2 August 2015
‘Embracing Me’ is the new single from Canberra’s indie-electronic outfit SAFIA and they’re all fired up to take it around the country. The band sat down with the triple j crew early this month to give the track its first spin, where they also revealed a little teaser that their (long-awaited) debut album may be on its way.
2 August 2015
Noni Hazlehurst has long been a part of our TV and film viewing. She played the lead in the miniseries Nancy Wake, The Shiralee and Waterfront. She had a regular role as Sharon Lewis on local soap opera The Box, before joining the cast of The Sullivans as Lil Duggan. Later, she hosted lifestyle program Better Homes and Gardens.
31 July 2015
Darryn Lyons is turning the big 5, 0 and he’s doing it in style. The celebration is set for August 21 at Home House night club in Geelong – one of Darryn’s own. In true Darryn style it’s said to be a night of extravagant fun and flair.
30 July 2015
Time to pull your lederhosen out of the closet and get your best beer stein as Oktoberfest is coming to Geelong and bringing the best parts of Bavarian culture along with it.
28 July 2015
Last year’s Birregurra Festival and Art Show saw over 10,000 people attend the two-day event
28 July 2015
Gray skies have cleared up and Olivia Phyland has put on a happy face. Admittedly, things are going pretty well for the girl from Wagga Wagga. First up, she was recently selected as co-host – a role she shares with Scott Tweedie – of The Loop, a new music program on ELEVEN which is all about music – airing clips, chinwagging, that sort of thing.
27 July 2015
“Close your eyes and you’ll swear you’ve been taken back in time to when riding in the back of a van without seatbelts was fun and there were no childproof lids on medicine bottles. When your new flared jeans came with a free acid tab and guitar solos were as long and fuzzy as the hair on the guitarist’s head.”
27 July 2015
Say kids, do you like multi-platinum artists, party boys and all-round bad-boy role models? Well, here at ‘Funky Cold Medina Industries’, we have what you are looking for. Bombs Away is what happens when brothers get up to no good. Featuring Sketch (Matthew Ronald John Coleman) and Tommy Shades (Thomas Edward Hart Coleman), the duo left their Gold Coast home for Perth in their early adult lives. By late 2009, they had formed Bombs Away and in 2010 toured their first single, ‘Big Booty Bitches’. They are one of the few acts to hold down five concurrent Top 10 tracks on ARIA, iTunes, Beatport, DJ Download and Djtunes charts. Element Nightclub, Ballarat – August 1.
27 July 2015
You can’t talk about the blues if you’re not going to talk about Ian Collard. Drawn to the harmonica at an early age and inspired by the likes of Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson and Sonny Terry, Collard is known fondly for his work with Collard Greens & Gravy, not to mention Three Kings and the Backsliders. He has also performed harmonica on albums by Clare Bowditch, Jeff Lang and Ash Grunwald.
26 July 2015
Amber Lawrence has invited along special guests Aleyce Simmonds and Christie Lamb on the ‘Girls of Country’ tour, which recently kicked off in NSW. Amber is the reigning Golden Guitar winner for Female Artist of the Year, picking up the award after being nominated six times previously.
26 July 2015
Olivia Harrison once said of her late husband, George Harrison, “George had a really curious mind, and when he got into something he wanted to know everything.” Often referred to as the quiet Beatle, George was as much an innovator and philosopher as a musician. His views on life have inspired countless over the years, including Aussie songman Wes Carr.
25 July 2015
In support of album number three, Partum Vita Mortem, heavy-hitters Orpheus Omega have announced a lengthy tour. Originally called Orpheus, the band was formed in 2008 as the side project of Chris Themelco and Joao Gancalves. They have since established themselves as one of the country’s standout melodic death metal outfits. Partum Vita Mortem is a concept album which sees the band exploring the human condition through birth, life and death. The Barwon Hotel, Geelong – July 30 (with Stormtide and Hollow World); Music Man, Bendigo – August 29 (with Trigger and Requiem); and The Loft, Warrnambool – October 9 (with Hollow World and Spaulding).
25 July 2015
With an effortless fusion of rock, blues, folk, roots and world music, Jarrah Thompson released his debut album, Stargazer, in 2008. From fuzzed-out guitar rock to finger-picking soul, the album led to a solid two years of touring in which Thompson performed around 300 shows. Comparison to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Van Morrison, CSNY and Santana didn’t hurt his credit, either.
25 July 2015
When Chris Cornell toured solo in 2011, accompanying him on stage was a red phone. Depending on the show, and perhaps on the curiousity of those in attendance, he addressed its significance – it was Jeff Buckley’s. Although a YouTube clip tells a different story – so believe what you will – there is no doubting the lasting influence the singer-songwriter has on his fellow musicians…
24 July 2015
Coming across the Farmer’s Place in the heart of farming and produce in Freshwater Creek, it’s almost like finding a secluded getaway – a home away from home. While the venue is located geographically in the heart of local farms, it also serves as the heart on a more emotional basis, and that became evident in the inaugural meet the producers dinner held on July 8.
24 July 2015
Here is some good news for fans of The Yard Apes with the Ballarat old school rock and rollers heading to the LuWOW in Fitzroy on July 31 for a live album recording. From the band: “We have been writing songs feverishly to get them ready for our next album. A live offer of epic fuzz proportions with all the ingredients we have become know for: good times, hip-shakin-dance-a-billy, high-octane-energy and sonic MADNESS!” If you’re going to go to only one “ape rock” show this year, make it this one. Note: the band will also perform at Ballarat Laneways on July 24 and The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine on August 14. Actually, you should really head to these shows, too.
24 July 2015
Songman Perry Keyes has been referred to as “Redfern’s answer to Bruce Springsteen”, while Peter Garrett has said, “Peter is the real deal; songs from the heart, from the Aussie street. He is a rare talent.” The Sydney Morning Herald, meanwhile, said “Perry Keyes is a Sydney romantic who can see the battered beauty beneath the gloss.” Yet, despite this, his name is not as familiar as many Australian songwriting greats, though it probably should be. Throughout the ’90s he remained largely absent from music, later picking up work as a taxi driver. In 2002, Bek-Jean Stewart and Grant Shanahan of Sydney band Eva Trout helped him break out of his musical hibernation. The Eastern, Ballarat – July 24.
23 July 2015
Love her or hate her, clearly the rest of the world is smitten as Taylor Swift’s album 1989 just became the fastest selling album in the last decade. You go Tay-Tay!
23 July 2015
Ballarat’s inaugural Ballarat Laneways: Local and Live continues to party on like there is no tomorrow. For those thinking of a day trip, this is as good a reason as any to pack up the car and forget about the winter blues. Taking place in Alfred Deakin Place, Police Lane and the George Hotel Laneway, the event combines interactive and immersive light installations by local artists Beth Lamont, Damien Orriss, Diokno Pasilan and Saeed Salimpour, while Friday evenings provide live music performances. Ballarat Laneways: Local and Live finishes up on August 2, so you don’t have much time to think about things. Hit up visitballarat.com.au/Winterlude for further information.
23 July 2015
The Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival takes place this weekend. Have you got your ticket yet? Well, you don’t need one, as the majority of the festival is free! That’s the best news you’ll receive all day.
23 July 2015
There is a strong chance you would be hearing a lot of good things about Asta Binnie, the Tassie gal who simply goes by Asta. The former Rosny College student recently signed with Warner Music worldwide, announcing the deal via her Facebook page. There is also her track ‘Dynamite’ (featuring Allday) which has been setting the music world on fire. The pair also teamed up for a cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ for triple j’s ‘Like a Version’, which also set the world on fire. If it is not already on your playlist, now is the time to check out the new video for Dynamite. A fresh tour is also lined up, with Asta setting up a date with The Karova, Ballarat on August 29.
23 July 2015
Like Canned Heat, Lepers and Crooks are out on the road again. Earlier this year the band embarked on a whopping 60-date tour, but it seems they dig the punishment of playing show after show after show, eating truck stop food and the ‘I-will-shower-tomorrow’ smells that heavy touring can bring.
23 July 2015
It’s always good to have a fallback career. And while Nick Saxon certainly goes alright as a muso, his work as a National Geographic adventure series presenter keeps him busy. “There’s two things I really love in life,” he says on his site, “travelling and music. NatGeo is amazing. It gives me the opportunity to experience and document cultures, environments and people from around the globe. It’s what fuels my inspiration – the places, the people.” He has plenty of personal stories, too. From 2004-2006 he toured Europe, essentially playing his way across Spain, Greece, Germany and Prague. In a world of soulful surf-folk/blues/pop, he more than holds his own. Babushka Bar, Ballarat – July 24.
23 July 2015
For those holding out on any sort of news relating to the new Suicide Squad film, the official trailer is here, and boy does it live up to it’s eery, badass hype. Time to get click happy.
