It may be the unfortunate truth that when you have a history as long as Gary Numan, many older fans only want to hear the songs they know. Numan’s last visit to Adelaide saw him play his synth pop milestone album The Pleasure Principle in its entirety. While it was a fantastic show, the 2011…
There are few voices in the Australian music scene that are as ethereal, magical and awe-inspiring as that of Kate Miller-Heidke. We are all the more fortunate for her veering down the path of the alternative indie pop scene, than sticking with her classically trained operatic roots. Tonight’s performance is a fairy-tale showcase of how Heidke…
Sporting well-coordinated polo shirts and enthusiastic grins, emerging Vancouver based quartet JPNSGRLS (pronounced “Japanese Girls”) hit the stage at Crazy Elephant in Singapore last week as part of the Music Matters LIVE festival, taking over Clarke Quay. It was easy to understand why they were so excited: a great crowd had gathered, there was a…
In the first of two massive Australian showcases at Music Matters in Singapore (the other being the long running Aussie BBQ), the recent addition to Sounds Australia’s roster of events – Sound Gallery – made its Singaporean debut with four outstanding intimate performances at the Kuro Bar and Restaurant as part of Music Matters last…
Music Matters delegates moved upstairs for the final day of the Music Matters Conference in Singapore. Kicking off the day was a wrap up of one of the popular threads of conversation throughout the week: the growth potential in Asia’s developing markets, a discussion that naturally weighed heavily towards piracy issues in the region. Moderated…
Janice Koh kick started the second day of Music Matters as it moved into the Ritz Carlton ballroom, in front of a packed out room. The Nominated Member of Parliament talked about the actions the Singapore government are taking to work against piracy websites alongside the successes of Singapore bands at events internationally like Canadian…
Morcheeba are one of those bands who claimed their success in the 90’s, making a name for themselves all over Europe. Most folk would remember them from their hit single ‘Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day’ which albeit a sweet tune, does not holistically represent their fusion sound. Blending elements of trip-hop, rock and electronica amongst…
Following on from my overview of Toronto’s CMW for 2014, it’s time to get to the music. We start with one of the bigger shows of the week… New Zealand’s Broods headlining a night at the Drake Underground. Supporting Broods on the night was Tennessee singer/songwriter Meg Myers, on the road promoting her new EP…
We’ve already covered some of the smaller stages at the event, as well as our discoveries, but as for the rest, Bruce Springsteen wasn’t the only highlight among the main stages during the three days I was at the festival. Let’s kick things off with another of the five bands we recommended to catch at…
It’s evident that Michael Buble has a special place in his heart for his Australian fans, as this is where he got his first big break in 2000, just before he almost gave up on music. Thankfully he didn’t, as his popularity and success over the last 14 years has only grown, and with good…
Though our last two articles looked at some of the lesser known acts at Jazz Fest, let’s face it – it’s the headliners that get us through the door at these events. It’s their incredible and anticipated sets that we spend the day holding our breath for, while we enjoy weeks of anticipation in the…
The sun is beginning to set and the excitable predominantly young female crowd is getting antsy. Before the performance begins we get a super brief glimpse of the man of the night arriving onto our floating barge via a super cool speedboat and that sets off the crowd even more.
It’s not often that you come across an artist so unique and different that it’s almost impossible to categorise them. In this intimate setting at one of Sydney’s finest jazz clubs, we’re treated to just that from two intriguing and wonderful performers. One of whom is quite well known to Australian audiences in a different…
Yet another British singer-songwriter whose popularity seems to be growing exponentially, the sold out Enmore Theatre crowd consisted of about 90% British attendees. That would probably explain why this show was sold out, as I don’t think Jake Bugg is as well-known amongst Australian fans that would warrant such a packed room. Regardless those in the crowd…
Sunday saw the West Coast Blues and Roots Festival return to Fremantle for its 11th year. Though back to its now customary one day format and with a smaller line-up than in recent years, the festival still managed to draw a none-too-shabby 15,000 people through the gates. Blues and Roots has always been a reasonably…
Those who have read my article earlier in the week will already know that I’m a fan of the Dave Matthews Band. They’re a band I’ve grown up with in many ways, and between 2005 and 2007 I had the opportunity to catch them three times between Australia and the USA. What followed was what…
Art vs Science have come full circle, performing a sold out show at the Oxford Art Factory over the weekend, a stage they’ve graced before way back in 2008, where it all began. The electro-house trio, or maestros of dance if you will, have become a much loved staple for a lot of Aussies, which ain’t…
I like to justify my inherent pessimism with the surprisingly practical statement that when one is a pessimist, one is often pleasantly surprised by the outcomes of situations one is pessimistic about. Saturday night saw the epitome of one of those situations. After cynically thinking that the door charge would be exorbitant for a student…
I don’t know if any of you remember the events around Australia back in 2009 as part of University O Week Celebrations. It was called “The Big O Tour” and saw The Music and The Fratellis top a mighty impressive bill that toured the East Coast of Australia with five shows. You can reflect on…
I wasn’t entirely sure what sort of a show I was expecting for this night. In some aspects, I was pleasantly surprised and in others I was a little disappointed, and this was applicable for both bands. An intriguing choice of Americans and Brits sharing the stage together, one a very well-known band and the…
If ever in doubt of where to go at SXSW, a good bet is to pick a headliner you’d like to see and get there early. There’ll usually be a few artists on that bill who might surprise and impress along the way. Or, as I said here, the church is always a good bet,…
By the time I finally got to check out DZ Deathrays at SXSW, they had already played ten shows. This one – just after midnight at Bar 96 – was their eleventh and last. So it was perhaps appropriate that things should go a bit wrong, as someone “pulled the power” before the hit the…
While badgeholders jump from intimate venue to intimate venue, the general public are given their share of SXSW experiences, too, from outdoor events like the Fader Fort, to badge-free events across the city. But nothing comes bigger than the free outdoor stage – which has moved to Butler Park as Auditorium Shores next door undergoes…
A glamorous St Vincent and an apologetic Damon Albarn helped close the second night of the SXSW music festival at the NPR showcase, as elsewhere Kanye and Jay-Z delivered one of the evenings most exclusive performances. Even those with “guaranteed entry” wristbands to the event were turned away as the venue prematurely reached capacity. Unfortunately…
It’s hard to go past a magical Monday evening at the Sydney Opera House, under the light of a full moon with one of Ireland’s most successful and prolific singer-songwriters of all days on St Patrick’s Day. Tonight would be a night where Glen Hansard would showcase early material from The Frames right through to his most recent release Rhythmn…
Though the bright green Spotify House has been part of SXSW for a few years now (this is the third year they’ve been at the event), 2014 marked my first visit to the venue’s electric lineup. From Blondie‘s Deborah Harry joining Dum Dum Girls to hosting the hottest emerging talents – there was no shortage…
Hype Machine’s Hype Hotel has been a mainstay at the SXSW Music Festival for as long as I’ve been attending the event, and this year was no exception. At the venue’s opening night, co-presented by music blog Consequence of Sound, a mixed bag of musical delights were shown off for our consumption, alongside some tacos…
Back in 2005, then trio The Octopus Project released their second record One Ten Hundred Thousand Million to critical acclaim. It saw the Austin based group reach ears around the world, including my own, thanks in part to support from blogs like Pitchfork. Since then, the “indietronica” group have expanded to a four piece and…
For the third night of SXSW music, it was pretty much business as usual after the tragic events of the prior night, though for yours truly it was difficult to get excited to line up for hours to get into any of the night’s biggest shows. Thankfully, one of my favourite bands of the moment…
School night be damned, that wasn’t going to stop a bunch of punters to come along and check out some styled Aussie rock and roll tunes get cranked out. Both of the acts on the bill tonight have been critically recognised in the indigenous and mainstream music scene and both perform with an intensity and…
