Happy 10th Birthday Sounds of Oz!

Today Sounds of Oz turns 10. That seems like a milestone worth acknowledging. Ten years is longer than many marriages and prison sentences after all. It’s amazing scrolling back through the pages, looking at all the albums I’ve fallen for and the gigs I’ve seen since it all began.

I started this blog all those years ago because I felt there was a real division in Australia between the alternative music press and the commercial outlets. I wanted to carve out a place where great Australian music could be appreciated, regardless of its genre. Sadly I still feel that division. I also feel there’s a bunch of great music that doesn’t get any exposure on through big outlets, something I wasn’t aware of when I began this journey. I’m thrilled I have a platform to bring those superb songs to you.

I’m not going to write anything long and sappy, but I did want to take a moment to thank the promoters and record companies who’ve introduced me to so much great music and hooked me up with countless concert tickets over the years. Your support has been invaluable. Thank you to the musicians themselves for their kind words and for sharing their music with me. But mostly I want to thank you, the readers. Whether you’re been with me for years or you’ve just stopped by, I’m glad you’ve taken time to discover my little corner of the web.

Here’s to the next 10 and beyond!

Image source: Wwarby @ Flickr

Happy Birthday Ivy League!

A killer roster and a great deal of heart have helped indie label Ivy League reach its tenth birthday. To celebrate the milestone the Sydney record company will release a very special compilation, Ten Years in the Trenches.

The album, which spans the label’s history, will feature tracks by some of the biggest artists including The Vines, Youth Group, Red Riders, Josh Pyke, 78 Saab, The City Lights, and The Mess Hall.

It will also include a brand new song, “Out of My Hands,” performed by the all-star Ivy Regiment Band. This Ivy League supergroup features Josh Pyke, Youth Group’s Tony Martin and Patrick Matthews, 78 Saab’s Ben Nash, The Vines’ Hamish Rosser, Red Riders’ Adrian Deutsch, and Neon’s Josh Bitmead. That’s some line-up!

Ten Years in the Trenches hits stores on October 20. Rumour has it an Ivy League concert will celebrate the release, so stay tuned for more details on that!

Image source: Narcissus1x @ Wikimedia Commons