11 July 2014
After the first incarnation of the band floundered due to the usual causes, Berlin Postmark formed afresh a couple of years ago with some success before breaking up for good last month. The rock band’s bespectacled lead singer/guitarist, Steve Saxton, whose past musical involvements include the groups Tomorrow Wendy and Texta, and being a triple j Unearthed solo artist, wasn’t convinced Berlin Postmark had run its course. However, with the group’s final gig taking place a few days after we spoke, he was sad but matter-of-fact about its demise.
11 July 2014
A couple of Bendigo’s finest in Stevenson’s Rocket and Paper Boat Armada will show off their goods in Castlemaine shortly. There are many “joke” bands out there but there are probably not too many that started out as a joke. It was New Year’s Eve in 2009 when Stevenson’s Rocket took shape. Four mates, who may or may not have been influenced by the ’ol giggle water, whipped out a beat-up Casio and an even more beat-up guitar in an attempt to imitate English rock giants Uriah Heep.
10 July 2014
Melbourne’s fuzz rockers Pretty City may have that cool slacker sound but their work ethic is anything but lazy. It wasn’t too long ago that they released ‘Piece of the Puzzle’, a single with touches of Smashing Pumpkins and New Order. Now they have new single ‘Roll On’ for you.
10 July 2014
Ah, these young rock and roll heartthrobs. Reece Mastin won fans and stole hearts through his 2011 X-Factor journey, a journey which would see him take out top honours before releasing a double Platinum album. Three consecutive singles would also land in the ARIA Top 5. With a new album due later in the year, Reece is hitting the road for his first extensive run of shows since late 2012.
10 July 2014
With a Groovin’ the Moo run and an outing at triple j’s One Night Stand behind him and with a date at Splendour in the Grass ahead, Illy is looking towards some smaller venues later in the year. The run of dates pays particular attention to his 2013 album Cinematic, an effort recorded with M-Phazes and his first to debut in the Top 10.
10 July 2014
Baghdad-born and honourary South Australian, Motez Obaidi, who works under Motez, is a man showing that Adelaide’s music scene is far more than just hip hop. The electronic prouder has won favour for his remixes of some of RnB and pop’s biggest names, including Mark Morrison’s ‘Return of the Mack’, Justin Timberlake’s ‘I Like You’ and Frank Ocean’s ‘Thinking About You’.
10 July 2014
Want to spend a long winter night having a bunch of laughs? Well the Aireys Inlet Pub is hosting a free Open Mic Comedy Night on July 26. The event is a celebration of local comedy, with about a dozen amateur comedians from all over Victoria taking the stage for five or ten minutes each, while Canadian comedy star John Dore will be headlining.
10 July 2014
10 years ago Eskimo Joe released their sophomore album, A Song Is a City. With its heart in their home city, the album has been described by frontman Kav Temperley as “about me, my friends, the people I love, and Fremantle. It’s the stories that go on between us. It’s similar to the people in every place all over the world. For me, that’s what I’m writing about. I’m definitely not writing about New York. I’m writing about Fremantle”.
10 July 2014
A Day on the Green delivers a local flavour in celebration of 30 of the best from one of Australia’s greatest, Jimmy Barnes. As well as a tour to mark three decades in the solo game, Barnsey is also set to release a special new album next month. Fitting for the occasion, the album is titled 30/30 Anniversary and features fifteen of his biggest hits as collaborations with artists including Keith Urban, John Farnham, Bernard Fanning, Journey, Steven Van Zandt, Shihad, Tina Arena, Baby Animals and Jon Stevens.
10 July 2014
Having enjoyed a nice little run with Dead Letter Circus, Brisbane-based Like Thieves will be using the rest of the month to polish their skills before heading out for a handful of shows next month. And they have a little polishing to do, with the release of their sophomore EP, Autumn’s Twilight, later this month. Even cooler, they’re welcoming a local band to open each date, with The Soulenikoes getting the honours in G-Town.
10 July 2014
Hello to all you lovely live music loyalists. Daniel here with what’s hot but not what’s not for the upcoming fortnight. Thursday, July 10 the Karova Lounge has REMi, L-Fresh The Lion, WZRDKID and Mz Rizk lined up on stage. REMi is currently on a national tour to promote the release of his upcoming album.
10 July 2014
Ararat Live is a not-for-profit group that hosts original live music in venues around Ararat in Western Victoria. They have done some fantastic work over the years and recently notched up their 50th gig. But there is still a lot more to come. On July 17 you have Rose Wintergreen. An electro/folk artist from Melbourne, Wintergreen had a breakout year in 2013, winning the Artist of the Year at the Australian Independent Music Awards (Dance/Electronic category) and placing as a finalist for the prestigious Vanda and Young Songwriting Award.
10 July 2014
Heathen Skulls and Metal Obsession are the ones to thank for the Origins of Hate tour. In the blue corner you have Melbourne’s Mason. Since releasing their self-titled debut in 2011, the band has toured and shared stages with Havok, Primate, Forbidden, Hobbs Angel of Death, Blood Duster, King Parrot and Elm Street among others.
10 July 2014
A partnership between the City of Greater Bendigo council and La Trobe University, the Bendigo Writers Festival is a celebration of the written word. The full program was released last month, but if you haven’t had the chance to check it out (or if the news passed you by), we’re going to take a brief look here.
10 July 2014
HEY YOU! Yes, you. The Bennies are here to help you make it through the end of the week with a couple of cracking shows, and they’re bringing along Jeff Rosenstock (Kudrow) for the ride. We know and love The Bennies as Melbourne’s “punk ska psychedelic doom metal punk rock” kings. We know The Bennies as the band that loves to party.
10 July 2014
It’s colder than a well digger’s arse out there at the moment. Fortunately, Martians Café has three warm and wonderful gigs to see out July that are sure to put a little colour back in your cheeks. On July 12 you have Dave Graney. You know Dave; we all know Dave. The songman has been playing and releasing music for over 35 years through various guises, his latest release being Fearful Wiggins.
9 July 2014
On June 8, 2014, folk/acoustic quartet Sons of May launched their first official single, ‘Up Before Your Eyes’, at The Evelyn in Melbourne. Reports from the gig say it was one of the biggest Sunday crowds the venue has hosted. Despite it being their first official single, the band has been around the traps for a couple of years, playing a ton of shows around rural Victoria. They will be releasing their self-titled debut in November.
9 July 2014
The Karova in Ballarat is one of the best regional live music venues you’re likely to come across and just around the corner it celebrates a milestone. We’re talking its 10th anniversary. Yep, ten years of hosting international and local acts. Ten years of supporting backyard artists. Ten years of quenching the musical thirst of locals and travellers. It’s one hell of an effort indeed and most certainly worthy of a get-together. And showing just how cool they are, the venue is making it a family affair.
9 July 2014
If you love your Italian food you’re going to love this. Presented by Apra Productions, the first annual Ferragosto Festival serves up four amazing Italian courses and five hours of live entertainment. Ferragosto is an Italian and Sammarinese public holiday celebrated on August 15. Although technically running from August 15 through September 1, other than the national holiday on the 15th, it is left up to everyone else how they want to spend the period.
8 July 2014
Our Friends down at the EMC group have just made a special ticket offer for Chingy Tickets!!
8 July 2014
There remains a whole lot of love for the band that has given us such songs as ‘Electric Blue’, ‘Hey Little Girl’, ‘Crazy’, ‘Great Southern Land’, ‘My Obsession’ and ‘Man of Colours’. With their White Heat: 30 Hits compilation reaching Platinum status, Icehouse figured they would return the love by announcing a string of shows. Frontman Iva Davies: “Live is where we get to really know our fans better.
5 July 2014
He can make ’em laugh in America. He can make ’em laugh in Amsterdam. He can make ’em laugh in the Middle East. He can even make ’em laugh in New Zealand. Indeed, Jimeoin can make people laugh wherever he goes. We fell in love with Jimeoin through his own TV show back in the mid-nineties. Later on came The Craic, his debut feature film. Following that, The Extra. There has also been Over the Top, his unique TV series that saw him take in hotels, theatres, swimming pools and cattle ranches “over the top” of Australia.
5 July 2014
There are a couple of gigs at Bendigo’s Music Man Megastore next month that you may wish to check out. On July 11, The Caning will take you back to 1972. The band may have strapped on their guitars in 2012, but these riff-loving freaks feel at home in the progressive rock and proto-metal of the early 1970s. We’re talking Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. Recently the band has been working on their debut with US producer Tim Gilles.
4 July 2014
Death in July is a celebration of Australian women’s crime writing. Making its inaugural outing next month, a stellar line-up of authors will speak about a wide range of topics including the “CSI effect” and YA crime writing. The festival is the idea of Ballarat Writers, in partnership with Sisters in Crime. Guests include Angela Savage, Annie Hauxwell, Carmel Shute, Ellie Marney, Honey Brown, Judith Rodriguez, Leigh Redhead, Lindy Cameron, Liz Porter, Maurilia Meehan, Meg Tasker, Nansi Kunze, Shelley Robertson, Simmone Howell and Vikki Petraitis.
