Tag: Daryl Braithwaite

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Daryl Braithwaite Releases Super-Catchy Single, “It’s You”

I wasn’t going to write about Daryl Braithwaite’s newest single “It’s You.” While it’s Dazza’s first release in four years, it’s not exactly groundbreaking. It’s a love song by the numbers if you will, and those kinds of songs are easy to dismiss. But it’s such an earworm. I’ve found myself singing the chorus randomly at all times of the day since I heard it, so I’m relenting. Because while it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it’s super catchy, and that’s not nothing.

“The first time I heard ‘It’s You’ was when Michael Fatkin, who wrote ‘Love Songs’, sent it to me maybe a year or so back and I started playing it live to a very warm reaction,” Daryl recalled. I hope that as people continue to discover ‘It’s You’ it will resonate with them and bring them the same joy it brings me to play it live on stage!”

And who can argue with that? If you need a slice of feelgood pop today, you’ve found it. Not every song has to be “The Horses.” This one is pretty fun. You can see Daryl play this track and all your old favourites at one of his upcoming shows:

23 November 2024 – Seppeltsfield Wines, Peramangk, Ngadjuri and Kaurna Country/Seppeltsfield (with Tina Arena and Richard Marx)
29 November 2024 – Frankston Art Centre, Monmar/Frankston
30 November 2024 – Sandstone Point Hotel, Ningy Ningy Country/Sandstone Point (with Tina Arena and Richard Marx)
6 December 2024 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Balaarat/Ballarat
7 December 2024 – Mornington Racecourse, Bunurong Country/Mornington (with Tina Arena and Richard Marx)
14 December 2024 – Torquay Hotel, Wadawurrung Country/Torquay
15 December 2024 – The Longley International, Nipaluna/Longley
20 December 2024 – Events Centre Caloundra, Cullowundoor/Caloundra
21 December 2024 – Twin Towns Services Club, Goodjinburra Country/Tweed Heads

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sunset Sounds Heading to Victorian Vineyard

I don’t know about you, but I need gigs to look forward to. My concert calendar is looking pretty bare, and I find myself pulling out of plans I’ve already made because it seems like the safest option right now. Perhaps that reluctance to lock things in sees plenty of great tickets available for Rochford Wines’ Sunset Sounds. Because with a line-up featuring some of Australia’s most beloved acts, it should already be sold out.

This bill is stacked, with Daryl Braithwaite, Ian Moss, Kate Ceberano, The Black Sorrows, Russell Morris, Ross Wilson, Thirsty Merc, Chocolate Starfish, Wendy Matthews, The Chantoozies, and Bjorn Again all set to entertain Victoria crowds. Despite this, there are tickets available in all categories, including in all those fancy pants VIP sections. That’d be what I’d opt for. After all, it’s probably been so long since you’ve bought tickets for anything you can justify the splurge!

“Since establishing Sunset Sounds three years ago and selling out multiple shows in QLD and NSW, we are beyond excited to blow those Covid blues away, bringing a celebration of non-stop hits with a who’s who of classic Aussie rock (with a touch of ABBA) to the iconic Yarra Valley,” said Empire Touring’s Director and certified vibe creator, Marc Christowski.

“It is so thrilling to once again – after what seems like an eternity – share a stage at The Rochford Wines Sunset Sounds concert with Ian Moss, Kate Ceberano, The Black Sorrows, Russell Morris, Thirsty Merc and more,” added Daryl Braithwaite. “It is going to be so good.”

Sunset Sounds hits Rochford Wines in the Yarra Valley on February 26. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketek.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rob Thomas – Sydney and Hunter Valley, 13 and 16 November 2019

Live music always makes my heart beat faster. However, there is one artist on the planet that takes my excitement to the next level: Rob Thomas. Whether he’s fronting Matchbox Twenty or playing solo, he is the performer who has the largest piece of my heart. His Chip Tooth Tour was a long time coming, nearly four years since his last Australian dates, so by the time last week rolled around I was more than ready.

One Rob Thomas show isn’t enough for me. I considered writing two reviews, one for Sydney and another for the Hunter Valley, but frankly the week passed in a whirlwind and now here I am, basking in the afterglow. Sydney was the perfect warm-up. First State Super Theatre strikes the right balance; it’s small enough to feel intimate but not so tiny that it can’t attract big acts for their only gigs in the NSW capital. The Hunter Valley show was part of the Day on the Green series. These events always seem so leisurely and relaxed, with so many good vibes. Sorry Sydney, but it also seemed to have the best crowd. Maybe I was just unlucky with seating in Sydney, but it was so nice to travel up the freeway to be amongst fans who seemed to care more about the music than making trips to the bar!

I’m glad that Daryl Braithwaite was the support act we doubled up on. I’ve made mention in the past of his voice fading, but I think he was in the best form I’ve seen in a while. You can still hear the limitations at time, but it’s a minor quibble from an artist who delivers so much. His set was packed with his Sherbet and solo hits, although an unexpected cover of The Kinks’ “All Day and All Of The Night” was a welcome addition in Sydney. What a shame the Hunter Valley security decided to try to make everyone sit down just before “The Horses.” Thank you, Daryl, for insisting it wouldn’t hurt us to rise to our feet for a couple of minutes! Staying seated for this unofficial anthem just wouldn’t have felt right!

The Hunter Valley’s extended line-up saw Russell Morris and Pete Murray joining us. I raved about Russell when I saw him at the same venue a couple of years ago and he was every bit as appealing this time around. His voice shows no sign of fatigue, impressive at the age of 71. He has so many hits to his name and they came thick and fast, rewarding those of us who arrived early enough to catch his set. He really deserved better than so many vacant seats. He was excellent.

I wish I could get as excited about Pete Murray, but for not the first time I just wasn’t feeling it. Ordinarily I can’t get enough of good-looking men who play guitars, but his songs never seem to get out of second gear for me. He performs them well, sounding virtually identical to the way he does in the studio, but I just can’t muster any kind of enthusiasm for them. Putting Pete after Daryl Braithwaite, who had me and so many of the folks around me, so fired up also seemed a bit cruel.

Whether I couldn’t wait for the support act to vacate the stage (sorry Pete) or I embraced their set (love your work Dazza!), I was primed for Rob Thomas. Opening with a new album track like “I Love It” was a risky move, but it was really the perfect introduction to Rob’s set; upbeat, engaging, and sexy as hell. It might have been called the Chip Tooth Tour, but Rob knows how to strike the right balance for serious fans and casual listeners. I would have liked to hear more from the new album, Chip Tooth Smile, but the four or five songs he played from it made space in the set for more songs from the back catalogue. The solo hits and Matchbox cuts came thick and fast, along with a smattering of lesser known songs for the diehards like me. I was thrilled to hear “Sunday Morning New York Blue,” an EP track, and fan favourite “Pieces” make the cut in the Hunter, while “Heaven Help Me” was an unexpected delight in Sydney. “Fire on the Mountain isn’t one of my favourite album tracks, but it really gets a new power on the stage. Adding Indigenous dancers to the mix in Sydney brought some extra gravitas.

Speaking of surprises, they don’t get much bigger than Andrew Farriss from INXS gracing the stage for a cover of “Never Tear Us Apart” in the Hunter. The chemistry between the longtime friends and the quality of this Aussie classic made it a real moment to remember. If you can’t get Santana out here for “Smooth,” then 10-year-old guitar prodigy Taj Farrant makes an impressive substitute.


It seems to me like Rob is aging in reverse. I think it’s the only reasonable explanation for his boundless energy. He put on a rock star performance, without the bells and whistles of so many modern rock shows. Without projections or pyrotechnics, the focus was squarely on the music and the way Rob delivered it. Most of his band has been with him since his first solo tour, and it shows. However, as much as I appreciate the big full-band numbers, it was the quieter, more reflective times in the set that really got me. I don’t mind saying that I found myself wiping away tears in acoustic performances of “Ever the Same” in Sydney and “Bent” in the Hunter. With an acoustic guitar and Rob’s voice, supported by a choir of enthusiastic fans, those songs were as raw as the emotions they stirred in me.

When you anticipate a tour as much as I did this one, it can sometimes be hard for the performer to meet your expectation. But I know Rob never lets me down. Like a fine wine, he only seems to get better with age. The dust may still be settling on my recent shows, but I’m already hanging out for the next tour. Rob Thomas plays Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne tonight before concluding the Chip Tooth Tour at Perth’s Kings Park on November 23.

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Farnham @ Bimbadgen Estate, Pokolbin – 1 December 2018

You know it’s summer in Australia once the mercury soars and you find yourself with a bottle of semillon at a Day on the Green event. I wasted no time getting into the summer spirit, visiting Bimbadgen Estate in the Hunter for its first Day on the Green show of the season on Saturday.

It’s been so long since I’ve been to a Day on the Green that I didn’t anticipate the traffic. My party were enjoying a leisurely lunch in the same suburb and were sure 15 minutes would be enough time to get to the venue. Unfortunately, it was not to be. I was so looking forward to Bachelor Girl’s set too. Sadly though, by the time I got to my seat they were walking off stage. They sounded amazing though. Next time.

Thankfully I was happily in my seat with that important bottle of sem, necessary for combatting that summer heat, by the time Russell Morris graced the stage. He was the only artist on the bill I hadn’t seen before, so I was really excited to see what this Aussie legend could do. What a wonderful performance he gave, full of technical prowess and charisma, with classics, more recent bluesy hits from his latest smash albums, and some choice covers. I’d forgotten how much I love “Wings of an Eagle.” His takes on Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” and “Hush” were inspired. And of course, “The Real Thing” was a psychedelic delight.

He might have been sandwiched in the middle of the bill, but Richard Marx was my headliner. His set was all too brief, but that meant there was no time for fillers. The hits came thick and fast. Most drew from Richard’s early days with a “fluffy mullet.” I adored these chart toppers like “Endless Summer Nights” and “Should’ve Known Better.” But I was also thrilled to hear “Angelia,” a favourite song that didn’t crack the top 30, and “Long Hot Summer,” a song perfect for this weather he penned for Keith Urban. Those tracks I didn’t expect to hear helped make amends to the fans like me who would have loved to hear him play longer. By the time he played his torch ballad and HotelsCombined anthem “Right Here Waiting,” he had the whole crowd singing along. I’m not sure whether the sound mix was a little off early or whether I simply got used to the problem though. It’s a shame that this factor beyond his control marred an otherwise stellar performance.

You know you’re in good hands when two of Australia’s most beloved artists, Daryl Braithwaite and John Farnham, close out a show. Dazza’s voice took a little time to warm up, struggling to hit the higher notes in opener “Higher Than Hope,” but we sang loud enough to cover his failings until he hit his stride. His greatest hits set, drawing from the days of Sherbet and his solo career, was perfect for an event like this. No sooner had I sat down for a rest I was back up on my feet dancing to another favourite. None is greater than “The Horses” though, the kind of track that today encourages millennials to don horse heads and thrust hobby horses to the sky as they sing out that chorus. I was in fine voice alongside them.

John Farnham remains the consummate Australian performer. He’s a man whose voice needs no warm-up, whose songs are embraced by Australians of all ages. Like so many Aussies I’ve seen John several times over the years. Recently the sets were sounding a little samey, so I was thrilled to hear a few tracks from the classic album Whispering Jack he rarely plays. I’d forgotten how much I love “One Step Away.” The beautiful ballad “Touch of Paradise” was a real highlight, along with the rocking crowd pleaser “Take the Pressure Down.” But I’m not sure anything beats being in a crowd of Aussies joining voices with Farnsy belting out “You’re The Voice.” What a special moment.

With a stellar line-up of Aussie talent and a special import, A Day on the Green has kicked off its 2018/2019 season with a bang. Bring on the rest of the events!

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Red Hot Summer @ Mt Penang Parklands (Central Coast) & Cockatoo Island (Sydney) – 24 & 25 February 2018

In my teenage years, it wasn’t unusual for me to see several shows back-to-back. Now in my late 30s, after two days at the Red Hot Summer shows, I’m feeling every one of my years. I’m tired. My feet hurt. My lower back is achy. I’m thankful that I gave myself a little time to recover before going back to work, because I need it. Was it all worth it though? Absolutely!

I decided to write a combined review of both shows because while the weather varied, this was essentially the same concert. It makes sense really, with each act crafting a set full of the right songs to delight the fans.

But as I mentioned, the weather. It really went from one extreme to the other, and neither was ideal. This is the risk with staging an outdoor concert. The gods might smile down and gift you the perfect sunny day, not too hot or too cold. Or you might get the sort of heatwave conditions I experienced at Mt Penang Parklands on the Central Coast. The kind that make you feel so lightheaded you wonder whether you’ll make it to the first band. Or you might get the kind of gloomy cold day with torrential rain that soaked us to the skin at Cockatoo Island in Sydney. Neither is ideal for a live show, but if you get right the things you can control, the crowds won’t mind too much.

The organisers of Red Hot Summer must be commended for that. The line-up was exceptional, perhaps even better than the one I saw in 2017. There was a diverse array of food vendors serving quality eats fast. There were plenty of toilets. We weren’t left waiting too long between acts; the MC’s giveaways helped keep us all interested until we were ready to rock again.


I also appreciate that Red Hot Summer is more than a nostalgia fest. Every year I look forward to discovering new talent. In 2018, Red Hot Summer delivered with Taylor Sheridan, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from country Victoria. It’s always easy for an entertainer with pop-rock leanings playing an acoustic guitar to pique my interest. But to hold it takes something special. While his cover of “Billie Jean” was inspired, I was impressed with his excellent originals which rewarded anyone willing to listen to the lyrics. “Beauty of the Plan” and new single “Friends Like Me” were standouts. Finishing with a cover of “April Sun in Cuba” was the perfect way to win over anyone who wasn’t already on his side.


1927 are one of my favourite childhood bands, and as I discovered last year they’ve lost nothing. The band are tight and Eric Weideman’s voice is still so powerful. I wish I was feeling better for the Mt Penang show, as I felt I didn’t get to enjoy their set quite as much as I should have. I made up for lost time in Sydney though, jumping around and pumping my fists in the air during “You’ll Never Know.” “Compulsory Hero” gave me chills both shows. And those massive singles, “That’s When I Think Of You” and “If I Could,” has us all singing along.


The Black Sorrows were one of the standouts of last year’s Good Times tour, and they stamped their authority on the Red Hot Summer stages too. Joe Camilleri might be one of Australia’s most charming front men. I could watch him sing, wail on his saxophone, and dance around with wild abandon all day. Add in the divine voices of Vika and Linda Bull and you’re always going to have a good time. It was another superb set, with hit singles and some lesser known cuts represented. I loved watching the chemistry between Linda and Joe during “Baby It’s a Crime” and seeing Vika totally owning “Never Let Me Go.”


The Baby Animals were the only one of the big acts I’d never seen live before. Now that I have, I wonder why I left things so long. Suze DeMarchi oozes cool, even if she’s battling the heatstroke that plagued so many of us at Mt Penang. She’s definitely one of the most charismatic people I’ve ever seen performing. The way she moves, her commanding voice, her look, it’s all so impressive. The big hits like “Early Warning” and “Painless” sounded every bit as good as they did on the records, but had that extra special something that can only come from a live show. New single “Tonight” proved this is a band still in its prime, not one that needs to simply trade on nostalgia.


Daryl Braithwaite is such hot property right now. I’m not quite sure when it happened, but somewhere along the way he became really cool again. Millennials fell in love with “The Horses,” and there were plenty of them at the show, waving inflatable hobby horses and wearing rubber horse heads as they clapped along. But Daryl is much more than “The Horses.” While that song was the natural closer, it came after Dazza reminded us of his stellar career with Sherbet and solo smashes. Songs like “Summer Love” and “One Summer” are made for festivals like this.


The roar that came from the crowd suggested it wasn’t just the women with custom-made John Farnham shirts hanging out for Farnsy. There’s a certain air of excitement when he takes the stage, an indescribable feeling that magic will happen. Ably supported by his band of recognisable faces, musicians and vocalists who have been with him for decades, John belted out hit after hit. His was the sort of set you can sing along to, no matter whether you’ve ever bought a Farnsy album. These songs are in our DNA, from tender ballads like “Burn For You” to the show stoppers like “The Voice.” In between John chatted happily to the crowd, cracking jokes easily, then speaking with sincerity of the gratitude he has for those of us who stood in the heat or rain to hear his music. When the sets of most artists didn’t change, John made each show unique for his fans. The Central Coast was treated to “Don’t You Know It’s Magic” and the much maligned “Sadie the Cleaning Lady.” For Sydney it could be nothing other than “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.” They did, but with John to keep us company it was easier to grin and bear it.

The two Red Hot Summer shows in New South Wales didn’t happen under ideal circumstances, but by getting the essentials right the organisers ensured the crowds had the best time they could have hoped for. Bring on 2019, hopefully with better weather than this year brought!

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Day on the Green 100th Anniversary @ Bimbadgen Estate, Pokolbin – 22 March 2014

Fresh from my Glen Hansard show, I found myself concert bound again and on the road to the Hunter Valley. It seemed impossible to believe that we were heading out to celebrate the 100th Day on the Green show. It didn’t seem like that long ago that I was sitting with my parents at Bimbadgen Estate during the first run of the winery festival shows. Day on the Green has grown since those humble beginnings. It regularly attracts top notch international acts. But for the anniversary celebrations organisers went back to their roots and assembled one of the best line-ups of Aussie talent I’ve seen in some time.

What a shame that my parents were predictably running late. I found myself looking at my watch repeatedly, calculating just how much of Boom Crash Opera I’d get to see. The answer was, just one and a half songs as I was finding my seat. I was lucky to see that really; my dad let me out of the car early, despite the protests of security, and I ran up to the gates while he was parking. They sounded superb playing two of the big hits – “The Best Thing” and “Onion Skin – and I am kicking myself that I didn’t get to see more. They’ve lost nothing over the years, except for Dale Ryder’s hair.

Thankfully there was plenty more talent on the bill. While my formative years were spent perving on Mr Ryder, my mum’s were spent drooling over Daryl Braithwaite. She was transformed back into a 16-year-old as he took the stage and delivered hit after hit. Dazza’s another of those blokes who seems to lose nothing over the years. He hits those high notes with ease and always puts on such an amazing show. Singing out “The Horses” and “Higher than Hope” with the crowd was magic.

Next up was one of our favourites, Mr Richard Clapton. Oh how we love Richard. Having said that though, after such an incredible set from Daryl, Richard’s seemed to lack a little sparkle. I knew the majority of the songs from seeing him countless times in the past, but they seemed to leave a lot of people scratching their heads. “Girls on the Avenue” went down a treat though. Even when he’s not incredible, Richard’s still bloody good.

Incredible was what we got with another my of mum’s crushes, Ian Moss. The consummate professional, adored by the masses, he delivered a stellar set packed with the hits and a few surprised. As someone who remembers buying Matchbook on cassette (my first album bought with my own money if I’m ever on RocKWiz!), I was thrilled to hear him perform “Mr Rain.” The only thing better than Mossy solo is Mossy with Jimmy. We got a little Cold Chisel reunion during “When the War is Over” which was something I’ll never forget.

Next up were The Angels, the band with the biggest question mark for me. I was well aware of the split, and had wondered just how this incarnation would feel without Doc Neeson up front. I shouldn’t have worried. Rather than feeling like a pale imitation of the original, this Dave Gleeson-fronted outfit has a new lease on life. I might be a bit biased here. I’m Newcastle-bred, and many of the first pub gigs I ever attended were Screaming Jets shows. But he is the perfect frontman for this band he clearly loves so much. He brought real energy to the hits and won over the crowd from the get go. I’ve got to tell you though, the only thing weirder than seeing your parents chanting “that bit” in “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?” is watching your American husband’s reaction to it all. The poor boy was caught completely unawares. I love that despite eight years here, every now and again Aussie culture can throw him a curveball.

Jimmy Barnes teased us with his appearance during Mossy’s set. We were so ready for him, and he delivered. Jimmy was actually the first musician I ever saw live, way back in the Soul Deeper days, and I’ve been a massive fan ever since. It was a wonderful set which spanned his entire career. He rocked hard and we loved it. I found myself on my feet more often than not, and I screamed myself hoarse. God knows how he keeps up those vocals. Mossy came back to play a few Chisel numbers and it was every bit as special as that first appearance. This time I put my camera down and just soaked it in though. Wow. Being amongst that crowd singing out “Working Class Man” and “Khe Sahn” was out of this world.

All that amazing Australian music in one day is something I’ll never forget. This is the sort of show we’ll still be talking about years later.

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Daryl Braithwaite @ Lizotte’s – 1 November 2008

Last night I was back at Lizotte’s. I’m beginning to think I should just set up a bed out back and be done with it! This time I was enticed there by the prospect of seeing Aussie music legend Daryl Braithwaite.

But before all that we were treated to the musical stylings of Jess Locke. I was initially entranced by this folk singer with the pure voice and her quiet acoustic guitar strummings. But pretty soon the lack of variety in her songs made me lose interest. Her introspective tunes were well crafted, but ultimately depressing. When she introduced a track called “Happy Song” I perked up looking forward to the change of pace. Yet as the lyrics told us, she tried to write a happy song but it didn’t work out! Jess has a real talent, but some light and shade would make her music a lot more accessible.

Jess might not know how to have fun, but Daryl sure does. I’m not sure how I’ve made it to my age without seeing him live, but I definitely won’t wait long before repeating the experience. From Sherbet to his solo career, Daryl’s been around for an awfully long time. He’s had hit after hit, and he crammed as many of them as he could into his set.

Daryl’s appeal crosses all generations. My mum used to squeal over him when he was the long-haired frontman of Sherbet, while I remember Rise being one of my primary school soundtracks. No matter when you knew him, his songs are classics ingrained in us all. So it took little prompting for Daryl to engage us all in a little sing-along session.

Iconic tunes like “Howzat,” “One Summer,” and “As The Days Go By” sat comfortably alongside covers of James Reyne’s “Slave” and Free’s “Wishing Well.” Daryl performs with energy and a healthy dose of humour, and as a member of his audience you find yourself having just as much fun as he appears to.

By the closing number, “The Horses,” we were all on our feet and singing raucously. Our applause was enthusiastic and the smiles on our faces wide. After a show like that, it’s not hard to see why Daryl Braithwaite continues to be a strong force in the Australian music industry.

Image source: own photo