Music

One of the biggest highlights on the Sydney live music calendar is the Vivid event and with the 2024 line-up being dropped today, it’s fair to say, they’re well and truly back with an enormous line-up! From the 24th May to the 15th of June, Sydney will once again light up with events ranging from…

Michigan emo larrikins Hot Mulligan have just wrapped up their 11-date debut Australia and New Zealand tour with a sold-out show at The Princess Theatre in Brisbane on Saturday 9 March. Upgraded from The Brightside Outdoors, the beloved punks were supported by Nashville five-piece Free Throw and esteemed locals Bad Neighbour in an emotional farewell…

Londoners Black Country, New Road made their way to Melbourne ahead of their Golden Plains Festival debut on the weekend. After a full year touring the globe in 2023, the six-piece celebrated with the Forum punters in the wake of their latest LP release Live at Bush Hall. The night had a stunning emotional underbelly, even with…

Katy Steele brought her Broken tour to The Great Club in Sydney last night. It was an appreciative audience, where Katy played stripped-back versions of many tracks from her recent solo album, Big Star, her 2016 solo release, Human, and of course, her most recent single, “Broken”. For Little Birdy fans, there were also some treats,…

It was a hot summer evening in Adelaide for a night of psychedelia, with four bands on the bill at the Cranker (Crown and Anchor Hotel). Local outfits Nite Rites, Thunder Speaks and Sons of Zöku supported the highly anticipated Japanese Krautrock band MINAMI DEUTSCH, making their debut in Adelaide. Outside, the closed off Rundle Street…

The annual convergence festival that takes over downtown Austin, Texas, is back for another year, and this year, it is going to be impossible not to feel the presence of Australia at South by Southwest. 32 Australian artists will be featured in showcases and pop-ups around the Texas capital. South by Southwest is a one-of-a-kind…

As we waltz through March, we’ve added ten more songs to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including two tracks we exclusively premiered earlier in the week. Our track of the week is “People Come, and People Go” from Elana Stone, an artist who is a firm AU favourite. Elana is a wonderful songwriter…

Black Country, New Road on their debut Australian tour played the Sydney Opera House. Fans were left mesmerised by the amazing talents of all six members whom were a perfect fit for the sold out iconic Sydney Opera House with their eclectic art-rock sound. Pete Dovgan brings you the images.

A permanent survivor of the ever-changing music industry, Ricki-Lee is one of Australia’s finest success stories. An advocate for the independent music scene and an unapologetic lover of all things pop (sorry, she’s not sorry), she’s forging her own path with the anticipated release of her 5th album On My Own, the first under her…

Slow Cinema is an indie-rock quintet from Newcastle/Mulubinba who we fell in love with in 20200 when we premiered their emotive single “Balta”.  They’ve recently dropped two singles, “Magic Potion” and “Pocket Knife”, and we are stoked today to be premiering their new self-titled EP with three more stellar tracks. Keen Slow Cinema fans have…

Aussie Indie Artists is a series of interviews with lesser known Aussie creators across all forms and fields. The goal is to share exciting new works, find new angles towards the art, and peek behind the scenes. Tess Hannah’s music is grungy, moody, and frayed with overloaded electric guitars– often likened to Wolf Alice or…

Slowmango are a six piece band from SA that are having their debut Womadelaide appearance this weekend. We sat down to learn a little more about the band. How would you describe your music? Is it something that can be categorised? Slowmango’s music is a melting pot of global influences, incorporating rhythms and melodies from…

Have you ever lost the spark? Maybe the intensity of a relationship has started to fade. The job which you were so passionate about no longer shines as brightly. Or making your way as a musician is just proving too hard. Boorloo/Perth-based indie-rock band King Ibis have just the cathartic banger that encapsulates this so adroitly. We’re…

Given the longevity of her prolific career, it’s easy to forget that popstar-cum-media personality Ricki-Lee got her start within the Australian Idol space and that she didn’t win; Casey Donovan would ultimately be crowned the winner of said season. In the 20 years (!!!) since the commanding singer won us all over during her tenure…

UK Multi-disciplinary vocalist Sampha touched down in Melbourne for a beautiful night of music at Margaret Court Arena. The venue was transformed into an intimate theatre-like performance, with seated General Admission and reduced numbers. The evening was one for the books with Sampha captivating the crowd with his humbleness and stunning vocals. In celebration of…

Mona Foma finished off their month-long Tasmanian summer festival with a free evening concert in the beautiful Cataract Gorge in Launceston. The natural rock pool, enhanced with a shallow man-made wading pool made for a natural amphitheatre for the music event. It’s a popular destination, with a walking trail along the Tamar River, a swimming…

The National have been regulars to our shores for 16 years, so the six-year gap since their last show in Australia is a fair enough gap to have revived the appetite for the Ohio via New York City group.  Bringing Annie Hamilton along for the tour was a stroke of genius. Not only is she…

PWEI (Pop Will Eat Itself) returned to Sydney in magnificent form playing their rap-rock indie anthems and were supported by fellow Brits and equally brilliant Jesus Jones at a very sweaty and humid Sydney Uni Manning Bar. Pete Dovgan brings you the action.

The National have returned to Australia for the the first time since 2018, and last night played at the ICC Sydney Theatre, the first of two shows. It was an incredible gig, with leadsinger Matt Berninger as always stalking and prowling the stage as he brings the tunes alive. You had to feel sorry for…

Wednesday are Karly Hartzman (guitar/vocals), with MJ Lenderman (guitar), Xandy Chelmis (lap/pedal steel), Ethan Baechtold (bass) and Alan Miller (drums) they are all the way from North Carolina USA. Think shoegaze, indie rock combined with alt country and we are on a winner. Check out one of the great indie albums released 2023 Rat Saw…

We’re launching into March with ten more songs added to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including two singles we exclusively premiered earlier in the week. Australian alt-rock artist Tyne-James Organ has released his first new music of 2024, the single “All On Me” and it’s our Track of the Week. “All On…

There’s no point throughout Sampha’s generously paced, highly detailed performance at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion where it feels like the UK singer has made any sort of mistake or taken a wrong turn. From the smart lighting to the composition of his achingly vulnerable songs, the man demonstrated exactly why he has emerged as one of…

The Mona Sessions were held on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings on the lawns of the Mona Museum. Each night showcased a diverse range of artists, both local and international. The highlight of the Friday night was Scottish post-rock kings, Mogwai. Their set is larger than life with a sound that envelops everything, and…

Scheduled for the tail-end of March, Souled Out by Whatslively will visit Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Perth with a solid line-up of on-trend R&B acts. I’ve typed similar sentences many times over the past decade, and I’ve watched sadly as R&B-flavoured festivals folded. Soulfest is the most obvious one, and slow ticket sales in…

If you’re having a stressful or gloomy morning, then listening to the latest single from Morning Blue, an Illawarra quartet, will have you back in your groove. The song “BLUE” combines soul, jazz and prog influences to create a sonic landscape that is refreshing and uplifting. The quartet started out as a demo on the…

If you’ve been in the Aussie pop punk scene for a while, there’s no doubt you’re familiar with the Sydney-based powerhouse Yours Truly. They’re no stranger to some of Australia’s most iconic venues and festivals, and have had a massive year touring with huge international acts. In early 2023, it was announced that two out…

You knew it was coming. And yes, megastar DJ and not-Taylor-Swift Fred Again didn’t just fly to Sydney to play one show. Last night Fred again.. made history at the Sydney Opera House – becoming the first-ever artist to announce, sell out, and perform at the iconic venue, all within 24 hours. Announced on Instagram…

Self-described as Naarm’s third-best ‘alternative rock band’, it’s time for Melbourne and the rest of Australia to get well-acquanted with the quartet Lucy’s Disorder. We are beyond excited to have the privilege of premiering their debut track, “Tell Me a Secret” ahead of its release on Friday. “Tell Me a Secret” is an intoxicating blend of…

Soul artist Erin Buku releases her new single and video “Ley Lines”, a mesmerising lo-fi soul and trip-hop track, emanating emotional eloquence and atmospheric depth. Let’s jump straight in and talk about your new song, “Ley Lines.” How did it come about, and what was the inspiration behind writing it? I’ve always been really into…

After seven mammoth nights in Australia – three in Melbourne, followed by four in Sydney – Taylor Swift has officially ended her the down under leg of her Eras Tour. And with it, she’s debuted a whole lot of exclusive mashups that have been the envy of fans worldwide. While Aussies usually draw the short…