Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Camp Cope “Keep Growing” With Latest Single

Fresh from taking home the Best Emerging Act title at the Age Music Victoria Awards, Camp Cope are back with a brand new single “Keep Growing.”

It’s a heartfelt reflection on society’s standard which has long been a highlight of Camp Cope’s set. You can see them play the song in the flesh at Camp Cope’s summer shows.

6 December 2016 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (with Julien Baker)
17 December 2016 – Northcote Social Club (with Harmony and Two Steps on the Water – SOLD OUT)
30 December 2016 – NYE on the Hill, Kernot
4 January 2017 – Metro Theatre, Sydney (with Modern Baseball)
6 January 2017 – 170 Russell, Melbourne (with Modern Baseball)
26 January 2017 – Laneway Festival, Brisbane
28 January 2017 – Laneway Festival, Melbourne
3 February 2017 – Laneway Festival, Adelaide
4 February 2017 – Laneway Festival, Sydney
5 February 2017 – Laneway Festival, Fremantle
11 March 2017 – Golden Plains, Meredith

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Opaeka Makes a Splash with “Risk”

Brisbane-based electro-pop act Opaeka has gone big with his first single, “Risk.” It’s an epic track, with soaring vocals and lush instrumentation. It’s also our first taste of Opaeka’s debut EP, which is scheduled for an early 2017 release.

You can hear more of Opaeka’s material when he launches “Risk” at The Bearded Lady on December 11.

Image used with permission from Title Track

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aladdin @ Capitol Theatre, Sydney – 1 December 2016

I didn’t really want to see Aladdin. I imagined I’d feel a little like I did when I saw Mary Poppins, disconnected from the experience and wishing I could see it through a child’s eyes. Longing for magic. However, I’m thrilled my husband wanted to see it to celebrate his birthday, because it turned out to be one of the best nights I’ve enjoyed at the theatre.

In the movie, we were left waiting until Aladdin rubbed the lamp to meet the scene-stealing Genie. In the musical version he’s our faithful guide, explaining what was to come and taking us to the magical land of Agrabah. It was a visual feast from the get go, with dancing ladies and muscly men with swords twirling about.

In the midst of it all was an Aladdin, who was soon on the run from the law. I remember marvelling at this scene as a kid, and was impressed with the way it came to life on the stage. Animation allows you to do so much that I worried we’d lose some of the sparkle in the real world, but the clever choreography sucked me right in.

Some things were changed to make the transition to the stage. Iago lost his feathers and became a short-statured man with the voice of Gilbert Gottfried. Abu the monkey was nowhere to be seen, with Aladdin instead relying on the support of his good-hearted “street rat” pals. Robin Williams was larger than life as the Genie in the film version, but Michael James Scott made the role his own. He was an absolute scream, with a killer voice to boot.

I was sceptical about whether Aladdin could whisk me up in its magic, but by the time our hero and Princess Jasmine boarded their magic carpet I was in raptures. While the movie impressed me, those flat images on a screen couldn’t hold a candle to the sight of our young couple taking flight with only the stars and moon to illuminate their path.

By the time the cast took their final bows I couldn’t believe I’d been in the theatre for a couple of hours. It flew by. What a fast-paced, funny, and truly magical experience. Aladdin isn’t just for kids. It’s for the kid that still exists inside us all.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Musos Pay Tribute to David Bowie One Year On

In January this year, the world lost one of its brightest musical lights: David Bowie. In January 2017, one year on from his passing and 30 years after the release of one of his most revered albums Low, some of this nation’s best talents will pay tribute to that release and the others immediately following it.

With musical director Mick Harvey at the helm, Kylie Auldist, Dave Graney, Ron Peno, Kim Salmon, and Max Sharam will honour Bowie’s work with the “Bowie in Berlin” concert series. These artists will play songs from Low, Heroes, and Lodger, arguably some of Bowie’s finest and most thought-provoking releases.

Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

6 January 2017 – Triffid, Brisbane
7 January 2017 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
8 January 2017 – Hamer Hall, Melbourne
14 January 2017 – Regal Theatre, Perth

Image used with permission from DRW Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Hiding Strikes a Chord with “Dream Catcher’s Life”

While I’ve carved out a great little life for myself as a freelance writer, I haven’t always had the support of people around me. Leaving the corporate world behind can be scary, but I can’t imagine going back to the world of bosses and office politics. So “Dream Catcher’s Life,” a song which the presser calls “an ode to those who chose to chase their goals regardless of what society might say,” really resonates with me.

It’s the brainchild of Melbourne band The Hiding, who’s enlisted the help of guest vocalist Stewart Winchester.

“The song came about after we returned from New York City,” explained Anthony Salce, the band’s lyricist and lead guitarist. “It’s really just about living your dreams, not settling for the mediocre, and hoping that you have that special someone to share it with, someone who wants to share the journey with you.”

The clip, featuring the talents of aerial artists Didj Wentworth and Phoebe Carlson, elevates this already special song. Industrial work has never looked so beautiful.

The Hiding will celebrate the single’s release with an exclusive set at The Grace Darling on December 10 as part of Pennyfest.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Beth Brown Comes Home for “Easy” Tour

Aussie-born songstress Beth Brown is making a splash in her new home of Nashville. She’s just become the first Aussie female signed to the Gretsch Guitar USA family. Not bad for someone who’s only just released a debut single. Although that song, “Easy,” is one of the best I’ve heard.

Penned in collaboration with the sublimely talented Butterfly Boucher, “Easy” has an irresistible groove and lyrics we can all relate to.

“Easy” comes from Beth’s debut EP Dream Coat, which will drop in 2017. She’ll celebrate the release of both with an Aussie tour early next year.

6 January 2017 – Junk Bar, Brisbane
13 January 2017 – Treehouse on Belongil, Byron Bay
14 January 2017 – Dusty Attic, Lismore
19 January 2017 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
2 February 2017 – Toff in Town, Melbourne
17 February 2017 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Pleasure Garden Ready to Charm Melbourne

If you thought summer festivals were starting to feel a little same-same, then you’ll want to head to the Pleasure Garden next month. This is a game changer, with roving performers like a giant hairy snail, carnies performing stunts, and full-scale fantasy models from General Zodd adding to the fun.

Of course there’s also music, with top quality performers like The Cat Empire, Blue King Brown, Dub FX, and Tash Sultana all on the bill. And since it’s in Melbourne, you know the food is going to be amazing. The folks from 400 Gradi, Vegilicious, Dos Diablos, and Kombi Burger will all sell their wares on the day.

It’s all happening on December 10 at Catani Gardens on the St Kilda Foreshore. Get your tickets from the Pleasure Garden website.

Image used with permission from Remedy PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The ARIAs … 30 Years On

Unlike most music lovers in Australia, I wasn’t watching the ARIAs last night. I was playing trivia, expecting to catch up on all the action this morning. I managed to avoid learning of the winners until I watched the broadcast, but last night I did learn that a lot of people were fed up with the awards. Perhaps it’s just a symptom of getting older, but my Facebook feed was full of people bemoaning the new acts and insisting things were better in their day.

Watching the broadcast, I think it’s very easy for nostalgia to creep in. We were celebrating 30 years of music awards, and watching the montages of artists that came before I too felt that sense of longing for some of my favourite performers of the past.

But the thing is, that shouldn’t take away from embracing what’s great about the music industry today. I got really excited about Illy’s album this week. I was thrilled about Montaigne’s win because she’s created some of my favourite songs this year. What Flume does isn’t quite to my taste, but he’s clearly dominating right now. Diversity is what the industry has always been about. Hats off to him and his five pointy trophies.

I think the organisers of this year’s ARIAs did a wonderful job of celebrating the past and the present. Watching Jimmy Barnes sing with Jess Mauboy, seeing current acts like Bernard Fanning and Missy Higgins sing Crowded House songs before the act themselves performed, grinning ear to ear as The Veronicas bowed down to John Farnham, these are moments that symbolise not just the great music we’ve made as a country but that we continue to make.

It’s very easy to stay in our bubble and just listen to the music we’ve always loved. But the arts will only thrive if we take chances on something new.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meet Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird

Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird might just have the coolest name on the music scene at the moment. The Melbourne band’s also creating some amazing music. Exhibit A is the band’s latest single “Cool Parties,” lifted from the current EP Melbourne Bitter.

I love the film clip which captures the band doing its thing, without frills or unnecessary fuss.

“The song itself is about the sense of detachment that can sometimes wash over you whilst in social situations. The feeling that nothing occurring around you is quite authentic and the quiet desire for something more substantial,” frontman Lachlan Rose explained. “This performance was shot overlooking Edinburgh Gardens in North Fitzroy, the place where the vast majority of our socialising occurs … so there was perhaps something significant about shooting it there.”

What do you think of this groovy new track?