SNIPPETZ: THURSDAY JULY 3 ,2025
This week’s Snippetz features: Ruth Hazelton, Of Monsters and Men, Tilly Fenton, Blues Roulette, Transgenre Volume II, David Keenan, Shepparton Airplane, Charlie Collins, Matthew Ifield, Jett Blyton, Logan Priest, Scotty McCreery, The Witchy Djypsies, Lorde and more
RUTH HAZLETON ‘LETTER FROM A FRIEND (FIRE SONG)’ (Single)
Award-Winning Folk Artist Ruth Hazleton Unveils a New Darkfolk Sound with Single Release: Letter From a Friend (Fire Song). Grounded in atmospheric electronic sound design, this track signals a departure from Hazleton’s previous musical offerings. Musically, the song is transportive and emotive, capturing the raw grief and resilience found in the aftermath of a bushfire. Inspired and adapted from a letter written by a close friend who lost their home to the flames in 2020, the lyrics preserve intimate, unfiltered images of personal loss – charred memories and the eerie silence that follows destruction. The song transforms these words into a lyrical landscape and personal narrative, a eulogy and a tribute.
Synth pads and distorted sampling recreate drifting smoke, wind and embers through the mix. Rhythms mimicking a steady heartbeat suggest a sense of slow-moving urgency, giving the track a dreamlike feel, mirroring the emotional disorientation of loss. The result is a deeply personal sonic diary, capturing not only the destruction of a home but the emotional and spiritual displacement that follows. It invites the listener to sit with grief in an era of climate change, while gently gesturing toward healing.
About this song, R.B. Morris (Poet Laureate 2016-2018 Knoxville, Tennessee), writes:
“An amazing track… Very original writing, it touches on an odd place and perspective (one that letters can have) that is at a somewhat calm distance from a grave wound. It’s sung masterfully, making the nuance of each word a stepping stone to the melody, and the feel of the vocal has that same poetic distance and traditional narration of a tale. No matter the music, and this music is exquisite and exciting (the fires during the breaks), the main thing is the vocal telling the story… It’s a powerful song. It does a great thing for traditional music by stretching both the poetry and the music out there, while telling an old tale of fire…” ~ R.B. Morris has written songs recorded by John Prine and Marianne Faithfull, among others.
This is the opening track from Hazleton’s upcoming album Heronbones, to be released in September 2025. Heronbones draws on Hazleton’s love of traditional song and folkloric themes, using sampling, sound design and electronic beats alongside electric guitar, banjo, drums and strings. Awarded 2021 ‘Artist of the Year’ (Australian Folk Music Awards), this album marks 30 years in music for Ruth. ruthhazleton.com.au
TILLY FENTON SHARES BUOYANT NEW SINGLE VALENTINE
A dreamy collision of upbeat pop and lush melodies, the new single Valentine out today from Melbourne singer-songwriter Tilly Fenton is equally jubilant and vulnerable, showcasing Tilly’s effortless charm and sharp sensibilities.
Opening with billowing bliss, Valentine blossoms as acoustic guitars underpin Tilly’s honeyed vocals before crisp beats and ethereal elements propel the track into an upbeat dreamy pop wonderland. Nodding to the likes of Lizzy McAlpine’s intimate and conversational songwriting, Lexi Jayde’s charismatic stylings, and the energy of boygenius in the bridge, Valentine also, at its core, gently tugs at the heartstrings with Tilly lyrically detailing a resounding universal theme. “Valentine is about craving the simplest kind of love—the kind that doesn’t take much, just presence, care, and honesty,” shares Tilly. “I wrote it during a time where I felt like my needs weren’t really being met in a relationship, and all I wanted was for that person to just show up for me, even in the smallest ways. It’s a reminder that even the bare minimum can mean a lot when it comes to love, and that those little moments can make all the difference.”
For her sophomore single, following on from her debut The Secret which released earlier this year, Tilly joined forces with producer and mixer Michael Belsar, as well as drummer Ben Ellingworth and mastering by Dale Becker, with Belsar and Ellingworth in particular playing key roles in unlocking Tilly’s vision for Valentine. “I worked on this song with my producer Michael Belsar, and drummer Ben Ellingworth,” explains Tilly. “It was actually the first full song the three of us made together, and we had so much fun bringing it to life. Valentine is me at my most confident – it’s slinky, cheeky, and the poppiest song I’ve written so far! It is more upbeat than my last single The Secret, with punchy drums and plucky dreamy guitars that drive the song.”
Starting her musical journey at the age of seven while learning classical piano at school, Tilly Fenton went on to spend time during the COVID lockdowns teaching herself guitar and writing songs; “it quickly became my little safe space,” Tilly reveals. But after keeping her creative pursuits largely private, it would be after finishing school that Tilly went on to study music, which quickly gave way to unlocking the pathway to the release of two sparkling singles to date in 2025; and, as Tilly concludes, it’s via her latest track, Valentine, that her artistic vision takes full flight.
“It feels amazing and so freeing to be releasing Valentine,” says Tilly. “It was the first song that really captured the vision and sound I had in my head for the whole project, so it feels really special. I’m really proud of this one, and I’m just so excited for everyone to finally hear it.”
Valentine is out now Stream: VALENTINE
Follow Tilly Fenton https://www.tillyfenton.com/
EXCLUSIVE MELBOURNE SHOW AT MEMO MUSIC HALL: PHIL MANNING BAND FEATURING WARREN MORGAN
Warren Morgan (Aztecs, JPY and Allstars, etc) and Phil Manning (Chain, solo,etc) are original “CHAiN” founder members, plus performed as ‘Pilgrimage’ in the seventies. In a special one-off event they team up with luminaries Mark Ferrie (The Models) and Rob Dillon (Dream Boogie) to create an historic evening – a journey from the past to the present with a collection of the finest, most experienced musicians still performing.
Since forming Chain in 1968 (from the Perth Beat’n Trax) along with Phil and legendary Wendy Saddington Warren Morgan has played a huge part in the Australian music industry,- as a member of the Aztecs, Pilgrimage, Flash and the Pan and musical director for John Paul Young and the Allstars, as well as touring with the great country star, Slim Dusty. He is also a notable composer.
Phil Manning has a similar long history with Chain, various Phil Manning Bands and solo work, plus a myriad of recordings as a session guitarist, producer and artist.
Mark Ferrie is known for an equally long journey, as a member of The Models, long-time bassist for ‘Rockwiz’, plus the Sacred Cowboys and many other bands.
Robert B Dillon has excelled as a recording engineer and producer, winning many awards, but as a driving drummer he has featured in numerous acts, particularly recently with Dream Boogie. He also performed in the Phil Manning Band in the early 80’s.
This will be an evening that must not be missed, a glimpse into history and lots of fun for the present!
Phil Manning Band feat. Warren Morgan Tickets, MEMO Music Hall, ST KILDA | TryBooking Australia
GIG NEWS FROM BLUES ROULETTE
What’s coming up
Ryan Lim & Mark Nunis with Blues Roulette
Thursday 3rd July from 9pm
Beneath Driver Lane, Melbourne CBD
The NBA JAM.
Monday, 8th July, from 7:30pm
The Woodlands Hotel, Coburg
Frank Sultana (NSW) with Blues Roulette
Thursday 10th July from 9pm
Beneath Driver Lane, Melbourne CBD
SLATSAPALOOZA.
Sunday, 13th July, from 4pm
The Woodlands Hotel, Coburg
Adam Waldren with Blues Roulette
Thursday 17th July from 9pm
Beneath Driver Lane, Melbourne CBD
Paul Slattery with Blues Roulette
Thursday 24th July from 9pm
Beneath Driver Lane, Melbourne CBD
Taya Chani (NSW) with Blues Roulette
Thursday 31st July from 9pm
Beneath Driver Lane, Melbourne CBD
Beneath Driver Lane is the one and only dedicated BLUES venue you have in Melbourne. Yes there are a heap of bars that put Blues on but BDL is 100% live blues week in week out. When was the last time you stopped by for a drink? They have construction going on in Driver Lane but they are open and fight the good fight. Stop by and say Hi!
Keep your eyes on our facebook page for more gigs and updates.
Jimi Hocking with Blues Roulette
South Australian Shows
We’re heading to South Australia to bring some classic Jimi madness and excitement there. We’ll be playing three iconic venues, forward this to your friend in the other southern state and let them know!
Friday 11th July, from 7pm
The Three Brothers Arms (Macclesfield)
Get your tickets from TryBooking.com
Saturday 12th July, from 7:30pm
Semaphore Workers Club (Semaphore)
Get your tickets from TryBooking.com
Sunday 13th July, from 2pm
Murry Delta Juke Joint (Goolwa)
Get your tickets from TryBooking.com
Special Kew Court House show with Friends
Jimi Hocking and your favourite blues powerhouse, Blues Roulette, come to shake up the Court House.
Friday 18th July from 7:30pm
Kew Court House, Kew
Get your tickets from Booroondara Arts
TRANSGENRE VOLUME II. ALL TRANS/NON-BINARY FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH ELECTRIFYING 2025 LINEUP FEATURING FLOWERKID, ALEX THE ASTRONAUT, FVNERAL AND MORE
Following its sold-out debut in 2023, the one-of-a-kind TRANSGENRE festival will return this September for its hotly awaited second edition. With an electrifying lineup headlined by fast-rising indie stalwart Flowerkid (who’s set to become a true national treasure with his impending debut album), TRANSGENRE Volume II will take over The Red Rattler Theatre in Eora/Sydney (Gadigal Country) on Saturday September 27, 2025.
Just like last time, the all-ages event will feature an eclectic lineup of the brightest trans and non-binary voices in Australian music. Joining Flowerkid will be local icon Alex The Astronaut – performing an ultra-rare, intimate acoustic set – as well as indie-pop angels FVNERAL, experimental empress Noctica, hyperpop firestarter Dyan Tai, rap queens JUBAHLEE and Stokahr (the latter making their interstate debut), moody rockers Second Idol, emo babes Perfect Daughters and hardcore sweethearts Hunny.
TRANSGENRE Volume II will also feature stalls highlighting LGBTQ+ organisations and businesses (including co-presenters Sock Drawer Heroes), as well as goodies from a handful of local queer artists/craftspeople, and sweet treats from vegan chef extraordinaire Eli Tillett (Their Kitchen).
The inaugural TRANSGENRE festival was a rapturous celebration of trans and non-binary talent from all across Australia – and with Volume II, its crew are expanding their vision for an even bigger and more euphoric experience.
As explained by co-directors Ellie Robinson (she/her) and Tim Blunt (they/them), “Being a trans person in 2025 is, to say the least, exhausting – but now more than ever, community is vital. We believe in the power of joy as resistance, and hopefully we can be a conduit for some of that joy with TRANSGENRE. We said the same thing last time, but the sentiment is even truer now: we need to be visible, defiant and thriving – and at the core of that is positive representation in all corners of society. With this festival, we’re showing that trans and non-binary voices are among the strongest and most powerful in the country.”
The duo’s ethos for TRANSGENRE cuts through the cis-heteronormative ideals that still weigh the music industry down. So goes their mission statement, “We hope this festival encourages people to pay closer attention to the wealth of gender diversity that exists in the Australian music industry, and be louder in supporting it. There are SO MANY incredible trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming artists who fly under the radar because they don’t have the same resources as their cis counterparts – and we’re here to change that.”
Tickets for TRANSGENRE Volume II are on sale now via Humanitix – find them here.
TRANSGENRE VOLUME II
Saturday September 27, 2025
The Red Rattler Theatre, Eora/Sydney (Gadigal Country)
FULL LINEUP
Flowerkid
Alex The Astronaut
FVNERAL
Noctica
Dyan Tai
JUBAHLEE
Stokahr
Second Idol
Perfect Daughters
Hunny
All ages • 3pm doors • no clashes • licensed bar • community stalls • accessible facilities
Tickets on sale now via transgenre.com.au
Follow TRANSGENRE on socials: INSTAGRAM • TWITTER • FACEBOOK
Take Me Home. A Festival of Country & Western Music & Lifestyle
From the collective minds of General Admission Entertainment (Beer & BBQ Festival), Love Police Touring (Out On The Weekend) and Pirate Life Brewing comes a new, independent South Australian music festival, Take Me Home.
Throw on your Sunday’s best for Take Me Home. We expect nothing less than the finest hats, boots, button-downs, bolo ties and denim galore as we present you with a highly curated line-up of Americana, alt-country, country & western, twang and all of the glorious variations therein.
Where: Pirate Life Brewery (Outdoors), Port Adelaide
When: Sunday October 12, Noon-10pm
What: 2x stages, food trucks, markets, Americana culture & Pirate Life’s finest ales
Who’s Playing:
Nikki Lane & Her Band (USA), Y.O.G.A., The Linda Ronstadt Show featuring Ella Hooper & All-Star Band, Vincent Neil Emerson (USA), Laid Back Country Picker (USA), Matt Ward & The Southern Kind, Ryan Martin John, Mark Curtis & The Flannelettes (Duo), Tin Town, The Flying Squad & Ned Baulderstone.
This event is All Ages | Pre-Sale Tickets Available Now from only $59+BF ($79 from Friday)
RICHARD ASHCROFT Single ‘Lover’ is out now via Virgin Music Group. New Album ‘Lovin’ You’ to be released on October 3
As he prepares to embark upon the biggest stadium tour of the year as special guest to Oasis, Richard Ashcroft today announces the October 3rd release date of his brand new album Lovin’ You. His seventh solo set, Lovin’ You is his first all-new album since 2018’s Natural Rebel and follows 2021’s Acoustic Hymns, Vol. 1.
The Lovin’ You album opens with its first single ‘Lover’, which is currently receiving nationwide play. The song interpolates Joan Armatrading’s classic ‘Love And Affection’, which earned the praise of the legendary songwriter herself: “I love how he’s used my song and I love his song.”
That single sets the standard for a record which finds Richard at the peak of his powers. It’s a set which spans the many facets of his sound, from his classic string-soaked acoustic balladry and anthemic indie-rock, through to flashes of Americana, soul and glitchy electro beats. Its themes are intimate and personal, dominated by love, romance and affecting messages of support for those struggling with life’s challenges.
The songs on ‘Lovin’ You’ were written by Richard, who co-produced the album with Chris Potter and Emre Ramazanoglu. There is also the track ‘I’m A Rebel’, co-written and produced with Mirwais of Madonna fame.
Lovin’ You is now available to pre-order HERE. It will be released on standard black vinyl, CD and digital formats.
A two-time Ivor Novello Award winner (Songwriter of the Year and Outstanding Contribution To British Music), Richard Ashcroft has become one of the most accomplished and influential songwriters around over the course of a career which spans three decades. His first chapter with The Verve reached a remarkable peak with ‘Urban Hymns’, a hit-laden set (‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’, ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’, ‘Lucky Man’, ‘Sonnet’) which is one of the biggest selling albums in UK history with 11 x Platinum certifications. The band achieved a second #1 album with ‘Forth’ and won three BRIT Awards.
His solo career continued that acclaim with his debut ‘Alone With Everybody’ shooting to #1 and all five subsequent studio albums landing between #2 and #5. Between The Verve and his solo work he has achieved three UK #1 albums and another five Top 10 records, plus a #1 single and five Top 10 hits.
Richard Ashcroft – Lover, Single out now, taken from his forthcoming album ‘Lovin’ You’ out Friday 3 October via Virgin Music Group Listen here
Connect with Richard Ashcroft https://richardashcroft.com/
DAVID KEENAN RELEASES THE SOULFUL BANGER ‘AMELIORATION’
David Keenan is an Irish artist who is difficult to define. He has been hailed as a major talent by Hozier (“His voice stopped me dead in my tracks”) and Glen Hansard (who described him as “One of our best”), and his musical and lyrical scope has been compared with Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell and writers like Beckett and Joyce. Yet his own songs have a strong individual edge rooted in an authenticity that cuts through comparison.
The new single ‘Amelioration’ will be released on June 6th and will subsequently feature on his upcoming fourth album ‘Modern Mythologies’ which will be released via Good Form Recordings. It promises to be a testament to the inventive storytelling tradition from which David Keenan was formed but told through the sharp and turbulent lens of our modern world.
David says, “‘Amelioration’ sheds light on the difficulties of living or sharing space with another person and the challenges of holding on to a relationship. It touches on the realities of drug and alcohol use and the mental side effects on a morning after where everything feels jarring and heightened.”
The title ‘Amelioration’ means to make something better, so the song itself claims to be a relief from those uncomfortable feelings we tend to avoid and a commitment to try and see things differently.
David will follow the release of the single with headline shows at London’s Bush Hall (July 10th) and The Ambassador Theatre inDublin (July 12th). Tickets are now available HERE for London and HERE for Dublin.
The single comes at a time of renewed activity for David. A new raw and revealing bilingual documentary about his life, ‘Words on Canvas’ / ‘Focla ar Chanbhás’, has screened at film festivals across North America and Europe already this year ahead of its Irish andUK premieres. He is also the main composer on the upcoming feature film ‘Salvable’ which is out now in the US via Lionsgate ahead of a global release.
His wide-ranging creativity has resulted in a rich catalogue of projects, with three albums (including an Irish #1 record), a string of EPs, consistent touring since 2019, as well as a book of poems and recent work for screen. He also participated in The Independent’s recent feature examining the resurgence of Irish trad music alongside Máirtín O’Connor, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Kingfishr and Amble.
Having toured North America, Australia and Europe both as a headliner and as a guest of Hozier, Dermot Kennedy, Glen Hansard,Counting Crows and Rodrigo y Gabriella, David has gained a reputation as a powerhouse live performer. He has recently signed with live agent UTA Music for the UK and Europe as well as Wasserman in the US.
‘Amelioration’ marks the vibrant return of one of the most potent and considered songwriters, singers and live performers coming out of Ireland today.
Amelioration Lyric Video Teaser
Follow David Keenan: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube | Bandcamp | Website | Instagram | Facebook
MARK WILKINSON announces seventeen Australian dates for the WILD & HUNTED THINGS TOUR 2025
Australian singer-songwriter Mark Wilkinson is hitting the road this August and September, bringing his mesmerising brand of magic to the stage for the Wild & Hunted Things Tour!
Maintaining nearly 1 million listeners each month on Spotify and over 44K followers across his socials, Mark Wilkinson’s music has amassed over 150 million streams worldwide. His 2024 EP Golden Afternoons reached the #11 spot on the ARIA charts (digital), as well as multiple albums coming in at #1 on the Australian Independent music charts. Wilkinson has previously opened for some all-star names including the legendary Rodriguez, as well as the likes of Old Sea Brigade, Xavier Rudd, Seal, Brian Wilson, The Whitlams, Ian Moss and more.
Known for his incredible fusion of genre, which reaches into “eloquent folk, evocative indie, and enigmatic pop”, Wilkinson brings a unique and intoxicating sense of magic to the live stage. Capturing all the best parts of what his music has to offer on record, and transforming it into an intimate experience of connection and community, Wilkinson’s live show invites audiences to step into his own wondrous world.
Spanning seventeen dates across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA and ACT, the tour will see the multi-instrumentalist performing tracks off of his new album Wild & Hunted Things, as well as diving into his formidable back catalogue of beloved tracks. With remarkable Sydney artist Mark Crotti set to support the show with his own variety of bewitching indie folk, the Wild & Hunted Things Tour is shaping up to be a breathtaking affair you won’t want to miss.
“I can’t wait to reconnect with my amazing Aussie fans and showcase the songs from the new album in a live format. I feel like the studio and the live environment are two very different things, both allowing the songs to shine in different ways. There’s a raw energy to the live shows that can’t really be replicated in the studio and I can’t wait to share that energy and some magical unfiltered moments with audiences across Australia!” MARK WILKINSON
THE WILD & HUNTED THINGS TOUR with Mark Crotti
TICKETS
Friday August 1 Avalon Restaurant, Katoomba
Saturday August 2 Mary’s Underground, Sydney
Thursday August 7 Piano Bar Geelong, Geelong
Friday August 8 Odessa at Leavers, Creswick
Saturday August 9 Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne
Thursday August 14 Avoca Beach Theatre, Avoca
Friday August 15 QIRKZ in the Hunter, Abermain
Saturday August 16 Stag and Hunter Hotel, Newcastle
Sunday August 17 Flow Bar, Old Bar
Friday August 22 Imperial Hotel , Eumundi
Saturday August 23 Old Museum, Brisbane
Friday August 29 Trinity Sessions, Adelaide
Saturday August 30 Lyrics Underground, Perth
Sunday August 31 Kidogo Arthouse, Fremantle
Thursday September 4 The Victoria Hotel, Bathurst *
Friday September 5 Smiths Alternative, Canberra *
* = Mark Crotti not to appear
Mark Wilkinson: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
LIAM McALARY ‘LONELY LIFE’ (SINGLE)
‘Lonely Life’ is about self-reflection. It is a deeply personal song. The lyrics focus on Liam’s ability to overthink decisions, words or situations. The lyrics also highlight the impact of masking, often pretending to be something else, which can lead to periods of loneliness. The song was written over ten years ago, however it was never properly recorded until now. It was written by Liam, produced by James Franklin and mastered by Michael Carpenter.
ABOUT LIAM
Liam is a singer songwriter, who plays guitar and sings. Liam’s musical influences include folk, pop, alt country. Liam draws inspiration from various artists & writers including Bernard Fanning, Bright Eyes, The Beatles, Paul Kelly, City & Colour, and Noel Gallagher. Liam’s music is honest and real, forming from his own personal experiences and friendships.
In 2024 Liam released ‘Into The Sun’ which received consistent airplay on community radio in both Australia and overseas. The second single ‘The Dancefloor’ was released in January 2025. This single was featured on ABC Country and numerous community radio stations throughout Australia.
Liam is also a well known musical act for children, writing and performing as ‘Yeah Nah’. Liam has released three children’s albums which have been featured on ABC Kids Listen and Kinderling Kids Radio.
Liam currently lives in Port Macquarie, on the Mid North Coast of NSW, with his wife and young daughter.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LiamMcAlaryMusic
Instagram – @liammcalary_music
G Flip announces Dream Ride LP. New single “In Another Life” landing Friday July 11 + exclusive fan events announced
Following a run of bold new singles, G Flip is back with their most evolved and personal work yet. Dream Ride, G Flip’s third studio album, drops globally on 5 September 2025 via AWAL Recordings.
Leaning heavily into the neon-soaked, big drum, and synth-laced energy of the ’80s, Dream Ride blurs the lines between driving pop hooks and deeply reflective songwriting. It captures G Flip at full throttle – both musically and emotionally – with a sound that nods to retro nostalgia while keeping one foot firmly in the now.
The album (co-written and co-produced by regular G Flip collaborator Aidan Hogg) will feature recent singles “Disco Cowgirl” and “Big Ol’ Hammer”, alongside the forthcoming track “In Another Life”, out Friday 11 July.
“Dream Ride feels like the story of the past few years of my life – the highs, the crashes, and everything in between,” says G. “I’ve never been more honest in my songwriting and I’ve never pushed myself harder in the studio.”
To celebrate the single and album announce, G Flip is hosting a series of exclusive fan events across the East Coast:
FRIDAY JULY 11 – Brisbane
MONDAY JULY 14 – Sydney
TUESDAY JULY 15 – Melbourne
Pre-order Dream Ride (along with exclusive vinyl and merch bundles) from G Flip’s official Australian store and enter for your chance to attend these exclusive fan events.
Dream Ride LP is available on 5 Sept
‘In Another Life’ single is available on 11 July via AWAL Recordings
Preorder HERE
MORE ABOUT G FLIP
G Flip is becoming the role model they never had growing up. Long celebrated for their genre-defying musicianship and electric stage presence, G Flip has evolved into a cultural force, redefining what a modern drummer can look and sound like. The Melbourne-born artist matches their potent musicianship with sonic originality and a fantastically outspoken point-of-view, an element informed by their experience as a queer, non-binary artist.
With a fanbase spanning Australia, the US and beyond, G Flip continues to build on a career trajectory that saw them rack up over 1.5 million monthly Spotify listeners, a #1 ARIA-charting album for sophomore album Drummer and the J Award for Australian Album of the Year. The massive Drummer Tour sold over 65,000 tickets across the world, including sold out runs in Australia, the US and UK, international festival performances, a surprise guest appearance from Mike Shinoda, and an ARIA award for Best Live Act.
www.gflipmusic.com Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | X
ELLY McK & THE UNBELIEVERS ‘DON’T STAY AWAY’ (SINGLE)
Melbourne’s rising Americana/Alt Country outfit Elly McK (pronounced “Mack”) & The Unbelievers are back with “Don’t Stay Away” – a fiery, harmony-driven toe-tapper that’s already a hit in their live set.
Out July 1, the track is the second single from their upcoming EP (due August 2025).
Built on a punchy bluegrass groove with a killer hook, “Don’t Stay Away” is a cautionary anthem about choosing the road over the ones you love. Elly McK’s powerhouse vocals lead the charge, with Monty Price’s snake-like guitar riffs and the tight rhythm section of Jordy Hickey (double bass) and Sam Price (drums) locking in a high-energy, danceable vibe.
The track was recorded by Casey Rice at Lily Studios, capturing the raw energy of the band’s dynamic live shows. If your audience loves artists like Gillian Welch, The Chicks, or Margo Price, this one’s for them.
Upcoming Shows
23rd July, 6th August – Drunken Poet Winter Residency, West Melbourne VIC
26th July – Big Earles BBQ, St Kilda VIC
9th August – Coburg RSL, Coburg VIC
15th August – Butchers Brew Bar, Dulwich Hill NSW
16th August – Kiama Bowls Club, Kiama NSW
Web: www.ellymckandtheunbelievers.com
Shepparton Airplane New Single + Video “Stereo Youth” Out Now
Shepparton Airplane today share the second taste of their forthcoming album Forecast with a new single and video “Stereo Youth”. Watch the video here. The highly anticipated follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2020 LP, Sharks, Forecast marks a compelling evolution for the band, leaning into a more song-oriented approach while still retaining the raw energy their live shows are celebrated for.
The band also today announce a series of album launches this September in Sydney, Perth, Fremantle and Melbourne.
Friday, 5th September
The Vic On The Park Sydney
FREE ENTRY
Friday, 12th September
Seasonal Brewing
Perth
BUY TICKETS
Saturday, 13th September
Buffalo Club
Fremantle
BUY TICKETS
Saturday, 20th September
The Curtin
Melbourne
BUY TICKETS
While previous albums embraced extended jams, Forecast showcases a collection of more traditionally structured songs, with only one instrumental track on offer this time around.
The journey of Forecast began in December 2022 in Almurta, the same location where the band recorded their second album (2018’s Almurta), opting again for a self-recording approach in a relaxed, time-unbound setting, a deliberate return to their roots. Recording continued throughout 2023 in nearby rural Victorian town Kernot. Final mixing duties were completed by Matt Duffy and mastered by Nao Anzai in 2024.
Reflecting on the album’s direction, the band notes, “This differs from past albums in a few ways – the recording sessions were done sporadically over a couple of years in different locations, with instruments being tracked separately on a number of songs (a first for us) – as opposed to bashing it all out live over the course of a few days, although a good chunk of the record does still utilize this tried-and-true method. Another thing would be the songs themselves. More traditional in terms of structure, more lyrically driven. Some dating back a number of years but fitting much more comfortably, in amongst this collection of tunes.”
Despite the varied recording process, Forecast maintains a natural cohesion, bottling the palpable live energy that fans have come to expect. Drummer Steve Carter, bassist Stewart Rayner, and guitarists Ezra Dowling and Matt Duffy are in top form, locked in with a tight looseness, with Rayner and Duffy sharing the majority of vocal duties.
Adding a special touch to the album is a guest appearance by Michael Beach, a long-time favourite of the band, who contributed keys to the instrumental track “Thursday, Simply”. As the band states, “We did manage to sneak in one classic instrumental jam, complete with some beautifully gnarly organ tones courtesy of Michael Beach, one of our all-time favourite humans.” While the band has experimented with both songwriting and recording techniques over their four albums, one thing remains constant: “We’ve come to realize through experimentation both with songwriting and recording techniques that we always manage to sound like us, which is not a bad thing at all.”
Forecast promises to impress fans of outsider guitar-driven sounds and followers of the band members’ other projects. Ultimately, the album reaffirms that raw, honest, loud rock’n’roll is alive and well in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia.
follow SHEPPARTON AIRPLANE on Instagram + Facebook + Bandcamp
Robert Randolph Unleashes Preacher Kids via Civilians with New “7 Generations” Video
Preacher Kids, the new full-length album from six-time GRAMMY nominee Robert Randolph, is out now through Civilians — and it’s not just a new chapter. It’s a new sound, a new band, and a raw, unfiltered leap forward that builds on his musical roots while chasing the kind of groove and grit that can’t be manufactured.
Known for redefining the Sacred Steel tradition and bringing pedal steel to the frontlines of blues, rock, gospel, and soul, Randolph is stepping into his own on Preacher Kids — not as a solo artist, but as a builder of something fresh. “It’s not about going solo,” Randolph says. “It’s about building something with new energy. I wanted to get outside the box and make something gritty, jammy, swampy, and real.”
With Preacher Kids, Randolph is joined by a dynamic new crew — Tash Neal (Slash, London Solos) on guitar, Jay White (Amos Lee) on bass and vocals, and Willie Barthel on drums — alongside powerhouse guests like Judith Hill and Margo Price. Produced by Shooter Jennings, the album fuses gospel-rooted conviction with the untamed energy of Southern rock and blues.
Standout tracks include the raucous opener “Big Women”, the cosmic soul of “Gravity”, and the ferocious single “Sinner”, a rallying cry for those who break from tradition to find their truth. On “When Will The Love Rain Down,” Hill delivers a once-in-a-lifetime vocal recorded as a demo but kept untouched for the album — a gospel-blues torch song born from pain and grace. And on “King Karma,” Margo Price brings a witchy elegance that turns a late-night jam into a swaggering groove for the ages.
The album’s focus track, “7 Generations,” is a blistering roots-rock anthem about legacy and the circle of life, brought to full force with a Stones-worthy edge — with a new video out today to mark the release.
“Everyone involved in this record — from the band to the people who inspired it — shares a similar story,” says Randolph. “We’re all preacher’s kids. This album feels like our collective diary, rooted in gospel and shaped by the journey from the church to the stages of rock and blues.”
The album’s sessions — tracked at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles — were driven by instinct, story, and spirit. “Shooter comes from outlaw country and rock — he’s old school,” Randolph says. “We got in the room and let the tape roll. If it felt good, we kept it. That was the mission.
Throughout his career, Randolph has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, including Dave Matthews Band, Santana, Norah Jones, Ozzy Osbourne, Eric Clapton, Rob Thomas, Hank Williams Jr., Elton John, Leon Russell, Raphael Saadiq, Robbie Robertson, Taj Mahal, Metallica, and Sheryl Crow. Most recently, he celebrated the GRAMMY win for Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, for which he contributed pedal steel on “16 Carriages” and “Ya Ya.” Randolph played on Jon Batiste’s We Are, which won the GRAMMY for Album of the Year. He also worked on the Elvis movie soundtrack, performed on the Zac Brown Band’s tour, and was welcomed back for the second consecutive year to provide the theme music for Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football. He also joined Luke Combs for a moving tribute to Charley Pride on CMT, bridging generations and genres in celebration of a country music trailblazer.
With Preacher Kids, Randolph brings a vibe that is unvarnished, electric, and deeply human — from the swampy humor of “Choir Woman” to the late-night storytelling of “Roosevelt Pool.” It’s an album for the faithful and the flawed, for believers in rhythm and rebellion.
WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR ‘7 GENERATIONS’
FOLLOW ROBERT RANDOLPH
WEBSITE INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK YOUTUBE TIKTOK X
CHARLIE COLLINS SHARES NEW SINGLE & OFFICIAL VIDEO ‘THE LAST 48 HOURS’
Sydney-based singer-songwriter Charlie Collins announces the release of her new single ‘The Last 48 Hours’, produced by Steven Schram (Crowded House, San Cisco), mixed by Tom Iansek (Big Scary, #1 Dads), and features Neil Finn on piano and bass. The song is from her forthcoming album ‘Nightwriter’, arriving Friday, August 29th (via Island Records Australia).
Nothing really fazes Charlie Collins, even when she’s dealing with some of the heaviest things imaginable, she’s often wickedly funny. Balancing light and shade is something she does in person but also on record, as she offsets dry lyrics against deeper harmonic instrumentation. As she says about ‘The Last 48 Hours’, “musically I wanted it to be fun, not like woe is me but more ‘fuck it, this is who I am.’”
Charlie describes the song as about “coming to terms with being an addict because of my addictive personality. When I became sober, I noticed I was still trying to find things to give me high whether it be nicotine, caffeine, masturbating, sex, relationships and pretty much anything that wasn’t drugs or alcohol. I think I laughed most of the time writing this because it was a realisation of parts of my personality traits.”
‘The Last 48 Hours’ is also accompanied by an official music video, showing Charlie’s funny side. Shot in black and white in the backstreets of Melbourne suburbia and directed and produced by Sean McDonald who also shot the videos for ‘Transactional Deal’ and ‘Rock Bottom,’ Charlie describes the idea behind the video; “We I wanted to do something that shows my fun, dorky side and add light to the fact that I came to the realisation after becoming sober that I found other things to get addicted to because I realised I have an addictive personality.”
Charlie recently appeared on the first episode of Season 12 of ABCs Spicks and Specks, watch HERE. She has also had support on her recent singles ‘Transactional Deal’ and ‘Rock Bottom’ from Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Double J, triple j, SYN, 2SER, Rolling Stone, The AU Review, Women In Pop, The Music and more. Charlie will be heading out on the road to support her new album ‘Nightwriter’ – sign up here for more details to come soon!
‘The Last 48 Hours’ Official Video
Charlie recently appeared on the first episode of Season 12 of ABCs Spicks and Specks, watch HERE. She has also had support on her recent singles ‘Transactional Deal’ and ‘Rock Bottom’ from Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Double J, triple j, SYN, 2SER, Rolling Stone, The AU Review, Women In Pop, The Music and more. Charlie will be heading out on the road to support her new album ‘Nightwriter’ – sign up here for more details to come soon!
CHARLIE COLLINS ‘NIGHTWRITER’ IS OUT AUGUST 29
Includes singles ‘Rock Bottom’ , ‘Transactional Deal’ & ‘The Last 48 Hours’
AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW OUT THROUGH ISLAND RECORDS AUSTRALIA
MORE ABOUT CHARLIE COLLINS
Charlie Collins grew up with music-obsessed parents in the country music hub of Australia, Tamworth. Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline were main inspirations and would shape the bands Charlie played in with her siblings as well as Tigertown who toured with Panic! At The Disco, Troye Sivan, Tove Lo.
In 2018, she went solo, developing a singular, hard-to-pin-down sound that oscillates between different genres and distinct musical eras.
Her debut album Snowpine (2019) was nominated for Best Country Album at the ARIA awards and won the Best Independent Country Album AIR Award in 2020. In 2022 Charlie released her sophomore album Undone, which was also nominated for Best Blues + Roots Album at the ARIA awards.
Charlie has previously supported Orville Peck, Gang of Youths, Sam Fender and Waxahatchee. Previous Festival appearances include Laneway, Fairgrounds, Woodford Festival, Splendour In The Grass, CMC Rocks. Charlie has also previously written/worked with Sydney songwriter Xavier Dunn (Jack River, GRAACE), Japanese Wallpaper Jarryd James, Kasey Chambers, Justin Tranter and Neil Finn.
BRENDAN WELCH “Call, and I’ll Be There (On My Knees)” (SINGLE)
Australian singer-songwriter Brendan Welch returns with an exciting and moving new single, “Call, and I’ll Be There (On My Knees),” out now on all streaming platforms.
Described by Vice magazine as “Australia’s least-known great,” this is his first release in many years – a long-awaited return, taken from his upcoming third album.
“With every song, I’m searching for a bit of magic (and I won’t ever give up!),” says Welch. “With this one, I wrote all the music and melodies first. Then, all the lyrics just fell right into place, easier than usual. I’m happy with my performance and the band’s – we recorded it live for the most part, and I embellished it a little afterward.”
Call, and I’ll Be There (On My Knees) weaves stripped-back production, stellar vocals, and unexpected melodic turns into a sound that feels both timeless and emotionally raw. Recorded at HeadGap Studios and produced by Rohan Sforcina (Oh Mercy!), the track explores the idea of a true human connection that supersedes any worldly pleasure.
…I only want to be held tight, tears dried, showed in, loved right
Made good, win or lose, slapped awake when the night gets loose
Shaken up and ironed out and leaned against when we’re upside down
When the wave comes in down over the trees… call, and I’ll be there, on my knees.
https://open.spotify.com/album/3vYYASs4Cf0jIoh7edw5Nt?si=dE9OOdEtTTSDAgUTaLv4oQ
Melbourne-based songwriter Brendan Welch has been writing and recording original music for close to two decades. His debut EP The Unbeat (2005) received national radio play and led to a tour with Paul Kelly. His first single Burn Away was featured in the classic Australian TV series Love My Way.
His 2007 EP That Ghost earned further airplay and a dedicated following among songwriters and music lovers, as well as shows alongside Tim Rogers, Luke Steele, and Something For Kate.
His debut album The Gleaner (2009), produced by Paul Dempsey, was hailed as one of the most beautiful and accomplished Australian records of the year, landing in The Age’s EG Magazine Top 10. In 2017, Welch released his second, self-titled record, produced by Nick Huggins and featuring members of Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever and Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, with backing vocals from the Brown sisters (Banoffee, Otouto). The album was released through Little Lake Records, and its opening track Homosexual Love Song was named in Noisey’s Top 100 Songs of 2017.
Brendan has also composed original music for the TV series The Slap and scored the short film Loophole, written and directed by Ryan Shelton.
His forthcoming third album – written and recorded at Melbourne’s HeadGap Studios with Rohan Sforcina – was created before, during, and after the COVID pandemic and will finally be released soon.
www.brendanwelchmusic.com
https://linktr.ee/welch_music
MATTHEW IFIELD ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM “MY FAVOURITE PLACE TO BE” – OUT AUGUST 8TH NEW SINGLE “START FROM SCRATCH”
Sydney-based singer-songwriter Matthew Ifield has announced his highly anticipated debut album “My Favourite Place To Be” alongside a Global headline tour, stopping in North America, Australia, and Asia, marking a major milestone for the 20-year-old artist whose meteoric rise has captivated audiences across multiple continents.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of Ifield’s first tour and promotional trip to India, a country where he has over half a million fans. With over 160 million streams, 3 million followers and over 16 billion views of his music across social media, Ifield’s fanbase now spans Southeast Asia, India, Australia, the US, and beyond.
The debut album features his new single “Start From Scratch”. Co-written with Glenn Hopper (LEN20) during their first meeting, the track showcases Ifield’s signature soulful sound with a newfound vocal intensity that emerged in the final moments of their studio session, in a lyrically raw exploration of post-relationship reflection and the desire to rekindle lost connections.
WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE:
“My Favourite Place To Be” represents a pivotal moment for the young artist, who describes the record as “a collection of songs created at the start of a long journey.” At just 20 years old, Matthew is only now starting to find his place in the world, balancing his passions for making music and discovering the world, with an entire life ahead of him to discover.
“This album captures exactly where I am right now,” Ifield reflects. “It’s a place that feels uncertain about what’s coming next, but I’m completely open and excited to see where it takes me. I know I probably won’t be in the same headspace in five years – maybe not even in five months from now – but right now, this is genuinely my favourite place to be.”
Born from new musical connections made between Matthew and his collaborators over the past 12 months, each track on the album captures a moment from this transformative period. Spanning multiple genres, the record invites fans to explore new facets of Ifield’s personality and evolving musical style, and reflects the diverse tastes of his fanbase.
Ifield’s rise over the past year has been nothing short of remarkable. Following his massive Australian tour supporting Alec Benjamin and live performances across Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea, plus previous touring experience with grentperez, Ifield has proven his ability to connect with diverse audiences everywhere he goes.
The upcoming Australian dates as part of his global tour will give fans their first opportunity to experience “My Favourite Place To Be” in its entirety, as Ifield continues to establish himself as one of Australia’s most exciting young musical exports.
Australian Hard Rock Legends SNAKE BITE WHISKY Sign to XMusic. Release New Single, Living To Die
Australian rock powerhouse Snake Bite Whisky has partnered with XMusic for the release of their fiery new single, “Living To Die.” Out now, the track is a full-throttle rock ‘n’ roll anthem that embodies the band’s signature no-holds-barred style, reminiscent of the Sunset Strip’s glory days.
“Living To Die” ignites the soul, railing against the mundane chains of daily life. It’s a defiant, fist-pumping roar that challenges listeners to break free from monotony and ask: are you living to die, or dying to live?
Listen to “Living To Die” here: https://lnk.to/dHLXu9
XMusic CEO Tim McLean-Smith enthusiastically welcomed the band, stating, “XMusic welcomes Snake Bite Whisky to the family! A full-throttle, no-excuse hard rock band that continues to write monstrous music and put on one hell of a live show.”
The new song was recorded by Todd Walter at 777 Studios in Logan Village, and was mixed and mastered by Anthony Focx, who has worked with Steven Tyler, Aerosmith, Buckcherry and Metallica’s Jason Newsted, to name a few.
Since forming in 2014, Snake Bite Whisky has unleashed two critically acclaimed albums, This Side Of Hell and Black Candy, and are currently working on their third. The band has toured extensively worldwide, gracing stages at festivals like Hard Rock Hell and Crüe Fest.
Next up, Snake Bite Whisky is set to embark on an 11-date US tour, including stops at iconic venues such as the Whisky A Go Go and Dan Electro’s. They’ll also be appearing at Rocklahoma Festival alongside rock legends like The Darkness, Alice Cooper, Five Finger Death Punch, Marilyn Manson, Sebastian Bach, Marky Ramone, and Bruce Dickinson.
Before they head over, they have a handful of local gigs coming up
Catch them at a show near you!
June 28: Jive, Adelaide
July 17: The Brightside, Brisbane
August 8: Vinnies Dive Bar, Gold Coast
FULL OF RAGE USA TOUR 2025
August 15: Whisky A Go Go, Los Angeles
August 19: 529, Atlanta
August 22: Howlin’ Wolf, New Orleans
August 24: Dan Electros, Houston
August 25: Fitzgeralds, San Antonio
August 26: 13th Floor, Austin
August 27: Dallas
August 31: Rocklahoma Festival, Oklahoma
September 1: Memphis
September 3: The Cobra, Nashville
Follow Snake Bite Whisky
Web | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Merch available here
xmusiclabel.bigcartel.com/snake-bite-whisky
Follow all XMusic artists updates and live dates on xmusic.au
MELBOURNE BASED INDIE-FOLK DUO OCEANIQUE SHARE SOPHOMORE ALBUM SKYLINES
Melbourne indie-folk duo Oceanique today release their highly anticipated second album Skylines via GYROstream, alongside new single ‘Calling of a Southern Sky’. To celebrate, the twin sisters are embarking on an twelve-date national tour, bringing their spellbinding live show to intimate venues across Western Australia, South Australia, ACT, New South Wales and Victoria. The twins today also share new music video for focus track ‘Calling of a Southern Sky’, watch below!
Skylines arrives following a year of creative growth and personal transition for twin sisters Maddy and Jess, who relocated from their hometown in regional Western Australia to Melbourne. The album explores themes of change, hope and quiet resilience — a reflection on new beginnings and new surroundings. It was recorded with longtime collaborator James Newhouse in his Bunbury studio, during the heart of winter, with rain falling outside and warm tea in hand.
In the lead-up to the album, Oceanique shared a trio of singles — the soaring ‘Mountains’, shimmering ‘Window To The Sky’, and most recently, the hauntingly tender ‘All That You Dream’. Lead single ‘Mountains’ was named in Rolling Stone Australia’s Best New Music and featured across triple j Unearthed, Double J, and Aus Music Scene.
Earlier this year, Oceanique made their international debut with an official showcase at Folk Alliance International in Montreal, kicking off 2024 on a high and further establishing themselves as rising voices in Australian folk.
Skylines is out now via GYROstream. Full tour dates and tickets available below.
Oceanique – ‘Calling of a Southern Sky’ [Official Music Video]
Skylines Australian Album Tour
18th July – Deanmill Workers Club, Deanmill WA
19th July – Nannup Town Hall, Nannup WA
20th July – The River, Margaret River WA
24th July – Lyrics Underground, Perth WA
26th July – Denmark ArtsHouse, Denmark WA
27th July – Bridgetown Pottery, Bridgetown WA
1st August – Trinity Sessions, Adelaide SA
10th August – Smiths Alternative, Canberra ACT
14th August – Gasoline Pony, Sydney NSW
17th August – Franks Wild Years, Thirroul NSW
28th August – Wesley Anne, Melbourne VIC
30th August – Popcultcha Records, Geelong VIC
Oceanique – ‘Window To The Sky’ [Official Music Video]
Speaking on Skylines, Maddy and Jess share:
‘A Skyline, a horizon, the place where the known and the unknown meet.
These songs came from so many different places, from ideas sparked from stories read, from poem exercises written, to feelings we had about life and the music industry, but they all had overarching themes of new beginnings, being dreamers and the ties we have to our hometown in regional Western Australia. These songs were written around the time of moving to a new place and trying to navigate life.
We call this our winter album, we recorded it in the winter at James Newhouse’s studio in Bunbury, Western Australia and we are releasing it in the winter. Created whilst we were bundled up with warm cups of tea, sitting by the piano, soft pedal on, the rain pouring outside, as winter past us by.
We recorded our first album with James. It was so nice to come back with all these new songs and ideas and see what we created together. We had references of the alternate guitar tunings of Joni Mitchell and the big open sounds of S. Carey and we really wanted to create a lush soundscape for the songs. James was such a big part of this album. He taught us to trust ourselves and our songs and really helped bring them to life.
There are themes of feeling lost and also self discovery. Also realising how much of a tie we both have to our hometown. The simplicity in that place, the quiet, the beauty. Songs like Calling of a Southern Sky and Bird on a wire are like little letters to our hometown and to ourselves reminding us of how much that place has shaped us.
Always Beginning and Who do you sing for? Are songs about connection and navigating the way in the music industry.
Skylines feels like the perfect name, it took us a long time to find it and we went through many names before this one. It was one of the hardest things to name, because these songs feel so real and current, they are all still such big pieces of us and we still feel like we’re learning from them and their meanings and lessons.’
Skylines (LP) Out today Friday 27th June 2025. Buy here / Stream here
Mitch Tambo Reimagines First Nations Hip-Hop Anthem ‘Blackfellas’ Featuring Street Warriors and Jamahl Yami
Acclaimed First Nations entertainer Mitch Tambo has released a powerful reimagining of the groundbreaking 2005 track Blackfellas, celebrating the 20th anniversary of one of the most iconic songs in First Nations hip-hop history.
The 2025 version of Blackfellas unites three generations of Blak excellence, featuring Street Warriors’ Abie Wright—an original member of Local Knowledge—and rising rapper Jamahl Yami. With updated verses, bold production, and culturally rich storytelling, the track honours the song’s legacy while bringing it roaring into the present day.
“I grew up listening to Blackfellas. It was the first time I heard our stories told like that—with power, pride, and truth. Twenty years on, I wanted to honour that legacy and invite the next generation into the conversation,” says Mitch
Produced by Mitch’s long-time collaborator Rob Amoruso (The Rubens, Macy Gray, Kelly Rowland, Baker Boy), the 2025 version blends contemporary beats with the original’s unapologetic spirit. The track lands during NAIDOC Week 2025, amplifying its message of Blak pride, identity, and strength.
Blackfellas was originally released by Local Knowledge, the pioneering hip-hop group formed in Newcastle by Abie and Wok Wright along with Joel Wenitong. The song was on high rotation on triple j, featured on Live at the Wireless, and was the subject of a SBS documentary. It remains one of the most significant First Nations tracks ever produced in Australia.
“This song still speaks to the struggles and the power of our people,” says Abie Wright. “To revisit it with Mitch and Jamahl—two artists who are shaping the future of Blak music—is something really special.”
Jamahl adds, “It’s an honour to work with Mitch and Uncle Abie to make a track for our peoples and to influence the next generation to carry themselves with the strength of their ancestors. This song is a call of unity to all our mob across our nations and across generations to take pride in our culture and ourselves. To have the vision to see a better future and the strength to carry out our mission so that we can leave a legacy and honour the legacy left by our ancestors.”
The release is accompanied by a bold video premiering on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rVOHFYCi74
YUNG GRAVY RETURNS WITH HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SINGLE ‘I WRITE HYMNS NOT TRAVESTIES’
With over 7 billion global streams across his catalog, platinum-selling rapper Yung Gravy makes his triumphant return with the long-awaited release of ‘I Write Hymns Not Travesties.’ The track – a clever reimagining of Panic! At The Disco’s iconic hit – first exploded on TikTok, amassing over 100 million views across 25,000+ posts, fuelling massive fan demand for an official drop.
Known for his viral, sample-driven anthems like “Betty (Get Money)” (300M+ Spotify streams) and “Mr. Clean” (270M+ Spotify streams), Gravy once again taps into his signature blend of nostalgia, humor, and swagger. With its infectious production and undeniable hook, “I Write Hymns Not Travesties” is primed to join the ranks of his biggest records – delivering the same replay-worthy appeal as the classic it flips.
Yung Gravy’s ‘I Write Hymns Not Travesties’ is out now on all platforms.
BUY/STREAM: YUNG GRAVY – I WRITE HYMNS NOT TRAVESTIES
For further info on Yung Gravy, visit:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | SOUNDCLOUD
NATHAN LAMONT GETS PERSONAL IN HEARTFELT NEW TRACK ‘WHAT COMES AFTER’
Recently making history as the first ever First Nations recipient of the prestigious CMAA Sister Cities Nashville Exchange, Nathan Lamont unveils his vulnerable new single ‘What Comes After’.
The single follows on from ‘Bigger Things’, which clocked over 400,000 streams, reached #42 on the CountryTown Hot 50 airplay chart, hit #44 on the UK iTunes Country Charts, and was added to editorial playlists across Spotify (Fresh Country, Heaps Country) and Apple Music (Aussie Country, Lil Bit Country, All New Country, Today’s Country, New Music Daily, and Country Risers).
‘What Comes After’ is a slick country-pop ballad that packs a powerful emotional punch, showcasing a new side to the singer whose loved-up bops and stunning vocals have already racked up over 1.8 million global streams.
Written alongside longtime friend and former bandmate Rhianna Goldstein, ‘What Comes After’ marks a sonic shift for Nathan, one that doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff.
“This song was born out of real-life experiences, both ours and those around us. For me personally, it’s deeply tied to moments in my relationship with my wife, moments where we stood right on the edge of walking away,” admits Nathan.
“It’s about choosing to fight for love when it would be easier to give up. It’s about pushing past the pride, digging into the memories of how it all began, and holding onto the belief that the story isn’t over yet.”
Nathan brought the track to life with the help of Michael Paynter and Michael De Lorenzis of MSquared Productions, who immediately recognised the heart behind the demo.
“When I arrived at the studio with MSquared, I sent through a handful of rough voice memos the morning of our session. Out of everything, they gravitated straight toward ‘What Comes After’. Together, we refined the structure, made some key lyrical and musical inclusions, and elevated what was already there without losing the raw emotion behind it.”
Testament to Wiradjuri singer’s captivating artistry is his receival of the prestigious CMAA Sister Cities Nashville Exchange. The opportunity will see Nathan connect with international producers, songwriters and industry leaders in Nashville, and continue forging a path that blends strong storytelling with his signature heart-on-sleeve delivery.
With slots at Gympie Music Muster on the horizon and Heartbeat of the Hunter in September, Nathan’s set for a busy back half to 2025. This month he’ll also perform for the first time at the Fiddler’s ‘Boots N Beats’.
With a voice that turns heads and songs that hit home, Nathan Lamont continues to prove he’s one to watch, and with ‘What Comes After’, he reminds us that real strength lies in showing heart.
SHOW DATES:
27th June – The Fiddler – Boots N Beats – Rouse Hill, NSW
31st August – Gympie Music Muster – Gympie, QLD
27th September – Heartbeat of the Hunter – Tocal, NSW
CONNECT WITH NATHAN LAMONT www.nathanlamont.com.au
KARNIVOOL DROP FIRST NEW SINGLE IN FOUR YEARS. ”Drone” Out Now Via Cymatic Records / Sony Music
It’s official. A new Karnivool chapter begins. “Drone” is the first new piece of music from the band in four years and it’s out now.
LISTEN TO DRONE HERE
As with everything Karnivool does, “Drone” is very much worth the wait. Lifted from the larger body of work that can finally be seen on horizon (not long now, we promise), “Drone” reminds us why the Perth prog rockers are without peer and patience is rewarded.
“Drone’ is the sound of Karnivool entering a new era — a slow-cooked journey forged in the studio’s heat, where every note was tested and tempered. This track hums with the weight of vast Western Australian deserts, anchored by colossal rock riffs that could only come from our home. It’s both a reflection and a rebirth,” says Karnivool.
Australians will be the first in the world to hear what’s been brewing in the studio when the Ad Complementum tour kicks off next month. Kicking off at the Odeon in Hobart, the ‘Vool will hit venues in major and regional cities across Australia with BIG NOTER – the all-new heavy project from Aboriginal Australian Icon BRIGGS.
A few shows have sold out, others not far behind.
More music news imminent. This is just the beginning.
KARNIVOOL – DRONE Out Now Via Cymatic Records / Sony Music
STREAM | SAVE
KARNIVOOL – AD COMPLEMENTUM
AUSTRALIAN TOUR
Tickets on sale via karnivool.com
Wednesday 16 July
Odeon Theatre, Hobart
Friday 18 July
SOPO, Gold Coast
Saturday 19 July
Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
Sunday 20 July
The Station, Sunshine Coast
Thursday 24 July – SOLD OUT
Bar on the Hill, Newcastle
Friday 25 July
UOW Unibar, Wollongong
Saturday 26 July
Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Tuesday 29 July – SOLD OUT
The Baso, Canberra
Thursday 31 July
Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads
Friday 1 August – SOLD OUT
Pier Bandroom, Frankston
Saturday 2 August
PICA, Melbourne
Sunday 3 August
Hindley St Music Hall, Adelaide
Thursday 16 October – SOLD OUT
Metropolis Fremantle, Perth
Friday 17 October – SOLD OUT
Metropolis Fremantle, Perth
FOLLOW KARNIVOOL Facebook Instagram Website
FLETCHER KENT RETURNS WITH LOVE DRUNK ANTHEM ‘WASTED’
LISTEN TO SINGLE HERE
There’s no slowing down for Fletcher Kent, the genre-blurring indie-pop force who’s fast becoming one of Australia’s most exciting new artists, with the release of his third single ‘Wasted’; a euphoric, love-drenched anthem built for screaming crowds and late-night spirals.
Fletcher explains,“‘Wasted’ is about those feelings right as you’re falling in love with someone. Becoming intoxicated by the essence of this person- love drunk. Both feeling lit up by the new flame yet also kind of out of control as you realise you’re invested past the point of no return. It’s maybe my favourite song to play live and hearing people sing “I’m so wasted” has been super fun.”
To celebrate the release, he’ll be launching his brand-new single at Old Mates on Sunday June 29, the NYC dive bar with Aussie roots and late-night legend status, co-founded by Australia’s favourite duo Hamish & Andy. Fletcher has become a fixture at the venue with a residency over the last few months.
Renowned for his magnetic live presence, the past six months have seen Fletcher cement his reputation as a one-of-a-kind performer. From electrifying audiences at a VIP pre-show event for Green Day at Marvel Stadium, to lighting up Live Nation’s ‘Ones To Watch’ showcase, he’s continued to deliver standout sets. He also took the stage at Rolling Sets Festival — a fan-voted slot that saw him share the bill with Lime Cordiale and The Wombats.
His previous singles ‘I’ll Be’ and ‘Are You Ready’ made waves on Spotify’s Pop’N’Fresh and Apple Music’s New In Alternative, and helped cement his status as one of the country’s most compelling young artists.
On the media front, he’s been featured in Rolling Stone Australia’s ‘In My Room’, Scenestr, Milky, and named Artist of the Week by Life Without Andy. His op-ed for The Music struck a chord offering a vulnerable, articulate take on the power of music in dark times.
With a growing list of accolades, high-profile live slots, and global backing from industry heavyweights, Fletcher Kent is more than just one to watch — he’s shaping up to be one of the defining voices of the next generation
LISTEN TO ‘WASTED’ HERE
GET SOCIAL WITH FLETCHER KENT INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | SPOTIFY | APPLE | YOUTUBE
AUSSIE INDIE POP ARTIST JETT BLYTON RELEASES NEW SINGLE ‘NEEDINGABREAK’ FROM FORTHCOMING EP ‘DOUBLE VISION (VOL.2)’
Jett Blyton, the 19 year old fast-rising indie pop sensation from Australia has just released his new single titled “Needingabreak”. The track is the first lifted from his ‘Double Vision (Vol 2)’ EP that is set for release on November 7, 2025.
The project follows last years ‘Double Vision (Vol. 1)’ which created major buzz with its fresh sonic sounds that included the singles ‘Borderline’, ’44:44” and “Speed Dial”. Explaining in his own words how ‘Double Vision’ Vol 1 + Vol 2 link up Jett shares,
“Double Vision was always intended to be my love letter to pop music and my relationship with it throughout my life. Double Vision (Vol. 1) was a really fun way to kick off the double project, it was all about the summery songs that feel good to sing in the car. Songs like ‘Borderline’ or ‘Speed Dial’ were made to empower, soundtrack and empathise with my fans in a light-hearted way. Sonically it was more R&B influenced, taking soundbites from the 1990’s at times. Double Vision (Vol. 2) is kicking off exactly one year after Double Vision (Vol. 1). The first single, ‘Needingabreak’, is a celebration of recession pop and the clubkid resurgence of the 2000s. It takes inspiration from house-pop pioneers, like Rihanna or Madonna. If Volume 1 was a daytime album, Volume 2 is its nighttime counterpart, the cooler older sibling. As a synth-pop project, it’s sonically much darker. It was written to celebrate the heartbeat of the party and the kineticism of dancing with your friends. Party even when you don’t have a reason”.
The latest single “Needingabreak” was written to be an anthem and an escape by Jett along with iconic Western Sydney boy band ‘Breakfast Road,’ who also share producing credits. It’s all about taking a moment to let go of everything – the rent, the culture – and tune it out. Written from the perspective of a couple in a club, it’s the ultimate detachment from the everyday. On the collab the members of ‘Breakfast Road’ (Peter Deghaim, Briant Longabella, Amandip Singh) wanted to share, “Working with Jett was some of the most fun we’ve had in the studio. Once the initial chords were laid down, the rest of the song came naturally. The end product is a song that’s insanely catchy, but still extremely bold. We’re heaps proud to have co-written and produced this one.”
The Canberra teen singer landed himself in the Triple J Unearthed High Yearbook for 2023 and 2024, nominated for the Music ACT Music Awards (MAMAs), and garnered the national and international attention of alt-pop music lovers, in music described as wonk, zany & attention grabbing, and for his incredibly low bass voice. Since Jett has received shoutouts from popstars Sabrina Carpenter and Tove Lo, along with a “If You Like Troye Sivan” feature on Triple J Unearthed.
Double Vision (Vol. 2) will be distributed by Anti-Dismal Music with founder Ixara Dorizac expressing, “Anti-Dismal are so excited and keen to get Jett’s music out and heard by the world! It’s a pleasure to be able to work with someone with such drive and passion for their artistic project.”
FOLLOW JETT BLYTON: Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Website
LOGAN PRIEST RELEASES SOPHOMORE EP ‘LATE NIGHT CALL’
Logan Priest releases his sophomore EP Late Night Call alongside new single ‘Contact’.
The Late Night Call EP captures a talent on the rise, using music as therapy, finding calm in the storm across six songs. The EP is a collection of tracks about connection – from falling in love and tumultuous relationships, to stopping and smelling the roses and connecting with the world around you. Logan’s love of Pharell Williams, Tyler, The Creator, Prince and Queen become evident from opening to the end.
“’Late Night Call’ is a little mixtape of moments – some light, some honest. I’m proud of these songs and how naturally they came together. A special mention to Tony Buchen — his production strongly contributed to the shape, sound & feel of this EP. I wanted to bring much more colour & groove into my music with this project. Some of these songs reflect more personal parts of me, and I’m glad I get to share that as I grow as an artist. It feels like a step forward and I’m excited for you to hear it.” – Logan Priest
The New Zealand born, South-East Queensland-raised charismatic 23-year-old is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, dancer, producer and songwriter. He is unashamedly open-hearted, sometimes to his detriment, admitting to living “many, many heartbreaks”.
The new single ‘Contact’ is the epitome of connection; which at the end of the day, is what Priest makes music about. It’s an angular, bouncy cut about staying in touch, a song that gives some levity after the heavier, more insular themes of the EP. As Logan puts it “‘Contact’ is difficult for me to put into words, so I’ll keep it simple. It’s about staying in touch, with people, life and the world around us.” Logan Priest wants us to know we’re in good hands; he just wants what we all want: love and kindness.
Previous drops from the EP include the hauntingly beautiful ballad ‘Best Bad Habit’, the irresistibly funky and energetic ‘I Could Love U’, and ‘Welcome To The New World’, a song which reflects on the chaos of life in the modern age. The releases saw extensive support from UK Radio with spins across BBC1’s Future Artists, Indie Show & Future Pop programmes, and ‘I Could Love U’ landing a full add at triple j.
Late Night Call marks a bold new chapter for Logan Priest following a breakout 2023, marked by the release of standout singles like ‘Famous,’ ‘Huh,’ and ‘Stop & Stare’. Momentum carried into 2024 with the launch of his debut EP Lost In Translation and the single ‘On The Line’, a collaboration with 5x ARIA Platinum artist KIAN. Taking his live show on the road for the first time, he supported Pacific Avenue and toured with Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers. Logan also turned heads at BIGSOUND and SXSW Sydney, made festival debuts at Spilt Milk and Heaps Good, and delivered a powerhouse performance at Mushroom 50 Live at Rod Laver Arena, playing to a sold-out crowd and a national TV audience of 830,000.
About Logan Priest…
Logan Priest is a Kiwi-born, Aussie-raised artist who has captivated audiences this year with his charismatic and infectious charm, which oozes through his music and mere presence. Drawing influence from a spread of iconic musicians – legacy idols Prince, Elvis and Mick Jagger, plus more modern leaders Frank Ocean and Pharell Williams, – Logan presents a sound that is unique, exciting, and constantly moving.
Bursting with undeniable talent, cheekiness, and a magnetic personality, Logan is sure to make a lasting impact on the music world – just like his idols before him.
Logan Priest – Late Night Call Out now via Mushroom Music LISTEN / STREAM
LORDE RELEASES NEW ALBUM ‘VIRGIN’
Lorde has released her highly anticipated fourth studio album ‘Virgin’, co-produced by Lorde and Jim-E Stack. You can listen HERE.
Following a string of successful singles — ‘What Was That,’ ‘Man of the Year,’ and ‘Hammer’ — which have been steadily climbing the charts and are nearing 200 million streams even before the album’s release, the next step in Lorde’s artistic evolution has arrived.
In support of ‘Virgin’, Lorde will be embarking on her biggest tour yet, UltraSound, which has already sold out multiple nights at iconic venues including Madison Square Garden, London’s O2 Arena, and Kia Forum. Demand has been so overwhelming that additional dates were added within hours of the artist presale – many of which also sold out instantly – including 2 nights at Barclay’s Center.
Tracklist for ‘Virgin’
1. Hammer
2. What Was That
3. Shapeshifter
4. Man Of The Year
5. Favourite Daughter
6. Current Affairs
7. Clearblue
8. GRWM
9. Broken Glass
10. If She Could See Me Now
11. David
SARAH McLACHLAN ANNOUNCES FIRST ALBUM IN OVER A DECADE BETTER BROKEN ALBUM RELEASE SEPTEMBER 19 VIA CONCORD. TITLE TRACK OUT NOW
PRE-ORDER BETTER BROKEN & STREAM THE TITLE TRACK HERE
WATCH THE “BETTER BROKEN” MUSIC VIDEO HERE
3X GRAMMY Award winner and global phenomenon Sarah McLachlan has announced Better Broken, her first album of new material in over a decade, due out September 19 via Concord Records. Her tenth studio album and debut release for Concord Records, Better Broken takes its title from its opening track, out today – a soul-searching reflection on the fortitude that comes from weathering life’s constant storms – and furthers her legacy with a selection of songs that speak an uncompromising but radically illuminating truth about the state of the human condition. Pre-order the album and stream “Better Broken” HERE. Watch the “Better Broken” music video, directed by Lauren Wade and produced by Zebulon Griffin HERE.
“A lot of the lyrics on this record came from thinking about the world right now and asking, ‘How do we move through this landscape? How do we keep our heads above water when it feels like so much is falling apart?’” says McLachlan. “I don’t know if I have any answers, but channeling all that angst and uncertainty into the music has been so cathartic. I hope that this record provides people with some relief and release—but in the end I just want them to take whatever they need from it, and make the songs part of their own story.”
Mainly recorded at the legendary Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, Better Broken instills a potent new energy into her lush and moody form of pop-rock, with contributions from esteemed musicians like Wendy Melvoin (a former guitarist for Prince and the Revolution), drummer Matt Chamberlain (Bob Dylan, David Bowie), multi-instrumentalist Benny Bock (Lucy Dacus, beabadoobee), and pedal-steel guitarist Greg Leisz (Kacey Musgraves, Florence + the Machine). In a monumental leap for McLachlan, Better Broken finds her widening her creative circle and working with producers Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, boygenius) and Will Maclellan (Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers).
The tracklisting’s myriad high points include “Gravity,” The first song she recorded for the album that delves deeper into her emotional life and explores the complexities of her relationship with her older daughter, “One In a Long Line,” an irrepressible anthem railing against the rapid erosion of women’s rights in recent years, “Long Road Home,” a rapturous love song, the pedal-steel-laced reverie “Reminds Me,” a lovestruck duet with MUNA’s Katie Gavin, and the title track, out now. All throughout Better Broken, McLachlan and her fellow musicians bring an ineffable beauty to her expression of longing and grief and fierce determination.
Over the course of her three-decades-long career, McLachlan has won 3 GRAMMY Awards,
12 JUNO Awards, and sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan also founded the groundbreaking all-female music festival Lilith Fair, featuring an A-list lineup for female alternative musicians of the moment, including Sheryl Crow, Jewel, The Indigo Girls, Lisa Loeb, Fiona Apple, Erykah Badu, Tracy Chapman, Natalie Merchant and more. McLachlan is also a philanthropist and the founder of Sarah McLachlan School of Music (SoM), a not-for-profit that offers music instruction and mentorship at no cost to children and youth facing barriers to access. SoM was founded in Vancouver in 2002 and it currently serves over 1,200 students a year with locations in Vancouver, New Westminster and Edmonton. McLachlan personally covers the administrative costs so that every dollar raised goes directly to support the students.
MINOR GOLD UNVEIL NEW SINGLE & VIDEO ‘LEAVE A LIGHT ON’. ALBUM ‘WAY TO THE SUN’ OUT JULY 25
PRE-SAVE HERE | PRE-ORDER CD/VINYL HERE
Minor Gold continue to forge their own path at home and abroad, securing radio airplay, glowing reviews, and a growing fan base along the way, all in the lead-up to their highly anticipated second album, Way to the Sun (out July 25).
In recent weeks, the duo’s album has claimed the #1 Added spot at Americana Radio USA, earned a rave review in UNCUT, and seen singles ‘Moonlight Silver Highway’ (ABC Country) and ‘Hair Hang Down’ (Double J) land in high rotation. Meanwhile, the title track ‘Way to the Sun’ continues to climb, now surpassing 425,000 streams.
Released today, ‘Leave a Light On’ marks the fourth single from Minor Gold’s forthcoming new album. ‘Leave a Light On’ is about the fragility of love, reflecting on the small, meaningful moments that define a relationship. With a smooth, nostalgic acoustic sound that blends rock, soul, and Americana, it evokes a sense of longing and hope.
The single’s accompanying clip was shot in an old wool factory in Bloomington, IN. Watch the live performance video HERE.
Leave a Light On is on all streaming platforms now.
Minor Gold’s highly-anticipated new album Way to the Sun is out July 25, 2025 via MGM Distribution.
Preorder a copy on CD / Vinyl HERE.
WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR MOONLIGHT SILVER HIGHWAY
FOLLOW MINOR GOLD: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | Apple Music
SCOTTY McCREERY ANNOUNCES UPCOMING EP SCOOTER & FRIENDS, OUT JULY 18TH
Multi-platinum country star Scotty McCreery has announced the soundtrack to your summer with the upcoming release of his star-studded EP, Scooter & Friends, out on 18th July. Produced by Frank Rogers, the forthcoming project brings McCreery together with some legendary friends including Hootie & the Blowfish, Lee Brice, and one of McCreery’s greatest musical idols, R&B legend Charlie Wilson.
“Back home everyone calls me ‘Scooter,’ so since I’m singing with a few of my favorite artists, I decided to call this project Scooter & Friends,” said McCreery. “It’s a fun collection of songs that are a little different from what I normally sing, yet they are still me. If the fans like it, maybe there will be a second volume in a few years.”
Pre-save/pre-add Scooter & Friends EP here.
In his latest release off Scooter & Friends, “Once Upon a Bottle of Wine” (out now), McCreery shows off his artistic versatility alongside Charlie Wilson for an unexpected sound that many fans haven’t heard from the ACM Award winner. Written by McCreery, Brent Anderson, Derek George, Jeremy Bussey, and Frank Rogers, the song was a dream come true for McCreery who has long admired Wilson.
“I have been a massive fan of Charlie Wilson since I first heard him on the radio when I was a kid. He’s one of my favorite artists of all time,” said McCreery. “Getting to perform with him on stage a few years ago was a bucket list item for me. Being able to call him a friend means more than I can say. And now, having him sing with me on a song I wrote is a dream come true.”
“My ‘Charlie Last Name Wilson’ song was one of his favorites when he was growing up and I never knew he was a fan, so when we finally met years ago I was blown away with that huge voice and had him jump on stage with me” shared Wilson. “He brought the house down that night and now I’m so excited that we have a duet together.”
Listen to “Once Upon a Bottle of Wine” here.
McCreery’s first release off Scooter & Friends, “Bottle Rockets” featuring Hootie & the Blowfish,quickly became fans’ song of the summer upon release. The nostalgia-inducing track was the top track added to Country radio at impact and is continuing to run up the charts – ranking #5 onthe UK Country Radio Airplay Chart this week after just five weeks since it was released.
As revealed in Billboard yesterday, McCreery will host his new monthly series “Prime Country with Scotty McCreery” on SiriusXM’s Prime Country channel. The show will debut on 5th July 5 and will air a total of 10 times on the channel throughout the month. A new episode will debut on the first Saturday of each month as McCreery spotlights his favorite musical era, ‘80s and ‘90s country, by handpicking each song and sharing how that artist influenced him or telling behind-the-scenes stories. Each episode will also feature a live performance from an artist on the Grand Ole Opry that was recorded on that legendary stage in the ‘80s or ‘90s.
“I appreciate SiriusXM giving me my own monthly show on Prime Country,” said McCreery. “I can talk about my love for ‘80s and ‘90s country music for hours. And as a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry, I wanted to include an Opry moment in my show to share with the listeners each month.”
Fans can see McCreery out on the road across the US this summer. He will also headline the Country Night Gstaad Festival in Gstaad, Switzerland on 12th-13th September, and will be co-headlining the “Two for the Road Tour” with fellow Country star, Dustin Lynch. The “Two for the Road Tour” kicks-off this November.
ABOUT SCOTTY McCREERY:
Scotty McCreery has been a household name for nearly half his life, ever since making history in 2011 as both the first country artist and the youngest male artist of any genre to debut his first studio album, the Platinum-certified Clear as Day, at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The 31-year-old has sold more than 4 million albums and achieved 6 No.1 hits: the recent “Cab in a Solo,” the RIAA Platinum-certified “Damn Strait,” the RIAA Gold certified “You Time,” the RIAA Gold certified “In Between,” the RIAA Platinum certified “This is It,” and the RIAA Triple Platinum certified “Five More Minutes.” His most recent album is Rise & Fall.
The North Carolina native has earned one Triple Platinum, five Platinum and four Gold singles; one Platinum and two Gold albums; won the 10th season of “American Idol” in 2011 at age 17; was named the ACM New Artist of the Year in 2011; won two CMT Music Awards, the first for Breakthrough Video of the Year (“The Trouble with Girls”) in 2012, and the second for Digital-First Performance of the Year (‘It Matters to Her’ from “CMT Stages”) in 2024; and BMI Awards for writing One of the Top 50 Country Songs of the Year six times (in 2015 for ‘See You Tonight’, in 2018 for “Five More Minutes,” in 2019 for “This is It,” in 2021 for “In Between,” in 2022 for “You Time,” and in 2024 for “It Matters to Her”). He was awarded Pandora Billionaire status in 2021 in recognition of his music achieving more than one billion streams on Pandora. His song “Five More Minutes” inspired two popular holiday movies which aired on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Network: “Five More Minutes” in 2021 and “Five More Minutes: Moments Like These” in 2022. He released his first book Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward the Dream in 2016. McCreery was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2023. Last year, he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by Josh Turner and Randy Travis, after being invited by Garth Brooks. The singer/songwriter married his high school sweetheart Gabi in 2018. The couple had their first son Avery in October 2022 and are expecting their second child in 2025.
Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
ABOUT CHARLIE WILSON:
To say that Charlie Wilson is an “Icon,” does not truly describe the musical powerhouse whose vocal prowess began as founding member and lead singer of the legendary GAP Band (“You Dropped a Bomb on Me,” “Outstanding,” “Party Train,” and “Burn Rubber on Me”). As a solo artist Wilson has topped the R&B charts with 13 number one singles, 13 GRAMMY® nominations, a New York Times and Washington Post best-selling memoir, I Am Charlie Wilson, a BET Lifetime Achievement Award, a Soul Train Icon Award, a Soul Train Certified Soul Award, and a NAACP Music Makes a Difference Award.
Wilson kicked off 2024 receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on his birthday, surrounded by a star-studded crowd of friends including Snoop Dogg, Babyface, Tyler The Creator, Kanye West, Ty Dolla Sign, Don Toliver, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Johnny Gill, Tank, and Chante Moore. In 2022 Charlie was on the critically acclaimed “The Culture Tour” with New Edition and Jodeci. He has previously sold out two of his own headlining arena tours- “Forever Charlie” (2015), “In It To Win It (2017)” – and toured with Bruno Mars on his “24K Magic” tour. He was twice named Billboard’s Top Adult Male R&B Artist (2009, 2020) and named Billboard’s Top Adult R&B Male Artist with the most #1s in three decades.
Known to most as “Uncle Charlie,” the lovable nickname given by Snoop Dogg, he continues to be one of the most sought-after voices in music today. He has collaborated with many chart-topping artists in addition to Scotty McCreery, including Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Tyler The Creator and Nas, to name a few. In the years between the GAP Band and his solo success, Wilson survived drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness, and prostate cancer. Sober now for 28 years, the singer says, “I wouldn’t have believed I’d be where I am right now. That’s why I shout every night because I thank God for allowing me to be here.”
KEEPING NORTH ‘WATER’ (SINGLE)
The new single Water by KEEPING NORTH, from the album Demons & Dreamers
In Australia’s premier Country Music magazine Capital News, reviewer Susan Jarvis had this to say about Keeping North’s album ‘Demons & Dreamers’ – ‘…it’s an exquisitely crafted piece of work, filled with powerful, moving songs. Every song on the album is superb and deserves forensic listening and reflection.’
Specifically, about the song ‘Water’, she said this – ‘….the amazing “Water”, with a soundscape that literally drips.’
Songs can come from anywhere. From adventures, from history, from matters of the heart. Most of the songs on Keeping North’s album ‘Demons & Dreamers’ come from the imagination of songwriter Steve Tyson. But as he says, ‘sometimes you find songs just looking in your own backyard.’ Such was the case with ‘Water’.
Helping friends clean up after the 2022 floods in Mullumbimby, at the same time getting messages from old friends about devastating drought conditions on their family properties out west, Tyson wrote the song that very night. As he recalls, ‘the song just found me…’
The Mean Times ‘Hell’ (SINGLE)
We’re all going to Hell. Might as well make it sound good. Melbourne’s finest donkeys of musical mischief, The Mean Times, are back with ‘Hell’, the second single from their upcoming album Feel More Dumb, dropping September 2025 via Golden Robot Records. ‘Hell’ is officially out now across all digital platforms.
A garage-pop post-punk panic attack disguised as a party anthem, Hell is part sermon, part sleaze, and fully unhinged. Imagine The Vines if they took their meds with beer instead of water. Or early Arctic Monkeys after two weeks of no sleep, bad decisions, and worse influences. It’s Dune Rats with existential dread. Depeche Mode getting personal with Jesus. You get the picture.
But underneath the mayhem is a message – or maybe the absence of one. ‘Hell’ is a filthy, sex-positive anthem that kicks down the doors of shame and invites everyone in. Too many sex songs cater to straight male fantasies. This one’s for everyone who enjoys getting dirty, regardless of gender or orientation. With surreal euphemisms, cheeky blasphemy, and a whole lot of hip-thrusting swagger, it’s unapologetic, inclusive, and just plain fun.
Musically, it’s the collision of a breakdown and a banger, snarling sarcasm and earworm choruses, driven by a rhythm section that hits like a stolen shopping trolley careening downhill. It’s the sound of trying to keep it together while everything around you burns – fast, loud, and somehow danceable.
There’s no redemption arc here. No moral compass. Just a hook-filled descent into joyful chaos. It’s the end of the world. Bring a saddle. And maybe a safe word.
Stream ‘Hell’ HERE
KEVIN ABSTRACT ‘Blush’ (ALBUM)
Featuring collaborations with Dominic Fike, JPEGMAFIA, Danny Brown, Love Spells & more.
Album out now via Juno / X8 Music / Virgin Music Group Listen Now
Artist/producer/songwriter Kevin Abstract shares his highly anticipated album, Blush, out now via Juno / X8 Music. Fans first had a peek of the album earlier this month with ‘Geezer’ shared with longtime collaborator and friend Dominic Fike. The video for the single was directed by Jack Begert and Reed Bennett. ‘Geezer’ is Fike and Abstract’s first song together since 2019’s ‘Peach’ featured on Abstract’s acclaimed first solo album ARIZONA BABY.
Blush is Abstract firing on all cylinders, sitting down again in his rightful place in the producer’s chair to make one of the most dynamic, sonically adventurous, and just plain fun albums of his career.
To create the record, Abstract relied on one of his greatest superpowers as an artist, the thing that has made him one of the most unstoppable creators of the last decade: his unmatched ability to find, work with, and get the best out of incredible artists across all genres. He amassed an amazing coterie of collaborators to make Blush the genius record that it is, bringing features from his pop world (Dominic Fike, Quadeca, JPEGMAFIA, Sekou, Danny Brown, Truly Young) and placing them next to rising voices from Houston he discovered after returning to live back home in Texas last year.
“I’ve always wanted to make an album like Blush. In ways I’ve made records like this before but I’ve never produced em at this level of quality when it boils down to storytelling and sonic shaping. Last summer was heavy, awful. I lost the love of my life. It got so bad that I had to leave California. I went back to Texas to link w my day ones. Family, ya know? Ya boy had to slow things down and look in the mirror and be a grown up. Cut the bitch stuff out. I was like, oh, ok. I AM 100% AT MY BEST when I’m directing other artists; 2001 &The Chronic . Blush. When I went to jail over some bullshit out in Conroe, I realised how much I care about my work and my audience. And also how I’ve taken so many things for granted for so long. Not only did I feel guilty, I felt small. I believe God finds their way into my thoughts more often than less &&& I know that I am beyond lucky to be able to have a shot at this thing. This career, this industry, this art-form. My life. Thanks. I care a lot. I’m strong. I got us. BLUSH is the way. June 2025. P.S., I love Peter but leaving Sony has helped me find my way back to being me. Because I am 17 again even though I’m 28. 29 next month btw. Anyway, see y’all in a week or so. This album is my favorite one so far.”
Cliff Simpson Sent from Hawaii blush
Visit THIS SPACE for more Blush…
Kevin Abstract – Blush. Album out now via Juno / X8 Music / Virgin Music Group
PERTURBATOR Announces New Album AGE OF AQUARIUS + Shares Video For New Single ‘Apocalypse Now’ FT. ULVER
PERTURBATOR – the Paris-based composer/producer/multi-instrumentalist James Kent – today announced his new album Age Of Aquarius, his debut for renowned metal label Nuclear Blast Records, will be released on October 10th, 2025. The album’s new single “Apocalypse Now,” a visceral, dance-ready anthem featuring lead vocals by Norwegian metal titan Kristoffer Rygg (Ulver), is out now alongside a fittingly epic video directed by David Fitt. Punitive kick drums and blasting synths live up to the song title, as Rygg’s chant feels applicable to being alive at any given moment (“Apocalypse now! / There is blood on the ground / We’ve got bullets for everyone”). “’Apocalypse Now’ is a song about the systematic destruction we cause to our own kind. It is our inability to get along with –and often vilify– ’the others.’ Thus accelerating the end of our ways of life through simple hubris and self validation,” Kent explains.
Director Fitt says of the video: “The lyrics of ‘Apocalypse Now’ have made me wonder: what would the last war look like? A coup? A war of all against all? A nuclear war? Maybe. Could be. But I realized that what I would love to do, to watch, to happen, is a war of world leaders against themselves. The war they all dream of, but are too cowardly to fight themselves. This would be the ultimate war, in my opinion. And that’s what I aimed to show. And then we’re left wondering: what would be next? What if women took charge? Would power consume them too, eventually? Are we doomed as a species? That’s what I wonder and want people to wonder with me.”
‘Apocalypse Now’ follows the album’s powerful recent single ‘The Art of War.’
On Age of Aquarius, PERTURBATOR offers up a more propulsive spin on his moody early work, showcasing his most confident, plainly beautiful, and thematically refined music to date. Where his previous album, 2021’s Lustful Sacraments, was about bad habits and addiction, his sixth LP – also featuring Alcest, Author & Punisher and Greta Link – explores how individualism, conflict, and war are interrelated and dominant societal forces. Both brutal and sublime, Age of Aquarius feels like the musical equivalent of a scream into the existential void.
“The first half of Age of Aquarius is all about conflict. The misanthropy and violence that lays in all of us,” explains Kent. “The second part of the album then talks about individualism. The understanding that group-thinking leads to nowhere and having your own free will is the single most essential thing we have in life.”
PERTURBATOR’s ballistic, militaristic sound dovetails with his thematic focus on human aggression, which manifests itself throughout Age of Aquarius. “We have this climate nowadays of people getting divided over everything,” Kent says. “Every debate is two-sided, very extreme, very warlike, and people are very into group thinking: ‘There’s this side of the conflict, and there’s this side of the conflict, and if you’re not on my side, you’re wrong.’” Bleak and blunt, yes, but expectedly so from an album that starts with ‘Apocalypse Now,’ introducing Age of Aquarius’ themes in just the right way: When have we, as a species, not been defined by conflict, violent and otherwise, arising from individualism?
Kent intentionally chooses very evocative song titles since most of his tracks lack lyrics and primarily convey mood through instrumentals. “I like to think of every album as a movie,” he says. “The tracks are all scenes from that one big movie.” The most brutal scene, then, is ‘The Art of War,’ which ranks among Kent’s hardest-hitting songs; its vivid, forceful production attests to the two and a half years he spent tirelessly mastering and elevating his signature style (he wrote, recorded, performed, produced, and mixed the record himself, minus the guest vocals and lyrics). The track embodies the very sound of going into battle, and it could well be the album’s thesis. “It’s more of war as an idea than a concrete event,” Kent says about the LP’s subject matter. It’s no surprise his distinct style of electronic body music (EBM)–built on a DNA of post-punk, goth, and techno influences–has widely appealed to fans of new wave, industrial, and metal alike (his recent collaborators and tourmates HEALTH are an apt comparison).
We might always be in conflict as a species – with others and ourselves – but with Age of Aquarius, Kent provides its fantastic score.
PRE-ORDER AGE OF AQUARIUS:
https://perturbator.bfan.link/age-of-aquarius
STREAM ‘APOCALYPSE NOW’:
https://perturbator.bfan.link/apocalypse-now
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘APOCALYPSE NOW’:
https://youtu.be/Q6jfRSNp6O8
PERTURBATOR ONLINE: https://perturbator.com/
SARAH CARROLL & THE BIG FUSS CELEBRATE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF HER NQR&B ALBUM
Celebrate the first anniversary of Sarah’s wonderful album NQR&B at beautiful Memo Music Hall on SUN 13 JULY 2025. It was also this time last year that Sarah was Australian Musician’s Musician of the Month.
Sarah will be playing with her band The Big Fuss, which includes her two favourite guitarists, Shannon Bourne (Checkerboard Lounge, Don Walker) and Leigh Ivin (The Re-mains, Inga Liljeström) as well as her spectacular singing songwriter sons, Fenn Wilson and George Carroll Wilson (aka Pollyman) on drums, bass and harmony vocals!
Special guests are brand new St Kilda supergroup, The Faraway Three (Alyce Platt, Nicky Del Rey, Jack Howard). Doors at 3pm, show time at 4!
Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1407829
THE WITCHY DJYPSIES SHARE WHIMISCAL NEW SINGLE IN MY MIND
A jubilant and bustling cinematic explosion of gypsy ska and western hues arrive today via In My Mind, the new single from Perth-based international six-piece collective The Witchy Djypsies. A masterful upbeat sonic spell, In My Mind will also be celebrated live onstage next week when The Witchy Djypsies descend on Mojo’s Bar in North Fremantle for their single launch on Saturday 12 July.
Instantly erupting with pulsing beats and prowling basslines, In My Mind careens into moody yet mischievous terrain as it balances smoky western backdrops against punchy brass, deep harmonies and a sprinkle of string shedding (“I’m surprised we didn’t melt the strings,” shares drummer Jimmy Marelich). Drawing inspiration from prominent yeo-tone ska act Madness, as well as the likes of Strangely Arousing, The Cat Empire, Doe Maari, Zoufris Maracs and Mano Negra, In My Mind is a euphoric and eclectic immersion for the senses that defies time and genres; something The Witchy Djypsies are fluent in, with the fever dream qualities in the track also stemming from some real-world experiences. “I wanted to write a song about overthinking and feeling everything all at once,” says vocalist and instrumentalist Joana Lavole. “I was sitting outside at about 2am in a dead silent night witnessing the endless train of thoughts and overwhelming feelings that come with it. I wrote the intro then and had a bit of a concept. I brought it to the band, and we shaped it together! We actually worked on that track while touring up north in 2022. We had just done our last gig in Exmouth and we all got COVID. We were stuck on a campsite and I do believe the fever brought out the best of us!”
Teaming up with some of Perth’s finest, The Witchy Djypsies recorded In My Mind at Hopping Mouse Studio with Hunter Percy (Saturated Analog) and Stu McLaughlan, with mixing by Nathan Bell (Bell Acoustics) and mastering by Rob Grant at Poons Head Studios. “We always bounce ideas with our long-time friend and FOH engineer Zak Johnson too!” adds Joana. “The track was produced by us in-house, but especially by Dennis, our bassman, who poured a lot of energy in this whole process!”
Bringing together six talented artists and their musical backgrounds, with members hailing from France, Guadeloupe, The Netherlands and Australia, The Witchy Djypsies have been casting musical spells since vocalist and instrumentalist Joana Lavole first crossed paths with guitarist Sam Ukkola in 2018, leading to jamming, busking and, ultimately, a makeshift band of travellers settling in Western Australia and turning their gaze to writing songs together – and they’ve never looked back. Now consisting of Joana and Sam as well as backing vocalist and bassist Dennis Kooij, backing vocalist and saxophonist Christopher Best, drummer James Marelich and guitarist Leo Ollivier, The Witchy Djypsies fuse Latin beats, cheeky gypsy jazz and brass-infused ska rhythms with refreshing ease, also armed with a potent live presence that has seen them charm at Nannup Music Festival and Blossom Festival, as well at their own headline shows – and fans can definitely expect a party when the group’s In My Mind single launch takes over in Fremantle next week.
“Expect the usual shenanigans,” shares Joana of what fans can expect from the In My Mind single launch on July 12. “A pumping dancefloor, a super fun night, some sexy new merch and a lineup of local talents! Jamie David will open the night with his hilarious storytelling and songwriting. Loose Carrot will then take over with their infectious blend of funk soul and jazz. We will do our thing, firing up the souls in your hearts and shoes. And Loose Springsteen will close the night with his hybrid live electro set. Expect house, funk, disco, beats and brass. Thoughts?”
While In My Mind takes centre stage today, there’s still a whole lot more in store for The Witchy Djypsies in the near future, with even more new music and live shows on the horizon – get your dancing shoes at the ready!
“We’ve had In My Mind in our pockets for a while!” reveals Joana. “We’ve worked hard on this track and it’s been a pretty long process. We’re excited to put it out there in the world! We’ve got more tracks in the bank that we are hoping to release in the next few years. If you haven’t seen us yet, you’re in for a wild surprise. And if you live on the East Coast, start stretching now coz we’re coming in hot!”
In My Mind is out today.
THE WITCHY DJYPSIES – UPCOMING SHOWS:
SAT 12 JUL | MOJO’S BAR, FREMANTLE WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
Follow The Witchy Djypsies https://linktr.ee/thewitchydjypsies
Whiskey Jack & Kiera Jas Unite For A Timeless Folk Collaboration on ‘Old Expressions’
Single Out Friday, July 4
Whiskey Jack and Kiera Jas are like coffee and biscuits, incredible alone, and even better together, and that truly shines through in ‘Old Expressions’, a cozy, firelit collaboration coming out on Friday, July 4th.
Coming together after landing on a number of show line-ups, the Boorloo/Perth collab of Whiskey Jack (Jack Dacheff) and Kiera Jas feels like fate. With Whiskey Jack praised for his nomadic style, smooth sound, timeless vocals, and poetic lyricism, and Kiera Jas adored for her bright melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and multi-instrumental talents, the combination of the two is a golden-hued celebration of storytelling though song – bringing a contemporary take to the classic sound of Australiana.
The duo have performed together across a number of Perth venues, and even curated their own intimate launch event in Fremantle known as ‘Soak in the Folk’, hosted at Hybrid Warehouse. Their stage chemistry could be soaked in like sunset light on an open verandah, resonating with fans both new and old.
Now with this folk / alt-country single in the form of ‘Old Expressions’, they weave tales of love together through lilting harmonies and homespun instrumentation. With Kiera Jas on electric guitar and Jack Dacheff on acoustic, Amy Skellern on Cello and Andrew Lawson’s seamless production. This song is comforting, with two distinct vocals, a leading cello, and a rhythmic bass line coming together to illustrate an honest reflection of natural human behaviour. It’s nostalgic and softly luminous, with a slice of whimsy.
Their song pulls you into its world from the very first note, letting the listener drink in the themes of the ever-changing nature of relationships that Kiera Jas describes as,
“Even when a relationship feels old and familiar, you still find golden moments together—those deep, intimate understandings of each other’s expressions and mannerisms that no one else would notice the way you do.”
Jack Dacheff adds: “A key theme in Old Expressions is an awareness when everything is seemingly perfect, a reluctance for change regardless of its inevitability. Taking photos to remember, the unravelling of a relationship as it deepens and the pleasant charm of a surprise.”
Smile at the past and embrace something new with Whiskey Jack and Kiera Jas in their single ‘Old Expressions’ when it releases on Friday, July 4th.
Follow Kiera Jas Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube | Bandcamp | Soundcloud | Facebook | Instagram
Follow Whiskey Jack Spotify | Apple Music | Youtube | Soundcloud | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
OF MONSTERS AND MEN ‘Television Love’ (SINGLE)
Following five-years of quiet evolution, Icelandic indie-folk icons Of Monsters and Men break their creative silence with ‘Television Love’. Written and recorded in their studio in Iceland, ‘Television Love’ is an ongoing conversation that keeps picking up where it left off; layered with time, emotion, and the kind of honesty that only comes with reflection.
The accompanying video echoes the song’s themes, following the band through moments that illustrate the passage of time—capturing change, stillness, and the persistence of connection.
Speaking about the track, the band shares, “We’re so excited to share our song “Television Love.” For the past few years, we’ve been tucked away in our studio quietly making music, and it feels really good to finally let people in on what we’ve been up to.
At its core, “Television Love” is a conversation between two people stretched across time. The song has been with us for a while and when we were working in our studio we’d visit the song at different moments in our lives. Each time it felt like we had something new to share and add to the song’s story. Life happens, things change, hopelessness turns into hope. The sonic landscape and the conversation became layered with our own history.”
Of Monsters and Men went from Reykjavík to the global stage with their breakout 2011 debut My Head Is An Animal, which propelled them from Icelandic indie darlings to international chart-toppers. The album’s breakout single ‘Little Talks’ a defining song for a generation, now boasts over 1 billion Spotify streams, and by 2013, they were making their U.S. TV debut on Saturday Night Live.
Amid their meteoric rise, the band released their sophomore album Beneath The Skin in 2015, which debuted in the Top 3 of the Billboard 200 and was accompanied by a surprise cameo on HBO’s huge hit series Game of Thrones. Their cinematic sound has popped up everywhere from The Hunger Games to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, while their festival appearances — Coachella, Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, and more — have only confirmed what fans already knew: this is a band best experienced live and in the wild.
Over a decade in, Of Monsters and Men have gone from folk-tinged newcomers to digital-era mainstays, with 9 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a new generation discovering that Iceland’s beauty extends beyond fjords and thermal baths.
Of Monsters and Men – Television Love (Official Music Video)
Of Monsters and Men – Television Love
Single out now via Skarkali Records / Virgin Music Group Listen here
Connect with Of Monsters and Men https://www.ofmonstersandmen.com/