Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jinja Safari Launch Debut EP with Sydney and Melbourne Shows

Jinja Safari will launch their self-titled debut EP with two shows in Sydney and Melbourne this September.

Even before it hits shelves the recording has been named Indie Album of the Week in The Brag, and its single “Forest Eyes” is enjoying steady airplay on independent radio stations. Not bad for a duo that only met earlier this year!

See Jinja Safari at their EP launch shows, and the following festivals.

8 September 2010 – Big Sound, Brisbane
11 September 2010 – Valley Fiesta, Brisbane
18 September 2010 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
19 September 2010 – Changing Lanes, Sydney
23 September 2010 – Goodgod Small Club, Sydney
25 September 2010 – Coaster Festival, Gosford
30 December 2010 – Falls Festival, Lorne

Image used with permission from Other Tongues

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Skipping Girl Vinegar Get Wasted

Being as it’s a Saturday it seems only right to chat about Skipping Girl Vinegar and their new song “Wasted.”

Inspired by a big night out at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel, the track is deliciously organic with a drum kit found in a dumpster, rubbish bins, and roadside hard rubbish all providing percussion. It’s raucous and just the kind of song you want to play as you head out for your own Saturday evening.

The song is a sneak peek of what lies ahead for the band, a little taster of what to expect from the as-yet-untitled sophomore album which should hit stores early next year. Skipping Girl Vinegar can’t wait that long to get in front of their local fans though, so they’re heading out next month on their Drown It Out single tour.

3 September 2010 – Troubadour, Brisbane (with special guests Autumn Sun & The Lucky Wonders)
10 September 2010 – Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor
11 September 2010 – Funk N Grooves Festival, Hunter Valley
11 September 2010 – RAVAL, Sydney (with special guest Ruby for Lucy)
18 September 2010 – The Toff In Town, Melbourne (with special guests Hello Satellites & Young Werther)

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Who’s Comin’ Along to Earthworker’s Tour?

After supporting Ash Grunwald around the traps in June, Earthworker, or Dean Carroll as he’s known to his mates, will set out on his own for the Who’s Comin’ Along tour.

The tour supports the single of the same name, which is the first cut from Earthworker’s debut album Seeds of Light, due to hit stores in January. The single’s release will be accompanied with a music video which sees Earthworker do his upbeat blues rock thing live, with just a hint of pirate. And don’t we all need more pirate in our lives?

If you do, make sure you get along to these shows next month. He’ll perform some with a four-piece band, and others solo and intimate, so you’ll never know quite what you’re going to get. I love an artist that keeps you guessing!

2 September 2010 – Hotel Maroochydore, Maroochydore
3 September 2010 – Coolum Beach Hotel, Coolum
5 September 2010 – Doing Dads Proud Festival, Sunshine Coast
11 September 2010 – The Chippo, Darwin
25 September 2010 – Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bullet For My Valentine Gets Aussie Tour Edition Album

To celebrate Bullet For My Valentine’s upcoming Aussie tour, Sony Music will release a special two CD tour edition of their latest album Fever.

The new release will feature previously unreleased acoustic songs and tracks from the Hand of Blood EP. The album art remains the same, so make sure you look out for the tour edition sticker.

The new version of Fever is available for pre-order now ahead of its  September 10 release.

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Re:enactment Spruik Single on East Coast Tour

Upbeat Brisbane electro rock act re:enactment are heading out on the road to promote their double A-side single “Talent for Retail,” which features the songs “Problematic” and “Nintendogs.” There’s even a bonus B-side “Don’t Even” and a live version of fan favourite “Steel Drums” to add value.

Honestly, with physical singles being on their last legs thanks to the introduction of digital downloads I’m thrilled to see a band offering so much in this format. If you are too, make sure you get out and show your support at re:enactment’s upcoming shows.

18 September 2010 – The Troubadour, Brisbane (with Hunz, Moon Jog and Toy Balloon)
23 September 2010 – The Old Bar, Melbourne (with Sleep Decade and Cast& Crew)
25 September 2010 – Pony, Melbourne (with Caught Ship, Tantrums and No Real Need)
30 September 2010 – Excelsior, Sydney (with World Champion, Lumiere and Solkyri)
1 October 2010 – World Bar, Sydney (with Paper Moon, Howl at the Moon, Convaire)

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Arrested Development and N*E*R*D Headline Pyramid Rock

If you’re looking for something to fill the void left by Homebake, consider a trip to Phillip Island for this year’s Pyramid Rock Festival. It might not be entirely home grown, but this year’s festival is shaping up to be something pretty special with an eclectic line-up of international and local acts.

Overseas talent N*E*R*D, Arrested Development and Chromeo will join big name Aussies including The Temper Trap, supergroup The Basement Birds, reformed rockers Tumbleweed, Xavier Rudd, Gyroscope, and heaps more.

Pyramid Rock will take over Phillip Island from Wednesday December 29 to January 1. I can’t think of a better way to ring in the New Year, can you? Let’s just hope the rain stays away!

To that end, if you were one of the folks let down by last year’s event you’ll be interested to note that organisers are looking to make amends. If you were caught in that mother of all electrical storms, you’ll receive discounted entry and priority tickets to this year’s show. Head to the Pyramid Rock website for more details.

Tickets for Pyramid Rock go on sale from the official website on September 14.

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Into the Gallery” – Amanda Merdzan

There’s nothing like that feeling you get when you fall in love with a new musician. You want to shout it from the rooftops and share with the world the way this performer makes you feel. I’m lucky; I have a blog for that. So here it is folks: I am utterly enamoured with the music of Amanda Merdzan.

Now before you ask me who let me fill you in. Amanda is a singer-songwriter living just outside Perth, and she’s just released Into the Gallery, an album which is blowing my mind. On it Amanda sings, plays guitar, keyboards, percussion, and even glockenspiel. And oh yes, she touches your heart.

Her acoustic, organic folk songs are some of the best I’ve heard all year. She paints pictures so vivid that you feel you know the characters inside the songs: the lost love, the potential mother-in-law hoping you’ll stay with her son, Esther and her loving husband. She sings with such conviction and truth that you feel the songs in your gut. I shed a tear on listening to the closing track “The Last Song,” a tale of moving on after a breakup, and thought how rare and beautiful it was to be so stirred by music.

I feel so privileged and thrilled to know about Amanda Merdzan and her music, and I hope it’s only a matter of time before the rest of Australia catches up. She deserves every success, because she’s honestly incredible. Here is the video for one of the album tracks “Undress This State,” so you can see for yourself!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Homebake Festival Scrapped for 2010

The Homebake Festival will be rested this year, but don’t count the event out just yet.

Organisers say they came to the tough decision as this year’s show simply wasn’t shaping up to Homebake standard. They’re now focusing their efforts on the future.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 05: Tim Finn performs on stage during Homebake 2009 in the Domain on December 5, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)


“As we’ve not been able to have the ‘planets align’ to a standard we feel appropriate to the long standing reputation of Australia’s largest ‘locals only’ event, we’d rather focus on a positive future and are instead planning for a unique return version of Homebake Festival to take place during the first week of December 2011,” the press release reads.

With the quality of local acts, it blows my mind that organisers couldn’t field a stellar festival in 2010. At any rate though, I’m glad they’re not throwing in the towel. In the overcrowded festival calendar, I really liked Homebake’s unique homegrown vision, and I hope to see it realised again in 2011.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with The Checks’ Callum Martin

The Checks have conquered their native New Zealand, and now they have their sights set on Oz. I recently caught up with the band’s guitarist Callum Martin to chat about their upcoming Aussie tour, their new album Alice by the Moon, and what he loves about Oz.


You had a mini tour here in April. What made you want to come back so soon?
We enjoyed the seafood so much that we booked flights as soon as we got home! Regardless of outcome, we’ve always wanted to release an album in Australia, we think this one could go down well with you guys.

You’ve enjoyed real success in your native New Zealand. What’s inspired you to try and crack the Australian market?
It’s the closest country to us and Australia seems like a natural step in our direction as a band.

You’re about to tour Australia next month to support the release of your album Alice by the Moon. Why are we going to love it?
Because you’ve never seen a rock band do it the way we do. Ed really looks great on stage and Sven is bound to melt your face off!

You’ve got shows all the country. Is there anywhere in particular you’re looking forward to seeing?
We have some mates in Melbourne who we’re quite keen to catch up with. I always enjoy that city.

You’ve got some time between your Melbourne and Brisbane shows. Are you planning on doing any sightseeing?
Well we’ll have to see; I’d really like to see Ed wrestle a croc! The wildlife in Oz has always been a draw card for me anyway.
Continue reading “Q & A with The Checks’ Callum Martin” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Butler Trio Announce “These Are the Days” DVD Release

The John Butler Trio are moving to the small screen with the release of their new DVD These Are the Days.

The behind-the-scenes movie takes you to the band’s studio, known as The Compound, revealing much about the band members and their creative process while recording April Uprising. It also features interviews with new trio members Nicky Bomba and Byron Luiters and longtime manager Phil Stevens. There are also 11 album tracks played raw as they were in the studio, and two previously unreleased songs including live favourite “Satisfy.”

These Are the Days will hit music stores and other retailers on August 27, which is not so coincidentally the same day that JBT’s national April Uprising tour begins!

Image used with permission from Stephen Green Consulting