Melbourne songstress Ariela Jacobs seems so sweet and wholesome, I’d never have imagined her breaking the rules. Yet she snuck into a local pool to bring us this stunning acoustic live performance of her brand new single “Say So.”
The song has me even more excited about her second EP, also called Say So, which will be released in the near future. Before then, she’s got two big shows at Bigsound to think about. Brisbane, you can catch her tonight at the Empire Hotel and tomorrow at Laruche.
Adelaide trio Wanderers blew me away with the single “Loco” in January. The EP Something of a Distraction came a month later, but I must have been distracted because I’m only just listening to it now. Just in time too, as it turns out, because after wowing crowds in Europe and the United Kingdom, the band is back on Aussie soil ready to kick off a New South Wales tour tonight.
If you’re not already acquainted with Wanderers, do yourself a favour. Their music is so much fun, soulful with hints of funk, gospel, and straight up rock and roll. This live clip of “Loco” gives you an inkling of what I mean, but you can see for yourself at the following venues.
17 August 2017 – Moonshine, Manly
18 August 2017 – Caves Beachside Hotel, Caves Beach
19 August 2017 – Gregory Hills Hotel, Gregory Hills
20 August 2017 – Headland Cafe, Valla Beach
23 August 2017 – Element Bar, Coffs Harbour
24 August 2017 – Moonshine, Manly
25 August 2017 – Black Duck Brewery, Port Macquarie
26 August 2017 – The Rails, Byron Bay
27 August 2017 – The Junkyard Hotel, Maitland
30 August 2017 – Oak Hotel, Double Bay
31 August 2017 – Moonshine, Manly
1 September 2017 – Aztec, Forster
Image used with permission from Little Acorn Music
More than a year since his passing, I am still processing the loss of Prince. There’s a giant innovative, flamboyant, shining, purple hole in the musical landscape that I don’t think anyone will ever fill.
As much as I miss him, I’m also grateful that he left us with so much positive music. It’s impossible to get too down when you’re listening to the funk-infused tunes from his back catalogue. So when Royal Funk Party, Lake Minnetonka, Mayfield, and DJ MzRizk get together at The Toff in Town to mark Prince’s birthday next month, you know you’re going to have a good time.
These guys channel the Minneapolis sound Prince pioneered. To see just how good they are, check out this performance of “Head” with Royal Funk Party and Lake Minnetonka going toe to toe.
It all happens at the Toff in Town in Melbourne on June 10. Tickets are on sale now through Moshtix.
My first introduction to Kevin Mitchell was as the larrikin frontman of ‘90s punk act Jebediah. At that time I could never have imagined he’d be making the kind of folky acoustic music I really dig under the alias Bob Evans. Or the way that fans would take to his softer alter ego. Yet roughly 15 years after unveiling Bob Evans, Kevin Mitchell’s laidback music is still going strong. This video of “My Matilda” should give you some indication as to why.
For more music like that, make sure you check out Bob Evans on his very extensive Aussie tour over the next few months. He’ll visit capital cities and regional centres, and as an added bonus offer a few six-track EP Zeroes to Heroes to anyone that purchases a ticket from his website or online outlets.
20 April 2017 – Front Bar, Canberra
21 April 2017 – Lizotte’s, New Lambton
22 April 2017 – Hardy’s Bay Club, Hardy’s Bay
3 May 2017 – Clarendon Guest House, Katoomba
5 May 2017 – Camelot Lounge, Sydney
6 May 2017 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
7 May 2017 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
11 May 2017 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
12 May 2017 – 5 Church St, Bellingen
13 May 2017 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
1 June 2017 – Baha, Rye
2 June 2017 – The Croxton Front Bar, Melbourne
3 June 2017 – Workers Club, Geelong
8 June 2017 – Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide
9 June 2017 – Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine
Sublime Melbourne folk duo Deer Prudence kicks off a Victorian tour tonight. Limited tickets are still available for the club gigs and festivals.
If you were on the fence about whether to see these women in action, this video might help sway you. Here they perform “Winter Song” on board a Cambridge Style Punt in the middle of the Royal Botanic Gardens. And yes, it’s every bit as dreamy as it sounds.
Catch Deer Prudence at the following venues.
24 March 2017 – Baha, Rye (supporting Little Georgia)
25 & 26 March 2017 – Yackandandah Folk Festival, Yackandandah
7 April 2017 – Oscar’s Alehouse, Belgrave (FREE)
8 April 2017 – Bordello Wine Bar, Echuca (FREE)
21-23 April 2017 – St Albans Folk Festival, St Albans
28 April 2017 – Old Church Hill, Bendigo (supporting The Northern Folk)
Camp Cope’s Georgia Maq and Bec Stevens, two of the country’s best young female talents, are joining forces for a short East Coast capitals tour kicking off next week.
The twosome has bonded over music, of course, but a shared love of vegan cheese toasties and The X-Files cemented their friendship. Separately, they’re both superb musicians. But put them together and you can expect some incredible harmonies and a lot of laughs, as this video shows.
Join in on the fun at the following shows.
30 March 2017 – Crowbar, Brisbane
31 March 2017 – The Record Crate, Sydney
2 April 2017 – The Rev, Melbourne
It’s hard to believe that next year marks the 20th anniversary of Todd McKenney singing the songs of Peter Allen. He’ll celebrate the occasion with a string of shows in Queensland and New South Wales. After his years as a Dancing with the Stars judge, you’d be forgiven for forgetting just how good a performer Todd really is. As a reminder, check out this performance of “Tenterfield Saddler” from the vault.
These shows are worth getting to, even if you’ve seen Todd paying tribute to the late, great Peter Allen before. He promises he’ll play more Peter Allen songs than ever before and share plenty of new stories and laughs as well. Tickets are available from the venues for the following shows.
31 March & 1 April 2017 – Kedron Wavell Services Club, Chermside
7 April 2017 – Bankstown Sports Club, Bankstown
8 April 2017 – Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill
21 April 2017 – Laycock Street Community Theatre, Gosford
22 April 2017 – Blue Mountains Theatre, Springwood
28 & 29 April 2017 – The Piano Sessions, The Studio @ Sydney Opera House, Sydney
6 May 2017 – Norths Leagues, North Sydney
13 May 2017 – Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill
19 May 2017 – Revesby Workers Club, Revesby
20 May 2017 – Dee Why RSL, Dee Why
26 May 2017 – Evan Theatre @ Penrith Panthers, Penrith, NSW
27 May 2017 – The Juniors, Kingsford
2 June 2017 – Hornsby RSL, Hornsby
3 June 2017 – Blacktown Workers, Blacktown
When I first heard Betty Who’s new single “Human Touch,” I wasn’t that impressed. It was one of those tracks I could imagine getting played on radio, but while it was catchy I found it ultimately forgettable. I didn’t really get it. It’s amazing what happens when you strip away some production though. In this acoustic version she recorded with Jarryd James, I feel like we finally get to see what this song is all about.
“I write so many of my of my songs on guitar or piano – it seemed only fitting to showcase the way this song came to be,” she explained. And having Jarryd sing it with me is a dream come true, the first time I heard his voice on the radio I knew I just had to sing with him. So I am so honoured to share this performance with him.”
“Human Touch” comes from Betty Who’s sophomore album, which will be released early next year.
I have a lot of love for Busby Marou. They’re one of Australia’s most unassuming musical acts, but they’re stellar songwriters with harmonies that are second to none. I can’t wait to hear more of their music when their third studio album, Postcards from the Shell House, drops on February 17.
Until then we’ll just have to be content with the release of the lead single “Getaway Car.” Busby Marou isn’t a band that needs studio trickery, so it’s only fitting to bring you a stripped back version of this song recorded on Great Keppel Island, where the duo wrote and recorded much of the album. It’s an idyllic setting which is perfectly suited to Busby Marou’s laidback style of music.
You can hear more of it when Busby Marou take their new album around Queensland next year. Hopefully it won’t be too long before they announce shows around the rest of the country.
18 February 2017 – The Great Western Hotel, Rockhampton
23-25 February 2017 – The Reef Casino, Cairns
2 March 2017 – Mt Pleasant, Mackay
3 March 2017 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
4 March 2017 – Dalrymples, Townsville
9 March 2017 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
10 March 2017 – Wharf Tavern, Mooloolaba
11 March 2017 – Bay Central Hotel, Hervey Bay
Anna Cordell has reminded me how much I love her EP These Walls with the release of one of the standout tracks from this recording, “Run Around.” It’s a song of deep yearning, with beautifully layered harmonies and lush strings. Rather than playing you the single version, I thought I’d get you in the mood for her upcoming tour with this live video.
Anna will celebrate the single’s release with a very different kind of tour. Rather than hitting the pubs and clubs, she’ll visit the homes of fans in regional Victoria as part of the Parlour gigs initiative. Click here if you’d like to host a show. All fans will get a chance to see her play when she ends the tour with a public show at the Retreat Hotel in Brunswick on October 27.
After that, Anna will knuckle down on recording a brand new album for release in 2017.
