South Summit On the Rise With “Givin’ It Up”

I’ve been following South Summit’s music journey for a couple of years now, and it’s been pretty exciting watching them go from strength to strength. As their new single “Givin’ It Up” shows, their music is maturing, without losing the easy, breezy surf vibes we all know and love. They’re also playing some pretty iconic venues on their upcoming tour. Hello Opera House! But more about that later.

The band says their latest single “tells the story of South Summit! Illuminating the everyday life for us, Sharing the best of times where we as a band, find ourselves at our happiest. We cherish blissful vibes and whanau, and really capture the feeling of sharing stories and having a jam in the backyard over a couple drinks and a bbq. This is elevated through reggae chops and singalong melodies where everyone can feel a part of what makes us, South Summit. The things we give up and the sacrifices we make to reap certain rewards, come in all different shapes and sizes. But at the end of the day, we can all relate to what we are sacrificing for.”

South Summit have built a reputation as one of the best touring acts in the country, and they can’t wait to get back in front of audiences.

“Playing the iconic Sydney Opera House is a huge milestone achievement for the band, we’re so stoked to be given the opportunity! We’ll also be heading back to our favorite spots Brisbane and Melbourne, while finishing off the run with an Indi Bar show in our hometown of Perth. We’ve got a lot of new music coming out soon, and we can’t wait for you all to hear them. These will be some of the biggest shows we’ve ever done around the country, and we can’t wait to see you all there.”

South Summit will play the following shows later this month:

23 May 2024 – Valley Loft, Meeanjin/Brisbane
24 May 2024 – The Espy, Euro-Yroke/St Kilda
25 May 2024 – Opera House (Vivid Festival), Eora/Sydney
31 May 2024 – Indian Ocean Hotel, Whadjuk Country/Scarborough

Image used with permission from beehive

Sam Fischer Kicks Off Aussie Tour Next Month

Sam Fischer’s homecoming tour is just around the corner. Now based in Los Angeles, there just aren’t enough opportunities to see this local success story in our backyard. He’s back on our shores to promote his fabulous debut album I Love You, Please Don’t Hate Me, which I’ve had on repeat for the last week on so.

If you haven’t already taken a listen, make sure you do. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better pop album released in recent years. It features some fantastic collaborations with Demi Lovato, Meghan Trainor, and Amy Shark and some incredible solo material. The title track and “Watching My World Fall Apart” have become firm favourites for me.

You can almost guarantee that Sam won’t be playing such small intimate venues next time he’s in town. Take the opportunity to see him up close and personal while you can and snap up one of the last remaining tickets for these shows:

9 May 2024 – The Zoo, Meeanjin/Brisbane
10 May 2024 – Oxford Art Factory, Eora/Sydney
11 May 2024 – Howler, Naarm/Melbourne

Image used with permission from beehive

Lauren Daigle Adds Aussie Dates to World Tour

Lauren Daigle is a true force of nature. Very few Christian artists have ever been able to cross over into the mainstream charts, not just in their homeland but all around the world. “You Say” was her biggest hit here, propelling her 2018 album Look Up Child into the ARIA top 50. And in case you missed it, she’s coming out way.

Lauren will play four capital city shows in Australia this November after dates in New Zealand on her Kaleidoscope Nights tour. Expect to hear all your favourites from Lauren’s albums, including her self-titled third album released last year. Tickets are on sale now but will not last, so get onto it!

9 November 2024 – BCEC, Meeanjin/Brisbane
12 November 2024 – Margaret Court Arena, Naarm/Melbourne
14 November 2024 – Aware Super Theatre, Eora/Sydney
17 November 2024 – Riverside, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from beehive

The Stems Announce 40th Anniversary Tour

When I think about my favourite songs from the ‘80s, “At First Sight” by The Stems is always near the top of my list. It’s criminally underrated and still sounds fresh as a daisy while so many other tunes from the decade have dated. Unlike so many bands from the era, they’ve resisted the urge to tour the scene relentlessly, which makes their recent announcement of a 40th anniversary run pretty special.

Original members Dom Mariani, Julian Matthews, and Dave Shaw haven’t toured Australia since 2019. This time around, they’ll be joined by Ashley Naylor, of Even and The Church fame. Together they’ll celebrate four decades since they made their debut in 1984 supporting The Saints and The Triffids.

This isn’t simply a nostalgia tour either. While there’ll certainly be an element of that, the band are preparing to release a brand-new single and a live LP. Stay tuned fans, and make sure you get your tickets to the following gigs:

24 August 2024 – Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
25 August 2024 – The Gov, Tarntanya/Adelaide
30 August 2024 – The Zoo, Meeanjin/Brisbane
31 August 2024 – Manning Bar, Eora/Sydney
6 September 2024 – Freo. Social, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from Jo Corbett Publicity

The Dreggs Release New Folk Charmer, “Peeps With the Goods”

The Dreggs are bringing all the good vibes to your weekend with their gorgeous new single “Peeps With the Goods.” This one is definitely the goods, with a simple piano melody and gorgeous, easy breezy vocal harmonies from the duo. It feels like an instant classic.

“Matt Corby was a huge influence for this track. We were given the opportunity to write and record with Corby and this song is the result of that collaboration,” explained one half of the duo, Patty McRae. “The song is about the push and pull a lot of independent artists have to confront within the music industry. It’s an anthem to those who have experienced equal parts joy and frustration with their career, but also a reminder that persevering is the only way to push through and find that ‘happy place’, whatever that might mean for them.”

“Peeps With the Goods” comes from The Dreggs long-awaited debut album, Caught in a Reverie. Wrap your ears around it on April 26. The Dreggs will play shows in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Europe to support its release.

“It wouldn’t be a Dreggs show without a singalong and we’ve made sure there are plenty of magical moments throughout the set. One of the goals we have been working on is incorporating a lot of moments where we can involve the crowd,” Paddy assured fans. “On top of that, we are excited to be bringing the energy onstage with the addition of other band members. Don’t worry, it’ll still be Paddy and Zane, the folk duo, that we started out as, but just with some friends with us to turn it from a ‘performance’ to a ‘show’!”

I wouldn’t wait until the album drops to get your tickets. Something tells me they’ll sell out before that, so get in early to avoid disappointment.

6 April 2024 – Ride the Soundwave Festival @ Town Beach Park, Guruk/Port Macquarie
21 April 2024 – Long Jetty Festival 2024, Darkinjung Country/Long Jetty
1 May 2024 – Torquay Hotel, Wadawarrung Country/Torquay
10 May 2024 – Oran Mor, Glasgow
11 May 2024 – Eiger Music Studios, Leeds (SOLD OUT)
12 May 2024 – Whelan’s, Dublin
15 May 2024 – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham (SOLD OUT)
16 May 2024 – Lafayette London, London (SOLD OUT)
17 May 2024 – Tunes in the Dunes 2024 @ Perranporth Beach, Perranporth
21 May 2024 – Kavka, Antwerp
22 May 2024 – Melkweg, Amsterdam
24 May 2024 – Artheater, Cologne
25 May 2024 – Bahnhof Pauli, Hamburg
27 May 2024 – Privatclub, Berlin
29 May 2024 – Café V lese, Praha
30 May 2024 – Fluc und Fluc Wanne, Vienna
1 June 2024 – Strom, Munich
2 June 2024 – Papiersaal, Zurich
3 June 2024 – Muhle Hunziken, Rubigen
14 June 2024 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Tarntanya/Adelaide
15 June 2024 – Metro City, Boorloo/Perth
21 June 2024 – The Fortitude Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane
28 June 2024 – Enmore Theatre, Eora/Sydney
29 June 2024 – Forum, Naarm/Melbourne
26 July 2024 – The Church Pub, Christchurch
27 July 2024 – U Bar, Dunedin
28 July 2024 – Yonder, Queenstown
1 August 2024 – San Fran, Wellington
2 August 2024 – The Tuning Fork, Auckland

Photo credit: Jordy Wydra

Eskimo Joe Back to Their Best With “The First Time”

Eskimo Joe haven’t released a single since 2021, but listening to their latest track “The First Time,” it’s like they never left. This song feels so familiar yet fresh. It’s got me all nostalgic about their music, but also excited about everything that’s still to come.

“We really look up to bands like the Rolling Stones and U2 – those guys who keep touring and creating music over and over again,” explained the band’s bass player and vocalist Kav Temperley. “It makes us proud of our musical journey and the people who have taken our songs into their lives. Eskimo Joe is still the three core members. It just wouldn’t be the Eskies without the three of us in a studio or on stage making music together – our friendship is as much a part of the band as the music itself. After an amazing 2023 of playing some huge festivals, there’s this indescribable energy when a massive crowd is singing your songs back at you. We wanted to capture that energy and infuse it into our recording. So, in the first week of January this year, over five days we wrote and recorded ‘The First Time’ at my studio in Fremantle.”

“We wanted to write something that set out to encapsulate the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia, that looks back through rose coloured glasses conveniently forgetting the heartache and sleepless nights that came with a certain place and time in our lives. It’s easy in the loneliest moments to look back and take comfort in those memories secretly holding onto that feeling like an addict. The song is also a realisation that holding onto the past might also be holding you back from the present. The subject is nostalgic but so is the sound of this song, it sounds like it could have sat perfectly on the Black Fingernails album.”

“You put so much energy into each song, you build it up, tear it down, build it back up again until it matches the band’s vision. I love the energy in this song and the sentiment, and I’m stoked that we get to release it out into the world,” added lead guitarist Stu MacLeod.

Drummer and guitarist Joel Quartermain is equally enthusiastic, noting, “Once it’s out in the world, a song truly exists. Hopefully people connect with it.”

Eskimo Joe will play Lookout Festival, alongside choice international acts Live and Incubus, before headlining an acoustic theatre tour. Expect to hear all your old favourites and choice new cuts like “The First Time” at the following shows.

6 April 2024 – Lookout Festival @ Sandstone Point Hotel, Kabi Kabi and Joondoburri Country/Bribie Island
7 April 2024 – Lookout Festival @ Broadwater Parklands, Yugambeh Country/Southport
13 April 2024 – Lookout Festival @ Mornington Racecourse, Bunurong Country/Mornington
20 April 2024 – Lookout Festival @ Whitfords Nodes Park, Noongar Country/Hillarys
27 April 2024 – Civic Hall, Ballaarat/Ballarat
28 April 2024 – Wyndham Cultural Centre, Imaroo/Werribee
25 May 2024 – Casula Powerhouse, Cabrogal Country/Liverpool
26 May 2024 – The Concourse Lounge, Cammeraygal Country/Willoughby
31 May 2024 – Logan Entertainment Centre, Yugambeh and Yuggera Country/Logan
21 June 2024 – Red Earth Arts Precinct, Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Country/Karratha
22 June 2024 – Carnarvon Civic Centre, Gwoonwardu/Carnarvon
28 June 2024 – Albany Entertainment Centre, Kinjarling/Albany
30 June 2024 – Esperance Civic Centre, Kepa Kurl/Esperance
5 July 2024 – The Wedge, Gunai Country/Sale
6 July 2024 – Kingston City Hall, Mooroobin/Moorabbin
7 July 2024 – Queanbeyan PAC, Quinbean/Queanbeyan
9 July 2024 – Horsham Town Hall Theatre, Wopetbungundilar/Horsham
12 July 2024 – Swan Hill Town Hall PACC, Matakupaat/Swan Hill
13 July 2024 – The Art House, Darkinjung Country/Wyong
26 July 2024 – Mount Isa Civic Centre, Kalkadoon Country/Mount Isa
28 July 2024 – Rockhampton River Festival, Darambal Country/Rockhampton
7 August 2024 – MECC, Yuwibara Country/Mackay
8 August 2024 – Proserpine Entertainment Centre, Gia Country/Proserpine

Photo credit: Duncan Wright

Donovan Woods Announces First Aussie Tour

After releasing seven albums and bagging a stack of awards in his native Canada, indie-folk artist Donovan Woods is finally making his way to Australia. He’ll play seven shows in intimate venues around the country in the middle of the year.

The tour announcement encouraged me to take a deep dive into Donovan’s music. I’ve had “Truck Full of Money” on my Spotify list of favourites for some time, but for some reason I hadn’t really explored his music before now. On one hand, I am so glad that I did. It’s incredible. And it just keeps getting better; his new track “Rosemary” is exquisite. On the other, now I’m sweating on my husband finding a new job before tickets sell out!

Donovan has partnered with Support Act and pledges to donate a dollar from every ticket sold to supporting music industry professionals in this country with crisis relief, mental health, and wellbeing assistance. He’s also got another album on the way in July, so expect to hear new tracks and plenty of your old favourites at these long-awaited shows:

13 June 2024 – Milk Bar, Boorloo/Perth
14 June 2024 – Jive, Tarntanya/Adelaide
15 June 2024 – Northcote Social Club, Naarm/Melbourne
16 June 2024 – Sooki Lounge, Wurundjeri Country/Belgrave
20 June 2024 – Stag & Hunter Hotel, Mulubinba/Newcastle
21 June 2024 – The Great Club, Eora/Sydney
22 June 2024 – Black Bear Lodge, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Photo credit: Brittany Farhart

ISHAN Releases Gorgeous Acoustic-Pop Track “My Mouth (la la la)”

France-born and Naarm/Melbourne based, 20-year-old ISHAN may just be your next acoustic-pop obsession. Footage of him playing his new track “My Mouth (la la la)” while busking went viral earlier online earlier this year. Now the song has an official release, you can expect to hear a lot more about him. It’s got a cool acoustic vibe that reminds me a lot of Vance Joy or Noah Kahan.

ISHAN wrote the song during a period of self-reflection, noting “I was meeting lots of new people but my self-confidence was low and I found myself trying to fit a social stereotype by portraying an image that was different to the real me.”

ISHAN just wrapped up a seven-date tour with Jack Botts and signed a co-management deal with Jaddan Commerford (Vance Joy, Tash Sultana) and Nick Lynagh (Gang Of Youths, Middle Kids, Brad Cox), so we can expect to see a lot more from him in the future. After going down the Spotify rabbit hole and hearing more of his music, I think that’s a very good thing.

Photo credit: Shiv Dutta

Angus & Julia Stone Release Beautiful New Single, “Cape Forestier”

As they prepare to release their sixth album, Angus & Julia Stone might just be making some of the best music of their careers. Their music has always been chilled, but sometimes it veered too close to sleepy territory for my taste. With their new music, they’ve definitely got the balance right. Their latest single “Cape Forestier” comes hot on the heels of “The Wedding Song,” and it’s every bit as good.

“‘Cape Forestier’ is about a boat on a journey. I suppose it speaks to the journey we’re all on in our lives—the comings and goings of love, loss, pain, and moving towards new horizons,” they explained. “We spent a lot of our childhood on and in the water. Elements of nature are lyrically and mythically important in our writing. The ebb and flow of tides, the changing cycles—nature so often helps us to understand our inner world. This is a very personal song to us, so we’ve chosen to share some unseen footage in the music video from the start of our time together making music in the living room at home to where we are now.”

“Cape Forestier” is the title track of Angus & Julia Stone’s new album, which drops on May 10. Remember they’re also playing intimate shows around the world to support its release, so if you haven’t already got your tickets, what are you waiting for?

23 May 2024 – Cite des Congres, Nantes
26 May 2024 – Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin
27 May 2024 – Beacon, Bristol
28 May 2024 – Royal Albert Hall, London
31 May 2024 – Spardawelt Freilichtbuhne, Stuttgart
1 June 2024 – Laeiszhalle, Hamburg
3 June 2024 – Cirque Royal, Brussels (SOLD OUT)
4 June 2024 – Cirque Royal, Brussels
6 June 2024 – Le CEPAC Silo, Marseille
9 June 2024 – Admiralspalast, Berlin (SOLD OUT)
10 June 2024 – Admiralspalast, Berlin
11 June 2024 – Carre, Amsterdam (SOLD OUT)
12 June 2024 – Carre, Amsterdam
14 June 2024 – L’Olympia, Paris (SOLD OUT)
15 June 2024 – Grand Rex, Paris
21 June 2024 – Place des Arts – Theatre Maisonneuve, Montreal
22 June 2024 – Danforth Music Hall, Toronto
23 June 2024 – The Town Hall, New York
26 June 2024 – The Centre, Vancouver
27 June 2024 – Fox Theatre, Oakland
29 June 2024 – Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles
3 August 2024 – Kiri Te Kanawa, Auckland
6 August 2024 – QPAC, Meeanjin/Brisbane
8 August 2024 – State Theatre, Eora/Sydney
9 August 2024 – State Theatre, Eora/Sydney (SOLD OUT)
15 August 2024 – Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Bailey Judd Drops Yacht Rock-Inspired Bop, “Helpless”

As a sucker for yacht rock, Bailey Judd’s latest single “Helpless” is right up my alley. It’s an easy, breezy tune, perfect for taking a little me time in your midweek.

“It’s a song about falling in love and ultimately fighting to keep it strong,” Bailey explained.

“Helpless” comes from Bailey’s EP Fool’s Gold, which drops in a couple of months. He’ll celebrate its release with the following shows.

23 May 2024 – Gasometer Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
6 June 2024 – Goulburn Club, Gundungurra Country/Goulburn
7 June 2024 – Lazybones, Eora/Sydney (with Vinyl 45)
8 June 2024 – Yulli’s, Eora/Sydney (with JAZZSCHOOLHURTME Jam)

Image used with permission from Bailey Judd