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News and Touring

Lecia Louise Releases Album ‘Strike To Ignite’

“Lecia’s unique style and rock chic attitude make her a new fav!! Awesome…” – Triple J Unearthed  

From rock and blues to country and soul, Lecia Louise’s new album ‘Strike To Ignite’ embraces musical diversity with accomplished virtuosity showcasing her talents as a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and singer. Far from a typical singer-songwriter, Lecia commands attention with soaring, blues-infused, rock-driven guitar riffs, paired with melodic, emotionally rich lyricism.  

With a powerful rhythm section plus additional keyboards and guitars and lush backing vocals the sonic impact of this 11 Song record is immediate. 

Mixed by Multiple Aria Nominee and Winner Steve James. 

Released on all DSP’s, Deluxe 180G Vinyl Glossy Sleeve with Insert of liner notes + Lyrics, and on CD.

IN FOCUS – LECIA LOUISE on Aussie Music Weekly Show
Noddy speaks with Lecia Louise about her career to date and her upcoming album release
Click here to stream the segment

“Aussie female rock will not be the same. Seriously cool guitarist as well as fantastic singer.” –  Malcolm Foster, bassist for The Pretender and Simple Minds. 

2025 People’s Choice Award winner, twice #1 on the Triple J Unearthed online charts, #2 on the AMRAP Regional Charts, and #1 position on the Alternative Chart three times in 2025. Lecia Louise’s musical journey has seen her perform around the globe and through Australia.   

An award-winning songwriter and performer, Lecia’s music has been featured on cable TV, and radio stations nationally and internationally.  

  She has a loyal fan base which has seen her support grow as a result of years of hard touring and blistering performances at a number of Rock and Blues festivals around Australia. Lecia has shared the stage with The Black Sorrows, Ross Wilson, James Morrison, The Baby Animals, Jon Stevens, Grinspoon, Phil Emmanuel, Daryl Braithwaite and many more. Lecia continues to mesmerise audiences nationwide, with a highly anticipated new album due for release in 2026. 

Her powerful sound and dynamic live performances have delivered major chart success, including twice reaching #1 on the Triple J Unearthed Online charts, peaking at #2 on the AMRAP Regional Charts, and claiming the #1 position on the Alternative Chart three times in 2025. A 2025 People’s Choice Award winner, Lecia is set to release her highly anticipated new album in 2026. 

Lecia has continued to mesmerise audiences and has been featured at many festivals including Blues on Broadbeach, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Mullumbimby festival, Agnes Blues & Roots Festival, Airlie Beach Music Festival, Adelaide Guitar Festival and more.  

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

August 1 – International Blues Day, Sydney Blues Society, Marrickville Bowlo, NSW https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1576606

August 2 – Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine, Tarrawanna, NSW

August 2 – Blues Guitar Road Show, Factory Theatre, Sydney https://www.factorytheatre.com.au/event/blues-guitar-roadshow/

August 8 – Stag and Hunter, Newcastle, NSW https://stagandhunter.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/2030d7d0-7d76-4854-80c3-36e8823c9b0d?

August 9 – Flow Bar – Old Bar, NSW 12:30 – 2:30pm, solo free

August 14-16 – Mackay Blues Festival, QLD https://events.humanitix.com/mackay-blues-fest

August 21 – Flametree Gathering, Proserpine, QLD https://airlieevents.com.au/events/flametree-gathering-2026/

August 23 – Lefty’s Music Hall, QLD

August 30 – Gympie Muster, QLD https://www.muster.com.au

September 18 – The Cave Inn, Album Launch, QLD

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News and Touring

The DK Effect Release Single ‘Smile’

‘Smile’ is our attempt to encompass the atmosphere, feel and emotion of some of our favourite 60’s soul classics -?? Otis Redding’s (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay and the Drifters’ Up On The Roof and Under The Boardwalk.  
It is a relaxed, feel-good stroll through hot, carefree days, where the love and smiles of those closest to you form the warmest and most enduring memories.  
The sparse production on this track was beautifully complimented by the addition of real strings performed by the wonderful Serena Ellery and of course features the fabulous harmonies and classic vocal arrangement by Crystal, Ruby and Belle. 

The DK Effect are an original 9-piece soul, funk and RnB band known for their four powerhouse vocalists, rich storytelling, melodic harmonies, and the passionate, polyrhythmic ‘call and response’ vocal synchronicity inspired by gospel music. 

Their debut album, ‘Moving Time’, showcased their diverse repertoire. The album spent two months in the TOP 10 of the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Charts. 

Recording at the iconic Frying Pan Studio was a unique and amazing experience for the band. The studio offers stunning views of Berriedale Bay and Kunanyi (Mount Wellington), creating a relaxing and inspiring environment. There is a viewing window into the studio, allowing museum visitors to watch and listen (via headphones) to the recording process. For the band, it was fun being an ‘exhibition / performance artist’ during the recording process – almost like a live recording. 

The band has performed at numerous Tasmanian venues such as MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), Altar, The Moonah Arts Centre, Kickstart Arts, Salamanca Arts Centre, The Clarence Jazz Festival, The Playhouse Theatre, The Taste of Tasmania Festival, Rektango, the Uni Bar, Street Eats Franko, and the Republic Bar.

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News and Touring

The Quixotics Release Single ‘Musketeers’

The Quixotics have captured the great vibes of hanging out with a gang of pals and going on musical adventures together as an act of defiance against the boring tyrannies of the world… Just like the Musketeers would. 
The latest single ‘Musketeers’ from the upcoming new Quixotics album release is an upbeat rally to arms. Passionate, fun and all in it together, all for one and one for all. Come and join The Quixotics on their next brave sound excursion.  

The QuiXotics are a band dedicated to enthralling song writing, recording and live performance. Impossible to pigeonhole, they deliver a diverse range of dynamic sounds that traverse terrain from driving Indi rock n roll with catchy pop overtures and bluesy guitar riffing always complemented by engaging lyrics. 

After a series of well attended launches in Perth and Fremantle’s best original venues to celebrate their 2025 vinyl album ‘New World State of Mind,’ The QuiXotics have now been signed to Foghorn records in Sydney and recently released the first two singles from their follow up album nearing completion and due for release 2026.

Formerly a three piece featuring lead singer Michael Gabriel on guitar with his son Gabe Francas on drums together with Hannah Smillie on bass and magical harmonies, The QuiXotics have now added Aaron Powell on second guitar providing another layer to emphasise the guitar driven nature 
of The QuiXotic sound full of riffs and surprising melodic invention. 

Now in a purple 
patch of song writing while garnering national Airplay, The QuiXotics are excited to continue captivating audiences into the future with their live performances and album releases.  

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News and Touring

Gareth Koch & Jan Daxner Release Single ‘La Rotta’

Originating in 14th-century Italy, La Rotta is essentially the medieval equivalent of a hype song. 

The Vibe: It’s an energetic dance. It features driving, repetitive rhythms, syncopation, and a rhythm that gives it an infectious, foot-tapping quality. 

If you were a peasant in the Middle Ages, this is the tune that got you dancing. The composition is built for high-energy instrumentation 

Although La Rotta has been bouncing around since the medieval period, it still feels remarkably modern. Its repeating, cyclical rhythm has a foundational groove.  

In this version?Gareth is joined by Viennese flute virtuoso Jan?Daxner.?The duo?creates?an imaginative?interpretation brimming with embellishments & whimsy. 

Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded an extensive catalogue across multiple genres for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, ambient music, rock & song writing. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

Gareth was born in Milan Italy into an artistic family. His father is the Australian novelist Christopher Koch, and his Lithuanian-born mother Irene is a piano graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. His early musical education began with piano and clarinet before entering the gifted youth music programme at the Mozarteum in Salzburg Austria. When his family moved to Spain Gareth fell under the spell of the guitar.

After graduation from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Gareth won scholarships to the Royal Conservatorium of Madrid and the Academy of Music in Vienna under Professor Konrad Ragossnig. From this point his career developed to include music teaching, recording, publishing and performing. His recent classical album ‘The Guitar Player’ received a coveted 5 Star review from the Sydney Morning Herald.

Gareth’s current projects have a world music and contemporary bias with classical overtones. His writing is increasingly focussed on the ethereal nature of music. Recent collaborations include ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church) with whom he has released three albums.

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News and Touring

Lecia Louise Releases Single ‘Saturday Night’

“Saturday Night” is a swampy blues stomper about the grind of everyday life, working hard, and often feeling like you’re getting nowhere. It captures that feeling of letting go, where the struggles of everyday life fade away, even if only for one night. 

Written by Lecia Louise and 8 Ball Aitken, the track was produced by 8 Ball Aitken, Lecia Louise, and Michael Flanders, with additional engineering by Rick Hollis and Jasper Jolley. The recording features guest Newcastle vocalist Justin Ngariki, along with additional guitar work from Blues Music Victoria People’s Choice Blues Legend Award recipient Shannon Bourne. The song was mixed by three-time ARIA Award winner Jeff Lang and mastered by award winning mastering engineer, Matthew Gray.

“Clean, elegant, tasty playing!!! I watched 3 times!!! Shred on!!!!!” – Nita Strauss, Alice Cooper’s guitarist 

2025 People’s Choice Award winner, twice #1 on the Triple J Unearthed online charts, #2 on the AMRAP Regional Charts, and #1 position on the Alternative Chart three times in 2025. Lecia Louise’s musical journey has seen her perform around the globe and through Australia.   

Lecia has continued to mesmerise audiences and has been featured at many festivals including Blues on Broadbeach, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Mullumbimby festival, Agnes Blues & Roots Festival, Airlie Beach Music Festival, Adelaide Guitar Festival and more.  

An award-winning songwriter and performer, Lecia’s music has been featured on cable TV, and radio stations nationally and internationally.  

  She has a loyal fan base which has seen her support grow as a result of years of hard touring and blistering performances at a number of Rock and Blues festivals around Australia. Lecia has shared the stage with The Black Sorrows, Ross Wilson, James Morrison, The Baby Animals, Jon Stevens, Grinspoon, Phil Emmanuel, Daryl Braithwaite and many more.  

Lecia continues to mesmerise audiences nationwide, having recently completed a successful 3 State Tour April/May 2026 and the new album due for release in July. 

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

July 18 – Folk and Blues @188, Ipswich, QLD https://www.ipswichciviccentre.com.au/event/folk__and_blues_at_188/

July 23 – Welder’s Dog, Armidale, NSW

July 25 – The Press Basement Bar, Tamworth, NSW

August 1 – International Blues Day, Sydney Blues Society, Marrickville Bowlo, NSW https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1576606

August 2 – Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine, Tarrawanna, NSW

August 2 – Blues Guitar Road Show, Factory Theatre, Sydney https://www.factorytheatre.com.au/event/blues-guitar-roadshow/

August 8 – Stag and Hunter, Newcastle, NSW https://stagandhunter.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/2030d7d0-7d76-4854-80c3-36e8823c9b0d?

August 9 – Flow Bar – Old Bar, NSW 12:30 – 2:30pm, solo free

August 14-16 – Mackay Blues Festival, QLD https://events.humanitix.com/mackay-blues-fest

August 21 – Flametree Gathering, Proserpine, QLD https://airlieevents.com.au/events/flametree-gathering-2026/

August 23 – Lefty’s Music Hall, QLD

August 30 – Gympie Muster, QLD https://www.muster.com.au

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News and Touring

The DK Effect Release Single ‘Somebody’

“…The DK Effect are an eight-piece funk-soul monster… saucy, delectable helping of groove-licious, horn-rich rhythms and melodies plus fierce vocals” – Gareth Bryant 

‘Somebody’ embodies all of our ‘heathen gospel’ values in a funky romp, pitting delusion against critical thinking. It looks at how multi-national faith corporations control and coerce the vulnerable and gullible with threats and extortion. When performed live, this track has been mistaken for a real gospel song, so perhaps we should issue an ‘advisory warning’ to listen carefully to the lyrics. 
 
The recording features lovely B3 by Ruby and a fabulous sax solo by Mitch which leads us perfectly into the final chorus where the vocals absolutely soar. It is one of our early songs and has been through various incarnations, with this ‘final’ version being the closest to our original vision.

The DK Effect are an original 9-piece soul, funk and RnB band known for their four powerhouse vocalists, rich storytelling, melodic harmonies, and the passionate, polyrhythmic ‘call and response’ vocal synchronicity inspired by gospel music. 

Their debut album, ‘Moving Time’, showcased their diverse repertoire. The album spent two months in the TOP 10 of the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Charts. 

Recording at the iconic Frying Pan Studio was a unique and amazing experience for the band. The studio offers stunning views of Berriedale Bay and Kunanyi (Mount Wellington), creating a relaxing and inspiring environment. There is a viewing window into the studio, allowing museum visitors to watch and listen (via headphones) to the recording process. For the band, it was fun being an ‘exhibition / performance artist’ during the recording process – almost like a live recording. 

The band has performed at numerous Tasmanian venues such as MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), Altar, The Moonah Arts Centre, Kickstart Arts, Salamanca Arts Centre, The Clarence Jazz Festival, The Playhouse Theatre, The Taste of Tasmania Festival, Rektango, the Uni Bar, Street Eats Franko, and the Republic Bar. 

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News and Touring

Dirty Suits Release Single ‘She Won’t Fall’

“Rock driven essence with a touch of blues. I really love the powerful, raw vocals paired with gritty, mesmerizing guitars along with a drum performance full of punch.“ – NoEs FM Radio 

‘She Won’t Fall’ is a strong, motivated, defiant song written about a strong, motivated, defiant woman.  

Guitar, Piano, Drums and Bass. 4 to the floor. Straight down the line.  

The band’s recent releases on Foghorn/MGM have lifted them to a new level and live shows have been coming thick and fast.  And now they have an entire album in the final stages, the first single is ‘She Won’t Fall’. 

After surfing together for over a decade , Matt Ayliffe and Peter Cunnington started jamming in 2020. The click was immediate. 

Coming from different musical backgrounds seems to help, not hinder the writing process. From Blues, Alternative, Punk and Rock’n’Roll the songs dictate themselves. Demographics and egos, all checked at the door. 

Dirty Suits is creativity for its own sake. 

And as of Feb 2023, Luke Brooks has joined the ‘Dirty Suits’ family on drums and any out there suitable piece of equipment he can whack a sound out of to get this trio rockin’ any venue down.  

Upcoming NSW Tour Dates

Ryans Hotel, Thirroul – June 13 

Marlin Hotel, Ulludulla – June 19 

La La Las, Wollongong – August 13 

Link and Pin, Woy Woy – August 22 

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News and Touring

Kalen Hogan Releases Single ‘Gone’

Ever keen to break out new tracks each year, Kalen Hogan headed back into the studio to create “Gone” as his latest single release for 2026. “Gone” is a track that delves into the complexity of love, distance, and the struggle to move on. The song has a laid-back, cruisy feel and introduces a female backing vocal to the chorus, adding a richness to the track.     

“This song is about that impossible moment when you know someone has to go, and life will go on regardless of how you feel,” Kalen shares. “It’s honest, raw, and something I think a lot of people have experienced—trying to protect yourself from heartbreak, even as you hope for more time together.” Each verse captures a guy’s attempt to talk himself out of loving his partner, even as he wishes she would stay just a little longer. 

Recorded over a couple of days at Damien Gerard Studios, Kalen was inspired to add in some female vocal backing in the pre-chorus and chorus. Not pre-planned and with no one around to call, he asked his younger sister, a talented vocalist in her own right, to help. With only that afternoon left in the studio, his sister came straight after school. “Normally, opera is her jam, but my sister is a versatile singer and great at harmonies. Time is money when recording, and given the short notice, I was super grateful she was able to put down the vocals like a pro.” 

Kalen debuted onto the local Central Coast music scene in late 2022. He quickly captivated audiences through his evocative songwriting and unique sound. Kalen’s beginnings reached an early milestone with the release of his first album, Isolation, in May 2023, at just 17 years of age. Exploring themes of introspection and the human experience, Isolation embodies the solitude experienced during its creation amidst pandemic lockdowns. Songs such as “It’s you” and “Stoned and Cold” highlight Kalen’s talent for merging melancholic lyrics with engaging melodies. His pure vocal quality has drawn parallels to Thom Yorke of Radiohead and the late Jeff Buckley, while his musical style pays tribute to the 1990s grunge era, reflecting influences from bands like Nirvana and Alice in Chains.   

In 2024, Kalen continued to expand his music, releasing three singles that solidified his reputation as creative songwriter. “On the Phone,” released in April, singing of a culture engrossed in dating apps and disconnected individuals. The June 2024 release, “Right There,” contemplates the transient nature of time and the human inclination to take the present for granted until it has passed. Following this, November 2024’s “Mindless” courageously delves into the complexities of mental illness. In 2025, Kalen released the two new upbeat singles “Love is Out” and “Ratio”, adding a more lively spin on his usual songwriting process.   

Coupled with his growing live presence, this prolific young songwriter is an emerging talent that is certainly worth watching out for. You can catch Kalen performing live at varying venues and events across Australia in 2026.   

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