Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gypsy and The Cat Announce Aussie Splendour Sideshows

Aussie expats Gypsy and The Cat are returning home to play a swag of shows. You can see these Melbourne born Londoners supporting Foals and The Strokes around the country, playing the main stage at Splendour in the Grass, and headlining two just announced sideshows.

If you don’t know Gypsy and The Cat yet you’re in for a real treat. The band combines electro vibes with a splash of folk-pop to create a cruisy, retro soundscape.

These shows will support the release of their debut single “Time to Wander,” and give fans a sneak peek at their album before it hits stores later this year. Around the same time Gypsy and The Cat will be back in Oz to play Parklife, but I’d much rather see them at these more intimate gigs than that massive festival.

This time around, these are the places you can see these up and coming ex-pats!

24 July 2010 – The Gov, Adelaide (with Foals)
26 & 27 July 2010 – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne (with Foals)
28 July 2010 – Manning Bar, Sydney (with Foals)
29 July 2010 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (with The Strokes)
30 July 2010 – Festival Hall, Melbourne (with The Strokes)
31 July 2010 – Splendour In The Grass, Woodford
4 August 2010 – Toff In Town, Melbourne (with Clubfeet)
5 August 2010 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney (with Jinja Safari and Step Panther)

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Farnham Back With New Live Tour and Album

The legendary John Farnham is heading out on the road for shows all around the country this October and November. The dates include a handful of Day on the Green winery shows, and a special show at Luna Park celebrating the amusement park’s 75th birthday.

“I love doing outdoor shows and the vineyards around Australia are beautiful venues to perform at,” John said on the announcement of these shows, adding that “the opportunity to perform at an iconic venue such as Luna Park was something I just couldn’t say no to. Performing in an intimate venue will be fantastic.”

We can expect to hear plenty of old favourites, and a couple of new songs. These tracks will feature on John’s new album which should be in stores this October. That should give fans just enough time to learn the words!

John will be joined on the tour by some top-notch supports including Katie Noonan, Richard Clapton, and Ross Wilson.

Tickets go on sale from the usual outlets from July 30.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 03: Singer John Farnham performs on stage in the Lyric Theatre on September 3, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)


4 October 2010 – Big Top @ Luna Park, Sydney
23 October 2010 – Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley (with Kate Ceberano and Vika & Linda)
30 October 2010 – Robert Oatley Wines, Mudgee (with Ross Wilson and Richard Clapton)
27 November 2010 – Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth (with Ross Wilson and Richard Clapton)
2 November 2010 – AIS Arena, Canberra (with Katie Noonan)
6 November 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Wollongong (with Katie Noonan)
8 November 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Newcastle (with Katie Noonan)
11 November 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Tamworth (with Katie Noonan)
13 November 2010 – RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast (with Katie Noonan)
20 November 2010 – Coopers Brewery, Regency Park (with Katie Noonan)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gorillaz Announce First Aussie Tour

It’s no real surprise to anyone who follows the Gorillaz, but Damon Albarn’s virtual rock outfit will tour Australia for the first time this December.

Animated bass player Murdoc has been busy tweeting about the tour for days, but it’s nice for fans to have that official confirmation and all-important dates. The tour comes on the back of the release of the band’s third album Plastic Beach.

This should be some intriguing shows, and if the rave reviews from their Coachella and Glastonbury performances are anything to go by, some pretty spectacular ones. Tickets go on sale from the regular outlets on August 6.

GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 25: Damon Albarn of Gorillaz performs on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival 2010 on June 25, 2010 in Glastonbury, England. (Photo by Getty Images)


6 December 2010 – Burswood Dome, Perth
8 December 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
11 December 2010 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
16 December 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Sydney
19 December 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amy Meredith Annouce Restless Album Tour

It’s been a big year for Amy Meredith, with the release of two smash singles and a top 10 album. Now the band are looking to celebrate with their Restless album tour.

The run of gigs will take in 18 cities across Oz this September and October. They’ll definitely be in the zone, as these shows come off the back of a swag of dates supporting Grinspoon.

There are plenty of opportunities to see Amy Meredith in the coming months, and that’s just how they like it. Tickets for the Grinspoon shows are already on sale, and the Restless tour tickets will join them this Friday!

4 August 2010 – Station Resort, Jindabyne (with Grinspoon)
5 August 2010 – Capital, Wagga Wagga (with Grinspoon)
6 August 2010 – Panthers, Bathurst (with Grinspoon)
7 August 2010 – Ex-Services, Orange (with Grinspoon)
8 August 2010 – Panthers, Penrith (with Grinspoon)
11 August 2010 – Campbelltown RSL, Campbelltown (with Grinspoon)
12 August 2010 – Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill (with Grinspoon)
13 August 2010 – Waves, Wollongong (with Grinspoon)
15 August 2010 – Entrance Leagues, Bateau Bay (with Grinspoon)
9 September 2010 – Inferno, Traralgon (with Grinspoon)
10 September 2010 – Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully (with Grinspoon)
11 September 2010 – Pier Live, Frankston (with Grinspoon)
12 September 2010 – Settlers, Mildura (with Grinspoon)
15 September 2010 – Eureka Hotel, Geelong (with Grinspoon)
16 September 2010 – Shadows, Mt Gambier (with Grinspoon)
17 September 2010 – The Gov, Adelaide (with Grinspoon)
22 September 2010 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
23 September 2010 – Mojo’s, Fremantle
24 September 2010 – The Players Club, Mandurah
25 September 2010 – Amplifier Bar, Perth
1 October 2010  – The Zoo, Brisbane
2 October 2010  – Coolangatta Hotel
3 October 2010  – The Northern, Byron Bay
13 October 2010  – The Maram, Canberra
14 October 2010  – Wollongong University, Wollongong
15 October 2010  – Factory Theatre, Sydney (Licensed All Ages)
16 October 2010  – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
20 October  2010  – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
21 October 2010  – Barwon Club, Geelong
22 October 2010  – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
23 October 2010  – The Loft, Warnambool
28 October 2010  – Republic Bar, Hobart
29 October 2010  – Hotel New York, Launceston
30 October 2010  – Adelaide University Bar, Adelaide (Licensed All Ages)

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Amity Affliction Take Album to Regional Australia

Brisbane’s The Amity Affliction have been tearing up capital cities all around the country on their Youngbloods launch tour, but they’re not done yet. As the tour comes to a close, the band are preparing to take the album to regional centres along the East Coast.

The Amity Affliction will barely have a month to rest before setting off on The Anchors tour this August. It’ll take in small towns in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, and luckily for their many underage fans most shows will be all ages events.

The Amity Affliction are preparing to launch their attack on the United Kingdom and United States at the end of this year, so these shows might be the last ones we’ll get for a while!

Tickets go on sale for the following gigs tomorrow!

20 August 2010 – Anti @ Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully (18+)
21 August 2010 – Pier Live, Frankstown (18+)
22 August 2010 – The Castle, Dandenong (All Ages)
25 August 2010 – The Loft, Warrnambool (18+)
26 August 2010 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat (18+)
27 August 2010 – Centenary Hall, Wollongong (All Ages)
28 August 2010 – Masonic Hall, Blacktown (All Ages)
29 August 2010 – Oasis Youth Centre, Wyong (All Ages)
31 August 2010 – The Cambridge, Newcastle (18+)
2 September 2010 – High School, Byron Bay (All Ages)
3 September 2010 – Albert Waterways, Gold Coast (All Ages)
4 September 2010 – PCYC, Gladstone (All Ages)
5 September 2010 – QRI Hall, Rockhampton (All Ages)
8 September 2010 – Fitzys Mbar, Loganholme (18+)

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Princess One Point Five’s Sarah-Jane Wentzki

Princess One Point Five are earning rave reviews for their fourth studio album What Doesn’t Kill You, and are preparing to take the songs to Australia on a national launch tour. Before hitting the road singer-songwriter Sarah-Jane Wentzki chatted to Sounds of Oz about the new release, life on the road, and that quirky band name.


Your band has a really interesting name. Where did that come from?
It’s actually kind of lame; Princess is a vague interpretation of my name (Sarah means princess, or lady in many cultures) and my height (1.5 metres). Over time it’s come to mean something different every time someone asks. A very drunk girl recently gave me the idea that it should mean “modern day princess.” God bless trashbags.

You’ve released four albums now, yet many music fans may not be aware of your music. How would you describe your sound?
Ethereal vocals, lush soundscapes juxtaposed with straight up rock and roll and catchy pop hooks.

You’ve just released album number four, What Doesn’t Kill You. What can you tell me about it?
Where do I start?! What… is like the sister album to The Truth (our second album).  Sort of like ten up but it’s actually only 5 years on. It’s a return to heart-on-your-sleeve honest songwriting and musically it’s a really collaborative effort.  It’s a sonically mature album; like we stopped caring what other people think and just went ahead and had fun with it, and it really benefits for that ethos. The songs themselves are a collection of conversations (some real some fictional) and stories: about us, about other people, about … stuff. It was a rough year while we were writing, so the title represents coming out the other side of it. It’s a joyous album, though, not at all maudlin like I’m making it out to be. I’m very proud of what we’ve made. If our last album was an awkward teenager, this one is the really decent person she grew into.

You’ve been playing a few warm-up shows ahead of your launch tour. How have the crowds responded to the new material?
The people who get the chance to see us live really love it, actually. We’ve been so chuffed about the response. I even have a brand new stalker. Yay me!
Continue reading “Q & A with Princess One Point Five’s Sarah-Jane Wentzki” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Take From the Rich” – Haba Dudes

When Take From the Rich, the fourth studio album from Haba Dudes, landed on my desk I knew it’d be my type of album. The back of the sleeve shows the band proudly holding their interesting array of instruments: the cello, violin, and a mountain of different drums amongst them. That sleeve is also made of 100% eco-friendly recyclable materials. A green band that embraces instruments beyond your standard guitars and keys? I was in.

Take From the Rich thankfully lived up to my already lofty expectations. It’s one of those discs that slips around you easily, drawing you in with its relaxed, natural notes. Nothing here feels forced. With three albums already under their belt, the players know their instruments and what they’ve got to do. Together they create a lush, organic sound that is impossible to resist.

The songs are an eclectic mix. When I saw Haba Dudes standing on the back of the cover, surrounded by their instruments and suitcases I felt like they might be a band of gypsies. Tunes like the title track “Take From the Rich” and “Understand You” have that quirky, playful travelling band feel. But that’s just part of the Haba Dudes story. Other songs like “Paint That Hole in Your Heart” and “Early Morning” wouldn’t feel out of place on a Josh Pyke album; there’s a similar easy, acoustic folk feel about them. “Story of Cake” is another standout which is every bit as comforting and delicious as its name suggests. The album’s made all the more impressive when you realise that the disc was recorded, mixed, and produced independently in lead singer Mark Boulle’s home.

One of the album’s later tracks “The Nice Lament” seems to sum up the Haba Dudes. The song reminds us that they play for love, not for commercial airplay, fame, or fortune. They’re not a band who will be delivered to you via the ARIA Charts or Video Hits. You’ll need to seek them out. But you’ll be very glad you did.

Take From the Rich will be officially launched at The Loft at Chevron Island, Queensland on July 31. It’s available now from CD Baby.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bateman’s Bay Great Southern Bluesfest Gets Big Names

It might not be as famous as Bluesfest in Byron Bay or Fremantle, but this year’s Great Southern Bluesfest in Bateman’s Bay is shaping up to be one impressive festival.

A third announcement has just seen Toni Childs, Mick Hart, Pink Martini, The Snowdroppers, and four more acts added to the bill. They join already confirmed starters like Todd Rundgren, Harry Manx, Dallas Frasca, Ben Kweller, and Lonnie Lee.

The Great Southern Bluesfest will take over Mackay Park from October 1 to 3. It sounds like an excellent excuse for a South Coast holiday to me!

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Potbelleez Say “Hello” Again

Things have been a little quiet on The Potbelleez front since their tracks “Don’t Hold Back” and “Are You With Me” zoomed up the local charts in 2008, but the band hasn’t been sitting idly.

31255, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Wednesday May 27 2009. The Potbelleez at the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Music Awards Nominations at the APRA hHeadquarters in Sydney. REF: APRA270509. Video: PacificCoastNews.com


The Sydney act has been holed up in their Bondi Beach Wonderland studio writing and recording their sophomore album Destination Now. The follow-up to the self-titled debut has been co-produced by the legendary Paul Mac and Justin Shave.

We’ll have to wait until October 22 for the album to drop, but we’ll get an early taste with the release of the first single “Hello.” I’ve already had a listen to this electro-driven floor filler, and it has hit written all over it. Listen out for “Hello” when it hits radio on July 26.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Bloodpoets “Dance” Around Oz

Brisbane quintet The Bloodpoets will groove their way around the country to promote their brand new single “Dance.” The track is the first taste of the band’s sophomore album, which should hit shelves later this year.

The single, and its riff-driven electro beats, represents a change in musical direction for the band.

“‘Dance’ is characterised by these riffs, whereas previously we wrote a four-minute chord song, focusing on arrangements of instruments and vocal delivery” explained singer/songwriter Tom Murphy. “The writing process for Dance was different. It was born during a jam between the drummer and me on an electric drum kit. Because of the sounds on the kit, we decided to muck around on a cheesy riff until we realised if it was on big guitars and a real drum kit it would be enormous.

“Lyrically the song was based off how overwhelming it can be to see a good looking woman dance, so I tried to explore it in a smutty, yet a respectful way.”

The Dance tour will see The Bloodpoets perform tracks from their debut album Polarity along with some new tunes.

“We have had an extremely positive response to the new music and have heard people say that this is the type of music they thought The Bloodpoets would eventually reach in terms of style, but hopefully also in terms of potential,” Tom said.

Grab your dancing shoes and catch The Bloodpoets at the following venues.

28 July 2010 – The Troubadour, Brisbane (18+)
6 August 2010 – Neverland Bar, Gold Coast (18+)
12 August 2010 – King George Square, Brisbane (All Ages)
15 August 2010 – Pacific Hotel, Yamba (18+)
27 August 2010 – Brisbane Raws game @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (All Ages)
27 August 2010 – X&Y Bar, Brisbane (18+)
17 September 2010 – Kings Beach Tavern, Sunshine Coast (18+)
14 October 2010 – Toff In Town, Melbourne (18+)
15 October 2010 – The Hub, Launceston (18+)
16 October 2010 – Pacific Hotel, Yamba (18+)

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment