Tag Archives: acoustic

News and Touring

Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds Release Single ‘Even Smaller Parts’

Following the radio success of ‘Irresistible’ — which was picked up by multiple programs on ABC Country, including Edge of Country — Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds return with ‘Even Smaller Parts’, a deeply introspective country ballad that leans into vulnerability and emotional reckoning. 

Written by Bec Taylor and Sam McNair, the song turns inward, examining what it means to love again after damage. Anchored by rich acoustic instrumentation and a restrained, spacious arrangement, it centres on a voice that is both guarded and searching — someone who knows the cost of heartbreak, yet remains quietly open to connection. 

“It’s a song about what’s left after the storm — and whether you can trust someone with the pieces.” 

Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds are a Canberra-based Australian alt-country pop collective, crafting uplifting, heartfelt songs that blend earthy folk textures with bright melodic hooks. Led by multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Bec Taylor, the band has carved out a distinctive space in the independent folk scene with a sound that feels both timeless and immediate: part wistful campfire confession, part irresistible sing-along. 

Since their formation, Bec Taylor and the Lyrebirds have brought their magnetic live energy to stages across Sydney, Melbourne and the South Coast NSW, and have appeared at much-loved festivals including Major’s Creek Folk Festival, Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival and Dam Good Time Folk Festival. They’ve supported artists such as Troy Cassar-Daley, Little Quirks and Sarah McLeod, building a reputation for warm, engaging performances and finely tuned musicianship.  

Bec’s broader musical journey spans multiple projects and genres, including collaborations with the Wiggles’ adult band Unusual Commoners, national touring with Regurgitator, and support slots for The Darkness among others. She has also performed at major Australian festivals including Groovin’ The Moo, Woodford Folk Festival and the National Folk Festival. 

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

  Thursday 21 May – 7pm Smiths Alternative, ACT w/ Dan Musil

  Friday 29 May – 5-7pm The Wharf @ Ulverstone, North Tasmania w/ Sparrowgrass

  Saturday 13 June – 7pm Gasoline Pony, Marrickville, Sydney w/ Bower

Stream

Connect

News and Touring

Gareth Koch & Jan Daxner Release Single ‘Canario’

Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger was a composer & virtuoso player of the lute in the early Baroque period. He was born in Venice or possibly Rome, the son of a German nobleman who served at the House of Habsburg. His highly inventive playing style attracted the attention of the Roman aristocracy.  

In this unique & innovative version of Canario Gareth is joined by Viennese flute virtuoso Jan Daxner. The recording presents a fresh & buoyant reading of Kapsberger’s work in an arrangement for guitar & flute. The duo creates an imaginative interpretation brimming with embellishments & whimsy, emulating the colourful character of Kapsberger’s writing & legendary performances. Canario is the first in a series of singles to be released by Gareth & Jan. The duo tours Europe in June 2027. 

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.

Stream Below

Connect with Gareth Koch

linktreelogo

News and Touring

Fiona Joy Hawkins, Wivajoy Release Single ‘A Simple Christmas’

A Simple Christmas is an original Singer/Songwriter piece with piano, vocal, guitar and rhythm. Written by Fiona Joy Hawkins and performed with Wivajoy, it’s about wanting to keep Christmas simple and about what is important: friendship, love… the simple things!

When life gets busy and consumerism takes over, it’s refreshing to focus on how we want to spend our time and what is important at Christmas. Coming together should be about people, friendships, family and not for material reasons. This song puts all those messages together and makes us want to sing, dance and be happy for what matters.

I’ve learned this year what I really want
Not things I own, but hearts that bond.

No shiny Boxes, no perfect pines
No silver bells, no shopping lines

A Simple Christmas this time….

Watch the Music Video Here

WIVAJOY is the alter-ego for an artist in the New Age world. Their music is a playground where the artist layers rhythmic electronica with melodic acoustic instrumentation. It’s sensual, it’s dream-like and it comes from another world.

Earlier in their career they won an award for Best Dance/Club/Dub but abandoned the pursuit of the genre so as not to confuse their acoustic New Age audience. After countless pleas from fans, they are now back recording chill music and as ‘Wivajoy’ feeling free to explore this pursuit further.

Wivajoy’s keyboard, vocals and arrangements are influenced by the need to layer rhythm and synth together with acoustic parts. Their acoustic career highlights include having a song on a Grammy winning album as well as being a finalist or winning over 50 awards world wide including IMA, IAMA, MusicOZ, ARIA Finalist and more.

Spotify Link

Connect with Fiona

News and Touring

The Stomp’n Ramblers Release Single ‘Train’

Train is the first release from the upcoming debut album by The Stomp’n Ramblers’ – a cruisy, acoustic blues track where guitar and harmonica trade melodies like old friends. It evokes the journey and moments of when life finally catches up with us.

ramb

The Stomp’n Ramblers is Owen Mancell on slide guitar/stomp box/vocals and Ryan Stone on harmonica. With a sound steeped in the raw spirit of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, they draw influences from The Backsliders, RL Burnside and Muddy Waters to deliver an eclectic blend of vintage blues with contemporary storytelling.

Owen’s soulful voice brings a deep emotional edge to their music, carrying the weight and warmth of old-school blues with every note. Paired with Ryan’s electrifying harmonica work, the duo channels a sound that feels timeless and unique.

As seasoned performers on the live circuit, The Stomp’n Ramblers have shared stages with acclaimed acts like Sons of the East, 19 Twenty, and Nathan Cavaleri.

Stream Below

rambl

Connect with The Stomp’n Ramblers

News and Touring

Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘Song For Taylor Swift’

Song for Taylor Swift is the first in a series of dedications to influential artists of the modern era by Gareth. There is a rich history of one artist acknowledging another in music, ranging from Beethoven to David Bowie, the latter having written his Song for Bob Dylan.

Song for Taylor Swift explores the gentler side of her output, with a recurring fragile interlude subtly reminiscent of her ballad-like material. The resonator & lap steel guitars reference Taylor’s occasional country influences, as does the cover art of the release.

Screen Shot 2024-05-23 at 12.17.04 pm

Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a sizeable repertory across multiple genres spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, rock & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

Stream the Single

Screen Shot 2024-05-27 at 10.41.03 am

Connect with Gareth Koch

linktreelogo

News and Touring

Gareth Koch Releases Album ‘Carmina Burana’

Remastered and Released to streaming for the first time in 2024 here is one of Gareth Koch’s Master Works.

My first encounter with the Carmina Burana was as a young chorister in a performance given in 1983 at the Sydney Opera House. The choir and orchestra were directed by one of my teachers, the late and great Richard Gill. The excitement of that musical experience made a lasting impression on my musical consciousness.

During the European summer of 1995 in Vienna I began a draft version of the Carmina Burana for Solo Guitar. Transcribing the medieval & folk-inspired movements came first, then the challenge of the mighty opening chorus O Fortuna. In an attempt to interest record companies in the project I recorded a ‘demo’ version of O Furtuna, in a single take, in a Viennese cellar!

My publishers and several record companies showed great interest in my interpretation of Orff’s work and very quickly plans started to come together to record in a venue in Vienna. Unfortunately, these plans fell apart due to some pre-existing contract obligations. An opportunity arose to record the work in Australia, and this prompted my return.

The recording of Carmina Burana for Solo Guitar was completed in 1997 over three consecutive nights in Newcastle’s Christ Church Cathedral. The natural resonance & ambience of the cathedral compliment the recording. There are no added effects to this recording which is completely natural & live sounding.

Recording the Carmina Burana was both a physical and mental achievement that has become one of the highlights of my career. The opportunity to re-master the recording and release it digitally brings back to mind the exhilaration of that performance in that venue, over those three nights – still deeply embedded in my memory. It is the synthesis of a lifelong interest in medieval music and the desire to create an exciting and unique live performance piece for guitar.

About Gareth Koch
Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a sizeable repertory across multiple genres spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, rock & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

Born in Milan, Gareth began his musical studies on piano and clarinet, and at age 12 was accepted into the Mozarteum in Salzburg. He received his Bachelor of Music degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before winning  scholarships for advanced guitar study at The Royal Madrid Conservatorium & the Vienna Academy of Music. He holds a PhD in Music & has lectured in music across Australian & European universities.

In 2002 Gareth formed the first guitar supergroup with Karin Schaupp & The Grigoryan Brothers, Slava & Leonard. Saffire – The Australian Guitar Quartet soared to #1 on the Classical Music Charts and even featured on ARIA  pop charts. The quartet released a total of 3 best-selling albums & was Australia’s biggest selling classical act for several years.

Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects & has released a succession of collaborative albums with Martin Kennedy & with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church). His recent release ‘The Guitar Player’ received a coveted 5 star review from The Sydney Morning Herald. Gareth’s current output has a strong rock bias with classical overtones & his writing is increasingly focussed on the ethereal nature of music.

Stream / download here

Carmina FFM

Connect with Gareth Koch

linktreelogo

News and Touring

Gareth Koch Releases Single ‘Rumba Flamenca Arabe’

With around a quarter of a million streams already this series of Flamenco Guitar from one of Australia’s best is ready for a new brilliant track to start 2024,

The rumba is an upbeat & rhythmically syncopated flamenco style, ideal for dancing & festivities. It is an incredibly flexible genre, able to assimilate a multitude of influences such as Latin, Arabic or pop-contemporary. The rumba is arguably the most recognisable & widely listened to of all flamenco music. It’s lively tempo & irresistible groove, make it hugely popular around the world.

Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a sizeable repertory across multiple genres spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, rock & songwriting. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

Born in Milan, Gareth began his musical studies on piano and clarinet, and at age 12 was accepted into the Mozarteum in Salzburg. He received his Bachelor of Music degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before winning scholarships for advanced guitar study at The Royal Madrid Conservatorium & the Vienna Academy of Music. He holds a PhD in Music & has lectured in music across Australian & European universities.

In 2002 Gareth formed the first guitar supergroup with Karin Schaupp & The Grigoryan Brothers, Slava & Leonard. Saffire – The Australian Guitar Quartet soared to #1 on the Classical Music Charts and even featured on ARIA pop charts. The quartet released a total of 3 best-selling albums & was Australia’s biggest selling classical act for several years.

Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects & has released a succession of collaborative albums with Martin Kennedy & with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church). His recent release ‘The Guitar Player’ received a coveted 5 star review from The Sydney Morning Herald. Gareth’s current output has a strong rock bias with classical overtones & his writing is increasingly focussed on the ethereal nature of music.

Stream

Screen Shot 2024-02-23 at 10.20.01 am

Connect with Gareth

linktreelogo

News and Touring

Silphie Releases Single ‘Sulpicia’s Birthday’

Featuring Silphie’s sublime highly trained vocals, a Harmonium, cello, viola and nylon string classical guitar, the debut release for this neo classical/world music act from the NSW Central Coast is sure to have ears lighting up. The quality of the recording, the players, the juxtaposition of the vocals switching from Latin to English and the overall sound of this track will put you in a medieval soundscape that could be part of a beautiful old film shot on 70mm.

Sulpicia was a female poet who lived in Rome in 40BC. Sulpicia’s Birthday is the second in a series of six poems. The story describes her ecstasy, as Sulpicia writes to her lover to tell him she has arranged for the two of them to spend her birthday together, frolicking in Rome.

Screen Shot 2024-02-01 at 11.58.17 am

Photo Credit-Lisa Haymes photography

Michaele Archer graduated (with distinction) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Opera School and has performed nationally and internationally. She also attained a Masters in Applied Science, researching breathing techniques for opera singers from the University of Sydney.

Her research in breathing techniques was presented in Paris at the International Congress of Voice Teachers. Recently Michaele has been performing and studying in Los Angeles and Switzerland with vocal expert Robin de Haas and has been certified as an Advanced Breathing Coordination practitioner.

Screen Shot 2024-02-01 at 12.01.24 pm

Lisa Haymes photography

Michaele’s love of ancient instruments and language led her to the work of Sulpicia, a female poet who lived in Rome in the time of Augustus. ‘Garland, the love poems of Sulpicia’ is her latest recording project.

Sulpicia’s poems were included in a publication of the famous roman writer Tibullus and originally attributed to him. The mystery around Sulpicia as a young woman breaking taboos, writing of a secret love affair and the rich sound of the Latin text drew Michaele deep into the project. The poems form the text for the album. Written for harmonium, guitar, cello, viola and vocals, Michaele’s recordings embrace a tone palate that is analogue, raw and dark.

Silphie is a collaboration with Michaele Archer (vocal and harmonium), Rachel Whealy (cello), Giuseppe Zangari (guitar), and Gab Stelle (viola). The name Silphie is inspired by the ancient world’s herb Silphium which was used for everything from perfume and cooking to medicine.

Stream the single

Screen Shot 2024-02-02 at 10.07.18 am

Watch the official music video

Screen Shot 2024-02-01 at 12.15.06 pm

Video premiere

Screen Shot 2024-02-01 at 12.28.41 pm

Connect with Michaele 

Facebook F

News and Touring

Gareth Koch Releases ‘A Christmas Album’

Imagine timeless European Christmas music played instrumentally, as if upon a choir of lutes. Ancient & exquisite songs, deep within the human psyche, are now newly arranged by ARIA Award winning guitarist Gareth Koch. The interpretations reveal his signature blend of contemporary flair laced with medieval sensibilities.

The arrangements are both elegant & appealing, sidestepping any notion of commercialised Christmas clichés. Re-imagined as troubadour-like ballads or tender Austrian folk songs, each carol receives a unique treatment. The listener is invited into an array of soundworlds, ranging from the early medieval to English folk-revival.

The music of this album leads us away from the bustle of many modern realities. Instead, we are drawn into a gentler universe, filled with subtlety & nuance. In any year, at any time, this album presents a Christmas message we all need to hear.

Song Description
Little Drummer Boy
This timeless mid-tempo classic Christmas carol is dealt with not just using multiple classical guitar parts but with hand percussion and rice shakers.

Ding Dong Merrily On High
An up-tempo and superbly played Christmas piece dating right back to the 1800’s. Even some 12 string electric features in Gareth’s new arrangement.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
A very old piece, dated to the 16th century and referred to in Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’. Gareth recreates the vocal melody perfectly and becomes a terrific hum along piece. Bass guitar rounds out the arrangement featuring multiple guitars: acoustic, nylon string and electric creating a lush sonic tapestry.

About Gareth Koch
Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a diverse repertory across multiple albums spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects & song writing. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.
Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects. Over the past two years he has released two collaborative albums with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church). Earlier this year a third collaboration with Steve saw the release of double album ‘The Hall of Counterfeits’ which was nominated in this years AMP Prize.

A Christmas Album is OUT NOW  November 26th – via MGM
Pre order CDs in shrink wrapped double gatefold package below

Order CD from the Official Store or stream/download below

CD’s Also available at good retail record stores across Australia

xmasfull

Connect with Gareth Koch: