Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lamb Kick Off World Tour in Australia

Lamb will launch their world tour in Australia next year, with sideshows announced in addition to their appearance at Playground Weekender.

The tour comes ahead of the release of Lamb’s new album 5, their first in eight long years. That won’t drop until May 5, naturally, so it’s pretty exciting that we’ll get a sneak peek at the new material. I’m sure fans will also appreciate that energy that comes from seeing a band at the start of the tour, when they’re at their freshest.

“There’s something fresh and new about the music we’re writing,” explained Lou Rhodes. “It hasn’t been this way since the first album when we felt utterly unconcerned with what anyone felt about what we were doing. It was about the music and the journey that it took us on. We said we wouldn’t make another Lamb album until we had something new to say. That time has definitely come.”

If you want to hear them say it, make sure you pick up some tickets when they go on sale on December 17.

17 February 2011 – Prince of Wales, Melbourne
18 February 2011 – Hi Fi, Brisbane
20 February 2011 – Playground Weekender Festival, Wisemans Ferry

Image used with permission from Playground Weekender

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Musicians Go LIVE at Sydney Festival Art Installation

There are so many exciting musical acts winging their way to New South Wales’ capital for the annual Sydney Festival. Emmylou Harris, Sufjan Stevens, and Paul Kelly’s A to Z shows are grabbing all the headlines, but I think one of the most interesting events is LIVE: An Intimate Video Study of the Art of Performing.

It’s an installation which features some of Australia and the world’s most exciting musicians captured on film. Each artist has performed a song of their choosing against a simple white background. Visitors wear wireless headphones to choose the artists they want to hear, while they watch the visuals projected on one of four large screens.

The idea is that by stripping away the lighting, the screaming crowds, and the theatrics, we get closer to the heart of the song and the performer presenting it.  So many fantastic and fascinated artists are represented here, including Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Jarvis Cocker, Peaches, Juliette Lewis and our own Jimmy Little, Clare Bowditch, and as seen in this video snippet, Gareth Liddiard from The Drones.

Gareth will also perform on the LIVE opening night, along with Sarah Blasko, Kram, and Laura Jean. Tickets for the January 13 opening cost $45. If you can’t make it for that night you can see the LIVE installation from January 14 to 23 for $15, or $12 for concession holders. All tickets are available from the Sydney Festival website.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Caulfield’s Ned Jankovic

Sydney’s Caulfield are in the thick of a cross-country tour to promote their debut album Clarity In A Sea Of Confusion. Somewhere along the way the band’s guitarist Ned Jankovic found time to chat to me about life on the road, the album, and the band’s exciting live act.

I’ve heard your music described as punk, hardcore, and alternative whatever that term means these days. For the uninitiated, how would you describe your sound?
Heavy breakdowns, huge melodies, delays that can make the Edge from U2 cry … ha. It’s mainly a mix of different styles but if I had to “categorise” it, it’s post-hardcore which is a style that mixes hardcore but with a more melodic element to it.

You guys have all been in other relatively successful bands before. What does that experience bring to this new outfit?
It brings a lot of things, better ways to tour, other, newer methods of promoting the band to the songwriting itself. Having all that experience helps the band progress in the right direction

How did you all come together?
Myself, Mahan and Andrew had a band around five years ago. Sadly the band disbanded but about a year and a bit ago we just started to jam again and here we are! We found Brad and Colin from ads on the net, but funnily enough we all knew each other from the scene.

You’ve just released your debut album Clarity in a Sea of Confusion. What can you tell me about it?
This is a record we are all very proud of. So far we have had an amazing reaction, and this CD translates well to our live show, which is what we want. This CD represents us to a tee. The title itself means a lot to us. We were searching for so long and this band is our Clarity. It’s brought us together to write some kick ass music.

Continue reading “Q & A with Caulfield’s Ned Jankovic” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jimmy Buffet Makes Long Awaited Australian Return

www.margaritaville.com/I always knew that the strong performance of the Aussie dollar would convince plenty of international artists to frequent our shores, but I’m not sure I was quite prepared for all the tours announced of late. The most recent addition to the list is Jimmy Buffet, who’s returning to Australia after 23 long years.

I have fond memories of growing up with Buffet’s music. I remember cheerfully singing “Why don’t we get drunk and spew” with my sister. Of course I learned years later the lyric was “screw,” but it’s probably a good thing Dad never corrected us! Come to think of it, I don’t think I ever got the full gist of “Margaritaville” either.

It’s a bit of a shame that Buffet’s only visiting Sydney, but I have a feeling that Parrotheads all over the country will be prepared to make the pilgrimage to the Opera House. Tickets go on sale on December 17 for the shows on January 23 and 24.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Other Tongues Does Christmas at the Gaelic

Sydney based-independent music company Other Tongues will help you survive Humpday with their big Christmas Party this Wednesday, December 15.

The event at Sydney’s Gaelic Club will feature sets from Jinja Safari DJs, locally based Ethiopian soulster Dereb the Ambassador, ex-Special Patrol front man Myles Mayo, and Amaya Laucirica.

It doesn’t sound like there’s going to be a lot of carols, but it does sound like a great way to ring in the silly season and expose yourself to some great new Aussie music. Tickets are just $10 from Moshtix (and at the door if any are left on the night), so they won’t leave too much of a dent in your Christmas budget.

Image source: Vivek Chugh @ Stock.xchng

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Owl Eyes Does Summer Festivals, Shout Out Louds Support

Our very own Owl Eyes will be rubbing shoulders with some major international talent over the coming months.

She’ll support Swedish indie rockers Shout Out Louds at the East Brunswick Club, before gracing the stage at the Hot BBQ Festival in Portsea. Hot BBQ Festival might not grab the headlines of the Big Day Outs of this world, but with Mos Def, Hoodoo Gurus, and Boy and Bear all on the bill it should be every bit as hot as its name promises.

If you’re heading to Pyramid Rock, don’t miss Owl Eyes joining Illy for their new single “It Can Wait.” Her cameo appearance is bound to be one of the talking points of this year’s festival.

If you love Owl Eyes, and her new EP Faces, these are the places you can see her over the silly season!

31 December 2010 – Pyramid Rock Festival, Phillip Island (with Illy)
3 January 2011 – East Brunswick Club (supporting shout Out Louds)
22 January 2011 – Hot BBQ Festival, Portsea

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Bride and In Hearts Wake Team Up for Split EP

Split EPThe Bride and In Hearts Wake have combined their powers for one mighty metal EP, appropriately called Split.

Like so many of the best ideas in music, the EP came about after a drunken chat while the bands were touring together.

“We have seen split EPs work well in the past for some of Australia’s best artists so we thought, ‘Why not?’ Plus it was a great way to come out with our new vocalist and sound gearing up for our album,” explained The Bride’s guitarist Matt Gravolin.

“We had been on tour with In Hearts Wake for about a month and the more it was talked about, the more everyone got excited about the idea.”

It’s a great concept which should help expose the bands’ enthusiasts to one another’s audience. New fans are sure to follow. The six-track Split EP is out now through New Justice Records.

Image source: JB Hi Fi

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Beautiful Girls Kick Off East Coast Tour

Mat McHugh has just returned to Oz after touring the United States solo with the John Butler Trio, and he’s wasted no time getting back together with his Beautiful Girls band mates.

The band is kicking off a new tour in Sydney tonight to promote their new song “My Mind is an Echo Chamber.” The track is the third single lifted from The Beautiful Girls’ fourth album Spooks.

You can see The Beautiful Girls doing their thing over summer at the following shows.

10 December 2010 – Mona Vale Hotel, Sydney
6 January 2011 – Waves, Wollongong
7 January 2011 – The Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay
8 January 2011 – Yamba Bowling Club, Yamba
12 & 13 January 2011 – Hotel Great Northern, Byron Bay
14 January 2011 – Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta
15 January 2011 – The Hi Fi, Brisbane
16 January 2011 – Kings Beach Tavern, Caloundra
20 January 2011 – Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully
21 January 2011 – POW Bandroom, Melbourne
22 January 2011 – Pier Live, Frankston
23 January 2011 – Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads

Image source: Hayden Jose @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Dynamites Back in Australia for Summer Festivals

The Dynamites are another exciting act who are wasting no time in returning to our shores. They were only here in April, but already this soulful outfit featuring Charles Walker are planning a return visit.

The Dynamites are heading Down under to promote their new album, aptly titled Kaboom, which hits stores on January 7. The new tour will see them play prestigious local festivals and a sideshow in Melbourne.

If you like old school soul, you don’t want to miss these shows.

27-29 December 2010 – The Woodford Folk Festival, Woodfordia
30 December 2010 – Peats Ridge Festival, Peats Ridge
6-7 January 2011 – The Order of Melbourne, Melbourne
8 January 2011 – Sydney Festival First Night, Sydney
9 January 2011 – Becks Bar @ Sydney Festival, Sydney

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

De La Soul Back in Oz for Anniversary Album Tour

When De La Soul announced their Australian tour last year, I was pretty surprised. I was even more surprised when the shows sold out. Decades had passed since the hip hop band charted with songs like “Ring Ring” and “(A Rollerskatin Jam Called) Saturdays” after all.

Clearly the band was encouraged by those sold out shows, because a year later they’re heading back to our shores. If you missed out on tickets last time around, or you’re just ready for a second serve, make sure you check out the shows next February. The gigs will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of the seminal album De La Soul is Dead, and see the band playing the record from start to finish.

General release tickets go on sale on December 13 in Melbourne, the 14th in Sydney, and 17th in Perth. But if you want to get a jump on the competition, head to Peace Music. They’re selling discounted $55 tickets, but there are just 150 for each city so you’ll need to be quick!

10 February 2011 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
11 February 2011 – Billboards, Melbourne
12 February 2011 – Metro City, Perth

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash