Presidents of the United States of America Play Australia

Once upon a time, when people thought of the Presidents of the United States of America, they didn’t think of Barack Obama or George W Bush. They thought of a rocking musical act from the ‘90s who loved singing about kitties and peaches. And it’s those very presidents that are winging their way back to Australia.

The Presidents haven’t released a new album since 2008 (and who knew they’d even released one that recently?), so there should be plenty of old favourites at these shows. In fact, the band promises to play their breakthrough self-titled album in its entirety, as well as a selection of other choice cuts. And as an extra special bonus, all tickets will come bundled with a free digital download of the Presidents of the United States of American 2013 Australian Tour EP!

Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

8 March 2013 – HiFi, Brisbane
9 March 2013 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
10 March 2013 – Palace, Melbourne
14 March 2013 – HQ, Adelaide
15 March 2013 – Roundhouse, Sydney
16 March 2013 – Metropolis, Fremantle

Image used with permission from Riot House Publicity

Peter Murphy Announces First Aussie Tour

He fronted the pioneering rock band Bauhaus, launched the leading British independent label 4AD, and starred alongside David Bowie in the vampire flick The Hunger. And now for the first time, Peter Murphy is heading to Australia.

The Gothic rock legend will perform his cult solo favourites and Bauhus classics at the following shows. Tickets go on sale tomorrow from Metropolis Touring and the venues.

9 January 2013 – Bakery Artrage, Perth
10 January 2013 – The Gov, Adelaide
11 January 2013 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
12 January 2013 – Factory Theatre, Sydney
13 January 2013 – Beetle Bar, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Reckoning Entertainment

Gin Blossoms Finally Head to Australia

Those nostalgia tours just keep on coming. Gin Blossoms are the latest band to take us down memory lane with shows next February.

Amazingly this is the first time the American band famous for songs like “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You” have every visited us. I suppose it’s better late than never, right? They’re out here to promote their most recent album No Chocolate Cake, but something tells me most music lovers will be there to hear the tracks from the 1996 smash Congratulations I’m Sorry.

Gin Blossoms should be in fine form when they arrive, as they’ve played at least 100 shows every year since 2002. Impressive! Tickets go on sale on October 26 for the following shows.

7 February 2013 – HiFi, Melbourne
8 February 2013 – HiFi, Brisbane
9 February 2013 – HiFi, Sydney
10 February 2013 – Capital, Perth

Image used with permission from Riot House Publicity

My Bloody Valentine Announce First Oz Tour in Decades

The patience of fans has been rewarded, with My Bloody Valentine announcing their first Australian tour for 21 years. The Irish rock pioneers will visit our shores next February.

Founding member Kevin Shields will make the return journey to our part of the world with co-founder Colm Ó Cíosóig, Bilinda Butcher, and Debbie Googe. Without a new album to promote, fans can rest assured they’ll enjoy an evening featuring all the songs they know and love.

Tickets go on sale on at midday Thursday, October 18 through Ticketek.

18 February 2013 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
20 February 2013 – Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane
22 February 2013 – Palace Theatre, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Riothouse Publicity

Pink Announces Aussie Tour

Pink’s currently soaking up the Australian sun on a promotional tour, but it won’t be too long until she returns. Today she announced dates for a 2013 tour to promote her latest number one album, The Truth About Love.

Pink’s announced 12 shows for starters, but as there are plenty of gaps in her schedule we can expect more shows to be added as these inevitably sell out. Pink will stay in Australia for at least five weeks, but considering how long her last tour went I don’t expect we’ll get rid of her that quickly.

It remains to be seen whether the latest tour can beat the 58 sold-out shows she played here in 2009, but with The Truth About Love debuting at number one it seems like Australia’s love affair with the American pop star is far from over.

Tickets for the following shows go on sale from Live Nation on October 17.

25 & 26 June 2013 – Perth Arena, Perth
1 & 2 July 2013 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
7, 8 & 10 July 2013 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
19 & 20 July 2013 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
30 & 31 July & 2 August 2013 – Entertainment Centre, Sydney

Image source: Flominator @ Wikimedia Commons

Dave Dobbyn Plays Greatest Hits Down Under

When I received a press release telling me Dave Dobbyn was returning to our shores for the first time in 20 years I was shocked. It seemed like just yesterday I saw him supporting Shawn Mullins at Newcastle Workers Club. However on consulting Shawn’s discography, it seems my tour was probably even longer than two decades ago! Way to make a girl feel old!

I must admit, on the night I heard Dave was on the Shawn Mullins’ bill I thought I’d enjoy “Slice of Heaven,” and that was about all. Yet I found there was much more to this Kiwi than that radio favourite. I thoroughly enjoyed his set, and I’m sure folks will feel the same when he returns to Australia in November. He’ll be playing a greatest hits set, which I’m assured compromises much more than “Slice of Heaven.”

Find out what else is in Dave’s repertoire when he plays the major capitals later this year. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, September 24, for the following shows.

14 November 2012 – The Corner, Melbourne
15 November 2012 – The Basement, Sydney
16 November 2012 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane

Kelly Joe Phelps Returns to Oz for Album Launch Shows

American blues legend Kelly Joe Phelps will make a pit stop in Australia this spring to promote his latest album Brother Sinner & The Whale.

The album marks a return to form for Kelly Joe, who’s refocusing on the marriage of simple songwriting and his acclaimed slide guitar melodies. Kelly Joe calls Brother Sinner & The Whale a gospel album, but his blues and folk leanings bring something new to that genre. Incredibly it was recorded in just three days.

The Australian shows are nestled amongst more than 200 dates around the world, including shows in Europe, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, and even Iceland. The local dates are especially exciting for fans as Kelly Joe hasn’t performed here in around five years.

Kelly Joe Phelps will launch Brother Sinner & The Whale with the following Aussie shows.

30 October 2012 – Blue Beat, Double Bay
31 October 2012 – Camelot’s Lounge, Marrickville
1 November 2012 – Lizottes, Kincumber
2 November 2012 – Lizottes, Newcastle
3 November 2012 – The Substation, Melbourne
5 November 2012 – Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh
7 November 2012 – Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane
8 November 2012 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
9 November 2012 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
10 November 2012 – Mullumbimby Civic Hall, Mullumbimby

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Mia Dyson Drops “Pistol”

Mia Dyson lays her heart bare with her searing new single “Pistol.”

The second cut from Mia’s new The Moment album, the song is so raw that it bleeds. Just try to stay stoic as you listen to this gut-wrenching rock ballad.

The song’s release comes at just the right time for Mia, as she’s currently playing shows all around the country. Hear her play “Pistol” and much more at the following tour shows.

14 September 2012 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
15 September 2012 – Notes Live, Sydney
16 September 2012 – The Abbey, Canberra
21 September 2012 – Republic Bar, Hobart
22 September 2012 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
4 October 2012 – Clarendon, Katoomba (SOLO)
6 October 2012 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber (SOLO)
11 & 12 October 2012 – Railway Sports and Social Club, Darwin
25 October 2012 – Backwater Blues & Roots Festival @ Mt Gambier Gaol, Mt Gambier
26 October 2012 – Backwater Blues & Roots Festival @ Queens Theatre, Adelaide
27 October 2012 – Sydney Blues Festival, Sydney
8 November 2012 – Mojos, Fremantle
9 November 2012 – Bridgetown Blues, Bridgetown

Lisa Mitchell Announces New Album and Tour

It’s been three long years coming, but Lisa Mitchell is almost ready to release a new full-length album. Bless This Mess, her follow-up to the acclaimed debut Wonder, will hit stores on October 12.

Bless This Mess sees Lisa experimenting with some heavier rock sounds than her first album. However with her trademark whimsical lyrics and sweet melodies still at the fore, fans should lap up the evolution of this exciting singer-songwriter. The album contains the current single and title track “Bless This Mess” and “Spiritus,” the lead single from her recent EP.

Lisa will give us a little time to become acquainted with the new songs before she takes them on the road. Lisa will tour the major capitals and regional centres with a six-piece band and special guests Alpine and Danco (Evermore’s Dann Hume) in tow.

Tickets for the following shows go on sale tomorrow, September 13, at 10 am.

18 October 2012 – Bar on the Hill, Newcastle
19 October 2012 – The Metro, Sydney (All Ages Licensed)
20 October 2012 – Uni Bar, Wollongong
26 October 2012 – The Astor, Perth (All Ages Licensed)
27 October 2012 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
28 October 2012 – HQ, Adelaide
31 October 2012 – Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne (All Ages Licensed)
2 November 2012 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
3 November 2012 – Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta
4 November 2012 – Woombye Pub, Woombye
5 November 2012 – Byron Bay Community Centre, Byron Bay (All Ages Licensed)

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Electric Empire Announce Homecoming Shows

Fresh from a sell-out tour of Japan, Aussie soul act Electric Empire are returning home for an east coast tour. The big brassy outfit will play shows in the capitals and key regional centres to support their new EP Changin’.

Changin’ doesn’t actually hit stores until October 26, but this warm-up tour should generate plenty of buzz before its release. The disc features Electric Empire’s first new material since 2011’s acclaimed Yes I Will record. Changin’ showcases the quartet’s more mature sound, which builds on their soulful leanings and takes them to the next level.

“We’re opening our minds to mixing a bit of a fresher, wider sound,” the band explained. “It’s 2012 and we’re making a record with all that history, but created with a modern feel.”

Electric Empire are getting plenty of attention abroad. Radio Nova in France and key British publications like The Sun and Q Magazine have thrown their support behind the band. They also played the Royal Albert Hall, Glastonbury, and some headline shows in Kazakhstan.

After all that globetrotting they’re keen to play for Aussie audiences. See them doing just that at the following shows. Tickets go on sale at 9 am tomorrow, September 11.

12 September 2012 – Bigsound, Brisbane
1 November 2012 – Heritage Hotel, Wollongong
2 November 2012 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
3 November 2012 – Gearins Hotel, Katoomba
15 November 2012 – AWME @ The Hi Fi, Melbourne
17 November 2012 – Golden Days Festival, Sunshine Coast
23 November 2012 – Mullum Festival, Byron Bay
24 & 25 November 2012 – Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff

Image used with permission from Niche Productions