The co-headline gig is something we rarely see in Australia from international artists. But in America, it’s fairly common place, with tours like NINJA (Nine Inch Nails and Janes Addiction) becoming something of legend. Finally, Australia gets its turn, with NIN – returning for the first time since Soundwave in 2009 – joined by Queens…
Much of the music being played at Soundwave was something that did not say “tepid”. It sure was hard, fast, strong, and at times, weird. Everything that happened at this festival was metaphorically going straight into the depths of the audience’s chests, whether they liked it or not. Not being too sure what to head…
Thursday night saw Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds brave the warm Perth weather and make his Perth Festival debut at the festival gardens, treating the attentive and patient crowd to a selection of songs from his latest album For Now I Am Winter and more. Sydney composer Sophie Hutchings opened proceedings with a brief, but lovely…
Something special must be in the water here in Australia, because Bruce Springsteen sure has been treating us well on his current High Hopes tour with the E Street Band; their second time to our shores in the last 12 months, which is a rarity in its own right. Following two nights in Melbourne, where…
As the seven members of Little Bastard emerge, squeezed tightly onto the Factory Floor stage, the room fills with friends of the band and fans, eager to enjoy the band’s headlining gig in their hometown. For those who have missed the memo to now, the Sydney band could be described as a disheveled country experience;…
Laneway Festival returned to Western Australia for the 5th year on Saturday, moving from its home in the Cultural Precinct, to the leafy surrounds of Fremantle’s Esplanade park. In a period of uncertainty for festival organisers Laneway seems to be going from strength to strength consistently selling out across the country, even in Perth! But…
Some gigs are really hard to put into words. It’s that “look, I don’t know how to tell you this, but you weren’t there and you really missed out” sort of feeling. You don’t want to come off a dick, but at the same time, you know it’s true. And nothing you can say in…
Brisbane group Pigeon have been doing the hard yards for years now. Travelling the country, supporting countless bands, playing festivals and releasing two EPs along the way, including their latest, Settle In, which was released at the end of January. Last night, the tour to celebrate its release arrived in Sydney, with a headlining performance…
Opening things up for Frightened Rabbit at their final Laneway sideshow (and what may be their final headline show for the year) were local five piece Gang of Youths, who seem to be popping up all over the place of late. Having driven to and from Melbourne in the last 48 hours in support of…
They’re currently skyrocketing in popularity, and those who weren’t over at the QANTAS Credit Union Arena (formerly Sydney Entertainment Centre) checking out Arcade Fire were those who snapped up tickets to a sold out show at the Enmore Theatre to see The Lumineers.
As the Sydney Entertainment Centre sees its name officially change to the Qantas Credit Union Arena (doesn’t really have the same ring to it, does it?), the venue welcomes one of this year’s Big Day Out headliners into the fairly esteemed company of bands who have played the venue. It marks the first time the…
After releasing two albums Liam Gallagher finally brings his band Beady Eye to Australia as part of the 2014 Big Day Out tour for the first time since Oasis disbanded. For the faithful Oasis fans and for the British ex-pats it was an opportunity to finally get to see the notorious frontman and his bandmates in action again.
Visitors is the latest film from the acclaimed director of the Qatsi trilogy, Godfrey Reggio; a film, in collaboration with filmmaker Jon Kane, which also sees Reggio reunite with composer Philip Glass for the first time since the trilogy came to an end in 2002. While Koyaanisqatsi and its following two films are an artistic…
One of the most intriguing additions to the Sydney Festival’s “About an Hour” series for 2014 is Bullet Catch. Part theatre, part magic show, part interactive experience, the production is Rob Drummond’s one man show as magician William Wonder, who tells the story of a magician who died 100 years ago performing the infamous “Bullet…
One of the unique advantages of playing a successful and respected annual event like Sydney Festival is that artists who may otherwise perform to half full rooms around the country are given the chance to sit in front of large, (usually) packed venues. This is thanks to the mix of fans and the curious who…
After seeing Limbo, I felt it would be hard to witness another acrobatic circus so soon. Surely it couldn’t top all the wonderful array of party tricks they had up their sleeves. Indeed, Limbo is a high-tech, over-the-top masterpiece of the circus. So I went into Scotch and Soda, Sydney festival’s other house circus, with…
If you could mix together a blend of emo, pop punk, fast paced alternative rock and a dash of rap you would be pretty close to summarising the different genres and sounds you’d hear at tonight’s concert. All of this would be delivered in large high energy doses courtesy of all three acts.
Sometimes on very rare occasions an artist is so mesmerising and captivating, that all you can hear is their performance and nothing else. It’s not often that I get to be a part of shows like that, but tonight was one of those nights.
Following years of successful cabaret “house shows” at the Sydney Festival’s Famous Spiegeltent, it should come of little surprise that this year’s production LIMBO is set to follow in the footsteps of critical and box office smashes like Cantina and Smoke & Mirrors. Well, we certainly can’t predict a sell out season, but we can…
In the now classic song* by Sydney band The Beards, it’s exclaimed “There’s Nothing Better Than Having a Beard”. What Canadian troubadour Ben Caplan proved in his Sydney Festival opening set, accompanied by his band The Casual Smokers, is that a) this is true and b) it’s even better when that beard can play some…
After some 115 shows around the world, including an impressive (and slightly humbling – we’re rarely so spoilt) two stops in Australia, Brooklyn group Grizzly Bear have brought their Shields tour to an end with a spectacular two hour set at the Sydney Opera House. The crowd lapped up every minute of the set, which…
With a big night before in check, Field Day offered enough dance music to keep the celebrators happy while offering a few more chilled out options for those still recovering from New Year’s Eve. Its size, slightly smaller than a regular festival, meant that it was easier to get around and criss-cross genres throughout the…
Pond has built themselves a reputation as one of Australia’s top live acts, and it’s not hard to see why, delivering a whole lot of noise on par with the depth of the album recordings. Support band Doctopus did a good job of warming up the crowd – with plenty of electric guitar, stage banter…
Whilst half of Adelaide were across town seeing Bon Jovi, another demographic of music lover had made their way to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre to see one of popular musics most skilled songwriters perform. The venerable poet of the 1960s, Leonard Cohen returned to Adelaide for the final leg of his ‘Old Ideas World Tour’….
Louis London are hitting their stride, showing maturity and promise beyond the early stages of their career. Following the resounding success of their first ever Pozible campaign, the band confidently launched their second EP The Big Deep with a string of local shows, finishing up in Melbourne. It seems that their hard work has paid off with latest singles “This…
When you name your tour Spreading The Disease and feature some of America’s leading acts to deliver big riffs and big vocals and big hair, you can expect nothing less than a hilariously stellar rock show.
The Workers Club has this strange way of gathering crowds. Sparse people saunter in and out of the bandroom with everyone wanting to socialise while an ear was eagerly kept on alert for when the music will begin. It’s very strange, but this venue has a way of bringing in fascinating crowds, if previous gigs…
Cub Sport’s music has been described as ‘infectiously happy with summer pop vibes’. Their live show does just the same, carrying off a smooth-sailing performance that is surprisingly low-key. Not as in low energy (each band member pays ferocious attention to their instruments) but the night took a friendly register, only encouraged by the cosy…
Last week Dan Sultan brought his ‘Back to Basics’ solo tour to a close with an intimate sold out gig at Perth’s Ellington Jazz Club. With his band at home back in Melbourne and with no support, Sultan took to the stage alone, with only a guitar and a piano for company. What followed over…
Thursday night saw Sydney troubadour Patrick James kick off the first of two intimate shows in WA in support of new single “Wait”, with a packed performance at The Ellington Jazz Club. None too shabby for an artist who hadn’t played a headline show in the state before. The evening’s support came in the form…
