Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bat Out of Hell: The Musical @ Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney – 27 January 2023

I bought tickets for Bat Out of Hell: The Musical back in December 2019. Back then COVID-19 hadn’t arrived in Australia and both Meatloaf and Jim Steinman were still alive. I’m not sure how many times it was postponed, but I do know I was starting to wonder whether it’d ever happen. However, good things come to those who wait, and I finally got my chance to see the musical that’s had the West End buzzing.

I must admit, early on I was a little unsure. I couldn’t fault the singing and dancing chops of the cast which come to Australia directly from the West End. However, the plot, a love story with references to Romeo and Juliet and Peter Pan, was more than a little flimsy. Meatloaf music has always been a little over the top, but the larger-than-life acting sections felt really cheesy.
Somewhere along the way though, Bat Out of Hell: The Musical won me over. I found myself invested in the love story of Raven and Strat, hoping these crazy kids might just make it despite the odds. I embraced the cheese and finally understood why a friend who accompanied me had bought tickets to the Sydney show, despite seeing it already in London and Las Vegas.

As a Meatloaf fan since I was around eight or nine, I loved watching these songs brought to life in front of my eyes. The cast is so strong, dancing up a storm and singing those familiar lyrics with gusto. Glenn Adamson and Kellie Gnauck are so compelling as star-crossed young lovers, beautiful, sexy people with serious pipes. As Raven’s parents, Rob Fowler and Sharon Sexton have perhaps some of the most complex roles, mixing comic relief with much darker tones, and they carried them off admirably. While they had most of the spotlight, it almost seems unfair to single anyone out as every person on that stage was amazing.

Ticket agencies have slashed the price of all remaining Bat Out of Hell: The Musical tickets to as low as $65, suggesting many people didn’t have the patience to wait as long as me. If you enjoy the music of Meatloaf or musical theatre in general, I suggest taking them up on one of those great offers. Bat Out of Hell: The Musical is at times a little silly, but it’s also a joyous celebration of Meatloaf and Jim Steinman’s musical legacy and life in general. Leave your preconceptions at the door, don’t take it too seriously, and rock on at one of the remaining shows.

30 January 2023 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Meeanjin/Brisbane
2 February 2023 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena, Tarntanya/Adelaide
4 February 2023 – RAC Arena, Boorloo/Perth
8 February 2023 – Rod Laver Arena, Naarm/Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

James Johnston Drops Feelgood New Single “GOT IT GOOD”

James Johnston is spreading positive vibes with his latest country-rock single, “GOT IT GOOD.” It’s all about celebrating the simple things in life, which comes pretty naturally for this husband and father of two boys.

“’GOT IT GOOD’ is about appreciating the simple things in life and being grateful for what you have as you realise, these are the big things worth celebrating,” James revealed. “The perfect lives of others is just a perception and when you stop to acknowledge the little things you have in your life – a roof over your head, a job that pays the bills and a love waiting for you at home, you realise you’ve GOT IT GOOD.”

Fresh from playing a capacity crowd at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, James will play Meatstock in Toowoomba on April 14 and 15 alongside country icons like Kasey Chambers and Brad Cox.

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mahalia Barnes and The Soulmates Play Intimate Aussie Shows

I don’t know about you, but my concert calendar in the next couple of months is becoming pretty crowded. But when I saw Mahalia Barnes and The Soulmates were stopping by a little movie theatre just 15 minutes from my house, I had to add another gig to my schedule. It’s just one of the many intimate venues they’ll play in the coming months.

If you’ve only ever seen Mahalia on The Voice or providing backing vocals for her famous dad Jimmy Barnes, you’ve only seen the tip of her iceberg-sized talent. The Soulmates’ album Hard Expectations was one of my favourite releases of 2018. She stole the show at the Chant du Vin gigs in 2021. I can’t wait to see her play again. These shows should be pretty special, with band members changing from show to show and special surprise vocal appearances from her mates including Prinnie Stevens and Karen Lee Andrews. Tickets for all these shows are available now. I recommend nabbing some before you read my concert review next month and wish that you did!

2 February 2023 – Birds Basement, Naarm/Melbourne
3 February 2023 – Birds Basement, Naarm/Melbourne
4 February 2023 – Royal Hotel, Wadawurrung Country/Meredith
6 February 2023 – Bowral Bowling Club, Tharawal Country/Bowral
10 February 2023 – Trinity Sessions, Tarntanya/Adelaide
11 February 2023 – Twilight Sounds @ Heidelberg Park Oval, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country/Banyule
16 February 2023 – Caloundra RSL, Kabi Kabi and the Jinibara Country/Caloundra
17 February 2023 – Burleigh Town Hotel, Jellurgal/Burleigh Heads (FREE)
18 February 2023 – Doo-Bop Bar, Meeanjin/Brisbane
23 February 2023 – Avoca Beach Theatre, Darkinjung Country/Avoca Beach
24 February 2023 – The Great Club, Bulanaming/Marrickville
25 February 2023 – Centro, Woolyungah/Wollongong
5 March 2023 – Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundungurra Country/Southern Highlands
12 March 2023 – Brighter Days Festival, Dhudhuroa, Taungurung, Waywurru, Gunaikurnai and Jaithmathang Country/Bright

Image used with permission from Ferries Davies PRM

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

South Summit Announce Biggest Aussie Tour

I’m always a bit torn about how to mark Australia Day. This blog has always been about celebrating the fabulous music that breathes life into this country, but January 26 isn’t a day that feels right for celebration. However, simply going quiet on the day doesn’t feel right either. So I choose to elevate Indigenous voices to balance out all the chest-beating patriotism. South Summit really impressed me last year with singles like “Promise Me” and “Tired of Waiting.” Featuring Josh Trindall, a proud Kamilaroi/Yuin man, Nehemiah Reuben and Isaiah Reuben, who are Torres Strait Islanders, and their pals Nathan and Finn, this Western Australian act have just dropped their sophomore EP Creatures and announced dates for their largest Aussie tour to date.

“We’re so excited to announce that we’ll be heading back for our next tour around Australia in March. We had such a good time on our last tour that we had to come back as soon as we could,” the band said. “There are so many exciting shows lined up, including completely new places for us like Newcastle and Hobart. And of course, all the other great cities like Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Byron Bay and Wollongong. We can’t wait to put on a good show for you, see ya there!”

Tickets are available now for all these shows:

3 March 2023 – The Newcastle Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle
4 March 2023 – VANFEST @ Mount Panorama, Wahluu/Bathurst
10 March 2023 – The Beach Hotel, Cavanbah/Byron Bay (FREE)
11 March 2023 – Black Bear Lodge, Meeanjin/Brisbane
17 March 2023 – Waywards, Eora/Sydney
18 March 2023 – Shellharbour Rocks Festival, Woolyungah/Wollongong (FREE)
31 March 2023 – Northcote Social Club, Naarm/Melbourne
1 April 2023 – A Day On The Lawn, Nipaluna/Hobart
4 April 2023 – Jack Rabbit Slims, Boorloo/Perth
15 April 2023 – The River, Wooditup/Margaret River

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Sarah Haleem

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Shugorei Drop Exciting New Single, “Meet the Sun”

Some singles hit you immediately, making you fall in love in an instant. Others are slow burns, taking a few listens before they really get under your skin. I’m still not sure I fully understand Shugorei’s new single “Meet the Sun,” but I know I can’t stop listening. And that’s probably reason enough to share it with you.

Shugorei have enlisted the talents of vocalist Shêm Allen and the Black Square Quartet, whose contributions make the duo’s sound even richer. The song, which features lyrics in English and Nozomi Omote’s native Japanese, celebrates the risks artists take to make their dreams reality. You can see those lyrics in the video, to be released on February 10, which also features live-in-studio performance footage and some of Nozomi’s travelogues from her recent trip home to Japan.

“Meet the Sun” is really different. It’s experimental music and as such, I know it won’t be to everyone’s tastes. But it’s compelling, mesmerising, and totally unforgettable. I encourage you to press play with an open mind and give it at least a couple of listens before you decide whether or not it’s for you.

Image used with permission from 4000 Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Let Sabrina Sekuloski Take You Away With Her New Single “Red Convertible”

It might be only the first month of the year, but is anyone else hanging out for holidays? Because honestly, same. That public holiday might still be too far away for many of us, but Eora/Sydney singer-songwriter Sabrina Sekuloski can take you there for just a few minutes with her latest single “Red Convertible.” It’s an ode to freedom, escaping the nine-to-five grind and doing what makes you happy. Sabrina doesn’t reinvent the wheel here, but this song is a lovely piece of pop which reminds me of easy-listening tracks from Colbie Caillat and Sheryl Crow.

“The songwriting process for this single started back in 2018 so it’s really nice to see this song come to life,” Sabrina explained. “I still remember writing the chorus, it happened really naturally and quickly. The lyrics and melody came out together and the vibe was so infectious that I started dancing in my room. I wrote the Billy Joel reference in the chorus first and just kept adding them in when we started working on the song in 2022. When there’s mention of ‘the piano man’ in the bridge, you can hear a piano being introduced which I thought was a nice touch. When I brought the song to my dad in 2022, he found an old guitar riff he’d written in 2019 that we thought suited the song – which is what you hear in the verse, it formed a cool groove for the song.

“‘Red Convertible’ came about from a longing to escape from the mundane day-to-day activities that leave one feeling uninspired and burnt out. The title of the track was taken from the last line in the chorus which is a daydream of doing things you’ve never done that make you feel alive.”

It sounds like Sabrina has more songs of escapism for us, as “Red Convertible” comes from her forthcoming EP called Scenic Route.

Image used with permission from Planetary Group; credit: Sasha Sekuloski

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

NedR Releases Stunning New Single “Stood Here Too”

As a John Mayer fan, I was instantly drawn to NedR’s new single “Stood Here Too.” The warm guitar tones bear more than a passing resemblance to a John Mayer jam, but when it’s this good that’s not a bad thing. NedR also has his own voice, which seems like it can do just about anything. Those falsetto notes are so compelling.

“Stood Here Too was inspired by a mate who was in the midst of packing up her late grandfather’s house. It talks about the memories that are attached to said place and the hope of seeing him again someday,” NedR explained. “I wrote this song with Dominik Dale who wrote and made the first initial demo with me and also mastered the final track. Through winning the Fender Players Plus competition, in collaboration with Studios 301, I got to work with Jesse Deskovic who recorded and mixed the track. And my drummer Matthew Ferguson who really enhanced the groove of this song.”

NedR also teamed up with Pat Taylor from Hustle Media for the gorgeous film clip.

“My videographer Pat really wanted to focus in on the image of the sun which is the main illustration throughout the song which was represented by the single spotlight featured in the video,” he added. “Our aim was to show a time of reflection that we go through when a loved one passes. A time to be by yourself and process your loss.”

NedR has such a gorgeous sound and real depth behind his music, so I hope we hear a lot more from him this year.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Pat Taylor

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Pierce Brothers and Tash Sultana Join Forces for “High & Unsteady”

Sometimes you hear about a song and you know it’s going to be good before you even hit play. “High & Unsteady” is one of those songs. A collaboration between Pierce Brothers and Tash Sultana, how could it be anything but brilliant? My expectations were sky-high, but this track is everything I hoped it’d be. Pure feel-good indie-folk goodness with all the energy you need to get moving on a Monday.

“I really enjoyed working with the guys,” Tash enthused. “We’ve been working together for years on the road, so I had a great idea on how to capture their sound.”

The admiration is mutual, with Jack commenting “We’ve loved everything that Tash has done over the years, and when they had the idea to collaborate, we jumped at the opportunity! Pat and I put together the bones of the track so when we got into Tash’s studio we had a base from which to create and explore new sounds. Tash is one of the most talented producers we’ve had the pleasure of working with, they brought so many new sounds to mix that we would never have even thought of. I didn’t know what a mellotron was before that day!”

“High & Unsteady” comes with a cool animated music video directed and edited by Patrick Pierce, who combined 35mm analogue and digital footage.

“About 12 months ago I found a video featuring this rare Japanese film camera from the 90s. It has 16 separate frames across two rows on it, and was used for things like shooting a golf swing. I was searching for about 8 months before I could find one and start testing it out,” he explained. He edited the clip in-house over a painstaking summer, noting that “Easily the biggest hurdle in this music video was the edit. I had to develop, scan, separate and animate over 3,000 individual images. It took months, and I’m certain that the response from the general public will be ‘Huh … nice filter.’ That said, I’ve had this idea for ages now, so I’m really happy I’m finally getting it out of my head and onto a screen.”

Pierce Brothers plan on starting work on their next album this year, but you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to see them play. They’ve announced a bunch of festivals and single launch shows, and have plans to tour Australia, South Africa, and Europe to boot. Get your tickets for the following events:

4 February 2023 – Music in the Vines, Baragil/Macarthur
11 February 2023 – Hello Sunshine Festival, Wurundjeri and Bunurong Country/Scoresby
25 February 2023 – Tumbafest, Ngarigo Country/Tumbarumba
10 March 2023 – Cambridge Warehouse, Mulubinba/Newcastle
11 March 2023 – Lighthouse Festival, Darkinjung Country/Norah Head
24 March 2023 – Marlo Hotel, Marloo/Marlo
27 May 2023 – Tropic Sounds, Thul Garrie Waja/Townsville
5 July 2023 – Big Red Bash, Wirrarri/Birdsville
19 August 2023 – Mundi Mundi Bash, Wilyakali Country/Broken Hill

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Dara Munnis

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Go Set Release Killer Comeback Song, “West Into the Sun”

Not a lot of bands survive 20 years. Fewer still rock just as hard as they always did. But the release of The Go Set’s new single “West Into the Sun” proves they’re doing just yet. I also have it on good authority that their new album The Warriors Beneath Us, which drops on March 17, is one of their best.

“We have done it the hard way,” admitted The Go Set’s frontman, Justin Keenan. “I don’t know a band that has slept on as many floors as we have. We have done 1,500 shows and played in 27 or 28 different countries, and you are always building from scratch every night when you do that.”

But of course, struggle builds greatness. Such is the case with The Warriors Beneath Us, which came out of a brand new challenge for the band: the COVID pandemic.

“We weren’t playing live so revenue was down but during COVID we discovered we could record ourselves at home without being on the clock in a big studio,” Justin explained. “An idea for a song would come from me and we would send it around to our home studios. We could add, subtract, layer, and that became the creative process. That was new for us. We didn’t have a budget but we had all the time we needed to make the record we wanted.”

The Go Set will mark the release of The Warriors Beneath Us with their first tour in three years.

“It’s exciting to be reconnecting with people and getting out on the road. We’ve had limited opportunities over the last couple of years and we’re really excited about sharing the new material at these shows. It was something I think we may have taken for granted a while back, but a couple of years of lockdowns and unprecedented difficulty has actually made us realise how much we truly appreciate each other, playing live, and sharing our music with people around the world”.

Tickets for all those Go Set shows are on sale now, so grab yours before they sell out!

31 March 31 – Vinnies Dive, Bundjalung Country/Gold Coast
1 April 2023 – The Zoo, Meeanjin/Brisbane
2 April 2023 – Platform 5, Turrbul Country/Nundah
14 April 2023 – TBC, Naarm/Melbourne
15 April 2023 – Crown and Anchor, Tarntanya/Adelaide
21 April 2023 – The Founders Room, Salamanca Arts Centre, Nipaluna/Hobart
22 April 2023 – The Royal Oak, Therrernotepanner, Leterrermairrener and Panniher Country/Launceston
23 April 2023 – Kindred Hall, Tommeginne Country/Kindred
28 April 2023 – Moshpit Bar, Eora/Sydney
29 April 2023 – Dicey Rileys, Woolyungah/Wollongong

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Boy & Bear, The Waifs, and Busby Marou Play Port Mac’s Charity Festival

Top Aussie acts Boy & Bear, The Waifs, and Busby Marou will hit Port Macquarie in April for Ride the Soundwave, a music festival that aims to do good in the local community. The brainchild of local charity Make a Difference, ticket sales will benefit homeless and disadvantaged people in the Hastings region of New South Wales’ Mid-North Coast.

Ride the Soundwave is part of Port’s Ride the Wave Festival, which also features surfing and skate competitions, markets, and a family fun zone.

“So far, the surf and skate events have really taken off and are fully subscribed each year, so they’re here to stay. It’s the music event that needs more support, so we’re hoping people who love live music will get behind us and make the event a success so that it can become an annual fixture on the Port Macquarie calendar,” explained Make a Difference committee member and local school teacher Erin Denham. “We need to sell all of our tickets for this to happen – with 100% of all money raised going back to Make a Difference, and helping those in need. It’s a win win – festival goers will get to enjoy an awesome line-up in a spectacular setting for a great price, all while feeling great that they’ve in essence made a charity donation to help those in need.”

Ride the Soundwave will hit the picturesque Port Macquarie Town Beach Reserve on April 29. Tickets cost just $90. It’s not a lot of money for all this talent, but it’ll make a big difference to locals in need. Get yours now from Ticketebo.

Image used with permission from Cardinal Spin