Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paul Dempsey Headlines Glenelg’s New Blues Festival

Paul Dempsey will headline Follow the Sun Festival, a brand new festival in the picturesque South Australian town of Glenelg. The one-day blues and roots event will also feature performances by Bonjah, Dallas Frasca, Benjalu, Lyall Moloney, and more.

Event organisers are aiming to create a backyard BBQ vibe with a relaxed atmosphere, local wines, and first class food.

“Follow The Sun festival will be a great opportunity to showcase Glenelg. Some outstanding Aussie music talent and a few drinks with your mates. What could be better?” explained event founder David Elmes. “It will almost be like a party in your own backyard. I am really excited for Follow The Sun and to create something unique for the bay.”

Tickets are available from Oztix now.

Image used with permission from 123 Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Daniel Lee Kendall Weaves a Spell

Don’t be alarmed by the title of Daniel Lee Kendall’s debut album Daniel Lee Kendall is Dead. The Central Coast singer-songwriter is very much alive and making me fall in love with his music all over again.

“Under a Spell” is the first single lifted from the album, a romantic number which is a bit more layered and atmospheric than his previous releases. Perhaps it’s a result of Daniel changing up his approach to songwriting. He normally writes with his message in mind, but this time it was all about creating lyrics to suit a melody he couldn’t shake. The single shows real growth, although it’s not so dramatically different that it risks alienating fans.

Daniel Lee Kendall is Dead hits stores on September 12.

Image used with permission from Create/Control

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Strictly Ballroom The Musical @ Lyric Theatre, Sydney – 1 August 2014

I’m not the type who enerally returns to the movie theatre time and time again to see a film, but as a kid in the 90s I remember doing that with Strictly Ballroom. It was the first time I’d seen a movie more than once on its release, but I ended up going three times: with my school friends, with my parents, and finally with my grandmother. I might have been getting desperate to find someone else who hadn’t seen it at that point. It came at an important part of my life. I was just beginning to get an idea of what love was, and I was a passionate dancer. Perhaps I saw a little of myself in Fran, the not-so-popular girl who could get under the dashing Scott Hastings’ skin. I was also dazzled by the colour and artistry. We hadn’t seen Baz Luhrmann films before, so his vision was something brand new.

For some reason I’d resisted seeing the musical at Star City, or The Star as I believe it’s called now, for a while. Maybe I was content to preserve the memory I have of that film. However, the lure of two-for-one tickets proved too great and I found myself amongst the crowd early this month.

I’m so glad I took a chance on this. In putting the film in stage, Baz has had a chance to play with his first film again. Where songs simply facilitated the dance on the screen, they came to the fore in this new production. New numbers were added and were largely successful, with clever lyrics and arrangements. The set was so clever, effortlessly changing from a dance studio to the back of Fran’s house to the colourful dance competitions. The production steered away from big names, and they performed admirably. Thomas Lacey didn’t have the same raw charisma as Paul Mercurio, but he was likeable enough. When I’d seen the stills of Phoebe Panaretos I thought perhaps she was too beautiful to play Fran, but she was suitably frumped up early which made her transformation even more striking. I was more impressed with the supporting players though. Fernando Riva as Fran’s father had a raspy voice to die for and killer flamenco moves and Rohan Browne as the hilariously sloshed Ken Railings. It didn’t deviate too much from the movie, but there was just enough here to make things feel all brand new.

Strictly Ballroom the Musical wasn’t perfect, but it managed to capture the essence of the film. Above all it was fun, a cacophony of music, tulle, and colour. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cupidfalls & Pulse Mavens Celebrate Spring Break

We don’t really do spring break the way the Americans do, but Perth’s pop-punk/hardcore act Cupidfalls and Sydney’s melodic hardcore band Pulse Mavens hope to get us into the spirit anyway with their double-header Spring Break tour.

These shows are sure to rock hard with twice the talent of your standard gigs. They’re also a great opportunity for fans of these bands and newcomers to their music to discover some brand new sounds. Cupidfalls are celebrating the recent release of their debut album Bay View and looking forward to giving East Coast music lovers a taste of their new sound. Pulse Mavens are fairly new to the music game, but the female-fronted outfit has been wowing fans with their debut EP Fight Back.

Catch these two exciting acts at the following shows.


28 August 2014 – Hot Damn, Sydney (18+)
30 August 2014 – Cage, Picton (All Ages – Cupidfalls only)
3 September 2014 – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (18+)
4 September 2014 – The Bull and Bush, Baulkham Hills (18+)
5 September 2014 – Rad Bar, Wollongong (18+)
6 September 2014 – Hotel Gearin, Katoomba (18+)

Image used with permission from RAWR Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Angus and Julia Stone on Top of ARIA Albums Charts

We’ve got two new number ones this week, and one of them is from our very own Angus and Julia Stone. The beloved brother-sister team have claimed the top spot with their self-titled album, their third LP and second number one album.

It’s an all-Aussie podium, with local acts also claiming the second and third slots. At number two we’ve got Sydney hip hop act One Day with their debut album Mainline. They’ve pipped Sticky Fingers, who’ve improved on the highest position of their debut album by a whopping 36 places with the follow-up, Land of Pleasure.

5 Seconds of Summer are also going great guns with their self-titled debut. It sits at number eight this week. Sheppard round out the top ten Bombs Away.

Sadly we don’t have any Aussie singles in the top ten this week. With 5 Seconds of Summer on the way up with “Amnesia,” hopefully that changes soon.

Click below for this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Angus and Julia Stone on Top of ARIA Albums Charts” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kingswood Ready New Album

Melbourne indie-rock gods Kingswood are preparing to unleash a brand new album on the masses. Microscopic Wars will hit stores on August 22.

The latest cut to whet our appetites is “I Can Feel That You Don’t Love Me,” a bluesy ballad that drips Southern cool. Perhaps that’s fitting as Kingswood recorded it at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. It also sees guitarist Alex Laska stepping up to the microphone for the first time.

Kingswood will celebrate the release of Microscopic Wars with shows just about everywhere.

20 August 2014 – Pirie & Co Social Club, Adelaide
21 August 2014 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
22 August 2014 – The Capital, Perth
23 August 2014 – North West Festival, Port Hedland
26 August 2014 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
29 August 2014 – Howler, Melbourne
3 September 2014 – Kooroora Hotel, Mt Buller
4 September 2014 – Swindlers Bar, Mt Hotham
5 September 2014 – The Union Club Hotel, Wagga Wagga
6 September 2014 – The Armidale Club, Armidale
12 September 2014 – Ric’s Big Backyard @ Ric’s Bar, Brisbane
13 September 2014 – Originals Music Festival, Noosa
17 September 2014 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
18 September 2014 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
19 September 2014 – Waves, Wollongong
20 September 2014 – Collector Hotel, Parramatta
25 September 2014 – ANU Bar, Canberra
26 September 2014 – Area Hotel, Griffith
17 October 2014 – The Karova Lounge, Ballarat
18 October 2014 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
23 October 2014 – The Loft, Warrnambool
24 October 2014 – Unibar, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Dew Process

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kasey Chambers Does Things Differently with Bittersweet

Kasey Chambers is doing things a little differently on her tenth album. Bittersweet is her first solo record in four years, and the first she’ll create without her long-time producer and manager, brother Nash Chambers, at the helm. Instead she worked with Nick DiDia, the man behind Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and Powderfinger albums, at Studio 301 in Byron Bay.

“I wanted to have an experience making a record that I had never had before. I wanted to challenge myself and I wanted to be excited,” she explained.

If the first single “Wheelbarrow” is any indication, the gamble’s paid off. It’s so raw and ballsy. However, an album with the talent Kasey’s assembled couldn’t possibly sound bar. Her studio band features Powderfinger’s Bernard Fanning on acoustic guitar, Ashleigh Dallas on banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and backing vocals, and Dan Kelly on electric and acoustic guitars and backing vocals, to name just a few.

Bittersweet will hit stores on August 29. Kasey will play the following shows to celebrate its release.

30 August 2014 – Gympie Music Muster, Gympie
2 September 2014 – Lefties Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane
3 September 2014 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
4 September 2014 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Apes Cheer Me Up with “Pull the Trigger”

Like so many Aussies, I’m waging war with winter and the constant colds it brings. This weather is kicking me hard, and it feels like I no sooner get over one than another’s rearing its head. Thankfully there’s music to try to alleviate the funk. My ears are the only things that seem to be working right now, so if my stuffed up head and bleary eyes turn this post into gibberish I hope you understand.

Melbourne rockers Apes have released just the kind of thing I need to hear right now. “Pull the Trigger” upbeat and instantly accessible. You don’t have to work at all to get into it; it does all the heavy lifting. Songs like this are deceptively simple, but really, really clever.

Apes will spread their good vibes with two launch shows this week. See them at Sydney’s Brighton Up Bar on August 8 or Melbourne’s The Grace Darling on August 9.

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Owen Rabbit Turns Trash Into Treasure

I don’t know what Owen Rabbit’s dreamy, soulful single “Police Car” has to do with sirens and crims, but I like it. It’s so beautiful that I was shocked to hear that this electronic artist from Melbourne’s northern suburbs actually loves playing with rubbish. He uses old bottles, boxes, and anything he can make a sound from and pairs these organic tones with more traditional instruments. It’s just so clever.

It’ll be interesting to see whether Owen’s raiding the bins outside these venues for inspiration before the following single launch shows.

8 August 2014 – The Wesley Anne, Melbourne
9 August 2014 – Oxford Art Factory (Gallery Bar), Sydney
14 August 2014 – The Treehouse, Byron Bay
15 August 2014 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane
16 August 2014 – The Lass, Newcastle
21 August 2014 – The Bird, Perth

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Taylor Henderson On Top of Albums Charts

Sure it’s a little late in the week to be talking charts, but with Aussie acts claiming the number one and two spots on the albums charts I figured it was better late than never. Taylor Henderson proved he’s got real post-reality show staying power, clocking up his second number one with his sophomore album Burnt Letters.

That’s no mean feat, but when you consider that he beat out Sheppard for the top spot it’s doubly impressive. After all, Sheppard’s Bombs Away album has already spawned a pair of number ones in “Geronimo” and “Let Me Down Easy.” Perhaps the band will be able to claim that coveted spot next week to coincide with their national tour.

These new kids on the block have pushed some previous number ones down the charts. Last week’s chart topper, Sia, has fallen to number five with 1000 Forms of Fear. 5 Seconds of Summer have also dropped a couple of spots to number six with their self-titled album.

No Other Name, Hillsong’s latest effort, rounds out the Aussie top ten.

Justice Crew seem to be on the downwards slide with “Que Sera,” which is at number five this week. It’s now been on the charts for 11 weeks, and gone three-times platinum.

Another stayer, “Geronimo,” is at number nine 17 weeks after its release. Sheppard’s smash has also reached triple platinum status.

Click below for this week’s top tens.
Continue reading “Taylor Henderson On Top of Albums Charts” →