Music

Today we’re stoked to be highlighting some exciting new music out of one of the most remote places in the country – the new joint from Central Australian based artist, Cooperblack. Creating tunes out of his studio in Yuendumu (four hours’ drive northeast of Alice Springs, for context), Cooperblack (real name Jeremy Conlon) has been…

As the music industry prepare for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2016 we once again come to the first announcement of nominees, the groups of artists who will be up for some of the biggest awards in contemporary music. The ceremony will take place in L.A at the Staples Centre on February 15th,…

Just a few minutes earlier we found out the nominees for the ‘big four’ categories for the 58th Grammy Awards, which included dominant Aussie Courtney Barnett up with a nod for Best New Artist. Now the full list of nominees have been announced, and as always, it’s a very, very long and comprehensive list which…

Easily one of the must-see artists of Bluesfest 2016, D’Angelo has now locked down a Sydney Opera House headline show for March that will be an unmissable event. With The Vanguard, D’Angelo will bring acclaimed record Black Messiah to the Concert Hall – an album that was long awaited and hell, did it live up…

Would you believe there is a festival held in the Victorian bush that has a history equally as long as Australia’s now defunct Big Day Out? Beginning as a small gathering of 180 people, Earthcore, the original Australian bush doof, now attracts thousands upon thousands of people to its 1500 acre site in Pyalong, 100km…

It was a packed house at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre for the first of two shows by American singer-songwriter Chris Cornell. Cornell is probably best known as the frontman of Seattle’s Soundgarden, as well as Temple of the Dog, and supergroup Audioslave. He’s also a highly successful solo artist, and has an enviable catalogue of soundtrack work…

It would be safe to say that Frenzal Rhomb have got to have some good luck heading their way. First, they have to withdraw from touring in 2013 due to Jay Whalley‘s ear surgery. Then this year, not only does Gordy Forman break his arm in spectacular fashion mid-gig in Perth, but Lindsay McDougall became…

It’s been three years since the last full length release from Mystery Jets, but they’ve just announced that their new LP, Curve of the Earth is set for release mid January next year. Along with this announcement comes the release of the incredible single “Telomere”, setting a high standard for the rest of the album…

It was the moment Australian fans of Mew had been waiting 20 years for. The Denmark four piece – who recently became a three piece with the departure of founding guitarist Bo Madsen in June, but tour as a five piece – finally arrived for their first ever tour in Australia. And spoiler alert: they…

Dallas Crane tick off 20 years in the game with the release of their latest record Scoundrels. Their first full-length studio release in nine years, Scoundrels contains possibly some of Dallas Crane’s best work yet – a revitalised and invigorated effort from the band who have long held a reputation as being one of the…

Sydney garage-punk act Royal Headache have today been added to the Laneway Festival line up across the country as Tobias Jesso. Jr has had to pull out of the 2016 tour due to recording commitments. Refunds are on offer for all tickets purchased for Tobias’ Sydney and Melbourne sideshows (details below), but have no fear!…

First of all, if you’re not up to date on what House of Beige are doing, best head on over to their website and start finding out. The label founded by Remi and Sensible J is all about highlighting some diverse and bold talent unafraid to switch things up within the realms of hip hop;…

French heroes Phoenix have just released their first-ever Christmas single, “Alone on Christmas Day,” via Liberator Music/Glassnote Records. The track – whose sales will support UNICEF – appears in the Netflix original holiday special, A Very Murray Christmas, directed by Sofia Coppola. The song is a cover of a long-lost Beach Boys holiday track from…

If your list of “top 10 emcees of all time” doesn’t include Big Daddy Kane, then fuck your list (I’m looking at you Billboard). The man born Antonio Hardy is a true pioneer in the game, someone the phrase “your favourite rapper’s favourite rapper” applies to ten times over, and for the first time ever,…

If ever there were a track that sounded like it belongs in a video game, it’s Champagne Drip’s latest “Moonlight”. While the first second of the song dead-set sounds like the intro of Darude’s infamous “Sandstorm”, the piece progresses into a pulsing array of space-like synth melodies and heavy ‘wub-wub’ bass that really does work…

I’ve been digging Spit Syndicate‘s music for some time now, although it feels like the Sydney hip hop duo have garnered a new and refreshed sense of exposure in 2015 through the emergence of the One Day crew onto the national radar. For Nick Lupi and Jimmy Nice, although the last few months have been…

While he was in Sydney last month to play Australian Music Week as well shows with UB40, Larry Heath caught up with Canadian blues artist Charlie A’Court to talk about his music, his time in Australia – his many musical connections here – and much more! Welcome back to Sydney… All the way from Canada! The…

Since releasing their debut EP three years ago, Sydney’s Lime Cordiale have been synonymous with the Australian summer. Think road trips, rivers and bars in small towns. Their work is nostalgic in a way that particularly appeals to millennials, probably because – as they access the band’s music using the internet – it makes them…

The return of SOAK to Australian shores has to be one of the most highly anticipated this end of 2015 – ever since her dynamic debut shows earlier in the year, the young Irish performer has gone on to form a formidable profile for herself in music markets around the world. Her debut album Before…

Country musician Troy Cassar-Daley is no stranger to the ARIAs, having previously won four awards at the music industry’s night of nights. After meeting Kevin Parker from Tame Impala on the red carpet, Troy had a chat to the AU about his kids introducing him to most of the artists at the event through their…

It’s hard to be happy and interesting at the same time. Often, if you listen to an album that comes from a “happy place,” your most likely reaction is going to be either envy or boredom. The fact is, most great art comes from a place of pain – the prevailing wisdom is that dissatisfaction…

Indie rockers Splashh and Sydney’s Green Buzzard have been added to The Velvet Cave’s LO-FI // SCI-FI line up. The event has been around since 2011 and features late night kaleidoscopic happenings, showcasing International, interstate and local live acts and rare vinyl DJ’s. Splashh will bring their dreamy psychedelic sounds to the event, confident to…

The 27th Bluesfest Byron Bay has gotten bigger… again! Held over Easter (Thursday 24th March – Monday 28th March 2016), the festival has released another lineup chock full of artists that give precedence to its name: they are here to help represent the Blues! Added to the line-up is The “Original” Blues Brothers Band, Don…

Progressive rock band Acolyte have announced an East Coast tour in support of their new single “The Message”. The Melbourne band will be hitting their hometown first, also visiting Bendigo before touring North. Check out the dates below and watch their new music video at the end of the article! Tour Dates: FRIDAY 8TH JANUARY…

Hilltop Hoods have today announced a special recording project, Drinking From The Sun, Walking Under Stars Restrung, to be released Friday, February 19th 2016. The announcement accompanies the news of their new track “Higher” a Hilltop Hoods and Symphony Orchestra Tour. The track “Higher” was premiered on Triple J this morning and will be officially…

Following on from their addition to Bluesfest Byron Bay, Oasis’ Noel Gallagher has announced a run of shows in Australia and New Zealand with his band High Flying Birds. The band will be visiting Sydney the night before their performance at Bluesfest, also taking in massive shows in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Tour Dates: ASB THEATRE,…

As we gear up for the festival season, we first take a look at the weekend ahead, where some rad artists are going to be making their way to a venue near you! Have a suss of our choices for the next few nights out! Chris Cornell – MELBOURNE Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell is currently…

Yesterday, the annual Electronic Music Conference (EMC) wrapped in Sydney with a mini-festival in the form of EMCPlay, which followed on from two days of panels and masterclasses featuring local and international leaders of electronic music. Naturally, we learnt plenty along the way, and here now are 15 such things we learnt over the last few days from…

The first round of artists confirmed to be Brighton-bound for The Great Escape in 2016 have been announced, with a stellar list of Australians in the mix! Celebrating its 11th year running in 2016, the music festival will be no doubt showcasing some of the best emerging talent from around the world over three days…

Tough, poetic, suffering, sensitive, Lucinda Williams’ music beautifully blends together the many (at times conflicting) characteristics of being southern, and she well and truly brought this to her show at Enmore Theatre last night. A much loved singer songwriter hailing from Louisiana, Lucinda delivered her extraordinary repertoire to the packed out room, playing to a…