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AMP’D Amp’d is the newest rock night in the CBD. It’s opening on Saturday December 15 with the very gutsy Heaven The Axe, supported by Bugdust and 180 Proof. This night will certainly blast your head off with these awesome Local Melbourne acts. Amp’d will be spinning all the good tunes and supporting local live acts. Saturdays at The Exchange Hotel, 120 King Street, Melbourne. 9pm ‘til late, $15 entry. For more information, check the website at ampdnightclub.net.au.
LAKE PALMER Six-piece folk rock band Lake Palmer will round out a busy year by throwing a party in the beer garden at The Victoria Hotel on Sunday December 9 from 5pm. On the verge of hitting the studio to record their debut album, they’ll be belting out a couple of hours worth of songs to drink pints to. Guitars, mandolins, squeezbox, fiddle, drums, slide and harmonies wrapped up in a neat but loose package that will satisfy any wasted afternoon in the sun.
JANE DUST AND THE GIANT HOOPOES Jane Dust and the Giant Hoopoes join Ally Oop and the Hoopsters at Yah Yah’s for the Spazzys’ launch after party on Sunday December 16 at 8pm. Head on over to Yah Yah’s after the Spazzys’ launch at the Evelyn Hotel to hear the best off the hip from the hop of Ally and the best of space from the pop of Janey. High-heel sneakers, asteroid collisions and basketball references aplenty.
ADAM ROCHE
SHANGRI LA It’s the relaunch of the world famous Shangri La. Everyone’s been searching for it and now it’s been found at The Gasometer. Each and every Wednesday they’ll have DJs and bands and to kick it all off tonight, Ladydreams will play a special set of songs to make you make it. With DJs Chairman Meow (Pearls), Kreme Extreme (Bum Creek) and Damn Ackroyd, it’s free entry and good times guaranteed.
GOLD TANGO Gold Tango, Tender Bones and Trade will be hosting a fine night of entertainment at the Reverence Hotel on Thursday December 6. Surrender yourself to Tender Bones’ tender serenades after watching Trade stubbornly yet gracefully plod their way through a solid set of ‘74 Berlin via ‘74 Melbourne inspired psych-jams. At the culmination of proceedings Gold Tango will be presenting their unique pop nuggets for all to bear witness to. If you don’t attend you are a fool. And nobody pities the fool. $5 entry.
TURBOJUGEND Melbourne’s Turbojugend chapter are having a BBQ and show at the Reverence Hotel on Sunday December 9. These fanatical Turbonegro fans shall be celebrating in style the arrival of their favourite band to Australian shores with The Apocalypse Dudes, The Dukes of Deliciousness, Sex Street, Uptown Ace and Levitating Churches. The party starts at 4pm with a guest DJ set from Turbonegro themselves. $5 entry.
BASTARD SQUARE Bastard Squad have become a punk-rock institution in Melbourne after 25 years as a band. This Saturday December 8 they will play Melbourne’s newest home of punk rock, The Reverence Hotel, for the first time. Supporting them will be Public Liability, Leprosy and Common Thread. Doors at 8pm. $10 entry.
NORTHSIDE ROLLER DERBY The temperature is rising and the competition is heating up for the two home teams of Darebin’s Northside Rollers roller derby league. You won’t want to miss 2 Hot to Handle, as the Pulp Vixens fight to remain undefeated as they hit the battlefield against friendly foes the Sisters of Anarchy this Saturday December 8. The 2 Hot to Handle summer derby showdown is at Puckhandlers Stadium, corner of Blakle and Davis St, Reservoir. Doors will open at 5pm, with skates down at 6pm. Tickets are adults $12, children $5 (kids under 5 free), available at northsiderollers.com or at the door.
FAHRENHEIT 43 Underneath The Overtuned LP is the debut offering from Australian band Fahrenheit 43. What’s immediately apparent is the enormous growth that the band has shown both musically and lyrically since the release of their very first EP, The Six Degrees. Since the four years the band have been together, they’ve suffered two lineup changes, loss of love, relationships and no shortage of the drama that comes with being in a band. Therefore Underneath The Overturned is a musical summary of Fahrenheit 43’s life as a band. The good, the bad and the ugly. They launch it at Spensers Live on Friday December 7 with Grand Perceptor, Aerials, Red Attraction and The Sunsleepers.
WINTERCOATS & ALBERT SALT A master of ethereal delicacies, Melbourne’s Wintercoats aka James Wallace combines his chameleonic compositional talents and profound arrangement dexterity to create aural artworks of fragility and grandeur. His debut self released EP Cathedral adventured through sweeping and idyllic vocal harmonies underpinned by brash and heavily reverbed string loops. Joining him, fresh, exciting and dynamic Albert Salt is fast emerging as one of the most promising young musicians in the country. Melding jazz, alt-rock and electro/acoustic influences with pop sensibilities, Salt has already enjoyed generous airplay on triple j and a continuing residency at Melbourne’s The Toff In Town wowing audiences with his breathtaking performances. Catch both these guys at Chapel Off Chapel, Friday December 14 and Saturday December 15 from 8pm. Tickets available through chapeloffchapel.com.au.
A self taught singer/songwriter from Melbourne, Adam learnt his craft after spending quality time in the inspirational Ballarat music scene. An old stage performer, Adam found a love for the guitar and expressing himself through song. In the early ‘00s, Adam formed The Bullwinkles and had a nice run supporting many of the lands great acts. Playing this Sunday December 9 at the Eureka Hotel, Richmond.
SKYWAYS ARE HIGHWAYS Punk drenched ‘60s inspired sunshine pop band Skyways Are Highways headline their first hometown show. Stemming from the coastal region of Byron Bay, and with an upbringing surrounded by the sounds of The Beach Boys and The Get Up Kids, Skyways Are Highways’ sound combines a flood of sunshine pop upon thick bass lines, twisting an optimistic energy and bright drive around a somber story. Friday December 14 will see Skyways Are Highways headline The Noise Bar, to celebrate Western Australian indie hero’s Mezzanine’s EP launch. Supported by Columbia Buffet and The Sunsleepers.
MO SESTO After a sell out gig in August this year, with the release of her first solo EP, Mo Sesto is back at The Paris Cat Thursday December 13. Taking pleasure in performing jazz standards and her own songs, Mo’s unique blend of jazz and alternative pop will be on full display. Accompanied by some of Melbourne and Australia’s best up-and-coming jazz musicians: Adrian Montagnese, Ben Teniswood, Jessica Carlton, Joshua Kelly plus established jazz musician Jon Chidgey; you’ll be hard pressed to find a better way to kick off summer. The show starts at 8pm and you can book your tickets online at pariscat.com.au or purchase at the door for $15.
MOMENTS APART As the silly season fast approaches, and for their last show of the year, StruttA PR has one mother of a rock show in the works for you that will definitely get you in the spirit to be jolly rockin’ good. Moments Apart play their first headline show. Joining them, and rocking you all night, are Artilah, Fields Of Reign, The Soulenikoes and Spykite. Friday December 7 at 8pm. Entry is $10 presale or $12 at the door.
JEFF MARTIN Following a hugely successful Australian and Canadian tour with The Tea Party, Jeff Martin will top the year off by touring solo this month. The Tea Party’s Australian tour in July had the fans out in droves to capture the magic of the band that once was, and still remains. After seven years apart, the resurrection of the band saw Jeff Martin completely in his element, with a fire in his belly performing at his absolute finest alongside his fellow band mates. His solo show reaches Karova Lounge on Wednesday december 5, Ruby’s lounge on Thursday December 6, Cherry Bar on Friday December 7 and Northcote Social Club on Saturday December 8.
THE TWOKS Electric violin and drums duo, The Twoks bring their arty-pop to Yah Yah’s for a celebratory party gig after a month of extensive national touring. The Twoks have just launched their new album, Two and took the new recording all over the country. Back on home ground, The Twoks share the stage with Better Than Wizards and Achoo! Bless You on Friday December 7.
OL’ TIMEY WEEKLY BLUEGRASS SESSIONS THE STRESS OF LEISURE Brisbane’s The Stress Of Leisure are finally making the trek to Melbourne, playing at Yah Yah’s on Thursday December 6. This time around they will be in duo mode, with Ian Powne (the main songwriter, guitar) and Pascalle Burton (synth/keys) making the journey sans rhythm section. The band’s sub-tropical post punk attitude is well represented on their album Cassowary, a sound which ranges from laidback strums to uptight wig-outs and dance moves. Joining The Stress Of Leisure on the night will be Dave Graney and Clare Moore, fresh from the You’ve Been In My Mind tour, as well as Go Go Sapien’s Will Hindmarsh in solo electro mode.
Craig Westwood (ex-Headbelly Buzzard, among other bands) brings his weekly ol’ timey music jam session across from The Lomond Hotel, it’s home for the past five years. BYO instrument or just hang out and enjoy the music in the beer garden. Every Saturday afternoon at The Vic Hotel from 4.30pm.
THE PRIMARY With their unique brand of dreamy gritty noise-rock, The Primary take up residence in their spiritual home of The Evelyn Hotel every Wednesday in December. Prone to viewing life in monochrome, The Primary are sharing stage space with three super bands each night plus a DJ to fill your silence with music. Entry is $2 and for one month only there will be $12 jugs on the bandroom side. Cheap booze and a tantilising array of bands and the possibility of more cats.
Q&A JERICCO Where’s the gig? We are putting on a little fundraiser to raise some money so we can finish our debut record. Friday December 7th at The Tote supported by Black Devil Yard Boss, The Volatiles and Indian Myna. Rock city. Favorite song? Art Of Illusion. It rocks, man. Fun to play high energy and the chorus. – “it all sounds the same”. Five words to describe your band? Alt rock with a difference. What do you love about making music? The connection with the people with our songs/lyrics. What makes a good musician? Hard work and practice..honing your craft and knowing your instrument back to front.
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Last song we wrote? Beautiful In Danger, title track of the album a lot of Oud (Egyptian lute), percussion and a sweet melody. Anything else to add? Did I mention the gig? The December 7 at The Tote, we are having a sausage sizzle. Doors at 7pm, no presales, first in best dressed, get down early.