At the end of August, I was invited to the Music Tourism Convention to deliver one of the day’s focus presentations. While most other speakers were tourism professionals who shined a positive light on their city, I was there with a different take: a cautionary tale of what can happen with industry and government don’t…
No one must love tea more than Charlene Soraia, who gained recognition after recording a cover of The Calling’s “Where Ever You Will Go” for a Twinings tea commercial in 2011. It catapulted her onto the top three of the U.K. single charts and was the kick-starter for her following success as a singer and…
Within the last few months, Sheck Wes’ meteoric rise to acclaim has imbued him with all of the qualities of a future star, turning attention to his first project. The proliferation of his most well known single ‘Mo Bamba’ has been astounding, allowing Wes to gather hordes of fans in a very short period of…
Experimental metallers The Dillinger Escape Plan rarely ventured below a heart-attack inducing pace. During their 20 year reign, the band played intricate and frantic shredding while unhinged frontman Greg Puciato shredded his throat screaming threats. Infinite Games is Puciato’s second album with The Black Queen and first release since Dillinger split up, and it’s a…
This weekend, I travelled about an hour outside of Los Angeles to San Bernadino, to experience the second year of the festival Cal Jam – an event programmed and run by the Foo Fighters, featuring an eclectic mix of rock bands from around the world, and celebrating the 25 years of the band’s career with…
Kesha played Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena on Sunday night, and Rebecca Houlden was there to capture all the magic of ther acclaimed performer in action as she embarks on a national tour of Australia, with Brisbane and Sydney dates remaining. You can get all the tour dates and details HERE.
The first ever Melbourne Lost Picnic was held at The Nursery at Flemington on October 7th, featuring the likes of Tash Sultana, Meg Mac, Marlon Williams, Odette, Big Words and the Hot Potato Band. Daniel Hanssen was there and brings us back these photos. And don’t miss the next event on 13th October in Sydney’s Domain! For…
Techno music is associated with a strong history after emerging in Detroit, uniting Berlin after the fall of the Berlin Wall, fostering an underground rave scene and now attracting thousands of people at festivals year round. British DJ Carl Cox who now resides in Melbourne has been a part of it all and at age 56 has…
Following up on their previous success the Melbourne indie pop band, Approachable Members Of Your Local Community have released their new single “Only Friend”. Only last year the six-piece group launched their career with their debut single “Millennium Queen” to great success. Since then AMOYLC have toured with the likes of Kira Puru and Lime Cordiale. Not…
Thursday night welcomed the poignant music work of Laykn to the Northcote Social Club, the last stop on his &Pains EP tour down the East Coast of Australia. He was joined by RnB/Hip Hop artist Charlie Threads who pumped the crowd up before Laykn hit the stage. Charlie Threads brought an interesting tone to the…
Emma Louise is relaxing by the fireplace at her home when she answers her phone. Her voice is a friendly murmur; a contrast to the smoky baritone she uses across her latest album Lilac Everything. “Yeah, it definitely sounds like I’ve been chainsmoking some serious ciggies,” she laughs. That voice is actually the result of…
The first few days of Austin City Limits flies by as the legendary festival’s 2018 iteration wraps up its first of two 2018 weekends with nothing but strong performances from top-billing acts and memorable festival newcomers. The likes of Twin Shadow, Elle King, and Hailey Knox impressed, while later in the day huge sets from…
Tonight at the second annual Cal Jam Fest in San Bernardino, California – the festival put on by Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters – a much teased and anticipated event happened. They got Nirvana back together. Surviving members Dave Grohl and Kris Novaselic got together with Joan Jett, Pat Smear and John McCauley of…
Day Two of Austin City Limits 2018 brought with it performances from the likes of Nelly, St. Vincent and CHVRCHES, and many more. Chicago’s Supa Bwe opened up the Honda Stage following a short rain delay. It was a great opening act, and the Chicago artist and producer really engaged those early arrivals, showing off some the new songs…
The iconic festival Austin City Limits kicked off its 2018 edition today in style today, with the help of Sir Paul McCartney, Brockhampton and Khalid. It was a busy day of live music, with plenty of great acts in action, including Fatai and Gang of Youths flying the flag for Australia. Melbourne’s Fatai, wearing all black in solidarity with the…
Ahead of a tour of Japan which kicks off tomorrow, Gold Coast singer-songwriter Alexander William has dropped his new single “Roses”, the first from his forthcoming debut album, and quite simply it is really beautiful stuff. There is a precociousness to Alexander William, and “Roses” in particular, there is a maturity and worldliness at work…
Much loved Australian ska and jazz band The Cat Empire have returned with their fourth release of the year, “Kila” along with a brand new music video. And today we’re excited to bring to you the exclusive premiere of the spectacular interactive 360 degree music video for the track. “Kila” provides the upbeat grooviness that The…
British folk rock band Mumford and Sons are coming back to Australia, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Nearly four years after the release of their ARIA chart topping album Wilder Mind the boys are releasing a new album Delta on November 16th; and die-hard Australian fans will be amongst the first to…
“Fall Asleep” is the latest single from London’s Big Joanie, and the first taste of their forthcoming debut album Sistahs, which will be released next month via Thurston Moore’s brand new record label, The Daydream Library Series. Big Joanie, a black feminist punk band, were formed in 2013 out a frustration at the lack of intersectionality within…
Since the release of his debut album The Fox and the Monk in 2006, British folk musician John Smith has built a reputation as one of the UK’s finest songwriters and guitar players. With five albums to his name, and with another set for release tomorrow, he is an artist that is not only well…
The ARIA Awards have announced the nominees for this year’s Artisan, Fine Arts and Best Comedy categories. With titles such as Best Classical Album, Best Jazz Album, Best World Music Album, along with Producer Of The Year, Engineer Of The Year, Best Cover Art and Best Comedy up for grabs. Topping the list are Amy Shark, Gurrumul…
This week, Melbourne’s The Cat Empire have released their fourth brand new song of 2018, “Killa”, as they steadily build toward the release of their next studio album. The song’s author Felix Riebl explains, “Kila is one of those songs you write and know that an album will be built around it.” All the while, the band…
Dave Jenkins Jr’s new indie rock project, Not A Boys Name, is off to a flying start with the release of an impressive new single “Hazard Perception Test”, and a video to match. A song about resilience and learning how to navigate negativity, “Hazard Perception Test” is punchy and melodic. The video, directed by Matt…
The second and final day of the Yours & Owls Festival in Wollongong promised another day of beautiful weather and even better music; with (in my opinion), an even stronger lineup than the preceding day. E^ST opened things up on the main stage, and then rising star Didirri – who has had an amazing 2018…
Tommy and the Commies are a punk band from Ontario, Canada, and have just delivered their debut project Here Come. Even as most punk releases go, this project is quite short, weighing in at just 16 minutes. But it makes up for its brevity with some excellent pacing, writing, and instrumental work. The project starts…
C’est La Vie may be American musician Phospherescent’s seventh studio album, but it is probably his first blatantly optimistic ode to love, life, and everything in it. The first release, “New Birth in New England,” was released a few months ago, and indeed hinted at a friendly, easy return after a five-year hiatus. A time during…
Yesterday Sharon Van Etten announced the forthcoming release of her new record Remind Me Tomorrow, her first since Are We There was released four years ago, dropping a new single, and taste of what’s to come, “Comeback Kid” in the process. Van Etten has been busy in those intervening years, with the New Yorker heading back…
Brisbane pop-rock artist Shanon Watkins is back with a new music video for his latest single “We Lived“, and ahead of its official release this Friday, we’re excited to premiere it exclusively on the AU today. “We Lived” deviates slightly from Shanon’s usual optimistic tone, embracing a more sombre feeling, allowing the listener a chance…
The Corner Hotel was fortunate enough to welcome some young talent into its band room at the end of last week; the ceiling suspending multiple fluorescent light tubes giving the atmosphere quite a futuristic twist to the traditional spotlights and strobes. It was all in place for Ruel, the 15-year-old Sydney based singer-songwriter who has…
The NYE festival NYE In The Park have announced the festival’s return to Sydney’s Victoria Park on New Years Eve 2018. Following up on the success of last year’s party, this year the crew will bring an even bigger line up on stage to ring in the new year. Headlined by Aussie electronic dance duo The…
