Yes, I know I said I was taking a break, but when I heard American pop-punk legends Yellowcard are heading to Australia for a massive tour I couldn’t resist making one more post today. Hearing Yellowcard are heading our way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ocean Avenue was exciting enough, but then I saw the headliners. We get Motion City Soundtrack and Plain White T’s too?! Yes please!
“It has taken us a long time to sort out bringing the 20th anniversary of Ocean Avenue to Australia, but we promise it will be worth the wait!” Yellowcard said in the press release. “This lineup is so good and we can’t wait to reconnect with our fans down under.”
Yellowcard haven’t played Australia since 2017 so I know fans will be hungry for these shows. Sign up for presale tickets from December 10 or try the general sale from December 12.
2 April 2024 – Metro City, Boorloo/Perth (18+) 4 April 2024 Hindley St Music Hall, Tarntanya/Adelaide (Licensed ALL AGES) 5 April 2024 – Margaret Court Arena, Naarm/Melbourne (Licensed ALL AGES) 9 April 2024 – Hordern Pavilion, Eora/Sydney (Licensed ALL AGES) 11 April 2024 – Bar On The Hill, Mulubimba/Newcastle (18+) 13 April 2024 – Fortitude Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane (Licensed ALL AGES)
Solomon Island-born, Naarm/Melbourne-based singer, guitarist, and auu (panpipe) player Charles Maimarosia proves music really is the universal language with his gorgeous new single “Hote’ Hote’”. Like most listeners I don’t speak the Are’ Are’ language, but I’m moved by this gorgeous track. While Charles has to take a lot of the credit for that, he remains humble and acknowledges the part that Andrew Robison, who recorded, mixed, and produced “Hote’ Hote” played.
“Hote’ Hote’ is organic, rhythmic, soulful, and deeply rooted in the Are’ Are’ traditional ‘parani o’o’ rhythm, which shares similarities with rhythms found in many other cultures around the world. None of those rhythms would have been realised without Andrew Robinson,” Charles said. “He arranged the music chord progressions, and I layered the lyrics on top. If the words didn’t fit perfectly with the chords, we would try different ones until everything sat right, knowing that the words had to align with the context. For me, when I put Are’ Are’ lyrics in a song, I always make sure those words are true, make sense to ‘Are’Are’ people, and remain meaningful when translated into other languages, like English or Japanese. We’ve changed this song Hote’ Hote’ about three times already, and now we have this amazing version.”
Marcus Longfoot directed the song’s music video, which charts Charles’ personal journey from the Solomon Islands to Australia.
“The concept of the video is centred around voyaging in the ocean to the islands, which resonates with my own journey from Pipisu Village to Melbourne,” Charles explained. “I was shooting in the Melbourne city during winter, wearing shorts, which was quite an experience! I never imagined the video clip would turn out so well. The video was directed by Marcus Longfoot, with assistance from his team from RMIT media students: Rachel Kemp and Ruari Walsh. Natty [Dolaiasi] provided spoken word contributions from Lau Malaita Islands, whose people we call ‘masters of the ocean.’ Natty D’s spoken word and footage was filmed in Honiara Solomon Islands, my homeland, by Dream Cast Studios’ Mr Collin Leafasia. Marcus is a talented filmmaker and musician who has worked with Radical Son, another amazing artist from the First Nations community. It was a collaborative effort, and I’m grateful for all the creative minds who helped bring the video to life.” The year’s not done yet, but Charles is already setting his sights on 2025 when he’ll release a new album and play several shows.
“I want my audiences to know that I come from a remote village and that I’ll probably yarn a little bit on stage, share some stories, and make them laugh and reflect on their own life and journey while explaining each song,” Charles said. “Every time I’m on stage, I think of my mentor, and elder the late Donation Manu, an Are’ Are’ legend, and it reminds me that music is always here with us, before we are born and long after we are gone.”
Tickets for most of Charles Maimarosia’s February shows are on sale now, so don’t miss out!
South Summit are one of the coolest bands out of Boorloo/Perth, and that’s saying something. They just released their long-awaited debut album The Bliss, and they’re preparing to take their music around Aotearoa/New Zealand and Australia next year.
I encourage you to dive into the album, but if you’re short on time make sure you check out the band’s incredible version of “Roxanne” recording for Triple J’s Like a Version. A band as iconic as The Police set the bar so high, but these guys weren’t afraid of the challenge. It might be that new sound energy talking, but I think this fresh take might even be better than the original.
South Summit are psyched to hit the road with their new material, noting “We’re super looking forward to our AUS/NZ Album Tour next February/March! These are by far the biggest headline shows we’ve ever played, and we can’t wait to get out there and see everyone again. These shows feel a little extra special though, it’s been a while since we’ve toured the whole country, and showcasing our debut album is something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time. We’ve got a brand new live show for you guys, and plenty more treats for ya! See you guys on the road.”
Before that happens, this hardworking band also have plenty of summer festival appearances. Tickets are on sale now for all these shows:
It’s taken some time, but King Stingray have finally given us a love song. “Cat 5 (Cyclone)” comes from the band’s highly anticipated sophomore album, For the Dreams. Like the other songs on that album, and indeed the album before, “Cat 5 (Cyclone)” is a joyous track that celebrates life.
“Nothing’s changed in the sense that we’re still who we are, we’re still playing music and enjoying things. But what I think is different about this one is there’s a little bit more lived experience,” the band explained. “We wanted a lot of singalong moments … We were thinking a little bit more about getting everyone in on the party.”
I definitely found myself singing along to this track by the end, so I’d say job done! King Stingray’s new album For the Dreams drops on November 8. You can preorder it now from various retailers by clicking this link. The band have got some American shows with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard coming up, but Aussies won’t need to wait too long to see them. They’ll play their biggest local shows to date in March. The pre-sale kicks off on Thursday, the same day the band will release “Light Up the Path,” another track from the album. Exciting times for King Stingray fans ahead! Whether you’re in the States or here in Oz, here are all the dates you need:
News of Those Who Dream’s upcoming tour has me deep-diving into their back catalogue this afternoon. The Boorloo/Perth emo-pop-rock act conceived by siblings Josh and Hazel Meyer are making the long trip to the East Coast to play the capitals following the October 11 release of their new EP Therapy Machine.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring our upcoming EP Therapy Machine to intimate venues around the East Coast and have a crazy once-in-a-lifetime experience that leaves all of us fundamentally changed as people,” the band said. “Expect 117% energy, alt-rock with sprinklings of nu metal, pop and 15 other genres, a LGBTQ+ safe space, and inescapable infectious joy.”
Who could resist that, right? Those Who Dream have supported some massive acts like Mayday Parade, Nothing But Thieves, and our own Short Stack. They even played Good Things in 2022. They’re the real deal, so make sure you catch them at those intimate venues when you can!
Brad Cox is loading up his Mack truck and heading out to play the biggest shows of his career to celebrate the release of his fantastic new single “Everything I’ve Got.” The shows will see Brad play capital cities and major regional centres along the East Coast.
“I can’t wait to bring the Brad Cox roadshow to these cities to play some absolute milestone rooms,” Brad said. “I’ve spent months working on how to bring the fans together to make this tour one to remember. I’m loading this trailer full of surprises that’ll make this tour unlike any Brad Cox shows.”
Brad’s sandwiched the single tour dates in amongst a bunch of other shows including some fabulous festivals. And after that, this hardworking Aussie will make his way to Europe and the United Kingdom. Make sure you see him anywhere you can:
I meant to write about the upcoming As December Falls tour yesterday. But instead of putting fingers to keyboard, I found myself falling further and further down a Spotify rabbit hole enjoying the music from this Nottingham act. I’m new to their tunes, but I’m putting them on rotation. If you love pop-punk, make sure you’re across their stuff before they touch down for their first Aussie tour next year.
The tour announcement comes at the perfect time, because the band just released The Live Album, filmed on their Join the Club tour last year.
“Over the years a lot of fans have asked for a live album, either because they can’t make a show or because they want to relive the experience!” enthused As December Falls frontwoman Bethany Hunter. “We ended up recording every show on the Join The Club tour and cut it down to 1 dope live record and we can’t WAIT to share it with everyone in September!”
If you love the live recording or their studio albums, make sure you don’t miss As December Falls’ local shows next year.
Two of America’s most exciting emerging country artists are teaming up for one big tour this October. Arkansas “punk cowboy” Nick Shoulders and Columbia River native Margo Cliker will join forces for some performances at the Out on the Weekend festivals and a very special show in Eora/Sydney.
I’m especially excited about Margo gracing our shores after listening to her OurVinylSessions EP a few times this morning. She’s really something special. I imagine her gentle folky sound will be a great foil for Nick’s darker, grittier music.
Clay J Gladstone have come to kickstart your Wednesday with their rocking new single “Talk of the Town.” This angsty track about struggling to break through in the music industry sounds best loud, so crank that volume!
“Talk Of The Town is my uppercut to the business side of the music industry,” vocalist Tim Wisbey explained. “Targeting those elitists and gatekeepers that decide whether your social media is vogue and colossal enough to give you a shot. It makes me sick thinking how tough it is for younger bands coming through, or any band really.
“It’s not just about the music – though I guess it never really has been. You basically need to be an expert in marketing, sales, relationship management, bookings, or even dance choreography to cut through the fog. Anyway, I’m not whining. I could die tomorrow and be happy that I got to write this song, pretending I’ve made it and giving the middle finger to any creature that’s tried to cut us at the knees along the way.”
“Talk of the Town” is the latest single lifted from Clay J Gladstone’s forthcoming debut album, set to drop later this year. The band have a stack of shows coming up supporting Sienna Skies all around the country, where you just might hear some of those new songs.
Sometimes a beautiful song doesn’t hit you immediately. If it’s too subtle, it can lost in all the noise of the day-to-day. But when it does hit you, when it catches you in a moment of quiet, the payoff is so rewarding. That’s how I’m feeling about “Feels Like Heartache,” the latest single from Joan & the Giants. It’s such a beautiful, bittersweet ballad about a doomed romance moving towards its inevitable demise.
“’Feels like Heartache’ is the most deeply personal and honest song we’ve written,” lead vocalist Grace Newtown-Wordsworth said. “It’s centred around longing for the person you love more than anything but knowing it’s an addiction and isn’t good for you. Being brutally honest isn’t easy, but honesty to us is a very important thing, especially in our songwriting.”
Joan & The Giants usually headline shows these days, but they’re stepping into the support role on Belinda Carlisle’s upcoming tour, which kicks off in their hometown next month. Here are all the dates you need for those gigs:
18 September 2024 – Astor Theatre, Boorloo/Perth (supporting Belinda Carlisle – SOLD OUT) 20 September 2024 – Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne (supporting Belinda Carlisle) 21 September 2024 – Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne (supporting Belinda Carlisle – SOLD OUT) 24 September 2024 – Civic Theatre, Mulubinba/Newcastle (supporting Belinda Carlisle – SOLD OUT) 27 September 2024 – Anita’s Theatre, Dharawal Country/Thirroul (supporting Belinda Carlisle) 29 September 2024 – Enmore Theatre, Eora/Sydney (supporting Belinda Carlisle – SOLD OUT) 30 September 2024 – Enmore Theatre, Eora/Sydney (supporting Belinda Carlisle) 3 October 2024 – Twin Towns, Goodjinburra Country/Tweed Heads (supporting Belinda Carlisle) 5 October 2024 – The Tivoli, Meeanjin/Brisbane (supporting Belinda Carlisle – SOLD OUT) 6 October 2024 – The Tivoli, Meeanjin/Brisbane (supporting Belinda Carlisle)
