Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick
24 April 2015 – Django Bar, Marrickville
26 April 2015 – Rhythm Hut, Gosford

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

360 Reschedules Dates for Extended Retopia Tour

360 has shuffled around his tour dates to accommodate a new expanded tour which takes in the best regional towns in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia. The newly rebranded Retopia tour takes in 24 dates over six weeks.

If you got tickets to the previous shows, they’ll still be valid for the rescheduled gigs. If you can’t make it, refunds will be available from point of purchase until Friday March 13. Sadly 360 now won’t be able to visit Albany, but anyone with tickets for the Studio 146 show can also get a refund.

Tickets for all these gigs go on sale tomorrow.

2 April 2015 – Kay St, Traralgon
3 April 2015 – Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool
4 April 2015 – Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads
5 April 2015 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
10 April 2015 – The Jack, Cairns
11 April 2015 – Street Party, Townsville
12 April 2015 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
16 April 2015 – Harvey Road Tavern, Gladstone
17 April 2015 – The Triffid, Brisbane
18 April 2015 – Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich
19 April 2015 – The Northern, Byron Bay
22 April 2015 – Plantation Hotel, Coffs Harbour
23 April 2015 – Cambridge, Newcastle
24 April 2015 – Waves, Wollongong
25 April 2015 – The Metro, Sydney
26 April 2015 – The Doylo, Doyalson
29 April 2015 – The Rosemount, Perth
30 April 2015 – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury
1 May 2015 – Players Bar, Mandurah
2 May 2015 – Dunsborough Tavern, Dunsborough
7 May 2015 – Commercial Hotel, South Morang
8 May 2015 – Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights
9 May 2015 – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne
15 May 2015 – Hallam Hotel, Hallam

Image used with permission from Crucial Music
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Black Cat” – Deena

Brisbane-based chanteuse Deena shows her versatility in her sophomore album Black Cat. This release builds on the acoustic-folk sound that she showcased on her debut album Lone Wolf, with a full band helping her create something much bigger, grittier, darker, and bluesier.

The opening song “Cupid” is a steamy number that starts sultry before erupting with a cacophony of guitars. There’s a lot of that pattern in this album. I think I’m hearing something small and intimate, but somewhere along the way Deena takes a left turn and really lets loose. It’s as if her emotions can only be contained for so long before brimming and bubbling over. There so much good stuff on here, but Deena floored me with “Curve.” That song may have some of the most heartbreaking lyrics that I’ve ever heard.

If I had any criticism of the album, it’s that I could have done without the final track, a remix of “Uncut Diamonds II.” This electronic makeover doesn’t do the song any favours, and doesn’t seem to gel with the rest of the album. I suppose it shows another side of Deena, but it feels like a wasted exercise considering how good the other version is. That said, you’ve got to admire an artist that takes risks as Deena does, especially when so many of them pay off as they do on this album.

Black Cat hits stores on 13 February. Deena will promote its release with the following shows.

8 February 2015 – The Newsagency, Sydney
11 February 2015 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (FREE)
12 February 2015 – The Publishers Hotel, Adelaide
13 February 2015 – The Vinyl, Adelaide
15 February 2015 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
18 February 2015 – Brisasia Festival, Brisbane
20 February 2015 – Queen St Mall, Brisbane (FREE)
8 March 2015 – Kettle & Tin, Paddington, Brisbane
15 March 2015 – The Brewery, Byron Bay
20 March 2015 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Andrew Swift Reminisces with “Sound the Alarm”

Melbourne single-songwriter Andrew Swift has always penned songs from the heart, but he believes that his latest single “Sound the Alarm” is “as honest and personal” as he’s ever been.

“It was written during the hardest break up I’ve had to go through, but rather than write a heartbroken, ‘woe is me’ type of break up song, what came out was a reflection of the night that that we met,” he explained.

Hearing the story behind it makes this song that much more poignant. I love a story song, and this one tells a tale so vivid that I felt a bit choked up reading that it didn’t work out.

Andrew Swift will promote the release of “Sound the Alarm” with a string of shows kicking off tomorrow night in Footscray.

8 February 2015 – Reverence Hotel, Footscray
21 February 2015 – Berwick Show, Berwick (ALL AGES)
21 February 2015 – Reverence Hotel, Footscray
22 February 2015 – Bonnie Doon Music Festival, Bonnie Doon
26 February 2015 – The Retreat, Brunswick
19 March 2015 – The Retreat, Brunswick
20 March 2015 – Crown + Anchor, Adelaide