Tag: Australian tour

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Drugdealer Bringing the Good Stuff to Australia in March

I have a policy of listening to absolutely everything that comes my way. If you judge a book by its cover, or an artist by the way they present, you might miss out on a real gem. If I’d taken Drugdealer on face value, I might have assumed that this band with an edgy name and a long-haired frontman wouldn’t gel with my laidback summer holiday vibe. But nothing could be further from the truth. It turns out this Los Angeles outfit makes some fabulous yacht rock. What’s more, they’re coming your way Australia.

I’ve spent the morning listening to Drugdealer’s 2022 album Hiding in Plain Sight. They’ll showcase songs from that record and previous releases on this tour. Tickets are on sale now and the venues are small, so I’d say you should discover Drugdealer pronto, before you miss out.

4 March 2023 – Nine Lives Festival, Meeanjin/Brisbane
6 March 2023 – Factory Theatre, Eora/Sydney
8 March 2023 – Summertown Studio, Tandanya/Adelaide
9 March 2023 – Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
11 March 2023 – Milk Bar, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from Good Intent; credit: Andrea Adolphy

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Albi & The Wolves Coming to Australia

Kiwi trio Albi & The Wolves have won plenty of fans and awards back home, but they’re largely unknown here across the ditch. Hopefully their upcoming Aussie tour will change all that, because these guys are pretty special.

Albi & The Wolves celebrate their folk rock and Americana influences with a sound you just don’t hear enough in 2022. Using just an acoustic guitar, electric violin, double bass, a stomp, and their stunning vocals, they create such beautiful music I know you’re going to fall for them too. Seriously, I’ve been listening for hours. Take a listen and snap up a ticket to one of the following shows:

30 September 2022 – Humph Hall, Eora/Sydney (Entry by donation)
1 October 2022 – Dashville Skyline Festival, Wonnarua Country/Belford
5 October 2022 – Sewing Room, Boorloo/Perth
7-9 October 2022 – Nanga Music Festival, Nyoongar Country/Dwellingup
13 October 2022 – House Concert, Boorloo/Perth
14 October 2022 – It’s Still A Secret, Meeanjin/Brisbane (with The Long Johns)
15 October 2022 – Dusty Day Out, Wakka Wakka Country/South Burnett Region
16 October 2022 – Sublime Farm, Kabi Kabi Country/Kia Ora (FREE)
19 October 2022 – Dust Temple, Yugambeh Country/Currumbin Waters
20 October 2022 – Eudlo Hall, Eudlo
21-23 October 2022 – Tablelands Folk Festival, Yungaburra
27 October 2022 – Shot Kickers, Naarm/Melbourne (FREE)
28 October-1 November 2022 – Maldon Folk Festival, Djadjawurrung Country/Maldon

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

COTERIE Ready to Headline First National Tour

I meant to write an article about COTERIE’s upcoming tour yesterday. Instead, I found myself travelling down the rabbit hole listening to their music and remembering just how much I love it. I’m still listening today, but I’m a bit more focused on the task at hand!

With Western Australian borders shut for so long, this will be the first time COTERIE have headlined an Aussie tour. Fans have wasted no time snapping up tickets, with several shows already sold out or getting close to it. COTERIE have just wrapped up a tour supporting Kiwi group SIX60, so they’re in fine form right now. Head to their website to get your tickets, because you don’t want to miss out.

29 July 2022 – Northcote Social Club, Naarm/Melbourne (FINAL TIX)
30 July 2022 – Jive Bar, Tarndanya/Adelaide
4 August 2022 – The Great Club, Eora/Sydney (SOLD OUT)
5 August 2022 – The Great Club, Eora/Sydney
6 August 2022 – Woolly Mammoth, Meeanjin/Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
19 August 2022 – Astor Theatre, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kav Temperley and Katy Steele Duet on “Graduation Day”

Western Australian music royalty Kav Temperley and Katy Steele have teamed up for a gorgeous new single “Graduation Day.” I’m a sucker for a high-quality duet, and this track definitely fits the bill. You can feel the connection between these long-time friends as they bring this nostalgic tale to life. Recording the song in Kav’s own Fremantle studio no doubt helped it feel a little more intimate and familiar.

“Growing up in Fremantle, it used to be a right of passage to jump off the old traffic bridge into the river on graduation day,” Kav explained. “People would pull over their cars and yell at you for being reckless and dangerous. The song Graduation Day is the story about someone who stayed behind and somebody who chose to leave, and about how no matter how far you go – there is always this tether pulling you back”.

“Kav is such a great writer and musician and I’ve always had a tonne of respect for him,” Katy added. “This song showcases what a great writer he is so I am truly honoured to be on it! We’ve been hanging out a little recently working on stuff and Kav played me the song in the studio. I guess we share a slight affinity both being the ‘lead singers’ doing solo stuff and all the feelings, pressures and emotions that come with it. It’s been so nice sharing those feelings together, it’s made me feel less alone”.

“Graduation Day” is the latest track lifted from Kav’s sophomore solo release, Machines of Love & Grace. It’s out in September, but if you can’t wait until then to hear more new music I suggest getting along to one of his upcoming shows. If your hometown isn’t listed, don’t despair. It’s only part one of his regional tour, so he might just be on his way to your neck of the woods soon.

14 July 2022 – Froth, Ningaloo/Exmouth
4 August 2022 – Golden Vine, Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Bendigo
5 August 2022 – Our Friends Farm, Tallarook
6 August 2022 – Lighthouse Theatre (Studio), Warrnambool
10 August 2022 – The Gal, Mulumbinba/Newcastle
11 August 2022 – Drifter’s Wharf, Darkinjung Country/Gosford
12 August 2022 – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre @ The Music Lounge, Illawarra
13 August 2022 – Canberra Theatre Centre @ The Studio, Ngambri/Canberra

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Jarrad Levy

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Phil Jamieson Drops Stellar Solo Single Ahead of Aussie Tour

Phil Jamieson is best known as the frontman for legendary nineties and noughties act Grinspoon, but his music is about much more than nostalgia. He’s just released his new solo single “Lights On” and it’s an absolute banger. Would it be sacrilegious to say I like this better than the Grinspoon material? Maybe, but I’m going to say it! That clap-along falsetto-forward chorus has totally won me over!

“It’s been a journey for ‘Lights On’, going through many iterations and arrangements and what not. It’s a fun song to move shoulders and hips to – and its release also means I’m closer to releasing the album!” Phil enthused. “The track might be about a bank heist? At its core, it’s about always keeping your heart in place for the person that you love. But it’s also about memories that might have betrayed you in some ways, and maybe about stealing money and maybe about hiding it. Maybe it’s about a bank heist, Oceans 13, Oceans 8. And it also could be about saying: no matter what, I’m gonna kind of hang in there, I’m gonna be there. So sentimental!”

“Lights On” is the third single lifted from Phil’s new album Somebody Else, which drops on July 29. But before that he’ll do a lap of the eastern states to celebrate the single’s release. With a high-quality band featuring Davey Lane, Sam Raines, and Rob Muiños, these dates will be a lot of fun. Those shows kick off tonight, so get onto it!

2 July 2022 – Gaol After Dark, South West Rocks
27 July 2022 – Eltham Hotel, Eltham
28 July 2022 – Vinnies Dive, Gold Coast
29 July 2022 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
30 July 2022 – The Zoo, Brisbane
4 August 2022 – John Curtin Hotel, Melbourne
5 August 2022 – UC Hub, Canberra
6 August 2022 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
7 August 2022 – Shady Palms, Central Coast
12 August 2022 – Lions Art Factory, Adelaide
20 August 2022 – SS&A, Albury
4 November 2022 – The Big Bonanza, Coffs Harbour

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Ian Laidlaw

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Human Nature @ The Art House, Wyong – 4 June 2022

I think most teenage girls need a boy band in their life. A bunch of good-looking, nice guys creating fun songs that can alleviate some of the angst that inevitably comes with that period. If they’re talented, well that’s a bonus. I like to think I had discerning taste even back then because my boy band of choice was truly talented. While many of my peers were swooning over Backstreet Boys, Take That, and East 17, I was mad for Human Nature. I moved on as so many of us do as we age, but with the fabulous foursome promising a night of greatest hits on the Central Coast, I couldn’t resist taking a trip down memory lane last weekend.

I must admit, as Human Nature began their signature acapella rendition of Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready” I was transported back. I was sitting next to my husband now, but my heart still skipped a beat marvelling at these men who had meant so much to me as a teenager. This was a night when we revelled in nostalgia. Andrew, Mike, Toby, and Phil took turns sharing stories of their journey from the 4 Trax singing at local RSLs to the Las Vegas strip. Their jokes were cornier than I remembered, but the songs still stack up. “Whisper Your Name”, “Wishes”, “Don’t Cry”, “Last to Know” … the hits that had me lining up at countless shopping centre instores kept coming.

Motown has dominated the last few Human Nature shows I’ve seen, so to enjoy a set that celebrated the original music I loved most was thrilling. Back in the day, the sections of Human Nature shows where they stripped the songs back were always my favourites, so I was in raptures to see so many songs get that treatment. Acoustic versions were balanced by big danceable numbers. And in case you’re wondering, these guys still have the moves to match. I found myself squealing as they ripped off their jackets to reveal rippling biceps while performing the dance steps I still know by heart. Sorry, husband.

The night leaned heavily on those nostalgic originals, but after intermission they proved they’re still much more than a covers band. A string of new originals, sadly ignored by radio but every bit as good as their early hits reminded me I really need to dig into their new music. They’ve still got those songwriting chops.

However, as we all know it was covers that gave Human Nature’s careers a shot in the arm and took them to the Las Vegas strip. While it’s incredibly popular, I must admit that I’ve never been a big fan of their Motown material. I always felt there was just a little more heart when they were performing their own songs. However, in a show like this, we got the best of those soul covers. I also can’t deny the power these songs have on the audience. The aisles were filled with people dancing.

This was a night for the fans, whether you were there screaming along at the shopping centre instores or you jumped on the Motown train. Human Nature evoked memories and reminded us all that 30 years on, they’ve still got it. Human Nature have plenty of local shows before Mike, Andrew, and Toby return to the US. If you’ve ever been a fan, you don’t want to miss this:

11 June 2022 – Royal Theatre, Canberra
14 June 2022 – Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Brisbane
15 June 2022 – Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Brisbane
16 June 2022 – The Events Centre, Caloundra
17 June 2022 – The Events Centre, Caloundra
18 June 2022 – Brolga Theatre and Convention Centre, Maryborough
21 June 2022 – Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra
22 June 2022 – WIN Sports & Entertainment Centres, Wollongong
24 June 2022 – Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub, Springwood
25 June 2022 – Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub, Springwood
26 June 2022 – Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub, Springwood
28 June 2022 – Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Wagga Wagga
29 June 2022 – Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Wagga Wagga
30 June 2022 – Griffith Regional Theatre, Griffith
1 July 2022 – Griffith Regional Theatre, Griffith
2 July 2022 – Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury
3 July 2022 – Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury
8 July 2022 – Twin Towns Services Club, Tweed Heads
9 July 2022 – Twin Towns Services Club, Tweed Heads
21 July 2022 – Glasshouse, Port Macquarie
22 July 2022 – Civic Theatre, Newcastle
23 July 2022 – The Star Event Centre, Sydney
24 July 2022 – The Star Event Centre, Sydney
26 July 2022 – Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany
27 July 2022 – Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury
28 July 2022 – Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah
29 July 2022 – Crown Theatre, Perth
30 July 2022 – Crown Theatre, Perth

Image source: Stephen Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Faim Release Catchy New Single, “Me Because of You”

The hits keep coming from Perth rock act The Faim. I keep expecting the quality of their singles to dip at some point, but their latest offering “Me Because of You” is just as irresistible as I hoped it’d be. If you love your rock music with a side order of synths, you’re going to dig this one.

“‘Me Because of You’ was written about embracing change and letting go of a past version of yourself. The lyrics recognise the huge impact someone else can have on the process,” bassist and keyboardist Stephen Beerkens explained. “This song was a huge milestone for us, as it’s our first release that has been self-produced!”

The Faim will set off on their first Aussie tour in three years this July. It’s been a long time coming, so you don’t want to miss it.

15 July 2022 – Vision Studios, Perth (ALL AGES)
16 July 2022 – Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth
21 July 2022 – The Brightside, Brisbane
22 July 2022 – Newcastle Hotel, Newcastle
23 July 2022 – The Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney
24 July 2022 – La La La’s, Wollongong
29 July 2022 – Transit Bar, Canberra
30 July 2022 – Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
31 July 2022 – Enigma Bar, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

LANY @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney – 25 May 2022

Midweek gigs are tough! You get to a certain age and it takes a lot to get you out in your local area, let alone make the trip from the Central Coast to Sydney for a show. But LANY put on one of the greatest live shows I’ve ever witnessed. I might be hurting now, but I was not going to miss it. So back to the Hordern I trudged, ready to back up the weekend’s Dermot Kennedy gig.

Adelaide act Bjéar were a late addition to the line-up after the original support act Sasha Alex Sloan couldn’t make the trip. The enthusiastic crowd didn’t mind the last-minute change one bit. The applause when they took the stage was so rapturous my husband asked me whether the crowd knew this wasn’t the main act. I can’t say, but I can say the young crowd ate up what they did. Meanwhile, I sat there feeling every one of my 42 years. There were moments I enjoyed, especially when the bassist took the mic and we discovered she has the most gorgeous voice. Overall though, the ambling songs and overuse of the vocoder left me feeling a bit disconnected. But as I say, the majority of the young crowd loved it, so maybe there’s something there I’m missing.

While Bjéar weren’t my cup of tea, LANY were all that and more. Near the top of the show, frontman Paul Klein told us we were going to have the best night of our lives. It’s an audacious claim, but I’m not sure he was wrong. I can’t honestly remember a time when I had more fun. Paul has such relentless energy. He’s a born performer, on the whole time whether he’s dancing about or jumping on platforms during upbeat numbers or taking us on a more emotional journey with a tender ballad. As an audience member, it’s infectious. It might have been late on a school night, but we were all partying along with him.

In the three years since LANY last played here, they’ve released two albums. I wondered whether old favourites might be sacrificed for new material, but this set was perfect. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a band get the balance so right. New favourites like “never mind, let’s break up”, “ex i never had”, and “cowboy in LA” took their place against classics like “Thick and Thin” and “Super Far”. I was thrilled to hear so many songs from Malibu Nights, the album that turned me onto the band, make the set. And then there were the deep cuts! After a band releases four albums, you don’t expect to hear early EP tracks like “pink skies” make the set. What a treat!

Speaking of fans, what a joy they are. I must admit, it’s still a little weird to go to concerts where most members of the audience are less than half your age. But after being annoyed by the incessant chatter at the Dermot Kennedy show, I appreciated these fans even more. They were so respectful of the artists, not just the headliner but the support act too. They were properly in it, singing along to every lyric, holding their phones aloft like cigarette lighters, soaking up every moment. No wonder by the end of the show Paul told us that we were the best audience of the Australian tour. He might say that in every city, but we’ll take it. He also assured us they’ll be back next year, the year after that, and every year for the rest of their lives. If they do, so will I. Because nothing is more fun than a LANY show.

LANY will play Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne tomorrow night and Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane on Sunday night before they head to New Zealand. If you’re on the fence about a weeknight gig, just buy the tickets. Life is too short to miss shows this good.

Image source: Stephen Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Savour MID CITY’s New Single, “Choc Mint”

MID CITY’s latest single “Choc Mint” is exactly the kind of high-energy rock number your weekend needs. Just see if you’re not punching your fist in the air by the time that chorus kicks in. Like the love child of Gang of Youths and Arctic Monkeys, the Melbourne band has really outdone themselves here. They had a simple aim with this single: they want to get you moving!

“Our entire existence as a band is about getting people to uncross their arms at gigs,” they said. “There’s enough terrible stuff going on in the world without a bunch of relatively fortunate dudes in a band making people feel worse about themselves or disappearing up their collective musical butts trying to be the saviours of music as we know it. We wanna write fast songs with big choruses that make other things in your life feel less shit.”

Amen to that! “Choc Mint” is the first track lifted from MID CITY’s forthcoming debut album. The band are preparing to play a few shows in Europe but they’ll be back before too long for some Aussie dates. Catch them anywhere you can!

16 May 2022 – Ostpol, Dresden
17 May 2022 – Klubovna, Prague
18 May 2022 – Privatclub, Berlin
19 May 2022 – Nochtspeicher, Hamburg
20 May 2022 – Artheater, Koln
21 May 2022 – Jugendheim, Haldern
24 May 2022 – Schon Shon, Mainz
25 May 2022 – Kohl, Karlsruhe
26 May 2022 – Substanz, Munich
2 July 2022 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
15 July 2022 – The Chippo, Sydney
16 July 2022 – The Greaser, Brisbane (FREE)

Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Nick Manuell

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hilltop Hoods Preparing to Get Back on the Road With “Show Business” Single

With fans already snapping up tickets to The Show Business Tour, there’s no better time to remind you that Hilltop Hoods are bringing new music to your ears and preparing to tour. If you thought their best music might be behind them, press play on their latest track “Show Business” immediately. With special guest vocals from Eamon (remember him?!), this feel-good single is a real crowd-pleaser.

With the pandemic slowing everyone down, Hilltop Hoods haven’t had the chance to headline shows since The Great Expanse World Tour in 2019. This time around they’re taking A.B. Original, Elsy Wameyo, and DJ Total Eclipse along for the ride. Fan club members could nab their tickets yesterday before Telstra Plus members get in on the action tomorrow. The general sale happens at 10 am on Wednesday 11 May. The last shows sold out, so you can expect these ones will too. Don’t say you weren’t warned!

27 August 2022 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
3 September 2022 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
10 September 2022 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
17 September 2022 – RAC Arena, Perth
24 September 2022 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia