Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Leanne Tennant Gets Dark with “Black Snake Calls”

Cairns songstress Leanne Tennant has really impressed me with her sultry, bluesy new single “Black Snake Calls.” The dark video is the perfect accompaniment for this moody folk number. The track comes from Leanne’s debut album Pull Up Your Britches, which is in stores now.

Leanne will showcase songs from that record when she takes her “Black Snake” tour around the country. It kicks off in Brisbane tomorrow night before stopping by the Tamworth Country Music Festival and a string of top venues across New South Wales.

16 January 2015 – Habitat, West End, Brisbane
22 January 2015 – Addami Espresso, Tamworth
22 January 2015 – Fanzone Stage, Tamworth
23 January 2015 – The Pub, Tamworth (with Bill Chambers)
23 January 2015 – “Footstomp Music Party” @ Jakes Place, Tamworth
24 January 2015 – RB Sellers HQ Stage, Tamworth
25 January 2015 – The Dag, Nundle
26 January 2015 – Petersham Bowls Club, Petersham
27 January 2015 – The Record Crate, Glebe

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Young Lions Back and Better with Blue Isla

Young Lions burst out of the gate with their debut album Burn in early 2013. Now two years later, with a bit more experience under their belt, the Brisbane five-piece are set to do it all again with the release of their sophomore effort Blue Isla.

“Burn was a record full of anger,” says bassist Morgan Castle. “‘Blue Isla’ is a huge step up for us. The record is one of beauty and maturity. Everything you’ve come to love about Young Lions – Passion. Truth. Relevancy. It’s in this record. We’ve matured a lot and so has our music.”

It’s a big call, but the lads seem to be delivering with the release of the album’s lead single “When Will We Be Free?” It’s a soaring, epic number about breaking out of the nine-to-five grind and exploring the possibilities.

Blue Isla hits stores on January 27. Young Lions will support its release with the following shows.

14 February 2015 – The Brightside, Brisbane (18+)
15 February 2015 – Acoustic Session @ Sabotage, Brisbane (18+)
19 February 2015 – Hot Damn @ The Exchange Hotel, Sydney (18+)
20 February 2015 – Tattersalls Hotel, Penrith (18+)
28 February 2015 – Bang @ The Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne (18+)
5 March 2015 – Last Night, Perth (18+)
6 March 2015 – YMCA HQ, Leederville (ALL AGES)
7 March 2015 – Babushka, Perth (18+)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jordie Lane Comes Home for National Tour

It’s been 18 long months since Jordie Lane toured this fair country, but he’s about to reward fans for their patience. Jordie’s certainly not skimping, with a 27-date run of shows including appearances at leading festivals including the Port Fairy Folk Festival and Nannup Music Festival.

These shows will see Jordie performing alongside Clare Reynolds, who has become a regular part of his shows after the past couple of years. You can get a little taste of the magic they create watching this performance of “Feet Fall” recorded at the Melbourne Folk Club.

Expect more of that magic at the following shows.

27 February 2015 – Mojo’s, Fremantle
28 February – 2 March 2015 – Nannup Music Festival, Nannup
6-9 March 6th 2015 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy
10 March 2015 – Ten Days On The Island Festival, Hobart
11 March 2015 – The Melbourne Folk Club, Melbourne (In Conversation with James Fahy)
13–15 March 2015 – Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba
26 March 2015 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
27 March 2015 – Django Bar, Sydney
28 March 2015 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide
10-12 April 2015 – Fairbridge Folk Festival, Fairbridge
17 April 2015 – The Street Theatre, Canberra
18 & 19 April 2015 – The Toff In Town, Melbourne
22 April 2015 – Ararat Live, Ararat
23 April 2015 – Beav’s Bar, Geelong
24-26 April 2015 – Mt Beauty Music Festival, Mt Beauty

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Wonderful Lake Street Dive Play Festivals & Headlining Gigs

Welcome back to Sounds of Oz! I didn’t intend to have a break from posting this year. I’d actually queued up a bunch of posts that went over the Christmas period so I thought I could sneak a few days off without anyone noticing. Sadly I underestimated the way that I’d get hit with other work the moment that I got back to the desk. Thankfully I did enjoy a little time away from the computer and having fun in the real world. And now I’m back, ready to launch myself into all that is good and right with the local music scene.

This seems to be a year where Australians with their ear to the ground are going to be treated to some performances by super talented international who’ve yet to hit the mainstream here. I wrote about upcoming shows from Conor Oberst and Sharon van Etten last year, and now I can add gigs from Lake Street Dive to my wishlist. These Bostonions were playing tiny gigs just 12 months ago but after appearances on The Colbert Report, David Letterman, Ellen, and Conan they’ve hit the big time. Australia still hasn’t cottoned on to their brilliance, but that means people in the know are in for some super intimate shows along with some choice appearances and some of our more left-of-centre festivals.

See them at the following shows or wish that you did!

21 February 2015 – SummerSalt Festival, Melbourne
24 & 25 February 2015 – Opera Bar, Sydney (FREE)
27 February 2015 – Enlighten Festival, Canberra
28 February 2015 – Secret Garden Festival, Sydney
3 March 2015 – Perth Festival, Perth
4 March 2014 – Perth Festival, Albany
6 March 2015 – Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan
7 & 8 March 2015 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy
9 March 2015 – WOMADelaide, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Frenzal Rhomb, Saskwatch, The Smith Street Band & More Play Australia Day Fundraisers

Now that those New Year shenanigans are behind us, we can start looking forward to the next big public holiday, right? Melbournians have their plans sorted with the fifth annual Australia Day weekend fundraiser concerts.

The first show, on January 25, will see Frenzal Rhomb, Saskwatch, Hoodlum Shouts, Hawaiian Islands, Rob Muinos, Have/Hold, Outright, and heaps more take the stage at Footscray’s Reverence Hotel. Then on January 26 The Smith Street Band, The Bennies, MC Joeslistics, Curse Ov Dialect, Fear Like Us, and others will play The Corner Hotel. These events look to fight ignorance, celebrate diversity, and rage against the negative attitudes so often exhibited on our national day.

The annual Australia Day weekend fundraisers have so far raised more than $25,000 for worthy charities. This year all profits will be shared amongst The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, The Refugee Council, and Oxfam.

Image source: The Global Panorama @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

See Ya 2014!

So here it is, my last post for 2014. Time for me to grab a glass of champers and get the party started away from my computer. But I felt it was fitting to leave you with a little something. So in case you missed it when it was on Triple J recently, here is the final Like a Version for the year, Bluejuice and a host of special guests (including Ngaiire, Elana Stone, the guys from The Griswolds, and Andy Bull) covering “End of the Road.” It’s amazing. Farewell 2014 and bring on 2015!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

2014: A Year in Review

It’s that time again folks, time to look back on the year that was before ringing in the new one. I glanced back over my similar entry for 2013 and realised that 2014 has been pretty kind to me. No deaths in the family, relatively little drama, just plugging along. I rediscovered roller-skating and discovered that I am capable of doing some home repairs, even if I leave the heavy lifting to my husband and dad.) And of course there was music, my constant in an ever-changing world. Here’s the best of 2013 as I saw it.

Top 10 Aussie Albums/EPs

1. All But the Sun – Winterbourne
2. David Campbell Sings John Bucchino – David Campbell & John Bucchino
3. Demokracy – Citizen Kay
4. Time Has Come – 1200 Techniques
5. Local Football – Sleepy Dreamers
6. First Light – The Twoks
7. Acoustic Anniversary Album – Thirsty Merc
8. Echoes in the Aviary – Jane Tyrell
9. Sucker – Pluto Jonze
10. Understood – Baychimo Kin

Top 10 Aussie Tours

1. John Mayer
2. Tori Amos
3. Melanie Safka
4. Glen Hansard
5. Tim Freedman Does Nilsson
6. Queen & Adam Lambert
7. Day on the Green 100th Anniversary
8. John Farnham and Lionel Richie
9. Josh Pyke
10. Thirsty Merc

What did you love in 2014?

Image source: Rob & Jules @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eleanor Dunlop Gets me “Rollin’ On”

I love the Christmas holiday break, but I hate the things that I miss while everything shuts down. I’ve resorted to asking my husband random questions to make up for the lack of pub trivia in our lives, and I’ve had to take to the streets while I’m waiting for my Tuesday RollerFit classes to resume. My bruised and battered knees are not impressed with the change, and I’m yet to find an area large enough for me to practice my tricks, but it will have to do.

One advantage that street skating does have is that I can program my own playlist. One that’s definitely made the cut is “Rollin’ On” by Sydney songstress Eleanor Dunlop. While I’m sure she didn’t write the song with roller skating in mind, it’s working for me!

“Rollin’ On is about not wanting a good thing to end. Similar to when you’re at a party or out with someone really great and you don’t ever want that moment to end,” Eleanor explained. “When I was writing it I was in need of some motivation and this song was a kind of kick up the butt for me. Dancing and moving helps motivate me so I was half writing half dancing – it got the song-writing ball rolling again for me.”

This is our first taste of Eleanor’s sophomore EP, which will be released sometime next year. It’s much rockier and more danceable than the piano-driven numbers we used to hear from her. What do you think of the change?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bec Laughton Says Goodbye to Australia

With killer tunes like “Heartbreak (Number One)” in her repertoire and Grammy Award winner Michael League (Snarky Puppy) in her corner, it was probably just a matter of time before we lost Brisbane girl Bec Laughton to the bright lights of the United States. Bec has offers on the table from producers in New York and Los Angeles, so she’s packing up her stuff and relocating to pursue R & B on the big stage.

Before she does though, Bec will say au revoir with a national tour all around the country. There’s no telling when she’ll be back, so make sure you don’t miss these farewell gigs.

29 January 2015 – Hugs & Kisses, Melbourne
31 January 2015 – The Motor Room, Brisbane
6 February 2015 – Price of Wales, Bunbury
7 February 2015 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
8 February 2015 – Four5Nine, Perth
12 February 2015 – Brighton Up, Sydney

Image used with permission from Mucho Bravado

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sheppard Make me “Smile” with New Single Release

Sheppard has made us all smile this year, so it’s only fitting that their final single release of 2014 is called “Smile.” It’s a summery, frothy, poppy little number that should warm even the hardest heart. Its simple romantic lyrics aren’t going to set the world on fire, but the song’s so endearing that you’d have to be a real misery guts to hate it.

Does this song make you smile?