Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Barunga Festival Announces 2016 Line-Up

July might seem like an awfully long time away, but if 2015 has taught me anything it’s that the months are racing by at a rapid pace. Before your calendar gets too full, if you’re anywhere in the Territory, or just fancy a visit to this beautiful part of the country, you should lock in the 2016 Barunga Festival.

This year’s theme is “Celebrate Women, Celebrate Community Life,” so as you can imagine there’s a kick-ass lineup of women scheduled to play including Courtney Barnett, Jen Cloher, Justine Clarke, and indigenous act Wildflower. Gurrumul will also be there in solidarity with the ladies. And this is just the initial music line-up; you can expect plenty more superb acts to grace the Barunga Festival stage next year.

The 2016 Barunga Festival runs from July 10 to 12 at the Barunga community, approximately 70 kays south-east of Katherine. Tickets are on sale now from Moshtix.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Taylor Payne Releases Stellar Single “Outsider”

If you like Florence and the Machine, you’re going to love the Sunshine Coast’s own Taylor Payne.

With her debut single “Outsider,” this Queensland musician shows a similar knack for blending dark, moody lyrics with driving drum beats and toe-tapping melodies. Her voice also seems to have no limitations, twisting and turning up to those falsetto notes and back down again with ease.

Apparently Taylor’s set to play some local venues in 2016, so look out for those.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Sounds of Oz readers! I hope that like me you’re lucky enough to be spending the day with family, some good booze, and pork crackle. All the essentials. Thanks for allowing me to share my passion for all things on the Aussie music landscape with you for another year.

I always like to share a Christmas song with you on December 25, but I was feeling like I’d already showed you all the best ones, until Rage played this last Saturday morning. I was a wee young thing in 1985, so I actually don’t remember The Incredible Penguins. Apparently this Aussie supergroup, featuring John Farnham, Angry Anderson, Jim Keays, Brian Mannix, Colin Hay, Bob Geldof (gee he loves a charity single doesn’t he?), and so many more superstars released this cover of “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” to raise funds for fairy penguin research. I just love listening to a version of this song that doesn’t have Yoko warbling all over it. The mullets are also incredible.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Jess & Matt” – Jess & Matt

While I’m an avid viewer of The X Factor, I don’t think I’ve ever bothered to listen to any of the winner’s albums. They typically have little more than the performances on the show recut, and while I’ve enjoyed those at the time, I’ve rarely been in a hurry to hear them again. But this year we had Jess & Matt, an act that is so special that when I was sent a streaming copy of their self-titled debut album, I couldn’t wait to hit play.

Yes, this largely follows the same formula of other post-X Factor releases. We get the act in a studio to recreate what they did in the show just in time for a Christmas release. But the creativity of Matt & Jess, and mentor Guy Sebastian, makes this a little more than just an album of covers. Anyone who’s seen the show will know how under Guy’s guidance, the duo put their stamp on classic songs like “Dancing in the Dark,” “Heart of Glass,” and “You’re the One That I Want,” as well as newer tracks like “Lay Me Down” and “Do You Remember.”

The visuals were significant component of those performances, whether it was watching elaborate staging from Square Division or simply the couple gazing into one another’s eyes. That’s gone when you listen to the album, but nothing can take away the way these two voices harmonise so beautifully. Separately they’re already exceptional, but together, sublime. When we first heard the single “Nothing Matters” my husband and I felt Jess & Matt deserved a better song, and it still stands out as the weakest track on this album. But to sweeten the deal there’s also exceptional covers of two songs not performed on the show “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” and “Sister Golden Hair.”

Given that this is the post-X Factor release, it’s probably only going to reach the ears of those who only admired Jess & Matt on the show. But it deserves to be heard much more widely than that. I imagine everyone from the cool kids who listen to acoustic covers on Spotify to my parents really digging what Jess & Matt do. I urge you to take a chance on this album, because it’s much more than simply a snapshot of time spent on a reality TV show.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Byron Mark Shows He Can Do It All with “Piano Dance”

When I hit play on “Piano Dance,” I was struck by its grandeur. This sounds like the sort of thing a full flamenco band would play to accompany some gorgeous young dancers. But it’s actually the work of just one guy, Sydney multi-instrumentalist Byron Mark.

Apparently Byron’s been gigging and collaborating with people for years, but he decided it’s about time he released some music of his own. And so “Piano Dance” was born, a purely instrumental track featuring his handiwork on the piano, cajon, and dun-duns. It’s a really strong effort that is a real step up from most debut singles. More of this please!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

See Tom West Record Live Albums This January

Adelaide’s singer-songwriter extraordinaire Tom West is planning to record two live albums in January, and he wants you to be a part of it. He’ll play two shows – one in Adelaide and the other in Melbourne – and release the performances later in the year as an album called Golden Fleeces.

“I’ve felt for a while that shows are really the truest form of my music, and where I connect best with people,” he explained. “When the idea came up to do some live recording it seemed to make perfect sense. To be able to involve the girls and guys who have been coming out to my shows in the formation of this album is a dream.”

It makes a lot of sense to me. When I heard the single version of his song “Easy Love” I liked it, but when I watched this live video recorded in Toronto I got it completely. There’s just something about the spontaneous energy that comes from a live performance that makes a good musician truly great.

The shows will feature new material as well as some old favourites. If there’s anything you’d like to hear, make sure you email in your requests to hello@pokeintheeye.com.au.

Tom West will play his live album shows at the following venues. He understands people are strapped for cash post-Christmas, so tickets cost just $15 plus booking fee through Oztix.

28 January 2016 – The Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide
31 January 2016 – The Workers Club, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“December” – Reigan

I always thought Reigan Derry was one of the more interesting acts on X Factor, but I felt she got pushed into a pop diva direction. While she pulled it off, it was in her quieter performances that I was really moved. It’s wonderful to hear her in that sort of introspective mode here with her new EP, December.

This isn’t the Christmas EP that you put on if you want a big family singalong. It’s delicate and introspective. It’s for the quiet moments of reflection that often come at this time of year, as we face saying goodbye to one year and hello to the possibilities of the next.

Reigan’s taken the bare bones of Christmas carols and traditional songs of worship and reinterpreted them beautifully, giving them new names and changing a word here or there to make them more modern. Her intimate take on “Amazing Grace,” simply called “Grace” is truly stunning. “We Three Kings” becomes “Star of Wonder,” a haunting, ethereal number. I must admit, I’m not familiar with the Lutheran carol “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” but the Middle Eastern vibe of her version, called “Rejoice,” is so musically interesting and moving. “Holly,” a version of “Deck the Halls,” is December’s lightest moment. It brings the celebratory feel that most of us associate with Christmas to the EP. With her strumming her acoustic guitar and friends lending their vocals to the chorus, it feels like a family jam at Reigan’s house.

December isn’t your traditional Christmas recording, but I think that’s a good thing. There are so many Christmas recordings delivered schmaltz and sentimentality if that’s what you want. This is a recording that showcases a real artist delivering so much more than predictable Christmas covers.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Josue Announces East Coast Summer Tour

In my mind, Josue has been one of the finds of the year with his old school sensibility and swag. His EP Bad News was a throwback to the 90s R’n’B in the most delicious of ways. So I’m excited to see he’s hitting the road this summer off the back of his latest single release “Closure.”

If you need more soul in your life, you won’t be disappointed with these shows, featuring Josue backed up by his band The Soulbenders.

20 January 2016 – Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
21 January 2016 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
22 January 2016 – Brooklyn Standard, Brisbane
23 January 2016 – Treehouse on Belongil, Byron Bay
24 January 2016 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tonight Alive Show Softer Side

I just love hearing a rock band strip things back. So while I appreciate Tonight Alive’s rebellious, rocking studio version of their single “Drive,” I actually prefer this acoustic version recorded for Triple M.

I think this take brings those lyrics about breaking away from society’s expectations and expressing your own truth. It also really lets you appreciate Jenna McDougall’s stellar voice. You can hear that in person when Tonight Alive embark on their single tour next year. After that Tonight Alive are heading to Europe, the UK, and the US, so these might be our last local shows for a while. Don’t say you haven’t been warned fans!

16 January 2016 – Unify Festival, Gippsland
17 January 2016 – Max Watts, Melbourne
21 January 2016 – The Triffid, Brisbane
29 January 2016 – Metro Theatre, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Return to Form with “Everyone’s Giving Up”

I fell in love with Saskwatch when they first hit the music scene, but I fell out of love with them somewhere along the way. While the last couple of singles haven’t revved me, I think they’re back to their best with their latest single “Everyone’s Giving Up.”

It’s a much mellower sound from this funky Melbourne act than I’ve come to expect, but I appreciate it. With all those brassy notes it reminds me a little of something Prince might slip in to his set. “Everyone’s Giving Up” comes from Saskwatch’s third studio album Sorry I Let It Come Between Us, which is slated for release next year.

Saskwatch will support its release with the following shows just about everywhere in 2016.

9 January 2016 – Summer Of Soul Festival @ Mossvale Park, Berrys Creek
21 January 2016 – Australian Open Sessions @ Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Melbourne
23 January 2016 – Ozfest @ Miami Tavern, Gold Coast
24 January 2016 – Ozfest @ Waterfront Hotel, Sunshine Coast
4 February 2016 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
5 February 2016 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Dunsborough
6 February 2016 – Summerset Arts Festival, Carine Open Space, Carine
7 February 2016 – Mojos, Fremantle
25 February 2016 – UC Refectory, Canberra
2 March 2016 – Studio Six, Sutherland
3 March 2016 – The Basement, Sydney
4 March 2016 – Baroque, Katoomba
5 March 2016 – Small Ballroom, Newcastle
6 March 2016 – 5 Church Street, Bellingen
12 March 2016 – The Triffid, Brisbane
18 March 2016 – The Jack, Cairns
19 March 2016 – Street Party, Townsville
20 March 2016 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
26 March 2016 – Fat Controller, Adelaide
1 April 2016 – Club 54, Launceston
2 April 2016 – Republic Bar, Hobart
6 April 2016 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
7 April 2016 – Workers Club, Geelong
8 April 2016 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
9 April 2016 – Theatre Royale, Castlemaine
14 April 2016 – The Loft, Warrnambool
15 April 2016 – The Grand Hotel, Mornington
16 April 2016 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
29 April 2016 – The Gap View, Alice Springs
30 April 2016 – The Railway Club, Darwin