SNIPPETZ: THURSDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2026
This week’s Snippetz includes: LamBros, Foley, South Summit, 63 Deluxe, Running Touch, Courtney Barnett, Amyl and The Sniffers, J Nui and Martine Kite, Fur Blossom, Chloe Violette, Asteroid Ekosystem, August Burns Red, Karly Jewell, YNG Martyr, The Mandevilles, Two Tone Pony, Freya Ridings, Peach PRC, The Jungle Giants, Holly Hebe, Ellis King, Molly Rocket, Things of Stone & Wood, Ally Paterson, Lasca Dry, Lottie Mcleod, Wage War, Mick Thomas, Laufey, STAHR and more.
POST-PUNK DOUBLE HEADER HITS MELBOURNE – XTC AND ELVIS COSTELLO TRIBUTES SHARE THE SAME STAGE
Pop Preservation Society presents a one-night double header celebrating two of Britain’s most influential post-punk songbooks, with tributes to XTC and Elvis Costello landing at Kindred Bandroom in Melbourne on Saturday 14 March 2026.
Canberra six-piece XACTO headline the evening, bringing their full-scale XTC tribute to Melbourne for one night only. Known for their detailed arrangements and multi-guitar approach, XACTO dive deep into XTC’s catalogue, recreating the layered sound and rhythmic precision associated with songs including Making Plans For Nigel, Mayor Of Simpleton, Generals And Majors and Senses Working Overtime. The band has built a strong following across the ACT and NSW and now makes a rare Melbourne appearance.
Opening the show is Melbourne project Everyday I Write The Hook, presenting a focused set drawn from the first two decades of Elvis Costello’s studio recordings. Led by Victor Stranges and performed by The Futurists, the tribute spans album tracks such as Blue Chair and All Grown Up, alongside well-known singles Watching The Detectives, Pump It Up, Oliver’s Army and Everyday I Write The Book.
“This show is about honouring the songwriting,” says Stranges. “XTC and Elvis Costello set a standard for wit, melody and musical intelligence. We approach this material with respect for the craft.”
Together, the two acts deliver a rare pairing of British post-punk and new wave material, performed with close attention to musical detail and arrangement. The event brings interstate and local performers together for a single Melbourne appearance.
Date: Saturday 14 March 2026
Venue: Kindred Bandroom – 3 Harris Street, Yarraville (VIC)
Doors: 7:30pm
Tickets: $45 (+BF)
Age: 18+
Tickets: everydayiwritethehook.com
LAMBROS RELEASE HYPNOTIC SOUL SINGLE + VIDEO YOU WON’T CALL
A raw and relatable soul-blues ode to being led on and let down, You Won’t Call is the sublime new single and video from Sydney’s Northern Beaches duo LamBros. Out today, the sleek and soul-tugging venture is set to truly come alive on stage, with the pair hitting the road next week for a five-date NSW tour, kicking off in Sydney on Saturday 28 February.
Instantly hitting you right in the feels, You Won’t Call blends raw, pent-up lyricism with soulful blues textures, fusing crunchy guitars and commanding vocals over a pendulous 6/8 groove that propels the track’s mounting urgency. Nodding to influences like James Brown, Teddy Swims and Chris Stapleton, LamBros, aka brothers Connor (vocalist, guitarist, lyricist) and Harry Lambrou (drums, percussion, backing vocals), capture grooves with grit on their latest track, whilst channelling real-life experiences, as Connor, elaborates, “You Won’t Call stemmed from our own experiences being led on and let down by someone important in your life. It comes from that sinking feeling that something is not right with your relationship, be it romantic or friendship. It comes from the internal conflict of loving someone, while knowing deep down that they don’t feel the same way.”
Connor continues, “Despite years of dedication, love and patience, You Won’t Call. Despite giving everything to keep this together, You Won’t Call. Despite everything we’ve been through, You Won’t Call. This is the essence of the song.”
Once again an entirely independent affair, You Won’t Call was written, recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by LamBros, with the brothers playing all instruments themselves at their home studio. Bringing the single’s cover art to life with the help of Sasha McCarthy, LamBros also strongly enhance their sound visually via the accompanying music video, as Connor elaborates, “This video was shot at some of our favourite places in the northern beaches. At its core, it’s a performance of the song, but it also develops its own story as the track progresses. The ‘transporting’ effect across different locations is representative of that “banging your head against the wall” kind of feeling when you’re being let down by someone. It serves to play into that narrative that despite everything you’ve been through with someone – “You Won’t Call”. I came up with the idea a while back and we directed and shot the video ourselves with help from Sasha McCarthy and my sister Savanah Lambrou.”
Born and raised on the Northern Beaches, Connor and Harry Lambrou grew up in a strong music-loving and multi-cultural family, with familial ties to Cyprus and Greece blending with their early music introductions via their parents that spanned everything from AC/DC, through to Michael Jackson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonny Terry and traditional Greek Zeibekiko; often all in the same car ride. Picking up instruments at an early age, both Connor and Harry were classically trained musicians as kids, ultimately deciding to start their journey as LamBros after busking in Manly’s bustling Corso; and the pair have never looked back.
Swiftly cultivating a reputation as one of Australia’s unmissable rising acts, LamBros have ticked off a number one single via their 2017 track Do Something, supports alongside the likes of Tones and I, The Choirboys, Mental as Anything and Thirsty Merc, performances at Bluesfest Byron Bay, Bendigo Bluesfest, Airlie Beach Music Festival, and an insatiable live show that displays both virtuosic dexterity and an infectious energy that has to be seen to be believed. True craftsman in every sense of the word, Connor and Harry weld their creativity, genre-fluidity and culture into their music in their own unique and engaging way. And whether making their own instruments, paying homage to their Greek and Cypriot heritage or rigging up their own shows, thanks to their extensive electrical background, LamBros also abide by one key mission statement: to make music for music-lovers. “You don’t have to play music,” shares Connor, “but if you love listening to music, or love watching live music, then you will love LamBros.”
Kicking off 2026 with the release of You Won’t Call, LamBros will also hit the road this February and March, starting with a hometown show on the Northern Beaches on Saturday 28 Feb before heading to Sydney, Towradgi and Merimbula next month.
“Expect pure, unadulterated live music, and entertainment,” shares Connor of the upcoming shows. “Our shows are an expression of ourselves in the purest way. We give everything on stage, and travel through genres and styles, telling stories and expressing ourselves through our own, and other artist’s music.
“LamBros shows are completely unique and are constantly evolving. We often have guest performers come up on stage, we sometimes play traditional Greek music with Greek dancing, songs will change and adapt as the show unfolds, and sometimes we even play songs that are completely improvised!”
“It will be a performance they’ll never forget,” adds Harry. “We are at our best when performing live. We are high-energy and produce a huge sound that you won’t believe is only coming from two people.”
LamBros have delivered solid gold via You Won’t Call; a must-listen for any blues fan, the broken-hearted or just people who adore music that gets under your skin in the best possible way.
“It feels exciting, and nerve-wracking to be releasing You Won’t Call,” says Connor. “We have really poured ourselves into this song and are really keen for everyone to hear it. This release is particularly exciting for us because there is such a demand for this style in Australia and across the world right now.
“Blues is life,” Connor concludes. “It’s hard, it hits you in the chest, but it fills you with this kind of charged energy that makes your hair stand up, and makes your thoughts melt away. We wanted to try and capture that soul of the genre in our own modern way with this tune, and we can’t wait to hear what people think of it.”
You Won’t Call is out today.
LAMBROS – UPCOMING SHOWS:
SAT 28 FEB | FRESHWATER BREWING CO. SYDNEY NSW | ALL AGES
Free Entry, information available at https://freshwaterbrewing.com.au/pages/live-band
SAT 7 MARCH | 7TH DAY BREWERY, SYDNEY NSW | ALL AGES
Free Entry, information available at https://www.7thdaybrewery.com.au/
SAT 13 MARCH | TOWRADGI BEACH HOTEL, TOWRADGI NSW | ALL AGES
Free Entry, information available at https://towradgibeachhotel.com.au/whats-on/
SAT 14 MARCH | DUCLIE’S COTTAGE, MERIMBULA NSW | ALL AGES
Free Entry, information available at https://www.dulcies.com.au/events-1
SAT 21 MARCH | PLEASURE CLUB, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
Free Entry, bookings available at https://www.oddculture.group/venue/pleasure-club
FOLEY release new EP LIKE AN ACTRESS with stunning single ‘GOING EASY’
Fusing sonic vibrancy with a beautifully evolved chapter of songwriting, FOLEY proudly present their new project in five-track EP, LIKE AN ACTRESS.
The arrival of this new collection marks a new touchstone for the Sydney-based indie-pop duo, as they have spent the last year working relentlessly on new music while touring their acclaimed second studio album, That’s Life, Baby!
LIKE AN ACTRESS continues to chart the course of FOLEY’s previous work, bolstering their catalogue with music that speaks to Ash Wallace and Gabe Everett’s ever-expanding realm of influences and sounds. Featuring singles ‘CINEMATIC’ and ‘HONEY’, the record shines with charisma and personality.
Recorded across Australia and Aotearoa with collaborators including Josh Naley (also known as the artist Wells*, producer for others including Navvy and Paige), the duo explains that creating LIKE AN ACTRESS was a process that was instantly organic. Pouring into their in-studio environment, using visuals on screen that pulled from ‘90s and ‘00s romcoms, Foley were able to get into sonic palette of this project with ease.
As they explain, “We approached this EP with more organic instruments – so that the studio experience was more physical and band driven. The live show is such a crucial part of the project, so we wanted to write the songs even more locked into the show, with live instruments and feel. A lot of them were written with live piano, acoustic guitar, and live drums which is a real change up for us. It really unlocked a new energy in the studio – and the songs have a joy in them that I think you can really hear”
Thematically, LIKE AN ACTRESS navigates observations on identity, love, loss and the complex nature of relationships with others and with oneself (‘Suckerpunch’, ‘Going Easy’).
For those who have been on the ride with FOLEY since their early days, this is the type of record that will land with added emotional weight – a graduation in a style and presentation from this talented pair of songwriters. For newcomers, a perfect gateway to one of the best music discoveries of 2026.
“Thematically it’s built upon the topics we frequently chat about in our friendship – love, loss, exploration, identity. Because it was written way more organically than previous records, the themes and lyrics feel more joined into the sonics of each track, rather than being a layer of emotion over the top. Everything feels very cohesive, dreamy and fluid which is a fun change!” FOLEY
FOLEY’s music has been attaining new levels of success with each release; ‘HONEY’ itself landing a #1 position on the Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles charts, as well as coming in as the #1 Most Added Song on NZ radio in November.
That’s Life, Baby! – released in February 2025 – was included on Rolling Stone AU/NZ’s list of THE 80 BEST NEW ZEALAND ALBUMS OF THE 2020s SO FAR, coming in at #50. For FOLEY, the accolades bolster numerous award nominations, including one for ‘Best Group’ at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards, as well as an expansion of their live footprint. They have toured internationally through South Korea and North America, while also continuing to blaze a trail for themselves in Aotearoa and Australia.
‘LIKE AN ACTRESS’ is out Wednesday 25 February
Foley: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Tik Tok | Triple J Unearthed
SOUTH SUMMIT ANNOUNCE SOPHOMORE ALBUM RUN IT BACK OUT FRIDAY JUNE 12
PRE-SAVE ALBUM HERE. CONTINUE TO EVOLVE WITH SINGLE & VIDEO ‘ON THE DASH’ LISTEN HERE | WATCH HERE
South Summit today announce their sophomore album RUN IT BACK, arriving Friday June 12, alongside new single and video ‘ON THE DASH’ – “a laid-back groove built for open roads, kicking back, staying steezy and enjoying the moment.”
LISTEN TO SINGLE HERE
Written during a session at Emerald Studios with Six60 guitarist Marlon Gerbes, the band set out to explore a bounce-rock groove – a style they love but had never fully leaned into. Experimenting with chord patterns and letting the vibe lead, the track quickly found its shape, drawing inspiration from the rhythmic swagger and sonic palette of Pharrell Williams.
The accompanying video mirrors the track’s effortless spirit. Filmed spontaneously while the band were relaxing before a Ballarat show, a quick servo stop for snacks turned into the entire video when videographer Brendan hit record – capturing what became their most carefree and fun shoot yet. “The video was our least thought-out, but we had the most fun doing it,” the band share.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
Marking the third single from the forthcoming record, ‘ON THE DASH’ highlights a fresh sonic direction while staying rooted in the grooves the band grew up on. More broadly, RUN IT BACK signals a new chapter for the band – one shaped by growth, experimentation and a willingness to push beyond expectations while staying true to the connection that has always defined their sound.
The band comments, “We feel like every project we do, we’re sharing a piece of ourselves to the world, so it’s a very vulnerable thing. “RUN IT BACK” is a whole two years of our lives in 50 minutes that we get to share with people who have supported us and resonated with our stories. So this means everything to us.”
Previous releases ‘TOP OF THE HILL’ and ‘WE ARE’ have garnered strong national support, including first plays on triple j Drive, rotation adds across triple j and Unearthed, and landing in the Top 50 Most Played songs. Their music has also received media support from HIT Hot Hits, Esquire Australia, Rolling Stone AU, Triple M Homegrown, 10 Mag Australia, Scenestr, triple j Unearthed Six Pack and Temper Mag.
South Summit’s rapid rise on stage has matched their growing audience. Over the past year, the band supported Tash Sultana on their first Australian headline tour since 2019, toured nationally with The Dreggs, performed at triple j’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, and appeared at Sweet Home Aotearoa Festival in January. They joined the Spilt Milk Festival lineup in December alongside Kendrick Lamar, Doechii and Dominic Fike, before embarking on their biggest East Coast headline tour to date in November.
South Summit will make their Bluesfest debut this April, alongside upcoming performances at Always Good Nights and a support slot with L.A.B. in Townsville. They’ll also be hitting the road with The Terrys in the UK & Europe for a 15-date tour this March.
With RUN IT BACK, South Summit step into a bold new phase – a record shaped by growth, fearless experimentation and the unbreakable bond at the heart of the band.
LISTEN TO ‘ON THE DASH’ HERE
PRE-SAVE RUN IT BACK HERE
SOUTH SUMMIT LIVE SHOWS 2026
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
FOLLOW SOUTH SUMMIT
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63 DELUXE – Adelaide Blues Trio Return With New Album Side Ways (To Be Released On February 25)
Adelaide modern blues trio 63 Deluxe are set to release their second full-length album, Side Ways, on Wednesday, February 25. Featuring 12 all new tracks Side Ways finds the band digging deeper into groove, feel and songwriting without losing the raw edge that defines their sound.
Featuring of some of Adelaide’s most seasoned players; vocalist/guitarist Anthony Scott, Jack Thomson on drums and Bret Hann on bass, 63 Deluxe have built a reputation on instinct rather than flash. A tight, road-tested unit where blues, soul, funk and rock sit comfortably side by side. Side Ways follows their Nashville-recorded EP Memphis To Nashville, (which peaked at #1 on the ABARAC – Australian Blues & Roots Airplay Charts), but this time the band kept things closer to home, recording in Adelaide with frontman, Anthony Scott behind the desk.
The shift back to home turf has paid off. Side Ways captures a band more relaxed in its skin and willing to stretch out musically, moving from gritty blues workouts to funk driven grooves and soulful, late-night textures seamlessly.
First single ‘The Fire Inside’, set the tone. A driving, funk-leaning track with plenty of movement, it’s a reminder that while 63 Deluxe may be rooted in the blues, they’re not confined by it. There’s energy here, but also restraint, the sound of experienced musicians playing to the song rather than the spotlight.
Watch the video here
https://youtu.be/GUzfH6Hk7BU
With Side Ways, 63 Deluxe continue to carve out their own corner of the Australian blues landscape. unforced, unpretentious and built completely on feel.
Side Ways is released on February 25,
Pre orders are available now
63deluxe.bandcamp.com
FOLLOW 63 Deluxe
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Running Touch Channels Early 2000s Euro Energy on New Single Capri
Australian singer, songwriter and producer Running Touch returns with his new single Capri, delivering a euphoric house cut that leans into nostalgia while ushering in a fresh creative chapter for one of Australia’s most versatile electronic artists.
Running Touch is the solo project of Matthew Victor Kopp, a multi-instrumentalist and producer whose refusal to be boxed into a single genre has cemented his reputation as one of Australia’s hottest musical exports. Alongside his solo work, Kopp is also a founding member of Ocean Grove, a role he has held since 2010, remaining a studio-only member since 2014 while building an internationally recognised catalogue under the Running Touch name.
Capri arrives as a sun-soaked, emotionally charged track built for movement, memory and release. Drawing on the warmth of early-2000s radio dance music and the unmistakable rush of Euro-inspired club anthems, the track captures the feeling of golden hour, where nostalgia and energy collide. It is a song made for open roads, late afternoons and those moments where past and present blur into something euphoric.
“Capri is a euphoric house track built on a nostalgic early-2000s radio sound. Inspired by Basshunter and Justin timberlake, It’s made for golden hour for those who have been, miss and love euro energy.”
For Running Touch, Capri also serves as a creative bridge into what comes next, expanding on the emotional clarity and dancefloor focus that has defined recent releases while opening the door to a broader sonic palette rooted in classic radio dance influences.
Running Touch boasts a formidable track record across radio, streaming and live performance. His catalogue includes Triple Platinum certification for Better Together, Double Platinum for When I’m Around You, and Platinum for This Is Just To Say, alongside Gold status for My Hands. He achieved Most Played status on triple j with My Hands and has consistently placed in the triple j Hottest 100, including a #78 position for Better Together, reinforcing his long-standing connection with Australian audiences. His influence has also been recognised with an APRA Most Played Award, highlighting his significant impact on national airwaves.
Renowned for his dynamic live presence, Running Touch has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, including Coachella, Ultra Music Festival, Splendour In The Grass, Beyond The Valley and Listen Out, while touring globally in support of Hayden James across the USA, ZHU in the USA and Japan, Chase Atlantic across the UK and Australia, Lastlings in the USA and Odesza in Australia. A frequent collaborator, he has worked closely with artists such as Hayden James, Cassian, Lastlings, Crooked Colours, and Jungle Giants, further cementing his global appeal.
With consistent editorial playlist support across Hot Hits, Workout Beats and New Dance Beats, Capri positions Running Touch firmly at the intersection of nostalgia and forward momentum. As he continues to explore the emotional pull of early-2000s dance culture through a modern lens, Capri stands as both a love letter to euro energy and a confident step into his next era.
Capri Single LISTEN
CONNECT WITH RUNNING TOUCH https://www.instagram.com/runningtouch/
COURTNEY BARNETT UNVEILS TWO BRAND-NEW SINGLES “MANTIS” AND “SUGAR PLUM”. FOURTH STUDIO ALBUM CREATURE OF HABIT OUT MARCH 27
GRAMMY-nominated Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett debuts two brand new songs, “Mantis” and “Sugar Plum,” via Fiction. The new tracks serve as the third and fourth official singles off her highly anticipated fourth studio album, Creature of Habit, to be released on March 27.
‘Mantis’ is one of Creature of Habit’s pivotal tracks, documenting the moment of serendipity where a praying mantis visited Barnett’s studio and indirectly provided the inspiration and creative pathway that would lead to the completion of her album. “Praying mantis on my door, looking for meaning or just any sign at all,” she sings over guitars as bright and urgent as a desert sunrise. It’s Barnett at her most bright-eyed, clear and melodic.
‘Sugar Plum’ is also a radiant highlight from Creature of Habit. As with many tracks on the album, the song deals with Barnett’s life-long struggle with self-doubt before a sense of optimism and wonder wins out in a transcendent final refrain.
“Mantis is the microcosmic centerpiece of this album, it embodies the message and meaning of every track. It’s a song about searching, and it helped me find my way through Creature Of Habit.
I was feeling particularly lost while I was working on this song. One day, I was standing in the kitchen, making a coffee, when I noticed a little green praying mantis sitting on top of the doorframe. I had never seen one there in the desert house, so I took it as an important sign from the universe. I texted a photo to Stella and she said it’s good luck, look it up! I did a quick search and found it to also represent patience, perseverance and a guide for those who needed direction. I stood and spoke to the mantis for a while, it was a strange and enlightening moment that I’ll never forget. Eventually, I got back to writing, and finally I had the chorus to this song.”
Creature of Habit is a bold, emotionally resonant record that explores the central question: how to get out of your own way so you can truly feel your life. Written in the wake of a relocation from Australia to Los Angeles and the closure of her long-running label Milk! Records, Barnett was grappling with changes that put the future of both her life and career in question. Rather than internalizing those feelings, she decided to bring all this swirling confusion directly into the recording process. With previous singles “Stay in Your Lane,” and “Site Unseen (feat. Waxahatchee)” setting the tone, the album will mark a decisive new chapter in Courtney Barnett’s musical evolution.
‘MANTIS’ – out now LISTEN HERE
‘SUGAR PLUM’ – out now LISTEN HERE
MORE INFO:
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AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS CELEBRATE THEIR 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY. ANNOUNCE GIDDY UP/BIG ATTRACTION SPECIAL EDITION VINYL & CD – AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ODER NOW, OUT 22 MAY 2026 VIA VIRGIN MUSIC GROUP
Ten years ago, in a sharehouse on Chapel Street, four 20-year-olds with zero expectations wrote and recorded an EP in a single afternoon. Those six blistering minutes of music became Giddy Up. An hour later, Amyl and The Sniffers had a name, a Bandcamp upload, and the beginnings of a legacy.
Following a year of backyard gigs, playing for friends and partying across Melbourne’s sticky carpet music scene, the band released their iconic second EP Big Attraction in 2017. Now, to celebrate a decade of raw power and reckless spirit, Giddy Up/Big Attraction returns in a definitive 10th anniversary 12-inch vinyl edition — fully remastered for maximum punch. Featuring early classics like ‘I’m Not A Loser’ and ‘Stole My Pushbike’, plus enduring live favourites ‘Balaclava Lover Boogie’ and ‘Westgate’ this is the sound of Amyl and The Sniffers before the world caught up — feral, funny, and unstoppable.
The LP is housed in a gatefold sleeve showcasing Chris Sutherland’s iconic 2017 band photo, alongside an exclusive new essay from Amy Taylor and a heap of never-before-seen behind-the-scenes shots from the band’s earliest days by Jamie Wdziekonski.
As Amy recalls: “We recorded and wrote over the afternoon… we’d never played together before that day… it’s spontaneous, and fun and achievable in that time because to us it sounded more than good and we weren’t perfectionists and it didn’t matter.”
From DIY house shows in Melbourne to international stages, it all started here.
Amyl and the Sniffers – Balaclava Lover Boogie
UPCOMING 2026 US/EU TOUR DATES
Jun 4, 2026 RBC Amphitheatre Toronto, ON
Jun 5, 2026 Place Bell Montreal, QC
Jun 6, 2026 The Governors Ball at Flushing Meadows Corona Park Queens
Jun 8, 2026 Highmark Skyline Stage at the Mann Philadelphia, PA
Jun 9, 2026 MGM Music Hall at Fenway Boston, MA
Jun 10, 2026 The Anthem Washington, DC
Jun 12, 2026 The Factory St. Louis, MO
Jun 13, 2026 Bonnaroo Manchester, TN
Jun 14, 2026 The Salt Shed – Fairgrounds Chicago, IL
Jun 16, 2026 Astro Theater Omaha, NE
Jun 17, 2026 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO
Jun 20, 2026 Surly Brewing Festival Field Minneapolis, MN
Aug 7, 2026 Hot in the City – Trieste Estate Trieste, Italy
Aug 7, 2026 – Aug 9, 2026 OFF Festival Katowice, Poland
Aug 8, 2026 SRC Salata Zagreb, Croatia
Aug 12, 2026 – Aug 15, 2026 Øya Festival Oslo, Oslo
Aug 12, 2026 – Aug 15, 2026 Paredes de Coura Festival Paredes, Portugal
Aug 13, 2026 – Aug 15, 2026 Syd for Solen Festival Copenhagen
Aug 16, 2026 Capitol Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Aug 18, 2026 Razzmatazz Barcelona, Spain
Aug 19, 2026 Razzmatazz Barcelona, Spain
Aug 23, 2026 All Points East Festival London, England
Aug 25, 2026 Collins Barracks Dublin, Ireland
Aug 26, 2026 Collins Barracks Dublin, County Dublin
Aug 29, 2026 Rock en Seine Paris, France
Amyl and The Sniffers – Giddy Up / Big Attraction
LP out Friday 22 May via Virgin Music Group
ABOUT AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS
In the ten years since Amyl and The Sniffers came together in Melbourne’s sticky pub-rock scene, Amyl and The Sniffers have become masters of balancing power and playfulness. With three critically acclaimed albums under their belt alongside numerous award and accolades – 2019’s self-titled debut and 2021’s visceral Comfort To Me and 2024’s Cartoon Darkness – vocalist Amy Taylor, guitarist Declan Mehrtens, bassist Gus Romer and drummer Bryce Wilson have achieved something unique and remarkable. They are unmistakably “Aussie”, down-to-earth and true to their roots. They are also one of the most exciting young rock bands on the planet.
The band’s live audiences have grown even faster than their reputation, taking them around the world on sold-out tours several times over, playing ever-larger venues throughout Europe, North America and beyond, with recent shows stretching from Mexico to India to Japan. From grassroots clubs shows to major concert halls, the band has become a regular mainstage and headline feature of festivals including Primavera, Glastonbury, Coachella, Green Man, Osheaga, Outside Lands, Best Keep Secret, All Points East and dozens more; and been called up for European and US stadium supports with the likes of Green Day and Foo Fighters, and more recently opening for acts AC/DC, Turnstile, Fontaines D.C & Kneecap @ Finsbury Park. As a live act, the word is well and truly out: if you need a band to decimate a stage, you call Amyl and The Sniffers.
Since the release of Comfort to Me, the band has seen their horizons broaden exponentially in every way. And it’s this attitude – bigger, brighter, smarter, sharper – that fuelled their third album, Cartoon Darkness. Recorded with producer Nick Launay at Foo Fighters’ 606 Studios in Los Angeles, on the same desk that captured Nirvana’s Nevermind and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, the latest Amyl offering is full of surprises. Musically, Mehrtens, Romer and Wilson have written The Sniffers’ most diverse album yet. It stretches from classic punk to the glammy strut of recent single ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ to the stormy balladry of ‘Big Dreams’ (which is a sonic gear shift worthy of the title).
The band have walked away since with a Grammy-nomination for ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’, and will kick off another huge US and EU tour run starting in June.
CONNECT WITH AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS
https://www.facebook.com/amylandthesniffers/
https://www.instagram.com/amylandthesniffers/?hl=en
https://www.amylandthesniffers.com/
J NUI & MARTINE KITE REVEAL PENSIVE COLLAB ‘SEE U 2’
Emerging Meanjin/Brisbane powerhouses J Nui and Martine Kite unveil their latest collaborative effort, ‘SEE U 2’ – entirely produced, mixed, and mastered by J Nui at Soundbox Studios in Fortitude Valley.
‘SEE U 2’ is a contemplative, dance-driven cut, using sparse, silky production to envelop the listener in the track’s lyrical pocket of late-night thoughts and anxieties. Staccato percussion sets the sonic bedrock as both artists go to and fro, letting their eventual combinations gloriously elevate the track.
J Nui explains the inspiration for the track:
“‘SEE U 2’ captures the emotional whiplash of being sure about someone and then questioning everything the moment you’re apart. It’s about the kind of connection that feels real in your chest, but gets tested by time zones, distance, and the stories your mind writes in the quiet. Across the collaboration, we unpack that push–pull: reassurance vs. doubt, presence vs. absence, and the simple question that sits underneath it all – do you still feel it the way I do?”
J Nui is the creative project of producer Ben Rangi, who started his production journey in 2005, remixing tracks on a “Limewire-sponsored” copy of FL Studio 5. Ben explains further, “My musicality is deeply rooted in my Māori culture, from early years in kapa haka, learning the songs and ceremonial gestures of his community, to being raised on Motown by his self-taught musician father.”
Born in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, and hailing from the Nande tribe in Butembo, Martine Kite is inspired by Doechii’s boldness, Rihanna’s confidence, and Tyla’s movement-driven energy. She adds, “Growing up surrounded by Congolese and East African music, rhythm has always felt instinctive to me, something that lives in my body rather than something I learned. Performing allows me to fully express that connection, blending emotion, movement, and storytelling into my sound.”
Over the years, J Nui has become a staple of the Meanjin/Brisbane scene, opening for Genesis Owusu and selling out headline shows at Black Bear Lodge. Kite’s artistry has seen her support international Nigerian star Omah Lay, amongst others.
‘SEE U 2’ is available worldwide now
FOLLOW J NUI
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SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | AMAZON MUSIC | SOUNDCLOUD | YOUTUBE | BANDCAMP
FOLLOW MARTINE KITE
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FUR BLOSSOM Chase The Zeitgeist With Single ‘Goldsmith’ Ahead of Tour. Single Out Now
Coming back out of the haze, Melbourne’s Fur Blossom are fronting the evolution revolution with their latest single ‘Goldsmith’, out Friday, February 20.
In 2025, Fur Blossom released their debut EP ‘The She Said Sun EP’, a kaleidoscopic exploration of psychedelic rock. Following up with a regional Victorian tour, the four-piece band have taken to the scene with an unrelenting ferocity. This year will see the band make their festival debut, first at Mordi Festival (Melbourne), then in Tasmania this March at Good Gumnuts Festival, before heading up the East Coast in support of their new single ‘Goldsmith’.
Combining classic elements from the pioneers of the 60s and 70s, and the sleek modernness of the 21st century, ‘Goldsmith’ is a zeitgeist in its own right. Musically, it evokes the time and spirit of an era from the past, but lyrically speaks to the ageless conundrum of changing yourself for someone else, or someone from your past.
An articulated and undulating guitar riff immediately sets the tone for the slow burn of the extended introduction. The subtle fade in of each instrument creates a false sense of security, and before you know it, you are sucked into a sonic vortex. The crisp and contemplative vocal performance from Craig Tees rises above the instrumentation, before fading back in the chorus, creating depth and dimension to allow every part of the arrangement to speak and demand attention.
Just when you think the track is coming to a close, a cleverly placed fade out opens the floor for a surprise harmonica break (Craig Tees), further propelling the track into the groovy stratosphere. The final chorus is stronger dynamically, with a wistful nostalgia in the final lyrical refrains, which capture the overarching narrative of ‘Goldsmith’.
Fur Blossom invites you to change and experience the zeitgeist of modern psychedelic rock with ‘Goldsmith’, out everywhere, Friday, February 20. Then, catch them on tour throughout March – details below.
Upcoming Shows
Friday, February 27 – Melbourne, VIC – Nighthawks (single launch)
Sunday, March 1 – Mordiallic, VIC – Mordiallic Festival
Saturday, March 7 – Burnie, TAS – Good Gumnuts Festival
Sunday, March 8 – Burnie, TAS – Good Gumnuts Festival
Friday, March 13 – Sydney, NSW – The Loft
Saturday, March 14 – Wollongong, NSW – Dicey Riley’s Hotel
Follow Fur Blossom
Spotify | Apple Music | Youtube
CHLOE VIOLETTE Paints Heartache and Hope On New Album ‘Colourfast’. Album Out Now
‘Colourfast’ is made to last. A musical narrative of resilience and reflection, ‘Colourfast’ by Chloe Violette is set for release on Friday, February 20. An artist unafraid to champion topics such as mental health, grief, and claiming space, Chloe blends atmospheric soundscapes with captivating honesty in an indie pop and folk style on her upcoming album.
Originally shaped between inner-city Melbourne (Naarm) and regional Victoria on Brataualung Country, ‘Colourfast’ traces Chloe’s shift from city life to small-town living. Swapping the No. 11 tram to West Preston for long V/Line journeys, the now Gippsland-based artist captures a recalibration of pace, place, and identity through songs balancing heartache and hope.
‘Colourfast’ is an album born out of lockdown, reflecting Chloe’s inner and outer worlds at a time when motivation felt fragile. It explores themes of monotony, heaviness, and hope, tracing a contrasting emotional journey alongside the sweet, simple moments of humanity.
Traces of optimism emerge in the title track ‘Colourfast’, which centres on endurance and forward movement. The lyrics chart a story of graduated resilience, while the music weaves folky acoustic guitars, buttery piano, steadfast rhythms, and subtle harmonies.
Chloe further explores grief, healing, and heartbreak in songs such as ‘Skin’, ‘Road to Recovery’, and ‘Brave Face’, touching on mental illness, inner turmoil, and the process of coming out the other side.
These themes sit alongside organic guitars and keys, honeyed harmonies, and the simple yet powerful warmth of drums and bass. Tracks such as ‘Gin’ evoke the feeling of settling beside a fireplace at sunset with a cold glass in hand, capturing moments of stillness and reflection.
Produced by Josh Walton, the album features Chloe Violette on guitar and vocals, with Isaac Bakker on lead guitar. Drums are performed by Lachy Wyatt, with Josh Walton contributing percussion and additional instrumentation across select tracks.
In Chloe’s words to producer Josh Walton: “I want the listener to feel like Dorothy stepping out of sepia-toned Kansas into technicolour Oz.” It is safe to say they nailed the brief.
Shaped over three years with close collaborators, the album celebrates creative community and was recorded across New Market Studios, Bellbird Studios in Collingwood, and Gippsland’s Macks Creek Hall, each influencing its organic sound. The album also reflects a significant personal shift for Chloe, marking a move away from classroom teaching towards a life centred on music and creative practice.
The resilient and hopeful ‘Colourfast’ will be released on Friday, February 20 and celebrated live as Chloe Violette and her band take to the stage at The Grace Darling, Collingwood, on Saturday, February 28.
Album Launch
Saturday, Feb 28 – The Grace Darling, Collingwood (Melbourne) | Tickets
Follow Chloe Violette
http://linktr.ee/chloeviolette
Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp | Youtube
ASTEROID EKOSYSTEM release second studio album Sounds Have Dreams ahead of rare live dates
The brainchild of avant composer / keyboardist and ARIA Award winner Alister Spence, the all-instrumental Asteroid Ekosystem also feature guitarist and musical pioneer Ed Kuepper, improvisational upright bassist Lloyd Swanton (The Necks) and drummer Toby Hall (The Catholics / Mike Nock)
ASTEROID EKOSYSTEM today release their 2nd studio album Sounds Have Dreams before launching it with two rare Sydney live dates.
Sounds Have Dreams is now released in CD and digital formats including hi-res audio (24bit-96k) and available immediately via http://alisterspence.bandcamp.com, where you can now preview all tracks.
The album is also available on streaming and point-of-sale platforms, and in good
record stores such as Birdland Records, Sydney. Australian distribution is handled by Magnetic South Distribution.
There will be two Sydney launch shows on 20 and 21 March at 21 Shepherd Street, Marrickville, hosted by the Living Room Theatre in connection with Feel Presents.
Remaining tickets for the March 20 & 21 shows are available via https://events.humanitix.com/asteroid-ekosystem
“It’s not jazz, it’s not rock…Whatever you want to call it, this is one mighty sonic trip that paints colourful pictures in the mind.” – Noel Mengel
The brainchild of avant composer / keyboardist and ARIA Award winner Alister Spence, the all-instrumental Asteroid Ekosystem also feature guitarist and musical pioneer Ed Kuepper (The Saints, Laughing Clowns etc), improvisational upright bassist Lloyd Swanton (The Necks) and drummer Toby Hall (The Catholics / Mike Nock).
Featuring twelve original compositions recorded by the band in two days at Rancom St Studios, Sydney in April 2025, Sounds Have Dreams meshes together Ed’s exploratory, free-flowing, highly coloured guitar brilliance, with acoustic piano, double bass, and drums, sometimes played in unusual and mysterious ways.
Alister Spence explains the process: “In August 2024 I recorded Ed playing electric guitar solo in Brisbane, with the help of sound engineer Derek Bovill. I took sounds and musical phrases that Ed played on the Brisbane session and composed pieces and ideas for improvisation that we could explore as a band. These were recorded by Asteroid Ekosystem in Sydney in April 2025.
“On the album Ed’s first session guitar recordings have been added to provide introductions, backgrounds, and loops, for all pieces on the album except ‘Open To.’ Most of these we played along to while we were recording. Rock, psychedelia, improvisation, jazz, blend together to form a unique sound that can only be Asteroid Ekosystem!”
Asteroid Ekosystem’s self-titled debut album (2020) earned international acclaim and was shortlisted for the 2021 APRA/AMCOS Art Music Awards (Jazz Work of the Year). Sounds Have Dreams continues this evolution, pushing further into expansive, emotionally charged sonic terrain.
ASTEROID EKOSYSTEM:
Alister Spence – piano
Ed Kuepper – electric guitar
Toby Hall – drums
For Hermann (Live at the Great Club, Sydney, 7th December, 2022)
Asteroid Ekosystem — Alister Spence Music
‘Another Feel Presents initiative…’
www.feelpresents.com
AUGUST BURNS RED MAKE TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO FEARLESS RECORDS + SHARE VIDEO FOR EPIC NEW SINGLE BEHEMOTH
August Burns Red — Jake Luhrs (vocals); JB Brubaker (guitar); Brent Rambler (guitar); Dustin Davidson (bass); and Matt Grenier (drums) — need no introduction. For over two decades, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based act has been crafting its own unique brand of metalcore that has established ABR as one of the foremost acts in the genre.
Their career milestones speak for themselves: multiple placements in the top 10 on the Billboard Top 200; tours with everyone from Bullet For My Valentine to A Day To Remember; an accumulation of 600 million streams. However the band — nominated for Best Metal Performance Grammys in 2016 for the song Identity and again for Invisible Enemy in 2018 — have never stopped pushing the limits of their sound. Which brings us to now — the release of the new single Behemoth, along with their triumphant return to Fearless Records.
Stream Behemoth here
Behemoth is, well, exactly what its title suggests. It’s massive in every way — from the Herculean breakdowns to the battering ram percussion to the battle cry choruses that demand singing along! But ABR also prove that being heavy AF doesn’t always mean fast and loud. They drop a quiet moment amidst the maelstrom and as they close out the song, and it’s those moments that illustrate just how ferocious they are.
There’s a reason ABR are one of the most enduring and beloved bands in the metalcore scene. They’re as consistent as ever, yet always evolving.
“Behemoth is a song that probably went through more revisions and changes than any song we’ve ever written,” says Brubaker. “While frustrating at times, the conversations and re-writes were worth the effort as we collectively feel very proud of how this song turned out. I believe it’s one of the heaviest and most raw songs we’ve ever delivered.”
“Lyrically, Behemoth speaks about the realization of past pains living through present actions in life,” states Luhrs. “With the determination to face this reality, a process of healing and breaking old ways leads to a rebirth. It’s about cutting the ties to your past, giving it no space to live in the present, and inevitably, changing the course of your life.”
ABR will hit the road on a co-headline run with The Amity Affliction this April and May in North America.
BEHEMOTH – OUT NOW https://agstbrnsrd.ffm.to/behemoth.OYD
KARLY JEWELL Returns Home to Headline Wentworth Cancer Benefit Concert on Saturday, March 7
Melbourne-based artist Karly Jewell will return to her hometown of Wentworth, NSW on March 7 to headline a special Cancer Benefit Concert at the Wentworth Showgrounds, bringing together music, community and culture for a full day dedicated to raising funds for cancer research.
The event, founded by local organiser Patrick Nunan, was created to support cancer research and community awareness. Now in its second year, the 2026 edition sees Jewell stepping in as headliner to help grow the event into something lasting and meaningful for the region she still calls home.
“For me this isn’t just another show,” says Jewell. “My late grandfather helped establish country music festivals in the area many years ago, so coming back to Wentworth to be part of something that supports the community and raises money for cancer research feels like a full circle moment and something we can continue to build on.”
While this show is firmly rooted in community, Jewell returns home with significant momentum behind her. Her second full length album There’s A Jewell In Town recently debuted at No.3 on the ARIA Australian Artists Chart, cementing her reputation as one of Melbourne’s most powerful contemporary rock voices.
Known for dynamic live performances and a voice that moves easily between rock grit and heartfelt delivery, Jewell has built a growing international audience through releases including the latest single Rock Ain’t Pretty, a track that captures the reality of carving out a life in music through persistence and hard work rather than shortcuts.
Her career has taken her from Melbourne’s iconic live venues to international stages including Los Angeles’ Whisky A Go Go and the Viper Room, alongside tours of Japan and strong global radio support. Despite that upward trajectory, the March 7 event remains deeply personal.
The Mayor of Wentworth will officially open proceedings and the day runs from 11am to 9pm with free entry and donation points throughout the site, the all-ages community fundraiser will feature a diverse lineup of live music and cultural performances, alongside family entertainment, food vendors and local exhibitors.
Joining Jewell on stage are Audio Reign, The Dreadful Tides and a selection of local and visiting artists, alongside appearances from the Thuukalu Dancers performing traditional Indigenous dance, Irish dancers, children’s entertainers Little Notes and a range of community performers across the day.
The event has drawn strong support from across the Wentworth and Sunraysia region, with sponsorship from Wentworth Shire Council, Trio Support Services and The Coomealla Club, alongside backing from local businesses and media including Triple M Sunraysia, BCF, Autobarn and music industry partners, Melbourne Backline, Maric Media, Shot By Slaidins and XMusic.
Beyond the music, the showgrounds will host food vendors, family activities, raffles and community stalls, reinforcing the event’s focus on connection as much as entertainment. All proceeds and donations from the day will go toward cancer research initiatives, with organisers encouraging attendees to register for free tickets in advance and contribute via on-site donation points.
EVENT DETAILS
Cancer Benefit Concert – Raising Funds for Cancer Research
Wentworth Showgrounds, NSW
Saturday March 7, 2026
11:00am – 9:00pm
All ages | Free entry | Donations encouraged
Register:
https://events.humanitix.com/concert-for-cancer-research-second-annual-community-fundraiser
Donate:
https://fundraise.acrf.com.au/fundraisers/patricknunan
There’s A Jewel In Town is out now featuring many of Karly’s latest singles and on Friday, March 6, the day before this amazing event Karly will release the final single from the album, called,
Check Out. A song about ….Karly to fill in here
Follow Karly
karlyjewell.com
YNG MARTYR ANNOUNCES ALBUM CHALANT SET FOR RELEASE FRIDAY MARCH 27
PRE-SAVE ALBUM HERE
SHARES SINGLE ‘REAL GEEK’ LISTEN HERE | WATCH VIDEO HERE
YNG Martyr is done playing it cool and today announces his sophomore album CHALANT is set for release Friday March 27. The Australian rapper sheds the mystique that dominates modern hip-hop, inviting listeners deeper into his world than ever before.
Arriving alongside today’s release of new single ‘REAL GEEK’, the project marks a defining moment in Martyr’s evolution from internet disruptor to one of Australia’s most respected hip-hop voices.
LISTEN TO SINGLE HERE
With more than 350 million global streams, performances at Split Milk, Falls Festival and SXSW, and tours alongside Iann Dior and DC The Don, Martyr’s rise has been relentless. Yet on CHALANT, he moves against the grain. Renowned for his instinctive grasp of trends and marketing, his message is disarmingly simple: be yourself, make what you want, and push it forward.
A lot has changed since 2023’s Lovesick. He’s found love, toured internationally, and returned home with renewed confidence. “It was really good to see people in the flesh who love my music,” he says. “To play these songs and see the real-world impact of writing music from an island on the other side of the world.”
Created organically and driven by Martyr’s desire to make fun, boastful music, CHALANT is among his most authentic work to date. The album leans into underground sounds like rage and jerk while showcasing his sharp lyrical instinct, the same commanding presence that shook audiences during his triple j Bars of Steel performance.
From the title track opener to today’s focus single ‘REAL GEEK’, the record is threaded with gaming references – true to Martyr’s roots, having first freestyled in Call of Duty lobbies.
Longtime collaborator and producer/engineer REYKO! played a central role in shaping the album, with plenty of collaborative production throughout the album from Synthetic (Yeat, Lil Uzi Vert), 4 x Grammy Winner Joey Barrios, Trenton Kyle (Destroy Lonely, Ian), while Grammy Award-winning mix engineer Teezio (Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow) provided the final polish.
Previous singles ‘SINCE YOU BEEN GONE’, ‘MILKSHAKES’, ‘UH-HUH’, and ‘GEEKD’ signalled a shift away from manufactured mystique toward a more open, front-footed era reflecting Martyrs’ current chapter.
The releases have drawn strong support across CADA, triple j and iHeartRadio’s TikTok Trending, alongside DSP playlisting on Spotify’s Local Hype, Apple Music’s The New Australia, New Fire and Rap Life, and coverage from Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Backseat Mafia, Loiter, AUD$, Ones To Watch, Happy and Rage.
The new music will hit stages worldwide in 2026, with YNG Martyr set to perform at Rolling Loud Sydney and Melbourne (March 7–8) before an iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre performance in Colorado on April 16 alongside bbno$ and Oliver Tree.
From underground buzz to global takeover, YNG Martyr’s run speaks for itself – ‘Nike Ticks’ storming past 90 million streams, ‘BURR’ lighting up TikTok with 210k creations, and ‘GLEAMING’ has been making noise worldwide, its slick production and emotional punch turning first-time listeners into instant fans.
With CHALANT, YNG Martyr steps fully into himself. “When people hear CHALANT, I want them to learn something about themselves,” he says. “You don’t need to be super cool to do super cool things. You don’t need to be anything that you’re not.”
FOLLOW YNG MARTYR TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE
THE MANDEVILLES END FOUR-YEAR SILENCE WITH ELECTRIFYING CO-PRODUCED NEW SINGLE “EVERY BIT OF VIOLENCE”
After a four-year hiatus from the airwaves, the visceral rock and roll force The Mandevilles has officially returned with their brand-new single, “Every Bit Of Violence”. Out now via Snareguy Records, the track marks a high-stakes evolution for the Welland-based outfit, blending the raw energy of rock and roll with a modern, alternative edge. Built on a foundation of grit and cinematic intensity, the single arrives as a powerful reminder of why founding partners Serena Pryne and Nick Lesyk have remained a cornerstone of the Canadian rock scene for over a decade.
The genesis of “Every Bit Of Violence” is as legendary as the sound itself; the song was quite literally written live on stage during a low-key afternoon gig. When an impromptu riff from Lesyk sparked an immediate vocal melody from Pryne, the band mapped out the structure of the track in real-time, capturing the lightning-in-a-bottle moment via phone recordings. This spirit of total spontaneity carried into the studio, where the band—rounded out by guitarist/synthesist Taylor Laslo—collaborated with mixer and co-producer Russ Donohue to refine a sound that Pryne describes as “magical” and “harmonious”.
Lyrically, the track delves into heavy, introspective territory, serving as a visceral release for emotions surrounding mental health and family legacies of self-destruction. Pryne’s powerhouse vocals anchor the track’s weight, offering a sense of communal resilience through the driving melody: “The words ‘Every Bit of Violence’ just came hammering in… it helps to know you’re not the only one”. It is a bold, honest exploration of internal struggles, delivered with the kind of sonic “punch” that the band believes would be right at home in a high-stakes action franchise.
The Mandevilles have spent the last several years subconsciously working toward this definitive sound, which bridges the gap between Americana soul and hard-hitting indie rock. The addition of synth textures and effortless studio layers highlights a creative telepathy that has only deepened during their time away from the spotlight. With bassist Ryan Defoe and drummer Jim Hornak providing a relentless rhythmic backbone, the single stands as the band’s most confident and cohesive statement to date.
Accompanying the release is a newly unveiled lyric video, with an official music video slated for debut in the coming weeks. As they kick off a prolific 2026, The Mandevilles are proving that some things are worth the wait, delivering a track that is as much a personal reckoning as it is an arena-ready anthem. “Every Bit Of Violence” is available now on all major streaming platforms, signaling the return of one of Canada’s most authentic and unapologetic rock voices
YouTube I Website I Bandcamp I Facebook I Instagram I TikTok
SoundCloud I Spotify I YouTube I Apple Music
TWO TONE PONY DECLARE ‘YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF ME YET’IN BOLD NEW SINGLE & VIDEO
With a #11 ARIA Country Chart debut album under their belt and 400k streams globally, Two Tone Pony have found an audience with their nostalgic country rock sound. Now the NSW based five-piece return with the freewheeling new single ‘You Haven’t Heard of Me Yet’ – their first new music since 2024.
Carefree and knowingly self-aware, the new single leans into the band’s strengths: sharp storytelling and a lived-in sense of authenticity. Produced by multiple Golden Guitar Award winning producer Rod McCormack, the track feels both nostalgic and timely, capturing the spirit of chasing dreams long before the spotlight arrives.
“It was inspired by a simple question I was asked by a barmaid when I was staying at Perisher Valley skiing,” recalls frontman David Kirkpatrick. “She asked the question – tell me what you do again? I turned it into a country rock song that tells the story about chasing your dreams no matter what, along with some tongue in cheek observations on the music industry.”
Lyrically, ‘You Haven’t Heard of Me Yet’ wears its heart on its sleeve. It’s a wry snapshot of the musician’s grind – playing neighbourhood bars and measuring success in moments rather than metrics. Lines like “You don’t make much money from a handful of streams” land with a knowing wink, while the chorus echoes quiet resilience and determination to chase “country dreams”.
The accompanying music video – produced by Jeremy Minett from Eyes and Ears Creative – was filmed at Hardys Bay Club on the NSW Central Coast, a venue long considered the band’s spiritual home. The clip mirrors the song’s lyrics, while the prop department even features a cherished family relic.
“The video follows the song narrative of me arriving at the bar looking a bit shabby with my beat-up guitar case – actually my mother Joy’s original Martin case from 1962!”, reveals David. Shot with humour and heart, the clip celebrates the realities of grassroots music-making.
The release marks a renewed chapter for Two Tone Pony following a sabbatical through much of 2025. That time away saw the departure of founding member Ian Rhodes – a loss deeply felt within the band. Stepping into that space is accomplished multi-instrumentalist Brandon Smith.
“Ian unfortunately had to retire due to hearing concerns but Brandon on fiddle, lap steel, mandolin and guitar provides a palette of sounds and influences that open up many new possibilities and directions for the band’s songs and future direction.”
Beyond the music, frontman David Kirkpatrick brings a uniquely Australian depth to the band’s story. Recently appointed Australia Day Ambassador for the Shoalhaven District, David spent the role engaging with the community across Mollymook – ocean swimming, playing golf, celebrating local food, and performing the band’s breakout single, ‘A Life Well Lived’ at the official citizenship ceremony.
Two Tone Pony’s ability to tell truly authentic stories continues to be the backbone of the band’s appeal. ‘You Haven’t Heard of Me Yet’ doesn’t chase trends or polish away its edges – it embraces the long road, the late nights, and the quiet belief that the next song might be the one. It’s a statement of intent from a band that knows exactly who they are – even if the rest of the world is still catching up.
Freya Ridings New Single ‘Wild Horse’ Out Now on BMG
Freya Ridings releases her first new music of 2026 with the evocative ‘Wild Horse’, a stunning slice of emotional pop driven by her trademark vocals. Listen to ‘Wild Horse’ HERE.
Written by Freya, Sam De Jong and Michael Matosic, and produced by Sam De Jong, ‘Wild Horse’ was recorded in LA where Freya spent much of the past year
working with a variety of producers and songwriters.
“I let you shake my faith, but not anymore” she sings. “Writing ‘Wild Horse’ for me as an artist felt like the true expression of unbridled freedom,” Freya says. “I found my creative spark again with the support of an incredible collaborator Sam De Jong (Gracie Abrams, Pink, Muse). It truly feels like
finding my voice again.”
Since her 2017 top ten breakthrough with “Lost Without You’, she’s oscillated between tender ballads and punch the air triumphs, creating a totally unique sound. ‘Wild Horse’ is from a forthcoming new album propelled by a real sense of urgency. Her self-titled debut album was a BRIT-nominated, Gold-certified triumph, achieving over 1 billion streams and earning 47 Gold and Platinum certifications worldwide.
‘Lost Without You’ also saw Freya become the first female artist to both write and perform a solo Top 10 hit in the UK.
With chart-topping tracks like ‘Castles’ and ‘You Mean The World To Me’ she garnered widespread praise from both media and peers while unforgettable performances at Glastonbury and a sold-out Somerset House show cemented her status as a live powerhouse. She’s just returned from Australia where she was special
guest to OneRepublic.
A new year has brought a new start and a new label for Freya Ridings. This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for news of a new album and live dates. She’s just getting started!
Connect With Freya Ridings Instagram // X // TikTok // Facebook // YouTube
PEACH PRC SHARES ANOTHER TASTE OF HER FORTHCOMING DEBUT ALBUM PORCELAIN RELEASED FRIDAY APRIL 3rd
ALBUM TRACK ‘EUCALYPTUS’ IS OUT TODAY
PRE-ORDER & PRE-SAVE PORCELAIN FROM HERE
TOURING AUS & NZ NEXT MONTH FOR HER WANDERING SPIRIT TOUR
As PEACH PRC prepares to kick off her Australia and New Zealand Wandering Spirit Tour next month, today she shares another taste of her forthcoming debut album PORCELAIN with album track ‘Eucalyptus’.
The global pop-sensation will release PORCELAIN on Friday April 3rd
‘Eucalyptus’ sees Peach embracing the seasons of life in a way that emphasises gratitude rather than self-flagellation. “I know I said all that shit about God,” she sings. “It probably pissed him off.”
Part of growing up is gaining the ability to smile and shake your head at your younger self. In this song, Peach is learning to do just that. As she explains, “I was just feeling very human, and looking for something outside my human experience – I’m saying, like, ‘I know I did a very human thing by calling God a freak, but…here I am again, asking for something more, something beyond myself.’ Because maybe there is. And maybe it’s my bad for saying there wasn’t!”
Peach PRC’s debut album has been at least two years in the making and reflects a full-scale evolution. Much of this evolution was led by a newfound appreciation, even adoration, for the natural world.
Peach shares, “I was just in a lot of grey, sterile places, trying to be creative, and it wasn’t working. So I found myself outside a lot. Being out in bushland, it really opened my eyes. It inspired a lot of self-growth, even outside of my artistry. It inspired me to reflect on how I’m a part of nature, not separate to it. I’m a natural being too – I have cycles that bloom and fall and all these things, just like the flowers and the trees.”
On Porcelain, it’s abundantly clear that Peach PRC has reached new heights as a pop songwriter. Her lyrics are as sharp as they’ve ever been, weaving through complex, multi-layered themes in devastating, succinct verse atop a shimmering soundscape of euro-pop inspired synthesisers and kicks.
The highly anticipated Porcelain album has already been earmarked as one of the Most Anticipated Albums of 2026 in NME and highlighted as one of The 10 Albums We’re Most Excited For in 2026 by SMH.
With gorgeous pop production by Konstantin Kersting (Tones and I, Milky Chance, Mallrat) and Larzz Principato (Dua Lipa, Tate McRae, Halsey), Harry Charles (King Princess, One Republic, Renee Rapp), and Space Primates (FIFTY FIFTY, Alesso, Stray Kids) and the co-writing prowess of Ryan Linvill (Dermot Kennedy, Conan Gray, and Chappell Roan’s Casual), JBACH (Ava Max, Jason Derulo, Stray Kids), Porcelain evokes the cutting-edge of modern pop.
Having captivated audiences and tastemakers with the release of her chart-topping Manic Dream Pixie EP in 2023, debuting #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart and achieving up to tens of millions of streams globally, the release of Porcelain will further cement Peach PRC’s rise as one of pop’s most compelling new storytellers and influential new-gen pop visionaries.
Porcelain is also available in CD and Vinyl formats. The limited-edition mother-of-pearl-coloured gatefold vinyl will subtly change colour when exposed to light. The vinyl will also include a signed 12-inch art card and digital download of the album.
In celebration of the release, Peach PRC has also unveiled a brand-new merch drop, including an exclusive T-shirt and a limited-edition cassette — a must-have for all Peach PRC fans.
PEACH PRC WANDERING SPIRIT TOUR DATES
Thursday 12 March – Palace Foreshore, Melbourne
Friday 13 March – AEC Theatre, Adelaide
Sunday 15 March – Hordern Pavillion, Sydney
Thursday 19 March – Cultural Forecourt, Brisbane
Saturday 21 March – Ice Cream Factory, Perth
Saturday 28 March – Shed 6, Wellington
Sunday 29 March – Powerstation, Auckland
For all ticket and touring information here
ABOUT PEACH PRC
Peach PRC crafts honest, meticulously observed pop that balances vulnerability, humour, and emotional clarity. Emerging from bedroom songwriting to a growing global audience, she has established a distinct voice in modern pop – one defined by candid storytelling, sharp perspective, and the ability to turn personal experience into universal connection.
Peach PRC has amassed over 230 million combined global artist streams and over 2 billion social views. social views, since organically releasing music in 2019. Her breakthrough single, Josh, the ultimate kiss-off to the worst ex ever and has already received over 36 million streams and counting. Peach PRC followed up the success of ‘Josh’ with her self-proclaimed girly camp pop single ‘Symptomatic’, receiving over 14 million plus combined streams to date, and ending 2021 with ‘Heavy’, which has tallied 19 million plus combined streams. In 2022, Peach PRC released the liberating single ‘God Is A Freak’ and had everyone talking including pop music titans Billie Eilish, Finneas, and Justin Tranter. Followed up by ‘Forever Drunk’, where she teamed up with GRAMMY Award-nominated powerhouse songwriter Bonnie McKee.
Peach PRC captivated audiences and tastemakers with her #1 ARIA Album debut EP, ‘Manic Dream Pixie’. Favorite singles from the EP, ‘F U Goodbye’ and ‘Perfect For You’ earned Peach PRC #68 and #63, respectively in triple j’s Hottest 100, and a Rolling Stone Award for Song Of The Year. The single ‘Like A Girl Does’ was voted #81in the Hottest 100 poll. The EP received glowing praise from Billboard, Vogue, NME, Consequence, PaperMagazine, Rolling Stone highlighted “her original, nostalgic pop-inspired songs,” and Wonderland hailed the EP as “an honest and powerful introduction to her artistry.” The EP also garnered multiple ARIA Award Nominations (Best Pop, Best Video, Best Artwork) and won her Music Act of the Year at the Tik Tok Awards in 2023.
Peach PRC has been travelling the globe, performing for a sold-out debut headline tour with stops across Australia, North America, and the United Kingdom. She has supported Blackpink in London’s Hyde Park, Yungblud on his Australian Tour, and performed at Splendour in the Grass, Spilt Milk, Falls Festival, Spin Off Festival and more recently All Things Go Festival (US), and Bludfest (UK).
The first single lifted off Porcelain, ‘Miss Erotica’, a love letter to erotic performance and the showgirls who shaped her early adulthood, peaked at #1 Most Played on triple j, reached Top 50 National on Shazam and has now surpassed 500k global streams, while on release Peach PRC was the Cover Artist on Apple Music Superbloom and Spotify Pop N Fresh playlists. The video for ‘Miss Erotica’ was directed by Marias Jones and chosen as Video’s Of The Week for Rolling Stone Australia and ABC’s RAGE.
THE JUNGLE GIANTS NEW SINGLE ‘TELL ME HOW IT FEELS’ + MUSIC VIDEO OUT NOW
In a world where nonchalance reigns supreme, the ability to be vulnerable without pretence is increasingly elusive. Enter stage left – The Jungle Giants’ new single
“Tell Me How It Feels”.
With big feelings and even bigger beats, “Tell Me How it Feels” unveils a bold new evolution of The Jungle Giants’ signature indie dance sound. Written and produced by the band’s lead singer Sam Hales, the track thrums with self-awareness and a yearning chorus that’s destined for festival anthem status.
Says Hales of the track – “‘Tell Me How It Feels’ brought me back to my first days with music, and naturally my single mother, who did everything she could to support me. She’s a badass, and a punk when it comes to love, so it felt really special to bring her into this album, in the same way that she brought me into music.”
Raw and cathartic, the music video for ‘Tell Me How It Feels’ is creative directed by Hales and Zachary Hamilton-Reeves, and was brought to life by a tight-knit all-female crew – Summer King (Sycco, ratbag), Meg Siejka (Kat Edwards), Casey Garnsey (Mallrat, 2charm), London-via-Melbourne editor Geri Docherty (Pink Patheress, The Last Dinner Party, Peri Edwards, Lola Young), makeup artist Ivy Reynolds, and Sasha McLeod aka Sycco.
Littered with Easter eggs of things to come, the video signals a new chapter shaped by unwavering hope despite adversity.
On the video, Hales says “‘Tell Me How It Feels’ music video is a nod to calling off my wedding while making this record. These last few years and this record have been all about healing, vulnerability and being happy again, and it feels god damn good to be here today sharing this, spreading joy and love on a global scale… We can’t wait for more to come!”
Following the release of their 2021 ARIA #1 album Love Signs, The Jungle Giants have cemented their position at the forefront of Australia’s indie dance scene, amassing nearly a billion streams in the process. With a reputation for electric high-energy performances, the band is made up of Sam Hales (vocalist/guitarist/songwriter/producer), lead guitarist Cesira Aitken, bassist Andrew Dooris and drummer Keelan Bijker.
SAT 07 MAR – GOOD GUMNUTS FESTIVAL, BURNIE
SAT 04 APR – HERE COMES THE SUN – TORQUAY COMMON, TORQUAY
SAT 25 APR – HERE COMES THE SUN – MARGARET RIVER, WA
SAT 02 MAY – HERE COMES THE SUN – ELIZABETH PARK – GOLD COAST, QLD
“TELL ME HOW IT FEELS” – out now LISTEN HERE
MUSIC VIDEO – out now WATCH HERE
MORE INFO: Website
THINGS OF STONE AND WOOD – Australia’s ARIA & APRA Award-winning, folk-rock ’90s hitmakers -release new Double A-sided single, announce pre-sell of first new album in 23 years and add dates to national tour!
Things of Stone and Wood are back, and they are in fine acoustic form, indeed.
The double a-side single “You’d Gone Before You Went/The Windmills Turn”, from their first album since 2003, Rae Street, is out TODAY via MGM:
Things of Stone and Wood – You’d Gone Before You Went / The Windmills Turn
Rae Street, that first album in 23 years, has been confirmed for a March 13 release and is itself available for pre-order now:
Things of Stone and Wood – Rae Street
And the band’s ‘Original Duo’ (Greg and Mikey) March/April/May Rae St Album Launch Tour, which was announced last week, has been extended with two full band shows at the end of May.
***
The two songs on the new single “You’d Gone Before You Went/The Windmills Turn” are exemplars of the melodic and harmonically pleasing style that has helped establish them as a near 40-year Australian folk-rock institution, but here, they embrace a new millennium bedroom-folk aesthetic (recorded, as they were, in a converted bedroom).
While musically and lyrically spartan, “You’d Gone Before You Went” is a deeply moving account of Greg Arnold’s experience of losing his mother to Alzheimer’s. A direct vocal, lush backing vocals and minimalist instrumentation are subtly combined to deliver one of the finest hours in the catalogue of this APRA and ARIA awarded songwriter.
“The Windmills Turn” is a rollicking and classically joyous Things of Stone and Wood Celtic-Hippie clap-along-sing-along. Accordions, melodicas, hand drums, shakers and lush backing vocals (again – as always) bring the party, which all serve to underpin the more reflective mood of the lyric, which is a study of the quixotic life of a musician.
THINGS OF STONE AND WOOD – THE ORIGINAL DUO
– RAE ST ALBUM LAUNCH TOUR –
Wed Mar 11 Ellington Jazz Club, Perth WA
Thu Mar 12 The River, Margaret River WA
Fri Mar 13 Clancy’s Fremantle WA
Thu 19 & Fri Mar 20 Junk Bar, Brisbane Qld (2 Shows)
Sat Mar 21 The Presynct, Nambour Qld
Fri Mar 27 Django Bar, Sydney NSW
Sat Mar 28 Smith’s Alternative, Canberra ACT
Fri 24 & Sat 25 April Merri Creek Tavern, Melbourne Vic
Fri May 1 Old Church of the Hill, Bendigo VIC
Thu May 21 Wheatsheaf, Adelaide SA (Band Show) **
Fri May 22 Avoca Beach Theatre, Avoca Beach NSW (Band Show) **
** new shows
Tickets: thingsofstoneandwood.com
THE ORIGINAL DUO RAE ST ALBUM LAUNCH TOUR
It was 1989. The end of one decade and the start of something new. Michael Allen – Mikey to his mates – appeared on the doorstep of Greg Arnold’s Carlton share house in Melbourne, Australia with beers in hand and harmonies in head. “There were no gigs to hustle and no recordings to make,” Greg says. “We sang and drank for the fun of it.”
Nearly 40 years on, buoyed by their massive hit “Happy Birthday Helen”, Things of Stone and Wood have had two Top 10 albums, a Top 10 single and five Top 50 hits, plus a chart hit in Germany. The band has also won an ARIA Award, and singer Greg Arnold was proclaimed Songwriter of the Year at the APRA Music Awards.
Now Greg and Mikey (also an APRA award winner), who started the whole shebang are doing a special run of shows as Things of Stone and Wood (The Original Duo) to launch the band’s brand-new acoustic album Rae St. Recorded at home in Melbourne, it is the first of two albums that they are releasing in 2026 (and their first album since 2003). On Rae St the band demonstrate that they are still an artistic folk-rocking force, and they have delivered an innovative and emotional collection of new millennium acoustic songs.
So, come along and hear the new album alongside stripped back (but still rocking) versions of hits like “Happy Birthday Helen”, “Wildflowers”, “Rock This Boat” and “Share This Wine” that have all become part of the Australian songbook.
Every Things of Stone and Wood show has always been full of energy and passion. Don’t miss your chance to see this special version of “Melbourne’s most inspired and inspiring acoustic band” (Michael Dwyer).
Things Of Stone and Wood website
Holly Hebe Makes a Confident Splash with New Single Swimsuit
Holly Hebe continues her rise as one of Australia’s most exciting new voices with the release of her new single Swimsuit. Stepping out from being one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets to a bona fide breakthrough artist, Holly has carved a distinctive place in Australian pop through piano-driven melodies, poetic lyricism, and a sound that balances intimacy with polish. Drawing comparisons to Oklou, Clairo and Mallrat, her music is shaped by a rural seaside upbringing, inventive sampling, and a sharp pop instinct that feels both nostalgic and forward-facing.
Swimsuit captures the heady rush of attraction and the emotional tension that comes with knowing heartbreak may be just around the corner. It is playful and sun-soaked on the surface, while quietly acknowledging the vulnerability that comes with desire, lust, and fleeting connection. The track signals the beginning of a new creative chapter for Holly, hinting at even bigger things to come this year for her music and live performances.
“Swimsuit was inspired by the y2k pool party aesthetic, high school parties and intoxicating crushes. It’s an upbeat take on impending heartbreak diluted with lust and flirtation. I wanted to focus on simple production, with layered vocals and a driving beat to support the staccato verse melody. I had so much fun making this song with Ethan, we smashed it out in a day with barely any changes since then.”
Holly’s momentum continues to grow. Her recent single Strobe Lights received a first play on triple j Drive, was added to Unearthed Radio, featured as a SYN FM SYN10 Feature Track, and landed on six editorial playlists. She just wrapped up supporting Rainbow Kitten Surprise on a national tour and is set to appear supporting Vera Blue at Taronga Zoo, fresh off national support tours with Holly Humberstone, The Dreggs and Lyric, further solidifying her reputation as a commanding live performer.
Holly has built strong ongoing support at triple j, earning first plays for Billboards, Don’t Come Crying, Ultra Love, and Strobe Lights, a full add for Ultra Love peaking at number 26 on the most played chart, and multiple additions across Unearthed Radio. Her earlier single Snap Out of It! received a triple j full add, amassed 188 spins across 24 stations, landed on seven editorial playlists, and received coverage from Skopemag, The Note, and Tone Deaf.
Across streaming platforms, Holly has now surpassed 3.5 million streams, appeared on over 50 DSP editorial playlists, including a cover feature on Spotify’s Pop N’ Fresh, and received consistent support across Spotify’s New Music Friday AU and NZ and Apple Music’s New Music Daily, alongside multiple global playlist placements.
On stage, Holly has sold out headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne, performed 14 national shows with The Rions, appeared at Ocean Sounds Festival, NYE on the Hill, Beyond the Valley 2024, the 2025 Australian Open, and official showcases at SXSW Austin and SXSW Sydney. She has also collaborated with brands including General Pants Co, Levi’s AU and NZ, Dr. Martens AU and NZ, LUSH, and American Tourister, received coverage from Rolling Stone AU and NZ, Sydney Morning Herald, Music Feeds, and Atwood Magazine, and is a recipient of the Music Australia Export Development Fund.
With Swimsuit, Holly Hebe confidently steps into a bold new era, blending nostalgia, emotional clarity and pop precision. The release signals a period of creative expansion for the Melbourne artist, with more music and moments on the horizon as she continues to cement her place as one of Australia’s most exciting rising indie pop voices, and a clear one to watch in 2026.
CONNECT WITH HOLLY HEBE https://www.instagram.com/hollyhebe/
ELLIS KING RELEASES NEW EP ALL THAT COMES AFTER
OUT NOW VIA NETTWERK
LISTEN HERE . SHARES NEW SINGLE “HOLD MY BREATH”
Melbourne-based folk-pop songwriter Ellis King releases her sophomore EP All That Comes After, a quietly devastating body of work shaped by the aftermath of her first long-term relationship ending. Written in real time during a period of personal upheaval and creative momentum, the five-track EP captures the emotional residue that is left behind once something significant has come apart – the uneasy, but necessary, process of change.
Following a decade spent refining her craft before releasing any music at all, All That Comes After marks a shift for Ellis. Where her debut EP Better Luck drew from years of accumulated writing, this record was created in the immediacy of lived experience. “I had a big breakup, a big life event, and this EP was all me actually writing in real time, which I hadn’t really done before,” she explains. “Once I had some distance from it, I realised there were very distinct chapters in the tracklist – kind of like the stages of grief.”
Written and recorded in Sydney alongside acclaimed songwriter and producer Alex Burnett (Thelma Plum, Alison Wonderland, Hockey Dad), the EP was shaped during a brief pocket of calm between storms. The result is five tracks that see Ellis facing it all head on – from love and anger, to heartbreak, grief, indifference, blame, self-reckoning and resilience.
“The songs dive into the messy feelings that come with the stages of grief. There’s love and loss, but also confusion, frustration, and moments of clarity. Almost half a decade with someone changes you in ways I didn’t expect, and I wanted to explore how that transformation felt; how you grow and evolve for better or for worse. It’s a process of change and trying to understand who you were, who you are now, trying to find your old self and new self, and what happens when a long-term connection begins to unravel,” Ellis shares.
LISTEN & SHARE: ELLIS KING – ALL THAT COMES AFTER
https://ellisking.ffm.to/allthatcomesafter
Opening track “Nosedive” drops listeners straight into the beginning of this chapter, Ellis’ voice steady and unflinching against chugging guitar as she interrogates the quiet compromises made to protect someone else’s ego. “Emergency Contact” captures the administrative mundanity of heartbreak – the symbolic act of replacing your ex’s number with your mum’s – its gentle, country-leaning arrangement evoking a sense of home that no longer exists.
On “Hold My Breath,” Ellis’ voice reaches new heights, balancing fragility and resolve as she delivers one of the EP’s most incisive lines: “you’ve been going through a lot of change, but only you can rearrange the mess inside your home.” The EP’s most uptempo moment, “fitymi,” introduces a sharper pop edge – underpinning a meditation on fake it till you make it, and the emotional cost of appearing put-together while quietly unravelling. Closing track “The Blueprint” offers a tender sense of resolution, its sweeping acoustic guitar evokes the nostalgic feeling of a warm campfire singalong, as Ellis works to restore her faith in love after the wreckage – not as something guaranteed, but as something earned.
Ellis describes All That Comes After as “exactly what the title implies – it’s about what follows the end of something big, all while approaching a new decade of life; examining my own struggles up to this point and, finally, moving forward – finding love, tranquility, and structure again amidst the mess.”
Ellis first introduced herself with her debut EP Better Luck (Jan 2025). Produced by Grammy-nominated Steph Marziano (Hayley Williams, Cassandra Jenkins), the EP earned praise for its lyrical honesty, cinematic production, and emotional depth, with Wonderland calling it “an emphatic and unforgettable entrance on the music scene,” and support from BBC Radio 1’s Future Pop, Clout, Pop Passion, and more. Now, All That Comes After positions Ellis King as a songwriter unafraid to sit in discomfort, trusting that meaning will reveal itself in time.
CONNECT WITH ELLIS KING: INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK
MOLLY ROCKET UNVEIL ANTICIPATED NEW EP THE DOGS ARE BARKING FEATURING LEAD SINGLE ‘ANOTHER YEAR’
Having experienced a touchstone year in 2025 as a band, Adelaide’s MOLLY ROCKET break open a brand new chapter this year with the reveal of their much anticipated new body of work: THE DOGS ARE BARKING.
The band’s new EP serves as a potent reminder of the indie group’s chemistry – both as a songwriting and live unit – while also demonstrating the ambition that propels the band forward as one of Australia’s exciting fresh voices.
Led by vibrant and dynamic EP opener ‘ANOTHER YEAR’, the listener is invited to get lost in the track’s grittiness; a pure fusion of rock and pop licks that set the rest of the EP up as one helluva ride.
“Another Year’ is a gritty rock song with pop moments woven through it. The lyrics sit inside a person’s inner monologue as they wrestle with thoughts of death. As the song unfolds, they choose numbness over dying, buying themselves more time as the weight of that reality slowly sinks in. Ocean imagery runs throughout the lyrics, touching on ideas of ownership, fear, and losing a sense of self as everything starts to shift around them.” MOLLY ROCKET
THE DOGS ARE BARKING came together in sessions at Melbourne’s Wrangler Studios, with the band teaming up with Tim Maxwell (LOSER) to bring their ideas to life in the studio. Written over the course of a year, the EP began to take shape as stories and observations about the complexities and uncertainties of life started to filter into MOLLY ROCKET’s writing process.
The EP, which also features previously released tracks ‘Breathing Lead’ and ‘When He Walks Around’, captures a strong portrait of a band who has confidently stepped into a matured and intimate songwriting space with their overall sonic identity redefined.
“In those early stages it was really only melodies and chord progressions taking shape. Over the months that followed, those sketches slowly turned into something that felt like ours. Lyrically, we leaned into a more poetic approach than we ever had before, focusing on how certain words or phrases made us feel and trusting that those feelings might land with other people too.
Across The Dogs Are Barking, the lyrics reflect a lot of uncertainty and the worry that comes with it. That was heavily influenced by the wider challenges happening around us while we were writing. Even so, there are small moments of optimism woven throughout the EP, little flashes of light cutting through all that uncertainty. The songs came together through collaboration. As a band we reworked structures, tempos, rhythms and overall atmosphere until everything felt right. We shaped each song around everyone’s strengths, so that in the end each of us filled a piece of the puzzle and the EP felt complete.” MOLLY ROCKET
Since their impactful debut in 2023, Molly Rocket have been on a fast trajectory for success and notoriety. They have earned nominations at the 2023 South Australian Music Awards (‘Best Rock Artist’, ‘Best Song’, ‘Best Release’, ‘Best New Artist’, ‘Best Group’), while cutting their teeth on stages with artists including Teenage Joans, Press Club, King Stingray, Ocean Grove and more. In 2025, the band continued to level up, sharing stages with icons like Grinspoon, while their online platform continued to grow with the successful release of ‘Breathing Lead’ and ‘When He’s Not Around’.
MOLLY ROCKET has enjoyed industry support via triple j and triple j Unearthed, the stations both integral in supporting their music on a national platform. They have also enjoyed strong success on DSPs, with Apple Music supporting their single ‘She’s Cruel’ across playlists including New Music Daily, Breaking Rock, The New Rock, Negative Space and Good Times, to name a few.
MOLLY ROCKET ‘THE DOGS ARE BARKING’ TOUR DATES
Saturday 21 March Nighthawks Melbourne TICKETS
Saturday 28 March The Ed Castle Adelaide TICKETS
Thursday 2 April Buddys Sydney TICKETS
Friday 3 April Towradgi Beach Hotel Wollongong FREE ENTRY
MOLLY ROCKET: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube | Triple J Unearthed
ALLY PATERSON PAYS TRIBUTE TO JOHN WILLIAMSON WITH RELEASE OF ‘PRAIRIE HOTEL PARACHILNA’
With her new release out today, Australian singer-songwriter Ally Paterson delivers a haunting and immersive reinterpretation of John Williamson’s ‘Prairie Hotel Parachilna’, a vivid portrait of Australia’s inland beauty, fragility and grit, carried by a voice that moves from hushed intimacy to soaring emotion.
‘Prairie Hotel Parachilna’ captures the poetry of a harsh, ancient landscape and the people who pass through it. Ally’s version leans into that sense of place, letting space and texture do the talking. Her vocal sits gently at first, then rises with quiet authority, echoing the resilience and rawness at the heart of the song.
“Prairie Hotel Parachilna is my favourite song by John Williamson. I love how it sounds, and how John captured beauty in a harsh landscape. We were in the studio with Matt Fell and we had some extra time, so I asked if we could record a cover. I am so happy with how it turned out, and I’m excited for people to hear it!”
The recording came together organically in the studio with multi-award-winning maestro, Matt Fell (Troy Cassar-Daley, Sara Storer, Fanny Lumsden) at the helm. Rather than chasing polish, the pair focused on feel, creating a soundscape that felt lived-in and true to the song’s spirit.
“It was quite remarkable,” recalls Ally. “After we took down the chords and structure of the song, Matt went outside to think about the production, how to make it original and still true to the spirit of the song.”
Pulling from a menagerie of unorthodox instruments, Matt began crafting the track. “He banged on a cheese grater with a metal stick. He shook a Huggies wipes box full of rocks. He played several tambourines. The next day, I put the vocals down and we had an incredible piece of music. I must give all the creative credit to Matt here. He put everything together so quickly, and it sounds so good. All I had to do was sing.”
While ‘Prairie Hotel Parachilna’ is a cover, it sits comfortably alongside Ally’s growing body of original work. A farmer, mother and songwriter deeply connected to the land she lives and works on, Ally brings lived experience to every note she sings. This is not country music as costume – it’s country music as reflection and truth-telling.
Raised in a musical family, Ally cut her teeth as an event singer in Melbourne – everything from late night bars and weddings to the glittery Crown Casino. Those formative years sharpened her performance and storytelling instincts. Now she farms cattle and sheep in regional Victoria and wouldn’t have it any other way. The singer-songwriter writes and records with a strong sense of responsibility to place and people.
Her forthcoming country/folk album, currently in the works with Matt Fell, continues that thread – drawing inspiration from the traditions of Australian storytelling while documenting her own journey into rural life, resilience and community.
‘Prairie Hotel Parachilna’ stands as both a tribute and a statement; honouring an Australian classic while reinforcing Ally Paterson as an artist rooted firmly in the land she sings about.
https://www.facebook.com/allypatersonmusic
LASCA DRY SHARES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO ‘BEHAVE’
LISTEN TO SINGLE HERE | WATCH VIDEO HERE
ANNOUNCES DEBUT EP TIME KEEPS DRIFTING
OUT THURSDAY APRIL 9
PRE-SAVE EP HERE
Tasmanian indie-rock artist Lasca Dry returns with her bold new single ‘Behave’, out Thursday February 26, the second release from her forthcoming debut EP Time Keeps Drifting, arriving April 9.
LISTEN TO ‘BEHAVE’ HERE
Sharp, punchy and laced with rebellion, ‘Behave’ captures the moment a chronic people-pleaser decides she’s had enough. It’s the sound of expectation colliding with independence, an unapologetic, “I do what I want” anthem that pulses with confidence and bite.
Co-written with John Castle, the track came together during their second day in the studio. What began as a spontaneous burst of creative energy quickly became essential to the EP, so much so that another song was cut to make room for it.
Lyrically, the new single explores the pressure of expectation and the turning point where a people-pleaser begins questioning whose voice they’re listening to, capturing a flash of defiance and the courage to draw a line.
The accompanying music video channels the track’s defiant spirit into something immediate and unfiltered, following Lasca as she moves through city streets with a sense of fearless abandon. Shot in a raw, documentary style, the visual captures fleeting moments of movement, spontaneity and release – echoing the song’s tension between expectation and self-expression. “Have you ever had an argument on the street? That raw energy is what I wanted to capture in this video – moving through the streets dancing freely, like you just don’t care who’s watching, and I really didn’t! Must have been the loud awesome song in my headphones.”
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
Set for release on April 9, Time Keeps Drifting is an emotionally rich five-track debut exploring growth, doubt, love and self-trust. It documents the experience of being pulled in different directions – by relationships, expectation and inner criticism – and the slow, powerful realisation that when the noise gets loud, the only way forward is inward.
The EP’s first single ‘Messy Mind’ laid the emotional foundation for the project, capturing the chaos of anxiety, doubt and hope colliding at once. The track earned adds to Unearthed, SYN FM and Edge Radio, alongside airplay across RTR FM and Aussie Music Weekly, while also landing DSP playlisting on Apple Music’s Good Times and New In Rock.
Across the EP, Lasca moves through vulnerability and self-exploration, tracing the emotional terrain of growing into yourself. ‘Messy Mind’ captures the chaos of mental overwhelm through warm yet bustling sonics, while ‘Behave’ flips expectation into defiant independence. Written during lockdown in Devonport, ‘Self’ dives into identity, doubt and the refusal to abandon creative dreams, and ‘Mad Heart Beat’ explores the emotional exhaustion that comes with searching for love. Closing the record, ‘Cosmic Glow’ drifts into psychedelic, other-worldly calm – a dreamy, Omnichord-laced moment that suggests even in uncertainty, something within us is quietly guiding the way.
Sonically blending indie rock warmth with psychedelic textures and emotionally honest lyricism, Time Keeps Drifting marks Lasca Dry as a compelling new voice navigating the messy, beautiful process of becoming.
Lasca Dry will bring the new material to the stage at Tasmania’s Good Gumnuts Festival on March 7, offering fans an early taste of the EP’s raw emotion and electric energy, with official launch shows set to be announced soon.
With ‘Behave’, Lasca Dry leans into her boldest instincts yet – sharper, more self-assured and unafraid to push against expectation – and with Time Keeps Drifting, she arrives fully realised. It’s a debut that captures an artist stepping into clarity and conviction, embracing vulnerability while trusting her own instincts, and emerging with a voice that is unmistakably her own.
LISTEN TO ‘BEHAVE’ HERE
PRE-SAVE TIME KEEPS DRIFTING HERE
FOLLOW LASCA DRY
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | TIKTOK
LOTTIE MCLEOD SHARES ‘IMPORTANT TO YOU’; HER FIRST RELEASE SINCE SIGNING WITH ABC MUSIC
Magan-djin/Brisbane-based singer-songwriter Lottie McLeod (she/her) – who has quickly built a reputation for atmospheres and lyrics that connect and resonate deeply, tapping into art’s ability to comfort and even quietly heal wounds – today shares ‘Important To You’, a song that dives into the complexity of “setting boundaries for your own preservation”, especially when both parties are struggling. Released following the recent announcement of her signing to ABC Music, joining labelmates Emily Wurramara, Playlunch, Flynn Gurry and more, ‘Important To You’ and its bayside black-and-white visualiser is the first new music from Lottie since her critically beloved debut EP Bug (2025) and live performance for triple j’s 50th birthday. With the single marking a maturation in sound and perspective for the young artist, ‘Important To You’ is out now via ABC Music – stream/purchase HERE.
“You’ll end up threatening your life, I’ve seen the photo proof
I don’t wanna be important to you
I’m the reason you’re alive, and how without me there’s no use
I don’t wanna be important to you”
On ‘Important To You’, Lottie McLeod’s initially soft but assured vocals carry grief, regret and determination across low-slung guitar and a bed of plaintive, stare-out-over-the-sea indie/alt-folk instrumentation that builds with fuzzed-out guitar, McLeod’s increasingly resolute voice and splashy drums to a spontaneous scream of release in the track’s dense, noisy outro. The track was penned on McLeod’s bedroom floor in the midst of a pivotal realisation that a relationship wasn’t right for either person, with the artist feeling wary about the level of support it demanded while still processing the grief of losing her father (a relationship she explored on the Bug EP), all while learning to set healthy boundaries. Ultimately making the weighty decision to end things, McLeod felt validated by a message from another woman who’d shared her experiences, with screenshots showing toxic behaviour and manipulation and abuse that were escalations of the red flags the artist had glimpsed. Coming to life acoustically in live settings before fleshing out its sound with her band, ‘Important To You’ was recorded with and produced by Caleb Wright (Samia, Charly Bliss, Hippo Campus) who reached out to Lottie as a big fan of her single ‘The Line‘ (2025), culminating in the two working together – at North Carolina’s Stadium Heights Sound on the land of the Catawba, Cheraw, Eno, Occaneechi, Shakori, Tuscarora and Lumbee peoples – an instantly fruitful and free-flowing collaboration with Wright also co-writing and providing acoustic, electric and bass guitar, backing vocals and drums.
Lottie McLeod says of the song: “I was seeing someone that seemed so right for me. But as we got to know each other better, the things he was sharing painted a picture of someone that needed a lot more support than I had the skills or capacity to support him through. I ended up connecting with someone who was a mentor to both of us, who I felt would be able ensure he was safe and supported and made a decision not to explore the relationship further. I think there was an element of guilt for me at the time, but knew that navigating grief, I wasn’t the right person for him at that time. ‘Important To You’ is about caring about someone but being the one most important ‘go to’ for them isn’t always healthy, and the pressure that comes with that person telling you that without you, they wouldn’t have anything to live for. My favourite lyric is the second half of the second chorus, “You’ll end up threatening your life. I’ve seen the photo proof…” This lyric came from getting the infamous “Hey girly” message from his ex-girlfriend, with screenshots of similar text messages that I was receiving but at a more escalated level. When you’re young, someone telling you how life has no purpose without you can be taken as romantic, when actually it can be an extremely toxic way of taking control, I think this is an unfortunately really relatable experience. I had come up with the melody and the lyrics but had a clear direction of how I heard the song. Caleb [Wright] just got it. It was such a smooth and straightforward day in the studio. We were completely on the same page.”
WATCH: Lottie McLeod – ‘Important To You’
Lottie McLeod is a lover of getting off the bus/train three stops too early just because she can, stained glass, soft blankets, lamps and crosswords. Immersed in the arts since childhood – a creative foundation that shines through more strongly with every release and development in her sound, thoughtful music “for deep feelers” inspired by the transportive, raw and occasionally uncomfortable emotional universes of Lizzy McAlpine, Phoebe Bridgers and Ethel Cain – Lottie McLeod’s ability to capture common human experiences in heart-achingly personal ways that still feel sonically unique to her has won her multiple awards and accolades. Her journey as a songwriter began after the loss of her father to brain cancer in 2021 – already a pianist, Lottie’s dad had taught her to play guitar the year before his passing (with her mother also in the arts as a photographer), and music became a powerful way to stay connected to his memory and process the grief experience. Spot-lit as triple j Unearthed Feature Artist last year, in 2025 McLeod was named Emerging Artist of the Year at the Queensland Music Awards – where she was also a finalist for the Folk Award and recipient of their Billy Thorpe Scholarship in 2024 – the same year she was named a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition and Happy Magazine’s Needle In The Hay. McLeod’s sharp yet warm pen has already made her in-demand songwriter for other artists like Mathilde Ann, Dizzy Dayz and beyond.
Tapped to perform at triple j’s 50th birthday show on the so-called Gold Coast/Yugambeh Country alongside Mallrat, Jem Cassar-Daley, Darcie Haven and more, since her debut in 2023 McLeod has developed an already-formidable live resume that includes a co-headline national tour with Lovelovelove, festivals and events like BIGSOUND, Spring Rain and supports like Telenova, Chris Lanzon, Mia Wray, Annie Hamilton, Peach Fuzz, Asha Jeffries, Matthew Ifield and many more. With additional strong media support for the artist from Rolling Stone, Tone Deaf, Sound Doctrine, triple j, triple j Unearthed, community radio nationally and adds across key DSP playlists including Open Skies, Turn Up Aus, EQUAL AU & NZ, *hits different *, Fresh Finds, New Music Friday AU & NZ, Tapestry, Fresh Finds Folk, Indie Arrivals, Next-Gen Songwriters and more, 2026 brings the promise of more from Lottie McLeod as she continues to generously share the lessons she’s learning in life to her music with a stamp of vulnerability that can only come with her own combination of hindsight and mindfulness.
Lottie McLeod – ‘Important To You’
Out now via ABC Music
Lottie McLeod – ‘Ruin A Good Thing’ (2025 live performance)
CONNECT WITH LOTTIE MCLEOD https://linktr.ee/lottiemcleod
PAMELA RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘SKIN CONTACT’
PAMELA LIVE AT THE PLEASURE CLUB (NEWTOWN) MARCH
FREE ENTRY – DETAILS HERE
Sydney duo Pamela return with Skin Contact, a sultry, slow-burn single that leans into tension rather than release. Built on a hypnotic bassline and understated lo-fi textures, the track captures the charged moment before anything happens – when eye contact lingers, closeness feels inevitable, and the wanting is already loud.
Written in Mexico City with Mauro Munoz and produced by Chris Collins, Skin Contact came together quickly and intuitively. The phrase surfaced naturally during the session – already embedded in the lyrics – and felt too right not to follow.
Sonically, the track favours restraint over excess. There was no specific reference point – just a shared instinct to lock into a strong bassline and let the song unfold naturally from there. The result is intimate, effortless and quietly confident: sexy without spectacle, immediate without urgency.
The accompanying video for Skin Contact, directed by Sarah Ellen, nods to cult cinema, with choreography that subtly references the iconic dance scene from Pulp Fiction, extending the song’s intimacy into a visual world defined by restraint and tension.
LISTEN HERE
“The ‘Skin Contact’ video captures the charged space between two people before anything happens, told entirely through dance. It traces the tension, distance and pull between them, gradually shifting into something more fluid and connected – two separate energies learning how to move in sync. It reflects how connection can feel uncertain and confronting at first, before becoming intuitive and effortless.” explains Sarah Ellen.
WATCH THE ‘SKIN CONTACT’ VIDEO HERE:
Pamela is the project of Sarah Ellen and Josh Kempen, whose creative partnership began long before the stage. After meeting as housemates in Kingsford, Sydney, music became part of their connection from the very first night. “We lay on the living room floor listening to Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” recalls Sarah. “We’ve basically been making music together ever since.”
That chemistry quickly translated live. Following their debut show at The Pleasure Club in Newtown in May 2024, Pamela began building a reputation for immersive performances and natural on-stage intimacy. They’ve since supported Dope Lemon on a sold-out Australian and New Zealand tour, taking in rooms like The Forum (Melbourne), The Enmore (Sydney) and Fortitude Music Hall (Brisbane), alongside a standout appearance at Lost Paradise.
Their sound sits neatly at the intersection of Josh’s indie leanings and Sarah’s pop instincts – modern alt-pop that nods to the understated cool of The Marías, The xx and early The Strokes, while remaining unmistakably their own.
Skin Contact follows Pamela’s debut single Chain Reaction, which introduced audiences to their world with a self-directed video filmed in Death Valley – an early signal of a project grounded in mood, connection and feeling.
Pamela will play a March residency at The Pleasure Club in Newtown. Shows will take place on Friday March 13 and Friday March 20 with free entry to the shows – more info here.
PAMELA – NEW SINGLE ‘SKIN CONTACT’ OUT NOW – LISTEN HERE
WAGE WAR ANNOUNCE IT CALLS ME BY NAME EP OUT APRIL 17. FLORIDA BAND SHARES VIDEO FOR BRUTAL NEW SINGLE SONG OF THE SWAMP
WAGE WAR — Briton Bond [lead vocals], Cody Quistad [rhythm guitar, clean vocals], Seth Blake [lead guitar], Chris Gaylord [bass], and Stephen Kluesener [drums] — are thrilled to announce their forthcoming EP, titled It Calls Me By Name. The band will unleash the latest beastly addition to its catalog on April 17 via Fearless Records.
The band have dropped the video for the first single SONG OF THE SWAMP and it’s the most brutal song they’ve released in years — if not EVER!
What populates the thick and humid swamps of Florida? Alligators, anacondas, and other cold-blooded animals that can eviscerate your existence with a single bite. Fittingly, Wage War’s absolutely savage new track, Song of the Swamp, sounds exactly like how you would feel if any or all of the above-mentioned predators sank their teeth into your flesh. Rife with bloodthirsty screams, deadly riffage, and pummeling percussion that’ll make you feel like the speedbag at the local boxing gym, it rages from start to finish. You will be, as the lyrics snarl, “overpowered” by every note. And that’s just how metal masochists like it!
Head to the swamp and watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EjR1ovTpBc
“The tone setter,” the band declares. “SONG OF THE SWAMP is rooted in where we’re from. Driven by Florida and the raw aggression of nature, it’s a heavy track built on tension and hostility.”
Regarding the EP as a whole, the band says, “It Calls Me By Name is about being drawn to your roots. This isn’t a concept EP but is meant to live in its own world. Five tracks shaped by Florida, the swamp, and the relentless aggression of nature. Built heavy, but still driven by the hooks that have defined us. It’s our signature sound amplified and pushed further into metal than we’ve ever taken it.”
Wage War will waste no time bringing these leviathan-sized new songs to fans, as the band will return to the road this April and May on the “It Calls Me By Name Tour,” featuring support from Nevertel and Orthodox. The tour kicks off on April 28 in Phoenix and runs through May 31 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
SONG OF THE SWAMP – OUT NOW https://wagewar.ffm.to/sots
IT CALLS ME BY NAME EP – DUE OUT APRIL 17 https://wagewar.ffm.to/icmbn
Mick Thomas drops new single and film clip ahead of National GoSoloComeBack solo tour.
Video for new single “Build This” premiered at the IndustriALL International Convention of Union Delegates in November at the Sydney Convention Centre – right after an address by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission “Build This” (Official Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grfLNeJ6AoE
Mick Thomas drops new single and film clip ahead of National solo tour.
Build This is the single. GoSoloComeBack is the tour.
“Build This” was written by Mick Thomas and Ben Salter from an idea of Ben’s – a simple rumination on the palatial airports at Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
When Mick played it to violin player Jen Anderson she thought it was about the controversial stadiums built for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. And the more Mick thought about it, the more he realised that the thought could be applied to any number of ambitious building projects going on in the world as we speak.
When Mick and the band were invited to play at the Sydney Convention Centre for the IndustriALL international convention of Union delegates in November – right after an address by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – “Build This” was the obvious choice of song. The corresponding video by Mick’s brother Steve Thomas’s company Roar Film was shown on the night lending weight to a powerful statement of modern reality.
“Build This” was recorded in Auckland at Roundhead Studios with Steven Schram and is the third single from the 2025 Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission album GoComeBack on Coolin’ By Sound Records.
As far as the tour is concerned it’s all about the songs. The tour Mick and the band have just completed for the album GoComeBack felt like the strongest statement they have put out there in years. It was certainly the most fun and the best supported one in recent memory. But for Mick the underlying joy of it all lay in getting to play a whole swathe of the new album while reaching into the archive and pulling out some neglected pieces of their collective past. Crowds were totally supportive of their efforts to balance the set with songs from all eras of their past.
And so when the booking agent suggested a solo tour might be in order it was an attractive thought how much scope there would be to extend this idea. For the majority of shows on the tour Mick will be playing two sets on his own without a support act so be prepared for a pretty intense and anarchic romp through some uncharted territory – albeit with some familiar signposts.
Interspersed amongst the shows is a subset of shows, a sub-tour called GoSoloComeBackToTheMCT which sees Mick return to his home base the Merri Creek Taven in Northcote for a series of shows in which he’ll be joined by opening acts with who he has close ties from various stages of his career – from Dave Steel to Brooke Taylor, to Barclay, Pilkington and Waters, Shackleton and everyone in between! Having announced these in an email to his fans earlier in the week, these shows sold out in less than 48 hours.
APRIL
Thu 9 – Lyric Underground Perth WA
Fri 10 – Duke of George Fremantle WA
Fri 17 – Smith’s Alternative Canberra ACT
Sat 18 – Django Bar Marrickville NSW
Sun 19 – Dangar Island
MAY
Sun 3 – Merri Creek Tavern (Melbourne VIC) + Dave Steel – SOLD OUT
Thu 8 – Trinity Session Adelaide SA
Sun 10 – Merri Creek Tavern (Melbourne VIC) + Shackleton (feat. Anna Burley & Olivia Bolmat) – SOLD OUT
Thurs 14 – Black Swan Hotel, Bendigo VIC
Sun 17 – Merri Creek Tavern (Melbourne VIC) + Brooke Taylor – SOLD OUT
Thu 21 – Bush Inn New Norfolk TAS
Fri 22 – Little Theatre Deloraine TAS
Sat 23 – The Pier Ulverstone TAS
Sun 24 – Merri Creek Tavern (Melbourne VIC) + Craig Pilkington & Barb Waters – SOLD OUT
Fri 29 – Old Stone Hall Beechworth VIC
Sun 31 – Merri Creek Tavern (Melbourne VIC) + Michael (and Cal) Barclay – SOLD OUT
JUNE
Fri 5 – Tintenbar Up Front Tintenbar NSW
Sat 6 – Qube 226 Gympie QLD
Sun 7 – The Junk Bar Brisbane QLD
Tickets available through www.mickthomas.com
UKULELE DEATH SQUAD ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE ‘COOEE’, UPCOMING EP, AND 2026 WORLD TOUR
Australia’s most unhinged, undefinable and utterly irresistible musical collective, Ukulele Death Squad, return with a brand-new single ‘Cooee’, lifted from their forthcoming EP Essentially My Life Is A Disaster, out 15 May.
A gloriously chaotic calling card, ‘Cooee’ is a fierce folk-soul anthem that captures Ukulele Death Squad at their most fearless and free-wheeling, blending razor-sharp musicianship, genre-hopping bravado and moments of unexpected tenderness.
“We started writing this song after going on a hike through Morialta National Park on Kaurna Country yelling out ‘Cooee’ to a bunch of school students who were on an excursion,” explains Alice Barker, co-writer and lead vocalist on the track.
“It explores the contradictions of modern life, the push and pull of wanting to be alone whilst also not feeling alone. Wanting peace but being surrounded by overstimulation—and the paradox of urban isolation versus the profound connection found in nature.”
At its heart, the song is about escapism, something which the band finds that music offers them -and that audiences repeatedly tell them – they come to their shows to escape the mundane, the ordinary.
Barker reflects on “the way it feels like you’re part of something bigger when you hear the echo of ‘Cooee,'” paying homage to the sacredness of Australian landscapes and Indigenous Country. As the band’s sound continues to mature, ‘Cooee’ sets the tone for an EP that embraces joyful disorder, emotional whiplash and the kind of collective release best experienced in a sweaty room full of strangers.
To celebrate the EP’s release, Ukulele Death Squad will take Essentially My Life Is A Disaster on the road this winter, announcing a 2026 world tour spanning Australia, Germany & the UK that will see the eight-piece powerhouse return to stages in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Ukulele Death Squad is the band no-one can define, but everyone wants to see live. Their raunchy stage antics, heart-stopping ballads and fearless musical virtuosity have mesmerised audiences across Australia, New Zealand and Europe. From Brazilian-style ukulele and thunderous horn fanfares to sea shanty singalongs and Balkan-inspired brass chaos, a Ukulele Death Squad show is an invitation to abandon dignity and lean fully into the absurd.
Recorded and mixed at Rolling Stock Studios throughout 2025, Essentially My Life Is A Disaster features a mix of new compositions alongside fan-favourite festival moments. The EP showcases the expanded stylistic range of the band’s newest members, moving seamlessly through Australiana disco, grungy blues, latin surf-rock and back again to Ukulele Death Squad’s signature ukulele-brass-vocal mania.
Live audiences can expect a full sensory experience where the fourth wall doesn’t stand a chance, supported by a hand-picked lineup of boundary-pushing artists at each stop along the tour.
UKULELE DEATH SQUAD “ESSENTIALLY MY LIFE IS A DISASTER” 2026 NATIONAL EP TOUR
Saturday, May 16 – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide
With Laura Hill & Bromham
Saturday, May 30 – Metro Social, Sydney
With Redfern Sea Shanty Club & Ashkan Shafiei
Saturday, June 13 – Howler, Melbourne
With Loz Irwin-Ray & Charlie Needs Braces
Saturday, June 27 – Crowbar, Brisbane
With Jam and Scones & Anjali Leonard
Pre-sale on now for $30+bf available from www.ukedeathsquad.com until
Full price tickets $40+bf
EUROPE + UK
Thursday, July 3 – Herzberg Open Air, DE, Breitenbach
Sunday, August 2 – Zeltival, DE, Karlsruhe,
Tuesday, August 4 – Brotfabrik, DE, Frankfurt,
Sunday, August 9 – Hafensommer, DE, Würzburg
With The Majic Mumble Jumble
Wednesday, August 19 – Acapella Studios UK, Cardiff,
Thursday, August 20 – Purbeck Folk Festival, UK, Wareham
Sunday August 23 – Kiosk Freibad Lechhausen, DE, Augsburg,
European and UK tickets and information available from www.ukedeathsquad.com
LAUFEY’S A MATTER OF TIME: THE FINAL HOUR OUT 10 APRIL
NEW DELUXE VERSION OF GRAMMY®-WINNING ALBUM FEATURES FOUR NEW TRACK + NEW SONG ‘HOW I GET’ OUT TODAY
A Matter of Time: The Final Hour, the new deluxe version of LA-based Icelandic-Chinese artist, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Laufey’s GRAMMY ®-winning album A Matter of Time, is set for release 10 April via AWAL/Vingolf Recordings. ‘How I Get’, one of four new tracks on the deluxe edition, debuts today.
“‘How I Get’ is about the contrast between being disciplined, grounded and in control in every area of my life, except when it comes to one person,” says Laufey. “It explores that unsettling shift where I suddenly find myself chasing the rush and justifying behavior I swore I’d never fall into, because with them, that’s just how I get.”
Produced alongside longtime collaborator Spencer Stewart and GRAMMY®-winning artist Aaron Dessner (Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran), A Matter of Time: The Final Hour captures Laufey’s emotional renaissance as she embraces the anxieties and vulnerability that accompany experiencing “real love” in its many forms. The deluxe edition will feature the album’s fifteen original tracks plus four previously unreleased songs.
Earlier this month, Laufey took home Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for A Matter of Time at the 68th GRAMMY® Awards. The win is her second in the category, following a statue for Bewitched at the 2024 awards which made her the youngest artist to win the honour. A Matter of Time was released to widespread critical acclaim in August, debuting at #4 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the Jazz Albums chart (where it continues to hold a spot in the top 10). In January, Laufey was presented with Icelandic knighthood, the prestigious Order of the Falcon, by President Halla Tómasdóttir.
The deluxe album continues to add to a landmark year for Laufey, who is currently on tour throughout the U.K. and Europe with dates already sold out at London’s O2 (two nights), Paris’ Adidas Arena, Dublin’s 3Arena and more. The run follows a sold-out North American leg last year which saw Laufey headline two sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden, two nights at the Crypto.com Arena and many more
Laufey’s first children’s book, Mei Mei The Bunny, is set for release on 21 April via Penguin Random House. A live album, A Matter of Time: Live at Madison Square Garden, is set for release 18 April for Record Store Day.
Laufey (pronounced lay-vay) has captivated a generation with virtuosic songs of love and self-discovery by manifesting her vision of jazz- and classical-infused pop music. Raised between Reykjavik and Washington, D.C., she learned piano and cello as a child, later studying at Berklee College of Music. There, she wrote her debut EP, 2021’s Typical of Me, whose striking single “Street by Street” debuted at No. 1 on Icelandic radio—the first of many achievements that have grown to include nearly 7 billion global streams, a social media audience of 25 million, the biggest jazz LP debut in Spotify history, a growing pile of Platinum plaques, a Forbes 30 Under 30 designation and being named one of TIME’s 2025 Women of the Year. She’s sold out the Hollywood Bowl, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, Crypto.com Arena and London’s Royal Albert Hall; performed backed by the LA Phil, the National Symphony Orchestra and the China Philharmonic Orchestra; shared the stage with the likes of Noah Kahan, Hozier, Jon Batiste and Raye; and collaborated on records with artists including Barbra Streisand, Role Model, Beabadoobee and Norah Jones.
Listen to her conversation on NPR’s Fresh Air HERE.
Watch her profile on CBS Sunday Morning HERE.
STAHR Serve Up Glitter, Grit and Cool on ‘Mother Aura’ Ahead of Debut EP
Single Out Thursday, February 26 | Debut EP ‘BLIP’ Out Thursday, March 26
STAHR are reaching higher with their explosive track ‘Mother Aura’ (out Thursday, February 26), which comes alongside the announcement of their debut EP ‘BLIP’, slated for Thursday, March 26.
Following on from their 2025 single ‘Loving Friend’, ‘Mother Aura’ is the next taste from debut EP ‘BLIP’, and continues the genre amalgamation that Brissie/Meanjin duo STAHR does so well. The energetic combination of squelchy dream pop with driving desert-rock creates a commanding sound that is impossible to ignore.
Syncopated bass, lush synths and carefully placed dynamic breaks create a melodic marriage of the best parts of alt-rock and classic pop, delivering the emanation of STAHR’s energy to the world. ‘Mother Aura’ carries itself with a confidence and clarity of sound that elevates it above its counterparts, and shows a musical maturity from the duo.
Crunchy, fat desert-rock guitars meld with contemporary pop in an otherworldly explosion of glittery, supersonic sound. The nonchalant vocal delivery from Grace Harris exudes “cool girl energy”, utilising contrasting restraint and exuberance, carrying the richness of the arrangement and exploding your senses. The bridge fades away to reveal a cascading guitar solo, before launching into a frenzied final chorus, exploding into the stratosphere before coming to an abrupt ending.
“This track explores what it’s like to knowingly step into the ego self. It takes a no-holds-barred approach to a night out in Brisbane, where the drinks are flowing, an ex-lover is in every room, and god help anyone who gets in your way,” Sam Shepherd shares, describing the track’s reckless and self-aware energy. “It’s a little cheesy, completely self-aware, and the perfect opener to the EP.”
The song also sets the tone for a broader narrative that runs throughout the release. Grace Harris explains that the track marks the beginning of a larger emotional arc.
“It’s the beginning of our own personal BLIP story where, as the bridge plays out, a question begins to unfold. How long can we maintain this façade before we lose sight of the way home?” Grace says, noting the theme reflects experiences Shepherd has carried from his history performing in previous rock outfits.
‘Mother Aura’ reaches even higher with its polished performance, controlled chaos, and genre-defying energy, commanding attention until the very last notes. STAHR are not just a blip on the musical radar, but a supernova about to explode.
‘Mother Aura’ is out now, followed by their debut EP ‘BLIP’ on Thursday, March 26.
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