Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Phil Jamieson’s Magic Castle Raising Money for Headspace Port Macquarie

Grinspoon frontman and all-round good dude Phil Jamieson has put together a fantastic fundraiser night, dubbed Magic Castle, for headspace Port Macquarie. Happening December 13, the musical extravaganza will raise money to support the vital work headspace does supporting the mental health of young people in Port.

Along with a headlining set from Phil, punters will also enjoy music from Byron Bay punk act Mini Skirt, Newcastle singer-songwriter Grace Turner, and Port Macquarie’s own Royal Chant, Genes, and Vena Klymo.

Tickets are $30 plus booking fee, a steal for a night’s entertainment that’s all for a good cause. Get yours at the venue, Panthers Port Macquarie, or Oztix.

Image used with permission from Wonderlick

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Shorelines Drop Stellar New Single Ahead of New EP Release

Brisbane band Shorelines haven’t released new music since December last year, but they’re rewarding the patience of their fans with a brand new track, “Worry About Yourself,” the first track lifted from their sophomore EP, Blank Pages & Broken Records.

“Worry About Yourself” sounds like an instant pop-punk classic, with its big chunky riffs and singalong chorus. The band describes it as “our rock anthem from our side of negative and unnecessary conflict, explaining that we will keep creating our own path the way we feel is right for us, and that others should just focus on themselves.”

Shorelines generated major buzz for their debut EP New Heights, scoring a support slot with Real Friends, more than a million Spotify streams, and a declaration from Alternative Press that they would “soon be rising to the top of this generation’s pop-punk offerings.” Not bad for a self-managed, self-released act from Brissie! Surely even bigger things are in store once the new EP reaches our ears.

We don’t have too long to wait, with Blank Pages & Broken Records slated for an October 5 release. Hopefully a tour announcement won’t be too far behind!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Break, Rattle, and Roll” – Matt Joe Gow

In 2016, Matt Joe Gow released Seven Years, the long-awaited follow-up to his debut solo work The Messenger. It was one of my favourite releases for the year, a fantastic slice of classic Americana that I’ve found myself listening to time and time again. That record was seven years in the making. Thankfully it’s taken just two for Matt to bring us another album, Break, Rattle, and Roll. Another blessing, it’s every bit as good as the collection of songs that came before it.

Break, Rattle, and Roll starts so strong, with “Bridge Over Concrete.” It’s the perfect opener for this album, such a feelgood slice of Americana, all jangly guitars and honky-tonk piano. The single “Ride On” continues the up-tempo alt-country vibe.

Matt Joe Gow is so good at making those feel-good road trip songs, but there’s so much more to the music he makes than that. Break, Rattle, and Roll gives us glimpses of his softer side in vulnerable tracks like “Details,” the stripped back “Old Hotel Room,” and the exquisite closing song, “We Got Lost.” These beautiful tracks provide the balance, stirring our heart while helping us enjoy those singalong moments a little more.

The press releases categorise Matt Joe Gow’s music as Americana, but he plays free and loose with the genre. There’s a great old school soul feel about “Ransom.” A reprise of an earlier single “House That Burnt Down” takes blues back to its gospel roots. I went back to the original 2010 release and was so impressed by how much more complex and intricate the new recording is. It feels like one of those great spontaneous jams.

I’ve been listening to Break, Rattle, and Roll for a couple of months now, falling a little more in love with it each time. It’s wonderful to get the jump on other music lovers and listen to something fabulous first, but I’ve also been anticipating its release, the moment I can insist my friends hear it too. It’s that sort of album, the kind of recording that makes you want to sit down with people and share how special it is.

Break, Rattle, and Roll is released on October 5. Matt Joe Gow will play the following shows here and in New Zealand celebrating its release.

4 October 2018 – Skylark Room, Belgrave
6 October 2018 – The Mane Event Festival, Geelong (Midday)
6 October 2018 – Curtin Hotel, Melbourne
7 October 2018 – The Westernport Hotel, San Remo
12 October 2018 – Basement Discs, Melbourne (FREE)
18 October 2018 – The Triffid, Brisbane (FREE)
20 October 2018 – Dog With Tails, Dunedin
21 October 2018 – Starfish Cafe, Dunedin (FREE)
25 October 2018 – Albert’s Post, Auckland
27 October 2018 – Clarence Town River Country Hoedown, Clarence Town
28 October 2018 – Songwriters In The Round, Wenty Leagues, Wentworthville (FREE)
4 November 2018 – Public House, Albury

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Harts Gets You Grooving With “Shake Ya Pants”

Expect to start shaking what your mama gave you when you wrap your ears around Harts’ funky new single “Shake Ya Pants.” It’s a fantastic slice of funk which is giving me serious Price vibes. Always a good thing.

“Shake Ya Pants is a light hearted and fun tune about being comfortable in your own skin. It’s kinda like a fun pep talk, encouraging somebody to be themselves when they may lack self confidence,” Harts explained. “I debuted an extended version of the track live for the audience at my Howler show back in July and they loved it. I’ve been looking forward to putting this out ever since!”

“Shake Ya Pants” is the latest track from Harts’ forthcoming album, which will be released later this year. Harts will be back in the country to celebrate its release with shows all around the country. With a bigger live band joining the Aussie talent on stage, you’ll want to wear your best dancing shoes to the following gigs.

2 November 2018 – The Fat Controller, Adelaide
3 November 2018 – Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth
16 November 2018 – Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads (FREE)
17 November 2018 – The Triffid, Brisbane
22 November 2018 – Anu Bar, Canberra
23 November 2018 – The Factory Theatre, Sydney
24 November 2018 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
29 November 2018 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
30 November 2018 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay

Image used with permission from the A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bakers Eddy Release Rocking New Single “Leave It To Me”

Are you struggling to get moving on this Monday morning? I can fix that. Crank your speakers. Now press play.

I know you’re vibing after listening to “Leave It To Me,’ the brash new single from Melbourne punk-rockers Bakers Eddy. It’s a slap to the face, in the best possible way.

Bakers Eddy frontman CJ Babbington says the single is “a song about love and loss, not knowing what you have until you lose it.” Bakers Eddy will play the following shows to support its release.

6 October 2018 – The Gasometer, Melbourne
25 October 2018 – Marly Bar, Sydney
27 October 2018 – Halloween Hysteria, Jubilee Hotel, Brisbane
10 November 2018 – Crown & Anchor, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Habit Music Company

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

TH’FIKA Return With “Peachy Rosie”

Pop, rock, electronica, and a sense of drama combine in TH’FIKA’s new single “Peachy Rosie.”

Lily Budiasa’s voice is so compelling, the ideal foil for her musical partner Michael Cameron. We haven’t heard anything new from TH’FIKA since mid-2016, but this song is certainly worth the wait.

With such a strong lead in, I can’t wait to hear more from TH’FIKA’s second EP. Hometown fans will get the chance when TH’FIKA launch “Peachy Rosie” at elsewhere on the Gold Coast on November 23.

Image used with permission from WHO Collective

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ryan Downey Strikes Gold Again With “No More Miracles”

Ryan Downey wowed me with his debut album Running this year. Now the Melbourne crooner got me swooning all over again with his new track “No More Miracles.” The song is a masterclass in restraint, a lesson in just how powerful a song with space to breathe can be. You don’t need slick production when you’re creating music this good.

“I’m finding the world a confusing and uneasy place right now, I don’t think I’m alone in that,” Ryan explained of the song’s inspiration. “This song is about looking for hope in what’s immediate and accessible and taking action, instead of waiting for confirmation or permission from some miraculous sign in our life/world.”

Fresh from supporting Sarah Blasko, Ryan is ready to play headliner once again at the following East Coast shows.

25 October 2018 – The Gasometer, Melbourne
27 October 2018 – New Hall, Pt Lonsdale
1 November 2018 – Golden Age Cinema, Sydney

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bri Clark Releases Beautiful Ballad “Giving Up”

Perth singer-songwriter Bri Clark has given me goosebumps with her gorgeous new single “Giving Up.”

This heartfelt ballad is just beautiful, a fitting nominee in the 2019 Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition. Bri has recently taken part in the APRA AMCOS Songhubs workshop and BIGSOUND songwriter showcase, a testament to her commitment to creating songs of substance. While the simple but powerful lyrics are what really got to me, her voice is every bit as compelling. It all just amounts to the perfect package.

“Giving Up” is a stunning track that’s well and truly put Bri Clark on my radar.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“All Your Devotion” – Kav Temperley

If Kav Temperley felt any nerves going solo, they don’t show. His first album without Eskimo Joe, All Your Devotion, is an accomplished work that hits all the right musical and emotional notes.

Kav hasn’t been afraid to take risks here. It’s definitely not a soundalike album that could have come from the Eskimo Joe catalogue. It’s gentler, more delicate, with folkier influences and greater pop leanings. Keeping the instrumentation small really lets us hone in on those lyrics which are so very good. Perhaps it’s the act of creating a solo album that’s let Kav craft songs that come from a very personal place, that don’t need to speak for the band. Perhaps it’s simply the circumstances. An album that comes following the breakdown of a marriage, and even the separation from a band, should be raw and revealing. And it is.

While Kav takes a different direction with All Your Devotion, this may be one of his most accessible works to date. The single, “Pollyanna” is such a strong song that deserves serious airplay. But really I could see most of these songs sitting comfortably on indie and commercial playlists. There are no filler tracks here. Opening track “Queen of My Heart” is a proper love song, delivered with real heart and without a hint of schmaltz. “Surrender” speaks so eloquently about giving yourself over completely to a new relationship. “Please Distract Me,” a plaintive plea to a new lover, might be my favourite song from the album. Although, it has stiff competition from “What Is It Worth,” a beautiful ballad that delivers an emotional sucker punch. The festive “Christmas Lights” seems a little out of place on a September release, but it’s a sweet song nonetheless.

All Your Devotion felt good the moment I listened to it, but with every subsequent spin I think I fall a little more in love with it. I catch a lyric or a melody that I missed, and my appreciation deepens. Make sure you take a listen when it gets a digital and vinyl release today. Hear it live at the following shows.

5 October 2018 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
6 October 2018 – Villa Noosa Hotel, Sunshine Coast
7 October 2018 – Public Bar @ Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast (FREE)
11 October 2018 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
12 October 2018 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
13 October 2018 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
19 October 2018 – Leadbelly, Sydney
20 October 2018 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
27 October 2018 – Mojos, Fremantle
2 November 2018 – River Hotel, Margaret River
3 November 2018 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Melbourne Getting a New Live Music Space

With countless live music venues around the country closing their doors, it’s exciting to hear of anything new opening up. Geddes Lane Ballroom will breathe new life into Melbourne’s historic Showgirls Bar 20 venue. It’s only fitting as before the strippers moved in, the site was the Grainstore Tavern, the place that launched John Farnham’s Whispering Jack album and hosted household names like Daryl Braithwaite, INXS, Little River Band, and Tina Arena.

Ben Thompson and Ashlea O’Loughlin (The Venue Collective, 170 Russell, East Brunswick Club) will take charge of booking talent. Acclaimed chef Shannon Bennett will preside over the food and beverages to leave our tastebuds satisfied. Lorenz Grollo, the CEO of the Grollo Group, rounds out the team.

“We’re excited to be bringing live music back to one of Melbourne’s most popular venues throughout the 80s and 90s”, enthused Ben Thompson, “It’s been a hidden gem, centrally located, close to trains and trams and a big carpark with a fantastic tried-and-tested band room. We’re doing some acoustic treatments, putting in a world class PA and cleaning the place up. Live music fans will love it. With the loss of so many live music venues over the last 10 years including quality smaller rooms like Ding Dong Lounge and Shebeen, there aren’t many options out there. People need the option to come into the city and experience original live music. The venue will be open to all conceivable genres of music from local, national and international acts and we have some surprise shows planned for summer.”

Geddes Lane Ballroom promises to open to some serious next month with an iconic Melbourne rock act. Make sure you follow their social pages for news of that as it breaks!

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; photo credit Jason Edwards Herald Sun