Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Damien Leith Releases New Book and Digital Single

It’s an exciting time for Damien Leith fans. Remember June, the lovable Irishman’s second novel, hits stores today. The novel is the follow-up to Damien’s first book, One More Time. The tale tells the story of a family who escaped a turbulent life in Northern Ireland ten years earlier, but are haunted by their past.

Then tomorrow Damien’s latest single “Forgive, Forget” will be available for digital download. The new single ise available as a digital bundle with “Hallelujah,” one of Damien’s signature tunes from his Australian Idol stint.

“Hallelujah is my all time favourite song,” Damien said in a statement. “The lyrics and the melody are both haunting and magical and I am thrilled to release the track recorded in full for the first time ever.”

Damien will perform his cover of this Leonard Cohen classic at the Good Friday Appeal at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium tomorrow. The charity event will be broadcast on the Seven Network, so Damien fans should make sure they tune in!

As if that wasn’t enough Damien news, remember that he’s still travelling around the country on his Keys and Strings tour. The tour sees Damien play songs from his acclaimed Remember June album alongside covers of Irish tunes that have inspired him musically. If you haven’t seen the show yet, make sure you get to one of the following venues!

1 Apr 2010 – Cafe Coast Restaurant, Perth
2 Apr 2010 – Friends Restaurant, East Perth
3 Apr 2010 – Charles Hotel, North Perth
9 April 2010 – Kingsford, Souths Juniors
10 April 2010 – Dee Why RSL
14 April 2010 – Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
15 & 16 April 2010 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
17 April 2010 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
23 April 2010 – Coffs Ex Services, Coffs Harbour
24 April 2010 – Ballina RSL
30 April 2010 – Brothers Leagues Club, Cairns
1 May 2010 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
2 May 2010 – Magpies Sporting Club, Mackay
4 May 2010 – Proserpine Cultural Centre
5 May 2010 – Rockhampton Leagues Club
6 May 2010 – Gladstone Entertainment Centre
7 May 2010 – Hervey Bay Boat Club
8 May 2010 – Gympie RSL
9 May 2010 – Tewantin Noosa RSL

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Angus & Julia Stone Go Gold with Number One album

Did you notice that Angus & Julia Stone are still sitting pretty at the top of the ARIA charts? Their latest album Down the Way has retained the number one position for the second week, and achieved gold status to boot. The album has already sold more than 40, 000 units, and counting!

The siblings will wrap up their current Australian tour at this weekend’s Bluesfest. From there it’s off to the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America for tours to support the album’s international release. Many shows have already sold out, so if you’re abroad I’d pick up your tickets soon!

West Coast Bluesfest


10 April 2010 – Schouwburg Motel Mozaique, Rotterdam
12 April 2010 – Duke of York’s Picture House, Brighton (SOLD OUT)
14 April 2010 – Pavilion, Falmouth (SOLD OUT)
15 April 2010 – Cooler, Bristol (SOLD OUT)
16 April 2010 – Brudenell, Leeds
17 April 2010 – King Tuts, Glasgow
18 April 2010 – Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh
20 April 2010 – Glee Club, Birmingham
21 April 2010 – Ruby Lounge, Manchester
22 April 2010 – Shepherds Bush Empire, London
26 April 2010 – Gebäude 9, Cologne
27 April 2010 – Atomic Cafe, Munich (SOLD OUT)
28 April 2010 – Lido, Berlin
29 April 2010 – Molotow, Hamburg (SOLD OUT)
30 April 2010 – Vega, Copenhagen
2 May 2010 – Debaser, Stockholm
3 May 2010 – John Dee, Oslo
5 May 2010 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
6 May 2010 – Oosterpoort, Groningen
7 May 2010 – Café de la Danse, Paris
26 May 2010 – Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood
30 May 2010 – L’Astral, Montreal
2 June 2010 – Revival, Toronto
8 June 2010 – Union Hall, Brooklyn

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with The Fray’s David Welsh

Australia is known the world over for its sun, surf, and sand. And so when it doesn’t deliver for our international guests, I almost feel like we’re letting them down. Alas, today it was grey and stormy when I caught up with The Fray’s guitarist David Welsh for a chat. However, we were determined not to let the gloomy weather get us down as we chatted about the band’s current Aussie tour, upcoming album, and wave of success.

Arrivals At The MTV Australia Awards 2009


I’m sorry we couldn’t have turned on better weather for you!
You know what? It’s alright. We were in Singapore the last couple of days and it was blisteringly hot and humid. This is not bad.

You’re regular visitors to this country. What keeps you coming back?
Well we can still play here, so that’s a positive. It’s a great place to play, actually. I don’t know, it’s something about some combination of our music and the fans here, and the connection that that makes. I don’t know, it’s working and it’s a lot of fun.

You played the first show of your Aussie tour last night in Sydney. How did that go?
It was great. It was really great. There was some very great synergy between the people and us on stage. I think we kind of needed it. The Singapore show was a little rough; it was the first one in a couple of weeks off and we were a little rusty.

And I believe that the Asian audiences can be a bit more reserved too. Is that right?
I think anybody is reserved compared to an Australian!

Fair enough! Will you get a chance to do any sightseeing while you’re here?
I don’t know. I went to a store just now that a friend of mine from LA recommended and I got a shirt, so that’s cool. So that’s something I did!
Continue reading “Q & A with The Fray’s David Welsh” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Slash Headlines MTV Classic Launch in Melbourne

Legendary guitarist Slash will headline a very special show next month to celebrate the launch of pay TV channel MTV Classic.

MTV Classic will replace music channel VH1.It will focus on music from the 1980s through to the naughties. Gee it makes me feel old to see music from my generation is now classed as classic!

“Music is at the heart of MTV Classic … and who better to launch a channel devoted to iconic tracks and artists than one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time, Slash,” said Rebecca Batties of MTV Networks. “We’re excited to be staging MTV Classic: The Launch in Melbourne – a city with major music heritage – and Slash’s performance will be an explosive start – and, no doubt, a defining moment – for MTV Classic and our audience.”

The Slash show will hit Melbourne’s Palace Theatre on April 28. If you’re lucky, you could win tickets through Nova and MTV Australia. Otherwise you’ll just have to catch it when MTV Classic launches at 5 pm on May 1!

Image source: Daigooliva @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chemical Transport Announce Shows to Support Debut EP Release

We’re Not Alone, the debut EP from self proclaimed anti-scenesters Chemical Transport will hit record stores this Friday, April 2.

The EP delivers the band’s traditional grunge and nu-metal sounds with a surprising twist of pop rock and dance. The result is music that is both fresh and instantly accessible.

Chemical Transport will showcase tracks from the recording at the following shows. If there’s not one near you, don’t sweat it. The band promises to announce more gigs around the country soon!

10 April 2010 – Bondi Blitz, Bondi Beach
15 April 2010 – Bull n Bush, Baulkham Hills
24 April 2010 – Spectrum, Sydney
1 May 2010 – Tuggeranong Youth Centre, Tuggeranong

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bacardi Express @ Newcastle Panthers, 27 March 2010

Long time readers of my blog would have some idea of the music I embrace and the concerts I tend to frequent. None of these readers would expect to find me at a Bacardi Express show, yet when a couple of complimentary passes were thrown my way I figured “Why not broaden my horizons?”

I felt like a bit of a fish out of water as I queued with all the young things at Newcastle Panthers. I haven’t been into a nightclub for more than a decade, and I didn’t quite know what to expect. I certainly didn’t expect to have such a good time.

After DJ Sampology warmed up the crowds, the Cassette Kids took to the stage. After interviewing them earlier in the month I developed a soft spot for these talented young Aussies, and they didn’t let me down. Lead singer Katrina is such a compelling performer; I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She thanked the growing crowd for arriving early, and they responded to the big hits “Spin” and “Nothing on TV.” They might have been the first act on the bill, but for me they were the best.

I was also impressed with Miami Horror, although I admit I couldn’t place them until they performed “Sometimes.” I hadn’t heard any of their other material before, but their retro pop influences made the tunes feel familiar nonetheless. As a child of the 80s, I really enjoyed their synth driven sound and happily danced along with the growing throng.

Continue reading “Bacardi Express @ Newcastle Panthers, 27 March 2010” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Watch Out for Wren

Combine heavy synth and moody indie beats and you’ve got Wren, one of the most exciting new acts to come out of Melbourne.

Songstress Tess Henderson evokes Angie Hart with her ethereal voice and vulnerability, something sorely lacking in the electro music landscape. Her angelic voice is a delicious contrast to the darker instrumentation of bandmates Tarko Sibbel on synths, James Tudball on drums, and Jules Pascoe on bass.

“Wren is about finding a musical balance between light and shade and exploring more challenging themes,” Tess explained in a statement. “I am so fortunate to have such phenomenal musicians/writers involved in this new project. I’m absolutely loving working with them.”

Melbournians can check out what Wren are all about when they support Jackson Jackson at The Evelyn on 23 April.

Image used with permission from Eileen Francisco

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Lazys Tour Oz This April

Central Coast rock outfit The Lazys are hitting the road to support their brand new single “Hey Mr Mr.” The track is just a taste of things to come, with the band’s debut album Prison Earth scheduled to hit stores this June.

If you’ve never seen The Lazys live, there’s no better time. The straight up rockers have built up a solid live reputation after support slots with Gyroscope, The Living End, and Grinspoon, not to mention appearances at the Come Together and Coaster festivals. See what all the fuss is about when The Lazys arrive in your town!

8 April 2010 – The Troubadour, Brisbane
9 April 2010 – Bon Amici Café, Toowoomba
10 April 2010 – Miami Tavern, Gold Coast
14 April 2010 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
16 April 2010 – Spectrum, Sydney
17 April 2010 – Pot Bellys Bar, Canberra
22 April 2010 – Rubys Lounge, Belgrave
23 April 2010 – Cherry Bar, Melbourne
24 April 2010 – The National Hotel, Geelong
6 May 2010 – The Oxford Hotel, Wollongong
8 May 2010 – Woodport Inn, Erina
12 May 2010 – Irish Murphies, Launceston
13 May 2010 – Spurs Saloon, Devonport
14 May 2010 – Magintys Bar, Burnie
15 May 2010 – The Brisbane Hotel (All ages in the afternoon, 18+ at night)

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Black Ryder Score International Releases and The Cult Support Slot

Things are on the up for moody psychedelic outfit The Black Ryder. The band has just inked deals which will see their debut album Buy The Ticket, Take the Ride released in Japan and the United States of America.

Rave reviews at home inspired Vinyl Junkie in Japan and Mexican Summer in the USA to take a chance on the Aussie duo. Of course, it’s not really much of a gamble. Aimee Nash and Scott Ryper earned international acclaim as part of The Morning After Girls, and the album features collaborations with Ricky Maymi of Brian Jonestown Massacre and Leah Shapiro and Peter Hayes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Live shows from The Black Ryder are somewhat of a rarity, which makes their recent appointment as support act for the Cult’s Love Live national tour this May even more exciting. You can see the Black Ryder and The Cult at the following shows around the country.

5 May 2010 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
6 May 2010 – Big Top Luna Park, Sydney
8 May 2010 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
10 May 2010 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
12 May 2010 – Metro Theatre, Perth

Image used with permission from Original Matters

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Celebrate Record Store Day This April

As an old school music fan, I’m a big supporter of Record Store Day. There’s just something so satisfying about thumbing through the CDs and taking your tangible purchases to the counter that iTunes and the like could never hope to replicate.

Record Store Day celebrates that experience with appearances from some of the music industry’s heavy hitters. Last year we saw Jessica Mauboy, Short Stack, Wes Carr, and even Irishman Ronan Keating making old-fashioned instore appearances, and I’m expecting another big line-up this year.

To see who’s visiting your local record store on April 17 keep an eye on the Record Store Day website. There’s been no announcements made as yet, but if the first year was any indication this one’s going to be big!

Image source: Opethpainter @ Flickr