Sounds of Oz – Page 680 – Australian music news and reviews

Posted on 24/05/2010 by Lauren Katulka

John Butler Trio Announces April Uprising Tour

John Butler Trio are bringing their number one album April Uprising home with a national tour this August and September.

We’re sure to see a slick show, with the band spending the past few months playing concerts and promotional dates around the world. JBT just completed a sell-out tour of Europe and the United Kingdom, and have now commenced a run of dates in the United States. They’re also playing summer festivals in Canada, Europe, and Japan.

Local urban roots outfit Blue King Brown will support The John Butler Trio for all local shows except Broome. The tour will be completely carbon neutral, with the band reinvesting their carbon emissions into renewable energy projects. You can help assist the efforts by purchasing a green ticket for an extra 50c. This money will be donated to renewable energy projects, thereby neutralizing your travel emissions to the gig. The April Uprising tour will also support The Wilderness Society, The Australian Conservation Foundation, and Oxfam’s Close the Gap campaign.

Get your tickets from May 31 from the venues and regular ticket outlets.

27 August 2010 – Fremantle Arts Centre, WA
31 August 2010 – Entertainment Centre Theatre, Adelaide
2 September 2010 – WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
3 September 2010 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
5 September 2010 – Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart
7 September 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Newcastle
8 September 2010 – C.ex, Coffs Harbour
11 September 2010 – Reggaetown Festival @ Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, Cairns
12 September 2010 – Union of Soul @ Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
15 September 2010 – Royal Theatre, Canberra
17 September 2010 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
18 September 2010 – Schweppes Centre, Bendigo
21 September 2010 – Entertainment Convention Centre, Mackay
22 September 2010 – The Great Western, Rockhampton
23 September 2010 – The Riverstage, Brisbane
24 September 2010 – The Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
27 September 2010 – The Mangrove Resort Hotel, Broome

Posted on 23/05/201023/05/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Lilith Fair Rumored To Head Down Under

Word is that the recently revived all-girl music festival Lilith Fair will wing its way to Australia later this year. The event’s co-founder Terry McBride told The Music Network “We’re hoping to bring Lilith to Australia in late September or October – we’re still working it out.”

I’d love to see some Lilith Fair shows in Oz. Australia has more than its fair share of incredible female artists, from the new breed of Lisa Mitchell, Kate Miller-Heidke, and Sarah Blasko to veterans like Renee Geyer, Deborah Conway, Kate Ceberano, and Olivia Newton-John. Big name international talents Carly Simon, Heart, Suzanne Vega, and festival founder Sarah McLachlan will play the North American tour, and I’d love to see some of these artists joining our home-grown acts later this year. Fingers crossed!

McLachlan poses for a portrait in Los Angeles

Posted on 23/05/201026/05/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Aussie Musicians Dueting It For The Kids in Sydney

Sydney’s State Theatre will host the charity concert Dueting It For The Kids on August 9.

As the title suggests, the show will feature a veritable who’s who of the Australian music and theatre industry coming together for some unlikely duets. We’re talking about Paulini joining Leo Sayer for his smash hit “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing,” Jon Stevens and Shannon Noll busting out “Dancing in the Streets,” and Tom Burlinson and Georgie Parker taking on Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable.”

Tickets to the show will be available through Ticketmaster for $99 from May 31. All monies raised will benefit The Australian Children’s Music Foundation, an organization which looks to inspire local disadvantaged and indigenous young people through music.

Posted on 22/05/201021/05/2010 by Lauren Katulka

As Silence Breaks Speak Up with New Album

Sydney metal act As Silence Breaks are set to release their self-titled debut album on June 11. This is a metal act to watch, with the band producing music that is aggressive yet accessible.

“Our album is a combination of elements from the metalcore, thrash and hardcore genres,” explained vocalist Sam Rilatt. “We just love writing music that’s heavy, hard hitting and aggressive but is juxtaposed by layers of big melody.

“We’ve never been afraid to just follow our own direction. We don’t want to just write the same songs over and over. Were constantly working at improving our sound and technical proficiency to the point where the genres and sub genres that people categorize us in, may not even apply on the next album we do.”

To celebrate the album’s release As Silence Breaks will tour the country next month, starting in their local area of Western Sydney. Tickets are on sale from the venues now.

5 June 2010 – Bridge 54, Picton (All Ages)
6 June 2010 – Balydon Community Hall, Coffs Harbour (All Ages)
10 June 2010 – HOT DAMN @ Spectrum, Darlinghurst (18+)
20 June 2010 – The Lucky Australian Tavern, St Marys (All Ages)
26 June 2010 – The Fort, Fortitude Valley (All Ages)

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on 21/05/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Thirsty Merc Announce Mousetrap Heart Tour

I recently brought you a live and acoustic take of Thirsty Merc’s new single “Mousetrap Heart.” Now the band has unleashed an official film clip for the song which gets its official release today.

To celebrate the band has announced a bunch of dates all around the country. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen the Thirsty Merc boys doing their thing live, so I might just have to get myself to one of these shows! Tickets for the following gigs are on sale now.

30 June 2010 – Southern Cross Club, Canberra
1 July 2010 – Waves, Wollongong
2 July 2010 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
3 July 2010 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
7 July 2010 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
8 July 2010 – Bended Elbow, Geelong
9 July 2010 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
10 July 2010 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
14 July 2010 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
15 July 2010 – Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
16 July 2010 – Hi Fi Bar, Brisbane
17 July 2010 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
18 July 2010 – Villa Noosa Hotel, Noosa
21 July 2010 – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury
22 July 2010 – Fly By Night Musicians Club, Bunbury
30 July 2010 – Hotel New York, Launceston
31 July 2010 – Republic Bar, Hobart

Posted on 21/05/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Dead Letter Circus’ Big New Music Video

Brisbane band Dead Letter Circus have unleashed the video for their single “Big,” the first from their debut album This Is the Warning. I am love with this clip; it’s taking the music video back to its artistic roots. It’s a bit of a trip, and I love being taken on that ride. What a welcome change from all those uninspired film clips with tedious live footage!

Posted on 20/05/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Scissor Sisters Announce Splendour Sideshows

If you can’t get yourself to Splendour in the Grass, or you’re just keen for another serve, you’ll be happy to know Scissor Sisters have announced a couple of sideshows.

The eclectic UK outfit will make their way to Sydney and Melbourne for gigs in late July to promote their soon-to-be released album Night Works.

Tickets for the shows go on sale on May 28.

26 July 2010 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
27 July 2010 – Big Top @ Luna Park, Sydney

Posted on 20/05/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Chemical Transport Get Down, Down With a Panda

Chemical Transport has unleashed the film clip for their debut single “Down, Down.” This song was one of my favourites from their We’re Not Alone EP, and with the addition of that panda it’s even cooler. Check it out, and if you like what you hear make sure you catch the band playing the following shows next month.

3 June 2010 – Hot Damn! @ Spectrum, Sydney
22 June 2010 – The Excelsior, Surry Hills

Posted on 19/05/201019/05/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Midnight Youth’s Jeremy Redmore

After conquering their native New Zealand, Kiwi act Midnight Youth have their sights set on Oz. The band are currently in Australia preparing to support Birds of Tokyo and release their album The Brave Don’t Run, which debuted at number one in NZ. Today I caught up with the band’s lead singer Jeremy Redmore to talk about the album, life on the road, and why he loves to tour Australia.

You’re here to tour with Birds of Tokyo. Are you looking forward to that?
Yeah, it’s huge for us really. We didn’t really expect this, and it’s come at a really good time with the album coming out this week as well. To get on a tour like this, out of nowhere, was a big score for us so we’re really excited.

You’re regular visitors to our shores, having played last year’s Come Together festival and four Aussie tours. What keeps you coming back?
It just feels like a real place to tour. You tour New Zealand and it’s all over in a week. You feel like a real band touring for a month or six weeks. And you can drive for eight hours to a gig. It just feels like you’re really working and you feel like a real band and you can have those stupid bonding moments where you’re fighting or totally going crazy over something, so it’s cool.

What’s life like on the Midnight Youth tour bus?
It’s pretty sweet actually. We actually prefer driving to flying. We get to play our own playlists; we kind of pass the iPod round. I think it goes in waves of taking the piss out of each other to being fast asleep. We tend to have a lot of little stops here and there for pies. We like the odd mince pie.

After you supported INXS in New Zealand, they called you one of the best band they’ve played with in Australasia. What’s it like to hear compliments like that from such music legends?
That was crazy actually because we’d only been together, in the line-up that we played with, for about three or four months. So that was pretty crazy. It was the first time we’d played in front of a decent crowd, a couple of thousand people, and you’re totally in a way out of your depth because you don’t know what you’re doing really. But to come out of it with people saying that you did a good job is pretty cool.
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