Sounds of Oz – Page 687 – Australian music news and reviews

Posted on 12/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

The Tote Hotel to Reopen Its Doors

It looks like there’s life in Collingwood’s Tote Hotel yet. The beloved music venue looks set to reopen its doors under new proprietors.

Yesterday the property owners announced they’d signed a contract with new licensees Andrew Portokallis and Jon Perring. These are the same guys who run Bar Open, Pony, and Yah Yah’s, so chances are they’ll make sure The Tote remains a premier live music destination rather than a soulless pokie-filled joint.

Mr Portokallis told The Age that the hotel had been all but gutted since it closed its doors three months ago, but that they’ll have it “back running as soon as we can patch it up a bit.” The licensees will also apply to waive the venue’s current “high-risk” licencing conditions.

We can expect one hell of a party when The Tote reopens its doors. Watch this space for details!

Image source: The Euskadi 11 @ Flickr

Posted on 11/04/201012/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Introducing Basement Birds, Australia’s Latest Supergroup

Basement Birds may be a new name on the music scene, but chances are you know these guys already. This new outfit features four of the most talented songwriters in the country: Kav Temperley (Eskimo Joe), Kevin Mitchell (Bob Evans, Jebediah), Steve Parkin (Autopilot), and Josh Pyke.

We’ll get our first chance to hear what magic this quartet can create in late June. Four three-track bundles will be released via iTunes on a fortnightly basis. Acoustic versions of each track will also be released every alternate fortnight. Fans can also enjoy more exclusive content via the new Basement Birds website.

With four such talented members, something tells me Basement Birds are going to be big!

Image used with permission from Riothouse

Posted on 11/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Georgia Fields Gives Us “Something Borrowed, Something Blue”

Georgia Fields is currently adding the finishing touches to her new album, but she’s releases this gorgeous song “Something Borrowed, Something Blue” to tide us over.

The track has a wonderful whimsical air about it, with the quirky sounds of a child’s animal toy meeting more traditional orchestration. The song’s romantic without being cloying, and Georgia’s voice is stunning. If this is what we have to look forward to, I can’t wait to hear the LP when it hits stores this winter!

If you feel the same way and live in Melbourne, make sure you catch her single launch at The Toff in Town on April 29. If you’re not in Melbourne don’t sweat it; a full national tour is in the works to coincide with the album’s release.

Posted on 10/04/201009/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Old Man River Announces Aussie EP Tour

It’s been more than two years in the making, but Old Man River is finally heading home for a headline tour to support the release of his new five-track EP You’re On My Mind.

The release will precede Old Man River’s new long player Trust, which should hit stores in the middle of years. I can’t wait to hear this recording which was inspired by Old Man River’s travels in Australia, the Middle East, and India.

Until then though we’ll be content with the album and the tour, for which tickets are on sale now. Old Man River will be joined on the following dates for Ernest Ellis and The Chemist.

7 May – TheTroubadour, Brisbane
8 May – The Vanguard, Sydney
9 May– The Vanguard, Sydney
13 May – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
14 May – Jive, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Albert Music

Posted on 10/04/201009/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Sam Clark Follows Up Broken with New Single

Sam Clark is preparing to release “Send Me a Sign,” the second single from his debut album.

“Send Me a Sign” follows the release of “Broken,” which went all the way to number one on the ARIA Physical Charts and cracked the top 40 singles charts.

“Send Me a Sign” will be released on April 22. Make sure you tune in to Neighbours that night as Sam will be back in Ramsey Street and performing the song. That should help tide us over until Sam’s album, which is nearing completion, hits stores later this year.

Image used with permission from Repertoire Publicity

Posted on 09/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Will Connor Finds His Sea Legs on Sailing, Love and Food

Singer-songwriter Will Connor is about to release his third album Sailing, Love and Food. The disc was inspired by the demise of Will’s relationship, and his newfound love affair with the sea.

Will is a singer who practices what he preaches. After recording the album inspired by the ocean, he set out to experience it first hand on an open sea voyage by kayak.

The singer-songwriter undertook the month-long journey last year to follow the humpback whales as they migrated down the eastern seaboard. The voyage tested his strength and endurance, but was also a thing of beauty as he interacted with these majestic creatures and spent nights sleeping underneath the stars. Something tells me another album’s going to come from his experiences on that journey!

“It was the weirdest thing,” said Will. “I wrote and recorded the album before I ever knew I would take the TransparentSea voyage. Every song on the album is either about sailing, love or food, or a combination of both. Of course there are a few other topics, but these themes forced their way through. So for me the adventure was truly one of those meant-to-be things that made me more aware of the fact me art follows life, and vice versa.”

Sailing, Love and Food will be released in Japan on April 7 and in Australia on April 12.

Image used with permission from Hummingbird PR

Posted on 09/04/201009/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Powderfinger Call It Quits

After seven albums and 21 years together, Powderfinger are calling it a day. Bernard Fanning, Jon Coghill, John Collins, Ian Huag, and Darren Middleton will sign out with a final Aussie tour which will make stops in 21 towns.

In a statement the band said “the Sunsets tour will be Powderfinger’s last ever run of shows. We have decided, after much deliberation and agonising, that after this final tour we will call it a day as a recording and touring band. With the completion of our last album, Golden Rule, we feel that we have said all that we want to say as a musical group. We firmly believe that it is our most complete and satisfying album and can’t think of a better way to farewell our fans than with music that we all believe in and also with, hopefully, our best tour to date.”

The Vines and Jet will join The Finger on selected shows.

Like so many music fans, I’m definitely going to miss them. At least they’re bowing out while they’re still on top, and they’re giving us all the chance to bid them a proper farewell. Tickets to the following shows go on sale on April 30 at 9 am. Mark it in your calendar, because these concerts are going to sell out.

1 September 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Newcastle
3 September 2010 – Convention Centre, Gold Coast
4 September 2010 – Riverstage, Brisbane
7 September 2010 – Regional Entertainment Centre, Tamworth
9 September 2010 – WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
10 September 2010 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
14 September 2010 – Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart
16 September 2010 – Memorial Drive, Adelaide
18 September 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Sydney
24 September 2010 – Supreme Court Gardens, Perth
26 September 2010 – Gardens Amphitheatre, Darwin
28 September 2010 – Convention Centre, Cairns
1 October 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Townsville
3 October 2010 – Showgrounds, Mackay
7 October 2010 – Showgrounds, Rockhampton
8 October 2010 – Caloundra Music Festival, Kings Beach
9 October 2010 – University of Southern Qld, Toowoomba
12 October 2010 – University of Canberra
13 October 2010 – Sports Ground, Albury
15 October 2010 – Showgrounds, Bendigo
16 October 2010 – North Gardens, Ballarat

Posted on 07/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Young Heretics Give Away Their Album

Have the Young Heretics gone mad? The Melbourne duo are offering their new album We Are The Lost Loves to fans as a free digital download prior to its official release on May 7.

Matthew Wright and Kitty Hart decided to leak the album because they believe in the power of their music. Or they may just have lost their marbles. In any case, it’s a great way for music fans to get a taste of the Young Heretics’ theatrical sounds and bold driving beats.

Point your browsers to wearethelostloves.com until May 7 to get the album for free. And if you like what you hear make sure you head to the band’s album launch show at Melbourne’s Toff in Town on May 8.

Image used with permission from Riothouse

Posted on 07/04/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with The Avett Brothers’ Scott Avett

North Carolina’s The Avett Brothers are making music industry waves with the release of their latest album I And Love And You. To coincide with its local release the band is currently enjoying some time Down Under. Yesterday I caught up with Scott Avett, the band’s multi-talented singer, percussionist, harmonica, and banjo player, to chat about his time in Oz, working with legendary producer Rick Rubin, and why he can’t wait to return home.

I believe this is your first Australian tour. How does it feel to be here?
It’s been very nice. Everyone in Australia’s been very inviting and friendly to us.

Many people in Australia may not be familiar with your music yet. How would you describe your sound to the uninitiated?
Every different song you’re going to possibly take subtleties from every different genre, but we just try to play as honest as we can according to the song. For instance, if you’re writing a song in regret, you try to put your place in that regretful sort of state and deliver it as honest as possible. So I think I would describe it as honest.

You’ve just played shows as part of the Bluesfest festival and a sideshow last night in Sydney. How did that festival experience compare with the solo show?
The outdoor festivals always involve variables: weather variables, space variables, crowd variables. The festival show was many many more people, and it was a little more fly-by-night, sort of quick, quick on stage and quick off stage. That adds an urgency that I think comes across on stage. The Sydney show last night, the club show, was much more … it could be subdued at times even though it wasn’t really a subdued show. It was darker and probably a little more calm, calmly delivered if you will.

Do you prefer those smaller, more intimate venues for your music?
We like ‘em both, and we’ve been – since we started in 2001 or 2002 – we’ve been playing all types of different venues. We’ve found that the variety is really healthy for us, and we enjoy playing all types of venues. It forces us to change nightly, which is great.

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