FOREWORD LINE
NEWS FROM THE FRONT
WEEKEND COVERAGE Celebrating the release of their first new album in 14 years, seminal dream pop outfit Underground Lovers will debut their seventh full-length album, Weekend on an East Coast tour through April and May. A combination of distinctive guitar, dance loops, ethereal vocals and introspective lyrics produce the unusual pop and rock songs and atmospheric dance music that is Weekend. Catch the Underground Lovers this Saturday at the Corner Hotel.
I N D U S T RY N E W S W I T H S C O T T F I T Z S I M O N S frontline@streetpress.com.au
SIMPLY SMASHING Melbourne band Vaudeville Smash were named by Inpress as one of the Top 13 Bands To Watch in 2013. They played seven astounding shows in Austin, Texas for South By South West before heading to Canada for a further three shows and a last stop in New York. Now they are back in Australia and are releasing their debut album, Dancing For The Girl on Friday 26 April. Catch the Vaudeville Smash when they play the Corner on Friday 14 June.
IS DON IS GOOD Lennard Promotions is presenting legendary songwriter Don McLean in concert across Australia this August. Don McLean galvanised a generation with his timeless hit American Pie. This track along with the classic singles Vincent, Driedel, Everday and The Legend of Andrew McCrew saw McLean elevated into the Song Writers Hall Of Fame. As a special treat for Australian fans, he will be joined by Catherine Britt, one of the country’s most acclaimed singer-songwriters as special guest at each show. You can see Don McLean at the Arts Center, Hamer Hall on Saturday 17 August.
Kev Carmody
KEV CARMODY WINS $60,000 AWARD One of Australia’s most poetic, raw, evocative and brilliant songwriters, Kev Carmody, has been awarded the most valuable individual music award our country has to offer – the Australia Council Don Banks Music Award – for his outstanding contribution to Australian music. The award, which is given yearly to one artist over the age of 50 years, is open to artists of all disciplines, though recent years have seen the areas of classical and jazz music. Chair of the Music Board of the Australia Council Matthew Hindson said that, as well as Carmody’s brilliant songwriting, his approach to recording ought to be celebrated. “Kev’s music is an invaluable collection for the nation, but his contribution to music is greater than songs and stories,” Hindson said. “So much can be learned from his approach to recording. His favourite studio is a converted cold room and fruit packing shed, and if he’s searching for a certain sound he’ll often make the instrument to achieve it, creating unique and beautiful effects.”
TELSTRA PARTNERS WITH TICKETING SERVICE Telecommunications giant Telstra has announced a partnership with new music ticket service BangTango as the company looks to get a foothold into the premium ticket marketing. It was launched last week alongside the offer of a reserved ticket allocation for British pop-star Olly Murs’ tour later this year; the company is in line with Telstra’s ‘Thanks’ loyalty program. Telstra came on board with BangTango as a “start-up” partner as early as July last year, but the company’s Founder and Director Daniel Popic told theMusic.com.au that it was very much a separate company. Popic, who has a background in ticketing and loyalty marketing, has previously worked at Ticketek, where he was the Alliances Marketing Manager, and had before that launched HMV and Sanity’s loyalty programs. He described the company as a “hybrid between a ticketing platform and sponsorship business” and said that Telstra had been involved with the development since coming on as partners. The commercial and business backing of a company as large as Telstra will allow BangTango to become an influential option to primary ticket providers and promoters. As part of the partnership familiar exclusive ticketing opportunities, such as presales, soundcheck access, after-parties and exclusive events. “There’s a strong pipeline of upcoming tours and for the ones we’re working on the level of support from Telstra is significant,” he said. The service is currently only open to Telstra customers, but BangTango plan to open it up to the rest of the public in the future. Popic denied that Telstra were angling to be a promoter themselves. “We work with the promoters and that’s very much their space. As far as I’m concerned they’re the ones that take the risk to bring out this great music and we’ll work with them to reward Telstra customers.”
PRESENTED BY
ST DOOM Before Sunn O))), Kyuss, Fu Manchu and Earth, there was Saint Vitus. Starting way back in 1978 on the streets of LA, Saint Vitus were among the founding fathers of what was later called doom metal. After 17 years since their previous release Die Healing, Saint Vitus now return with their eighth full-length masterpiece Lillie: F-65. Catch the pioneering doom merchants at the Hi-Fi on Saturday 20 July.
SILKY SMOOTH LORD’S HATE Following their much acclaimed single Lord’s Life released earlier this year, The Hated have just released their free EP and announced their first national tour. Upon listening to their EP you will quickly familiarise yourself with what a Lord’s Life entails. The group paints a vivid picture of their Byron Bay lifestyle with the help of Melbourne producer C1. From headlining packed shows to performing alongside hip hop heavy weights such as Bone Thugs & Harmony, Parachute Youth, D12, Kid Mac and more, their live shows are not to be missed. The boys have just inked a deal with HUB Artist Services and will be hitting the road this May. Catch The Hated when they play the Esplanade front bar on Friday 3 May and the B.East on Saturday 4.
A NEW BEGINNING Multi-ARIA Award winning singer-songwriter Josh Pyke will release his fourth studio album The Beginning And The End Of Everything on Friday 5 July. Pyke is set to hit the ground running with a small run of intimate acoustic “Fans First” shows, playing some of his new songs live for the very first time. Tickets will sell very fast for this rare chance to see Josh Pyke play in such intimate venues. He plays Getrudes Brown Couch on Friday 3 May. Tickets are only available with pre-order of the album.
LA Pocock and Kakkle Tapes are presenting 100% Silk artists Octo Octa, Magic Touch and Bobby Browser for the first time in the Australia. They’ll be playing two very different shows in Melbourne: the first being 100% Party on Friday 24 May, where the three artists will DJ at the Mercat Basement with a performance from Outback-jackers Zanzibar Chanel and DJ LA Pocock. On Saturday 25 will be 100% Live, which will see the crew play live with support from local 100% Silk artist Roland Tings and newcomer DJ Salmon Barrell.
FLU SHOTS Minimal techno/house duo from Germany, Feliks Thielemann and Mathias Schwarz aka Super Flu make a return to Australia on Anzac weekend, courtesy of Melbourne’s Thick As Thieves crew. The lads will perform three shows in Australia, including Sunday 28 April at the famed ‘Summer Series’ event at Revolver Upstairs.
WHAT A SCORCHER Scorcher Fest helps bands to help themselves, providing a framework for performers to play in a live music festival. It’s a great opportunity for bands to network with other bands, expand markets and widen audiences. The initiative brings a huge line-up to Noise Bar this Sunday with over 50 bands playing across three stages. The line-up includes Sons Of Cascadia. Paradies, Royal Parade, Omelette, Myocardium and Lil Red.
O-KAY! On the back of his first addition to rotation on triple j, respected member of the Canberra hip-hop scene, Citizen Kay releases the video (directed by Nic Vevers) for the triumphant debut single Yes! from his forthcoming EP of the same name. The release is accompanied by tour dates around the country which include a support show for Matt & Kim at the Northcote Social Club Friday 3 May and a solo show at the Esplanade later that night.
CHANGE IN DIRECTION Due to a pending court case and Australia and New Zealand Visa eligibility requirements and processing timelines, 2 Chainz will no longer be performing at international hip hop festival Movement later this month. Angel Haze has also been forced to withdraw due to recording commitments. However Australia-born and much-hyped MC Iggy Azalea has been added to the bill, as have Diafrix, fresh from supporting Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on their national tour. The inaugural Movement will now take place at Festival Hall on Saturday 27 April as an all ages event.
RULE OF THIRDS London duo Third Party will tour Australia over the first two weekends of May. Those claiming immunity to the elegant rage of the European progressive house resurgence are clearly yet to come across enigmatic London duo Third Party. Despite their familiar progressive appeal, Third Party remain a force to be reckoned with amid a musical revolution to which they have contributed considerably. They perform two shows on Saturday 4 May at Alumbra and Homehouse (Geelong).
14 • For more news/announcements go to themusic.com.au/news
Television
BATS OUT OF THE CAVE Recently ATP announced their return to Melbourne for a special all day Halloween party called Release The Bats. Held on Saturday 26 October at Westgate Entertainment Centre and Grand Star Reception, Altona, it will be headlined by The Breeders performing Last Splash and The Jesus Lizard (in their only Victorian shows). Today ATP add to the line-up: Television performing Marquee Moon (only Victorian show); Balam Acab, the solo project of 21-year-old Alec Koone; and a Rowland S Howard Tribute, in which a cast of performers put together by Mick Harvey pay tribute to the late Howard. Details and tickets at atpfestival.com.
NEON PICTURES Utah rockers Neon Trees will be tearing up Melbourne performing their infectious brand of pop rock at Ding Dong Lounge in Melbourne on Wednesday 15 May. The band first captured the public’s attention with 2010’s Habits; bursting with charisma and clever storytelling its breakthrough single Animal scored a number one on the US Alternative Songs Chart.
PASS IT ON
GAY ABANDON Ready to mount their assault against the humdrum, Gay Paris have announced the release of their incendiary forthcoming album, The Last Good Party Friday 19 April, produced and recorded in Australia with acclaimed Californian producer, Sam Pura. Spurred on by apocalyptic new album, the merry-makers hit the open roads of Australia on a 35-date national tour. See Gay Paris when the tour hits Cherry Bar on Saturday 4 May and Cherry Rock on Saturday 5.
SLAVE TO THE NOISE Matt “Radio Slave” Edwards is one of electronic music’s true experimentalists; a man rooted in house and techno whose oeuvre reaches much farther beyond. From the downtempo gloss of his Quiet Village project to a half-hour-long remix of Diddy to the audio-visual soundscape immersions of The Machine, he continually strives to push his music forward and keep himself on his toes. His new concoction, Balance, comes in two distinct parts, its 33 tracks marking a stark contrast to the stripped-back simplicity of his fabric 48 mix. You can catch Edwards at Brown Alley Friday 17 May.
One of New Zealand’s rising songwriting stars, Mel Parsons is set to tour Australian shores for the first time with an 11-date jaunt. Touring her critically acclaimed second album Red Grey Blue, Parsons is armed with a unique sensibility to melody and harmony. You can see Mel Parsons when she plays the Mt Beauty Music Festival from Friday 19 April to Sunday 21 and the Wesley Anne on Friday 27.
DINNER PERK(INS) Over 27 years Tex Perkins has crafted a remarkable career as frontman for The Cruel Sea, The Beasts Of Bourbon and The Dark Horses. Together, Tex and Charlie Owen are best known for their work with Don Walker, who as Australian supergroup Tex, Don and Charlie released two of this country’s greatest ever albums, Sad But True and All Is Forgiven. On Friday 3 May, spend a night with Perkins and Owen at Stones of the Yarra Valley, with a three-course dinner show. Book at stonesoftheyarravalley.com.
MARS IS BRIGHT TONIGHT Bruno Mars brings his Moonshine Jungle Tour to Australia in February/March 2014. The announcement comes hot on the heels of his performance at The Logies. Mars’ debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010) reached four-times platinum in Australia and his second album Unorthodox Jukebox still resides in the ARIA Top Ten after 15 weeks. He performs at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday 4 March.