Melbourne Guitar Show Announces Top Acts for 2019

You can always count on the Melbourne Guitar Show to deliver a stellar line-up of talent, and this year’s event is no different. We’ve got local legends Ash Grunwald, Sarah McLeod, Stars (featuring Mal Eastick, Nick Charles, and Roger McLachlan, Dave Leslie, and Lloyd Spiegel along with American guns Keith Merrow and Dennis Jones, plus stacks more. And that’s all just in the first announcement!

In addition to performances from all these acts, attendees can browse the massive guitar gear expo, attend information seminars and demonstrations, and so much more. There are always some surprises too. Last year Harts, Darren Middleton, Bec Sandridge, and Dan Sultan made unannounced appearances. Getting some tickets is the only way to see what happens this year!

“It’s exciting to see the show develop each year and add value to the live music industry,” confirmed one of the show’s organiser, Rob Walker. “We are proud to present such a broad range and quality of guitars, amps and gear from the big brands to local artisans. And each year we get to put together a program of live music featuring the considerable talents of our guitar community. It’s a great weekend for anyone into music, particularly guitars.”

The Melbourne Guitar Show will rock Caulfield Racecourse on August 3 and 4. Tickets are on sale now via the show’s website. As it’s run by the not-for-profit Australian Music Association, any proceeds will help provide services to the Australian music industry.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Ash Grunwald Nails Old-School Blues With “Hammer”

With Ash Grunwald preparing to launch his new single “Hammer” with shows around the country, I thought it was about time that I brought it to you.

I love the rootsy, swampy, old-school bluesiness of this track. It’s like a throwback to John Lee Hooker or Muddy Waters with a fresh 21st century twist.

“Hammer feels like a rebirth for me in some ways,” Ash explained. “I’m not a new artist trying to find my niche or prove myself. I don’t want to be a certain kind of artist fitting into a certain kind of box. I went in to record Hammer knowing the musical boundaries I wanted to push as well as the traditions I wanted to respect and tried to create something my fans would love… a signpost to the future in some ways, with ties to the past.”

This is our first taste of Ash’s forthcoming 10th studio album. You can hear more of his new material as well as your old favourites at the following shows.
1 March 2017 – Garden of Unearthly Delights, Adelaide
3 March 2017 – SS&A, Albury
31 March 2017 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
1 April 2017 – Bleach Festival, Coolangatta
7 April 2017 – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane
8 April 2017 – “Revamp the Amp” Kuranda Amphitheater, Smithfield
15 April 2017 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
16 April 2017 – Crafted Live, Wollongong
27 April 2017 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
28 April 2017 – Boston Brewery, Denmark

Image used with permission from SGC Media

Top Aussie Acts Fundraise for Anti-Fracking Initiative

Some of Australia’s most eco-friendly musicians are joining forces for Rock the Gate, a massive fundraising effort for Lock the Gate, the alliance behind Australia’s anti-fracking movement. The Rock the Gate show will see the diverse talents of Pete Murray, The Herd, Ash Grunwald, Tex Perkins and the Dark Horses, Natalia Pa’apa’a Trio, Diesel n’ Dub, Nahko, Trevor Hall, and heaps more rocking Sydney’s Enmore Theatre to support this important cause.

If you don’t know, fracking is unsafe coal seam gas mining. More than half of Australia is under fracking exploration license, despite the international community condemning the practice. But this isn’t the sort of thing archvillain Tony Abbott’s going to worry about, is it? Thankfully we’ve got awesome musos and lobby groups that can shine a light on this important issue.

Tickets are dirt cheap at $75 a pop and all proceeds go directly to Lock the Gate, so snap yours up and support this great cause.

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Sydney Celebrates Blues & Roots with Hawkesbury Festival

Who needs Byron Bay or Fremantle? Sydney’s holding its own with its own blues and roots festival this October.

OK, so there’s no Bob Dylan, no BB King, and no Elvis Costello, but the predominantly local artists who have made the bill are first class. Jeff Lang, Ash Grunwald, and The Tea Party’s Jeff Martin are amongst the acts already announced, and there’s more to come when the second crop are named on July 1.

The bands will take over restaurants, cafes, and hotels in the picturesque Hawkesbury River region from October 28 to 30. Discounted early bird three-day passes are currently available for $119 from the Sydney Blues and Roots festival website. It sounds like an excellent opportunity for a road trip to me!

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Ash Grunwald Tours Country For Doco

Ash Grunwald seems determined to play for just about everyone over the next couple of months as he makes his way around Australia.

It’s not all about the shows though. Ash is actually making a doco about life on the road, contrasting the differences between the Aussie towns he plays and introducing us to some of the characters he meets along the way.

The gigs will meld Ash’s two great loves: surfing and music. Surfers Dave Rastovich, Neal Purchase Jnr, Matt Hoy, and Beau and Nat Young will join Ash at various locations on the tour, there’ll be surf photography displayed at the venues, and surf films will play in between the sets.

You could dismiss the whole thing as an excuse to catch a few waves if Ash wasn’t also promoting his new single “Tear the Roof Off” from the album Hot Mama Vibes. Being such a nice guy, he’s offering it as a free download from his website. If you like what you hear make sure you head out to one of the following shows. With so many dates on the agenda I’m sure there’ll be one near you!

28 July 2011 – The Sandbar, Mildura
29 July 2011 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
30 July 2011 – Echuca & Moama Winter Blues, Moama
3 August 2011 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
4 August 2011 – Pier Live, Frankston
5 August 2011 – The Corner, Melbourne
6 August 2011 – Westernport Hotel, Hastings
8 August 2011 – Snowbird Inn, Mount Hotham
10 August 2011 – The Smiggins Hotel, Perisher
11 August 2011 – ANU Bar, Canberra
12 August 2011 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
13 August 2011 – Waves, Towradgi
14 August 2011 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
17 August 2011 – Beachcomber Hotel, Toukley
18 August 2011 – South West Rocks Country Club, South West Rocks
19 August 2011 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
20 August 2011 – Pacific Hotel, Yamba
21 August 2011 – Coolum Civic Centre, Coolum
25 August 2011 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
26 August 2011 – Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta
27 August 2011 – The Hi Fi, Brisbane
28 August 2011 – Gympie Muster, Gympie
1 September 2011 – Mainstreet Nightclub, Mackay
2 September 2011 – A.J Hacketts, Cairns
3 September 2011 – Uni Club Townsville, Townsville

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Earth Worker Gives Away Single, Supports Ash Grunwald

Dean Carroll, or Earth Worker as he’s known to music buffs, is giving away his new single “Who’s Coming Along” as a free digital download. Just click here to get your hands on the track, which comes from Dean’s debut album Seeds of Light.

The album has been a labour of love for Dean, who independently recorded and produced it along with writing all the songs. We should see that disc in stores this summer.

Earth Worker will play a string of shows to support the single release, including an appearance at the Winter Magic Festival and the support slot on Ash Grunwald’s Katoomba concert. If you want to see Earth Worker live check out the following gigs. More dates will be announced closer to the release of Seeds of Light.
19 June 2010 – Winter Magic Festival, Katoomba
30 June 2010 – Baroque Bar, Katoomba
1 July 2010 – Steel Mantra Body Mod and Piercing, Windsor
2 July 2010 – Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor
15 July 2010 – Happy Yess, Darwin
14 July 2010 – Happy Yess, Darwin

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment