Tag: Paul Dempsey

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fanning Dempsey National Park’s “Disconnect” is Brilliant

I know I’m a bit late to the party, but have we all listened to Fanning Dempsey National Park’s debut single “Disconnect” yet? The brainchild of Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey, I thought this new act was likely to be good, but I didn’t quite prepare myself for how good. Clearly, because otherwise I absolutely would have listened sooner! I’m going to be bold and say it might just be better than anything either of them have released before.

“We agreed straight away there’s no point doing something together if it’s going to be what people think it’s going to be,” Paul explained. “It’s not the two of us with acoustic guitars singing campfire songs.”

Bernard says “Disconnect” is about “The idea of having to walk away from something that you love because it’s become unmanageable. ‘Disconnect’ always had a lot of ‘serious moonlight’ energy, right from its beginnings. The swapping lead vocal plays with the idea of connecting and disconnecting by juxtaposing the confidence/ indecision with each consecutive line. We originally wanted to use sax on everything. After we roughly finished a demo we’d say, ‘What else does it need?’ The answer was inevitably more sax.”

That fantastic saxophone comes courtesy of Ron Dziubla, one of the world’s best session musicians. If that name doesn’t mean anything to you, just take a look at some of the music he’s played on. Tracks from Chris Isaak, Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, George Benson, The Crystal Method, and heaps more.

This is just a taster of all the exciting stuff in store for Fanning Dempsey National Park. They’ll release an album, The Deluge, on August 2, which I can’t wait to hear after playing this single obsessively (seriously, I’ve played nothing else since I started writing this article). They’re also heading around the country playing capital city shows in intimate theatres. Tickets are on sale now and probably won’t last long once everyone hears this track!

11 October 2024 – The Fortitude Music Hall, Meeanjin/Brisbane
12 October 2024 – Enmore Theatre, Eora/Sydney
18 October 2024 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Tarntanya/Adelaide
19 October 2024 – Forum, Naarm/Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
20 October 2024 – Forum, Naarm/Melbourne
1 November 2024 – Astor Theatre, Boorloo/Perth

Photo credit: Cybele Malinowski

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paul Dempsey Tours Regional Towns This Summer

Not content with appearing in Sydney’s Celebrating David Bowie concert or his shows at Melbourne Zoo as part of the summer’s Twilight Sessions, Paul Dempsey will tour regional centers around the country this summer.

Expect to hear plenty of his solo hits and Something for Kate classics at the following gigs. Tickets are on sale now through Paul’s website.

19 January 2017 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
20 January 2017 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
21 January 2017 – Entrance Leagues Club, The Entrance
25 January 2017 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
27 January 2017 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
3 February 2017 – The Studio @ Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin
9 February 2017 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
10 February 2017 – NightQuarter, Gold Coast
11 February 2017 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns

Image used with permission from International Music Concepts

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Keith Urban Still on Top of ARIA Charts

After a couple of weeks out of the country, I’m thrilled to return to see an Aussie act on top of the album charts. Keith Urban’s album Ripcord has notched up its second week at the top of the charts, which no doubt bodes well for his upcoming Aussie tour.

The Living End and Paul Dempsey have made respective debuts, with Shift and Strange Loop sitting at numbers four and five respectively. Both are long awaited albums coming five and seven years after their last recordings.

Dami Im’s Eurovision appearance has done her no harm on the charts. “Sound of Silence” sits at number five on the singles charts while her album of Carpenters’ covers is at number ten.

Flume’s collaboration with Tove Lo is also paying dividends. “Say It” sits at number nine this week.

Here are all this week’s top tens.

Top 10 Albums
1. Ripcord – Keith Urban
2. Lemonade – Beyonce
3. Thank You – Meghan Trainor 
4. Shift – The Living End
5. Strange Loop – Paul Dempsey
6. A Moon Shaped Pool – Radiohead
7. 25 – Adele
8. Views – Drake
9. Eurovision Song Contest Stockholm 2016 – Various
10. Classic Carpenters – Dami Im

Top 10 Singles
1. “One Dance” – Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla
2. “This is What You Came For” – Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna
3. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
4. “Don’t Let Me Down” – The Chainsmokers feat. Daya
5. “Sound of Silence” – Dami Im
6. “No Money” – Galantis
7. “Just Like Fire” – Pink!
8. “I Hate U, I Love U” – Gnash feat. Olivia O’Brien
9. “Say It” – Flume feat. Tove Lo
10. “Panda” – Desiigner

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paul Dempsey Back with Brand New Solo Single “Morningless”

Paul Dempsey has given fans their first taste of his sophomore solo album with the release of its lead single “Morningless.” This is another solid bluesy rock effort from the Something for Kate frontman. And how fabulous is the retro-inspired music video?

Along with the other album tracks, “Morningless” was recorded in Wilco’s The Loft studio in Chicago while they were on tour together. To celebrate the single’s release, Paul will tour the East Coast later this month. Limited tickets are still available for many of these shows, but you’d better get in quick!

13 February 2016 – Taronga Zoo, Sydney (SOLD OUT)
17 February 2016 – Hamer Hall, Melbourne (supporting Missy Higgins
19 February 2016 – The Factory Theatre, Sydney
20 February 2016 – The Zoo, Brisbane
26 February 2016 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
19 March 2016 – West Kentish, Tasmania

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paul Dempsey Headlines Glenelg’s New Blues Festival

Paul Dempsey will headline Follow the Sun Festival, a brand new festival in the picturesque South Australian town of Glenelg. The one-day blues and roots event will also feature performances by Bonjah, Dallas Frasca, Benjalu, Lyall Moloney, and more.

Event organisers are aiming to create a backyard BBQ vibe with a relaxed atmosphere, local wines, and first class food.

“Follow The Sun festival will be a great opportunity to showcase Glenelg. Some outstanding Aussie music talent and a few drinks with your mates. What could be better?” explained event founder David Elmes. “It will almost be like a party in your own backyard. I am really excited for Follow The Sun and to create something unique for the bay.”

Tickets are available from Oztix now.

Image used with permission from 123 Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Peninsula Picnic Sounds Incredible

I’m not really a festivals kind of person. I can’t think of anything worse than fighting through crowds, enduring a bunch of acts that only the cool kids like, and paying too much money for lukewarm beer. But the Peninsula Picnic has caught my attention. It sounds like my kind of festival, and I wish I was closer to the Mornington Peninsula so I could get along.

The Peninsula Picnic is all about three of my favorite things: good music, good food, and good wine. The musical line-up is stellar, with The Waifs, Paul Dempsey, The Pierce Brothers, Tinpan Orange, and Hayden Calnin all on the bill. Ian Curley, and the teams from Terre, Montalto, Pope Joan, The Long Table Restaurant, Dee’s Kitchen, DOC Mornington, and Terminus at Flinders Hotel will take care of the food.

The Peninsula Picnic hits the Mornington Racecourse on March 29. Tickets are on sale now from Ticketek.

Image used with permission from Secret Service Public Relations

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paul Dempsey Does Karaoke

I’m a real fan of a great cover version, and Paul Dempsey recorded plenty of them during Something for Kate’s recent national tour. He did it without the adulation of the crowd, preferring instead to record his performances backstage and post them on YouTube. This take on Talking Heads’ “This Must Be the Place”, recorded in The Corner Hotel’s male toilets, is one of my favourites.

Hopefully it made the cut for the Shotgun Karaoke EP, a recording which brings together the best of these spontaneous cover versions. Paul will celebrate its October 5 release with a rare solo national tour. Fans can look forward to those special cover versions, tracks from Paul’s solo album Everything is True, as well as some favorite Something for Kate numbers.

See Paul getting his karaoke on at the following venues.

5 October 2013 – The Zoo, Brisbane
9 October 2013 – Lizotte’s Dee Why
10 October 2013 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
11 October 2013 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
12 October 2013 – Factory Theatre, Sydney
19 October 2013 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide
20 October 2013 – Fly By Night Club, Fremantle
25 October 2013 – Hi Fi, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Short Stack Debut at Number One

Many have challenged the late great Michael Jackson, but it’s taken a bunch of Central Coast teens to bring his reign on the charts to an end. Short Stack have knocked Jacko off the ARIA charts top spot this week with their debut album Stack is the New Black.

It was another impressive debut for Paul Dempsey, who’s sitting at number five with his sophomore solo effort Everything is True. Meanwhile Lisa Mitchell has slipped down a couple of notches with her debut effort Wonder. It’s sitting at number eight.

Kate Miller-Heidke is leading the Aussie charge in the singles charts. Her latest track, “The Last Day on Earth”, is holding steady at number three. She’s just edged out Guy Sebastian, who jumps two places to sit at number four with “Like it Like That.”

Click below to see the complete top 10!

Continue reading “Short Stack Debut at Number One” →
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

New Song Obsession: "Out of the Airlock" by Paul Dempsey

I remember Paul Dempsey as the brooding singer-songwriter of 90s indie darlings Something for Kate. These days he seems to have lightened up a little, and it’s a really good thing. But lightness definitely doesn’t mean lightweight. His new single “Out of the Airlock” is a beautiful ditty, and the clip’s every bit as cool. I love seeing him as some kind of giant guitar god, quietly strumming above the miniature town of Lloydhurst.