Leonard Cohen Announces Encore Tour

Clearly Leonard Cohen had a cracker time in Australia last year. The often reclusive singer will return to our shores in November.

Following three dates in New Zealand, Leonard will tour most of Australia’s capitals. Only Darwin and Canberra miss out, which these days is pretty impressive. Leonard will perform backed by a nine-piece band.

Folks raved about these shows last time. Fans who missed out then will want to snap tickets up when they go on sale on June 3.

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2009 - Day 1


6 November 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
8 November 2010 – Acer Arena, Sydney
12 November 2010 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
15 November 2010 – Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart
18 November 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
24 November 2010 – ME Bank Stadium, Perth

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

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

Guy Sebastian Announces Final Aussie Shows for 2010

Guy Sebastian may be based in the Big Apple these days, but with the original Australian Idol announcing another string of local shows this June and July you’d hardly know he was living abroad!

If you’re a Guy Sebastian fan, you want to get yourself to one of these gigs as they’ll be his last in Oz this year. Consider yourselves warned!

Tickets for all the following dates are on sale from the venues.

Australian Commercial Radio Awards 2009


18 June 2010 – The Palms At Crown, Melbourne (early and late shows)
20 June 2010 – Panthers, Penrith
22 June 2010 – Mounties, Mount Pritchard
23 June 2010 – Southern Cross Club, Canberra
24 June 2010 – Leagues Club, Wyong
25 June 2010 – Workers Club, Revesby
29 July 2010 – Sports Club, Bankstown
30 July 2010 – The Cube, Campbelltown

Michael Buble Gives Australia Crazy Love

Canadian crooner Michael Buble is making things really easy for men hoping to ingratiate themselves next Valentine’s Day. He’s announced an Aussie tour for next February and March.

It seems fitting for Mickey to return to Oz, a country he clearly loves, for his Crazy Love tour, at a time when everyone’s thinking about love. Don’t you just adore the synchronicity?

There are nine dates announced so far, but with plenty of space in between I’m betting that this won’t be the final tour schedule. Tickets for the following shows go on sale from the regular outlets on February 28.

Canadian crooner Michael Buble performing live at the SECC in Glasgow


11 & 12 February 2011 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
14 & 15 February 2011 – Acer Arena, Sydney
22 & 23 February 2011 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
28 February 2011 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
4 March 2011 – Sandalford Wines, Swan Valley
6 March 2011 – Sandalford Wines, Margaret River

Daniel Johnston Acoustic Australian Live Set Gets Digital Release

Punters raved about Daniel Johnston’s shows this February. In between slots at the Laneway Festival and theatres, the American singer-songwriter took time out to record an acoustic session in Sydney’s Albert Studios. Now that live set will be released as an EP through Hub The Label and Albert productions.

The 2005 South By South West Music Festival


The EP features many tracks which have never been released live anywhere in the world. Standout local singer-songwriter Old Man River joins Daniel for “Fake Tales of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” just as he did at the Aussie shows.

The live@albertstudios EP will be available for digital download through iTunes on May 21.

Dionne Warwick Brings World Tour to Oz

When you’ve still got it, you’ve still got it. And Dionne Warwick definitely has. Nearly 50 years since she released her debut single “Don’t Make Me Over,” Dionne will bring her world tour to Australia in July.

We can expect Dionne to belt out all the hits backed by a full band, including “Walk On By,” “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “Do You Know The Way to San Jose,” “Say a Little Prayer,” and many, many, many more.

Tickets go on sale this Friday for the following intimate shows.

Samuel L. Jackson Foundation Ball


13 July 2010 – State Theatre, Sydney
14 July 2010 – Royal Theatre, Canberra
16 July 2010 – Convention Centre, Perth
17 July 2010 – The Plenary, Melbourne

Boys Like Girls and Hot Chelle Rae Unite for Aussie Tour

Boston pop-rockers Boys Like Girls are joining Nashvile quartet Hot Chelle Rae for one big Aussie tour this July.

The spunky lads from Boys Like Girls are here to promote their sophomore album Love Drunk, which features the top 100 single of the same name. The disc is the ideal showcase for the band’s catchy hooks and rich sound. It’s not often bands marry traditional rock instruments with electronic sounds and a string section, but that’s just what makes this one so intriguing.

Hot Chelle Rae are another act on the rise. Riding high on rave reviews for their dance-rock debut album Lovesick Electric, the band are a great addition to the bill.

Next time these musos tour here they’ll be doing so in much bigger venues. Make sure you get in this time around when tickets go on sale on May 7.

9 July 2010 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane (18+)
10 July 2010 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane (Under 18s)
11 July 2010 – Roundhouse, Sydney (Licensed/All Ages)
14 July 2010 – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne (Under 18s)
15 July 2010 – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne (18+)
16 July 2010 – Fowlers, Adelaide (Licensed/All Ages)

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Angus & Julia Stone Announce Massive Aussie Tour

Following the release of their number one album Down The Way, Angus & Julia Stone will embark on their biggest Australian tour later this year.

The disc isn’t just doing big business at home. It came in at number 19 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart in America, and reached number 40 in France. The duo recently sold out dates around the United Kingdom, and they’re about to play Europe, including a slot at The Great Escape, and a handful of dates in North America.

Angus & Julia Stone will return home to play Splendour in the Grass in July, followed by their national tour through August/September.

Tickets go on sale from May 7. Fans can purchase theirs with the new single “Big Jet Plane” for a discounted package price. The single includes three previously unreleased tracks: “Living on a Radio,” “My Malakai,” and the unexpected cover of “You’re the One That I Want.”

Angus & Julia Stone will play the following intimate shows around the country.

18 August 2010 – Moncreif Theatre, Bundaberg
19 August 2010 – Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
20 August 2010 – Andergrove Tavern, Mackay
21 August 2010 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
22 August 2010 – Botanic Gardens, Cairns
25 August 2010 – Civic Theatre, Newcastle
26 August 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
1 September 2010 – Llewellyn Hall ANU, Canberra
2 September 2010 – University Hall, Wollongong
3 September 2010 – Grandstand Hall @ Showgrounds, Hobart
4 September 2010 – The Saloon, Launceston
10 September 2010 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
11 September 2010 – Town Hall, Meeniyan
17 September 2010 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
18 September 2010 – Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth
25 & 26 September 2010 – Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Original Matters

Yusuf Islam, The Artist Formerly Known as Cat Stevens, Announces Aussie Tour

The man formerly known as Cat Stevens is paying Australia a visit. Yusuf Islam will tour Oz for the first time in 36 years this June.

Just don’t expect the same show you might have seen all those years ago. Yusef has written some of the world’s most incredible songs including “Moonshadow,” “Father and Son,” Where Do The Children Play,” and “Peace Train.” But a London comeback show last year was panned by fans and critics alike. Apparently he invited other singers to perform his most popular songs, and he spent 40 minutes previewing his musical Moonshadow, complete with an all-singing and dancing cast. I hear when he did the songs people came for he was great, but there was a whole lot of time when he just didn’t deliver what the fans wanted.

Who knows what Aussie fans will see. Artists like Yusuf are renowned for turning out as many dud performances as spine-tingling ones. Buy tickets at your own risk when they go on sale on May 6.

Yusuf Islam Photocall To Launch His 'Guess I'll Take My Time Tour'


10 June 2010 – Challenge Stadium, Perth
13 June 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
16 & 18 June 2010 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
21 & 23 June 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Sydney
26 June 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane