Kate Ceberano’sAustralian Made album went a little under the radar on its release last August. Honestly, I wasn’t aware she’d recorded an awesome album of live Aussie covers until she supported Jimmy Barnes on his Working Class Man shows last year. If you weren’t in the loop when she sold out shows last year, you’ll appreciate that she’s planning an encore tour later this year.
“Last year was an unexpected runaway success,” Kate said. “It ended up being the biggest rock move of my career. Coming back to do it again, and push it further, felt irresistible.”
If you saw Kate’s Australian Made shows last time, this tour is still worth another look. Kate promises to refresh the setlist, expand the arrangements, and tell more stories about her connection to iconic Aussie anthems.
“It’s the same engine, but a different gear,” Kate explained. “The setlist’s been reworked, stretched, and opened up. More stories. More risk. More Australian classics, old and new, and more room to live inside the songs.”
Kate Ceberano’s new Australian Made encore tour kicks off in London in August before the Aussie run commences in Boorloo/Perth in September. Tickets went on sale this morning, so jump on them at the links below!
As it became clear that New South Wales would swelter on Saturday, I began to dread Jimmy Barnes’ Working Class Man 40th Anniversary show in Wonnarua Country/Pokolbin. If I hadn’t spent around $200 on the ticket, I might have cancelled. I became even more nervous as we neared Bimbadgen Estate and saw the car’s temperature gauge click over to 43 degrees. I felt nauseous by the time I found my seat and started to worry that this was all a bad idea. But superb music, and a healthy dose of soda water, has a way of making everything better.
John Rooney was a late addition to the bill. Ordinarily I would have made sure to catch an artist I wasn’t familiar with, but I’m sure in the heat he’d forgive me missing his set. One artist I wouldn’t miss is Kate Ceberano. She’s always excellent, but I’m not sure I’ve ever enjoyed a set as much as this one promoting her new Australian Made live album. I wasn’t familiar with this release, so every classic cover was a surprise. Hits of the past like “Boys in Town” and “Barbados” fit her like a glove, while modern tracks like “Chandelier” and “The Joker and the Thief” were unexpected joys. And she was always going to make the Barnesy-loving crowd happy with a cover of Cold Chisel’s “You Got Nothing I Want.” Kate also treated us to plenty of her own numbers including “Bedroom Eyes” and a reggae-tinged take on “Pash.” While she stole focus with her effortless charisma, I’ve got to give praise to her stellar band including the always fabulous HARTS. What a fantastic surprise to see such a brilliant artist in his own right sharing the stage with our Kate.
Kate’s celebration of Aussie music perfectly led in to Ian Moss’s solo set. Another national treasure and Jimmy’s former bandmate, he was always going to go down a treat with this crowd. It’s been some time since I’ve seen Mossy with a full band, so it was a real thrill to hear songs from his entire career given that electric treatment. From Cold Chisel hits like “Choir Girl” and the epic closer “Bow River” to “Nullarbor Plain” from 2024’s Rivers Run Dry, it was top notch. I also loved seeing Ollie Thorpe, who I last saw as part of The Whitlams’ Black Stump Band, with Mossy. He got his chance to really shine sharing vocal duties on “Georgia on My Mind.”
I was really looking forward to Icehouse after they blew Hall & Oates off the stage in 2012. I’m pleased to report they have very much still got it. The blend of founding member Iva Davies and long-term bandmates Paul Gildea and Paul Wheeler with newer members like saxophonist Hugo Lee and keyboardist Michael Best is inspired. They sound so tight, unmistakeably Icehouse, yet so fresh. I also loved seeing the supremely talented Michael Paynter doing double duty with Icehouse and Barnesy. Icehouse has a catalogue that is so rich, you don’t realise how many hits they had until they’re delivering them. They performed so many of them with the kind of energy that makes you forget many of the band members have done these songs for decades. They still seem to relish sharing their music with us. When a band plays with such precision and enthusiasm, you will always have a good time.
Remember how there was that heatwave that had me feeling nauseous? It persisted right up until Jimmy Barnes was due to take the stage. And then the weather took a serious turn. The winds came. The rains came. Oh how they came. Massive droplets that had us soaked to the skin, because of course we had been so worried about packing frozen water, fans, and damp face washers that we hadn’t thought to grab ponchos. We were told the concert would be “paused” and we should seek shelter. It honestly felt worse than the Sting show which was abruptly axed, so I braced myself for a cancellation. Although there was a voice in my head saying “I did not sweat it out only to go home!” And then thankfully, the rain disappeared, at least temporarily, and the show went on. And how.
Given all we had endured, Jimmy seemed determined to make it worth our while. He’s always the kind of guy who gives his all, but he seemed to have a little extra in the tank as he treated us to every song from his breakthrough solo album For the Working Class Man. I loved the opportunity to hear many songs that don’t make his typical sets like “Without Your Love” and “Promise Me You’ll Call.” Given the length of the album, I knew there’d be a few more songs besides, but it was a mystery which tracks would make the cut. There were some old favourites like “Too Much Ain’t Enough Love” and “Lay Down Your Guns” as well as more recent cuts which tie so easily back to early material like “Shutting Down Our Town,” inspired by his upbringing in Elizabeth, and “Beyond the River Band,” a tribute to his love with his beloved Jane who lent her backing vocals and bagpipe skills to the night.
The songs are just one part of the Jimmy Barnes experience. We love them, but we also love him. He’s one of us, our working-class man. In a place like Wonnarua Country/Hunter Valley, a significant coal mining area, his humble beginnings resonate. He might be up on that stage, but he talks to us like we’re old friends. He joked about the “fucking hurricane”, noting that he felt like the president as organisers tried to usher him to a car as the heavens opened up. He said he refused, rebelliously declaring “If we die, we all die together!” That’s our Jimmy.
I am such a fan, I will listen to Jimmy perform anything and lap it up. But there’s something special about being amongst a bunch of Australians as Jimmy belts out monster hits like “Working Class Man” and “Khe Sanh.” I felt it even more intensely on Saturday night, perhaps because we had all gone through so much. The heat, the storms, the joy that made it all worth it. The conditions made me dread this concert, but it was such a beautiful celebration of Aussie talent that I am so glad I put my concerns to the side and attended.
Jimmy Barnes and his ultra-talented mates will continue the Working Class Man 40th Anniversary shows in Eora/Sydney this week and through 2026. And it’s likely to be hot. Bring your water, sunscreen, and hats, and just do it. I promise you, you will not be sorry. Tickets are still available for all remaining dates:
Some of Australia’s best and brightest female talents are coming out to celebrate International Women’s Day with two massive days of events in Boonwurrung Country/St Kilda on the Labour Day long weekend. Event ambassadors Kate Ceberano, Tania Doko, and Ella Hooper are among the talents taking part in ROAR FEST Celebrating Women in Music which aims to see “more women on and off the stage”.
“It has always been my intention as an artist, to carve a path for other women to walk,” Kate explained. “This festival is a way for women in music to share our songs, discuss the work behind the music, share wisdom and stories of touring and performing. On the bill are friends, family and musicians who I admire and love”
“There’s been a lot of talk but not a lot of action to address the lack of women on festivals. This festival IS the action!” Ella enthused. “It also celebrates several eras, genres and generations, making it unique in its appeal. You can come with your girls, your mum or your aunties, and your brothers and uncles! All are welcome. The fact its women led behind the scenes is unique and very rare. Not to mention female crew and industry workers manning the sound and lights. ROAR is walking the talk!”
The highlights will be two big concerts at the end of each day. On Saturday March 8, ROAR FEST presents Women on the Bay at George Lane. This concert focuses on emerging artists and has a ripper bill featuring Kathleen Halloran, Charlie Needs Braces, Ruby Mae, Charlie Lane, and Wild Gloriosa. On March 9, the event concludes with the headlining concert at the National Theatre hosted by Ella Hooper with performances from Kate Ceberano, Tania Doko, WILSN, Gabriella Cilmi, and Gypsy Lee.
ROAR FEST will also feature a panel discussion event with the event ambassadors, Women in Music photo exhibition, Inaugural Women in Music St Kilda guided walking tours, live and local showcases and buskers, and heaps more.
Head to the ROAR FEST website for all the details of this exciting celebration of women in music.
Knowing absolutely everything sounds better when it’s backed by a symphony orchestra, Kate Ceberano is revisiting her hits with the release of her new album My Life is a Symphony. After hearing the way the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra elevate ‘90s pop banger “Pash” to an absolute epic, I’m pretty excited for the rest of this record.
“This album was conceived and the orchestra recorded in the last months before the Covid “blackout”! After several years of waiting to complete it, when I finally got to return to the project and record the vocals it was a very emotional experience for me…back in a studio where i had recorded Brave 35 years before – and with my daughter now singing BVs,” she gushed. “I never wanted to take anything for granted again. I was more committed, bolder, and more willing to back my stories and songwriting. The power of the orchestra, the arrangements by my talented friend Roscoe have given new life to songs that together we cherrypicked from my albums over the years. Songs that are meaningful to me, earmarking personal memories and travelling with me across four decades.”
My Life is a Symphony drops on May 12. Kate will tour all around the country playing festivals and headlining shows with state orchestras from May promoting its release. Here are the dates so far, but if she hasn’t announced your nearest city don’t stress. More shows will be announced in the coming months.
11 March 2023 – Brighter Days Festival, Dhudhuroa, Taungurung, Waywurru, Gunaikurnai and Jaithmathang Country/Bright
18 March 2023 – Lighthouse Theatre’s 40th Anniversary, Dhauwurd Wurrung Country/Warrnambool
27 May 2023 – Hamer Hall, Naarm/Melbourne (with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)
10 June 2023 – Adelaide Festival Centre’s Festival Theatre, Tartanya/Adelaide (with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra)
5 July 2023 – Big Red Bash, Wirrarri/Birdsville
18 August 2023 – Mundi Mundi Bash, Wilyakali Country/Broken Hill
25 August 2023 – Stranded in the Whitsundays @ Daydream Island Resort, Ngaro Country/Whitsundays (with Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Black Sorrows, and Mahalia Barnes)
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute; credit: Justine Walpole
I don’t know about you, but I need gigs to look forward to. My concert calendar is looking pretty bare, and I find myself pulling out of plans I’ve already made because it seems like the safest option right now. Perhaps that reluctance to lock things in sees plenty of great tickets available for Rochford Wines’ Sunset Sounds. Because with a line-up featuring some of Australia’s most beloved acts, it should already be sold out.
This bill is stacked, with Daryl Braithwaite, Ian Moss, Kate Ceberano, The Black Sorrows, Russell Morris, Ross Wilson, Thirsty Merc, Chocolate Starfish, Wendy Matthews, The Chantoozies, and Bjorn Again all set to entertain Victoria crowds. Despite this, there are tickets available in all categories, including in all those fancy pants VIP sections. That’d be what I’d opt for. After all, it’s probably been so long since you’ve bought tickets for anything you can justify the splurge!
“Since establishing Sunset Sounds three years ago and selling out multiple shows in QLD and NSW, we are beyond excited to blow those Covid blues away, bringing a celebration of non-stop hits with a who’s who of classic Aussie rock (with a touch of ABBA) to the iconic Yarra Valley,” said Empire Touring’s Director and certified vibe creator, Marc Christowski.
“It is so thrilling to once again – after what seems like an eternity – share a stage at The Rochford Wines Sunset Sounds concert with Ian Moss, Kate Ceberano, The Black Sorrows, Russell Morris, Thirsty Merc and more,” added Daryl Braithwaite. “It is going to be so good.”
Sunset Sounds hits Rochford Wines in the Yarra Valley on February 26. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketek.
Jade MacRae takes us on a sonic trip back in time with her gorgeous new single “Weather The Storm.” It feels like an instant classic, the kind of poised ballad that Dionne Warwick or Anita Baker may have released back in the day. Jade recorded the song just before the pandemic hit. It was a challenging time for everyone, but especially Jade who has spent the last four years touring the United States with Joe Bonamassa.
“Spending the duration of the pandemic in the USA was a challenging and eye-opening time,” she admitted. “The tension due to racial injustice and the political climate being so heated only added to the stress of Covid-19 and our industry being completely shut down. I don’t do so well being idle, but some of my peers managed to channel their creative energy into other projects and that was inspiring for me through a difficult time.”
However, if not for the pandemic Jade may never have discovered Kate Ceberano’s gift for the visual arts. She enlisted Kate to create the artwork for her new single.
“I started seeing Kate posting incredible art that she was creating every day – drawings, paintings, guitars she was decorating. One series she created (her ‘space’ series) really spoke to me, and I asked if she would consider creating something for me for the cover art of Weather The Storm, which I had recorded pre-Covid” Jade explained. “She was generous enough to agree and I couldn’t be more thrilled with what she presented to me. She really captured the essence of the song and transformed it into something visually beautiful. I’m hoping to do a 7” vinyl release to really honour what she has created in a physical form.”
After spending so much of the pandemic locked down in the US, Jade is itching to get back in front of local audiences. You can catch her at the following venues over the coming months:
27 May 2021 – Lizotte’s Newcastle
5 June 2021 – Cronulla Jazz and Blues Festival @ The Brass Monkey (with Ray Beadle, Jonathan Zwartz, Andrew Dickeson, and Clayton Doley)
6 June 2021 – Camelot Lounge, Marrickville NSW
18 June 2021 – The Great Club, Marrickville (with Karen Lee Andrews)
5 July 2021 – Starfish Club @ Clovelly Bowling Club, Clovelly
24 July 2021 – The Jazz Lab, Melbourne
I was intrigued by the first single “Monument City Lights, 19733,” but it didn’t quite gel with me. However, I’m a much bigger fan of the latest taste of the album, “All Tied Up.” I think Kate might give one of the best vocals of her career on this track, which she says is unlike anything else in her back catalogue. That’s exciting in and of itself. You’re not just getting a taste of nostalgia here folks; these guys are creating brand new music that pushes the boundaries.
“When I listen to ‘All Tied Up’ now, I can’t help feel as though someone else wrote and sang this song … it’s so different to any other song I’ve ever sung,” Kate confirmed. “I wrote from within the words, I was writing the music and the melody to create an atmosphere of surf, empty space and unfinished business. It’s like the sound of the suburbs where I grew up. Pregnant with subtext …”
Kate wrote the music for these songs after receiving lyrics from Steve and Sean. That unique collaborative process and the talents involved should make this album something special. The Dangerous Age drops on January 31.
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute
Domestic and family violence are some of the most pressing issues facing our society today. A host of talented local musicians are doing the bit to raise awareness with the release of a cover of John Farnham’s smash “You’re The Voice.”
The track features some of the biggest names in music today: Katie Noonan, Kate Ceberano, Isaiah, Troy Cassar-Daley, Montaigne, and Archie Roach.
“I’m so proud of the positive response from the Australian community and music industry in rallying together to support this initiative. It is a testament to the power of music being able to make a difference,” Katie said. She’s the artistic director of this year’s Queensland Music Festival. As part of the program, a 2000-strong choir will come together to sing “You’re The Voice” at South Bank Piazza. It happens at 5 pm on July 29, so check it out if you’re in the area.
All money raised from iTunes sales of the “You’re The Voice” single benefits the Sony Foundation and DV Connect, a Queensland-based 24/7 crisis response group. One thing I personally like about DVConnect is that it doesn’t discriminate. It understands that people of both genders can be victims of domestic violence, so it has a womensline (1800 811 811) and a mensline (1800 600 636). After watching The Red Pill this week, that sort of real gender equality matters to me. If you want to support it to, you know where to find the single!
Enjoy a night of great music for a good cause at Altitude. Kate Ceberano, jazz chanteuse Ali Bodycoat, soulful Stratosfunk, and rock-pop string quartet ISQ will provide the entertainment at the swanky event to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of WA.
Altitude 2014 promises to be the highlight of Perth’s social calendar, with an innovative audio visual display, a recreated airport runway stage, and custom Altitude bar. VIP tables of 10 will also receive premium seating luxury accommodation at Crown Metropol, valet parket, CIP gift bags, priority check-in, and access to pre=show drinks at La Vie Champagne Lounge and the after-party at NOBU.
This glamorous even has a serious purpose though. Your support will ensure every person living, working, or travelling in Western Australia can stay connected to first-class health services at all times.
Altitude will hit the Grand Ballroom at Crown Perth in August 23.
When I’m unwell, it takes a lot for me to leave the comfort of home and venture out. But I found myself doing just that on Saturday when I took in the annual Jazz in the Vines festival. This is always a highlight of my yearly concert calendar, and I wasn’t going to let any virus hold me back.
Being sick made this a different kind of Jazz in the Vines for me. I couldn’t indulge in the all that brilliant wine, or dance up the front near as the stage as I usually do. But I could enjoy the music, and enjoy it I did.
Sadly it took me a bit longer to get out than it might have if I were well, and I missed the Silver Bell Quartet. But I’m so glad I arrived for the Adrian Cunningham Quartet. Led by the incredibly sexy and talented Adrian Cunningham, the quartet treated us to instrumental jazz gems. The set only became stronger when Steve Clisby joined them for several numbers. Their version of “God Bless The Child” was exquisite, and I also loved their swinging version of “Moondance.”
Somewhere around the end of their set the unseasonably summery weather started to get to me. It’s terrible to be sick when you’re supposed to be out having fun, but the gentle acoustic guitar strains of Bruce Mathiske were probably the best medicine for it. I must admit, I was a bit dizzy and faint to remember much of his set, but his version of “Classical Gas” was outstanding.
After getting plenty of water and some yummy calamari in me I started to feel a little better, just in time for James Morrison to take the stage. He’s always a Jazz in the Vines highlight, and this year was no exception. His exceptional talent and charisma just makes for a wonderful show. It was also kind of thrilling to see my new crush Adrian Cunningham taking his place in James’ band. While I was lapping up the instrumental stuff, the energy levels went up a notch when Doug Parkinson joined James. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to see this Australian legend doing his thing; he really is a truly magnificent artist. My parents have been seeing him since the ’70s and swear that his voice is only getting better. I really don’t doubt it. Those reality TV show contestants could learn a thing or two about performing a cover version from Doug; whether he was encouraging us to get up and dance with some Blood Sweat and Tears or Joe Cocker numbers, or wowing us with a show stopping version of “Somewhere,” he was incredible. Continue reading “Jazz in the Vines @ Tyrell’s Winery, Pokolbin – 30 October 2010”→
Enjoy a night of great music for a good cause at 
