Thursday March 6, 2025
ALTRU ANNOUNCES FREE MELBOURNE OUTREACH FESTIVAL FOR ATHERTON RESERVE FITZROY ON SUNDAY MARCH 23 HEADLINED BY SAM FISCHER
The dynamic annual free Altru Outreach Festival has today announced its Melbourne party with a purpose for Atherton Reserve, Fitzroy on Sunday March 23. Revolutionising the way society tackles social inequalities, Altru Festival blends festival fun with immediate, on-site access to essential services for at-risk youth and families experiencing housing insecurity and financial hardship. Emceed by music industry icon Poppy Reid (formerly Rolling Stone Australia Editor), the music stage will be headlined by Sam Fischer, Anya Alchemy, David Subritzky, and Taz Zammit, as well as a surprise international artist; hosting a day of joy and support for 3,000+ Melburnians who need it most.
Actively moving awareness into action and celebrating the human beyond their adversity, humanitarian influencer, Altru is providing a day of care and giving – delivering healthcare, mental health support, job training, skill-building opportunities and more — all in a lively, community-centred environment filled with music and entertainment, showing Aussies that it’s cool to care.
Masterminded by Director and Co-Founder, Jessie McLachlan, and blueprinted from its LA sister festival, Skid Row Carnival that services 10,000 at-risk attendees annually, Altru is hosted completely free of charge for those experiencing hardship, with each attendee paired with a volunteer to assist in navigating the service tents that offer real-time, on-site free access to services such as professional wound treatment, eye exams, and even prescription glasses (all within the day), hairdressers, vets, doctors, dentists, welfare services, gifted clothing and shoes, hygiene showbags with daily necessities and more, alongside a stack of family fun for all, including food trucks, Good Grocer and face painting, ensuring every festival-goer leaves not just uplifted, but also supported in tangible, life-changing ways.
Launching in Australia for the first time last year, with its inaugural festival successfully servicing over 2,000 at-risk attendees (with 1,000 volunteers) in Brisbane, Altru will be hosted annually and has events currently slated for Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with the view of expanding to Adelaide and Perth.
With Australia currently facing a significant economic challenge, the homelessness statistics have skyrocketed, and CHP (Council To Homeless Persons) revealed in their report ‘Employed & At Risk: The new face of homelessness in Victoria’ that a substantial portion of full-time workers are struggling to make ends meet and finding themselves on the streets, stating that working people seeking homelessness assistance grew 14 per cent across the state last year, and reporting that employed people now make up one in eight homelessness service users in Victoria – with 12,146 employed people seeking homelessness assistance last year alone.
Raised to believe that words only have meaning if they’re actioned, Altru Co-Founder (alongside Chris Smith) and Director, Brisbane-born Jessie McLachlan offers insight into why she founded Altru, enthusing, “I am responsible for leaving the world better than I found it. I fundamentally believe that the consideration of others is the silent architecture of society, and we all have a role – big or small – in making the world a little better. And I believe kindness is only learned once it has been experienced, so let’s get giddy on doing good!”
“Music is a universal language that brings people together. One of my favourite moments at the end of every outreach festival is seeing our guests, some with a fresh haircut, a new outfit, and sneakers dancing alongside volunteers. It’s euphoric to witness a sea of humans united. When you intentionally put good into the world, the best of humanity always shows up.”
Altru Festival is now putting a call out for volunteer registration via HUMANITIX, calling on people who want to help bring joy and make a tangible impact by spreading the Altru philosophy that it is cool it is to care.
Reimagining modern charity and setting a new standard for corporate responsibility, Altru is proving that meaningful change is achievable. There is no doubt Altru is more than a charity; it’s a movement.
Altru would like to thank its major sponsors: Amazon, Hatch, HLS Healthcare, Crown Resorts Foundation, Bennet Williams, Condom Hero, Underwear for humanity, Moose toys, Ben & Jerrys, Allens, Converse, Colgate, Cotton on foundation
For more information, visit wearealtru.com/festival
ALTRU FESTIVAL | SUN 23 MAR | ATHERTON RESERVE, FITZROY
Register to be a volunteer
CHRIS LAKE ANNOUNCES OUT 2 LUNCH FESTIVAL SIDESHOWS FOR MAY
Friday 9 May – PICA, Melbourne
Saturday 10 May – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
GRAMMY®-nominated producer, DJ and label head, Chris Lake has today announced OUT 2 LUNCH Festival sideshows, set to ignite stages in Melbourne (PICA) on Friday 9 May, and Sydney (Hordern Pavilion) on Saturday 10 May. In huge news for Aussie fans, Lake will be bringing along a whole new production and brand-new music.
Fans can register for presale tickets (Melbourne & Sydney sign up) with a 24 hour presale kicking off on Tuesday March 4 at 12pm AEDT. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday March 5 at 12pm AEDT through Ticketek.
Hyped to be hitting Aus for OUT 2 LUNCH and extending his trip to Melbourne and Sydney, Lake enthuses, “Australia holds a special place in my heart, with some of my favorite shows and memories having happened there. Coming out for OUT 2 LUNCH, Sydney and Melbourne is an early highlight of my year, and I’m buzzing to share some new music with fans down under. Looking forward to making this trip a truly special one!”
Expertly occupying the middle ground between dance music’s underground and commercial realms, the British producer’s finely-tuned ear for club-forward basslines and catchy vocals plays a large role in his success, all connected by his ability to make big moments both onstage and in his music.
Since breaking through with a string of No. 1 singles in the late 2000s, English-born Lake relocated to Los Angeles as dance music began bubbling up in America and has since helped redefine America’s house music scene in the post-EDM age. His music is a regular fixture on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, including recent hits Summertime Blues, Beggin’, and More Baby. He has headlined EDC Las Vegas and Coachella stages, shut down Hollywood Boulevard for over 12,000 fans, and spread the dance floor gospel through his Under Construction events with FISHER.
One of house music’s most compelling figures, Lake founded Black Book Records in 2017, dropping releases from heavyweights like Green Velvet, Armand Van Helden, and Kevin Saunderson, proving its status as a coveted label for producers, also utilising the label as a developmental platform to share wisdom, experience and contacts to help launch new acts.
Tickets to Chris Lake side shows go on sale on Wednesday March 5 at 12pm AEDT from Ticketek.
Tickets to OUT 2 LUNCH Festival with Vodafone are on sale now from out2lunchfestival.com.
Find Chris Lake online: Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify
TOM BUSBY ‘Waiting for Tomorrow’ (Single)
With his raw, authoritative vocals and a gift for telling deeply human stories, Tom Busby helped propel platinum selling, iconic Aussie folk duo Busby Marou into one of Australia’s most important live acts. He is now carving his own path with the release of his debut single ‘Waiting For Tomorrow’, the first taste of his forthcoming debut solo album ‘Rockhampton Hangover’ slated for release later this year.
Produced by American singer songwriter Ben Kweller and recorded in the rugged Texas Hill Country, ‘Waiting for Tomorrow’ is a stirring reflection on restlessness, regret, and the quiet hope of a fresh start. The single is the first track that Ben and Tom co-wrote together and to add to its undeniable charm, the track features Ben himself on piano and harmonies, weaving his signature touch into the song’s rich, organic sound.
Wrapped in warm acoustic tones, understated twang, and a driving heartbeat, the track captures the raw honesty and lived-in storytelling that define Tom’s songwriting and signals a bold step into a sound that is both timeless and undeniably his own.
Tom explains, “This record is me at my most honest – no filter, no hiding and ‘Waiting for Tomorrow’ sets the tone for that. It’s about regret and restlessness but also about dusting yourself off and charging forward. Recording it with Ben Kweller in Texas, with my family there, made it even more real. It’s a new chapter, and I’m all in.”
The accompanying video was created using the technique of stop motion animation and each frame was carefully cut out by hand. The clip was produced by Tom and directed and edited by Walter Bristol of Bristol Media. (View here)
For fans of Paul Kelly, Ben Kweller, and Bernard Fanning, ‘Waiting for Tomorrow’ cements Tom Busby as a distinct and compelling voice in country music, owning his space with conviction and soul.
Tom’s debut album ‘Rockhampton Hangover’ coming later this year sees him bring the same down-to-earth vibes, feel-good energy and honest storytelling that we love from Busby Marou, to his solo work. The album dives deep into life’s ups and downs: love and loss and leans into indie-alt country and roots with a raw, intimate twist that pulls you right in. The record is shaping up to be a must-listen and fans and newcomers alike are in for something very special!
Connect with Tom Busby: Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Tik Tok
JENNY MITCHELL ’Sister’ (Single)
“I am a sister, always and now
from your first steps, to my last bow
I’m a sister, always a sister”
On the eve of International Women’s Day, award-winning New Zealand singer songwriter Jenny Mitchell has released her uplifting new single ‘Sister’ available now via Civilians. (Download/stream here)
Honouring their relationship and unbreakable bond, the track features Jenny’s sisters, The Mitchell Twins, Nicola and Maegan and is accompanied by a gorgeous video shot in New Zealand.
Jenny explains, “I wrote this one with my little sister Nicola and we had so much fun thinking about all the different ‘roles’ you play as a sister. It was recorded in New Zealand, produced by our Tasmanian friend Matt Fell and is jampacked with harmonies from both Nicola and Maegan.”
On the clip, Jenny goes on to say “We spent a day shooting the video at my family home in New Zealand. The tree hut, swing set, chicken coop and everything in between are the real deal. They’re the places we grew up exploring. Our little mini-mes and their Mum’s came to our place for the day and between us + my longtime collaborators, Scrambler (Wade McLelland and Bradon McCaughey), we created something that feels extremely nostalgic to me and just full of joy and our version of girlhood.” (View here)
Jenny is now just days out from the commencement of her special guest spot on Kasey Chambers’ national Backbone album tour which will visit every state in Australia over 5 months. The shows in Brisbane, Sale (VIC), Wyong (NSW) and the first show at Palms at Crown in Melbourne sold out. Tickets are selling fast for Perth, Penrith (NSW) Port Pirie (SA) Devonport and Launceston.
Having carved herself a strong following in both her home country of New Zealand and here in Australia, this single follows a busy past year for Jenny which included the release of her singles ‘Where The Water’s Cold’ and ‘Square & Plain’, a performance at the Groundwater Country Music Festival on the Gold Coast and a tour support slot with Australian country star Adam Harvey across NSW. Jenny also received a scholarship from the Australian Academy of Country Music and Sister Cities Nashville, to perform at Nashville’s iconic AmericanaFest and co-write with Nashville locals in September last year.
Originally from Gore, Jenny’s musical upbringing was firmly planted in country but her songwriting and material is a unique blend of folk, Americana and country. After winning the NZ Gold Guitar Award at just 18, Jenny has steadily carved herself a place in the New Zealand and Australian music scenes. Her 2022 album Tug Of War earned her a legion of new fans in Australia, showcasing her emotive songwriting. With an Aotearoa Music Award and 2 x Australian Golden Guitar nominations under her belt, the future is bright and bold for this unique artist.
JENNY MITCHELL – AUSTRALIAN SOLO SHOWS, 2025
Tickets via jennymitchell.co.nz
March 7-10 Port Fairy Folk Festival, VIC
August 28-31 Gympie Music Muster, QLD
Premier Artists, Essence Music Group, ABC Country, and Double J Present
KASEY CHAMBERS BACKBONE ALBUM TOUR 2025 WITH SPECIAL GUEST JENNY MITCHELL
Tickets via kaseychambers.com
CONNECT WITH JENNY MITCHELL: INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK WEBSITE
BOOM CRASH OPERA 4OTH ANNIVERSARY SINGLE ‘LATEST HUSTLE’
My skin is itching for something new … Boom Crash Opera formed in Melbourne in 1985, quickly becoming one of our most loved bands.
To honour their 40th anniversary, the band are releasing a brand-new single, their first new material in 12 years and their first single in 28 years.
‘Latest Hustle’ is a stomping glam rock treat, with a glorious Pete Farnan guitar riff that just won’t quit, Peter “Maz” Maslen’s playful drumming, and John Favaro’s throbbing bass line.
“My head is spinning,” Dale Ryder declares. “I’ve been reborn.”
‘Latest Hustle’ also features a nod to a previous BCO anthem. “So let’s go dancing,” Dale sings, “out in the storm.”
VIEW CLIP HERE
Live, the single will sit comfortably alongside the band’s classics, including ‘Dancing In The Storm’, ‘The Best Thing’, ‘Great Wall’, ‘Hands Up In The Air’, ‘City Flat’, ‘Get Out Of The House’ and ‘Onion Skin’.
“It’s like ‘Onion Skin’ but with a contemporary twist,” says Pete Farnan.
These here are crazy times but as ‘Latest Hustle’ shows, Boom Crash Opera are one band you can rely upon.
Fans can catch the band live across the coming weeks on tour with Roxette in March with shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong, Adelaide and Hobart including two dates for A Day on the Green in the Hunter Valley and Mount Cotton.
They are also touring extensively with the Models on their national Double A Side tour through to August of this year.
For tickets and further information visit boomcrashopera.com
CATCH BOOM CRASH OPERA LIVE IN 2025
Tickets on sale now
For further information visit boomcrashopera.com
ON TOUR WITH ROXETTE
Friday 7 March Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne VIC
Saturday 8 March ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney NSW
Sunday 9 March WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong NSW
Tuesday 11 March Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide SA
Thursday 13 March MyState Bank Arena, Hobart TAS
Saturday 15 March A Day on the Green, Bimbadgen Cellar Door, Hunter Valley NSW
Sunday 16 March A Day on The Green, Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton QLD
Tuesday 18 March Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne VIC
DOUBLE A SIDE TOUR (with MODELS)
Friday 21 March Paddington RSL, Paddington NSW
Saturday 22 March Paddington RSL, Paddington NSW
Friday 28 March The Triffid, Newstead QLD
Saturday 29 March Miami Marketta, Miami QLD
Friday 4 April The Sunken Monkey Hotel, Erina NSW
Saturday 5 April Toronto Hotel, Toronto NSW
Friday 11 April Highfield, Caringbah NSW
Saturday 12 April Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul NSW
Thursday 17 April Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights VIC
Saturday 19 April The Bridge Hotel, Rozelle NSW
Sunday 20 April The Bridge Hotel, Rozelle NSW
Thursday 24 April The Gov, Adelaide SA
Saturday 26 April Prince Bandroom, St Kilda VIC
Friday 2 May Shoppingtown Hotel, Doncaster VIC
Saturday 3 May Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave VIC
Friday 9 May Rosemount Hotel, North Perth WA
Saturday 10 May Rosemount Hotel, North Perth WA
Friday 1 August Harvey Road Tavern, Gladstone QLD
Saturday 2 August Harvey Road Tavern, Clinton QLD
Friday 8 August The Edge Hill Tavern, Cairns QLD
Saturday 9 August Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville QLD
FOLLOW BOOM CRASH OPERA: Website | Facebook | Instagram
BENNY J WARD ‘nest In Your Head’ (Single)
Benny J Ward, the prolific Perth power pop everywhere man who fronts internationally acclaimed group RINEHEARTS and is in the midst of releasing a long string of solo singles, has today released his latest solo single and video “Nest In Your Head”.
The single comes on the eve of Benny’s shows this weekend in Perth (his first with his new local solo band Benny J Ward & Thee Teleprompters) supporting Kim Salmon’s new band Smoked Salmon, and ahead of a Rinehearts’ East Coast Tour in April that will see them playing with their pals The Stems. The Rinehearts, who have also recently played shows with the Hoodoo Gurus, will be touring on the back of their acclaimed album Full Bloom and their stellar non-album cover of Falling Joys’ 1988 Indie chart-topper “You’re In A Mess”.
You’re right — Benny J Ward is truly on fire! His musical versatility shines through with “Nest In Your Head”, showing off his ability to balance his solo work with his multiple band projects and collaborations. With such a varied lineup of musicians and artistic influences, it’s no wonder he’s making waves in the Australian and international music scene.
The fact he’s producing his own music, recording and producing others and creating music videos in his own Pink House Studio adds multiple layers to his creative output.
Benny has been rather busy, one could say… Having recently produced and recorded the #1 Indi song for legendary Australian artists James Baker and Dom Mariani’s “Friday Night Friends” and collaborating on videos with Kim Salmon of The Scientists and Smoked Salmon, it’s a wonder he’s been able to fit in releasing his own tunes! He has recently formed an eastern states outfit for his solo project, Benny J and The Psych Ward (featuring Davey Lane of You Am I, Link Meanie and Matt Cotter of Even). Benny has upcoming shows with Kim Salmon’s Smoked Salmon with the Perth outfit Benny J Ward and Thee Teleprompters (featuring Matt Rodrigues and Jose Zaverino).
The new track “Nest In Your Head” highlights the pushing of boundaries with his use of vacuum synthesizers. an exciting direction he’s heading in. This kind of experimentation suggests he’s not just staying in his comfort zone but actively exploring new sonic landscapes and stylistic changes. Add in the psychedelic visuals on this song and its video, and you are in for an immersive experience, both sonically and visually. It’s an exciting time for Benny, and “Nest In Your Head” definitely seems poised to be a standout track in his ever growing catalogue.
RINEAHEARTS EAST COAST TOUR APRIL 2025
April 23 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne w/The Stems – tix
April 24 – The Crowbar, Sydney w/ The Stems – tix
April 25 – Gumball Festival, Hunter Valley – tix
April 26th – The Od Museum, Brisbane w/The Stems – tix
Rinehearts – You’re In A Mess (Official Audio)
www.cheersquad.com.au
cheersquadrecordstapes. bandcamp.com
BABE RAINBOW ‘Aquarium Cowgirl’ (Single)
Mid-way through their Australian tour Babe Rainbow share new single, ‘Aquarium Cowgirl‘ – a dreamlike acid-pop reflection on spirituality. Following previous singles ‘LONG LIVE THE WILDERNESS‘ and ‘Like Cleopatra‘, ‘Aquarium Cowgirl‘ is the third track from their new album, Slipper imp and shakaerator, out April 4th on King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s imprint, p(doom) Records.
In vocalist Angus Dowling’s words, ‘Aquarium Cowgirl’ is like a dreamcatcher. It’s about my own personal spiritual awakening and all the learning in that. Sometimes, we feel uncomfortable and struggle to know what to say. Like, we forget there are other ways of seeing reality outside our usual perspective. We made the video in the Rainbow Temple at Rosebank. The Yin and yang symbol painted on the stage where we’re playing represents the harmony of opposites.” Donations to the Rainbow Temple are welcome here.
The joyful, psychedelic music of Babe Rainbow— Angus Dowling, Jack ‘Cool-Breeze’ Crowther and Dr Elliot ‘Love Wisdom’ O’Reilly— draws inspiration from their surroundings. The trio grew up in Rainbow Bay, later relocating to Byron, an area of breathtaking natural beauty and enduring countercultural spirit. “The old Aquarius hippie connection is everywhere around here,” Angus says. “We tap into it, and absorb it all.” And their new album, Slipper Imp and Shakaerator, is their most “homegrown” project yet – a maverick, zephyr-light album following its own north star and chasing subtle, slippery, subterranean grooves to delirious destinations.
Slipper imp and shakaerator was recorded in a massive warehouse on an old banana farm where the band could work alongside friend and producer Timon Martin and magical Miles Myjavec on percussion and flute. The roots of the tracks often lay in riffs and figures cooked up by guitarist Jack Crowther. The key this time was not to overwork these early ideas, to give them space “to flow, to grow,” Angus explains. “Keeping a loose feeling to the music is so important. An idea develops together outside but it doesn’t take its wings until you take it into the studio. We experiment with synths and drum machines and overdubs, and we love that, but we never wanna escape too far from the hippie power of the music. We’re made of rainbow.”
Since the release of their debut EP in 2015 via Flightless Records and their 2017 self-titled debut LP, produced by Stu Mackenzie, Babe Rainbow has cultivated a dedicated global following, with over 550K monthly listeners. Their kaleidoscopic sound has earned praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, CLASH, NME and KEXP. The band has toured extensively, playing alongside King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Allah-Las, and have become a festival favourite, playing stages at Meredith, Yours and Owls and Party In The Paddock.
After warming up on their Australia and New Zealand tour throughout March and April, Babe Rainbow will embark on the US in August, playing Field Of Vision and headline shows in LA, Austin, Seattle and more – full list of dates here. Camille Jansen (France), who features on the record, will accompany the band on the Australian run, alongside support from The Vovos (NSW, VIC, SA) and Love Banana (QLD, Brunswick Heads).
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘AQUARIUM COWGIRL‘
BABE RAINBOW AUSTRALIAN TOUR W SPECIAL GUESTS CAMILLE JANSEN (FRANCE), THE VOVOS & LOVE BANANA
Fri 7 Feb – Party In The Paddock Festival, Tasmania
Fri 14 Feb – Polish White Eagle Club, Canberra, ACT
Sat 15 Feb – Thredbo Bike Cannonball After Party, Thredbo, NSW
Sun 2 Mar – Yours And Owls Festival, Wollongong, NSW
Fri 21 Mar – Crown & Anchor Hotel, Adelaide, SA with The Vovos
Sat 22 Mar – Howler, Melbourne, VIC with The Vovos
Thu 27 Mar – King St Bandroom, Newcastle, NSW with The Vovos
Fri 28 Mar – Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach, NSW with The Vovos
Sat 29 Mar – Avalon RSL, Avalon, NSW with The Vovos
Fri 4 Apr – Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads, NSW with Love Banana
Sat 5 Apr – Imperial Hotel, Eumundi, QLD with Love Banana
Sun 6 Apr – Lefty’s Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD with Love Banana
+ NZ DATES
Thu 10 Apr – Meow, Wellington
Fri 11 Apr – Totara Street, Tauranga
Sat 12 Apr – The Yard, Raglan
Sun 13 Apr – Double Whammy, Auckland
Slipper imp and shakaerator – out April 4th via p(doom) Records
CONNECT WITH BABE RAINBOW WEB | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | YOUTUBE
THROWING MUSES AUSTRALIAN TOUR DECEMBER 2025
Friday 5th December – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Saturday 6th December – Factory Theatre, Sydney
Sunday 7th December – Crowbar, Brisbane
Friday 12th December – Rosemount, Perth
Saturday 13th December – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide
Throwing Muses are one of the greatest (USA) college bands of the 1990s. Formed by Kristin Hersh with high school friends. The band, currently consisting of Kristin Hersh, David Narcizo and Bernard Georges, pioneered a new alternative sound, releasing a string of critically celebrated albums and touring the world.
Their new album ‘Moonlight Concessions’ has been described by Pitchfork Magazine as: “A stunning return to form”.
‘Moonlight Concessions’ goes back to basics, a return for Throwing Muses to their esoteric off-kilter best courtesy of Kristin’s pin-sharp sketches and their suitably abrasive musical arrangements. The album follows their acclaimed ‘Sun Racket’ from 2020, a heady set filled with tough and tender tales spiked with surreal imagery.
Throwing Muses have not toured Australia since 2009, and this time they come armed with an incredible new album, these will be some very exciting shows you will not want to miss!
New album ‘Moonlight Concessions’ is out March 14th via Fire Records
LOST SOULS UNLEASH NEW SINGLE xMOSHLORDx FEAT. JONATHAN VIGIL (THE GHOST INSIDE)
Debut Album Lore Is Out April 18
The wait is finally over! Metalcore heroes Lost Souls have announced their debut album, Lore, landing on April 18. The album news arrives with their mammoth new single xMOSHLORDx featuring Jonathan Vigil of The Ghost Inside.
Lost Souls’ additive newie channels that euphoric sensation of seeing your favourite band live. You know that feeling when the chorus hits then belting it out at the top of your lungs until they explode? That. It’s only fitting that xMOSHLORDx features one of their all-time favourite artists.
Though it almost didn’t happen, thanks to Kevin being, well, himself. When Jonathan Vigil paid the band a visit to see how the breakdown magic is made, the very starstruck Lost Souls vocalist panicked and tried to flee the scene. When his car wouldn’t start, the idea for xMOSHLORDx was born.
“I was on tour in Australia and had a little bit of downtime when Jovi hit me up to come to their practice,” explains Jonathan Vigil. “I was planning on just hanging and bullsh*tting with the band, but when the car wouldn’t start, they just started jamming a song. I instinctively grabbed the mic and just got into it with them. Kev asked me to get onto the track with them and the rest is history!”
“We’re basically best friends now,” adds Kev (vocals). “Also, I need to ask that if you see Vigil and I out on double dates or just hanging please respect our privacy.”
Renowned for their unorthodox songwriting methods and the ability to turn mundane sounds into epic anthems fuelled by huge riffs, hypnotic hooks and unforgiving lyrics, Lost Souls is the heavy band everyone is talking about right now.
Lost Souls’ forthcoming album Lore is the culmination of a year-long story that starts with the debut single “Childhood Died” – the Star Wars-themed epic that immediately went viral and had everyone asking ‘who are Lost Souls?’. The single immediately racked up millions of streams, garnered the attention of reaction channels around the globe and was nominated for “Best Blergh” at the Nik Nocturnal Awards. They backed it up with the sequel “The Return”, followed by the Attack on Titan tribute “My Soldiers Rage” which took social media by storm courtesy of a ping-pong ball breakdown viewed around the world 20 million times before the single was even released. Next came the ADHD masterpiece “Dopamine” with a killer riff inspired by microwave popcorn.
While it may seem on the surface that their debut is a collection of humorous songs about nerdy pop culture themes, Lore goes much deeper, showcasing the significance of these stories for the multiple generations of fans whose values and ethics have been shaped by their favourite heroes and villains. To many, these narratives are a religion providing a moral code to live life by, except no one is going to war over them…
Jovi (bass) elaborates: “Religion is based on stories, and each religion proclaims that all other religions are false, or, all other stories aren’t true. The stories we sing about are just as important to generations of people out there. The characters in these stories taught thousands if not millions of youngsters what it is to be a good person, how to stand up for what you believe in, defy adversity, not give into the temptation of evil… They’re cherished for life.”
Lore is also a powerful social commentary, exploring themes of neurodiversity, the complexities of mental health, mindless influencer culture feeding the desperate pursuit of fame and the monotony of corporate life.
Quite simply, Lore is the album Lost Souls were put on this earth to write.
LOST SOULS – LORE Out April 18 (Independent)
Follow Lost Souls
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MIKA JAMES ‘Nonna’s Trolley’ (Single)
Mika James is leaping out from behind the drum kit of Melbourne punk outfit The Vovos to unleash a modern nostalgic solo outing. Nonna’s Trolley is her first official release, and is a joyous singalong that can’t be denied. stream/share Nonna’s Trolley here
“Nonna’s Trolley is a song that was written out of the feeling you get when you overestimate how many things you can carry when you’re walking down the street – when you have to get from A to B but everything you’re carrying is impossibly balanced across bags strung on both shoulders, jean back-pockets and two waiter-style-full hands. You’re in a target stare of the destination but you can feel something slipping – it’s a panic laugh in a La la la. I wrote it in a time of my life where everything was a bit off-kilter and retrospectively wild, but when I looked down at all the things I was carrying, and the people who were at the A and B – I think of it as a highly special time in my life. Nonna’s Trolley is for the people who run into door frames and make Bolognese for their friends who come over and eat it in their bath, for champagne in the shower – It’s for the laugh when everything falls out of your arms after you try to pick up what fell out of the bag over your left shoulder.” – Mika James
Singing, writing and performing songs that invite the listener into a world of personal poetry and intimate portraits, Mika James weaves melodious tunes sharpened with an edge of life experience. The tunes evoke the raw musical landscape populated by Weyes Blood, Sharon Van Etten and Laura Marling – even harking back to the world-building odes of Patti Smith, PJ Harvey and Bobbie Gentry.
Mika James exudes a wildness that can’t be boxed, the amalgamation of her punk roots and folk voice has been personified in this sparkling new track.
Nonna’s Trolley is out now via ADA Instagram / Tiktok / Web
AYESHA MADON ANNOUNCES HER FIRST HEADLINE SHOW IN SYDNEY
Following on from an incredible couple of shows at SXSW Sydney last year, breakout artist AYESHA MADON has announced her debut headline show, an intimate night in Sydney next Friday. Fans will get a chance to get up close and personal with Ayesha as she performs all her smash hits, as well as some new songs from her upcoming debut EP, out later this year.
AYESHA MADON will be performing at Pleasure Club in Sydney on Friday 14th March.
Tickets will be free to fans who register for the event at secretsounds.com. Entry will be first in, best dressed, so registration does not guarantee entry once venue has reached capacity.
AYESHA MADON
SYDNEY 2025
PLEASURE CLUB, SYDNEY
FRIDAY 14 MARCH
Register now for free tickets at secretsounds.com Note: registration doesn’t guarantee entry if venue at capacity.
About AYESHA MADON:
Performance in all its forms has always been intrinsic in Ayesha Madon’s life, from learning drums and piano in her early teens, through to her starring role in Netflix’s smash series Heartbreak High, to building a full recording studio in her Grandma’s garage in the suburbs of Sydney. She can’t help herself.
For the rising creative, music and songwriting remain at the fore of her creative output as she strives for humility and grit in all aspects of her work. A deep consideration for authentic storytelling and humility and a natural ability to keep it real is how Madon continues to captivate in whatever medium she harnesses. Recent hit singles include Eulogy, Blame Me, and her most recent single Michelle Obama was a number one most played on triple J. Stay tuned for her debut EP coming later this year.
TASH SULTANA ‘Hold On’ (Single/Video)
Fresh from selling out Red Rocks in minutes Tash Sultana announces a massive US tour. Bringing their signature electrifying energy and genre-blurring sound to fans nationwide, this tour is set to be nothing short of unforgettable. With a reputation for mesmerizing live performances, Tash is ready to deliver an experience you won’t want to miss. Tickets are available now via tashsultana.com
Today Tash shares latest offering ‘Hold On’, a powerful anthem of resilience—an electrifying outcry against the unseen weight of their wife’s recent cancer diagnosis. Through raw emotion and unwavering strength, it channels exhaustion into defiance, anger into power, and struggle into an unbreakable will to keep pushing forward.
LISTEN TO ‘HOLD ON’ HERE
Tash reflects, “Some moments change everything. HOLD ON is for my wife. It’s for anyone who’s ever had to find strength when life pulls the ground out from under you. Hope this one reaches whoever needs it”
Tash is inviting fans into their world with an intimate, stripped-back live performance of the new track, filmed straight from the heart of their Lonely Lands Studio.
WATCH ‘LIVE AT LONELY LANDS STUDIO’ HERE
Building on the success of the first single, ‘Milk & Honey’—which earned rotation on triple j, topped the AMRAP Metro Charts, received praise from Rolling Stone, and landed on key DSP playlists like Spotify’s The Local List and Apple’s Heaps Indie—this latest release continues the momentum.
With a career spanning over a decade, Tash Sultana’s accomplishments speak volumes: selling out shows at iconic venues, headlining major festivals, selling out global arenas, 15 ARIA nominations, and the 2023 Rolling Stone Global Artist Award. Yet, for Tash, the journey is far from over. With their unwavering drive to push creative boundaries and a focus on building a broader legacy as an entrepreneur and mentor, Tash continues to shape the industry on their own terms.
TASH SULTANA ‘RETURN TO THE ROOTS’ US TOUR
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
TUEDAY JUNE 10 | THE RANDY SHELL AT JACOBS PARK, SAN DIEGO
WEDNESDAY JUNE 11 | HARD ROCK LIVE – SACRAMENTO, WHEATLAND
FRIDAY JUNE 13 | THE MASONIC, SAN FRANCISCO
SATURDAY JUNE 14 | SHRINE EXPO HALL, LOS ANGELES
SUNDAY JUNE 15 | THE VAN BUREN, PHOENIX
TUESDAY JUNE 17 | THE PAVILION AT TOYOTA MUSIC FACTOR, IRVING
WEDNESDAY JUNE 18 | BAYOU MUSIC CENTRE, HOUSTON
FRIDAY JUNE 20 | RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE, MORRISON SOLD OUT
SATURDAY JUNE 21 | DILLON AMPHITHEATER, DILLON
SUNDAY JUNE 22 | VENUE TBA, SALT LAKE CITY
TUESDAY JUNE 24 | KNITTING FACTORY CONCERT HOUSE, BOISE
WEDNESDAY JUNE 25 | KNITTING FACTORY CONCERT HOUSE, SPOKANE
FRIDAY JUNE 27 | EDGEFIELD CONCERTS ON THE LAWN, TROUTDALE
SATURDAY JUNE 28 | CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE, WOODINVILLE
SUNDAY JUNE 29 | BRITT MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL – BRITT PAVILION, JACKSONVILLE
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