Tag Archives: upbeat

Dirty Suits Release Single ‘Life Takes Too Long’

August 14, 2026 Marshall Cullen

Life Takes Too Long is a celebration of a rut. Not a bad day or week. More like a bad year, job or marriage.

That sick feeling in the pit of your stomach that you can’t eat or drink away. It’s written as a celebration because one day it will pass.

One way or another.

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, ‘Life Takes Too Long’ is the second single.

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 Live Show

Link and Pin, Woy Woy, NSW – August 22

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The Quixotics Release Single ‘Musketeers’

July 10, 2026 Marshall Cullen

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.

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.

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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Gareth Koch & Jan Daxner Release Single ‘La Rotta’

July 3, 2026 Marshall Cullen

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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Gareth Koch & Jan Daxner Release Single ‘La Volta’

June 5, 2026 Marshall Cullen

From his massive 1612 dance collection Terpsichore, Michael Praetorius’ La Volta is a high-energy Renaissance party-starter that practically demands you jump around. Modelled after the favourite dance of Queen Elizabeth I, this short and snappy tune is characterized by a ‘scandalous’ rhythm—shifting between 6/8 and 3/4 time—designed to make courtly couples leap and turn in a dizzying, joyous blur. This cheerful, brisk piece of musical sunshine proves 17th-century Germany definitely knew how to have a good time.

In this version Gareth is joined by Viennese flute virtuoso Jan Daxner. The duo creates an imaginative interpretation brimming with embellishments & whimsy, emulating the colourful character of La Volta.

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The Quixotics Release Single ‘Prepare to Fight’

May 8, 2026 Marshall Cullen

‘Prepare to Fight’ is an upbeat rocker bounding with the energy of defiance the times call for. The QuiXotic’s latest dynamic offering is a response to rising global tensions facing the everyday populace amidst authoritarian threats on communities that we witness daily via disturbing media coverage. This song harnesses our collective frustrations and paranoia propelling them into a fitting anthem of resistance. The QuiXotics have returned to their favourite studio while in a song writing purple patch to keep delivering the goods for QuiXotics fans far and wide in the year ahead.

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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Lecia Louise Upcoming Single ‘Love’s Fool’ + Tour Dates

April 2, 2026 Marshall Cullen

For Immediate Release: Lecia Louise hits the road again to promote her 1st single ‘Love’s Fool’ (Out April 10 via FOG/MGM) from forthcoming album ‘Strike to Ignite’

TOUR DATES

April 16 – Welders Dog, Armidale, NSW , 7:30 – 9:30pm, Solo

April 18 – Guitar Rock Bush Blitz, Tourist Hotel Narrabri, NSW, 9pm-midnight, Band

April 19 – Wilga Hotel Narrabri, NSW , 1-4 pm

April 24 – Odeon Richmond, VIC, With Geoff Achison, Acoustic duo sessions https://www.odeonrichmond.com.au/event-details/geoff-achison-and-lecia-louise-acoustic-solo-and-duo

April 25 – 12 Bar, Belgrave, VIC, Cam Walter band

April 26 – Private event, Message me if interested, Langwarrin, VIC

May 1 – Scotties, VIC, with Cam Walter band

May 2 – Blues Train, Geelong, VIC, Solo

May 3 – Stingo Blues, Yorkshire, VIC

May 5 – MBAS, VIC

May 7 – Miss Celies, NSW, House band blues jam

May 8 – TBA

May 9 – Mangrove Mountain, Blues on the Mountain, More info soon https://events.humanitix.com/z-star-uk-plus-lecia-louise-mangrove-mountain-hall

May 10 – Marks Point Sports Club, 3-6pm, NSW, Band

May 29 – Mackay Blues Club, Women in Blues https://events.humanitix.com/womeninbluesmackay

June 27 – Sunshine Coast, Blues and Roots Festival https://www.sunshinecoastbluesfestival.com

About the single ‘Love’s Fool’ Out on April 10th

“Love’s Fool” is a funky, upbeat blues track that represents strength and self-worth. It tells the story of giving your all to a relationship and realising you deserve that same energy in return. Soulful, bold and self-assured, it’s a declaration that loving deeply doesn’t mean allowing yourself to be made a fool. Mixed by Multiple Aria Nominee and winner Steve James.

About Lecia

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 throughout Australia.

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

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The Quixotics Release Single ‘Blindside’

January 8, 2026 Marshall Cullen

Have you ever felt Blindsided? We’re all feeling the heat turn up and the tide rising lately but don’t despair. The Quixotics’ brand new single Blindside refreshingly implores us to maintain our course and not give up the fight. Let this coasting, upbeat, pop rocking salvo provide the backdrop for your daily tribulations ahead and optimistically remind you that we are not alone amidst the turbulence – Together we can ….’try to keep ourselves alive as the tide keeps swelling high’….

Launching Tonight in FREMANTLE WA

Blindside single launch this Friday Jan 9 at Clancys in Fremantle – doors 8pm With supports Hardway Jones and Sasha Ion and The Elements

Blindside is the first single from The Quixotics’ upcoming 2026 album ‘Surfing Never Dies’. Hot on the heels of their well received recent vinyl album ‘New World State of Mind’, The Quixotics have returned to their favourite studio while in a song writing purple patch to keep delivering the goods for Quixotics fans far and wide in the year ahead.

Born from the unlikely union between a Lithuanian taxi driver and a Spanish nun, the Quixotic Michael Gabriel is the singer /song writer/ guitarist behind the musical adventure that is The QuiXotics. Currently recording album number 7 ‘Surfing Never Dies’ at the amazing Poons Head studio in Perth Western Australia.

In 2010 The QuiXotics released ‘Bumpy ride’, a trippy, melodic rocking debut highlighting The QuiXotics’ guitar based origins steeped in the blues, indi pop and rock n roll. Subsequent live shows and releases have showcased the QuiXotic nature of the band as it has adventured through myriad sound explorations all the time honing the emphasis on song writing while building an impressive body of work to date. The line up (since 2017) was formerly a 3 piece which includes Michael’s son Gabriel on drums and Hannah Smilie on bass and notable harmonies. Now with the recent inclusion of Aaron Powell on second guitar, together they form the 4 piece chemistry groove engine that will power the band into the future.

The 2017 album release ‘All is Atremble’ was launched live in Melbourne and Sydney and followed up by ‘Young Tearaway’ in 2021. Since then, The QuiXotics have been regularly gigging and recording around Perth/Fremantle. Launches throughout 2026 will be announced for their follow up singles from their forthcoming album, ‘Surfing Never Dies’. Make sure to catch a ride on their wave of inspiration.

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