Jacob Butler Unplugs on Kids WB

Kids WB isn’t usually the place I head for live musical performances, but with most networks scrapping their variety shows I suppose we have to take them where we can! Perhaps I should start watching the kiddies’ cartoon show more often, because in amongst the animation they featured Jacob Butler playing an acoustic rendition of his current single “Come My Way.”

I’m such a fan of this song, and in acoustic mode it’s even better. The song’s also going great guns at the moment, with airplay on two of Germany’s biggest radio stations. Now if only we could get some local stations on board! This is one of those tracks that deserves to be heard!

Josh Ritter Releases Australian CD Bundle for Local Tour

Australian audiences will be treated to a special edition of Josh Ritter’s new album So Runs the World Away to coincide with his upcoming East Coast tour.

So Runs the World Away will be packaged with his new six-track EP Bringing in the Darlings for the tour edition, which hits stores on June 15. The EP features Josh’s dreamy new single “Love is Making Its Way Back Home.” I just love the music video, which was painstakingly created using more than 12, 000 individual pieces of paper. There are no special effects at work here people; just old fashioned animated genius!

The Idaho native is the son of two neuroscientists, but he decided an academic career wasn’t for him when he discovered the music of Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. And so he forged his own career in the arts and became a celebrated musician and novelist.

He first toured Australia as Martha Wainwright’s support act in 2005. He gained a legion of fans on that journey, and many of them will no doubt return to see Josh play with fellow author-come-musician Simone Felice next month.

Tickets are on sale now through Love Police for the following shows.

5 July 2012 – The Old Museum, Brisbane
6 July 2012 – Notes, Sydney
8 July 2012 – The Basement, Sydney
11 July 2012 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne

Mrs Bishop Launch Dreamy Debut

England born Sweden raised brothers Mrs Bishop are now fully fledged Aussies preparing to unleash their first EP.

As you listen to their first single “Broken Wing” it’s not hard to believe these lads were once royal choristers at Windsor Castle. They’ve got such heavenly voices which come together in exquisite harmonies. The track’s very dreamlike, with a classical base and pop sensibilities.

If you’re digging how different these boys are, make sure you head out to show your support at the EP launch at Sydney’s GoodGod Small Club on June 9.

Children Collide Tour “Monument” Album

Children CollideChildren Collide are set to take their third album Monument to the masses next month.

This is an important tour for the band, as it’s their first with new drummer and good friend Mitch McGregor. It’s also a homecoming of sorts for Johnny Mackay, who recently relocated to New York City. Fans needn’t fear as Johnny promises he’ll return to Australia for other band engagements, but those tours may start to get a bit few and far between.

If you want to get in the live music mood make sure you check out the dynamic video for Children Collide’s new single “Cherries.” It was put together using fan photos captured on the band’s recent Sword to a Gunfight tour.

If that’s got you in the spirit make sure you snag some tickets for the following shows.

2 August 2012 – Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury
3 August 2012 – Amplifier Bar, Perth
8 August 2012 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide
10 August 2012 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
16 August 2012 – The Republic Bar, Hobart
17 August 2012 – The Standard, Sydney
22 August 2012 – Lismore University Bar, Lismore
23 August 2012 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
24 August 2012 – The Zoo, Brisbane
26 August 2012 – The Hotel Great Northern, Byron Bay
29 August 2012 – The Stro (UNE Armidale Uni), Armidale
30 August 2012 – The Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay
31 August 2012 – The Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor
1 September 2012 – Wollongong Uni Bar, Wollongong
2 September 2012 – Zierholz, Canberra
5 September 2012 – The Crow Bar, Wagga Wagga
6 September 2012 – The G (CSU Uni), Albury
7 September 2012 – Yahoo Bar, Shepparton
8 September 2012 – The Bended Elbow, Geelong

Image used with permission from Crucial Music

The Trouble with Templeton’s Bloody Good Music Video

The Trouble with Templeton’s always impressed me with his artistic music videos which are consistently the perfect match to his songs. But he’s taken things to another level with his latest clip for “Someday Soon.”

I’ll warn you up front, this video isn’t for the faint hearted or squeamish. There’s an awful lot of blood, so much that I had trouble stomaching it. But it’s the sort of clip we might expect from a big international act rather than an independent Aussie artist. It makes one hell of an impact.

Again the clip sees The Trouble with Templeton collaborating with his brother Josh Calder.

“We always come from a place where our sole aim is to do justice to the music, rather than trying to create something that looks ‘cool’,” Josh explained. “We always strive to create something that really reflects the songs mood, character and style. We’re both story tellers at heart and with each music video we try to up the ante.”

Is your mind blown?

Zoe Keating Tours Australia

Acclaimed Canadian-born cellist Zoe Keating is touring Australia this month and the next to support the local releases of her two albums, One Cello x 16: Natoma and Into the Trees.

Instrumentalists sometimes get a bad rap for being stuffy musicians stuck in the classical genre. Zoe’s far from that image though. She performs with both cello and laptop to create mindblowing loops. She’s also switched on to social networking and completely independent with a grassroots approach to the industry. No doubt amassing more than 1.3 million Twitter followers helped her move more than 45, 000 copies of those self-released discs. And she’s also worked with plenty of the cool kids including Amanda Palmer, Paolo Nutini, Imogen Heap, and Tears for Fears.

Zoe Keating will bring her cello, her laptop, and her unique approach to music making to the following shows.

30 May 2012 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
1 June 2012 – Clarendon Guest House, Katoomba
2 June 2012 – Notes, Sydney
8 & 9 June 2012 – Adelaide Cabaret Festival

Cub Scouts Announce First National Headlining Tour

After garnering a loyal following in their hometown, Brisbane’s Cub Scouts are taking their music to the masses. The indie act will embark on their first national headlining tour next week to promote their impossibly catchy new single “Do You Hear.”

The band is in fine form after circling the national twice recently supporting Pluto Jonze, then Ball Park Music. You’d think they’d be ready for a rest, but I suppose they’re keen to build on the momentum!

“Do You Hear” is doing great business at the moment. It hit the top spot on the AIRit community radio charts, and has been well supported by Triple J. Hopefully we can also see the clip on Rage soon. I think the country deserves to see those orange jumpsuits, don’t you?

Whether they’ll take their questionable fashion on the road is anyone’s guess. Find out when the Cub Scouts tour bus hits your town!

26 May 2012 – The Loft, Gold Coast
1 June 2012 – FBI Social “FBI Winter Prom”, Sydney
2 June 2012 – Ed Castle ‘Plus One’, Adelaide
9 June 2012 – The Grace Darling Hotel, Melbourne

Lowlakes’ Get Animated

Lowlakes have created one of the most beautiful videos I’ve seen in some time for “Buffalo,” one of the four tracks featured on their self-titled debut EP.

Lacey Whelan is behind the fairy-tale style animation, which brings this haunting tune to life. “Buffalo” was one of my favourite tracks from the EP, and I’m thrilled to see it realised so beautifully with this video.

John Butler Releases Live Double Acoustic CD

If you missed John Butler stripped back and acoustic at his recent Tin Shed Tales shows, or you simply want to relive the magic, you’re in luck. A double CD of songs from these rare solo shows hits music stores today.

The discs don’t simply capture John Butler’s musical prowess but also his relaxed on stage demeanour. Listening to the discs you feel like you’re witnessing someone simply having a jam session with a bunch of mates. The songs are interspersed with personal anecdotes which make the tunes even richer. Those numbers touch on his entire back catalogue. Listeners will enjoy new songs, reworked versions of old songs, and of course plenty of favourites.

The Tin Shed Tales recording is available digitally from iTunes, but with a sexy digipack hitting stores I reckon it’s much smarter to enjoy the hard copy. It’s sure to become a collector’s item!

Briscoe Play Free Gigs for “Day Job”

Briscoe are showing us they’re certainly not on-trick ponies with the release of their new single “Day Job.”

Their first single “Animal” was so mellow that this poppy number really took me by surprise. It’s an infectious ditty which should help getting through Friday a little easier.

If you like what you hear make sure you check out Briscoe at the following shows. Every gig is free, so you’ve got new excuse!

12 May 2012 – The Phoenix, Canberra
18 May 2012 – The Patch, Wollongong
24 May 2012 – The Landsdowne, Sydney
9 June 2012 – The Great Northern, Newcastle