Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Discover the Folk-Pop Talents of Woody Pitney

Woody Pitney is far from a household name, but overseas he’s kind of a big deal. With the release of his new single “Do You Feel the Same,” it might just be time for his home country to discover what all the fuss is about.

Woody was jamming in local pubs when the release of his debut EP’s title track “You Can Stay” helped him score a major synchronisation and recording deal in Germany. He hit the top of multiple European iTunes charts, featured on mainstream German TV and radio, and toured extensively throughout Europe and Asia before he decided it was time to come home and try normal life for a while.

Now working as an independent artist, “Do You Feel the Same” is a great sign of things to come. It’s got hit written all over it, which should be no surprise as it was polished by superstar producers Charlie Hugall (Ed Sheeran, Florence & The Machine) and John Castle (Vance Joy, Dean Lewis).

Woody launches “Do You Feel the Same” at the Worker’s Club in Fitzroy on July 6.

Image used with permission from GYRO PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

ARC Does the Beatles for Abbey Road Live

It’s hard to believe 50 years have passed since the release of Abbey Road. Arguably The Beatles’ best, it still sounds fresh as a daisy thanks to choice cuts like “Come Together,” “Something,” and “She Came In Through the Bathroom Window.” Aussie supergroup ARC will pay tribute to that iconic album at upcoming Abbey Road Live shows.

ARC is Kram (Spiderbait), Mark Wilson (Jet), Davey Lane (You Am I), and Darren Middleton (Powderfinger). If that wasn’t enough reason to get excited, the shows will also feature special guests Ash Naylor (Paul Kelly, Even and Rockwiz), Linda Bull (The Black Sorrows, Vika and Linda Bull), Brett Wolfenden (The Pictures, James Keays) and James Keys (Eagle and the Worm, Bob Evans).

Tickets are selling fast, so make sure you get yours to see some of our finest talents interpreting some of the Beatles’ best.

11 August 2019 – Perth Concert Hall, Perth
13 August 2019 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
15 August 2019 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
17 August 2019 – The Star, Gold Coast
18 August 2019 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
20 August 2019 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
22 August 2019 – NEX, Newcastle
23 August 2019 – Anita’s Theatre, Wollongong

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jairay Releases “Not Shit” Single, “Crash Land” With Kitchen Show

I could try to tell you what Jairay’s new single “Crash Land” is all about, but I don’t think I could do better than the random pubgoer quoted in the press release. He was overhead at a Jairay gig commenting his music is “like that folk-punk stuff, but not shit.”

No good sir, it’s not. He follows in the footsteps of guys like Billy Bragg and Joe Strummer, with the stripped-back feel of folk music giving a raw realness to his message.

“Death’s a fucking weird thing to witness and it made me feel really small when faced directly with it,” he said of the song’s inspiration. “I decided to just let go of the life I was living, grow my hair, quit my job and just drive away and be someone new and someone I liked more ”

In suitably low-key fashion, Jairay will launch the single with a show in his Brisbane kitchen tomorrow night. Click attending on the Facebook event for the address!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jon Stevens Celebrates Noiseworks & INXS With Massive Aussie Tour

I intended to write about this tour yesterday, but instead I found myself going down the Jon Stevens rabbit hole on Spotify, feeling nostalgic about the hits and discovering great recordings I hadn’t heard. Has anyone else listened to his version of “A Change is Gonna Come” or him jamming with Diesel on “Dock of the Bay”? Sublime. Travelling down that rabbit hole brings home just how good Jon’s upcoming tour will be though. Dubbed the Noiseworks and INXS Collection national tour, the set will be all about the hits.

The tour’s inspiration came from the rapturous reception he received as part of the Red Hot Summer Tour, where he played a similar set.

“You’ve got 10,000 people just going bananas when you are playing those songs,” he says. “It makes you realise you have to keep playing them. People want to hear Noiseworks and INXS,” he confirmed. “My job is to make sure everyone has the maximum best time possible.”

A good time is guaranteed at the following Jon Stevens shows.

6 July 2019 – Duck Creek Picnic Races @ Nyngan Racecourse, Nyngan
3 August 2019 – Gateway Hotel, Corio
8 August 2019 – Honeysuckle Hotel, Newcastle
9 August 2019 – The Ettamogah, Kellyville Ridge
10 August 2019 – Gymea Hotel, Gymea
15 August 2019 – Queens Park Theatre, Geraldton
17 August 2019 – Passion Of The Pilbara, Onslow
18 August 2019 – Astor Theatre, Perth
20 August 2019 – Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany
21 August 2019 – Esperance Civic Centre, Esperance
22 August 2019 – Albion Hotel, Kalgoorlie
23 August 2019 – Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury
24 August 2019 – Ravenswood Hotel, Ravenswood
30 August 2019 – Miami Marketta, Miami
31 August 2019 – Kingscliff Beach Hotel, Kingscliff
1 September 2019 – The Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
5 September 2019 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
6 September 2019 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
7 September 2019 – 4U2 Concert, Moranbah
12 September 2019 – Macquarie Inn, Dubbo
13 September 2019 – Blue Cattle Dog Hotel, St Clair
15 September 2019 – Belmont 16s Sailing Club, Belmont
19 September 2019 – Bay Central Tavern, Pialba
20 September 2019 – Harvey Road Tavern, Clinton
21 September 2019 – Great Western Hotel, Rockhampton
4 October 2019 – The Triffid, Fortitude Valley
5 October 2019 – The V Room @ Villa Noosa, Noosa
6 October 2019 – Redland Bay Hotel, Redland Bay
11 October 2019 – Commercial Hotel, South Morang
12 October 2019 – Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave
13 October 2019 – Memo Music Hall, St Kilda
18 October 2019 – Wangaratta Performing Arts & Convention Centre, Wangaratta
19 October 2019 – On The Wing EagleHawk Community Festival, Bendigo
19 December 2019 – West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul
20 December 2019 – The Palms at Crown, Melbourne
21 December 2019 – Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston

Image used with permission from Hot Off the Press Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

From the Ashes of Command Q Comes Monsoon Moon

Shaun Pickett hasn’t sad idly since wrapping up Command Q in 2017. The Perth artist has thrown himself into songwriting and music. “Just Friends,” his debut single under his new moniker, Monsoon Moon, is the culmination of those efforts.

“I was once wildly in love, and like every love-drunk musician before me, I had the original idea of writing a song for my lover. But, like most good things, our love didn’t last and I was left with an unfinished song and a healthy plate of regret,” he explained of the song’s inspiration. “The song was now a lie! I started to think, ‘Wouldn’t it have been better if we never got together in the first place? Why couldn’t we have stayed Just Friends?'”

I absolutely love this track. It’s so incredibly catchy with immensely relatable lyrics. It’s a sign of things to come for the artist who has tired of the party scene Command Q was so much a part of.

“We felt tired and worn down by it, sensing a deeper need to express ourselves with greater emotional contrast,” he explained. “Maybe change is inevitable, as an artist you grow and evolve. All I know now is that I want to express myself beyond ‘dabs’ in an underground EDM dungeon with ravers. I hope I can give that to you with Monsoon Moon.”

“Just Friends” has whet my appetite for more. I can’t wait to hear what Monsoon Man has in store for us.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Doko Fight For Live Music Scene With “Borrowed Time”

Sydney’s live music scene is one of its most important assets, but it’s been under fire in recent years. Local band Doko give a voice to the struggles the scene faces with their fab new single “Borrowed Time.” It deals with some pretty serious stuff, but it’s wrapped up in such an upbeat package I wouldn’t blame you if missed the message and got carried away rocking out to it. After all, you can always give it another listen.

The music video for “Borrowed Time” combines footage of Doko’s Sydney shows and rehearsals with some trippy psychedelic visuals. The vintage lens reminds us of the time-honoured tradition of seeing live music we stand to lose if we don’t rise up.

Doko will naturally promote the single with live shows around NSW and Victoria next month. Many are free, so there’s no excuse for missing them!

3 August 2019 – The Vanguard, Sydney
4 August 2019 – El Sol, Cronulla
8 August 2019 – Franks, Wild Years, Wollongong (FREE)
9 August 2019 – Selina’s, Coogee (FREE)
16 August 2019 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo (FREE)
17 August 2019 – Wesley Anne, Melbourne

Image used with permission from ArowAgency; photo credit: Zana Rose

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Gracefield Avenue” – Fields

She might be based in Perth now, but Fields’ music beats with an Irish heart. There’s a little Celtic yodel in her vocals and an intensity in the acoustic guitars anchoring half the tracks that takes me to Ireland. It’s no accident that her new EP is called Gracefield Avenue, after the Dublin street she grew up on. That title track is a beautiful nostalgic snapshot of youth which builds to a stirring stomp-along climax. It sets the scene for an EP that doesn’t shy away from sharing the artist’s story.

“Promises” is heart-breakingly raw as Fields’ reminisces about a relationship gone wrong. Her vocals are always on point, but they’re so strong here. You can hear her pain with every note.

I got to know “Neverland” when it was released as a single last year. I’m so glad this unique song has earned a place here. The EP provides a fantastic opportunity to revisit this unique song, which moves from a haunting delicate ditty to a frenetic acoustic-guitar that sweeps the listener up in its romance.

“Like That” showcases Fields at her most exposed, both musically and lyrically. With a sparse piano accompaniment and a small choir of angelic backing vocalists for support, her story of feeling love for someone, but not the romantic kind, is so affecting.

I’ve always appreciated Fields’ ethereal vocals, but with this release she’s shown some serious song writing chops. It’s an intimate, emotionally powerful EP that takes just four songs to make a real impression. See Fields showcasing songs from Gracefield Avenue at the following gigs here and abroad.

29 June 2019 – Stop the Violence, Sunflowers for Cara fundraiser, Burlington Hotel, Bunbury
3 August 2019 – The Workman’s Club, Dublin

Image used with permission from Firestarter Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Don’t Wait: Get Your Scene & Heard Tickets Now!

Have you got your tickets for Scene & Heard yet? If not, what are you waiting for? This year’s event is bigger and better than ever, with shows in Cairns and Brisbane complementing the original Newcastle gig.

The line-up is also the stuff early noughties dreams are made of, with The Dandy Warhols, Wolfmother, Alex Lloyd, and Sneaky Sound System all on the bill. There are also a few acts exclusive to each venue, including British India in Brisvegas and Eskimo Joe in Newie. Brisbane and Newcastle also get the Don’t Come Monday Stage, a party zone headlined by the Potbelleez DJs.

Scene & Heard aims to create more than a festival. It’s all about making memories and connecting to the music and one another, rather than worrying about capturing images for your social media profiles. If you’re into that vibe, make sure to snap up your tickets soon!

27 October 2019 – Barlow Park, Cairns
2 November 2019 – Eatons Hill Outdoors, Brisbane
10 November 2019 – Wickham Park, Newcastle

Image used with permission from GYRO Pr; photo credit: J Munns

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“In Bloom” – Maggie Slater

Sometimes an album connects with you from the first note, firing off the neurons in your brain that make you immediately fall fast. Others take a little longer. When I hit play on In Bloom, the debut EP from Maggie Slater, I thought it was lovely stuff. Nice and folky, the sort of pleasant music that would provide a good background for my morning work. But I didn’t get those neurons firing. Not right away.

Then I heard “Ballerina,” a poignant song about not feeling good enough in a relationship, about being lifted up by others and discovering your self-worth. It changed everything. I got it, and suddenly Maggie Slater’s music moved from the background into focus.

“Ballerina” is a standout song, but the whole of EP is really something special. It paints a moving portrait of a woman coming to terms with herself and her relationships with other people. It’s unflinchingly intimate, with lyrics that often feel like diary confessions, from the playful “Time Warp” and “Dog” to heavier moments in “Ballerina” and “I Want You.” “Grow” is the perfect closer, a track which encapsulates the EP’s theme of evolving and being “in bloom.”

Maggie Slater’s music suggests that so many of us, she’s still figuring it out. However, that’s precisely why it resonated so deeply with me. It’s very easy to appreciate her music on a surface level; she sings like a bird and her folk-pop-rock sound is very accessible. However, she’s also proved herself to be a master storyteller with a knack for crafting lyrics that really speak to the heart. In Bloom is a beautiful debut from this exciting singer-songwriter from Far North Queensland.

In Bloom is available on all your favourite digital platforms now. Catch her at the Neck of the Woods Music Festival in Townsville on June 29 and 30.

Image used with permission from Hot Off the Press

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jessica Mauboy Sets a New Bar With Latest Single, “Little Things”

The always outstanding Jessica Mauboy seems to be improving with age, like a fine wine. Her latest single “Little Things” may be her best work yet.

It’s intimate and powerful, with an emotional maturity that’s so compelling. Perhaps it’s so strong because Jessica co-wrote the track with powerhouse duo DNA and Chiara Hunter. You can certainly hear more of Jess’s heart in this song that some of the frothier pop fare in her back catalogue.

“This song is EVERYTHING we want to TELL our loved ones … to remind them that ALL we want is to be loved and appreciated in ALL of the things we do,” she explained. “This song could also be felt in a way that you could be an eight-year-old old girl or boy and want to feel loved by your parents, trying to catch their attention when your parents aren’t watching, to a 20-year-old sharing their deepest experience and not getting that back in return from the one they love, to a 50-year-old who could has lost their loved one and is haunted by memories of what was unsaid”

“Little Things” comes from Jessica’s new album Hilda. Look for it in stores this October.