Give me a well-written, sensitively delivered folky number and I’m won over every time. So I was always going to fall for “Peaceful Bay,” the stunning new single from Davey Craddock. The track comes from Davey’s debut album City West, which is due out on February 5.
Davey wrote the track while hiking the Bibbulmum track which runs from Perth to Albany.
“Peaceful Bay is one of the only towns on the track where you camp in a settlement and not in the bush and it’s inspired by a girl a friend and I met in the townsite,” he explained. “She said she’d just moved down there from Perth, was pregnant and had morning sickness. We were knackered and didn’t have time to talk and properly meet her but I thought it was a really brave and unusual move to come from the city to this tiny, isolated fishing town. So by torchlight in a hot tent I filled in the blanks and made up what I thought her story may have been and that formed the basis for the song.”
Davey’s recorded the song at RADA Studios in Perth, but I think this live version really brings out the heart of the song. Are you loving it as much as I am?
Ben Abraham wowed me when I heard his song “Speak” last year, so I’m thrilled to hear he’s released a single ahead of his album release in March. “You and Me” has all of the folkiness and heart that first attracted me to Ben’s music.
The clip’s also such a beautiful representation of the reality that creeps in after a night of celebrating. Perhaps not surprisingly it was also done by Oh Yeah Wow, the creative team behind Boy & Bear’s video that won me over yesterday.
“You and Me” is the first song lifted from Ben’s debut album Sirens, which will hit stores on March 4. The Herald Sun named Ben an artist to watch in 2016, and I can’t say that I disagree with their assessment!
It’s been a long while since a music video properly impressed me. However, I’m wowed by the visual spectacular that is Boy & Bear’s latest effort, accompanying their single “Limit of Love” from the album of the same name.
“We really love the Oh Yeah Wow guys,” lead singer Dave Hosking said of the creative team behind the clip. “This is our third time working with them and they never disappoint. This time it’s elegant, beautiful and hypnotic.”
It’s been a long time since Boy & Bear played local shows, but they’re kicking off a national tour this week, with Art of Sleeping and Montaigne as support. There are still a handful of tickets left for the following shows.
22 January 2016 – Odeon Theatre, Hobart
23 January 2016 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
29 January 2016 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
30 January 2016 – Red Hill Auditorium, Perth
12 February 2016 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
13 February 2016 – Riverstage, Brisbane
You know your concert calendar is too crowded when for the fourth time you’ve had to knock back a show on one specific day. I have no idea why the world has conspired to put everything awesome on February 27, but there you have it. I even actually bought tickets for two shows on that night, forgetting when I bought the second that I’d already committed to something else.
So it looks like I’m not going to see Canada’s Scott Cook when he plays in my suburb, and I’m bummed because literally no one else plays here. So I’m writing this article in the hopes that maybe you can catch him live, because he’s a bit brilliant. If you like folky storytellers in the vein of Shawn Mullins you’re going to love this guy. He’s playing virtually everywhere to support the release of his album One More Time Around, which has been my soundtrack for the afternoon. Hopefully your calendar isn’t as crowded as mine and you can get to one of these gigs!
13 January 2016 – House concert, Wingham (email trishmob@yahoo.com or call 0448 973 994 to RSVP)
14 January 2016 – Sutherland Acoustic @ Gymea Tradies Club, Gymea
15 January 2016 – The Acoustic Picnic @ The Music Lounge, Brookvale
20 January 2016 – Canberra Musicians’ Club @ Smith’s Alternative, Canberra
21 January 2016 – Billyroy’s Blues Bar @ Goldmines Hotel, Bendigo
22-25 January 2016 – Newstead Live Music Festival, Newstead
31 January 2016 – Saints & Sailors, Portarlington
4 February 2016 – South Coast Folk Club, Port Noarlunga (supporting Liz Stringer)
5 February 2016 – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide (supporting Liz Stringer)
7 February 2016 – Red Poles Café, McLaren Vale (12:30-3:30 FREE)
7 February 2016 – The Groove Garden McLaren Vale
12 February 2016 – House Concert, Eaglemont (Check Scott’s website for details closer to the show)
13 February 2016 –Tanswells Hotel, Beechworth (FREE)
14 February 2016 –Wandi Pub, Wandiligong (2-5 pm FREE)
17 February 2016 – House concert, Tilba Tilba (E-mail eagle_dreaming@hotmail.com or call 0422 690 670 to RSVP)
19 February 2016 – Kameruka Hall, Kameruka
20 February 2016 – House concert, Nowra (Email robcleary@yahoo.com to RSVP)
21 February 2016 – House concert, Picnic Point (3 pm. Email bvbyrn13@tpg.com.au or call 0421017975 to RSVP)
27 February 2016 – Troubadour Acoustic Club, Woy Woy
5 March 2016 – The Shack, Collaroy
6 March 2016 – Live in the Attic @ Hotel Blue, Katoomba
11-14 March 2016 – Burke & Wills Folk Festival, Mia Mia
17 March 2016 – The Lomond Hotel, Brunswick
18-20 March 2016 – Yackandandah Folk Festival, Yackandandah
Fresh from the release of their epic summer anthem “On & On”, PLTS are set to follow the sun along the East Coast with a string of shows next month.
The Byron Bay band will take Brisbane rockers Pro Vita along for the ride for all but the Broadbeach gig. With two of Australia’s most exciting up-and-coming acts on the bill, you can expect good times from the following shows.
22 January 2016 – The Northern, Byron Bay (FREE)
24 January 2016 – Broadbeach Tavern, Broadbeach
29 January 2016 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
30 January 2016 – The Foundry, Brisbane
Like so many music lovers, I was saddened to wake up to the news that Stevie Wright has passed away at age 68.
This isn’t one of those bolt from the blue deaths. Stevie’s been battling ill health for decades. But that doesn’t make the news of his passing any less tragic. I don’t know about you, but sometimes when a person seems to keep soldiering on despite ill health you almost start thinking that they’re made from stronger stuff than the rest of us, and that somehow they’re just going to keep on keeping on.
Stevie rose to fame as the frontman of The Easybeats in the 1960s. I’ve often marvelled at the way that songs like “Friday on my Mind” and “Sorry” still sound fresh as daisies despite all the years that have passed since their release. For me though, the name Stevie Wright will always be synonymous with the epic “Evie.” It was only on Boxing Day that I gave the DJ on the radio a thumbs up for playing parts 2 and 3, rather than just cutting it off at part 1 as so many do. It’s one of the best story songs of all time in my opinion, and that story deserves to be sold in its entirety.
RIP Stevie. I hope you’re up there rocking out with all of the greats who’ve gone before you. Thank you for the music.
Merry Christmas Sounds of Oz readers! I hope that like me you’re lucky enough to be spending the day with family, some good booze, and pork crackle. All the essentials. Thanks for allowing me to share my passion for all things on the Aussie music landscape with you for another year.
I always like to share a Christmas song with you on December 25, but I was feeling like I’d already showed you all the best ones, until Rage played this last Saturday morning. I was a wee young thing in 1985, so I actually don’t remember The Incredible Penguins. Apparently this Aussie supergroup, featuring John Farnham, Angry Anderson, Jim Keays, Brian Mannix, Colin Hay, Bob Geldof (gee he loves a charity single doesn’t he?), and so many more superstars released this cover of “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” to raise funds for fairy penguin research. I just love listening to a version of this song that doesn’t have Yoko warbling all over it. The mullets are also incredible.
When I hit play on “Piano Dance,” I was struck by its grandeur. This sounds like the sort of thing a full flamenco band would play to accompany some gorgeous young dancers. But it’s actually the work of just one guy, Sydney multi-instrumentalist Byron Mark.
Apparently Byron’s been gigging and collaborating with people for years, but he decided it’s about time he released some music of his own. And so “Piano Dance” was born, a purely instrumental track featuring his handiwork on the piano, cajon, and dun-duns. It’s a really strong effort that is a real step up from most debut singles. More of this please!
Adelaide’s singer-songwriter extraordinaire Tom West is planning to record two live albums in January, and he wants you to be a part of it. He’ll play two shows – one in Adelaide and the other in Melbourne – and release the performances later in the year as an album called Golden Fleeces.
“I’ve felt for a while that shows are really the truest form of my music, and where I connect best with people,” he explained. “When the idea came up to do some live recording it seemed to make perfect sense. To be able to involve the girls and guys who have been coming out to my shows in the formation of this album is a dream.”
It makes a lot of sense to me. When I heard the single version of his song “Easy Love” I liked it, but when I watched this live video recorded in Toronto I got it completely. There’s just something about the spontaneous energy that comes from a live performance that makes a good musician truly great.
The shows will feature new material as well as some old favourites. If there’s anything you’d like to hear, make sure you email in your requests to hello@pokeintheeye.com.au.
Tom West will play his live album shows at the following venues. He understands people are strapped for cash post-Christmas, so tickets cost just $15 plus booking fee through Oztix.
28 January 2016 – The Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide
31 January 2016 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
I just love hearing a rock band strip things back. So while I appreciate Tonight Alive’s rebellious, rocking studio version of their single “Drive,” I actually prefer this acoustic version recorded for Triple M.
I think this take brings those lyrics about breaking away from society’s expectations and expressing your own truth. It also really lets you appreciate Jenna McDougall’s stellar voice. You can hear that in person when Tonight Alive embark on their single tour next year. After that Tonight Alive are heading to Europe, the UK, and the US, so these might be our last local shows for a while. Don’t say you haven’t been warned fans!
16 January 2016 – Unify Festival, Gippsland
17 January 2016 – Max Watts, Melbourne
21 January 2016 – The Triffid, Brisbane
29 January 2016 – Metro Theatre, Sydney