A few months ago I happened to hear a song called ‘Location’ that was filled with soulful lyrics to a cool beat and became obsessed with a nineteen year old singer from Texas named Khalid (pronounced Kuh-Leed) who has recently blown up on our radio stations and in our charts. On Tuesday night I had…
Performing one of our favourite NPR Tiny Desk Concerts, Tank and The Bangas have been on our radar ever since. The talented New Orleans collective have today announced their debut Australian tour dates for March 2018, as well as heading to New Zealand as part of next year’s Auckland Arts Festival. Seriously though, the way this…
The long awaited sophomore album from Marlon Williams is officially on its way, with the Kiwi musician revealing more details on his forthcoming new music today. The follow up to his acclaimed self-titled debut comes in the form of Make Way For Love, due for release via Caroline Australia on February 16th. Along with news of Make Way…
Sydney is amping up for ARIA Week 2017, hitting its stride in its sixth year. From 19th, a program of gigs, conferences, showcases and special events taking place across the city. ‘Headline’ event sees Beats 1’s Zane Lowe confirmed to appear as a special keynote speaker of this year’s ARIA Masterclass on November 27th. Also on…
Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, indie group Scenic Route to Alaska have been impressing us out on their debut Australian tour. Joining us on the couch at Leadbelly in Newtown, the trio take us through their experiences on the road for Australian Music Week and other shows scattered down the east coast. “I think a lot of…
Aussie duo Vowws have been making their mark in the States as they prepare for the release of their new album Under The World in February. We’ve been listening to their new single, “Forget Your Finery” today and reckon it’s definitely worth being on your radar too. Having stepped further into the light with the formation of…
With his new album Adolescent Nature, Canadian troubadour Dylan Menzie has put his heart on his sleeve yet again. In Australia for Australian Music Week and also the Canada Down Under showcase in Sydney, the songwriter takes us through his new music, the reaction to it and where he’s going from here. “It’s a strange feeling, to…
The sun shone down strongly on Wangaratta as the numbers poured into the regional city for the 2017 Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues. Any hints of rain that may have lingered on the drive out from Melbourne were done away with quickly, as the festival lasted out three sun-drenched days with international and Australian musicians…
Naomi Shore and Lindsay Pratt of Twin Peaks talk name confusion, how the band formed, koalas, Australia and the supportive Canadian governments arts’ funding ahead of their showcase at Canada Down Under at Leadbelly, Newtown. “We’re just an elaborate boob joke,” the name is explained. “The whole name ‘Twin Peaks’ is because we both have…
For Angel Olsen fans, this week is going to be a very good one. The release of Phases will see a collection of much-anticipated B-sides, rarities and demos from over what has been a glorious songwriting career. Which brings us to our choice of today, “Sans”. Originally a home demo Olsen recorded in 2015, the song is instantly…
Vancouver’s Louise Burns has been a true highlight of the recent Canada Down Under takeover that hit Sydney’s Leadbelly venue earlier this week. The songwriter has a smashing album in Young Mopes to her name and following on from her Polaris Prize nomination, Burns has already blazed through 2017 successfully, and looks forward to a bright 2018. “It’s…
Last night Newtown’s Leadbelly saw a Canadian invasion, with some of Canada’s top rock and country acts gracing the same stage that recently housed iconic Australian rockstar Nic Cester. Amy Nelson, Twin Peaks, Dylan Menzie, Louise Burns, and Scenic Route to Alaska were amongst the artists to bring the music of Canada Down Under. With big…
As someone who grew up on the music of Midnight Oil (as I think most people who came up in the 90’s did), I never thought I would be in the position to see the band perform, much less be in a professional capacity to see the band perform. But there I sat yesterday evening, six…
With a fiery new single in “Oxide” out and doing its thing, indie-pop artist Phia has returned home from a successful tour through Europe and the UK. The single, taken from Phia’s The Woman Who Counted the Stars, represents an exciting phase for Phia, who has explored a new, heavier direction with her music through it. Phia is…
JOY. has made an excellent return with new single, “Smoke Too Much”, taken from a forthcoming album we’re incredibly keen for. Threading together more captivating vocals with stellar production, “Smoke Too Much” is a vibrant tune that just pops. This is the sort of electro-pop Australia should be embracing and propelling, with artists like JOY. in the…
Monthly music series Red Bull Sound Selects has announced a new tour this month to celebrate the end of the university semester. The concert series is curated by a team if entertainment heavyweights including Dune Rats, Bloc Party and Co-Presents Festival. Each city has its own unique lineup including Remi, jazz-pop band Slum Sociable, and…
Brisbane songstress Eves Karydas is back three years after massive singles “TV” and “Electrical” as Eves the Behaviour. The new single, “There for You”, showcases the 23 year old’s ability to bring together pop harmonies, studio experimentation and thoughtful lyrics. “In many ways, “There For You” is my love letter to my life abroad,” says…
The best of West Australian music and entertainment have gathered for the WAMAwards last week as a part of WAMFest, the state’s celebration of local and international contributions to the West Australian music scene. Lo-Fi guitar pop up-and-comer Stella Donnelly won five out of her six nominations including Best EP, Best Folk Act, Best Single, Best…
It was a sad day when Brisbane indie-pop weirdos Custard threw in the towel in 1999. The band behind “Music Is Crap” and “Girls Like That (Don’t Go For Guys Like Us)” brought a lot of fun and levity to music. Now, after their 2015 reunion album Come Back, All Is Forgiven, Custard is back…
American soul heavyweight Lee Fields has announced an Australian headline tour with his six-piece band The Expressions in March 2018. The singer will perform two exclusive shows in Melbourne and Sydney while he’s here for Golden Plains Festival in Victoria and A Festival Called Panama in Tasmania. Lee Fields and The Expressions released the critically…
Lime Cordiale’s have recently released their debut album Permanent Vacation. Three years in the making, brothers Oli and Louis Leimbach have curated a selection of tracks that transverse styles including rock, pop and soul, to draw the listener in and reflect influences from some of Lime Cordiale’s favourite artists to create a colourful record. To…
With a name like Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, this WA band isn’t likely to be forgotten in a hurry. Since their formation in 2015, the Perth group have been elevating their sound to a more serious level, releasing two punchy albums in High Visceral Part One and Part Two. The result of these albums saw the band introduce themselves…
Rated as one of the top 10 producers of 2016 but YourEDM and now one of the most raved about acts in the electronic sphere, Joyryde is set to bring a tonne of bangers on his C.A.R tour to Australia in 2018! Joyryde will be hitting Sydney Brisbane, and Perth’s Hidden Festival, as well as…
Meet NZ crew, L.A WOMEN. Hailing from Wairarapa, the group have already been generating great responses for their debut single “Hurrciane Love”, but in their new single “Count It Up”, L.A WOMEN take not a step, but a stride forward. A groove reminiscent of those found on Thundercat’s Drunk, “Count It Up” features Sachi on the guest vocal…
Melbourne’s cult band of Jazz punks, connoisseurs of classic and neo soul, R&B and contemporary vibes Jazz Party are thrilled to have released their highly anticipated debut album Monday Night! The group of eight, well-dressed party enthusiasts invite you to be a part of the Jazz Party legacy when they launch their long-awaited debut album…
After releasing her debut LP ISON early this year, Paradise and Mellum teamed with Collarts, FBi and i-D AUNZ are excited to announce the first ever Australian tour of Iranian-born, Dutch-based experimental pop visionary Sevdaliza in January 2018. After Sevdaliza‘s US live debut being dubbed as a singularly phenomenal experience, with Enclave LA stating “we weren’t…
This weekend, the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues kicks off for its 2017 event, with artists from around Australia and abroad trekking out to the country Victorian centre for three days and nights of live music. As we mentioned in our previous feature on the festival, the National Jazz Awards has also remained a key…
Good news for WOMADelaide lovers this morning, as the South Australian Government was able to reveal that they’ve locked down the immensely popular festival through until 2024. An exclusive arrangement with WOMAD Ltd, as well as a five year license extension has guaranteed the future of the world music and arts festival in its home…
Australians are soon to get a taste of Singapore’s eclectic and thriving arts scene, when Singapore: Inside Out takes place in Sydney from November 3rd to 5th. Bringing artists from across the realms of visual arts and music, as well as some culinary boundary pushers, SG:IO is a way for Singapore to bring their cream of the crop…
Crooked Colours have enjoyed status as Australian favourites over the last years and a bit in particular and with an international profile continuing to grow, it’s seemed only natural that the band continues to branch out. Recently linking up with New Caledonia Tourism, the band headed out to the South Pacific hotspot as part a new…
