Tag: Australian tour

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Solo Dan Auerbach Heads to Australia

Dan Auerbach made a big impression as the lead singer and guitarist for The Black Keys. Now he’s continuing to impress with his first solo effort, Keep It Hid.

Dan will showcase tracks from this amazing release, plus plenty of Black Keys hits, at his very first Australian shows in April. He’s out here to play the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival in Byron and the Boogie Festival in Melbourne, but there are also plenty of chances to see him up close and personal at some intimate side shows.

Here are all the dates!

3 April 2009 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
4 April 2009 – The Zoo, Brisbane
6 April 2009 – The Basement, Sydney
7 April 2009 – The Annandale Hotel, Sydney
9 April 2009 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
10 April 2009 – East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Byron Bay
11 April 2009 – Boogie Festival, Melbourne

Image source: PR Photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lily Allen Announces Aussie Tour

Australia loves Lily Allen. Local music fans sent her sophomore album It’s Not Me, It’s You straight to the top of the charts, and now the loudmouthed Brit is heading Down Under to say thanks.

But if you don’t live on the east coast, or you’re under the age of 18, you’re going to miss out. Lily’s announced just three gigs, and a MySpace Secret Show.

Given the small venues and Lily’s massive popularity, I’d get in quick when tickets go on sale March 2 if I were you. Consider yourself warned!

8 June 2009 – Tivoli, Brisbane
9 June 2009 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
10 June 2009 – The Forum, Melbourne

Image source: PR Photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Abby Dobson Releases "Horses"

The voice of Leonardo’s Bride Abby Dobson is preparing to release “Horses,” the latest single from her debut solo album Rise Up. The track has already earned critical acclaim, placing second in the 2008 International Songwriting Competition.

The single, which will drop on March 13, will include an exclusive bonus track “High Like Heaven” which was recorded live at Abby’s Spiegeltent show in Melbourne last November. Abby worked with acclaimed director Bart Borghesi (Eskimo Joe, You Am I, The Living End, Something For Kate) on the “Horses” video, which was shot at Melbourne Museum.

To celebrate the single’s release, Abby will embark on an Australian tour in March. Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

13 March 2009 – Garden of Unearthly Delights, Spiegeltent, Fringe Festival, Adelaide
18 March 2009 – The Gearin Hotel, Katoomba
19 March 2009 – The Basement, Sydney
20 March 2009 – Tempus Two Winery, Hunter Valley
21 March 2009 – Manly Boat Shed
24 March 2009 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
26 March 2009 – Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave
27 March 2009 – The Studio, Geelong
28 March 2009 – Capers, Hawthorn
2 April 2009 – Sound Lounge, Gold Coast
4 April 2009 – Bon Amici, Toowoomba
5 April 2009 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay

Image used with permission from Original Matters

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sparkadia Dreams of European Success

Sparkadia hopes to crack the tough European market with a move to Germany later this year. The Sydney four-piece will base themselves in Berlin, where they plan to record a new album and tour Europe.

You can say goodbye (or should that be auf Wiedersehen?) to the band at their farewell shows in March and April. Brisbane’s John Steel Singers and Sydney’s The Jezabels will join them on the road.

Here are the dates!

8 March 2009 – Rock It Festival, Joondalup
12 and 13 March 2009 – The Zoo, Brisbane
21 March 2009 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
4 April 2009 – The Factory, Sydney

Image source: KingDaveRa @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jason Mraz Back for Blues Festivals and Sideshows

Jason Mraz’s love affair with Australia continues. The laid-back American troubadour will embark on his sixth local tour next April.

This is bound to be the biggest tour yet thanks to the popularity of this smash hit single “I’m Yours” and the album it came from, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

So it’s fitting that Jason will tour with a seven-piece band and two big support acts. In a stroke of synchronicity, Jason will take fellow Californian Eric Hutchinson on the road with him. Eric’s song “Rock & Roll” appeared in recent advertisements for Channel Seven’s series Packed to The Rafters, replacing the drama’s original tune “I’m Yours.” Australia’s own Lisa Mitchell will round out the stellar bill for these shows.

The tour’s highlights will include performances at the Bluesfest Byron Bay and the West Coast Blues & Roots Festival. He’ll also co-headline Adelaide’s Music in the Park concert with Missy Higgins.

If you still haven’t grabbed a copy of the album, you might want to hold off. We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. will be released as a 2CD/DVD expanded edition on March 6. It includes the album, three previously unreleased EPs, a 20-page booklet with lyrics and additional artworks, and a full band live DVD. It’s enough to tempt me to fork out for another copy!

Every show sold out on Jason’s last tour, and I expect this one’s going to go the same way. Tickets go on sale on Thursday 19 February, so get in quick! Here are all the dates!

13 April 2009 – Byron Bay Bluesfest, Belongil Fields
14 April 2009 – Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane
15 April 2009 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
17 April 2009 – Bonython Park, Adelaide (Missy Higgins to perform instead of Lisa Mitchell)
18 April 2009 – West Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Fremantle
20 April 2009 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne

Image source: Bauer-Griffin

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Madonna Sticky and Sweet Tour Not Heading to Australia

It seems there’s no truth to the rumors that Madonna’s Sticky and Sweet tour will visit Australia later this year.

Undercover says Madonna’s record label has denied the stories and the promoter who was negotiating with Madonna before the dollar crashed says the talks are off the table. The dates published in newspapers last week don’t check out with venue bookings either.

Sorry Madonna fans but it all makes sense. When the tour was originally planned we were getting 95c to the US dollar. These days it’s sitting at around 65c. For shows so spectacular, the cost after the conversion would be phenomenal.

It looks like Madonna fans would be better off saving for an overseas trip if they want to catch the show, because I can’t see it finding its way here.

Image source: Bauer-Griffin

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kate Miller-Heidke Announces Caught in the Crowd Shows

One of my favourite albums of 2008 was Curiouser by Kate Miller-Heidke, so I’m pretty excited she’s finally taking her new songs on the road.

The tour coincides with the release of “Caught in the Crowd,” the very different follow-up to “Can’t Shake It.” This sees Kate in introspective mode, dealing with the regret she feels at seeing schoolyard bullying as a child and doing nothing about it.

Kate will criss-cross the country in February and March, so there’s no excuse for not catching her “Caught in the Crowd” tour.

Here are all the dates!

5 February 2009 – Roar Sounds @ Melbourne Zoo
6 February 2009 – Ha Penny’s, Geelong
7 February 2009 – The Palais, Hepburn Springs
8 February 2009 – St Kilda Festival
10 and 11 February 2009 – Clarendon Hotel, Katoomba
13 February 2009 – Newcastle Leagues Club
14 February 2009 – Waves, Wollongong
15 February 2009 – Soco Cargo, Sydney
19 February 2009 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
20 February 2009 – The Capital, Bendigo
21 February 2009 – Peninsula Lounge, Moorooduc
27 February 2009 – Coolongatta Hotel, Gold Coast
28 February 2009 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
1 March 2009 – Community Centre, Lake Kawana
4 March 2009 – Spurs Tavern, Devonport
5 March 2009 – Republic Bar, Hobart
6 March 2009 – Batman Fawkner, Launceston
8 March 2009 – Push Festival, Old Abbotsford Convent
9 March 2009 – Stage 88, Canberra
12 March 2009 – Seaview Tavern, Woolgoolga
13 March 2009 – Armidale Club, Armidale
15 March 2009 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
18 March 2009 – Brunswick Music Festival @ Brunswick Town Hall
19 March 2009 – Amplifier, Perth
20 March 2009 – Players, Mandurah
21 March 2009 – Fly By Night, Fremantle

Image source: Ed-meister @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Soul Icon Syl Johnson To Tour Oz

I’m sure most Syl Johnson fans thought the soul legend would never grace our shores. But funnily enough, at the age of 72, he’s decided to make his first trip Down Under next month.

For those of you who don’t know about Syl, let me clue you in. He played with blues icons Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells, and Magic Sam before launching his solo career. His breakthrough hit was “Take Me To The River,” a song which has since been covered by Al Green and Talking Heads.

These days kids might be more familiar with Syl’s work through the samples used by Wu-Tang Clan, Get Boys, Cypress Hill, and dare I say it, MC Hammer.

Right now there’s only two places around the country you can see this living legend. He’ll play Melbourne’s Corner Hotel on February 14 and Perth’s  Charles Hotel on February 21. Hopefully more shows will be added for those of us in other states!

Image source: Masahiro Sumori @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Baby Animals Still Rocking

It looks like the Baby Animals might be back together for good. After a 15 year break, the band got back together last year to record the acoustic best of, Il Grande Silenzio. Now it seems a third studio album, the first since 1993’s Shaved and Dangerous, might not be too far off.

“I think that a relevant quote for the story of my life would be ‘Time Flies’,” lead singer Suze DeMarchi said in a statement. “It’s been a year since we did our last shows and a year that proved to be really creative but also a reminder of how geography affects everything!! Dave and I have been plowing ahead with work on new songs.”

We can expect to hear the new songs when the Baby Animals hit the road in April. Here are all the dates.

5 April 2009 – The Gov, Adelaide
7 & 8 April 2009 – Prince of Wales, Melbourne
9 April 2009 – Shoppingtown Hotel, Doncaster
11 April 2009 – Chelsea Heights Hotel, Melbourne
12 April 2009 – Hallam Hotel, Melbourne
15 April 2009 – Waves, Wollongong
17 April 2009 – Revesby Workers
18 April 2009 – Doyalson RSL, Wyong
19 April 2009 – Rooty Hill RSL
21 April 2009 – The Metro, Sydney
23 April 2009 – Caloundra RSL, Sunshine Coast
24 April 2009 – Mansfield Tavern, Brisbane
25 April 2009 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast

To get you in the mood here’s a little “Early Warning”!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lisa Mitchell on the Road

Lisa Mitchell may have found fame through reality TV program Australian Idol, but the talented teen has remained fiercely independent. She turned down several major recording deals, choosing instead to further her own sound and develop her songwriting.

She will show off her latest material at shows all around the country later this month.

“I feel like it’s a bit darker than some of the other stuff I’ve done,” she told The Sunday Telegraph. “It’s hard to put into words because it [her debut album] isn’t finished, but it’s a continuation along the same lines as my EP.”

While you’re waiting for the album, make sure you check out this amazing talent at one of the following shows!

16 January 2009 – Republic Bar, Hobart
17 January 2009 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
20 January 2009 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
23 January 2009 – Jive, Adelaide
24 January 2009 – Fly By Night, Fremantle

Image source: Foraggio Fotographic @ Flickr