Festival News

Today, Sydney rapper Kwame releases his new EP “Please, Get Home Safe.” – a journey of self-discovery, acceptance and catharsis. The EP follows the young artist, from once starry-eyed, to now venturing out into the uncertain world facing trials and tribulations in the hope that true self-identity can be recognised.

In celebration of releasing what is his third project, Kwame has been performing live shows at the Lansdowne Hotel in Sydney. Tonight’s two sets, supported by Phil Fresh, will be the final shows of the short run.

“Please, Get Home Safe.” EP title takes inspiration from a saying often used by parents to their children when leaving home “Be careful, stay safe and let me know when you’re home”

It was through this saying that Kwame gained the inspiration to speak on how he himself as an Artist can often see the world intimidating when wanting to break away from the unwritten social norms of acceptable behaviour as well as how Artists ‘should’ create.

Through this carefully written and produced project, Kwame begins his journey of self-discovery on the first half of the project. The first track being ‘Nobody’, an artistic number planting Kwame’s stance as a force to be reckoned with bringing all that he had feared to the centre of the attention with E^ST’’s angelic touch declaring that in fact all our big dreams make all our fears smaller.

The sample driven ‘Stop Knockin’ @ My Door!’ a constant shield steering clear of all the naysayers & negativity one can feel preceded by the fierce collaboration between Kwame & Arno Faraji on ‘Ain’t So’ demanding the respect and credit that they are ever so due of.

Kwame then swerved into the face of external forces that shook his core existence. Debilitating and at times oppressive, we are met with the song ‘Tommy’s In Trouble’ (featuring CLYPSO & Phil Fresh) in which he confronts adversity.

Kwame acknowledges his deep vulnerability as a human being through which is discovered in the song ‘Glory’. Kwame touches on the losses and downfalls he faced promoting growth within his mind which had made him more mature not only as a person, but also as an artist. Seeking to bring peaceful and positive energy to not only his own life, but to others around him.

The finale in ‘We Can Be’ highlights the confidence in overcoming adversity. Kwame has now returned home safely, and acknowledges pivotal moments faced along the way. His experiences have made him more mature and he is now certain of his purpose, his calling.

Kwame acknowledges self-identity is a journey that carries beyond deeper into a philosophical context both past present and future. He now stands in front of his audience with confidence, maturity and positive energy in the hope that he can provide a voice to others through this multi-dimensional, lateral art piece. Whilst he understands his purpose, he recognises the best years are yet to come – ‘we’ can be anything. You can be anything.

Since releasing his debut single, ‘I Get It’ in 2016, the 22-year-old Ghanaian-Australian producer, writer, rapper and engineer has gone on to amass over 19 million times globally.

SUPPORT FOR ‘DON’T BLINK’

“You’ll want to have both eyes on the screen at all times when watching this video.”
–  Cool Accidents (AUS)

“With pummeling guitar, formidable bars and a hard-hitting, swaggering bass, ‘Don’t Blink’ is a total heater.”
–  Purple Sneakers (AUS)

Added to Apple Music playlist ‘New Music Daily’

Following on from the release of his critically praised single ‘Don’t Blink’, Canberra-based hip hop artist Citizen Kay has just revealed the accompanying video clip – directed and edited by long-time collaborator Nic Vevers.

Filmed at the top of a carpark in the heart of Canberra City, the clip sees a dynamic performance from Citizen Kay, mixed with the exquisite work of Canberra animator Trent Dwyer. Through the playful use of light and sped up camera techniques, Vevers highlights the contrast between the still, barren carpark and the frenetic rendition from Kay.

Citizen Kay talks about the inspiration and process behind the video clip:

“After working with Nic for so long, I’ve come to trust him completely and am hella confident of his work. We had this dope idea of a one-shot, slow panning, cinematic, minimalistic video which went right out the window. Instead, we ended up making this mostly spontaneous clip that you see which reflects the song so damn well! The animation represents subliminal internal thoughts which oppose a lot of the aggression throughout the track, and the visuals and a gritty style just came out so naturally when shooting.”

Citizen Kay’s albums ‘Demokracy’ and ‘With The People’ were both nominated for an ARIA award in the ‘Best Urban Album’ category; the former was also nominated for an AIR award for ‘Best Independent Hip-Hop Album Release’. A performance soon followed on triple j’s esteemed ‘Like A Version’ segment and was met with praise by fans and critics alike.

Previous releases have also been strongly supported by Spotify, Apple Music, Complex, Pilerats, Purple Sneakers, Cool Accidents, AUD’$, Acid Stag and NME, with video clips added to rotation on ABC’s Rage. He’s also had multiple tracks added to rotation on triple j and extensive play across community radio. His three albums, including his last ‘Belly Of The Beast‘, received top 10 placings on the US College Hip Hop charts and the single ‘Ego’ broke into the top 20 of the US NACC Singles chart. In the UK, the single picked up regional and community radio plays.

Citizen Kay has toured the country extensively, supporting hip hop luminaries Public Enemy, Run The Jewels, Ice Cube, Danny Brown, Wiz Khalifa, Earl Sweatshirt and Australian crowd favourites ILLY, Tkay Maizda and Seth Sentry. He’s also made appearances at Australian mainstay events Falls Festival and Groovin’ The Moo.

‘Don’t Blink’ is available worldwide now through Asphalt Records/MGM

‘DON’T BLINK’ SHOWS

FRI 13 NOV | WAYWARDS, NEWTOWN NSW
FRI 20 NOV | FICTION CLUB, CANBERRA ACT

FOLLOW CITIZEN KAY

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC

With under a month left until the release of their anticipated debut album First Contact and following the announcement of a wave of shows in their home state of QLD, Australian-Japanese sibling duo Lastlings today share their newest single ‘Out Of Touch’.

The track is the final song to be revealed ahead of the release of the duo’s highly anticipated 12-track debut, landing on November 20. Lastlings have been perfecting the LP over the past year, and ‘Out of Touch’ is a testament to their masterful engineering of transportive lyricism and emotive pop soundscapes. A shimmering electro-pop jam, the song juxtaposes Amy’s delicate yet poignant vocals against Josh’s darker tech-driven basslines.

LISTEN: ‘Out Of Touch’ by Lastlings

“The majority of the lyrics for Out of Touch were written at our grandparents home in Japan. The song is about disconnecting from real life and spending time on yourself, especially at times where life becomes too much and you need to recharge. Self-care is so important, especially at times like this. “The song is a bit of a full circle moment because the main guitar parts were written with Josh’s first guitar. The guitar melodies were inspired by ‘path of the wind’ by Joe Hisaishi from our favourite childhood animation ‘My Neighbour Totoro’. All of these things together make the song extremely nostalgic for us because it reminds us of when we were kids and simpler times.” Last week, Lastlings announced shows for fans in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. First shows sold-out quickly with subsequent shows now also nearing capacity. The shows will see Lastlings take to the stage in full band mode, playing their new material to audiences for the first time yet.The band’s anticipated debut album First Contact (out on November 20) centralises around the theme of “firsts”. Each track harkens back to notable life milestones, from the first day of life, to the first spoken words, to the first experience of falling in love, through the last breath on Earth. The album is preceded by a trailer co-created by Lastlings’ and Sydney-based director Dylan Duclos, paying homage the duo’s Japanese heritage. Produced in Japan in their native language, the trailer weaves elements of Japanese landscapes and cultural touchpoints that take form throughout songs and visuals in First Contact. Check it out here. The band’s previously released singles ‘No Time’, ‘Take My Hand’, ‘Last Breath’, ‘Deja Vu’, and ‘I’ve Got You’ have all received airplay from triple j and found a home on a myriad of Apple Music and Spotify playlists globally.

LASTLINGS – FIRST CONTACT ALBUM LAUNCH SHOWS Final tickets available via lastlings.com Saturday 21 November | The Triffid, Brisbane (early show) |  NEW SHOW Saturday 21 November | The Triffid, Brisbane (late show) | SOLD OUT Friday 4 December | Miami Marketta, Gold Coast (early show) | SOLD OUT Friday 4 December | Miami Marketta, Gold Coast (late show) | NEW SHOW Saturday 5 December | Miami Marketta, Gold Coast (early show) | SOLD OUT Saturday 5 December | Miami Marketta, Gold Coast (late show) | SOLD OUT

First Contact Lastlings Album out 20 November 2020 through Liberation Records Available to pre-order hereFirst Contact tracklisting:  1. Deja Vu 2. Take My Hand 3. Out Of Touch 4. False Reactions 5. 9400 6. Last Breath 7. No Time 8. Visions 9. AI 10. Held Under 11. First Light 12. I’ve Got You

https://www.facebook.com/lastlingsmusic/

 

October 29, 2020 0 comments

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THE DREGGS are Paddy Macrae and Zane Harris, an indie-folk songwriting duo from The Sunshine Coast. Since forming in 2017 they have amassed over 3millon streams, garnered critical praise from Tone Deaf, NME Australia, Pilerats with spot play on triple j. They also recently played at Bigsound 2020.

Today they release their dreamy new single, ‘Keepsake’ which showcases their elegant songwriting and harmonies. ‘Keepsake’ is a follow up to fan favourite ‘Call Me Home’.

Speaking about their new single THE DREGGS tell us, “Keepsake is a track touching on the beauty of vulnerability and the importance of allowing people into our lives, regardless of whether they bring us pain or joy. The act of wearing someone’s heart “like a keepsake” is playing on the idea of wearing a sentimental object, such as a pocket watch or a pendant from a loved one.”

THE DREGGS encompass a whole range of emotion with their music. They find themselves writing tracks with a whole range of dynamics. Alongside this, the boys are strong advocates for Mental Health Awareness, touching on elements of mental health in their songs. Growth is a common theme throughout their music, expressing how important it is to grow and change in positive ways.

Although the music industry came to a halt during the Covid-19 pandemic, THE DREGGS are still working harder than ever, landing themselves an opportunity to feature on several of Ziggy Alberts’ tracks, most notably Together (2020), as well as supporting Kim Churchill on his ‘Bright Nights’ Australian Tour 2020, playing Bigsound2020 and in celebration of Keepsake, The Keepsake Tour starts in early November.

THE DREGGS ‘Keepsake’ is out now through Ditto Music.

CONNECT WITH THE DREGGS

12:00 PM – 10:00 PM (AEDT)

Saturday, March 20th, 2021

Coburg Velodrome

Following the easing of restrictions announcement yesterday, Untitled Group has just revealed the return of their day parties with Willaris.K & more this March at the Coburg Velodrome. Untitled Group’s day parties have acquired a cult-like following over the years, known for their unique locations, world-class production/stage designs and lineups showcasing the best of local and international talent.

This event will feature an all local lineup including:

Willaris.K

Torren Foot

Made in Paris

Late Nite Tuff Guy

Jordan Brando

KLP

Choomba

Brux

After a tough 2020 this will give domestic artists the opportunity to get back into performing in front of their home crowds and give Victorians a needed glimmer of hope in the live music realm to look forward to in 2021.

Past Untitled Group day parties have included the likes of Claptone, Solomun, MK, Dom Dolla and Patrick Topping.

See the iconic Coburg Velodrome be transformed into a haven of Australian dance music for what’s sure to be one for the books.

Willaris.K

Tastemaker and producer Willaris. K had his triple j supported break-out single “Alchemy” back in 2018 and has never looked back. His sophisticated techno has seen him earn fans in Pete Tong, sell-out shows in Australia and play at festivals including Coachella, Splendour in the Grass, Lollapalooza, Beyond the Valley, Wildlands, Forbidden Fruit and more.

Torren Foot

Perpetually ahead of the curve, house producer Torren Foot was raised on the working docks of Melbourne’s inner west, and is now a fixture of Aussie club culture as one of the countries most in demand touring dj’s – he recently gained international attention following the release of ‘More Life’ topping #1 Beatport overall, support from tastemakers Adam Beyer, Claptone, Mat.Joe, Wax Motif & Destructo to name a few and A-list radio support from triple j.

Made in Paris

Closing 2019 with her most anticipated single ‘Pursuit’, Made in Paris has dominated radio with full rotation and 100+ spins on Triple J, taking top 30 positions weekly on the Australian Shazam Chart and adds to Spotify editorial playlists globally. From her three USA tours to Australia’s most acclaimed warehouses alongside Stephan Bodzin on his 2019 Australian tour, Pitch Music Festival, Beyond The Valley and Splendour In The Grass, the Sydney artist depicts a true deep and dark production journey from studio to stage.

Late Nite Tuff Guy

Late Nite Tuff Guy is a new breed of disco vigilante, prowling the neon streets on a mission from God / David Mancuso to reclaim the clubs and fuck shit up. The scandalous alter-ego of genuine techno legend HMC (known to his momma as Cam Bianchetti), Late Nite Tuff Guy (LNTG) puts the acrimony in acronym, the oh in disco, the amp in camp and the dang in dangerous.

Jordan Brando

Recognised by BBC Radio 1’s Pete Tong & tastemakers globally, Jordan’s abilities as a DJ and a producer raise no questions to why he is “a rising star in Australian dance music.” Standout performances at revered festivals Beyond the Valley and Pitch Music & Arts, and being handpicked to share the stage with the likes of Patrick Topping to Jamie Jones, have all contributed to solidifying Brando’s name as one Australia’s most promising dance music exports.

KLP

KLP, real name Kristy Lee Peters, is a talented force of the Australian music industry, with credentials that cement her reputation as a multi-faceted industry heavyweight. Between writing and recording her own music, and collaborating with local and international artists, KLP also found time to host the country’s biggest Dance Music radio program, triple j’s House Party every Saturday night for 5 years.

Choomba:

Right on cue for 2019 Choomba came out of the gate with a debut EP that hit  #4 on the overall Beatport Release Chart, #2 on the hyper competitive Tech-House Chart, came in at #36 on Australia’s overall Shazam Chart  and saw them up for the Triple J Unearthed feature artist spotlight. The follow up single Wantchu took that momentum even further being spot added to Triple J.

Brux

Revel in the realm of BRUX – a turbulent force of brooding rhythms and distorted desires of the human psyche. Equally intimidating as alluring, BRUX confronts notions of fate, materialism and the pursuit of pleasure.

PRESALE REGISTRATION: https://arep.co/p/ReturnOfTheDayParty

PRESALE REGISTRATION CLOSES: Thursday, October 29th, 3:00 PM (AEDT)

PRESALE TICKETS ON SALE: Thursday, October 29th, 5:00 PM (AEDT)

GENERAL PUBLIC ONSALE: Friday, October 30th, 12:00 PM (AEDT)

Get Connected:

https://www.facebook.com/untitledgroupau/

Releasing some of their most personal material yet, Perth’s Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks release their new EP, Songs For A Long Walk.

A collection of moving and authentic indie-folk music, Songs For A Long Walk shines a light on the group’s defined musical identity, led by songwriter Jack Davies’ unwavering strength as a vocalist and songwriter.

Six tracks recorded at the beginning of 2020, Songs For A Long Walk were created before the world was plunged into a prolonged stage of limbo, yet when listening to the songs now in the midst of it, the comfort and warmth they exude are second to none.

From it listeners have already heard ‘Loving You’s Like A Mouldy  Cup of Tea’ and ‘Half Frozen Beer’, both strong compositions on their own, yet Songs For A Long Walk shines across the other four tracks too. Evoking the likes of Jacob Diamond, Courtney Barnett and Tom Odell in songwriting and nuanced delivery, the Songs For A Long Walk EP is inviting and intimate in the soundscapes it creates.

This is a record that shows Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks at their best, and for newcomers to the group, Songs For A Long Walk is the perfect wait to become acquainted with them.

Recorded at RADA Studios in Perth, the band were able to properly immerse themselves in the old warehouse set up, with the addition of some beautiful upright pianos that helped form the final sound of the EP. For Jack, the experience has inspired him for future recordings.

“We were able to just have fun with all these incredible instruments and microphones and record whatever we liked. Dan Carroll, who engineered and mixed the EP, has such a huge insight into recording and music in general. Working together changed my perspective on a lot of things in the recording world, I’m grateful for that. The whole process has given me so much inspiration to dig right into the next record and explore all these new ideas fully.” Jack Davies

The closeness of the band and their natural ability as players together shines throughout the EP, as it does on single ‘Half Frozen Beer’. Sharing the music video for this song, Jack Davies worked alongside photographer and videographer Annie Harvey in bringing this one to life.

Filmed in Perth during WA’s late stages of lockdown, the ‘Half Frozen Beer’ music video features Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks, albeit in a different format to normal.

“It was a rather lonely time, so I just mulled around my house recording bits ‘n bobs. We couldn’t be in groups, so we couldn’t film with my bandmates directly. Instead, I went and stood out the front of their houses and jammed along with them by their windows, kind of a play on the song and the idea of being together. It was really down to the magic of Annie Harvey’s video work that brought it together; I’m stunned by how beautiful the colours and composition of the shots came out, the band just danced around!” Jack Davies

Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks have been garnering acclaim for their music around the country, while also attracting industry praise too, having a WAM and SOTY award to their name, as well as a National Live Music Award for WA’s Best Live Act. Their brand of indie-folk music has drawn over 1.5 million streams on Spotify alone; while also emerging as a formidable touring force, with audiences around the country embracing them as headliners and supporting the likes of Tash Sultana, Weyes Blood and San Cisco. 

Off the back of their debut EP Cleaning The Dishes in 2019, Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks became a dynamic force in the WA scene, significant examples of their presence being in their ability to draw almost 500 to the modest Clancy’s Fish Pub in Fremantle and an unprecedented crowd of over 2,000 to the Fremantle Arts Centre their ‘Sunday Music Sessions’ show.

The past couple of months have seen the band return to performing to sold out crowds across the state, as restrictions continue to ease in Western Australia.

PRAISE FOR JACK DAVIES AND THE BUSH CHOOKS

“Every so often a voice captures a moment in time. Slow, melodic and deliberate songwriting that evokes quintessential West Australian imagery, Jack Davies is the voice of a new generation of Perth storytellers.”

RTRFM 92.1

“The west is having a real moment right now and Jack Davies is right there at the tip of the community’s songwriting wellspring.”

Triple J Unearthed, Dave Ruby Howe

“I was thinking to myself today, wondering who of the modern Australian songwriters writing gentle, folk inspired songs have what it takes to be remembered in the long term, and I reckon Jack might be one of them. His songs cut straight to the core and put you in a time and place you didn’t know you were missing.”

Triple J Unearthed, Tommy Faith

“This has my vote as a replacement for the national anthem. Quick witted and clever prose with that lingering banjo and harmonica, Jack is a next gen bush balladeer and I’m in awe.” 

ABC Country Music Programmer/Producer, Kath Devaney

JACK DAVIES AND THE BUSH CHOOKS EP LAUNCH SHOW

Friday, October 23 Freo Social Fremantle

EP Launch Show

with New Nausea, Nika Mo, Clove

Tickets

Songs For A Long Walk is released Friday, October 23rd.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Triple J Unearthed 

With less than two weeks to go until the 2020 South Australian Music (SAM) Awards, organisers have unveiled the talented performers and host for this year’s event.

Held for the first time in a specially constructed outdoor format, the 2020 SAM Awards continue to be a highlight of the South Australian music industry calendar, celebrating the best in local music now and looking ahead to the New Year.

Helming proceedings at the SAM Awards this year will be Three D Radio’s Isaac Selby, bringing that local music expertise and knowledge to the role; guiding everyone through the ceremony, which will see the best of South Australian music celebrated across 29 Industry Voted and People’s Choice award categories.

“I can’t wait to help celebrate the achievements of our fantastic local scene while hosting the SA Music Awards! The talented humans in our music community and close proximity to my house have made it one of my favourite in the world.” Isaac Selby

The SAM Awards this year will see dynamic and genre-diverse performances from four of the city’s best acts. Emerging hip-hop and R&B artist J-Milla will perform alongside indie rock group SEABASS, experimental producer and songwriter Lonelyspeck, as well as breakthrough pop-punk trio Chelsea Manor. All up for awards themselves in November, ticket holders will be able to get a reminder as to why these artists are garnering attention around the country, and stand out as strong names to watch in 2021.

“Being in a band from Regional SA, we don’t often get opportunities like this to showcase our music, so it’s a real honour for us to be in invited to perform in front our family, friends and peers at the SA Music Awards.” Chelsea Manor

The SOLD OUT 2020 SAM Awards take place this year at the University of Adelaide’s Cloisters and Unibar Lawns, shifting from its traditional seated dinner gala format, to an outdoors event fit for the summer. Proceeding in accordance with the current COVID-19 safe protocols, the SAM Awards are on track to deliver their most memorable year yet; an excellent way to send off what’s been a year on pause for the entire live music community.

Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said South Australia was in the fortunate position to be able to celebrate its brightest stars in this format. “The music industry has suffered more than most this year, and I’m very pleased we’ll be able to get together safely to acknowledge South Australia’s incredibly talented musicians,” Minister Pisoni said.

Nominees for the SAM Awards this year features some incredible names pushing South Australian music forward including EAST AV3, Naomi Keyte, Motez, TOWNS and DyspOra; while the efforts of those engineers, producers, venues, events, visual artists, managers and videographers are also set to be recognised across a series of lucrative award categories.

2020 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MUSIC AWARDS

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020

UniBar Adelaide, Cloisters and Lawns

Kaurna Land

Entrance from Victoria Drive

The SAM Awards is looking ahead to the future in continuing their commitment to celebrating the thriving community of musicians that really make SA Great.

Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Get your tickets on-sale now

The Bluesfest 2021 Fourth Artist Announcement adds an eclectic, diverse list of names to what is already a legendary line up of Australian artists confirmed to perform next Easter on April 1^st  – 5^th at the beautiful green Byron Events Farm located in Tyagarah 10 minutes north of Byron Bay.

The line-up is programmed with the intention to appeal to a broad audience featuring artists across all genres for all members of the family to enjoy. With the light at the end of the  tunnel in sight, Bluesfest is confidently positioned to be one of the first major festivals back on the circuit for the many music loving patrons aching to come out and soak in some highly anticipated festive vibes.

Back in April this year, many called Bluesfest’s intention to proceed with an event in 2021 as a “brave and bold move”. Proceed it did nonetheless and fortunately the festival is well-poised for a successful event with tickets currently hitting the 60% mark of sell-out in sales, with the bigger nights [Fri-Sat-Sun] selling consistently and rising.

Commenting on the announcement Festival Director, Peter Noble OAM says “Time will tell, but It is being said that the 2021 Bluesfest line up is the greatest assembly of Australian artists to ever perform at one event.  Ticket sales are showing that the Australian public is ready to celebrate safely and we are on target for a sell-out at our expected capacity. My focus right now is on bringing this festival home in 2021.“

Leading the already diverse announcement is Northern Beaches of Sydney natives and ARIA award winners Ocean Alley. Their platinum-selling single ‘Confidence’ won the #1` spot on triple j’s Hottest 100 in 2018 and since that time the band have gone on with sell-out shows right across Australia winning hearts along the way.

Considering Australian music icon John Williamson will celebrate his 51^st anniversary in 2021 you can bet this show will be one for the history books. John’s “The Winding Back” tour will celebrate his 51 years in the entertainment industry and foresee closing the book on his regular touring.  The last time John performed at Bluesfest in 2014, so captivated was the crowd that you could hear a pin drop. This great man’s storytelling talents through song and banter is outstanding. He has sold over five million albums and is regarded in the Top Five best-selling Australian artists joining Slim Dusty who sits at No. 1. Considering this is one of the last chances to catch John Williamson live this show should be marked up as “do not miss” in any festival planner.

When Tex Perkins struts up on stage to embody the role of “The Man In Black” for a special Bluesfest only performance you just know you are in for one hell of a good time. Imbued with the best of Johnny Cash hits, Tex Perkins’ reverence for Cash’s career is evident in the way he approaches every song and it is little wonder why “The Man In Black” has been lauded by critics and fans alike, and won Tex and his crew a Helpmann Award for Best Contemporary Australian Concert.

Get ready for an assault of the senses with the Jon Stevens | The Noiseworks & INXS Collection show.  The former lead singer of Noiseworks and INXS stacks this show with nothing but relentless hits. Jon’s visceral charge of emotion is guaranteed to transport you back in time including the INXS songs that were such a huge part of the soundtrack of our lives.

This has got to be the coolest collaboration announced this year; Josh Teskey and Ash Grunwald will take to the stage together and perform songs from a forthcoming album titled “Push The Blues Away”.  The album released on 13^th November is born out of a mutual love for the Blues and a genuine appreciation for each other’s talents.

An Australian lineup of this size would not be complete without Vika & Linda. They are Australia’s most revered singing sisters, known for their rich vocal harmonies and stylistic breadth. These ARIA chart toppers bring an added touch of class to the program.

Originally from Canada, Byron Bay local singer-songwriter Garrett Kato went from busking and living out of a backpack to tallying over 45 million worldwide streams and performing sold-out shows alongside Damien Rice and Ziggy Alberts. Immensely talented this young and rapidly rising star will be a musical gem for many to discover at Bluesfest.

Mia Dyson is always welcomed to Bluesfest by her many fans. A Blues pocket-rocket of a performer Mia has won multiple ARIA & APRA awards, toured with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Chris Isaak, Stevie Nicks and Eric Clapton. Now based in LA, this little lady is one big Blues star and is always welcomed back onto the bill. This will be Mia’s 6^th time at Bluesfest.

SNAPSHOT ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

OCEAN ALLEY

Northern Beaches of Sydney natives Ocean Alley released their critically acclaimed third LP ‘Lonely Diamond’ in June, debuting at #3 on the ARIA Album Chart and garnering four-star reviews from NME and Rolling Stone Australia who praised “a rich, expansive universe brimming with a kind of electricity that’ll make for huge on-stage moments” and “they’ve managed to set a new standard for what their music can be” respectively. It follows the success of their second full-length ‘Chiaroscuro’ in 2018 which propelled the band into national prominence and saw them sell 25,000 tickets over 15 sold out shows that year in Australia along – culminating with their ARIA nominated, double platinum-selling single ‘Confidence’ taking out #1 in triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2018. Their breakthrough year was backed-up with 30 sold out shows around the world in 2019, plus major festival appearances at ‘Reading & Leeds Festival’[UK], ‘Splendour in the Grass’, ‘Sziget’ [HU], ‘BottleRock’ [US] and more, with the band amassing more than 315 million cumulative streams to date.

JOHN WILLIAMSON

In 2021 Australian music icon John Williamson will celebrate his 51^st anniversary in the entertainment industry and embark on “The Winding Back” tour which will foresee him closing the book on his regular touring. When John Williamson wandered into Richmond’s GTV9 studios in 1970 with a guitar under his arm, little did the Mallee farmer realise he’d make a 50+-year career out of singing and performing. His performance of ‘Old Man Emu’, the first song John had ever written, on Channel Nine’s popular New Faces program resulted in a number one single and a record deal. It also marked the appearance of a striking new talent: an unofficial custodian of Australian stories. Half a century on, John Williamson has made an art of expertly capturing Australia in song. Painting lyrical pictures of our unique fauna and flora, landscapes and people, John has encapsulated the beauty, wonder and, sometimes, heartbreak of life Down Under. From boabs to billabongs and snowy mountains to sandy beaches, the Mallee-born songwriter’s 52 albums–including 20 original studio albums–have traversed Australia like a dust-covered road train, deftly moving between larrikin humour and touching pathos and have placed him in the Top Five best-selling Australian artists joining Slim Dusty who sits at No. 1. ’The Winding Back’ tour takes in more than 40 dates across Australia through to the end of 2021. With his honours including the ARIA Hall of Fame, an Order of Australia, 28 Golden Guitar Awards, Australian Roll of Renown induction, not to mention over 5 million albums sold and thousands of shows performed, it’s hard to begrudge the 75-year-old a less hectic schedule. First though, there’s a 51st^h anniversary to celebrate and what better place than Bluesfest to experience it with Mr True Blue himself.

TEX PERKINS – THE MAN IN BLACK 

There are few artists within Australia who can translate the work of ‘The Man in Black’ and bring it to modern day like Tex Perkins. His reverence for Johnny Cash’s career is evident in the way he approaches every song. Johnny Cash made an indelible impact on the international music scene. He passed away in 2003 but is still considered one of the most influential musicians of all time, as his sales of over 50 million records will attest. Tex Perkins needs no introduction to Australian audiences; he is a legend within the Aussie music industry and is revered as one of the country’s rock n’ roll outlaws. It is said his affinity with Johnny Cash started in his earliest band and is an enthusiasm he hasn’t relinquished. After fronting The Cruel Sea, Beasts of Bourbon and touring with Tex, Don and Charlie and The Dark Horses, Tex Perkins has had an incredible and varied music career. Now Perkins returns to his love of singing the songs of Johnny Cash with a special Bluesfest-only

performance. Tex Perkins – The Man In Black at Bluesfest will be more intensely music driven, less talking and more of the music of Johnny Cash.  ‘The Man In Black’ has been lauded by critics and fans alike and won Tex and his crew a Helpmann Award for Best Contemporary Australian Concert.

JON STEVENS

In 2018 a co-founding member of INXS, Andrew Farriss, surprised Jon Stevens by entering the band room after not seeing each other in 15 years to tell Jon he should add more INXS songs to the set list. Jon was on The Best of Jon Stevens Tour reflecting on his 40-year career, performing songs from Noiseworks, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Dead Daisies and his solo collection with just a couple of INXS classics. This reunion with his old friend with whom he’d shared the stage with around the world fronting INXS from 2000-2005 formed the idea for his new tour – ‘Jon Stevens | The Noiseworks and INXS Collection’ Tour. After a sell-out tour in 2019 the former lead singer of Noiseworks and INXS is back tributing the legendary bands that catapulted him into Aussie Rock Royalty! Jon Stevens l The Noiseworks & INXS Collection Tour brings hits “Take Me Back”, “New Sensation”, “Don’t Change”, “Hot Chilli Woman”, “Never Tear Us Apart, “No Lies” and more. This show is an assault of the senses, with nothing but relentless hits.  Miss it and you’re MAD!

JOSH TESKEY & ASH GRUNWALD

Two local powerhouses Josh Teskey [lead singer The Teskey Bros] and Ash Grunwald have teamed up for ‘Push The Blues Away’ (out Friday 13 November) – an album born out of a mutual love for the blues and a genuine appreciation for each other’s talents. This special show will no doubt bring the best out of both artists and is a definite for the “My Planner” section of your Bluesfest App. On ‘Push The Blues Away’, Josh and Ash cast off the weight of expectation and revel in music’s most simple pleasures. Recorded entirely live and straight to tape, with their only percussion consisting of gospel-inspired hand claps and stomps, the pair laid down seven original tunes, some penned by Josh, some by Ash, along with two classic Blues covers, Son House’s ‘Preachin’ Blues’ and the song that kickstarted the whole project, ‘The Sky Is Crying.’ To help them achieve this vision, they enlisted the help of Josh’s brother, Teskey Brothers’ guitarist, vocalist and Grammy-nominated engineer, Sam Teskey on production duty. Both artists have had an extremely busy 12 months; renowned as one of Australia’s finest live performers, Ash Grunwald released his critically acclaimed new album ‘MOJO’ along with his first book, “Surf By Day, Jam By Night” whilst The Teskey Brothers followed up their ARIA Award-winning and Grammy-nominated second album ‘Run Home Slow’ with the 2020 release of ‘Live At Forum’, earning them their first ARIA chart #1.

VIKA & LINDA

They’re Australia’s most revered singing sisters, known for their rich vocal harmonies and stylistic breadth. After three classic albums with The Black Sorrows, Vika & Linda have released six studio albums, two live albums and a chart-topping anthology. They have also sung on number one albums by Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers and John Farnham, done gigs for the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and the King of Tonga, and been nominated for four ARIA Awards. Recently, whilst still celebrating the recent release of their first ever best-of collection (and first ARIA #1) ‘Akilotoa (Anthology 1996-2004)’, Vika & Linda have wasted no time in following up with an inspired album of gospel songs titled ‘Sunday’(The Gospel According To Iso),’ out now (ARIA #2). The album was borne out of their Sunday Sing Song livestreams on social media during lockdown, and pays tribute to gospel pioneers including Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Mahalia Jackson. These are songs about survival, compassion and redemption.

GARRETT KATO

Originally from Canada, Byron Bay local singer-songwriter & producer Garrett Kato went from busking and living out of a backpack to tallying over 45 million worldwide streams and performing sold-out shows alongside Damien Rice and Ziggy Alberts. He landed a sync in Hollywood blockbuster ‘Bad Moms’ and his single ‘Take It Slowly’ has surpassed 13 million Spotify streams. His 2019 EP, ‘Distant Land’, earned the endorsement of triple j and Beatroute Magazine as the title track eclipsed 2.7 million Spotify streams. At the same time, he cemented himself as an in-demand, platinum-award winning producer. He worked with Ziggy Alberts on his 2016 EP ‘Four Feet in the Forest’ (certified Platinum) and his 2018 album ‘Laps Around the Sun’ (certified Platinum) and has also worked with Pete Murray, Kyle Lionheart, Riley Pearce, Pierce Brothers, Jack Botts and more.

MIA DYSON

Mia Dyson is an award-winning guitarist and singer/songwriter who has toured the country with the likes of Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Chris Isaak and many more. A multiple ARIA & APRA award-winning artist, Dyson has been named one of Australia’s top 25 guitarists of all time. Growing up in the Australian bush and in the sleepy beach town of Torquay, Mia Dyson was raised listening to American music as her dad was a big Blues fan and her mother a big Bob Dylan fan. It was at an early age Mia became fascinated by the mythology of American rock & roll. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2010, Dyson’s triumphs have included opening for Stevie Nicks at the Santa Barbara Bowl, in addition to self-releasing ‘Idyllwild’, ‘The Moment’ and ‘If I Only Said So Far I Take It Back’ to critical acclaim.

All ticket types and Add-Ons are on-sale now.

For further information on the line-up or artists please see here.

Bluesfest 2021 is being held from 1 – 5 April 2021. Tickets are on sale now via Moshtix.

Keep in touch via Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

“Wine chosen with love, to be enjoyed with good music and nice people.”

Crowbar and UNIFIED Music Group are proud to announce their collaborative music and wine project and online store “Built To Spill Wine”. The launch comes alongside the release of the brand’s first artist team up, a unique goon in collaboration with none other than The Chats. Find more details below.

After years of friendship, mutual business, shows and spilled drinks shared between them, each company is bringing their penchant for music and drink together in the form of an online store. Built To Spill Wine offers a delicious selection of natural wines from across the globe, while they also invite musicians to team up with some of Australia’s best natural winemakers to craft the bottle of their dreams for music fans and wine lovers to enjoy.

The life and business paths of the team at BTSW have been inextricably linked for over two decades – from running DIY venues and labels supporting hardcore bands in the early 2000’s, to the promotion and hosting of countless UNIFIED related bands at Crowbar, and most recently Crowbar running the VIP bar at UNIFY Gathering. Roots in punk-rock and Do-It-Yourself are at the heart of what UNIFIED & Crowbar do – no less a commitment to Do-It-With-Friends – and Built To Spill Wine is the ultimate extension of this ethos.

Premium bespoke bottles are the product, which is where Crowbar’s chief Wine Wizard Tai Tate comes in. With over 15 years experience in wine and fine dining (credits include the likes of Porteno, Bodega, Mary’s, P&V), Tai brings an expert knowledge and extensive industry network to the team, scouring the country for its top winemakers to partake in artist collaborations.

“We are excited to expose the whole country to a new wealth of talent in both wine and music, to push the boundaries of creativity and collaboration, to pair the old guard with the new school, and maybe find common ground between the established and the up and comers,” he says, adding that the project also offers a unique opportunity to educate consumers on the care that goes into crafting both wine and music.

All Built To Spill Wines are considered “natural”, meaning they enjoy a wild ferment (ie: no packet yeast), possess no corrective additives such as acid/colours/powdered tannin, and contain minimal sulphur.

UNIFIED Founder & CEO Jaddan Comerford explains that BTSW ultimately encompasses each company’s dedication to boundary-pushing creativity and collaboration, arguably needed in business and art now more than ever before.

Tyla Dombroski (Crowbar) elaborates that once COVID-19 shut down their live music business arm and left so many artists stranded, the team put their heads together to find new ways to forge business opportunities for themselves and bands alike.

“The best thing about it all has been connecting everyone together, not only helping ourselves while our venue has been closed and artists who haven’t been able to tour, but the winemakers around Australia as well,” she says.

“They’ve had a rough year since the fires impacting their grapes and now with COVID-19 closing down bars and restaurants. Everyone is super happy to be working together to create something different for music and wine lovers from all walks of life to enjoy while working with sustainable and minimal impact farming.”

Today BTSW launches The Chats Goon, meanwhile a second artist collaboration will launch next week. It comes after the Crowbar team independently launched successful drink collabs with artists including WAAX, Northlane, Josh Pyke and more earlier this year.

Head to the Built To Spill Wine website for more details and to order your wine before the weekend. Customers can also sign up to the mailing list for 10% off their first order, and score a free record when placing an order of 3 wines (while stocks last).

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