Tour Diaries

Caravana Sun

Tour Diary: Caravãna Sun take us through their European tour that just wrapped up

Caravãna Sun is very much a band on the up. If there was one Australian band at the Byron Bay Bluesfest this year that had plenty of hype around them, it was this one. They have a raucous energy and are all ridiculously gifted musicians. Watching them live, it’s difficult to know quite where to…

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Travel Diary: This Way North (Melbourne) reflect on recording in Nashville and performing in New Orleans

Back in January, in what feels like several lifetimes ago, we were lucky enough to get to head along to New Orleans for the annual Folk Alliance conference and festival. One of the Aussie acts performing at the event, Melbourne duo This Way North, were fitting in shows there amongst a longer trip in the…

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Tour Diary: Stu Larsen takes us through his South American tour

It’s been a couple of days since Stu Larsen wrapped up his South American tour, including taking on a support slot with Passenger. This self-styled musical nomad never stays in one place for long, have been on the road for nearly twelve years, moving across five continents. And his talents don’t stop on the stage…

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Tour Diary: Jaguar Jonze takes us on her Australian tour and Like A Version with Hermitude

Meeting the Hermitude boys for the first time, and rehearsing for Triple J’s Like A Version. “Heart-Shaped Box” by Nirvana for Triple J’s Like A Version done and dusted. Last-minute painting of a mural in the middle of tour is not something I want to do again haha, but glad I got it done in…

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Tour Diary: Rackett takes the Machinations Tour to Tokyo, Japan

One of the absolute highlights of the live music scene in Australia in 2018 was catching Rackett. Their high-energy glam punk rock was incredibly great fun. It was always a night of immense passion, great musicianship, and total commitment. At the core was their lead singer Bec Callender, the driving force behind the band. A…

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Tour Diary: Bobby Alu on the road with Xavier Rudd in North America as Flow releases

Gold Coast legend Bobby Alu recently returned from a massive 17 date tour of North America, supporting fellow Aussie Xavier Rudd. Taking in dates throughout the USA and Canada, it came just before the release of Alu’s brand new record Flow – and an Australian tour which he kicked off this past weekend. Now back…

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Tour Diary: Singer-songwriter Jade Bird (UK) takes us behind the scenes of her recent US tour

Over the last couple of years, London-based singer-songwriter Jade Bird, has enjoyed something of a breakthrough. Within the last twelve months alone she has found herself on several end of year Best of round-ups, was selected for the BBC Sound of 2018 and won the 2018 Grulke Prize for developing non-US act at SXSW. She’s…

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Tour Diary: The Pinheads take us behind the scenes of their SXSW adventure

We might only be in April, but Illawara rockers The Pinheads have already had a busy year. Freshly returned to Australia from a scorching run of shows in Austin for SXSW, the band have dropped new single “Feel It Now” – another hint at what to expect from their forthcoming sophomore album, Is This Real,…

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An insider’s guide to Kyoto’s best secret hangouts, with Japanese band Zahatorte

Kyoto band Zahatorte are a genre-defying trio who blend old-world European cafe sounds with the undeniably Japanese penchant for perfectionism. They’ll be coming to Australia next month for the first time, and before we show them our own country, we asked them to share with us their nine favourite secret hangouts in their hometown. So…

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Tour Diary: Crocodylus take us behind the scenes on their recent East Coast tour with Bleeding Knees Club

Rapidly becoming one of Sydney’s most in-demand bands, Crocodylus recently embarked on an Australian tour with fresh, coastal songs drenched in their signature sixties style. You might already be across their recent single “My Baby”. Already, the band has played with the likes of Hockey Dad, ORB, The Lemon Twigs (USA), The Bennies and more,…

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Tour Diary: Australia’s Fatai makes her Austin City Limits Debut

ACL still feels like a dream. Some of the most fun weekends of my short lived life so far! Especially for an Aussie kid who left school at 13 with a dream to change the world through music, this opportunity became my classroom to learn from my peers, make new friends, show and tell, and connect new dots that couldn’t have been as divine if I didn’t take the risks to chase after my…

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Tour Diary: Melbourne’s Gamjee take us on the road

With their debut EP Crooked now out and working its way around the traps, Melbourne psych-rockers Gamjee are currently revelling in the results their months and months of hard work have now presented. When “Monday in Bed” came out last year, the band was quick to line up positive reviews but as a live unit, they really…

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Tour Diary: Hitting SXSW with Campbell Burns and Newcastle’s Vacations

Hi, hello. My name is Campbell Burns and I’m based in Newcastle, NSW. I lead Vacations, a music project I started about two years ago. I sent out an application to perform at SXSW towards the end of 2017, about two weeks before the closing date, completely on a whim. About a week later I…

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Tour Diary: Pretty City head to the States chasing new music and Texan good times

Melbourne’s Pretty City recently packed their bags for another short sojourn to the USA where recording of new music, as well as a cheeky stop at SXSW awaited. The band’s new album Cancel the Future is out tomorrow and in coming months, Pretty City will be out on the road (in Australia and abroad) with this new bad…

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Travel Diary: Indie-Pop artist Phia explores the UK and Europe on tour

With the fiery single “Oxide”, 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 will be playing the Grampians Music Festival in Victoria…

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Tour Diary: AYLA takes us on the road and behind the scenes of her epic tour with Kim Churchill

The September-October tour supporting Kim is the longest run of shows I’ve done yet. I played thirteen of the shows with him across the country, getting to see some places I’d never seen before and meeting some amazing people. It was some of the most fun I’ve had with music. LEG ONE – VICTORIA SHOW…

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Tour Diary: We go on the road with Phia through the UK and Europe

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…

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Tour Diary: LA’s Entrance take us to the Desert Daze Festival at Joshua Tree

Recently, the likes of Iggy Pop, Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile, Ty Segall and Spiritualized gathered at the Joshua Tree for the 2017 Desert Daze festival – a three day music and arts festival that has grown exponentially since its inception in 2012. Performing on this stacked line up was Entrance – the project of Guy Blakeslee – hitting the Mystic Bazaar. Armed with his…

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Tour Diary: The Mouldy Lovers present…How to Tour Japan – 101

Brisbane seven piece The Mouldy Lovers are gearing up for a solid run of tour dates through Australia next month through into the final months of 2017, a great way to cap off what’s already been a fruitful year of touring for the group. Ahead of their next run of shows, the group takes us behind the…

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Tour Diary: LAKYN takes us on tour with Vera Blue and Thandi Phoenix

He’s one of the country’s most popular artists on the go at the moment and if you’ve been able to see Vera Blue enchanting on stages recently, chances are, you’ll have seen Lakyn do his thing too. As his new single “West” has begun doing the rounds and has enjoyed great reception, Lakyn has announced a run…

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Tour Diary: Sam Buckingham brings home highlights from a huge Americanafest in Nashville

Nashville, Tennessee. Five years ago I happened to come here for a week. Which turned into two. Which turned into three. Which turned into a five year ache to return and write songs with some of the best, play music in iconic venues and be inspired by the overwhelming respect for songwriting in this town….

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Tour Diary: Melbourne’s Swim Season take us to Singapore for their debut international shows

Their first time overseas performing together, Melbourne indie group Swim Season set their sights on Singapore’s Music Matters Live a few weeks ago. Taking their upbeat music out to Singapore, Swim Season became one of the most talked about Australian acts of the live music showcase series. The band presents this special little tour video for us,…

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Travel Diary: Melbourne musician Olympia hits the road in the United Kingdom

Melbourne artist Olympia and her fantastic band recently toured the United Kingdom, taking in events like The Great Escape and Liverpool Sound City. Join Olympia in this exclusive travel diary, capturing all the behind-the-scenes experiences on the other side of the world: ———- This content has recently been ported from its original home on AU…

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Tour Diary: Olympia takes us on tour through the UK for The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City & more

Fresh off the back of a whirlwind tour of the UK, Olympia is already on the road back home in Australia, playing with Paul Dempsey as he hits venues dotted around the place.  We were lucky to have seen Olympia and her fantastic band perform a few times while out in Brighton for The Great Escape, though…

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Travel Diary: An American in Europe (at 30): Part One – Paris, France

30. A number I have dreaded for about the last five years. To many people, especially those over the age of 45, my outspoken fear of turning 30 was met with an eye roll, a laugh, and a warning of what’s to come. But 30 has felt like the first obstacle in a race to…

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Travel Diary: Exploring Thailand with Adelaide band Sincerely, Grizzly

Adelaide’s Sincerely, Grizzly packed up guitars and drums and headed abroad not too long ago, heading to Thailand for the first time to perform their first debut headline shows outside Australia and also some primo spots alongside the legendary good guys of …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. As frontman Joshua…

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Tour Diary: Melbourne’s AEORA takes us through her first Canadian Music Week

For Melbourne artist AEORA, Canadian Music Week provided her the opportunity to not only perform for the first time outside Australia, but also to explore a foreign music community that has been home to some brilliant emerging artists over the last few years. She takes us through the trip via this special tour diary below… _________ So,…

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Tour Diary: Sincerely, Grizzly head to Thailand for their first shows outside Australia

Adelaide’s Sincerely, Grizzly packed up guitars and drums and headed abroad not too long ago, heading to Thailand for the first time to perform their first debut headline shows outside Australia and also some primo spots alongside the legendary good guys of …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. As frontman Joshua Calligeros recalls, the…

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Exclusive: Catherine Alcorn shares her travel diary of some of America’s most famous music sites

Ahead of her new show Cathartic, Award-winning cabaret artist Catherine Alcorn toured around the US visiting some of the country’s most famous music sites. During the tour Catherine kept a travel diary so she could share the experience exclusively with the AU. Read about all of her exciting adventures below! Carthartic will be a one night only performance Wednesday…

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Travel Diary: Melbourne based trio BREVE on their maiden voyage to the UK and Europe

Melbourne based experimental/psychedelic rock/electronic trio BREVE, are releasing their debut album Nothing Stays The Same on November 1st. They just got home from their first international tour through UK and Europe and take us through their experiences with this travel diary: Here’s a photo of the three of us with our trusty tour steed. A…

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