Music

Day two of Byron Bay Bluesfest 2023 was a cracker. It was well worth getting to the festival early, as one of the highlights was Southern Avenue who ripped up the Juke Joint just after midday. Their mashup of gospel, blues and R&B had us dancing and blowing away the cobwebs. Southern Avenue Over at…

The 34th edition of the Byron Bay Bluesfest kicked off yesterday at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm. Those that arrived early were well rewarded with a swift entry and a solid early lineup. Nikki Hill is a  fan-favourite at the festival, having rocked Bluesfest a number of times before. It was the first visit since 2015,…

Brisbane metalcore upstarts Headwreck have today released their sophomore EP Reflection Room, a six-track project exploring human connection. Featuring the singles “Let It Feel” and “Shiver”, the EP demonstrates the band’s ambition and cements them as a creative force to be reckoned with. Produced, mixed and mastered by guitarist/vocalist Jamo Benadie, Reflection Room is a…

Melbourne indie-rock quintet Franjapan have today shared their new single and video “Lucy” – a nostalgic track that captures the innocence of youth. Inspired by late-night parties and sticky-floored clubs, the anthemic bop is made to play the morning after whilst holding onto distant memories. Produced in their home studio, “Lucy” was mixed by members…

On the back of the release of their fourth album, How Many Dreams?, DMA’S have announced a national tour of Australia in September and October. These sixteen dates have quickly become eighteen, as the first shows in Sydney at the Enmore Theatre and Melbourne at the Forum have sold out. The first couple of listens…

British-born Lucy Gallant has led a full and adventurous life thus far. The singer/songwriter left home at fourteen years old and has followed her instincts and lust for life in a colourful and spiritual journey. Having travelled to more than fifty countries, the culmination of her lived experiences are for all to witness in her…

Since 2011, Brisbane-born The Jungle Giants have been rocking our socks with their indie-rock, electropop tunes. Most recently, they’ve given us a ‘little bit of love’ with their latest single, “Trippin Up”, a lead up to their upcoming fifth studio record. It’s everything you could want from The Jungle Giants: playful, groovy, and electronic. They’ve…

Adelaide-based Iranian-Australian guitarist and YouTube sensation KEYAN is carrying the torch for the next wave of technical instrumentalists. After his conceptual 2022 EP Gradient and more recent single “Pulse”, the shred-lord followed up the offering with complex counterpart “Arrhythmia” last Friday. With crushing guitarwork, intricate drumming and eerie soundscapes, the latest instrumental features a lead…

Tomich Winery in the Adelaide Hills hosted what was the first of hopefully many more Vintage Vine festivals. Over the first weekend of April, the likes of Gang of Youths, Tash Sultana and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard rocked the crowd. The first day, Saturday, was slightly cloudy and cool. However, it was still…

While Melbourne had a long list of things to do including the F1 and football on Friday night, King Stingray at the bowl was where it was at! The All Ages performance was full of exciting sounds, including the two openers, George Alice and Gretta Ray. George Alice’s initial opening set was the first of…

King Stingray put on an amazing performance, Friday night alongside opening acts Gretta Ray and George Alice. The bowl was alive with music and it was an occasion to share with everyone on the night!

Circle is an artist based in Sydney, who has just released the delicate and nuanced album, Coco and Charlie, a collection of intimate portraits of those that have been nearest and dearest to him. He has the gift of writing and singing about the everyday, and giving it meaning and beauty. Each track on the…

This year’s Beer & BBQ Festival in the Adelaide Showgrounds is shaping up to be bigger, badder, fatter and louder than ever. Running all weekend from Friday 14th July, it’s destined to be the biggest one to date. Hot off the back of the 2022 event, which saw 21,000 bbq, beer and music fans enjoying…

For the final time this month we have updated our Discovery Playlist on Spotify and Apple Music with nine new tracks, including a song we exclusively premiered earlier in the week. Our Track of the Week is “Hunter”, one of two new singles released this week by Sahara Beck. “Hunter” is a golden slice of…

Melodic hardcore upstarts Archetypes Collide have proven they are ready for the big stage with their self-titled debut album, out today via Fearless Records. The Arizona five-piece blend breakdowns and fierce screams with electronics and soaring hooks for a catchy, dynamic offering. With a unique sound influenced by the likes of Linkin Park, Beartooth and…

What a great “Boxing style” introduction for Black Midi entering the stage for their first ever Australian gig at Sydney’s Metro Theatre. “Ladies and Gentlemen introducing to you, weighing in at 10,000 tonnes of pure steel, they are currently undefeated in their campaign with 3.5 million wins and all of those wins coming in by…

Meanjin/Brisbane electro-pop artist Miss Lucy is gearing up for a big return this year by sharing the latest taste with new single “Chocolate”, released 17 March. The track draws inspiration from 70s songwriting greats, with funky basslines and slick synths over dance beats. Produced and co-written by Matt McGuffie and recorded at home in 2021,…

King Stingray have announced today a natioanl headline tour, ‘That’s’ Where I Wanna Be’, to kick off in Sydney on the 24th June at the Enmore Theatre, concluding on the 7th July in Brisbane/Meanjin at The Tivoli. The band has had a phenomenal past twelve months. Last year they released their debut album that was nominated…

We’ve been a fan at the AU of young singer/songwriter Aodhan since 2020 when we landed upon the then fifteen-year-old. We caught him supporting Seeker Lover Keeper last year in Sydney and were blown away by his performance. Last week he dropped his latest single, “All That I’ve Wasted”, a melancholic look at a past…

With the 21st edition of Splendour in the Grass announced to go down from 21-23 July, we thought it was about damn time to get both the magic 8 ball and crystal ball out and begin to speculate as to whom might be playing the North Byron Parkland this July. With a strong history of…

Ice Cube’s reputation as one of the signature artists of hip hop and an architect of the culture is not up for debate. The famously barbed and politically-charged emcee played a significant part in solidifying hip-hop as a vehicle for sweeping cultural commentary, change and documentation throughout the 90s. Hence, an Ice Cube concert is…

Melbourne indie quintet Great ~ Falls have brought an interesting dynamic to their debut EP Negatives into Positives – released 22 March – that sets them apart from the rest. With fuzzy guitars and crisp vocals, their ambient sound transports listeners to 70s rock bars with a jazz lounge feel. Featuring the singles “April’s Child”…

Legendary Heavy Metal band Slipknot brought Knotfest, their curated festival to Sydney for the first time with a very heavy dose of overseas and local artists. A sold out out Centennial Park were treated to a smorgasboard of legendary metal favourites including headliners Slipknot, Megadeth, Trivium, Vikings Amon Amarth, Australian world dominator’s Parkway Drive plus…

Easter is just around the corner and of course, this means Bluesfest will be happening over 5 days in Byron Bay. If you cant make it to beautiful Byron Bay, here is a list of Artists that shouldn’t be missed in mostly Sydney and Melbourne. Beck  Beck @ Harvest Festival. Image by Pete Dovgan Beck…

Earlier this month, Sydney’s The Tambourine Girls released their long-awaited third album, Different Streets. The band is a formidable line-up of local talent, and of course included the great, late Nick Weaver who tragically passed from cancer in 2021. It’s a beautiful album, steeped in many influences from yesteryear. For me, there’s a love affair…

As we come to the end of the month we have added another ten tracks to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. Our Track of the Week this time around goes to Swedish rising star Boy Destroy and his new single “No Sleep”. Released via Dew Process the single is a banging slice…

Carla Wehbe has today released her latest EP, the cinematic Jupiter and Mars. It follows on from her highly-acclaimed 2020 debut, Half Past Nine. It’s a beautiful collection of five personal and heartfelt tracks. Three have already been released; “knight to E5”, “introvert (with extroverted expectations)” and “is forever off the table?”, and today the…

Brisbane emo quartet sunbleached have returned with their sophomore EP Delicate Places We Hide, out today. The band released singles “Spinning Around” and “Toyfriend” last year with accompanying videos before teasing the new EP with “Heavy Turn” in February. After cutting their teeth in the live circuit this past year, the band have supported the…

After a widely successful launch in North America in 2017, Live Nation’s Ones to Watch program will grace Melbourne for the first time on Wednesday 29 March. The showcase will serve as a platform for exciting new local artists PANIA, Mitch Santiago and BOY SODA at Live Nation HQ in Collingwood. Ones to Watch Australia…

It’s about damn time! Lizzo has released tour dates for Australia in July 2023. The rnb/pop diva is headed to Australian shores to headline Splendour in the Grass and will add in the Special performances bringing music sensation Tkay Maidza as the supporting act. The Special tour will kick off at the RAC Arena in Perth…