Melbourne band Tiny Little Houses has loaded up the bus and set off on their very first national tour as headliners. The occasion commemorates the recent release of the Snow Globe EP, which features five killer cuts including the single “Song Despite Apathy.”
The EP shows Tiny Little Houses’ sonic and lyrical development since the release of You Tore Out My Heart. The songs are energetic and raw, the perfect indie-pop anthems to enjoy at these shows.
5 November 2016 – Republic Bar, Hobart
11 November 2016 – The Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Adelaide
12 November 2016 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth
18 November 2016 – Plan B Small Club, Sydney
25 November 2016 – Howler, Melbourne
26 November 2016 – The Workers Club, Geelong
8 December 2016 – Woolly Mammoth Alehouse, Brisbane
It seems Subsonic won’t be the last we’ll see of Shapeshifter. The soulful Kiwi drum and bass act will return to our shores early next year to headline shows celebrating the recent release of album number six, Stars.
The album features the single “Her” and 10 other tracks which push the band’s stadium-sized sound to new heights. You can hear its tracks and plenty of old favourites at the following shows.
31 March 2017 – Metro City, Perth
1 April 2017 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
5 April 2017 – Parkwood, Gold Coast
6 April 2017 – Triffid, Brisbane
7 April 2017 – 170 Russell, Melbourne
8 April 2017 – Manning Bar, Sydney
Little Wise transports us to the quiet towns of regional Australia with her delicate folky new single “Don’t Hurry Back.” It’s a beautiful slow burn complemented perfectly by this video directed by Agostino Soldati.
“Don’t Hurry Back” gives us a taste of Little Wise’s debut album Silver Birch, which drops on November 11. She split the recording time between Woodstock Studios and her empty childhood home. Talented Aussies including Megan Bernard, Rosie Burgess, and Ben Franz from the Waifs also make appearances on this nostalgic collection of songs.
Clearly Little Wise and Rosie had an exceptional time together, because Ms Burgess will perform as a special guest artist at many of the following Silver Birch shows.
11 November 2016 – The Treehouse, Byron Bay (FREE)
12 November 2016 – Sheoak Shack, Fingal Head (FREE @ 2pm – with Rosie Burgess)
12 November 2016 – Padre, Brisbane (FREE)
13 November 2016 – Black Bunny Kitchen, Alexandra Headland (FREE @ 3:30pm – with Rosie Burgess)
15 November 2016 – House Concert, Nambucca Heads
17 November 2016 – Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney (with Rosie Burgess)
18 November 2016 – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra (with Rosie Burgess)
19 November 2016 – Commonground Festival, Seymour
24 November 2016 – The Bella Union, Melbourne (with Rosie Burgess)
25 November 2016 – Martians Café, Deans Marsh (with Rosie Burgess)
27 November 2016 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide (4pm – with Rosie Burgess)
9 December 2016 – Basement Discs, Melbourne (FREE @ 12:45pm)
10 December 2016 – Brookfield Shed, Margate (with Rosie Burgess)
11 December 2016 – Marakoopa Café, Mayberry (2pm with Rosie Burgess)
Sometimes you hear those voices you fall in love with in an instant. There’s something about the tone or the way they deliver a lyric which instantly connects to you. That’s how I’m feeling about the voice of Ashleigh Poulton, the lead vocalist of Brisbane band Alpha Phi.
She could sing the phone book and I’d love it, but thankfully the band’s latest single “Think About Me” is a little more exciting than that. The song, which speaks of a love never realised, was penned by Alpha Phi and recorded with Byron Short at Sunset Studios.
After time spent in the studio, Alpha Phi promises to get back gigging around Brisbane over the next six months, so keep your ear to the ground for those dates.
Sydney songstress Helen Perris lays her soul bare with her brand new single “Be There.”
“Be There” is the type of empassioned piano-pop ballad which we hear all too rarely these days. The lyrics are deeply personal, penned while Helen was battling post-natal depression. However, the topic is tackled so cleverly that you don’t need to have lived through that hell to feel connected to this song.
“Be There” was named among the top 20 songs in the Listen Up Australia song writing competition this year. It comes from Helen’s forthcoming album.
Aussie indie folk act Noah Earp has given us our first taste of his debut album Disinheritor with the release of the epic lead single, “The Raw and the Cooked.”
“The Raw and the Cooked is about a person who is trapped in a bad scene. At first she seems really cynical, but actually the cynicism masks a certain naivete,” Noah explained. “We all have this to some extent – nothing is too neat and nobody’s perfect. I liked the idea of a love song that wasn’t…in the end this pretty love song fragments into a million pieces, because life is scary and chaotic.”
Noah also made the charming clip that accompanies the single. Just see if you’re not grinning from ear to ear by the end of it!
Noah launches Disinheritor with a show at Melbourne’s The Toff in Town on October 27.
When my family first heard a stage musical based on the life of Bobby Darin was in the works, there was only one man we could imagine successfully taking on the role. That man was David Campbell. We knew he’d be impressive, but I don’t think we were quite prepared for just how good he would be.
Dream Lover really is David Campbell’s show. His Bobby Darin is a presence in virtually every scene, and he shines throughout. We’re first introduced in Bobby on the night of what would be his final performance. I’ve seen David perform the opening number “Mack the Knife” several times over the years, but with back-up dancers and a tight orchestra (who are celebrated on stage rather than buried in the pit as in so many musicals) the song reaches another level.
From there we’re taken on a journey through Bobby’s life. We see him as a child with stars in his eyes, as a hard-working rock-and-roll singer, and as the toast of Hollywood with Sandra Dee on his arm. We’ve seen this kind of rags-to-riches tale before, but most musicals tend to shy away from the darkness Dream Lover isn’t afraid to explore. Bobby Darin’s stellar catalogue of beloved music ensures the show doesn’t get too gloomy.
Stepping into Bobby Darin’s shoes is no small feat. This is the Bobby Darin story after all. This character isn’t always likeable, yet there must be a charm about him that helps us forgive his unrelenting ambition. He sings, he dances, and he gives the production its anchor. David makes all this look easy, as the very best stage performers do. I’ve long admired his vocal chops, but I didn’t realise how impressive his acting skills are.
Special mention must go to Caroline O’Connor, a stage veteran who took on the dual roles of Polly and Mary Douvan with aplomb. Hannah Fredericksen brought the right amount of sweetness and strength to her portrayal of Sandra Dee and Bert Labonte was also excellent in the role of Charlie, a paternal figure to Bobby.
Sydney is lucky enough to have the world premiere of Dream Lover, although I’m sure it will tour around Australia in time. And after that, who knows? This musical is certainly solid enough to leave the country and grace the stages of Broadway or the West End. However, unless David Campbell commits to taking the role abroad, I can’t imagine it’ll be as good as the original Australian production!
Dream Lover is playing at the Lyric Theatre until at least November 27.
It’s been a long time since I’ve heard music from a really great female-fronted pop-rock band. So I’m thrilled to hear “Goodbye,” the new single from Perth five-piece Brufield.
The track sounds a little raw – you can tell it wasn’t recorded in a big fancy studio – but I like that about it. The vocals from Lisa Caulfield are angelic with a hint of edge and the melody first class. I found the track instantly accessible, and the moment it was over I just wanted to play it again. The clip, filed at the Indie Bar in Scarborough Beach, shows you that these guys know how to deliver on stage too.
Sadly Brufield has just wrapped up a tour, but it shouldn’t be too long before we see this talented five-piece back playing in pubs and clubs around the country.
When I wrote about HOLY HOLY’s killer new single “Darwinism” last month, I noted a tour wouldn’t be too far away. Now the Aussie act has announced some dates, and released a video for the single, I thought it only fair to put them on your radar.
Exciting stuff always happens when this band — which has members based in Launceston, Brisbane, and Melbourne — get together. Experience the magic for yourselves at the following shows. I Know Leopard and Alex L’Estrange will serve as supports except in Western Australia where Dream Rimmy will take I Know Leopard’s place.
3 November 2016 – Fat Controller, Adelaide
4 November 2016 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
5 November 2016 – Amplifier, Perth
6 November 2016 – Mojos, Fremantle
11 November 2016 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
12 November 2016 – The Workers Club, Geelong
13 November 2016 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
17 November 2016 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
18 November 2016 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
19 November 2016 – Uni Bar, Wollongong
20 November 2016 – The Basement, Canberra
24 November 2016 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
25 November 2016 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
26 November 2016 – The Triffid, Brisbane
Fresh from touring her single “Chills,” Leah Flanagan is preparing to hit the road again to celebrate the release of the album it comes from, Saudades.
“Chills” is one of those songs that gets under your skin with its emotional lyrics and vulnerability, and there are more of those feels on the album. The tracks explore all those emotions we carry through to our relationships, romantic and otherwise. Leah’s sultry voice is perfectly set for the songs which play with jazz and blues.
Catch Leah performing songs from her new album at the following shows.
1 October 2016 – Dashville Skyline Festival, Hunter Valley
14 October 2016 – Basement Discs, Melbourne
15 October 2016 – Whistlewood Art Gallery, Main Ridge
20 October 2016 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
21 October 2016 – Lismore Showgrounds, Lismore
29 October 2016 – Marrickville Bowling, Marrickville
4 November 2016 – The Bella Union, Melbourne
5 November 2016 – Narana Music Festival, Geelong
12 November 2016 – Candelo Hall, Candelo
19 November 2016 – Darwin Railway Club, Darwin