Feel Alright Listening to Hayden Calnin’s New Single

The gloomy pre-winter weather is the perfect backdrop for listening to “Alright Now,” the latest single from local multi-disciplinary artist Hayden Calnin. This gentle acoustic folk track is a bit like a big warm blanket or cup of tea. It just wraps around you and takes you to a place of serenity. It’s gorgeous.

“This song speaks to being okay with all the weirdness around you. Rather than avoiding it, I’ve found it’s often better to accept it and ride along with it,” Hayden said. “There’s also a realisation that you can’t talk to everyone about everything – stigma is a real thing and it exists around the globe on a range of topics, but it’s nice knowing that there’s a few people with whom I can talk to about the weirder side of life. It’s a gentle song, and hopefully it brings some calm to those who hear it.”

Hayden will support Canadian indie-folk artist Leif Vollebekk on his Australian tour, which kicks off on Tuesday. Both artists are so good; if you love gentle acoustic folk you won’t want to miss these shows:

6 May 2025 – Rechabite, Boorloo/Perth
8 May 2025 – Metro Theatre, Eora/Sydney
10 May 2025 – Crowbar, Meeanjin/Brisbane
11 May 2025 – The Croxton, Naarm/Melbourne

Photo credit: Christine Diefenbach

Leif Vollebekk Announces Aussie Shows

Canada’s own Leif Vollebekk is one of those special artists who wasn’t on my radar until they made their tour announcement, but I wonder where they’ve been all my life. I’ve been binge listening his music hard since his tour news landed in my inbox. He’s so, so good.

Leif’s tour announcement follows the release of his critically acclaimed album Revelation late last year, so expect to hear plenty of music from that project. That’s his fifth album since he made his debut with Inland in 2010, so he’s certainly got plenty of material to draw from. Which is good news for people new to his music like me hoovering up his soulful indie-folk goodness.

Trust me, you don’t want to discover how amazing he is when these shows are done. Wrap your ears around him and get ready for these dates:

6 May 2025 – Rechabite, Boorloo/Perth
8 May 2025 – Metro Theatre, Eora/Sydney
10 May 2025 – Crowbar, Meeanjin/Brisbane
11 May 2025 – The Croxton, Naarm/Melbourne

Photo credit: Nicholas Sutton Bell

Leif Vollebekk Heading Down Under for Shows With Ainslie Wills

When Montreal artist Leif Vollebekk collaborated with our own Angie McMahon on his 2019 album New Ways, we might have known it was only a matter of time before he’d head our way for some shows. Smart chap, he’s waiting until cooler autumn weather comes to arrive on our shores for a string of gigs.

I must admit, Leif wasn’t on my radar until the press release came through. But I took one listen to his single “Apalachee Plain” (the one Angie guests on) and I was hooked. I had to go back and listen to the rest of New Ways. I’m pretty sure I’ll slip on his other albums next. If you love indie-folk music that comes from an honest place, this will be right up your alley.

In the last couple of weeks Leif has sold out all his U.S. shows, including big dates at the Bowery Ballroom and Troubadour. Discover exactly why the crowds love him when he touches down in Australia in March for a Brisbane festival and coheadlining dates with our own Ainslie Wills.

1 March 2020 – Nine Lives Festival, Brisbane
2 March 2020 – Jet Black Cat, Brisbane (instore – coheadline with Ainslie Willis)
4 March 2020 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (coheadline with Ainslie Willis)
5 March 2020 – The Vanguard, Sydney (coheadline with Ainslie Willis)

Image used with permission from Remote Control Records