The Ten Tenors Do Broadway

One of Australia’s most respected vocal acts, The Ten Tenors, will celebrate classic musicals with their new tour, The Ten Tenors on Broadway. They’ll warm up in the United States before bringing the shows back to their home turf from May.

This is the Ten Tenors like you’ve never seen them before, putting their own spin on iconic tunes from Oklahoma, Jersey Boys, Wicked, Phantom the Opera, West Side Story, Miss Saigon, and heaps more. An all-female string section and orchestration from the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra will bring these showstoppers to a brand new level.

“The On Broadway show is the best example yet of what this group can deliver, and they are thrilled to be performing such powerful repertoire,” said their producer D-J Wendt. “I guarantee this live show will have audiences coming back for more.”

And with plenty of shows on the schedule, fans can do just that!

4 February 2014 – Chester Fritfz Auditorium, Grand Forks
5 February 2014 – The Sanford Center, Bermidji
7 February 2014 – Peoria Civic Center, Peoria
8 February 2014 – Sangamon Auditorium @ The University of Illinois, Springfield
13 February 2014 – Keller Auditorium, Portland
15 February 2014 – INB Performing Arts Center, Spokane
17 February 2014 – The Smith Center @ Reynolds Hall, Las Vegas
24 February 2014 – Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, Wickenburg
1 March 2014 – Arnold Hall Theater, Colorado Springs
5 March 2014 – Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Providence
8 & 15 March 2014 – Hanover Theater for the Performing Arts, Worcester
13 & 14 March 2014 – Stephens Auditorium @ Iowa State Center, Ames
20 March 2014 – Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham
22 March 2014 – Akoo Theater at Rosemont, Rosemont
30 March 2014 – Von Braun Center Concert Hall, Huntsville
22 April 2014 – Emens Auditorium @ Ball State University, Muncie
24 April 2014 – Luhrs Performing Arts Center @ Shippensburg University, Shippensburg
25 April 2014 – Community Theater @ Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, Morristown
29 April 2014 – Centre in the Square, Kitchener
18 & 19 May 2014 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
23-25 May 2014 – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
28-31 May 2014 – Sydney Theatre @ Walsh Bay, Sydney
5-7 June 2014 – Lyric Theatre @ QPAC, Brisbane
11-14 June 2014 – Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne
16-19 July 2014 – Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra
23-25 July 2014 – Theatre Royal, Hobart

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

The Bon Scotts’ Get Us Ready for the Weekend

With all the excitement of Christmas and New Year’s falling mid-week, weekends haven’t quite meant as much to me of late. I’ve been working sporadically across the break, but with my husband enjoying a couple of well-earned weeks off it’s felt like I’ve been enjoying one big weekend recently. However, the fact remains that the actual weekend is nearly upon us so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce you to The Bon Scotts’ latest single “The Weekend Bends.”

I love its brassy horn and mellow summer vibe, but I might just love the film clip even more than the song itself. Its colourful cast of quirky characters makes it pretty irresistible!

The Peninsula Picnic Sounds Incredible

I’m not really a festivals kind of person. I can’t think of anything worse than fighting through crowds, enduring a bunch of acts that only the cool kids like, and paying too much money for lukewarm beer. But the Peninsula Picnic has caught my attention. It sounds like my kind of festival, and I wish I was closer to the Mornington Peninsula so I could get along.

The Peninsula Picnic is all about three of my favorite things: good music, good food, and good wine. The musical line-up is stellar, with The Waifs, Paul Dempsey, The Pierce Brothers, Tinpan Orange, and Hayden Calnin all on the bill. Ian Curley, and the teams from Terre, Montalto, Pope Joan, The Long Table Restaurant, Dee’s Kitchen, DOC Mornington, and Terminus at Flinders Hotel will take care of the food.

The Peninsula Picnic hits the Mornington Racecourse on March 29. Tickets are on sale now from Ticketek.

Image used with permission from Secret Service Public Relations

Daylight Hours Spreads Good Vibes with “Perfect Everything”

I love a song that’s deep and meaningful, that moves me and makes me feel just what the artist did when they created it. But sometimes, I enjoy a nice big slice of throwaway pop. It’s a guilty pleasure that makes you feel good, even if it doesn’t have that rich nutritional value. “Perfect Everything” is the equivalent of Cadbury chocolate. It won’t fill you up, but this single from Melbourne band Daylight Hours feels pretty good going down.

If you love the likes of Hot Chelle Rae and Cobra Starship, I think you’re going to dig this.

The Superjesus Celebrate Australia Day with Three Big Shows

After celebrating the festive season, you’re probably feeling all partied out. However, you’ll recover soon enough and you’ll be looking for some way to ring in Australia Day. The Superjesus are helping you get organised with three big shows of the Australia Day long weekend.

The Superjesus have been working hard on new material since reforming early in last year, and they can’t wait to roadtest it for their loyal fans. They’ll get all patriotic at the following New South Wales shows.

24 January 2014 – Waves, Wollongong
25 January 2014 – Bateau Bay Hotel, Bateau Bay
26 January 2014 – Australia Day concert @ Garrison Point, Bankstown (FREE)

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

2013: A Year in Review

Another year is winding down, and we’re all looking forward to the next one. I’m not making any resolutions, because I figure I’ll have my hands full with house renovations and the concert plans already on the horizon. I’ll do my best to be nice to folks and remember to keep calm in a crisis, but there’ll be no grand promises. But before we break out the bubbles, let’s take a look back at 2013. I bought my house, but really that was one of the few sunny spots for my family. My mum had a hip replacement, my dad had a hernia operation, and we lost my last remaining grandma. But thankfully there was music to get us through. These were the best of 2013 as I saw it.

Top 10 Aussie Albums

1. The Magician’s Daughter – Mama Kin
2. Farewell Fitzroy – Busby Marou
3. Roadtrip Confessions – Buffalo Tales
4. Cold Lights on Curious Minds – Jordan Millar
5. Songbook – Katie Noonan
6. Chapter Seven – Damien Leith
7. In Rico Glaciers – Sons of Rico
8. Wake – David Bridie
9. A Tribute to Ray Charles – Darren Percival
10. Gofer Land – Mark Boulle and the Haba Dudes

Top 10 Aussie Tours
1. Idina Menzel
2. Keith Urban
3. Carole King
4. Counting Crows
5. Tony Hadley
6. Molly Ringwald
7. Jake Shimabukuro
8. Darren Percival
9. Mitchell Anderson
10. Richard Clapton

What did you love in 2013?

Image source: M Hooper @ Flickr

Jon Stevens’ The Dead Daisies Release “Washington”

Supergroup The Dead Daisies put all their starpower to good use with their latest single “Washington.” With Jon Stevens signature raspy vocals and some killer instrumental backing by Charley Drayton (The Divinyls), David Lowy (The Angels), Darryl Jones (The Rolling Stones), and Guns N Roses’ Richard Fortus and Dizzy Reed, the song sounds like an instant rock classic. Perhaps the international artists make it a little difficult to claim this band as our own, but when they sound this good I reckon we can bend the rules.

Already “Washington’s” earned critical acclaim in America, where the band recently shared stages with the likes of ZZ Top, Jane’s Addiction, Alice in Chains, and Aerosmith. They also headlined a show in Israel and toured the United Kingdom with The Black Star Riders. Aussies will get a chance to see what this band with a strong Australian core can do when The Dead Daisies release their debut album in early 2014 and play homegrown shows with Jimmy Barnes.

Image used with permission from Jaden Social

Sydonia Offers Album Teaser

Melbourne metal masters Sydonia have given fans an early taste of their long-awaited sophomore album Reality Kicks. The follow-up to 2006’s Given to Destroyers will hit stores and the digital marketplace on February 7.

Sydonia know their fans have been patient, and they’re rewarding their loyalty with the release of a CD/DVD combo pack. The DVD will also be available online via iTunes.

This video doesn’t give too much away, but we’ll learn a bit more when Sydonia releases the feature single on January 8. They’re also promising to tough both the east and west coast through May and June, so there’s plenty of excitement to come.

Lester the Fierce Readies EP

Melbourne abstract pop muso Lester the Fierce floored me with her track “Howl” a few months ago, so I’m thrilled to hear she’s officially launching her self-titled EP.

“The EP was a cathartic experience that I didn’t know I needed,” she explained. “Playing live has lit a fire under what I’ve written and has taken it to a new level in my own mind. I dream about it now. I’m swimming in this crazy world that music has made. This is the murky water I’ve been waiting for my whole life.”

You can get a taste of Lester the Fierce’s creative process and what the EP offers in part one of a documentary which takes you into the studio.

Lester the Fierce will launch her EP for hometown fans at The Worker’s Club on January 3, ably supported by local talents Eliza Hull and Al Parkinson.

Busby Marou Going Coastal for Summer Tour

Like so many other Aussies, Busby Marou are heading to the coast for their summer holidays. Happily for them, their sun-seeking is a tax write-off as they’ll be playing shows supporting their stellar sophomore album Farewell Fitzroy along the way.

British singer-songwriter and keen surfer Ryan Keen will join the Queenslanders for the run of shows in Australia’s best beachside locales.

Busby Marou’s Going Coastal tour will kick off in Bomaderry on January 2.

2 January 2014 – Bomaderry Hotel, Bomaderry
3 January 2014 – Captain’s @ Mariners, Bateman’s Bay
4 January 2014 – Milton Theatre, Milton
10 January 2014 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
11 January 2014 – The Loft, Warrnambool
12 January 2014 – The Westernport Hotel, San Remo
16 January 2014 – The Northern, Byron Bay
17 January 2014 – The Pacific Hotel, Yamba
18 January 2014 – The Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
19 January 2014 – Pier One @ Panthers, Port Macquarie

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music