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…
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.
