Category: Live Performances

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The ARIA Awards Wrap

Pub trivia took precedence over the ARIA Awards last night so I’m only just catching up on all the goings on (thanks 9Now!). Honestly, I think it was one of the better award ceremonies. It was so exciting to see such a diverse range of talent honoured with the sharp pointy things. Guy Sebastian was such a superb host with the right mix of warmth and humour. I was thrilled to see him take out the Song of the Year title for “Choir.” What a top track that is.

I found myself getting unexpectedly emotional at Human Nature’s Hall of Fame induction. They were my boy band of choice in my teenage years, although I swore black and blue that they were a “vocal group” instead. I went to countless RSL gigs, shopping centre appearances, and the like. I lost track of them somewhere along the way, but watching them bust out those old hits before their induction took me right back. 30 years together is a massive achievement. Congratulations to them.

While Human Nature stirred my nostalgia, The Teskey Brothers delivered the performance of the night for me with “Rain.” I’ve long championed these guys and I can only hope the ARIA Awards puts them on the radar of people who might have been unaware of their talents. I was stoked to see them take home awards for best group and best blues and roots album for Run Home Slow.

I’m not going to run through every performance and accolade, because it’s so late on a Thursday that all that information has already been widely publicised. But it’d be remiss of me not to mention Tones and I. She’s smashed chart records and earned global fame this year, but four ARIA awards is such a fitting cherry on top. Hats off to her.

What did you think of the 2019 ARIAs? Who were you excited to see honoured and was there anyone you were disappointed to see missing out? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Angus Dawson Highlights Indigenous History With “Ngurra”

Angus Dawson taps into all he learned about our nation’s history after spending time in remote Indigenous communities in Western Australia with his introspective new single “Ngurra.” The word is used in many Indigenous languages and dialects, but always roughly translates to “home.”

“I realised during and after this trip that I had such a shallow education into Australia’s history and the culture that has existed here for 40 000+ years, making it the oldest culture on Earth,” he explained. “I felt pretty embarrassed about it. The silver lining for this experience though was that I got to witness first-hand the power of music as a universal language.”

Angus spent his time in WA working with Desert Feet, a music charity that helps communities often plagued by physical and mental health issues turn their lives around using music therapy. Practicing, recording, and performing music helps keep local language and culture alive for people in these remote areas of the country. Angus came to Desert Feet expecting to help others, but he didn’t realise how much he would also learn from the experience.

I love the official single version, currently available on Spotify and all your favourite streaming platforms, but I think the acoustic take in this video really brings those personal lyrics to the fore. Listen to them both and tell me which one you prefer!

Image used with permission from Exist. Recordings

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bobby Alu Puts Call Out for Ukulele Players

Winter might be coming, but Bobby Alu doesn’t care. He loves making summery tunes all year round, like his latest single “Finally.” He’s even celebrating this reggae-tinged track with a tour in the middle of winter. Well why the hell not?

If you can play ukulele, Bobby would love to have you as a special guest on his upcoming shows. He’s put the call out to ukulele soloists of any age of ability to open up these gigs.

“We want to share the stage with ukulele players around Australia. You don’t have to be an expert, you just have to feel the flow,” he said. If you can feel it, post a video of yourself playing your uke on Instagram and Facebook and tag @bobby_alu, your city, and #FinallyTour. You’ve got until the 18th of May to get your application in, so hop to it!

Even if you can’t play the ukulele, you can enjoy these shows. Check out Bobby on his Finally tour this June!

7-8 June 2019 – Palm Creek Folk Festival, Mount Surround
9 June 2019 – The Loft, Brisbane (Matinee – ALL AGES)
14 June 2019 – Wesley Anne, Melbourne
15 June 2019 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
16 June 2019 – Mojos Bar, Fremantle
28 June 2019 – Venue 505, Sydney
30 June 2019 – Festival of Voices, Apslawn

Image used with permission from GYRO PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Asha Jefferies Releases Live Track Ahead of EP Release & Tour

I’ve admired Asha Jefferies music for so long that I was surprised to read she’s yet to release an EP. That will all change next month when her debut EP, Hold Yourself Together, drops. She’ll give us all an opportunity to learn the words to those new songs before hitting the road a week later.

If you’ve never seen Asha live, listening to her new live version of “Everybody Talks,” recorded at The Tivoli, might convince you to change all that. This stripped back version takes this song to the next level, encouraging you to hone in on those lyrics and the song’s meaning.

Hold Yourself Together drops on February 1. She’ll play the following EP launch show to celebrate its long-awaited release.

8 February 2019 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
9 February 2019 – Byron Bay Brewery, Byron Bay
14 February 2019 – Golden Age Cinema, Sydney
15 February 2019 – Retreat Hotel, Melbourne
16 February 2019 – The Espy, Melbourne
1 February 2019 – Nannup Music Festival, Perth

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Trey Cooper Wows Me With “Howling”

Sunshine Coast muso Trey Cooper has thoroughly charmed me with his new single “Howling.” If you love a good acoustic-driven pop-rock track, you’re going to eat this up too.

It’s got a great radio-friendly sound, but tap into those lyrics and you’ll hear a little darkness. Trey has flipped the classic love song on its head here, turning it into something a bit moodier and more haunting. And can we just take a moment to appreciate his voice, which seems to have no barriers. His effortless command of his instrument is reminiscent of Jeff Buckley or Matt Corby. I love that rather than releasing a fancy video where he lip-synced, Trey has released a back-to-basics live studio video as the official film clip.

Trey regularly gigs around Southeast Queensland. Hopefully it won’t be too long before he ventures out for a national tour.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tash Sultana Drops Stunning “Harvest Love” Single

Tash Sultana has floored me with her latest single, “Harvest Love.” This is a beautiful track about losing a loved one which packs a serious emotional punch.

“I wrote this song a little while back. People kind of assume that I only write songs with live looping but I actually write in all different ways. This is a piece I’m super proud of,” Tash explained. “I unlocked a little part of me to completely simplify the story I was trying to tell. I think you kind of get that way when you have a moment in your life when the entire world is just too hard to comprehend. So this is what came from that.”

“Harvest Love” is the latest cut from Tash Sultana’s debut album Flow State, which will drop on August 31. She’s currently touring the world, but she’ll play Lost Picnic Festival here in October and headline a gig on the Sunshine Coast in January. This is her first local headlining show in more than a year, so expect tickets to get snapped up. Here are all the places you can see her play around the world in the coming months.

3 August 2018 – Hinterland Music Festival, St Charles
4 August 2018 – Lollapalooza, Chicago
5 August 2018 – Osheaga, Montreal (SOLD OUT)
7 August 2018 – RBC Echo Beach, Toronto
9 August 2018 – Edmonton Folk Fest, Edmonton
11 August 2018 – Outside Lands Festival, San Francisco
6-8 September 2018 – Palladium Koln, Cologne (SOLD OUT)
10 & 11 September 2018 – Columbiahalle, Berlin (SOLD OUT)
15 & 16 September 2018 – Afas Live, Amsterdam-Zuidoost (SOLD OUT)
20-22 September 2018 – O2 Academy Brixton, London (20th & 21st SOLD OUT; Limited tickets for 22nd)
25 September 2018 – l’Olympia, Paris
28 September 2018 – Samsung Hall, Zurich (SOLD OUT)
29 September 2018 – Fabrique, Milan, Italy
7 October 2018 – Lost Picnic Festival, Melbourne
13 October 2018 – Lost Picnic Festival, Sydney
1 November 2018 – UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver
4 November 2018 – Grey Eagle Event Centre, Calgary
6 November 2018 – Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg
7 November 2018 – Palace Theatre, St.Paul
10 November 2018 – The Filmore Detroit, Detroit
16 November 2018 – House of Blues, Boston
17 November 2018 – Terminal 5, New York
20 November 2018 – Stage AE, Pittsburgh
21 November 2018 – The Anthem, Washington D.C.
23 November 2018 – War Memorial Auditorium, Nashville
24 November 2018 – The Tabernacle, Atlanta
26 November 2018 – Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland, Kansas City
27 November 2018 – The Fillmore Auditorium, Denver
1 December 2018 – Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles
2 January 2019 – Bay Dreams Festival, ASB Baypark, The Mount
4 January 2019 – Bay Dreams Festival, Trafalgar Park, Nelson
12 January 2019 – Big Pineapple Fields, Woombye

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Too Many Zooz Announce They’ll Be Back in Oz

Quirky New York trio Too Many Zooz haven’t long wrapped up their first Aussie tour, but they’re keen to do it all again. Leo P, Matt Doe, and David “King of Sludge” Parks will bring their unique BrassHouse music back to Australia next month.

For a sign of what’s in store, check out this cover of TNT the band fittingly recorded in Melbourne’s AC/DC Lane. There’s more where that came from; join the party at the following Too Many Zooz shows.

16 February 2018 – Garden of Unearthly Delights, Adelaide
18 February 2018 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
19 February 2018 – Factory Theatre, Sydney
21 February 2018 – Perth Festival, Perth

Image used with permission from Minor Major

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Brilliant Benjamin Booker Announces Bluesfest Sideshows

I must admit, I meant to write about Benjamin Booker’s Bluesfest sideshows yesterday but I fell down the Spotify rabbit hole with his music instead. Writing about him fell low down my priority list as I relished the opportunity to listen to his gritty blend of soul and blues.

If you want to know what Benjamin is all about, wrap your ears around this live version of Witness, the title track from his 2017 album. A socially charged anthem exploring the racial tensions facing the United States, it’s just one of many wonderful tracks I listened to yesterday.

Whether you’re a fan or, like me, you’ve just discovered his brilliance, you won’t want to miss these shows. See him at Sydney’s Factory Theatre on March 29 or Melbourne’s Corner Hotel on March 31.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gang of Youths, Amy Shark, Paul Kelly Big Winners at ARIAs

Often I spend the ARIA Awards feeling a little out of step with the industry voters, because the acts I feel passionate about aren’t often the ones who come home with the trophies. Not last night though, where Gang of Youths, Amy Shark, and Paul Kelly took home some of the top prizes. I was also thrilled to see Jimmy Barnes taking out the Best Children’s Album category (who would have thought he could beat out The Wiggles?) and Kasey Chambers recognised for her wonderful album Dragonfly. 2017 has been such a great year for local music and last night’s event was a fitting celebration of that.

Sure, it wasn’t a perfect awards night. Without a host, the night seemed to lack a little direction. Some of the banter felt forced, like the section with the stars of Pitch Perfect 3 and Joel Creasey’s awkward conversation with Jillian Michaels. The sound also left a lot to be desired, at least on the television broadcast. I hope it sounded better in the room. But the performances were all outstanding. It seems wrong to single anyone out, but Jimmy Barnes’ rendition of “High Voltage” was such a fitting tribute to Malcolm and George Young. If you weren’t excited by new Hall of Fame inductee Darryl Braithwaite teaming up with Vera Blue and Guy Sebastian for “The Horses” you’re probably not Australian. I thought Paul Kelly’s new take on “Dumb Things” with A.B. Original and Dan Sultan was inspired. Gang of Youth’s performance showed just why they were so dominant this year.

If you didn’t catch the ceremony, at least make sure you look up some of the performances on YouTube. Here’s one to get you started.

And here are all the winners!

Album Of The Year: Gang Of Youths – Go Farther In Lightness
Best Male Artist: Paul Kelly – Life Is Fine
Best Female Artist: Sia – “The Greatest feat. Kendrick Lamar”
Best Dance Release: Pnau – “Chameleon”
Best Group: Gang Of Youths – Go Farther In Lightness
Breakthrough Artist: Amy Shark – Night Thinker
Best Pop Release: Amy Shark – Night Thinker
Best Urban Album: A.B. Original – Reclaim Australia
Best Independent Release: A.B. Original – Reclaim Australia
Best Rock Album: Gang Of Youths – Go Farther In Lightness
Best Adult Contemporary Album: Paul Kelly – Life Is Fine
Best Country Album: Kasey Chambers – Dragonfly
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album: Northlane – Mesmer
Best Blues & Roots Album: All Our Exes Live In Texas – When We Fall
Best Children’s Album: Jimmy Barnes – Och Aye the G’Nu!
Best Video: Bliss N Eso – “Moments” (feat. Gavin James)
Best Australian Live Act: Illy
Song Of The Year: Peking Duk – “Stranger” (feat. Elliphant)
Best International Artist: Harry Styles

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Leopold’s Treat Playing Hometown Show at Tally Valley Hall

Tallebudgera Valley’s own Leopold’s Treat are giving back to their local community with a very special show on October 7.

Music lovers can expect an evening of acoustic tunes in a family-friendly atmosphere. There’ll be a meditation session at sunset, fabulous food, and plenty of good vibes. Another local talent, Felicity Lawless, will also play a set. Money raised will also benefit animal and environmental charities. What a great opportunity to come together with your neighbours and hear some great music from your backyard? This video gives you a little indication of the kind of fun you’re in for!

If you live in the area, make sure you get along to Tallebudgera Valley Community Hall on October 7. It all kicks off at 4 pm, and with tickets costing $30 for adults and $10 for kids, it’s a pretty affordable night out. Get yours now from Yapsody.