Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wollombi Music Festival Rocks The Hunter Valley

With the success of the Day on the Green shows and the enduring Jazz in the Vines festival, folks are starting to realize the beauty of getting out of the big city and seeing a show in more intimate, natural surrounds. I know I’ll always choose one of these organic ampitheatres over a cold, impersonal entertainment center so I was thrilled to learn of another event in The Valley.

The Wollombi Music Festival will hit the region on Saturday September 17. Now in its second year, the event has grown to feature a second intimate stage inside its Chai Tent, more bands, and more market stalls. Watussi, Benjalu, Rachael Brady, and local supergroup Wollombi Radio are all part of this year’s eclectic lineup.

You probably won’t be in any hurry to return to the big smoke, so it’s impressive that the entry to the VIP camping area is included with all tickets. They only cost $80 a piece too (or $100 on the day), so you’ll see real value even if you don’t plan on pitching a tent. And if you just don’t want to rough it there are also plenty of hotels and bed and breakfasts in the local area.

There are just 500 tickets available to ensure the event stays intimate and personal, so don’t delay in getting yours from the Wollombi Music Festival website.

Image used with permission from Wollombi Music Festival

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Go With the River” – Owls of the Swamp

Ordinarily when I set about reviewing an album I listen to it with a notepad beside me. I take copious notes about my thoughts as the music washes over me, and then I somehow piece them all together to create my review. But not this time. As I listened to Go With River, the brand new album from Owls of the Swamp, my notepad lay untouched.

Perhaps that’s going to make reviewing the album a bit harder, but I know why it happened. This is a CD that demands to be listened to. Its music was too beautiful for me to be distracted by analysis and dissection. I was just too busy enjoying it.

I shouldn’t be surprised. I was bowled over by the song “So Far Away” on its release, and I’m just as impressed by this recording. It’s more of that organic, honest music driven by gorgeous lyrics, acoustic guitars and a few well-placed strings. “Skywaters” is my current favorite tune; Aluka’s ethereal voice is the ideal foil for Owls sf the Swamp’s own, and the combination is bittersweet and incredibly moving. But this isn’t an album of obvious singles. Its tunes are much subtler, gently woven together to create an album of real beauty.

Sadly that means Go With River will be overlooked by many people. They won’t hear the songs on the radio or see Owls of the Swamp featured in their favorite magazines, and so they’ll never come across it. But I implore you to seek it out. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Image source: Owls of the Swamp Bandcamp page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rebecca Neary Wins The Vines Competition

Congratulations Rebecca Neary! She’s won tickets to The Vines’ exclusive upcoming show at St Stephen’s Anglican Church, and a whole bunch of other prizes, courtesy of Sounds of Oz’s recent Live at The Chapel Russian Standard competition.

Rebecca impressed all of the judges with her clever entry, which read:

Make me a Vodka VIP,
Rocking quietly in the vestry!
WINNING DAYS it would be,
The Vines in the pulpit in front of me!

We saw the effort she put in, and thought we just had to reward her. A true Vines fan, Rebecca will be travelling from the Queensland suburb of Fitzgibbon to attend the Sydney show later this week. Now that’s dedication. I hope you have a blast Rebecca!

Image used with permission from Burson-Marsteller

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nine Sons of Dan Tour “She’s So Fine”

Queensland’s Nine Sons of Dan are hitting the road in support of their brand new single “She’s So Fine.”

It’s not a cover of The Easybeats classic, but the song’s still immensely catchy. It was inspired by high school crushes, and specifically the way singer Jay Bainbridge fell hard for a girl he spotted at the Soundwave festival. No words were exchanged, but when he went home and hugged a pillow pretending it was her he knew he had to capture the insanity of such instant attraction. It’s the second single from the band’s debut album Landslide (which incidentally has nothing to do with Fleetwood Mac).

The band typically sticks to home state shows, so this tour is a bit of a treat for New South Wales and Victorian audiences. Tickets are on sale from the venues for the following gigs.

3 June 2011 – Young Bloods @ The Legions Club, Brisbane (All Ages)
12 June 2011 – Coomerocks Festival, Coomera Lodge Hotel, Coomera (18+ Afternoon Show)
12 June 2011 – Wallapalooza @ The Wallaby Hotel, Mudgeeraba (18+ Night Show)
16 June 2011 – Hot Damn @ Spectrum, Sydney (18+)
18 June 2011 – The Patch, Wollongong (18+)
22 June 2011 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (18+)
30 June 2011 – The Zoo, Brisbane (18+)
1 July 2011 – Neverland, Gold Coast (18+)
2 July 2011 – Grafton Community Centre, Grafton (18+)
12 August 2011 – Revolver Upstairs, Melbourne (18+)
19 August 2011 – X&Y Bar, Brisbane (18+)
20 August 2011 – The Hive, Brisbane (All Ages)

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paul Kelly To Recieve APRA Honour

Paul KellyPaul Kelly will be the fitting recipient of the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at this year’s APRA Music Awards.

Paul’s been chugging along for the last three decades, crafting some of the most moving and poignant songs around, and perhaps most significantly telling Australian stories. For that alone I think he deserves to be celebrated, and I’m glad organisers agree.

He’ll join previous recipients of the honour including Slim Dusty, Angus and Malcolm Youn, Jimmy Little, and Don Burrows.

The APRAs will be held in Sydney on June 21.

Image source: Andrew Braithwaite @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Evil Eddie Says Evil!

Evil Eddie seems to have gotten even eviler with the video for his new single, “(Somebody Say) Evil.” The former Butterfingers frontman is seen here corrupting kiddies and performing alongside a giant chicken. You can say what you like about Eddie, but he’s certainly not boring!

“(Somebody Say) Evil” is the second single from his soon to be released debut album. At this point it’s tentatively called Welcome to Flavour Country, but with Eddie you know nothing’s ever certain!

If you love Evil Eddie’s brand of madness make sure you check him out at the following home state shows.

10 June 2011 – Exchange Hotel, Townsville
11 June 2011 – Currajah Hotel, Wangan
12 June 2011 – Blue Sky Brewery, Cairns
17 June 2011 – Step Inn, Fortitude Valley
18 June 2011 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
2 July 2011 – River Sessions @ Mackay Showgrounds, Mackay

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Fearless Vampire Killers Tour Victoria

The Fearless Vampire Killers have more than one of the coolest names in the industry. They’ve also got a brand new single, “For You and Me,” our first taste of their forthcoming debut album.

The long player won’t hit stores until late 2011, but The Fearless Vampire Killers won’t leave their local fans waiting that long to see them live. The Victorian band are celebrating the surfabilly single’s radio success with some shows in their home state.

Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

28 May 2011 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
8 June 2011 – The Loft, Warrnambool
9 June 2011 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
10 June 2011 – Newmarket Hotel, Bendigo
11 June 2011 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
12 June 2011 – The National Hotel, Geelong

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Major Chord Gives Album Teaser with “Tomorrow Night”

Major Chord is introducing us to his third album Psychic Civil War with “Tomorrow Night,” a mellow slice of acoustic folk.

It’s deceptively simple and low-key, but really listen to this one rather than allowing it to drift into the background. The songwriter otherwise known as Dan Flynn has created a piece of real beauty here that I can imagine hearing strummed over a campfire.

Major Chord will launch the single at The Builders Arms at Fitzroy on June 10 before supporting Myles Mayo and Micah P Hinson around the country later that month. Look out for him, and Psychic Civil War in stores this September.

Image used with permission from Show Off Recordings

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sneaky Sound System on the Comeback Trail

It’s been a bit quiet on the Sneaky Sound System front for a while, but the dance duo is hitting back with a vengeance. They’re currently finishing up their third album From Here to Nowhere, their first released through their new label Modular.

The album won’t drop until August 29, but we’ll get a sneak peek when Miss Connie and Black Angus release the single “We Love” on May 27.

They’ll promote the single and get us all salivating for the album when they tour the major capitals in June and July.

Sneaky Sound System29 June 2011 – Rocket Bar, Adelaide
1 July 2011 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
2 July 2011 – Metro, Sydney
6 July 2011 – The Bakery, Perth
9 July 2011 – Family Nightclub, Brisbane

Image source: Michael Spencer @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Georgia Fair and Daniel Lee Kendall Announce Another Double Header Tour

Georgia Fair and Daniel Lee Kendall clearly loved touring around the country together in March, because this June and July they’re doing it all again.

If you missed the chance to see these exciting pop-folk acts last time, don’t make the same mistake this time around. They’re playing their own brand of acoustic music in some of the East Coast’s most intimate venues, so the shows are sure to be special.

Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

15 June 2011 – Otis Bar, Wollongong
16 June 2011 – Notes, Sydney
17 June 2011 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
18 June 2011 – The Loft, Newcastle (All Ages)
30 June 2011 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane (Free Entry)
2 July 2011 – The Loft, Gold Coast
3 July 2011 – Railway Friendly Bar, Byron Bay (Free Entry)
6 July 2011 – Front Gallery & Cafe, Canberra
13 July 2011 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Crucial Music