Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out With Press Club’s New Single, “Eugene”

There’s nothing like some good punk-rock music to make a case of the Mondays feel a little more bearable. And we all know that Press Club know how to make good punk-rock music! With its fuzzy guitars and Natalie Foster’s raw, real vocals, their latest track “Eugene” is every bit as angsty as you’re hoping for.

“Eugene” comes from Press Club’s third album Endless Motion, which drops on October 14.

“The album is a culmination of years of downtime and introspection, false starts and disappointments, bushfires and pandemics. Factors that forced us to dig out parts of ourselves to sculpt a body of work that was as uncompromising and raw as our previous releases, but executed with more polish and finesse than we thought ourselves capable of” drummer Frank Lees said.

Press Club will play shows in Australia to celebrate the release of Endless Motion before gigging overseas. No matter where you are, here are the dates you need!

13 October 2022 – The Cambridge, Awabakal Land/Newcastle
14 October 2022 – UOW, Dharawal Land/Wollongong
15 October 2022 – Crowbar, Gadigal Land/Sydney
16 October 2022 – The Zoo, Turrbal Land/Brisbane
17 October 2022 – Brunswick Ballroom, Wurundjeri Land/Melbourne
18 October 2022 – Singing Bird, Bunurong Land/Frankston (All Ages)
28 October 2022 – Kasbah Club, Limerick
29 October 2022 – Whelans Upstairs, Dublin
31 October 2022 – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
1 November 2022 – Stereo, Glasgow
3 November 2022 – The Flapper, Birmingham
4 November 2022 – Deaf Institute, Manchester
5 November 2022 – OSLO, London
6 November 2022 – The Exchange, Bristol
8 November 2022 – 1999, Paris
9 November 2022 – Trix, Antwerp
10 November 2022 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
11 November 2022 – Vera, Groningen
14 November 2022 – Cassiopeia, Berlin
15 November 2022 – Chapeau Rouge, Prague
16 November 2022 – Chelsea, Vienna
18 November 2022 – Bogen F, Zurich
19 November 2022 – Strom, Munich
20 November 2022 – MTC, Cologne

Image used with permission from Little Giant Agency; credit: Nick Manuell

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Vale Olivia Newton-John

My Dad only calls before 9 if it’s really important. He called me before 9 today to let me know Olivia Newton-John had passed away. He knew this one would hit, because he was the one that taped “Grease” off the TV onto a Beta tape and was around when I played that movie every single day after school, for weeks. And he probably heard me singing this song at top note in our backyard, channelling “our Livvy.”

I thought she was the most beautiful person I’d ever seen. And she was an Aussie! She was such a part of my formative years. I always admired the way she carried herself, the way she helped others despite her own ongoing health battles, the way she was such a proud Aussie ambassador on the world stage. Looking at my Facebook feed this morning, it was heartening to see what an immense impression she made on so many people I knew too. What a legacy. Vale Olivia Newton-John.

Image source: FESTIVALDEVINACHILE/Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jordan Merrick Wows Me With “Fault”

He’s supported acts like C.W. Stoneking and Mia Dyson, but I can’t imagine it’ll be too long before Jordan Merrick is celebrated as a headliner. AAA Backstage has already called him Brisbane’s Bob Dylan, and after listening to his new single “Fault” I can certainly see where those comparisons come from. This is smart songwriting with a political message. But Jordan has his own unique perspective. And dare I say it, his voice is much better than old Bob’s! Jordan wrote this song in a recent time of turmoil.

“Brisbane had flooded. Putin invaded Ukraine. Lockdowns were happening around the world. Batman was cancelled,” he explained. “The world was changing for the worse, and like many I was sitting, watching on not sure what to do, yet determined to do something. ‘Fault’ is sitting on the back porch in the pouring rain left with pensive thoughts, yet optimistic in its sense of self and belonging.”

With a home studio on hand, Jordan quickly set about turning “Fault” into the song you hear today.

“The song initially started out as a demo the day I’d written it and quickly turned into a much more detailed song that I initially set out to create.”

He enlisted the talents of Toby Alexander for synth and strings and Maisy Taylor for backing vocals.

“Once the acoustic and vocals were in place, we set out to fill that black and white world with the colours of Toby’s strings and the honesty of Maisy’s voice. It really took on a life of its own!”

After the pandemic slowed his touring schedule, Jordan is itching to get out there and play for his fans. He’ll hit The Factory Theatre in Sydney on August 6 and Junk Bar in Brisbane on August 27.

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Squid the Kid Drops Exciting New Track “Cater”

I’ve spent the afternoon grooving out to the musical stylings of Squid the Kid, a genre-bending rapper and songwriter from Naarm/Melbourne. He might be from Gen Z, but the way he blends R&B, soul, and jazz into his new track “Cater” reminds me of the rappers I used to love in the 90s. Although music fans younger than me might liken him to innovative new artists like Tyler, the Creator and Anderson .Paak. Whatever perspective you’re coming from, I know you’re going to appreciate this single.

“The origins of this song were from a misunderstanding that I had with my girlfriend at the time. My mind wasn’t clear, there was something bugging it,” he explained. “At that moment I realised what I wanted this song to signify. I really took reference from Destiny’s Child ‘Cater 2 U’, the main message of their song was how they just want to look after and care for their loved one.”

He might not be a household name in Australia yet, but he’s destined for a global career. Last September he made the final of the Vans Musicians Wanted competition, which saw his work critiqued by Denzel Curry and Sean Miyashiro. No doubt it’s only the start of the international attention his music will receive. You can get in on the ground floor when Squid the Kid launches “Cater” with a hometown show at Laundry Bar on August 4.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Thndo Reintroduces Herself to the Nation With New EP & Tour

After capturing the country’s attention in this year’s season of The Voice, Thndo is ready to reintroduce yourself. As Thando, she wowed the country with her soulful vocals and radiant spirits. But there’s only so much of yourself that you can show when you’re singing other people’s songs. Now with a new moniker, Thndo is ready to let you all know what she’s all about.

If you want to get to know Thndo, I suggest listening to her recently released EP, Life in Colour. It’s a thoughtful, genre-bending collection of songs that share Thndo’s experiences growing up black in Australia. She doesn’t shy away from highlighting her struggles with displacement and discrimination through tracks like “Gag Order” and “Good Ones”. But there’s a joy too as she celebrates her identity in songs like “Rewrite It” and “Numb”. She effortlessly combines the soul we love with elements of hip hop and afrobeat. It’s really great stuff.

Thndo is bringing her music to the East Coast on The Reintroduction Tour. See her at the following venues:

6 October 2022 – Chapel off Chapel, Naarm/Melbourne
27 October 2022 – Mary’s Underground, Eora/Sydney
28 October 2022 – The Street Theatre, Ngambri/Canberra
29 October 2022 – Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Wangaratta
17 November 2022 – Lefty’s Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane
18 November 2022 – Imperial Hotel Eumundi, Eumundi
19 November 2022 – Wynnum Fringe Festival, Wynnum

Image used with permission from This Much Talent; credit: Leila Maulen

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tomboi Records Launches to Nurture Underrepresented Artists

Pride Month is the perfect time to celebrate the launch of Tomboi Records, a local record label that aims to be a safe space for women, LGBTQIA+, and POC. The label’s roster features Sounds of Oz favourites Greg Gould and Parker, along with some artists we can’t wait to get to know: Lion, Joan & The Giants, Forces & Fury, and Benedict.

“We are here to start a new safe space in the music industry and shake it up a little! We are the first record label in the world created to be specifically a safe label for Women, LGBTQIAplus and POC in music and beyond and we are so excited to bring incredible artists to light and let them shine the best way we know how,” confirmed the label’s founder Alexis Benedict, an industry veteran with 25 years in music management, production, performance, writing, and recording. “Our hope is that other teams can adopt this approach that we do and see that there is a gap in the industry and it is a must for real change and to genuinely create inclusive elements to the music industry.”

It’s so exciting to see a label like Tomboi Records shaking things up and nurturing artists who are often underrepresented. If you love what they’re doing and want to support the label and its artists, you can get along to the upcoming Tomboi Records Showcases. All six artists will play a showcase at Melbourne’s The Toff in Town on June 30 and Sydney’s The Great Club on July 14.

Images used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Girl and Girl Release Feelgood New Single “Dance Now”

Girl and Girl will have you grooving your way into the long weekend with their upbeat new indie-rock banger, “Dance Now”. From the moment that brilliant bass line kicked in I was absolutely hooked.

“Coby, our bassist at the time, brought this bloody magical little bass line to a jam one day and it just crawled into all of our brains and settled,” explained lead vocalist Kai James. “He and I wrote the rest of the track together, and it became this big, beautiful, passionate celebration of love. ‘Dance Now’ is so invigorating to play live and the recording allows an in-house opportunity to yell and scream about really cool nice stuff.”

Fans will have the opportunity to enjoy Girl and Girl’s electric live show when they play Brisbane’s Hot Dreams Festival tomorrow. The bill is stacked, Lucy Dacus, Cate Le Bon, Glass Beams, Andy Shauf, and heaps more on the lineup. There are still some tickets available, but they certainly won’t last so grab them while you can!

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co.; credit: Charlie Falconer

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Don Spencer Celebrates Big Milestones

As a kid growing up in a time before the Wiggles and Hi-5, Don Spencer created some of the first music I got excited about. I watched him religiously on Play School and Feathers, Fur, or Fins was a permanent fixture in my tape player. So I got a little bit teary watching this video commemorating Don’s latest career milestones. He’s now clocked up 60 years in the music business. His charity, Australian Children’s Music Foundation, is also celebrating its 20th birthday.

I wasn’t really aware of all the great work Don’s doing bringing music to children in schools, juvenile justice centres, and hospitals all over the country but gee it’s inspiring. What a legend!

If like me, watching this video has made you nostalgic for the good old days, or you want to introduce your kids to his incredible body of work, it’s all now available digitally.

“We are so grateful to work with Don Spencer, a trailblazer in children’s music, who has done so much in this field. We are thrilled to have his catalogue available via digital partners – making it even more widely accessible than before!” confirmed Natalie Waller, the head of ABC Music & Events.

So fire up your favourite streaming service and give “Bob the Kelpie” or “Please Don’t Call Me a Koala Bear” another listen!

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

HALO Vocal Ensemble Announce Intimate Night Cat Show

Melbourne’s HALO Vocal Ensemble are back with a special show at The Night Cat on Saturday 23 April. If you don’t know HALO Vocal Ensemble, there’s no better time to familiarise yourself with their talents. These incredible vocalists put their stamp on RnB, soul, jazz, gospel, and hip hop classics. I’m talking tunes from Nina Simone, Chaka Khan, Outkast, and Destiny’s Child reinterpreted like only HALO Vocal Ensemble can.

Led by powerhouse vocalist Liona Tatafu, HALO Vocal Ensemble shows always feature a revolving roster of artists. With DJ MzRisk, Emma Volard, and Strictly D.T already announced, you can bet there’ll be a couple of surprise appearances as well. This clip from the Melbourne International Jazz Festival gives you just a little taste of what they can do.

HALO Vocal Ensemble sold-out shows at the Melbourne Music Week x Melbourne Museum Summer Plaza Series and Melbourne International Jazz Festival in 2021, so you can bet the remaining tickets for this April 23 show at The Night Cat won’t last long. Head to Moshtix to get yours.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Roady4Roadies Supports Music Crews

The arts industry has really taken a hit over the last couple of years. Our favourite performers are the public face of the struggle, but spare a thought for the more than 22,500 crew members who’ve also been stripped of their livelihood during the pandemic. Roady4Roadies is an annual event that puts them in the spotlight, and it’s happening this May.

Roady4Roadies, organised by CrewCare, raises awareness of the critical role that music crew play in the industry we all love. It’s also a whole lot of fun with a neighbourhood walk, family activities, and live entertainment. I know how much you’ve also missed that.

“The pandemic has seen the loss of at least eight stadium events in Adelaide. Each of these events has meant the loss of 450 production crew roles, 600 stadium staff roles and more than 250 subcontractor roles at a minimum of one week’s equivalent work. Multiply that by 5 major cities and that is 20500 crew who lost two month’s work each year since 2020 at minimum,” explained Peter Darwin, a freelance site manager. These are just the stadium events let alone the 52 plus entertainment centre shows … The industry is very, very damaged.”

Profits from Roady4Roadies go directly to Support Act’s “Crew” Fund. The tickets, available from Moshtix, are a steal at just $20. Get yours for a Roady4Roadies event near you and show your support.

1 May 2022 – Palais Theatre, St Kilda (Melbourne event 11 am start)
1 May 2022 – Lake Monger Recreation Club, Wembley (Perth event 11 am start)
1 May 2022 – Coopers Stadium, Hindmarsh (Adelaide event 11:30am start)
1 May 2022 – The Salty Dog, Kingston Beach (Hobart event 11:30 am start)
7 May 2022 – The Triffid, Fortitude Valley (Brisbane event 11am start)
7 May 2022 – Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin City (11am start)
7 May 2022 – Victoria Theatre, Newcastle (11:30 am start)
7 May 2022 – Hard Rock Cafe, Sydney (midday start)

Image used with permission from Ferris Davies PRM