Turn the volume all the way up to 11 and rock out with local outfit Precious Mess and their latest single “Rainbows”. Their big riff-heavy sound has really impressed me, especially considering Precious Mess are a duo. You don’t often hear two-piece outfits creating such a full, powerful sound, but guitarist and vocalist Peter “Reggie” Bowman and drummer and artist Nate Hill are nailing it.
Precious Mess came about when Reggie and Nate started discussing how music in the audio realm moves hand in hand with art in the visual world. Through this project, they aim to combine music and art in a fully immersive creative experience. “Rainbows” is one of 10 songs the pair wrote and recorded in the same room. Once they laid down the tracks, they started pushing paint around on canvases to represent each album tune. Check out the film clip for “Rainbows” to understand more about what this colourful two-piece is about.
Naarm/Melbourne rockers Among the Restless have really impressed me with their latest single “Running Away.” The band is a three-piece, but they’ve got such an epic sound that wouldn’t be out of place in any stadium. If you love acts like The 1975 and Nothing But Thieves, I know you’re going to crank the volume on this one.
“The lyrics are vulnerable and honest, recounting the emotions felt during parting ways with someone close to you, whilst regrettably feeling happy about the outcome,” Among the Restless explained. “Running Away has a sense of tragic hope that almost all of us have felt at some point in our lives.”
Among the Restless will close out the summer with shows all along the East Coast. Catch them at the following venues:
If think if you’re talented enough, you can write a great song about anything. Charlie Bedford proves my theory with his latest track “(The Out of Town) Laundromat Blues.” This tongue-in-cheek blues-rock number perfectly showcases his incredible guitar chops and knack for writing quirky lyrics.
“I’ve always listened to and enjoyed many different styles of music,” Charlie said. “Growing up there was a lot of the alt pop rock world playing – everything from ‘90s Australia over to David Bowie and The Clash. My real connection with blues music started from getting guitar lessons. My good friend Phil Smith took me under his wing at an early age and invited me to one of his jam nights in the Dandenong Ranges. It was there I discovered blues music, the rawness, grit and honesty. A local blues legend named Billy Kavanagh blew my mind and I was hooked. They told me about the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society and their Youth In Blues program – and it all snowballed from there, from trips to America through to representing Australian youth and starting my first bands – and so much more! I’m now finding through my original music a bizarre blend of all of these sounds and I’m loving it. The more of a mix focused into one song the better I reckon!”
Charlie will release his new album, Daydream, next month so expect to hear a lot more from this local bluesman really soon. If you’re around Victoria or outback New South Wales, you can also see him playing the following shows:
31 January 2025 – Music In The Hargreaves Mall, Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Bendigo (from 11 am) 1 February 2025 – American Hotel, Yorta Yorta Country/Echuca (from 4:30 pm) 15 February 2025 – Broken Hill Pub, Willyama/Broken Hill (time TBA) 28 February 2025 – American Hotel, Yorta Yorta Country/Echuca (from 5 pm) 14 March 2025 – American Hotel, Yorta Yorta Country/Echuca (from 5 pm)
Meeanjin/Brisbane-based indie-folk artist Nick Cunningham turns up the charm with his latest single “With You.” An intimate romantic number inspired by a new relationship, “With You” its authenticity cuts through.
“I wrote the finger-picked guitar riff to this song in a hotel room in Adelaide the morning after meeting my now partner,” Nick recalled. “We met while we were performing at an event in Adelaide of all places, and happened to live two suburbs apart in Brisbane. We had this trip away to the coast after a few dates and the lyrics really came from that.”
After releasing his No Flowers, No Rain EP last April, “With You” ushers in a new chapter for this local talent. I can’t wait to hear what 2025 holds in store for him.
Boorloo/Perth-based indie rock trio Fool Nelson are preparing to embark on their first headlining tour of the country on the back of their latest single “Don’t Feel Right.” Despite its name, listening to this ultra-catchy track feels so very right! It’s a cracker of a song that begs for repeat plays.
“‘Don’t Feel Right’ is about not taking the people around you for granted,” the lads from Fool Nelson said. “It touches on the idea of growing apart from friends and forgetting about how important certain people are in your life.”
After playing plenty of shows in 2024 supporting the likes of Ball Park Music, The Grogans, and Old Mervs, Fool Nelson are thrilled to finally take top billing.
“We’re super excited to be doing our first ever headline Australian tour finally. It’s a big effort to do coming from WA, but now that we’ve got a bit of a taste for it, we’re definitely keen to keep the ball rolling with playing as many shows around the country as we can!”
No doubt as the year progresses we’ll see these guys playing larger venues, so make sure you catch them at these more intimate shows while you can!
No one does a summer tune quite like Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast trio Bootleg Rascal. For their sexy new single “Drip Your Love,” they’ve enlisted the help of South Summit’s Zaya. The result is a smooth soul number that’s perfect for pool parties and summer road trips.
“It’s long, hot summer days spent by the pool sipping ice cold, extra strong, homemade margies,” Bootleg Rascal guitarist and dad-bod extraordinaire Jimmy Young said of the single’s inspiration. “It’s steamy nights spent with your new flame, picture the love scene from the OG Top Gun movie, ‘Take My Breath Away’ playing on cassette tape. It’s traffic jams spent sweating it out in your 1986 Toyota Corolla with busted A/C. It’s pretending to drown at the community pool just so you can get resuscitated by the hot lifeguard on duty, see Squints Poladoris in the ‘Sandlot Kids’. It’s trying to finish your Frosty Fruit before it melts in the blazing hot sun (aka impossible). It’s necking your first cold beer of the day so fast it feels like the liquid just evaporates before it even touches your lips. It’s slamming chip sambos at the beach, white bread/chicken salt/extra sauce. It’s hanging for summer to come around just to complain every day about how hot it is, then lament it when it’s all over for another year. It’s summer lovin’ just the way Olivia and John boy would want it.”
Bootleg Rascal will keep the summer vibes flowing after the season ends with their mini-festival, Booty Block Party. It’ll feature a revolving roster of guest artists including Dante Knows, Dear Sunday, Dizzy Days, and Tasman Keith. They’ve also got a few shows before that happens supporting Steel Pulse, so see them anywhere you can!
Australia Day is a tricky one for me. As an Australian music blog, I feel there’s an expectation that I acknowledge the day in some way. However, it’s been many years since I’ve felt like it’s a day of celebration. And I won’t until we inevitably change to date to one that allows all of us to celebrate together. So what does feel right is taking the time to elevate Indigenous voices, to amplify them at a time when it feels they’re not being heard.
In that spirit, I want to introduce you to “Brother,” a soulful single from Birdz & Fred Leone. Both men are proud representatives of the Ngulungbura clan of the Butchulla nation. Listen in and you’ll even hear Fred singing in the Butchalla language as Birdz raps about his experiences as a First Nations man.
“’Brother’ for me is really about Blak control over Blak affairs,” Birdz explained. “There has been a long history of non-Indigenous people in governments always trying to speak for us and thinking they know what’s best for us and our communities, but we’ve been shouting it at the top of our lungs since the day we were born and the elders before us have been doing that too. They passed the torch to us and I think that’s what ‘Brother’ is truly about and keeping that legacy alive.”
“It’s all in the hook: ‘Brother lift up your brother, sisters, children and all. If they tell you to sit down, hold your head up and stand tall’,” Fred added. “In Butchulla lingo what I’m singing is, ‘Brother, walk with your brother. Go walk and walk out on the red dirt. Walk out onto the red dirt under the stars and when you talk, sit down on the red dirt and look up. And when you speak, don’t speak in English, speak in your grandmother’s tongue’”
I’ve featured “Brother” on my Sounds of Oz Loves Soul playlist, which features a diverse representation of Australia’s best current soul artists including First Nations artists, immigrants, and white Australians. All these voices make Australia great, and I can’t wait until we choose a national day that works best for every one.
Image used with permission from Island Records Australia
Some of Australia’s best and brightest female talents are coming out to celebrate International Women’s Day with two massive days of events in Boonwurrung Country/St Kilda on the Labour Day long weekend. Event ambassadors Kate Ceberano, Tania Doko, and Ella Hooper are among the talents taking part in ROAR FEST Celebrating Women in Music which aims to see “more women on and off the stage”.
“It has always been my intention as an artist, to carve a path for other women to walk,” Kate explained. “This festival is a way for women in music to share our songs, discuss the work behind the music, share wisdom and stories of touring and performing. On the bill are friends, family and musicians who I admire and love”
“There’s been a lot of talk but not a lot of action to address the lack of women on festivals. This festival IS the action!” Ella enthused. “It also celebrates several eras, genres and generations, making it unique in its appeal. You can come with your girls, your mum or your aunties, and your brothers and uncles! All are welcome. The fact its women led behind the scenes is unique and very rare. Not to mention female crew and industry workers manning the sound and lights. ROAR is walking the talk!”
The highlights will be two big concerts at the end of each day. On Saturday March 8, ROAR FEST presents Women on the Bay at George Lane. This concert focuses on emerging artists and has a ripper bill featuring Kathleen Halloran, Charlie Needs Braces, Ruby Mae, Charlie Lane, and Wild Gloriosa. On March 9, the event concludes with the headlining concert at the National Theatre hosted by Ella Hooper with performances from Kate Ceberano, Tania Doko, WILSN, Gabriella Cilmi, and Gypsy Lee.
ROAR FEST will also feature a panel discussion event with the event ambassadors, Women in Music photo exhibition, Inaugural Women in Music St Kilda guided walking tours, live and local showcases and buskers, and heaps more.
Head to the ROAR FEST website for all the details of this exciting celebration of women in music.
Former Chats guitarist Josh “Pricey” Price is striking out on his own with a brand new single “Bastards Never Change.” It’s a raw, rock track delivered without a hint of bullshit. If that’s the sort of thing you need on your Friday, press play. But if you’re in the office, you might want to grab some headphones, because the lyrics aren’t exactly work-safe!
“The song came about during a recent tour with The Screaming Jets,” Pricey recalled. “As we travelled from venue to venue, I found myself gazing out the bus window when I noticed a homeless man holding a cup. In that moment, I didn’t just see him. I saw my reflection. It struck me how lucky I am to be living my dream, touring with a rock band, having fun, and doing what I love. This song isn’t about that man. it’s about me appreciating the blessings I have and recognizing the stark contrast of our lives. ‘Bastards Never Change’ is my way of expressing gratitude and resilience, inviting listeners to reflect on their own journeys.”
Pricey is back on tour, this time supporting Wheatus on their acoustic Dirtbags Across Australia shows. Here are all the remaining dates on that run!
I thank my lucky stars regularly that I can work from home for myself. The corporate world and the conformity that came along with it was never for me. So Jet City Sports Club’s latest single “Mini Skirt,” which celebrates finding your own path, really resonates with me. And if you’re not one for blending in, I think it’ll strike a chord with you too.
“You don’t have to be perfect or conform to the ways your friends, family or the world might want you to,” the band insists. “The story is narrated from the perspective of a young girl going through serious body image issues and pressure to be someone they might not necessarily be. The verses talk about this and the chorus aims to reclaim a sense of independence and self worth.”
Jet City Sports Club are preparing to hit the road with a couple of acts that celebrates nonconformity, DICE and Eliza and the Delusionals. They’ll also find time for a pitbstop at Party in the Paddock. Where will you see them?
