“Let in the light of dawn, savour the dark temptations that fell on the eve.”

DAWN – a battalion of neo-Victorian musical renegades led by Australian/Canadian chanteuse Kimberley Dawn Lysons– have been touring their new album THE SPINNING JENNY.  This band of renegades only truly burst onto the scene when their lead singer returned after 6 months in Canada to debut with the full band at Woodford Folk Festival 2012/2013.

What a debut it was! In only 6 months, they have supported Jeff Martin on his national solo tour December 2012, performed as a feature act at an internationally renowned folk festival, supported The Tea Party’s recent national tour March 2013, featured on Triple J- Roots N All, featured on Canadian CBC NEWS in February 2013 with their music used as inspiration to choreograph an “East meets West” dance production in Edmonton, Alberta, and began the launch of their new album across the country on May 17th this year!

Jeff Martin has been working with Dawn for the past 12 months on her debut album “The Spinning Jenny”– the product of an unlikely artist / producer collaboration between a playful folk and world music singer and the dark and brooding Tea Party front man. … Continue Reading

Tex Perkins has played a key role in Australian music, with a career that has taken in everything from the ground breaking experimental punktonica of Sydney mid-80s noiseniks Thug to the lilting, dark country of his recent material with The Dark Horses, from the hard edged pub rock of the Beasts Of Bourbon’s, to the evocative soundscapes of The Cruel Sea, Tex has heralded the emergence of an entirely original yet archetypically Australian sound. In the early 90s Perkins joined forces with the legendary Don Walker, Cold Chisel’s pianist and master songwriter, and Charlie Owen, previously Australia’s best kept musical secret, for the unforgettable Tex, Don & Charlie.

Teaming up with Tex for this intimate show will be none other than his good friend Charlie Owen. This is a night not to be missed.

Joe Camilleri is an icon of Australian music and who’s paved the way for four generations of singers and songwriters, writing and recording an enormous catalogue of incredible music over an astonishing 46 year career. He’s shown fans and critics alike that he is a performer with an undeniable energy and love of it all. It is this love, this sense of adventure that keeps Camilleri going and the punters coming back for more.

In the mid 80s following the success of his first band, Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons, Joe Camilleri gathered together a group of musician friends and dubbed them The Black Sorrows. The band began playing for the fun of it, recording independent albums and selling them out of the boot of the car. When radio picked up the classic track, Mystified, The Black Sorrows took flight. … Continue Reading

Singing sisters Vika & Linda Bull combined Tongan and Australian heritage to provide the impetus behind their blend of world music.

For 25 years, the glorious voices of Vika and Linda Bull have comprised one of the most distinctive, versatile and emotionally charged sounds on the Australian music landscape. Since their multi-platinum conquest of pop radio with the Black Sorrows in the late 1980s, the sisters have forged diverse pathways into soul, gospel, blues, country and the island music of their Tongan ancestry.

By turns tender and powerful, their rich solo vocals and instinctive harmonies have spawned eight albums of their own, as well as illuminating studio and concert performances by Paul Kelly, Renee Geyer, John Farnham, Hunters & Collectors, Tim Finn, Kasey Chambers, John Butler and many more. … Continue Reading

Singalong Society is all about relaxed community singing. 1st Wednesday night of every month, at 7.00pm the much loved Melbourne Singer/songwriters Rebecca Barnard & Billy Miller will direct things where fun is the prime objective. You don’t have to come every month just check in when you need a dose of joy and maybe a glass of wine. Rebecca says “Some of the most memorable, intense, fun and therapeutic moments of my life have been when singing and even better when singing with other voices”. The Singalong Society is for people who want to sing Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Billie Holiday, Rolling Stones and anything great.

Get along to the fabulous Caravan Club on Sunday 7 July and enjoy a bowl of homemade soup for only $5.00 and some great music from two young local artists.

JOJO POVITRO
Come and experience the guitar and voice of Jojo Povitro, a Thumbpicker extraordinaire playing his brand of bluegrass, blues, jazz and rock’n'roll. Reinterpreting popular hits from yesteryear’s to today’s with his unique thumbpicking style. Backed by a three piece band which includes a great harmonica player, he delivers a performance that will get the place jumpin’ and rockin’ all night.

JOSEPH PERNA
Jo Perna is an 18 year old singer/songwriter who is primarily an acoustic writer and plays piano and guitar. His music covers everything from Elton John, Billy Joel and The Beatles plus original songs and material. … Continue Reading

“Sweet Jean’s record ‘Dear Departure’ has been on high rotation at my place. Two distinct voices and strong songwriters make a combination greater than the sum of the parts. Dreamy, epic, wry, tender, straight-shooting. This record deserves to be heard far and wide.” – Paul Kelly

SWEET JEAN is Sime Nugent and Alice Keath. Their music is lush, melodic, honest, and full of charm. Since forming in late 2010, Sweet Jean has built a reputation for their evocative songwriting, razor-sharp harmonies, and stirring live performances. As The AU Review put it, Sweet Jean “can break your heart one minute and mend it the next. The duo has a natural ability to transport their audience to the heart of their songs.”

Sweet Jean’s debut album “Dear Departure” will be released on July 4 2013. … Continue Reading

Fresh off the back of a headline tour of the USA, Clairy Browne & the Bangin’ Racketttes return to Australia to take their show back out on the road, with a string of dates across the country including performing at Splendour in the Grass on July 26.

2013 has already been a mammoth year for the band, following their prodigious success in the States over the last year – their debut album “Baby Caught the Bus” reached 66 on US iTunes charts and the single “Love Letter” featured in a hugely popular Heineken ad – the band signed to the prestigious US label, Vanguard in February and set off on a twenty-six stop North American tour, with appearances on the Carson Daly Show, AXS TV and Balcony TV.  Since then the arresting chanteuse and her nine-piece band have been leaving behind love letters and broken hearts from Alabama to Arizona. … Continue Reading

ROGER KNOX, aka the Koori King of Country or Black Elvis as he’s known in his homeland, is an Aboriginal Australian Country & Western singer with a honeyed bear hug of a voice. Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers) met Knox on a visit to Australia several years ago. When he heard of Roger and the potentially-soon-to-be-lost subculture of this utterly unique cultural collision, Langford knew he had to be involved.

Stranger In My Land is a collection of songs originally written by Aborigine artists who were Knox’s peers and predecessors; some tunes previously recorded but difficult to find as well as several unrecorded, handed-down folk songs (which without this recording, could have been lost forever). It is powerful and moving material, heartbreaking and hilarious, downtrodden and uplifting, suffused with longing, alienation, resilience and hope; universal themes arising out of largely unexplored context. … Continue Reading

A Wizard, A True Star. The title of Todd Rundgren’s 1973 solo album aptly sums up the contributions of this multi-faceted artist to state-of-the-art music. As a songwriter, video pioneer, producer, recording artist, computer software developer, conceptualist, and, most recently, interactive artist, Rundgren has made a lasting impact on both the form and content of popular music. This July Todd and his amazing band which includes keyboard master John Ferenzik (Jefferson Starship, Todd Rundgren), guitarist and former Guitar Player Magazine editor Jesse Gress, drummer Prarie Prince (The New Cars, The Tubes, Jefferson Starship) and on bass Kasim Sulton (Blue Oyster Cult, The New Cars, Utopia), will bring to life 40 years of amazing music to Australian audiences.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Rundgren began playing guitar as a teenager, going on to found and front The Nazz, the quintessential `60′s cult group. … Continue Reading

With perfect Sunday afternoon funk-reggae grooves, out of this world soulful-melodious guitar playing and animated showmanship, kick back, put your feet up, or dance the afternoon away to the brilliant funk-soul-reggae tunes by ROSS HANNAFORD & THE CRITTERS

MUSIC STARTS 3.30 pm Feat a superb band; GEORGE BUTRUMLIS (accordion), RAY PEREIRA (perc),YURI PAVLINOV (bass), PETER MARIN (drums), special guests DAME LADY MARGOT (Vocals) and JODY BELL. (Vocals).

Baby et Lulu is the charismatic musical partnership between Abby Dobson, songstress extraordinaire and former front person for the platinum selling Leonardo’s Bride, and Lara Goodridge, violinist/singer with the celebrated string quartet FourPlay. With songs from Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Charles Trenet to Brigitte Bardot, Françoise Hardy, Camille, Serge Gainsbourg, Eartha Kitt and many more, Baby et Lulu share their love of harmony and French chansons.

Baby et Lulu are joined by an all-star band of Sydney’s finest musicians, including Matt Ottignon (flute, sax, clarinet), Julian Curwin (guitar), Marcello Maio (keys) & Mark Harris (double bass).

Kevin Welch has been referred to as a ‘songwriters songwriter’ an expressive singer and a great guitarist.  His songs have been recorded by a variety of artists including Roger Miller, Trisha Yearwood, Jimmy LaFave, The Highywaymen, Tracy Grammer, Linda Ronstadt and the list goes on.  That said, no one does a Kevin Welch song like he does.

He casts a spell over his audience with his words, sincerity, musicianship and when the night is over you know you have experienced something special.

Kevin is among a handful of truly great American songwriters, regardless of genre. He was Americana before they had a name for it and few performers can fill a room with their presence as well this thoughtful Okie.

His latest release, Patch of Blue Sky on Texas’ Music Road Records, is just another example of the great songwriting that his fans have come to expect from this outstanding musician. … Continue Reading

The Pills features on guitar John Phillips, marking the first time Bridie and Phillips will perform live together since their ‘Not Drowning Waving’ days; as well as Dave Foley on drums and other guests to be announced.

An exquisite collection of songs from a fascinating musical mind, ‘Wake’ is a total immersion in sound as an exploration of space with a deliciously driving edge. The product of midnight musings, pondering a lyric shift, a texture layer, a different voicing of a chord or a melody, and with grand contributions from a plethora of musicians and singers who have added their glorious touches to the songs (see below).

“I have spent a lot of time over the last five years working on an amazing array of projects which I feel very privileged to have been involved in, but now it is time to make something for me, and this new record means the world to me” – David Bridie

‘Wake’ is out now. … Continue Reading

DOG TRUMPET is a family affair spearheaded by brothers Peter O’Doherty and Reg Mombassa, former members of iconic Aria award winning Australian band ‘Mental As Anything‘.  Their contributions to the Mentals include songs such as Berserk Warriors, Egypt, Brain Brain, Apocalypso, Surf and Mull and Sex and Fun, Close Again and Psychedelic Peace Lamp.

Over the last twenty years as Dog Trumpet they have released five albums:  ‘Two Heads One Brain’, ‘Suitcase’, ‘Dog Trumpet’, ‘Antisocial Tendencies’ and ‘River of Flowers’.  In 2013 they continue their sonic alchemy of psychedelic folk, country and semi-abstract blues with their sixth and best release, a double album, ‘Medicated Spirits’.

Reg is well known for his idiosyncratic work for Mambo Graphics and as a fine artist. … Continue Reading

The Slaughtermen began back in 1984 in a beat up bar in Port Melbourne called The Rising Sun Hotel. There were three people and a dog the first night they played. Within a month the place was packed to the rafters with the curious, the hip, those in the know, and those who just wanted to be there to hear the apocalyptic “God’s Not Dead” pounded out on the wooden stage with that Hazel Motes kind of religious fervor that is the Slaughtemen trademark. Within a year the band had become an underground cult sensation, where it largely remains still. Today, the band plays on, with the original members. Mark Ferrie, bass, Andrew Pendlebury, guitar, Terry Doolan, guitar, Des Hefner, drums, and Ian Stephen vocals. To see the Slaughtermen play is to see something special, and rare, since the band has played few live shows in the past twenty years. … Continue Reading

“No artist before or since has so extensively explored the theme of what it was to be Australian…”

Dave Warner’s From the Suburbs first official gig was in Perth in October 1976.  Fresh back from London, Warner wove material from his seminal punk band Pus (1973-75) with a host of new songs written in London, some arranged with guitarist Tony Durant.  Within two years Warner was a household name via albums Mugs Game and Free Kicks. Bob Dylan glowingly described him as his favourite Australian songwriter while a Perth Magistrate found him guilty of disorderly conduct by virtue of singing an obscene song in a public place. Them were the days!

Now Dave Warner returns to Melbourne at the Caravan Club with his full band to relive crazy nights at legendary nightspots like Bananas, Bombay, Martinis, The London Tavern, Tiger Lounge and many more. … Continue Reading

“…acoustic blues with punch…refreshingly energetic” – Rhythms Magazine

2011 ARIA Blues and Roots nominees and I-Tunes Australian Blues and Roots album of the year winners, Backsliders have been playing, touring the festival circuit and recording for 25 years. Despite this maturity, the latest release, ‘Starvation Box’ heralded as their best to date, has been described as sounding like “hungry youths from the Deep South”.

These guys are renowned for captivating live shows – an eclectic mix of blues styles moving from driving delta blues riffs and jungle-like rhythms to ‘Piedmont’ blues influenced ‘all-acoustic’ unplugged treatments of 1920’s songs by blues heroes such as Mississippi Fred McDowell and Robert Johnson. … Continue Reading

Brian Kennedy survived a childhood on the infamous Falls Road, West Belfast at the height of its hellish history against all the odds to carve an extraordinary career in Music.  In his own words he says, “I shouldn’t have become a singer really, given where and how my life started, but my voice had other plans and saved me in the end.” That Voice changed the course of his whole life forever.

From harmonising with ambulances as a child to finally overcoming stage fright, his gradual ascent was nothing short of miraculous. He busked on the dangerous streets of his hometown whatever the political weather until a sudden escape to London when only 18 saw him surviving in the only way he knew how. He sang unaccompanied in the underground stations and outside the Dominion Theatre, sometimes literally in order to eat and until he finally saved up enough money for a guitar. … Continue Reading

ABOUT CEILING ROSE:
The Orbweavers delve into local urban history and deliver new material drawn from Melbourne’s built and natural environments. New single Ceiling Rose is a song about secrets and dreams, waking in the night, drifting between states of consciousness. A symbol of secrecy and confidentiality since ancient times, ceiling roses are an enduring decorative feature in Australian interior architecture, and form the central motif of this lushly orchestrated single, constructed around nocturnal vocals and vivid detail.

Since releasing ‘Loom’ The Orbweavers’ have been warming hearts and selling out shows with evocative songs and stories of creeks & quarries (Merri), the yearnings of a bridled greyhound (You Can Run – Fern’s Theme), and Melbourne’s historic sewerage pumping station (Spotswood), while continuing work on their forthcoming third album. … Continue Reading