Posted on by Lauren Katulka

You Am I Headline Ric’s Big Backyard Festival

Are you suffering summer festival fatigue yet? I don’t blame you, but Ric’s Big Backyard Festival is one event that may pique your interest.

This is a much more low-key affair than the Big Day Out, Summadayze, Future Music Festival, and other shows of its ilk. It takes the festival back to grass roots level, to a time when a generous soul would volunteer their space for a big rock show.

That space is the courtyard behind RG’s and the upstairs and downstairs stages at Ric’s in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. The bill features an eclectic bunch of musos including You Am I, Pangaea, Die Die Die, Guineafowl, King Cannons, and heaps more. There’ll be 21 bands in all, which makes the $75 price of admission seem quite reasonable indeed.

Ric’s Big Backyard Festival hits Brisbane on Saturday March 26. Tickets go on sale on February 7 from OzTix.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

R.I.P. Steve Prestwich

While we were still reeling from the untimely death of Sherbet’s Harvey James, we learned that we’d also lost Steve Prestwich. The Cold Chisel drummer died from a brain tumour on Sunday at the age of 56.

Steve began to play with Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, and Don Walker in the early 70s outfit Orange. They changed their name to Cold Chisel in 1974, and the rest is history. He helped Don Walker write one of the band’s greatest songs, “Flame Trees,” and also put pen to paper for “When the War is Over” and “Forever Now.”

Following Chisel’s demise in 1983, Steve joined Little River Band and helped “When the War is Over” become a hit all over again. But he was back for Chisel’s reunion shows.

I remember attending the Last Wave of Summer gig at Newcastle Entertainment Centre back in 1998. This was a band I never expected to see live, and I lapped it up. I am so thrilled that I got to see Steve Prestwich doing his thing, and so sad to see him taken from us all too soon. Here’s the music video of Cold Chisel doing “When the War is Over” to remember him by.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Country Music Supports Flood Victims Digital Album Raises Money for Queensland Relief Appeal

Leading local and international country acts have banded together for the release of Country Music Supports Flood Victims, a digital compilation to raise funds for the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.

Australian acts Lee Kernaghan, Catherine Britt, Sara Storer, Adam Brand, and Kev Carmody (to name a few) appear alongside international artists Doc Walker, Sean Brody, and Emerson Drive on the release.

“Watching the television coverage of the Queensland floods tragedy unfold from my home in Darwin, it has been hard to comprehend the enormity of the devastation,” Sara Storer said in a statement.

“Queensland has always been one of my favourite places to tour and I have made friends with a lot of people throughout the state during the past ten years, many of whom have been directly affected by the recent events. My heart goes out to all those who have lost relatives and friends as well as those whose homes and property have been damaged or destroyed. I pray that recovery comes as quickly as possible.”

The 13-track digital album is available for $10 exclusively from BigPond Music, which sounds like a pretty good deal to me. If you haven’t given yet, or if you’re feeling extra generous, this might be the album to get you into action.

Image source: BigPond Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

R.I.P. Harvey James

The Australian music industry has lost another of its own, with the passing of Harvey James. The Sherbet guitarist died last night in Melbourne aged 58 following a battle with lung cancer.

“Dad passed away peacefully at 8.15 pm tonight,” his daughter Alexandra wrote on the Send Your Love To Harvey James’ Facebook page. “We would like to thank everybody for all the wonderful support over the past 6 months. The love has been overwhelming. Rest in peace my gorgeous, funny, amazing father. We will miss you every day forever.”

Harvey joined Sherbet after stints with Mississippi alongside Little River Band’s Beeb Birtles and Graham Goble and Ariel, with Spectrum’s Mike Rudd. He replaced Sherbet’s founding member Clive Shakespeare, and was with the band for their biggest hit, “Howzat.” He left Sherbet in 1982, two years before they eventually disbanded.

Sherbet planned to reform for the Gimme That Guitar benefit concert to raise funds for Harvey next month. At this stage it’s unclear whether that sold-out show will go ahead, but we’ll keep your posted. Until then, here’s the video for that mammoth hit.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Autumn Gray Has Love Handles

Melbourne indie act Autumn Gray is preparing to release its new mini-EP Love Handles with a pair of launch shows.

For the uninitiated, Autumn Gray is something like a mini folk army, with seven members contributing lush harmonies and rich musical melodies. Their music features everything from traditional instruments like flutes and pianos to more modern innovations like synthesizers and iPhones!

Autumn Gray’s new EP features “Love Handles,” from their previous album A Diary of a Falling Man, a live version of “Reason,” and “Address Book Blues” and “Moving Target,” two great songs left over from the last recording process. It hits stores on January 21.

Currently Autumn Gray are holed up in an old wool storage warehouse writing and recording their next album, but they’re escaping for a Melbourne launch at The Toff in Town on January 22, and a Sydney one at the Lewisham Livehouse on February 11.

Image used with permission from Positive Feedback

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Take Photos for Grinderman

Grinderman are offering budding photographers access-all-areas passes to their upcoming Big Day Out sideshows thanks to a very cool competition.

If you want to win one, simply show the band you’re worthy by sending a link to on online portfolio of your work to grindermanphotocontest@gmail.com. Make sure you include the show you’d like to capture in the subject line, and your full name and mobile phone number in the e-mail’s body.

You’ll need to be quick though, especially if you’re in Melbourne. Entries close 48 hours before each show. As a reminder, Nick Cave’s crew will play The Palace in Melbourne on January 17 and 18, Brisbane’s Tivoli on January 24, and The Enmore in Sydney on January 28. Good luck!

Image source: Quique Lopez @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Melbourne Concerts for Queensland Flood Relief

Australia’s hip-hop and dance communities have beaten Michael Gudinski to the punch, organising some massive flood relief shows in Melbourne before the official announcement of Sound Relief 2.

If you’re free tonight make sure you get down to the Corner Hotel for its Hip Hop Flood Relief show. America’s Pharoahe Monch will headline the night, alongside M-Phazes, Boogie Blind of X-Ecutioners, Promoe, Briggs, and heaps more.

If that’s not enough notice for you, make sure you clear your calendar for DanceAid at the Prince Bandroom on January 19. It features a who’s who of the local dance music scene, including The Potbelleez, TV Rock, Zoe Badwi, the Nervo sisters, Kaz James, Ruby Rose, and that’s just for starters.

Money from both shows will benefit the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal. I think it’s amazing to see all the artists signing up for these kinds of shows with such little notice. I’ll bring you details of any other events I hear about them raising money for this all important cause.

Image source: Rae Allen @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Our Horse is Dead” – Heartbreak Club

After watching hours of devastating news footage from Queensland floods, I wanted a pick-me-up. After looking at the cover of Heartbreak Club’s Our Horse is Dead, with its whipped My Little Pony-esque cartoon, I knew that album was just what I needed.

And so on an afternoon where so much is going wrong in the world outside, I lapped up Heartbreak Club’s feel-good blend of pop and punk. There’s a lot of artists blending those genres in the industry these days, but Heartbreak Club certainly creates tunes that are a cut above the rest. It’s really intelligent stuff, with a few literary references waiting for those willing to listen to a lyric, and an intriguing willingness to experiment with genre.

That eclecticism is hinted at in the opener “Are You Leaving Me?” Its boisterous brass called to mind old school ska bands like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and They Might Be Giants. But Our Horse is Dead really hits its strides with “Viva La Mala Fortuna,” a rollicking, fist-pumping ball of sunshine and synthesisers.

From this point the album which was enjoyable, if a little run of the mill, really kicks in. Heartbreak Club begin to show us what they can do, displaying the originality and depth which separates them from their contemporaries. “Depths Unseen” is a real revelation, a quirky confession of love with stirring strings, brass, the works. If you’re going to profess such intense emotions, why not do it in grand style? The stripped back treatment and playful lyrics makes the endearing “Jeepers!” another highlight.

With Our Horse is Dead Heartbreak Club delivers an album which is always solid, and often great. Listening to it makes you feel good, but it’d be a mistake to dismiss these guys as just another formulaic pop-punk act.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Daniel Lee Kendall

After releasing the gorgeous Lost in the Moment EP last year, Daniel Lee Kendall is preparing to leave the Central Coast and show Australia what he can do. As part of the One for the Road tour, Daniel Lee will visit capital cities and regional towns around the country with Old Man River and Passenger. I chatted with Daniel today about that tour, playing some of Australia’s coolest festivals, and what’s next for this promising singer-songwriter.

You’re about to hit the road with Old Man River and Passenger, which is probably your biggest tour to date. How are you feeling about that?
Yeah, I’m excited. I suppose it’s my first actual tour so it’s going to be good to get a string of shows in a row. I’m looking forward to going to a bunch of states and all of that.

Is there anywhere in particular that you’re really keen to see?
Well, somewhere outside of New South Wales I guess. That’d be pretty good I think.

I daresay many punters will be coming out to see the other acts, but they might not be so familiar with your music. How do you plan on winning them over?
I guess I can only do what I can do, be myself. Just sing my songs and be myself as much as I can, and if they like what they see, that’s great. I don’t actually have a specific strategy.

What can music fans expect if they turn up early enough to hear your set?
A nice, intimate, sort of story of my life in musical form I guess.

Continue reading “Q & A with Daniel Lee Kendall” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Oztix Gives to Queensland Flood Relief

Floods in ToowoombaSorry about the short notice on this one guys, but I just found out that Oztix is generously donating the proceeds from every ticket sold today to the Queensland Flood Appeal.

So if you’ve been considering getting tickets for shows like festivals including Soundwave, Good Vibrations, or Supafest, or see the individual shows from The Beautiful Girls, The Waifs, or heaps more, now’s the time.

Just head to Oztix, buy your tickets today, and you’re helping all those folks in Queensland who so desperately need it. And later on you’ll enjoy some pretty fantastic live music. That sounds like a great deal to me!

Image source: Timothy @ Flickr