Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Little Odessa Announce Brisbane Residency

Fresh from their acclaimed sets at the Byron Bay’s Falls Festival, Little Odessa is preparing to entertain fans in their hometown. The up and coming rock act will take up residency at Brisbane’s Black Bear Lodge to promote their latest single “All Night.” I love this song’s energy, and I have a feeling it’s going to sound even better in the flesh.

Fans will enjoy two sets from Little Odessa on January 17th, 24th, and 31st. See them at the Black Bear Lodge every Friday from 9 pm.

Image used with permission from Mucho Bravado

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Boy & Bear Announce Regional Dates

So many bands focus on the capitals, so it’s refreshing to see Boy & Bear heading out to regional centres for their next tour. After conquering Europe and America, the lads will return home to play regional towns in almost every state and territory in the country.

“This will be the most extensive regional tour the band has done and we are very much looking forward to it,” gushed the band’s singer-songwriter Dave Hosking.  “We love the idea of playing to new people in new and exciting parts of the country.”

The 30-date regional run will celebrate the recent release of “Harlequin Dream,” the title track from their most recent album. I love the clip, which reminds us of the beauty of the Philippines. It was shot in Palawan just two weeks before Typhoon Haiyan hit. YouTube assures us that the people and locations we see in the clips are safe, as they were sheltered by the surrounding mountains, but it does offer links to Unicef, Oxfam, Australian Red Cross, and Save the Children Australia to make it easier to give to the cause.

Boy & Bear will play the following regional shows between April and May.

13 April 2014 – West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots @ Fremantle Park, Perth
16 April 2014 – Mackay Entertainment Centre, Mackay (ALL AGES)
17 April 2014 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
19 April 2014 – Brothers, Cairns (15+ must be accompanied by adult)
20 April 2014 – The Venue, Townsville
22 April 2014 – Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton (ALL AGES)
23 April 2014 – Harvey Road Tavern, Gladstone
24 April 2014 – Sugarland Tavern, Bundaberg
26 April 2014 – Sunshine Coast Function Centre, Caloundra
27 April 2014 – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba (ALL AGES)
30 April 2014 – Divers Tavern, Broome
2 May 2014 – Discovery, Darwin
8 May 2014 – Black Swan Hotel, Bendigo
9 May 2014 – Regent Cinema, Ballarat (ALL AGES)
10 May 2014 – Deakin’s Costa Hall, Geelong (ALL AGES)
11 May 2014 – Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool (ALL AGES)
14 May 2014 – Lismore Workers Club, Lismore
15 May 2014 – C.ex Club, Coffs Harbour
16 May – Panthers, Port Macquarie
17 May – Panthers, Newcastle (ALL AGES)
18 May 2014 – Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay
21 May 2014 – The Crow Bar @ CSU, Wagga (STUDENT ONLY EVENT)
22 May 2014 – Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra (ALL AGES)
23 May 2014 – ANU Bar, Canberra
24 May 2014 – Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury (ALL AGES)
25 May 2014 – Eastbank Centre, Shepparton (ALL AGES)
28 May 2014 – West Tamworth Leagues Club, Tamworth
29 May 2014 – Charles Sturt University, Bathurst
30 May 2014 – Orange Ex Services Club, Orange
31 May 2014 – Dubbo Ex Services Club, Dubbo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dirty Jeans Celebrates Aussie Alternative Rock Music

Australia’s rich rock history is celebrated with the release of Dirty Jeans: The Rise of Australian Alternative Rock.

The compilation concentrates on the years between 1988 and 2002, an iconic period which brought us the likes of The Vines, The Living End, Spiderbait, Magic Dirt, Grinspoon, Frenzal Rhomb, You Am I, and heaps more. They’re all represented in this stellar album, which features liner notes Adalita and Au-go-go Records founder Bruce Milne.

If you feel you need a post-Christmas gift, you can find Dirty Jeans: The Rise of Australian Alternative Rock in stores on January 17.

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

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

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

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!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

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

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

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.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

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

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

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