Washington and The Rubens Headline Lost Picnic

If you’re tired of all of those crowded, sweaty summer festivals, then you should definitely check out the much more elegant Lost Picnic. With its talented local musicians, gourmet food, and lush backdrop of Sydney’s Centennial Park, this is a festival with a difference.

The first year is set to be something special with entertainment from Megan Washington, The Rubens, Emma Louise, Dustin Tebbutt, and Sons of the East. Picnic hampers will also be available from the talented chefs behind some of Sydney’s best restaurants including Rushcutters and Icebergs Dining Room and Bar.

“We’ve grown up organising successful dance events in Sydney and although this will always be a passion of ours, we have evolved and we want our events to evolve with us,” explained Simon Beckingham, who’s organising the event along with his partner in crime, Wade Cawood. “Growing up in the UK festival scene, we know Sydney is looking for the next generation in music events. Lost Picnic is exactly that, a boutique-style event that not only supports local musical talent but local restaurants, to offer a completely different experience to the Sydney entertainment calendar.”

Lost Picnic hit Centennial Park on 23 March 2014. Tickets and picnic hampers are available to pre-order now from the Lost Picnic website.

Image used with permission from Lost Picnic

Jon Stevens’ The Dead Daisies Release “Washington”

Supergroup The Dead Daisies put all their starpower to good use with their latest single “Washington.” With Jon Stevens signature raspy vocals and some killer instrumental backing by Charley Drayton (The Divinyls), David Lowy (The Angels), Darryl Jones (The Rolling Stones), and Guns N Roses’ Richard Fortus and Dizzy Reed, the song sounds like an instant rock classic. Perhaps the international artists make it a little difficult to claim this band as our own, but when they sound this good I reckon we can bend the rules.

Already “Washington’s” earned critical acclaim in America, where the band recently shared stages with the likes of ZZ Top, Jane’s Addiction, Alice in Chains, and Aerosmith. They also headlined a show in Israel and toured the United Kingdom with The Black Star Riders. Aussies will get a chance to see what this band with a strong Australian core can do when The Dead Daisies release their debut album in early 2014 and play homegrown shows with Jimmy Barnes.

Image used with permission from Jaden Social

Bye Bye 2010, Bring on the New Year!

The bubbly is chilling and folks are getting together as we prepare to bid 2010 adieu. The year our Aussie artists produced some cracking tunes which should help get your NYE party started!

Sia has been a musical force for some time, but 2010 saw her step into the spotlight with her fab album We Are Born. It spawned so many singles, including the irrepressibly “Clap Your Hands.”

Washington was this year’s breakthrough artist and with good reason. Bucket loads of charisma, insightful lyrics, and some damned good tunes are a recipe for success in anyone’s language. “Sunday Best” was the song that had me dancing around my lounge room this year.

John Butler Trio’s “One Way Road” is a bit rootsier than the other tracks, but no less fun. I am in awe of the way JB manages to get his mouth around those rapid fire lyrics!

Amy Meredith definitely didn’t get the recognition they deserved this year. I enjoyed their first two singles, but they wowed me with the nostalgic “Young at Heart.” The fun retro feel sent me right back to my childhood! This is definitely the tune to play as the evening is winding down.

What will you be spinning tonight?

Bliss N Eso Top ARIA Albums Chart

Many acts have tried, but local hip hop act Bliss N Eso have ended Eminem’s six-week reign at the top of the ARIA Albums Charts. The band’s fourth studio album Running on Air is their first to achieve the top spot. Congrats to them!

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 23:  Jonathan Notley, Max MacKinnon, and Tarik Ejjamai of Australian hip hop group Bliss n Eso arrive for the APRA Music Awards (Australasian Performing Right Association) at the Peninsula Shed on June 23, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia.  (Photo by Lucas Dawson/Getty Images)


It’s been a great week for Aussie albums. Washington is enjoying her first top 10 record, with I Believe You Liar taking out the third possie. She’s just ahead of Birds of Tokyo, who have fallen two positions to sit at number 4 with their self-titled album. Kylie Minogue has also dropped this week. Her album Aphrodite now sits at number 7, down three places. Rounding out the top 10 is Angus & Julia Stone with their unstoppable sophomore effort Down the Way.

Eminem has retained the top spot on the singles chart though. “Love the Way You Lie,” featuring Barbados beauty Rihanna has now held the top spot for four weeks. A few Aussie acts including Michael Paynter, Birds of Tokyo, and Yolanda Be Cool & Dcup are hovering in the top 30 though, so hopefully it won’t be too long before we see some local talent in the top 10.

Click below for this week’s top 10 charts!

Continue reading “Bliss N Eso Top ARIA Albums Chart”

Washington Tours Debut Album with Beautiful Girls

InStyle And Audi Women Of Style Awards

Washington, the thinly veiled alter ego of Vanda and Young songwriting competition victor Megan Washington, will play dates to support the release of her debut album, cheekily titled I Believe You, Liar.

The shows are a mix of full band shows and solo dates, including a swag of concerts supporting Beautiful Girls.
If you like what you hear make sure you pick up I Believe You, Liar when it hits stores on July 30.

29 May 2010 – Ripe Festival, Noosa (Full band)
2 June 2010 – Armidale Uni, (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
3 June 2010 – Great Northern, Byron Bay (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
4 June 2010 – The Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (Full band – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
5 June 2010 – The Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (Full band – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
6 June 2010 – Great Northern, Byron Bay (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
10 June 2010 – Diggers, Tamworth (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
11 June 2010 –  Panthers, Newcastle (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
12 June 2010 – Waves, Wollongong (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
13 June 2010 – Leagues Club, The Entrance (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
16 June 16th – Baroque Nightclub, Blue Mountains (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
17 June 2010 – Panthers, Bathurst (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
18 June 2010 – Capital, Wagga Wagga (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
19 June 2010 – Civic Centre, Wodonga (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
24 June 2010 – Inferno, Traralgon (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
25 June 2010 – Palace Theatre, Melbourne (Full band – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
30 June 30th – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
1 July 2010 – Metropolis, Freemantle (Full band – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
2 July 2010 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
3 July 2010 – Divers Tavern, Broome (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
8 July 2010 – Saloon Bar, Launceston (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
9 July 2010 – Wrest Point, Hobart (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
10 July 2010 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (Full band – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
14 July 2010 – Station Resort, Jindabyne (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
16 July 2010 – Hellenic Camp, Canberra (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
17 July 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (Full band – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
22 July 2010 – Pacific Palms Rec Club, Forster (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
23 July 2010 –Panthers, Port Macquarie (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
24 July 2010 –RSL, Sawtell (Solo – Supporting Beautiful Girls)
30 July 2010 – Splendour in the Grass, Woodford (Full band)