Tag Archives: australian music
UPDATE: Mick Hart Adds New Tour Dates
UPDATE: New Tour Dates!
On the heels of Mick Hart’s sold-out Sydney launch at Lazybones Lounge in Marrickville last weekend, some new dates have been added!
New shows:
Sun 4th August – Bondi Diggers Golf Club (Sydney)
Fri 9th August – The Entrance Leagues Club (Central Coast NSW)
Sun 25th August – Gasoline Pony, Marrickville (Sydney)
Sun 29th September – Towradgi Beach Hotel, Wollongong (Sydney)
Sat 12th October – Stag and Hunter, Mayfield (Newcastle)
Fri 9th August – The Entrance Leagues Club (Central Coast NSW)
Sun 25th August – Gasoline Pony, Marrickville (Sydney)
Sun 29th September – Towradgi Beach Hotel, Wollongong (Sydney)
Sat 12th October – Stag and Hunter, Mayfield (Newcastle)
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED UPCOMING DATES:
Fri 26 July – Winter Blues Festival, Echuca VIC
Sat 27 July – Winter Blues Festival, Echuca VIC
Sun 28 July- Merri Creek Tavern, Melbourne
Sat 27 July – Winter Blues Festival, Echuca VIC
Sun 28 July- Merri Creek Tavern, Melbourne
Community radio is loving the album, with widespread support on the airwaves proving it carries so many brilliant tracks! The Way It Is, 3am Or Anytime, Light My Way, Keep Hold and Peaceful Nest are all being played around the country.
Some great reviews are also flowing in for the album.
Bruce Elder at the Sydney Morning Herald declared that Hart has produced, “a classy, memorable album from a gifted musician at the height of his powers.”
“A delicious collection of blues-folk “toons” inspired by sources as rich as the early Rod Stewart (3am Or Anytime); a nod towards Free and Family (The Way It Is); Muddy Waters’ great version of Got My Mojo Workin’ (Light My Way); the edges of folk blues (Real Thing); that glorious style which involves a slow burn and driving blues with lashings of lap-steel (Time for the New); and inevitably, lots of Dylan-influenced blues and country blues (Back To The Start, Star Bed andKeep Hold).”
Elder also notes Hart’s wide-ranging musical talents – “Playing bass, lap-steel, harmonica, percussion, Rhodes, Mellotron, piano, organ, ukulele and, oh yes, guitars….ranges widely across the rich plains of the blues and American folk music.”
Meanwhile Mark Fraser at Redbackmusic.comcalled the latest single, Keep Hold, “sad, beautiful, perfect”, with the entire album, “a beautiful collection of soundscapes that caress your very soul in their own unobtrusively enveloping way.”
Read the whole review here:
Mick Hart’s new album, ‘Awake’ has just been released. ‘Awake’ is the Sydney-based singer-songwriter’s first recording in five years and features 16 brand new songs – a brilliant and epic mix of soulful indie folk rock, beautiful and intimate acoustic songs to blistering blues.
It has already spawned the two popular singles ‘The Way It Is’ and ‘3am Or Anytime’.
To celebrate the release of ‘Awake’, Mick is playing these dates below, including the official album launch in Sydney on June 21.
Sat 15 June- Harrington Hotel NSW
Sun 16 June- Harrington Hotel NSW
Fri 21 June- Lazy Bones Lounge, Marrickville (SYDNEY ALBUM LAUNCH)
Sat 22 June- The Stag and Hunter, Mayfield Newcastle NSW
Fri 26 July- Winter Blues Festival Echuca VIC
Sat 27 July- Winter Blues Festival Echuca VIC
Sun 28 July- Merri Creek Tavern Melbourne VIC
Mick is currently on tour across Europe – check out the pics below!
ARIA nominated for “Best Blues and Roots” in 2002 for his sophomore album Upside Down In The Full Face of Optimism, Mick Hart occupies a sonic space that’s influenced by Jeff Buckley and Ben Harper, from sparse acoustic songs to wild dirty blues rock and some brilliant lap-slide guitar.
Hart has been touring the world for the past 20 years, playing festivals and concerts all over Australia, the UK and Europe, Japan and the USA. Praised all over the globe, Mick has played support to Bob Dylan, Coldplay, Sting, Van Morrison, Paul Weller, Gomez, The Pretenders, Paul Kelly, The John Butler Trio and many more.
Stream AWAKE here:
Connect with Mick Hart:
The Sheyana Band Release New Single ‘Soul Sister’
Tasmanian blues act The Sheyana Band have a new single called Soul Sister that really striking a chord at #CommunityRadio
and as of April has made it to the NUMBER 1 spot of the Soundslikecafe service
The single has just hit number 2 on the Amrap Regional Charts.
Soul Sister is a remix of a track from last year’s Big Love album, for which they won the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society’s Victorian & Tasmanian Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Act/Artist of the Year.
Led by captivating frontwoman Sheyana Wijesingha, the band has recently performed at major music events in Tasmania including Party in the Paddock 2019 and they will also be appearing at the Fruit of the Roots Festival in Turners Beach, Tasmania this April.
The Sheyana Band has also received national & international recognition and airplay, supporting some of Australia’s most respected musicians including Hoodoo Gurus, Neil Finn, Meg Mac, Renee Geyer, Diesel, The Angels, Ian Moss and Bill Chambers.
The band will tour Australia later in the year and will also head to the UK, Europe & Sri Lanka for promo opportunities and some headlines shows.
Soul Sister streaming NOW.
Connect with The Sheyana Band:
Paul Scott and The Likes Of You releases new remix of ‘Superstar Housewife’
Paul Scott and The Likes Of You – ‘Superstar Housewife – The Home Before Breakfast Remix’
Paul Scott, lead singer of Sydney based musical collective The Likes Of You, has teamed up with renowned electronica artist Meddling Kid to produce an energetic dancefloor remix of their single of last year, Superstar Housewife.
Meddling Kid (aka Steve Melville) has been mixing and remixing since his track Apple Song became a community radio favourite. His credits include The Tea Party, Paolo Nutini, Regurgitator, Blitzen Trapper, Stewart and Melville and Brock Hilton.
The Likes of You are a Sydney based based around singer/songwriter Paul Scott, ex Montana, Mr Blonde, Pop Mechanix and John Kennedy’s 68 Comeback Special.
Paul Scott began his career in music, writing and playing bass in angular NZ group Pop Mechanix. Despite court cases, a revolving cast of singers and multiple record labels, their single ‘Jumping out a Window’ became a staple of New Zealand pop culture.
Relocating to Australia, Paul formed Montana with Ken Stewart (Mr Blonde), Michelle Margherita and Steve Melville. Their first release featured ‘Koolest Band’ which received national airplay and high rotation on JJJ. A brief tour of the USA and a performance at SXSW, led to ‘Koolest Band’ being included in the Hollywood movie You Drive Me Crazy. The subsequent album ‘Bubblegum Love’ was released in Australia, Spain, France and the USA.
Scott has since plied bass for various Australian acts, playing everywhere from community halls and malls in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to the Sydney Opera House.
Watch the new video for the Superstar Housewife Remix on YouTube here:
Stream or download here:
Connect with Paul Scott:
Texas Strangers deliver new single: Always In The Rain
The second slice of Texas Strangers forthcoming Borderline album is called Always In The Rain and it’s streaming and at radio now.
Rich in harmonies and melody, this rollicking tune bounces from start to finish and is bound to be an instant smash with the band’s loyal live following as well as country radio stations all over the country.
Piano and electric guitar along with strings and slide over the top of a tight rhythm section cap off the classic Nashville style production.
The band’s penchant for a catchy tune is already evident, since their debut EP spawned 3 Number One Singles on the Country Songwriters chart.
The previous single, River Of Tears gained great support across ABC Country and regional radio.
Texas Strangers are from the Central Coast of NSW and are fronted by singer songwriter Steve Killeen, who together with his bandmates create a sound rich in classic Country tradition.
Always In The Rain was recorded during the album sessions for Borderline at Damien Gerard Studios engineered by Russell Pilling. The song was mastered by Sage Audio Nashville Tennessee.
Stream now via your favourite service:
Connect with Texas Strangers:
NEW RELEASE: Mick Hart releases new single ‘The Way It Is’
Australian singer/songwriter Mick Hart has a brand new album on the way and its first offering is called The Way It Is.
A “you done me wrong” break-up song with a catchy blues groove, The Way It Is grabs the listener with its addictive chorus that features some blistering guitar and Hart’s determined lyrical growl, “I don’t owe you nothing, that’s the way it is.”
It’s the first taste of his upcoming album, Awake, which is due for release this April 26th on MGM.
Mick will tour in support of the Album starting in Europe in April and following through to Australian dates from May.
ARIA nominated for “Best Blues and Roots” in 2002 for his sophomore album Upside Down In The Full Face of Optimism, Mick Hart occupies a sonic space that’s influenced by Jeff Buckley and Ben Harper, from sparse acoustic songs to wild dirty blues rock and some brilliant lap-slide guitar.
Hart has been touring the world for the past 20 years, playing festivals and concerts all over Australia, the UK and Europe, Japan and the USA. Praised all over the globe, Mick has played support to Bob Dylan, Coldplay, Sting, Van Morrison, Paul Weller, Gomez, The Pretenders, Paul Kelly, The John Butler Trio and many more.
Listen to The Way It Is now:
Connect with Mick Hart:
Big Merino – Official Video – Hummingbird
NEW RELEASE: Big Merino – Brand New Single ‘Hummingbird’
Big Merino – New Single – Hummingbird
Sydney’s Big Merino have recorded a brand new song called Hummingbird.
It’s the very first taste of a bunch of new songs that will be recorded over the coming months at Damien Gerard Studios in Sydney. The as-yet-untitled second album from the blues-country-rock-pop group is expected to be released this Winter.
Hummingbird is not an ode to wildlife, rather a lament on the tragic and powerful consequences of unmanned military aerial drone strikes.
A special black-and-white video for the song was recently shot by band member Alex, who just happens to be a professional photographer. He captured the band on the rocks over the ocean at Maroubra Beach, Sydney and it’s available to watch now on YouTube.
Big Merino will launch Hummingbird on Saturday February 23 at Gasoline Pony in Marrickville, Sydney.
Formed a little over two years ago, Big Merino play original songs that blur the lines between rock, country, blues, roots, soul, funk and grunge, while occasionally making forays into lesser known genres such as New Orleans 2ndLine.
Citing their major influences as Glen Hansard, The Frames, Jackson Browne and The Rolling Stones, songwriters Alex Craig and Stuart Davis write socially and politically-charged songs that are sometimes gentle and nostalgic and at other times nothing less than a fierce cry for revolution.
Lead singer/guitarist Stuart Davis cut his teeth singing Gospel with Tony Backhouse in Cafe at the Gates of Salvation, and brings that soulful Gospel feel to everything he does. He is joined by Alex Craigon guitar, Peter Richardsonon bass and Colin Sevitt on drums.
Listen to ‘Hummingbird’ at all your favourite digital music platforms from Friday, February 15, 2019:
Connect with Big Merino:
The Bondi Beach Latin American Festival is happening March 17!
This year the BONDI BEACH LATIN AMERICAN FESTIVAL completes its 40th year, celebrating the magic of Latin culture by the sunny sands of Australia’s most famous beach. The festival will kick off at 11:00 am with the always colourful beachside parade, representing a diversity of Latin and Caribbean cultures including Comparsa Urumbe (Uruguay), Sabor Boliviano (Bolivia), La Rumba Latina (Colombia), Bateria 61 (Brazil), and the exquisite dancers and costumes of the Carnivale.
From midday to 8 pm the fiesta continues with the Bondi Pavilion hosting 4 arenas where you will find a diverse range of artists and genres representative of Latin culture. Artists such as Pato Lara & The Teyuna Collective, Nativösoul, Cumbiamuffin, Havana Social Club Salsa DJs, and Australiasia’s leading Brazilian performance company, Rhythm Brazil among others, will make your body move with the upbeat and contagious music that the region is known for.
The party vibes will be in full effect with Bondi Beach providing an amazing backdrop against which to enjoy the “Latin Village” and visit its market stalls. An incredible variety of Latin food will be on offer in the “Latin Beats and Eats Arena” including Argentinian BBQ, Sofrito paella, Venezuelan arepas, Mexican tacos and nachos, ceviche from Peru, empanadas from Chile and amazing desserts such as the ever-popular churros.
Traditional and emerging Latin dance styles will be on show with folkloric performances on the main stage, and free dance classes with professionals.
There will also be children’s activities and art exhibitions, allowing to enjoy and participate in the warmth, fun and happiness of the Latin culture.
This extraordinarily engaging experience presented by Waverley Council and Bondi Association of Arts and Music will take place on the 17th of March 2019 at the Bondi Pavilion, so prepare yourself for a stunning day of immersion in Latin culture.
Tickets are now available at
Click here to buy them now!
(Kids under 12 are free!)
Dis-Connect’s new EP ‘Social Disease’ Launches March 30
The new EP from Hornsby, Sydney-based 3 piece Dis-Connect is called Social Disease and it’s out on Feb 8!
Recorded in May 2018 at The Grove Studios on the Central Coast, the EP features 4 brand new tracks that use their serrated punk/pop sound to accentuate the difficult issues that are examined in the lyrics. Social Disease offers a glimpse of some of the pressures facing middle and lower-class Australians, from the use of prescription and illegal drugs, troubled relationships and the struggle of a low income to cultural diversity, sexuality and political bias.
The EP will be launched at The Hornsby Inn, Sydney on Saturday 30th March.
Dis-Connect are Phillip Lambert (lead vocals, bass guitar) Steven Tonge (back vocals, guitar) and Grahame Giles (drums). The band was formed after Phil recorded 7 songs in his bedroom and gave the songs and his drum kit to Grahame and from that point it was 6 weeks until the band’s very first gig.
After a few years of playing live gigs, Steve joined the band and they recorded a demo at Damien Gerard Studios with Russell Pilling. A lot of live gigs followed, as well as the release of their debut EP, featuring the track Harmony, which gained national radio airplay on Triple J.
Social Disease will be live on Spotify, iTunes and all your favourite streaming services on Feb 8
Connect with the band:
