Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jeff the Brotherhood Announce Big Day Out Sideshows

Nashville wunderkinds Jeff the Brotherhood will complement their appearances at the Big Day Out next year with a string of sideshows.

Jeff the Brotherhood have honed their live performances with more than 400 shows in the last two years. These sideshows give fans an opportunity to catch the pair playing sounds from their new album Hypnotic Nights in some of Australia’s most beloved nightspots. The intimate atmosphere those venues afford should make them much more tempting than the festival dates.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning, September 21, for the following Jeff the Brotherhood sideshows.

17 January 2013 – The Standard, Sydney
19 January 2013 – Great Northern, Byron Bay
23 January 2013 – Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine
24 January 2013 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
27 January 2013 – Mojo’s, Fremantle

Image used with permission from Shows in Space Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Voice’s Brittany Cairns Joins Jake Nauta on New Single

Blue Mountains boy Jake Nauta has teamed up with The Voice contestant Brittany Cairns for the cruisy new single “Grandpa Song.”

The clip takes us into Jake’s Blue Mountains studio, and captures the spontaneous magic that happens when these two beautiful voices combine. The gentle sweetness of both artists works so perfectly with this upbeat, summery tune.

“Grandpa Song” is the second single from Jake’s debut album Here With You. He’ll play it and more of his pop-folk numbers at Sydney’s Hybernian House on September 22.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gypsy & The Cat Announce Album Tour

It’s been a bit quiet on the Gypsy & The Cat front, but the Melbourne duo are almost ready to unleash the follow-up to their smash hit Gilgamesh.

The Late Blue promises to build on the unique soundscapes the band created on their debut. There are dreamy ballads, driving rock numbers, and synth-laden floor fillers. It’s also the first to be released through Gypsy & The Cat’s own label, Alsatian Music.

The Late Blue will hit record stores on October 19, which should give fans just enough time to become familiar with the songs before Gypsy & The Cat kicks off their national tour. These shows are the only opportunities to see this in demand band on Aussie soil this year. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, September 21, for the following dates.

26 October 2012 – The Palace Theatre, Melbourne
1 November 2012 – HQ, Adelaide
2 November 2012 – Capitol, Perth
8 November 2012 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
10 November 2012 – Hi-Fi Brisbane

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Big Names To Play 2013 Bluesfest

The first of four Bluesfest line-up announcements has been released, and already it’s enough to make me salivate. The bill includes big international names like Ben Harper, Santana, Iggy and the Stooges, Chris Isaak, the Steve Miller Band, Wilco, Bonnie Raitt, and Glen Hansard and the Frames.

We haven’t heard about any of the local acts who’ll play, but no doubt they’ll come in some of the next announcements. This current crop is definitely enough to whet my appetite!

Bluesfest will take over Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm in Byron Shire from March 28 to April 1. Tickets are on sale now through the Bluesfest website. Are you excited?

Image source: Festival Eurockeennes @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Beards Go Viral

The Beards are taking the internet by storm with the video for their latest single “Got Me a Beard.” In just a week the fun animated music video’s notched up more than 150, 000 views on YouTube!

The clip brings to life the band’s utopian vision of a world where beards and the men who wear them proudly rise up against their clean shaven peers!

This music video is really fun stuff, and it should bring a few more folks to The Beards’ End of the World (For Beardless People) shows, which kick off next week. Have you stopped shaving in readiness lads?

28 September 2012 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
29 & 30 September 2012 – Caloundra Music Festival, Caloundra
4 October 2012 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
5 October 2012 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
6 October 2012 – The HiFi, Brisbane
10 October 2012 – The Club, Bundaberg
11 October 2012 – Great Western Hotel, Rockhampton
12 October 2012 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
13 October 2012 – JCU Unibar, Townsville
14 October 2012 – The Jack, Cairns
24 October 2012 – Bar On The Hill, Newcastle
25 October 2012 – UniBar, Wollongong
26 October 2012 – Baroque Bar, Katoomba
27 October 2012 – Beachcomber Hotel, Toukley
1 November 2012 – ANU, Canberra
2 November 2012 – The Metro, Sydney
3 November 2012 – The HiFi, Melbourne
15 November 2012 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
16 November 2012 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
17 November 2012 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth
18 November 2012 – Indi Bar, Scarborough Beach
22 November 2012 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
23 & 24 November 2012 – Queenscliff Festival
29 November 2012 – Royal Oak, Launceston
30 November 2012 – Republic Bar, Hobart
1 & 2 December 2012 – Jive, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Split Seconds Extend Album Launch Tour

Split Seconds are having so much fun on their You’ll Turn In To Me album launch tour, they’ve announced a brand new batch of dates. The Perth born act will continue playing around the country through September, October, and November.

The new collection of shows includes support slots for local band Oh Mercy and former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus with his new outfit The Jicks, as well as appearances at Wave Rock Weekender and a star-studded show at Perth Zoo.

Here are all the new places you can see this hard-working Aussie act rocking out!

21 September 2012 – The Zoo, Brisbane (supporting Oh Mercy)
22 September 2012 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi (supporting Oh Mercy)
28 September 2012 – The Rosemount, Perth (supporting Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks)
29 September 2012 – Wave Rock Weekender, Hyden
5 October 2012 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle (supporting Oh Mercy)
6 October 2012 – The Bakery, Perth (supporting Oh Mercy)
12 October 2012 – The Loft, Warrnambool (supporting Oh Mercy)
13 October 2012 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat (supporting Oh Mercy)
19 October 2012 – The Bended Elbow Geelong (supporting Oh Mercy)
25 October 2012 – Hi-Fi, Melbourne (supporting Oh Mercy)
17 November 2012 – Perth Zoo, Perth (with Gurrumul and Angus Stone)

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Never Ever Rock Out with “Breathe”

Supporting Simple Plan didn’t just put The Never Ever in front of some of the biggest crowds of their career. It also led to a chance meeting with Pete from Epik Films, the man the band enlisted to direct and produce the music video for their new single “Breathe.”

The clip is a sophisticated and darkly dramatic accompaniment for the title track from The Never Ever’s most recent album. The band worked closely with Pete to see their vision, realised during a Melbourne traffic jam, come to life. Are you impressed with what you see?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Darren Percival @ Lizotte’s, Kincumber – 15 September 2012

I watched with interest as Darren Percival won the hearts of the nation on The Voice. While many Aussies might not have known his name before the reality competition, I’d long admired his soulful voice and joyous delivery when he shared the stage with artists like Jimmy Barnes and James Morrison. When he took out second place, I wondered whether the days of seeing Darren play in small venues may be behind me. However it seems Darren’s in no hurry to trade up to stadiums. When it came to choosing a venue for the start of his Happy Home tour, he couldn’t resist selecting one of the smallest of them all: Lizotte’s.

Darren could easily fill much larger places. His two shows at the original Lizotte’s sold out months ago. And he will graduate to greater halls when he plays the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne’s Crown Casino in the coming weeks. But clearly there’s a big part of Darren that revels in the intimacy a small venue can provide. He chatted easily to the enthralled crowd between songs, and played a generous two-hour set without the aid of a support act.

The mix of originals, covers performed on The Voice, and some other favourite numbers ensured the set never dragged. A display of Darren’s famous looping prowess was a real highlight, as was a sweet song to his unborn child played on ukulele. Darren’s power isn’t just about musical tricks and familiar songs though. The often remarked upon joy that radiated from Darren as he performed on The Voice was even more palpable in the flesh. Despite a trying day, I could feel myself smiling through the entire set. His resonant voice is flawless, but Darren’s charisma is what really draws you in and keeps you there.

After such a lengthy set many artists would have felt they’d given all they could give, but not Darren. He was still happily signing autographs and posing for photographs when fatigue got the best of me. He might be one of the hottest acts in the Australian music industry at the moment, but it’s refreshing to see Darren’s got his feet planted firmly on the ground.

Image source: Stephen Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Maxi Gives EP Sneak Peek

After impressing with her debut single “In a Little While,” Melbourne songbird Maxi is preparing to inundate us with some new tunes. On September 28 she’ll release her self-titled debut EP and a brand new single “From the Start.”

You don’t have to wait that long to hear the single though. Maxi’s allowed me to give you all the first listen of the new track, which is every bit as powerful as the last. I love her old style blend of funk and soul, her powerful vocals, and those big brassy chords.

Hopefully this will get you all warmed up for the EP, which was the result of a summer spent locked away with fledgling producer and muso Joel Witenberg. They might have missed the sunshine, but there’s a real warmth to the songs I’ve heard that has me primed for more.

If you like what you hear make sure you grab Maxi and “From the Start” when they drop on September 28. Maxi will also launch the EP for her home town fans at The Workers Club on October 18.

Image used with permission from Maxi

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Cold and Need’s Jared Daly

After making appearances at some of Australia’s hottest festivals and supporting some of the country’s best bands, Queensland’s Cold and Need are starting to build some serious buzz. I recently caught up with the band’s drummer Jared Daly to chat about their new EP Colours and Shapes and their upcoming shows.

You’re still making a name for yourself outside Queensland, so what do we all need to know about Cold and Need?
Cold and Need are a 4-piece Brisbane rock band. Our songs are loud and fun, we want you to clap and sing along at our shows.

You’ve just released your second EP Colours and Shapes. What can you tell me about it?
Colours and Shapes was definitely our most focused effort at a release. We spent countless hours/months demo-ing, e-mailing tracks across states, completely pulling material apart then re-working, changing sounds, trying new gear. At one point our producer Simon Leach actually told me to, “put that fricken China symbol away and never bring it back out”!  So that really shows we tried our hardest to explore as many different possibilities, while slowly driving Tristan Hoogland, our Brisbane engineer/producer, crazy.

The EP features the single “Kaleidoscope.” What was it about that song that made you want to release it?
“Kaleidoscope” was a late inclusion in the EP. We had already written and trialled the other tracks written for the new EP live, and at one rehearsal something just clicked and we wrote “Kaleidoscope” within a two-hour period, recorded it on an iPhone and e-mailed it to Simon in Melbourne to be critiqued. We were very focused on writing a tune with a strong guitar line as it was something that we thought we hadn’t focused enough on in the past, so that was a big factor in us releasing it as the first single.

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