Tag: Saskwatch

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sunset Sounds Bringing Free Summer Gigs to Melbourne

At this time of year, many of us are feeling the pinch. The organisers of Sunset Sounds understands this, so they’re brightening your summer with a series of hot free gigs across Melbourne.

The three free gigs will see the likes of Saskwatch, The Bamboos, and Jazz Party playing for local music lovers. Some of Melbourne’s most popular food trucks will also attend to keep everyone well fed.

“Stonnington has some of the most sensational parks and gardens, and it brings me great joy to see residents and visitors enjoying them” Mayor Stefanopoulos said. “Pack a picnic basket, and your dancing shoes, and head down for a summers afternoon with some of Australia’s finest talent.”

Sunset Sounds 2018 kicks off on January 7 and runs every Sunday for three weeks.

7 January 2018 – Saskwatch & Alexander Biggs, Victoria Gardens @ Prahran
14 January 2018 – The Bamboos & Jazz Party, Central Park @ Malvern East
21 January 2018 – Hot Potato Band & 30/70, Malvern Gardens @ Malvern

Image used with permission from Little Giant

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Highlight Mental Health Issues With “Finger Painting”

Last week Saskwatch released “Finger Painting” through headspace.org.au to coincide with Mental Health Week. I think initiatives like Mental Health Week and R U OK? Day are important for starting the conversation, but I also think it’s vital that we don’t just wait for a special day or week to talk about mental health issues. Because as anyone who’s struggled with them knows, managing the symptoms can be a year round battle.

So while Mental Health Week has passed, I think it’s still important to get this song out there. It details band member Liam McGorry’s own struggles with anxiety and depression.

“With Finger Painting, I wanted to contrast the anxious lyric with the happiness of the music… a bit like how a lot of the time we feel like we have to put up a facade of everything being okay…” he explained.

“Finger Painting” comes from Saskwatch’s fourth studio album Manual Override. They’re currently touring the album all over the country. Here’s where you can still catch them play. Seeing live music can be great therapy in my personal experience, but remember if you’re struggling that professional help is also available. Visiting the Headspace website is a great place to start.

21 October 2017 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
26 October 2017 – Strawberry Boogie, Wollongong
27 October 2017 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
28 October 2017 – The Small Ballroom, Newcastle
29 October 2017 – Long Jetty Hotel, Long Jetty
2 November 2017 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
3 November 2017 – The Triffid, Brisbane
4 November 2017 – Byron Bay Brewery, Byron Bay
18 November 2017 – Fat Controller, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Return to Form with “Everyone’s Giving Up”

I fell in love with Saskwatch when they first hit the music scene, but I fell out of love with them somewhere along the way. While the last couple of singles haven’t revved me, I think they’re back to their best with their latest single “Everyone’s Giving Up.”

It’s a much mellower sound from this funky Melbourne act than I’ve come to expect, but I appreciate it. With all those brassy notes it reminds me a little of something Prince might slip in to his set. “Everyone’s Giving Up” comes from Saskwatch’s third studio album Sorry I Let It Come Between Us, which is slated for release next year.

Saskwatch will support its release with the following shows just about everywhere in 2016.

9 January 2016 – Summer Of Soul Festival @ Mossvale Park, Berrys Creek
21 January 2016 – Australian Open Sessions @ Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Melbourne
23 January 2016 – Ozfest @ Miami Tavern, Gold Coast
24 January 2016 – Ozfest @ Waterfront Hotel, Sunshine Coast
4 February 2016 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
5 February 2016 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Dunsborough
6 February 2016 – Summerset Arts Festival, Carine Open Space, Carine
7 February 2016 – Mojos, Fremantle
25 February 2016 – UC Refectory, Canberra
2 March 2016 – Studio Six, Sutherland
3 March 2016 – The Basement, Sydney
4 March 2016 – Baroque, Katoomba
5 March 2016 – Small Ballroom, Newcastle
6 March 2016 – 5 Church Street, Bellingen
12 March 2016 – The Triffid, Brisbane
18 March 2016 – The Jack, Cairns
19 March 2016 – Street Party, Townsville
20 March 2016 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
26 March 2016 – Fat Controller, Adelaide
1 April 2016 – Club 54, Launceston
2 April 2016 – Republic Bar, Hobart
6 April 2016 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
7 April 2016 – Workers Club, Geelong
8 April 2016 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
9 April 2016 – Theatre Royale, Castlemaine
14 April 2016 – The Loft, Warrnambool
15 April 2016 – The Grand Hotel, Mornington
16 April 2016 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
29 April 2016 – The Gap View, Alice Springs
30 April 2016 – The Railway Club, Darwin

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Frenzal Rhomb, Saskwatch, The Smith Street Band & More Play Australia Day Fundraisers

Now that those New Year shenanigans are behind us, we can start looking forward to the next big public holiday, right? Melbournians have their plans sorted with the fifth annual Australia Day weekend fundraiser concerts.

The first show, on January 25, will see Frenzal Rhomb, Saskwatch, Hoodlum Shouts, Hawaiian Islands, Rob Muinos, Have/Hold, Outright, and heaps more take the stage at Footscray’s Reverence Hotel. Then on January 26 The Smith Street Band, The Bennies, MC Joeslistics, Curse Ov Dialect, Fear Like Us, and others will play The Corner Hotel. These events look to fight ignorance, celebrate diversity, and rage against the negative attitudes so often exhibited on our national day.

The annual Australia Day weekend fundraisers have so far raised more than $25,000 for worthy charities. This year all profits will be shared amongst The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, The Refugee Council, and Oxfam.

Image source: The Global Panorama @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Delight with “Hands”

Seriously, how good are Saskwatch? Just when I think I can’t love this energetic soul outfit any more than I already do, they release a song like “Hands.” If you’re feeling down, press play and dance around your lounge room. I guarantee you’ll feel better.

The feelgood track is accompanied by a cute clip starring travelling rabbits Larry and Alphy. Director Jason Galea spliced image of the rabbits with old VHS tapes and other vintage footage to create the “feel-good rabbit road trip film of the year.” As a final vintage touch, Saskwatch will release “Hands” as a 7” vinyl single on November 1.

Saskwatch will launch “Hands” with an extensive Aussie tour next month. Here are all the places you can see this exciting local act play!

1 November 2013 – Transit Bar, Canberra
2 November 2013 – Eden Whale Festival, Eden (FREE)
8 November 2013 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
9 November 2013 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
15 November 2013 – The Republic Bar, Hobart
16 November 2013 – JIVE, Adelaide
22 November 2013 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
23 November 2013 – Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff
27 November 2013 – Sosueme @ Beach Road Hotel, Bondi (FREE)
28 November 2013 – The Small Ballroom, Newcastle
29 November 2013 – GoodGod Small Club, Sydney
7 December 2013 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chet Faker & Saskwatch’s Nkechi Anele “Rock On” on RocKwiz

How good is RocKwiz this year? I must admit, the show used to be something I caught now and again. However when Spicks and Specks ended, it became compulsory viewing to satisfy my music trivia cravings. While I love yelling out the answers to the questions at my television set, the highlight for me is always those duets at the end. You just never know quite what you’re going to get, and it’s so often magical. One of my favourites in recent weeks was the coming together of Chet Faker and Saskwatch frontwoman Nkechi Anele for David Essex’s “Rock On”. If this doesn’t get you grooving, nothing will!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Raise Funds for Glastonbury Jaunt

The very funky Melbourne nine-piece Saskwatch are heading to Glastonbury! The slot at arguably Europe’s most prestigious rock festival is a fitting follow-up to appearances at key local events including Bluesfest, Falls Festival, Meredith, and Golden Plains.

Getting such a massive band to the other side of the world isn’t going to be easy, so Saskwatch are raising funds to make it happen. You can donate to the band via the Pozible website in exchange for Sakwatch goodies including signed merchandise, personalised mix-tapes, and even one of Nkechi’s awesome stage dresses.

Alternatively you could see the band live at one of their farewell shows. And when they make music as good as their most recent single “I Get Lonely”, why wouldn’t you? Saskwatch will play Carlton’s Curtin Bandroom on June 1 and an all-ages show at Daylesford Town Hall on June 8.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Leave It All Behind for Album Tour

With their debut album Leave It all Behind finally sitting on record store shelves, the time is right for Melbourne funk-soul charmers Saskwatch to take their show on the road.

The tour will be something of a homecoming party, as Saskwatch have spent August abroad playing the acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Clearly they were just warming up to wow local music lovers.

If you love a foot stomping evening of sweet jams and soulful grooves, these shows are for you!

13 September 2012 – Bigsound, Brisbane
14 September 2012 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
15 September 2012 – Qpac, Brisbane (FREE)
16 September 2012 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (FREE)
20 September 2012 – Goodgod Small Club, Sydney
21 September 2012 – Stoke Factory, Wollongong
22 September 2012 – Transit Bar, Canberra
28 September 2012 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
29 September 2012 – Wave Rock Festival, Haden
5 October 2012 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
6 October 2012 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
7 October 2012 – The Palais, Hepburn Springs

Image used with permission from Show Off Recordings

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Chase Away Winter Blues with “Your Love”

Saskwatch look to blast us all out of our winter funks with their feel good new single “Your Love.”

The release of their latest 7-incher (yes boys and girl, this is a band firmly rooted in old school traditions) is the latest achievement in a big year for the band. They earned rave reviews for their performances at the Golden Plains and Falls Festivals, and scored the support slots for Earth Wind & Fire, and Maceo Parker.

“Your Love” is our second taste of Saskwatch’s forthcoming debut album Leave It All Behind, which will hit stores next month. If it’s any indication, that LP’s going to be a whole lot of fun. You can buy the vinyl or digital versions on the Saskwatch website.

Saskwatch will celebrate the release of “Your Love” with some launch shows in the major capitals. Melbourne can catch them at the Ding Dong Lounge on July 20. They’ll play the Beresford in Sydney on July 28.

Image used with permission from Show Off Recordings

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Release Soulful New Single

Humpdays are always hard to handle, but they’re made a little easier with some sweet soul music. Saskwatch deliver just that with their new double A-side 7-incher “Don’t Wanna Try/Pushin’ Me Away.”

Saskwatch knows that not everyone has the old technology to play a 7-inch album, so you can listen to it digitally here. I love the way the single captures the duality of the band. “Don’t Wanna Try” is sweet and tender, while “Pushin’ Me Away” shows real spunk.

Saskwatch will celebrate the single’s release with two big shows at Fitzroy’s Workers Club on November 24 and 25. Presale tickets are just $10 and come with a complimentary CD, so make sure you get in early to score some free soul music!

Image used with permission from Show Off Services