Prince Announces A Piano and a Microphone Australian Tour Dates

Yesterday was a pretty exciting day on the concert front for me. Not only did Rob Thomas add an intimate show at the State Theatre to his tour (!!!!), but Prince announced he’d bring his A Piano and a Microphone tour to Australia THIS MONTH. Talk about springing things on us oh Purple One.

Now I don’t know about you, but my calendar was already looking pretty full. I was convinced I’d miss out because his shows would clash with others I have booked. But this morning we have dates, and remarkably Prince has picked a weekend I’m free. To get the chance to see Prince playing hits, rarities, and covers in such an intimate setting, in such an intimate way is bound to be truly special. I loved his big bold show in 2012, but I am so excited to see Prince in a different mode.

Tickets will go on sale at noon February 9 for these once in a lifetime shows.

16 & 17 February 2016 – State Theatre, Melbourne
20 February 2016 – Opera House, Sydney
21 February 2016 – State Theatre, Sydney

Image source: JoeLodge @ Flickr

The Weeping Willows Announce Album Tour

I love individual artists and bands, but I think there’s something so special about a duo. When you find two people whose harmonies blend, who have a natural chemistry that draws listeners in, it’s like nothing else. Perhaps that’s why when I set out to listen to “River of Gold,” the lead single from The Weeping Willows’ forthcoming album Before Darkness Comes A-Callin’, I actually listened to their entire Soundcloud playlist.

It’s a tough call, but I think “River of Gold” could be the strongest track among them. I love its dark brooding nature, those sublime harmonies, and the frenetic pace of the banjo keeping time.

We’ll hear more from Before Darkness Comes A-Callin’ when it’s released on 4 March. The Melbourne duo will support its release with a run of shows from March to June.

4 March 2016 – Basement Discs, Melbourne
5 & 6 March 2016 – Snowy Mountains Country Music Festival, Thredbo
10 March 2016 – Royal Oak Hotel, Launceston (with Ange Boxall)
11 March 2016 – Spring Vale Wines, Cranbrook (with Ange Boxall)
12 March 2016 – Republic Bar & Café, Hobart (with Ange Boxall)
13 March 2016 – The Pizza and Wine Club, Kyneton (with Ange Boxall)
14 March 2016 – House Concert, Ferntree Gully (with Shane Nicholson)
18 March 2016 – Babushka Bar, Ballarat (with Mitch Power)
19 & 20 March 2016 – The Basin Music Festival, The Basin
25 March 2016 – Billyroy’s Blues Bar, Bendigo
27 March 2016 – T’Gallant Winery, Main Ridge
1 April 2016 – Harmonie German Club’s ‘Friday Night Live’, Canberra
2 April 2016 – Django Bar, Marrickville
4 April 2016 – Jane’s, Wollongong
17 April 2016 – Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh (with Bill Chambers)
24 April 2016 – T’Gallant Winery, Main Ridge
29 April & 1 May 2016 – Mount Beauty Music Festival, Mount Beauty
6 May 2016 – The Singing Gallery, McLaren Vale (with Andy & Marta)
8 May 2016 – The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Thebarton (with Andy & Marta)
20 May 2016 – Bendigo Folk Club, Bendigo
17 June 2016 – Berwick & District Folk Club, Berwick

Phia Releases First Music Video for “Do You Ever?”

Phia has been releasing music for around five years now, so it’s surprising that this video for her new single “Do You Ever?” is actually her first. It’s a thoroughly charming affair, with enough paint, tinsel, and glitter to appeal to any serious craft addicts.

“Do You Ever?” comes from Phia’s upcoming debut album The Ocean of Everything. She’ll promote the single’s release with the following shows, including a residency at Some Velvet Morning which starts tomorrow night.

3 February 2016 – Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne
10 February 2016 – Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne
17 February 2016 – Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne
20 February 2016 – Carpark Fest 2016, Bendigo
24 February 2016 – Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne
25 February 2016 – Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide
2 March 2016 – Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide
3 March 2016 – Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide
6 March 2016 – Sydney Road Street Party, Brunswick

Cub Sport Offer Karaoke Party for Album Pre-Orders

The weather plaguing my local area has just been miserable. But Cub Sport’s latest single “I Can’t Save You” is the perfect antidote, a shimmery summery gem that is virtually guaranteed to get your toes tapping.

The track is the latest lifted from Cub Sport’s forthcoming album This Is Our Vice. If you love the track, it’s probably worth pre-ordering the album. Not only do you get an instant download of “I Can’t Save You” and “Only Friend,” you’re also in the running to win a karaoke party with Cub Sport.

If you fancy pitting your vocal talents against the band, head on over to the JB Hi-Fi website. And remember that Cub Sport are playing the following shows with Saskwatch later this year.

2 March 2016 – Studio Six, Sutherland
3 March 2016 – The Basement, Sydney
4 March 2016 – Baroque, Katoomba
5 March 2016 – Small Ballroom, Newcastle
6 March 2016 – 5 Church Street, Bellingen
12 March 2016 – The Triffid, Brisbane
26 March 2016 – Fat Controller, Adelaide
1 April 2016 – Club 54, Launceston
2 April 2016 – Republic Bar, Hobart
6 April 2016 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
7 April 2016 – Workers Club, Geelong
8 April 2016 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
9 April 2016 – Theatre Royale, Castlemaine

Image used with permission from Title Track

The McClymonts Celebrate 10 Years of Hits

They look like they’ve barely aged a day, but The McClymonts are ready to celebrate a decade of great music with their 10 Years of Hits tour. The country sisters will hit the road this July and August to celebrate the milestone with their fans.

After the last decade, Brooke Sam, and Mollie have recorded 19 charting singles from a range of gold albums, earned multiple awards, and sold out shows here and in the United States.

Relive all those hits at the following shows.

22 July 2016 – Palms at Crown, Melbourne
23 July 2016 – Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo
29 July 2016 – Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill
30 July 2016 – The Vikings Club, Canberra
5 August 2016 – Saraton Theatre, Grafton
6 August 2016 – Wests New Lambton, Newcastle
19 August 2016 – Dubbo RSL, Dubbo
20 August 2016 – The Cube, Campbelltown
26 August 2016 – Twin Towns, Tweed Heads
27 August 2016 – Gympie Muster, Gympie

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Sons of East Ready to Embark on Aussie Tour

Sons of the East slipped under my radar last year when they released their EP Already Gone and beautiful single “Into the Sun.” And apparently when they were releasing other stuff for the past four years. But you know what they say about things being better late than never, right?

These guys are making such quality modern folk music. Their experience shows, as it no doubt will when they hit the stage on their upcoming Australian tour. Here are all the places you can see them doing their thing over the coming months.

28 January 2016 – Moonshine Steyne, Manly (FREE)
29 January 2016 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
31 January 2016 – Open Air Cinema, Canberra
3 February 2016 – The Foundry, Fortitude Valley
5 February 2016 – Sound Lounge, Gold Coast
6 February 2016 – Sol Bar, Noosa Heads
20 February 2016 – RadLivin, Sydney
21 February 2016 – Open Air Cinema, Bondi
23 February 2016 – Factory Theatre, Marrickville (supporting JD McPherson)
24 February 2016 – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul (supporting JD McPherson)
28 February 2016 – Porch Sessions, Adelaide
4 March 2016 – Hotel Great Northern, Byron Bay
5 March 2016 – Noosa Surf Festival, Noosa Heads
19 March 2016 – Party in the Park, Sydney
1 April 2016 – The Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood

Mia Dyson Comes Home for EP Tour

Mia Dyson is one of those musicians that never seems to put a foot wrong. She’s done it again with her latest single “Tearing Up the Lawn,” a gutsy rock track from her EP Right There, which drops on February 19. The EP features songs Mia wrote with her husband over the last 18 months.

“My husband Karl and I have been writing together for over a year, since I put one of his poems to music,’ she explained. “We loved the process so much that the entire EP was written together.”

Mia splits her time between Australia and the United States, but she’ll be back on home soil in March to support the EP’s release.

“This will be my first headline tour in more than a year at home so I’m really excited to be returning, especially with some new songs in tow which I’m super proud of,” she said in a press release. “’Tearing Up the Lawn’ got an amazing response when we dropped it for the Waifs shows last year and I can’t wait for everyone to hear the rest of the EP.”

You can hear the EP’s songs live at the following shows.

9 March 2016 – Lizottes, Newcastle
10 March 2016 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
11 March 2016 – Old Hepburn Hotel, Hepburn Springs
12 & 13 March 2016 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy
16 March 2016 – Mojos, Fremantle
17 March 2016 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
18 March 2016 – Estonia Brunswick, Melbourne
19 March 2016 – Forth Valley Blues Festival, Forth Worth
20 March 2016 – Glenmaggie Blues & Roots, Glenmaggie

Image used with permission from SGC Media

Boy & Bear Kick Off Album Tour Tonight

It’s been a long while since a music video properly impressed me. However, I’m wowed by the visual spectacular that is Boy & Bear’s latest effort, accompanying their single “Limit of Love” from the album of the same name.

“We really love the Oh Yeah Wow guys,” lead singer Dave Hosking said of the creative team behind the clip. “This is our third time working with them and they never disappoint. This time it’s elegant, beautiful and hypnotic.”

It’s been a long time since Boy & Bear played local shows, but they’re kicking off a national tour this week, with Art of Sleeping and Montaigne as support. There are still a handful of tickets left for the following shows.

22 January 2016 – Odeon Theatre, Hobart
23 January 2016 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
29 January 2016 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
30 January 2016 – Red Hill Auditorium, Perth
12 February 2016 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
13 February 2016 – Riverstage, Brisbane

The Snowdroppers Set to Film Upcoming Tour

The Snowdroppers are starting the new year right with the announcement of a string of new shows. The Gluttons for Punishment tour promises to be a “ramshackle travelling rock ‘n’ roll circus” which will leave behind “a wake of broken bottles, patchy memories, and a cohort of very happy hungover people.”

The Snowdroppers will be on hand to record all of the drunken debauchery for a brand new documentary documenting what it’s like to be an Aussie touring band on the road. Fans who purchase golden tickets, which are still a bargain at $25 plus booking fee, will get a downloadable copy of the documentary as well as free live tracks.

Make sure you arrive early because The Hard Aches and The Strums will be warming up crowds at all the following shows.

20 February 2016 – The Foundry, Brisbane
26 February 2016 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
4 March 2016 – Howler, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Rish Publicity

Canada’s Scott Cook Plays Just About Everywhere

You know your concert calendar is too crowded when for the fourth time you’ve had to knock back a show on one specific day. I have no idea why the world has conspired to put everything awesome on February 27, but there you have it. I even actually bought tickets for two shows on that night, forgetting when I bought the second that I’d already committed to something else.

So it looks like I’m not going to see Canada’s Scott Cook when he plays in my suburb, and I’m bummed because literally no one else plays here. So I’m writing this article in the hopes that maybe you can catch him live, because he’s a bit brilliant. If you like folky storytellers in the vein of Shawn Mullins you’re going to love this guy. He’s playing virtually everywhere to support the release of his album One More Time Around, which has been my soundtrack for the afternoon. Hopefully your calendar isn’t as crowded as mine and you can get to one of these gigs!

13 January 2016 – House concert, Wingham (email trishmob@yahoo.com or call 0448 973 994 to RSVP)
14 January 2016 – Sutherland Acoustic @ Gymea Tradies Club, Gymea
15 January 2016 – The Acoustic Picnic @ The Music Lounge, Brookvale
20 January 2016 – Canberra Musicians’ Club @ Smith’s Alternative, Canberra
21 January 2016 – Billyroy’s Blues Bar @ Goldmines Hotel, Bendigo
22-25 January 2016 – Newstead Live Music Festival, Newstead
31 January 2016 – Saints & Sailors, Portarlington
4 February 2016 – South Coast Folk Club, Port Noarlunga (supporting Liz Stringer)
5 February 2016 – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide (supporting Liz Stringer)
7 February 2016 – Red Poles Café, McLaren Vale (12:30-3:30 FREE)
7 February 2016 – The Groove Garden McLaren Vale
12 February 2016 – House Concert, Eaglemont (Check Scott’s website for details closer to the show)
13 February 2016 –Tanswells Hotel, Beechworth (FREE)
14 February 2016 –Wandi Pub, Wandiligong (2-5 pm FREE)
17 February 2016 – House concert, Tilba Tilba (E-mail eagle_dreaming@hotmail.com or call 0422 690 670 to RSVP)
19 February 2016 – Kameruka Hall, Kameruka
20 February 2016 – House concert, Nowra (Email robcleary@yahoo.com to RSVP)
21 February 2016 – House concert, Picnic Point (3 pm. Email bvbyrn13@tpg.com.au or call 0421017975 to RSVP)
27 February 2016 – Troubadour Acoustic Club, Woy Woy
5 March 2016 – The Shack, Collaroy
6 March 2016 – Live in the Attic @ Hotel Blue, Katoomba
11-14 March 2016 – Burke & Wills Folk Festival, Mia Mia
17 March 2016 – The Lomond Hotel, Brunswick
18-20 March 2016 – Yackandandah Folk Festival, Yackandandah