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SNIPPETZ: THURSDAY 1O APRIL, 2025

Thursday 10 April, 2025

NARDIA SHARES SULTRY NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO IS IT YOU + SINGLE LAUNCH SHOW SET FOR BRUNSWICK BALLROOM

Effortlessly smooth and laden with charm, the brand new single Is It You out today from award-winning songwriter Nardia offers a glimpse into the talented Melbourne artist’s hotly-anticipated album Own Every Scar set for release this July, with Nardia also dropping a fittingly whimsical accompanying music video today for her dreamlike new single. Nardia will also officially launch her track live in action with a special hometown show on Sunday April 13 at Brunswick Ballroom alongside Mayfield and Tanya George.
Drawing on echoes of Childish Gambino’s smooth R&B textures along with the heartfelt storytelling of Adele and Carole King, Is It You is a bright yet deeply raw outing, with Nardia effortlessly weaving her powerful vocals against personal narratives and a glossy backdrop of soulful R&B. A joyful fusion of soul, depth and raw emotion, Is It You ultimately details the kindling of attraction, as Nardia herself elaborates, “Is it You captures that moment of intrigue when you meet someone and feel an undeniable pull toward them. There’s an instant spark, but beneath the surface, questions linger like who are they beyond what they show the world? Is the connection real, or is it just the allure of the unknown? The song explores the tension between attraction and curiosity, the desire to uncover someone’s true essence, and the mystery that makes love both exciting and uncertain, leaving you feeling uncomfortably excited.”
Teaming up with Mat Rob at Hope St Studios, also Nardia’s main co-writer for all of her original songs, Is It You also saw Nardia work alongside Ivan Khatchoyan (Cookin’ on 3 Burners, The Traffic, Thando), with mixing and mastering by Choi Productions. And to bring the creative vision of Is It You to life in a visual setting, Nardia paired with Matthew Kelley for the accompanying music video, with the sublime concept springing to life in an extremely short space of time. “I worked closely with Matthew Kelley from Mindseye Productions,” shares Nardia, “and from the moment he heard the track, he was inspired. Within 24 hours, he had a fully formed concept and couldn’t wait to share his vision with me. His passion and professionalism were incredible—he created a detailed mood board, an animatic, and even scheduled a rehearsal before the shoot to ensure every moment was captured perfectly. The result is a visually stunning music video that brings the song’s emotions to life through cinematic storytelling. Set in a retro diner where reality blurs with fantasy, the clip transports viewers into a dreamlike world of longing and mystery. As neon lights flicker and time seems to stand still, we are left wondering—was it really him, or was she simply lost in a dream?”

Nardia has captivated audiences at home and abroad over the years, previously supporting the likes of Russell Morris and Tex Perkins, and performing in the VIP lounges for Beyonce and Adele’s Australian tours, delivering soulful and memorable sets. Having also starred in the sold out musical Eulogy for a Genius, a Ray Charles tribute, Nardia also leads her own Etta James and B.B. King show with Jimi Hocking of The Screaming Jets fame. Alongside her myriad of creative pursuits, Nardia also fronts the Melbourne-based collective Rambal, whose 2016 and 2018 releases Let Love and Live in Newcastle garnered them national attention, with the band also winning Group of the Year at the 2017 Australian Blues Music Awards and scoring a #1 on the Australian Blues Charts in 2017. Most recently, Nardia earned a Top 5 spot at the 2025 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, making her the only female artist to reach the finals among 400 acts; a feat that is definitely only the beginning of some incredible things to come for this talented artist. “It was an absolute honour to be selected as a finalist in the International Blues Challenge (top 5 out of 400 in the band category and was the only female),” Nardia says. “Heading to Memphis was a dream come true! Competing on such a prestigious global stage was a surreal experience, but beyond that, it provided an amazing opportunity to connect with some of the most talented musicians from around the world. As part of this opportunity, I had the privilege of meeting Darin James and Boo Mitchell, who will now be joining me on this exciting new chapter of my music career. This experience has already opened so many doors, and I can’t wait to see where it will take my music. With this new team, I’m working on a contemporary R&B album, but rest assured, my music will always be rooted in the jazz and blues that shaped my sound. Those soulful foundations are at the core of everything I do, and I’m thrilled to continue blending those influences with fresh, modern elements. It’s a thrilling time, and I’m eager to see where this next phase will lead!”

Nardia is set to launch Is It You officially in Melbourne, with a special show locked in on Sunday April 13 at Brunswick Ballroom. And boasting Nardia with a 10-piece band joining her, this is definitely set to be an afternoon to remember. For the single launch the band will feature a 10-piece band which will include the sweet sounds of harmonies from artists Jaydean Miranda and Tyra Lewis and a horn section featuring Charlie Woods and Nathaniel Sametz.”

Is It You is out now.Own Every Scar is due out this July.
SUN 13 APR | BRUNSWICK BALLROOM, BRUNSWICK VIC | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
Stream: IS IT YOU
Watch: IS IT YOU

‘MY SONG IS YOUR SONG’ – PARTICIPATE IN MAKE MUSIC DAY (JUNE 21)

Here’s one of many ways to be involved in Make Music Day on June 21. Learn a song by another artist and hear yours covered in return. Songwriters, composers and bands of all styles and walks of life are invited to participate!

Partners will be introduced by May 12th, to give you all plenty of time to communicate and get to know each other’s work while recording your version of their song. You’ll make their song your own, share a video of it on Instagram or YouTube on June 21st, and use #MySongIsYourSong to join in the celebration!

You do not need access to professional recording equipment to enter this song swap: Any kind of recording that captures your creative concept is fine, just work with what you have to get your ideas onto the recording; creativity is the single most important factor here. We are excited to hear what you come up with, and especially want to encourage you to use any unusual or unique instruments or techniques that you know; let your imagination fly!

Visit the website for more information. Registration closes April 28, 2025.

Click Here to Register

Registration Extended for Make Music, Make Friends!

For the third year, Make Music, Make Friends will connect school children aged 7-13 from around the world on Make Music Day, sharing videos of their musical performances with each other.

Up to ten classes from each country will create a musical greeting video, share it with schools from different countries, and have their students watch these musical messages on June 21. Some schools will choose a traditional song from their country, while others will play a new composition, or simply a song that they like to sing.

The cut-off date for Registrations of Interest has now been extended to April 30!

Download the Fact Sheet Here

Click Here to Register

RYAN WOODS ‘Full Speed Ahead’ (Single)

After one listen, it would be easy to assume Ryan Woods fell from the heavens and landed smack dab in the middle of modern pop music and culture. He defies genres and eras with an otherworldly je ne sais quoi. Flaunting a sky-high range and head-turning fashion sense, Woods exudes a swaggering gusto befitting of your favorite ’70s rock star, yet he opens up with a level of candor decidedly intrinsic to Gen Z. Musically, he laces D.I.Y. pop with psychedelic experimentation and existential ruminations that are both provocative and catchy.

FEARLESS RECORDS artist Ryan Woods returns with his brand new, bedroom-y pop single Full Speed Ahead, and an accompanying visualizer. Despite the title, the song is a dreamy, beautifully lazy slow burn. Woods sings the poignant lyrics, his voice drenched in emotion. Full Speed Ahead escalates in the choruses, giving full-on The Beatles’ vibes alongside ’60s-inspired harmonizing. It’s like six songs all rolled into one.

“I wrote Full Speed Ahead during quite a confusing time in my love life,” Woods shares, laying his emotional cards face up on the table. “Being someone who has endured deep pain and trauma from past relationships, moving on, and healing is a very long and difficult process.”

Woods continues, “I had quickly developed deep feelings for someone and the fact that they were reciprocating was thrilling, yet it also scared me to death. I felt like a deer in headlights, looking upon a train moving Full Speed Ahead. My once-pure and beautiful feelings were now poisoned by fear and daunt. How excited I was to love somebody! But will they set me free or rub salt in my wounds?”

Last year, Woods shared the glorious video for Garden. Watch it here. He also served up his rendition of the Minnie Ripperton classic Lovin’ You. Watch that video here.

FULL SPEED AHEAD – OUT NOW https://found.ee/FullSpeedAhead

ALLY VENABLE AND SHEMEKIA COPELAND TEAM UP FOR “UNBREAKABLE”

MONEY & POWER IS DUE OUT FRIDAY, APRIL 18 VIA RUF RECORDS
The Texas-born and bred guitar shredding powerhouse, and singer/songwriter, Ally Venable is thrilled to share her new song “Unbreakable” ft. Shemekia Copeland. – the latest song to be released off Ally’s highly anticipated forthcoming album, Money & Power, due out on April 18 via Ruf Records.

“This is a powerful duet, and defiant anthem that celebrates the indomitable spirit of women who have weathered life’s storms,” says Ally. “The song paints a vivid portrait of two souls who have both gone through adversity, yet their voices blend in a harmonious tribute to resilience and triumph. I am here to let women know that they can stand tall and face the world with unbreakable courage and strength.”

“Unbreakable” ft. Shemekia Copeland follows the releases of the title track, “Money & Power,” “Keep Me in Mind,” and “Do You Cry.”

Ally has been on the road with the iconic Experience Hendrix tour for the last several weeks and is gearing up to kick off her Money & Power headline tour, in support of the new album on April 12 in Dallas, TX. All news, tickets and additional information can be found at allyvenableband.com.

Rules are there to be broken. Expectations are there to be defied, and glass ceilings are there to be shattered. Having spent the past decade carving out her own unique space in the male-dominated world of blues-rock, Ally Venable’s combative sixth album, Money & Power, demands more of both – for herself, for women around the world, and for anyone else who thought they weren’t worthy of a seat at the table.

“Money & Power is such a strong statement, especially for women,” says the award-winning Texas gunslinger of her Nashville-recorded new release, on which Ally’s crack-squad band is joined by A-list guests Shemekia Copeland and Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram.

“All the songs on this album showcase the theme of what it truly means to be a force to be reckoned with. I want this record to wake people up,” continues Ally.

ALLY VENABLE. MONEY & POWER. RELEASE DATE: APRIL 18, 2025

ABERTOOTH LINCOLN Lincoln ‘Precision Scheduled Disasters’ (Single)

Abertooth Lincoln is back and louder than ever with their scathing new single, ‘Precision Scheduled Disasters,’ officially out now via Golden Robot Records. A blistering punk anthem fueled by fury, the track rips into Norfolk Southern’s reckless greed and the catastrophic consequences of its so-called ‘Precision Scheduled Railroading’ – a euphemism for gutting staff, neglecting maintenance, and pushing operations to the breaking point.

This high-voltage assault is a Molotov cocktail hurled at the railway giant’s profit-driven neglect. With breakneck intensity, ‘Precision Scheduled Disasters’ exposes the corporate cost-cutting that led to the 2023 East Palestine derailment, which spewed 100,000 gallons of toxic waste into the air, soil, and water, poisoning an entire community.

“This isn’t just a song – it’s battle-cry” says Abertooth Lincoln. “Norfolk Southern put profits over people. This track is for everyone who’s sick of corporate greed destroying lives.”

Ferocious, unapologetic, and unrelenting, ‘Precision Scheduled Disasters’ is punk at its most urgent – loud, fast, and pissed off.

Stream ‘Precision Scheduled Disasters’ HERE

SEA OF FLAME ‘Mercury’ (EP)

Denver-based rock powerhouse Sea of Flame have officially unleashed their explosive new EP, Mercury, via Golden Robot Records. Packed with adrenaline-fueled riffs, soaring vocals, and infectious grooves, Mercury cements Sea of Flame as a must-hear force in modern rock.

Delivering a high-energy sonic experience, Mercury is a journey through dynamic, hard-hitting tracks that seamlessly blend raw intensity with melodic precision. Each song is a testament to the band’s signature sound – bold, unrelenting, and unforgettable. From punchy, riff-driven anthems to atmospheric, high-velocity bangers, the EP is primed to leave a lasting impact.

With their signature clean-yet-powerful vocals, hook-laden guitar work and hard-driving rhythms, Sea of Flame channels the essence of rock’s golden age while forging ahead with a fresh and modern edge. This is the kind of music meant to be played loud, with the windows down and the open road ahead.

Sea of Flame continues to rise in the rock scene, and Mercury is set to be their most defining release yet.

Stream Mercury HERE

MICK THOMAS ANNOUNCES NEW EP AND TOUR WITH ROVING COMMISSION

Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission have announced a new seven track maxi single (that’s an ‘EP’ for those who don’t remember Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons’ So Young and Loud & Clear 7-tracker) First Step in a Homeward Direction, the title track of which will be the first single from a new album out in the second half of the year. The release of the EP in May will be followed by dates in Perth/Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne and the Wimmera in May.

In Mick and the band’s grand tradition of supporting their favourite songwriters and giving their fans their money’s worth, the new EP, in addition to the title track, includes newly recorded covers of songs by Charles Jenkins, Spencer P. Jones & Kim Salmon, Carla Geneve, David Beniuk, Paul Woseen/Screaming Jets as well as a new version of an old song of Mick’s from Weddings Parties Anything’s final album.

October 2024 Mick and the band headed to Neil Finn’s prestigious Roundhead Studios in Auckland to record with award winning producer Steven Schram. First Step in a Homeward Direction (seven track maxi single) is the first offering from this inspired collaboration. It’s an all guns blazing rocking ballad – both triumphant and fragile – concerning the vagaries of the touring life and featuring all the musical assets the Roving Commission has to offer. The strings, the harmonies, the counterpoint lead vocals, the gnashing guitars and the swirling keyboards – all underpinned with a rhythmic sensibility as forceful as it is subtle and stylish. There’s another six tracks on the record – all covers from various contemporaries of the band including a lost track from Spencer P. Jones and Kim Salmon, one from the band’s WA buddy Carla Geneve and to close the record, a version of the Screaming Jets’ ‘Helping Hand’ – as surprising as it is poignant.

To get the record out there the band are making a quick trip ‘round the country in June. It’s the dead of winter so it will be good to have a heartwarming new batch of tunes on offer along side the familiar cannon of tunes Mick’s audience have come to expect. This year’s Port Fairy Folk Festival saw the Roving Commission handle the big stages with serious confidence and aplomb. The shows in June will be a great chance for the band to continue their quiet ascendancy as one of the country’s great touring acts.

All shows with special guest Skyscraper Stan (except Banyena)

JUNE
Fri 6 – Mojos Fremantle WA – Tix
Sat 7 – Lyric Lane Maylands WA – Tix
Fri 13 – Camelot Lounge Marrickville NSW – Tix
Sat 14 – Camelot Lounge Marrickville NSW – Tix
Fri 20 – Bird’s Basement Melbourne – Tix
Sat 21 – Banyena (Wimmera – Vic)
www.mickthomas.com www.facebook.com/MickThomasMusic/ mickthomas.bandcamp.com

SLEEP TOKEN ‘Caramel’ (Single)

Following a monumental emergence, Sleep Token returns with their second offering Caramel from their upcoming album Even In Arcadia, set to release on May 9th via RCA Records / Sony Music Australia. The new track blends delicate melodies with heavy rhythms, creating a unique mix of tender beauty and unrelenting force, with vocals that convey haunting vulnerability and unspoken pain.

Even In Arcadia is expected to push the boundaries of sound and emotion even further, dissolving into something otherworldly. With their latest offering, Emergence, driving their momentum— debuting in the top 40 in the ARIA singles chart for the very first time and having hit the Billboard Hot 100 charts, reached number 1on the Hot Hard Rock charts, and claimed the top spot on iTunes—the band offers a refined and expansive sonic journey, continuing their exploration of emotional depth and enigmatic narrative.

As this next chapter unfolds, the band will embark on their first sold-out arena tour in the U.S. — the Even In Arcadia Tour — with stops in 17 cities this September and October.

Pre-Orders for Even In Arcadia are available now here

JB Hi-Fi Exclusive Limited Edition vinyl variant here

*All JB Hi-Fi pre-orders come with bonus ‘House Veridian’ or ‘The Feathered Host’ patch (only while stocks last)

Listen to Caramel here

MACHINE HEAD Release Music Video For ‘BØNESCRAPER’

Bay Area icons MACHINE HEAD have sharpened their sound into its most direct and impactful form with the release of their eleventh album, UNATØNED. The record – which will be released on April 25th via Nuclear Blast Records – is a testament to momentum, an album honed to its sharpest edge, forged on creative discipline and the hunger to push forward.

Today, the band unveil the energetic second single, ‘BØNESCRAPER’. The release features a new music video as well as the announcement of the BØNESCRAPER edition LP of UNATØNED (shipping June 17). Watch the music video directed by Mike Sloat.

MACHINE HEAD comments, “This one is for those of us with darkness in our heart, a song about love lost, and a song for those who fail at love… but keep on trying… hence, we scrape our bones to numb the pain.”

Pre-order & pre-save UNATØNED: https://machinehead.bfan.link/unatoned

Stream ‘BØNESCRAPER’: https://machinehead.bfan.link/bonescraper

Watch ‘BØNESCRAPER’ Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yayUQhH-N0

Written in motion – on the road, in hotel rooms, and across continents – it reflects the raw energy of their return to the global festival circuit after an 11-year hiatus. UNATØNED was recorded at Robb’s Jam Room, Sharkbite Studios, and Drop Of Sun Recording between July 2023 and December 2024. The album was produced by Robb Flynn as well as Zack Ohren who was also responsible for the engineering. The mixing and mastering was handled by Colin Richardson and Chris Clancy at Audioworks UK and the mastering of the record was handled by Ted Jensen and his assistant Justin Shturtz. The only exception was the track ‘LANDSCAPE ØF THØRNS’ which was produced by Flynn and Joel Wanasek who was also in charge of mixing the single alongside Zack Ohren. MACHINE HEAD once again tapped Seth Siro Anton to create the album artwork.

Eleven albums deep, MACHINE HEAD remains as fierce, relevant, and unstoppable as ever.

MACHINE HEAD is:
Robb Flynn | Vocals & Guitars
Jared MacEachern | Bass & Vocals
Reece Scruggs | Guitar
Matt Alston | Drums

More information:
https://www.machinehead1.com/
https://twitter.com/MfnH
https://www.instagram.com/machine_head/
https://www.youtube.com/c/machinehead/featured
https://www.facebook.com/MachineHead
https://www.tiktok.com/@machineheadofficial

LUNA KILLS ‘Deathmatch’ (Album)

LUNA KILLS has officially dropped their highly anticipated album, DEATHMATCH, via Sharptone Records, bringing their signature raw energy and fierce attitude to fans worldwide. Accompanying the release, the band has unveiled a brand-new music video for love u—a track that perfectly encapsulates their bold sound and unapologetic vision.

“This is one of those songs that came together really fast, in just a couple of days, somewhere between being inspired by anime soundtracks and feeling furious about unsolicited opinions on what kind of band LUNA KILLS should be. And just like that, love u was born,” shares vocalist Lotta Ruutiainen. “It’s the first song that we wrote for DEATHMATCH and it became sort of like the blueprint of what the album was going to be like. The name of the song and the intro kind of lulls the listener, but it’s quickly very evident that the song is not about that vibe at all and it really takes you for a ride and punches you in the face.”

“The song’s lyrics are about controlling, obsessive behaviour towards someone and falling into a delusional toxic kind of love that is and has not been reciprocated in any way.”

love u follows the success of previous singles WAVES, LEECH, sugar rush, and slay ur enemies further demonstrating LUNA KILLS’ relentless energy and artistic vision leading up to DEATHMATCH.

LUNA KILLS has added new dates to their 2025 tour schedule, currently on the road in Europe. With major festival appearances and an album release show on the horizon, these live performances promise to showcase the band’s raw energy and unforgettable stage presence.

DEATHMATCH – OUT NOW
https://bfan.link/deathmatch-1

TRACY CHAPMAN Celebrates 35th Anniversary of Eponymous Debut Album

Resissued and Once Again Available on Vinyl

‘We’ve witnessed the worst this world can throw our way, Chapman suggests on her debut. But the album creates a world where no force exists without a counter. The worst of what we’ve endured, she also offers, makes righteous justice inevitable. It’s a worldview that many could tune into. By the end of the summer of 1988, a few months after the Nelson Mandela tribute, Tracy Chapman was a platinum album and the singer was a star. Chapman came to the world stage with a perspective crystallized in society’s margins. Yet, for all the violence and hopelessness Chapman captures in her lyrics, there’s an equal measure of radical and naive conviction that a more just world is on its way. The album was produced in isolation from popular music, and in defiance of it. She wasn’t a herald of change within the industry so much as she was an example of the innovation to be found outside of it.’ – Pitchfork [January 2019]

Elektra/Rhino Records has reissued Tracy Chapman’s eponymous debut album on vinyl in celebration of its 35th anniversary.

Originally released by Elektra Records in April 1988, Tracy Chapman has long been unavailable on vinyl. This anniversary reissue has been prepared for release by Chapman and the album’s original producer, David Kershenbaum, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and sourced from an analogue master. The album package will also include an insert of translated lyrics, which accompanied the original international release.

Featuring the classic singles ‘Fast Car’, ‘Talkin’ Bout A Revolution’, and ‘Baby Can I Hold You’, the album earned three Grammy Awards and went on to become one of the most successful debuts of all time, peaking at #1 in multiple countries and selling more than 20 million copies worldwide. To this day, it still makes regular appearances on charts around the world, and is one of the most successful albums by a female artist in chart history.

Get your copy from the Warner Music Store HERE

Chapman comments, “I was just out of college when the album came out and for a young singer songwriter it was a dream come true – making a record, recording my own songs, releasing my first album. 1988, that year marked the beginning of what has been a humbling and thrilling experience, seeing fans around the world embrace these 11 songs. I really wanted to mark the 35th anniversary of the album, and so I am grateful to have this opportunity to reissue the record on vinyl.”

BIG VACATION ’Store Clerk’ (Single)

Eora/Sydney-based indie-pop artist Big Vacation returns with dreamy single ‘Store Clerk’ – produced/mixed by the artist himself and mastered by Matt Curtin (Flume, ODESZA, Golden Features). ‘Store Clerk’ unfolds with a lush blend of velvety vocal layers, acoustic guitars, warm samples and a softly pulsing beat. The track curates an inviting atmosphere with electronic flourishes, organic percussion, and groovy basslines as it sways like an intimate conversation by a cosy fireplace. Embracing an unconventional song structure, ‘Store Clerk’ is an immersive offering that reimagines the boundaries of alt-pop, lo-fi and indie music.

Big Vacation talks about the inspiration behind ‘Store Clerk’: “I was given a piece of advice from an old neighbour once – ‘Always make room for the things you love in your life because they’ll make you happy and influence the happiness of those around you’. I was much younger then, but I always come back to this idea as an anchor point. It makes sense in different ways at different stages of life – that’s really what this song is about. I wanted it to flow almost like that conversation which is why the form doesn’t include a chorus.”

Exploring a true DIY approach, every aspect from songwriting, production, mixing, photography and filming has been hand-woven by Big Vacation himself. The DIY accompanying music video was shot on location across Eora/Sydney’s Newtown, Sydney trains and train stations, and the Northern Beaches. Big Vacation explains, “I’ve grown up in Sydney, around Newtown and used Sydney’s trains all my life which is where I shot the music video. I wanted this clip to be shot with some dynamics between fast-paced shots/ editing and more passive, slower, almost still shots. This was to complement the almost ‘conversation’ like nature of the song between the older and younger person. You might notice some iconic Sydney places if you look hard enough- maybe places you’ve grown up with too.”

Drawing inspiration from artists like Powfu (CA) and Arden Jones (US), Big Vacation transcends the norm with his introspective songwriting. Previous single ‘Anchor Point’ was widely embraced by triple j, triple j Unearthed and Australian community radio. In the blogsphere, the track was supported by MILKY, Backseat Mafia (AUS/UK), Eat This Music, AAA Backstage and more.

Well-known for his previous project as artist Billy Fox, Big Vacation is the moniker of Chris Baker, whose past work has seen support from Spotify, triple j, triple j Unearthed, The Line of Best Fit (UK), Rolling Stone, Tone Deaf, Life Without Andy, Pilerats, Acid Stag and Music Feeds. He has also performed alongside the likes of Glass Animals (UK), Lime Cordiale, Little Green and his music video for ‘Let’s Be Honest’ won the ‘Best Colour’ Award at the CLIPPED Music Video Festival as part of VIVID Sydney.

‘Store Clerk’ is available worldwide now

DJO RELEASES THE CRUX

Djo – the musical project of actor / producer / songwriter Joe Keery known for his work in blockbuster projects such as Stranger Things and Fargo – has released his highly anticipated new album The Crux.

With the album release is new focus single, ‘Potion.’ Showcasing a different side of the record than ‘Basic Being Basic’ and ‘Delete Ya,’ ‘Potion’ finds Djo in Laurel Canyon.

“’Potion’ is like your favourite pair of blue jeans,” says Keery. “I’d been working on Travis picking when I wrote this song, so it’s kind of like if Harry Nilsson and Lindsey Buckingham had a baby.” Keery performed the majority of the songs on the entire record himself, but on this acoustic and falsetto-led track he is particularly front and centre, tackling vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, drums, percussion and Mellotron.

Djo had a massive 2024 with the viral hit ‘End of Beginning’, Spotify’s #6 most streamed song of the entire year, and 2025 is shaping up to be even bigger. He recently performed ‘Basic Being Basic’ on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he was also the couch guest, and will perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 14 April. His world tour kicked off last night with a fully sold-out North American run, and includes his festival debuts at both Coachella and Glastonbury, as well as a return to Chicago for Lollapalooza, and more. He will also play a few shows in EU/UK alongside Noah Kahan.

Djo has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 per ticket goes to providing critical relief and long-term recovery support for individuals, families, and communities impacted by the devastating LA wildfires via the PLUS1 LA Fires Fund – remaining tickets can be found HERE.

THE CRUX, OUT NOW
ORDER // LISTEN

FOLLOW DJO WEBSITE INSTAGRAM TIKTOK FACEBOOK X

MANNEQUIN DEATH SQUAD RELEASE SECOND ALBUM ‘WISE AND DANGEROUS’
AND UNVEIL CLIP FOR FOCUS TRACK ‘SHAME’

Naarm/Melbourne-based rock/punk duo Mannequin Death Squad make a triumphant return with their sophomore album, ‘Wise and Dangerous’ – produced by the band, mixed by Brent Quirk and mastered by Matt Gray (Violent Soho, The Veronicas). Accompanying the release is the music video for the impassioned focus track ‘Shame’.

‘Shame’ unfurls with a delicate passage featuring Elly Vex’s dreamy vocals lilting over moody acoustic guitar, and lulls you into a false sense of security before their ferocious punk-infused energy takes charge. Staying true to their genre-bending ways, the track navigates unexpected twists, blending gritty riffs, adrenaline-fueled drums, and pulsing basslines with moments of brooding mid-tempo rhythms. Fuzz-drenched guitars crash in like waves as Elly’s powerful vocals mirror the paradox of being taken for granted for being too forgiving.

Mannequin Death Squad talk about the inspiration behind ‘Shame’: “Coming to terms with the fact that you are too nice and are getting walked over in life, ‘Shame’ is an indie rock anthem about taking responsibility for things not going your way. It’s about accepting that you are not special, and life is what you make of it.”

In the live arena, the duo supported Suicidal Tendencies across their sold-out Australian Tour and has shared the stage with acts such as Soulfly (USA), Hollywood Undead (USA), DZ Deathrays, Frenzal Rhomb, WAAX and SOFT PLAY (UK). They have also toured both nationally and internationally, headlining shows across the United Kingdom, Europe and India, including events such as Rebellion Festival (UK) and SXSW (AUS). After selling out their hometown headliner at Bergy Bandroom (250 tickets), Mannequin Death Squad are taking their electrifying live performance across Australia on the upcoming ‘Wise and Dangerous’ National Tour.

Previous releases have been widely embraced by Spotify, Apple Music, triple j, triple j Unearthed, Double J and Australian community radio such as 3RRR, PBS FM, 4ZZZ, fbi radio, Radio Adelaide and 2XX FM. In the blogosphere, tracks have also been supported by the likes of Rolling Stone (IND), Kerrang! (UK), Rock Sound (UK), The Music, Forte Magazine, The AU Review, Backseat Mafia (UK/AUS), AAA Backstage and Music Feeds.

‘Wise and Dangerous’ is available worldwide now

MANNEQUIN DEATH SQUAD ‘WISE AND DANGEROUS’ AUS TOUR

Tickets available at www.bandsintown.com

THE ELECTORATE RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘THE GREAT DIVIDE’. OUT NOW!

Ahead of the release of their new album, By Design (Love As Fiction Records, May 30th), The Electorate release their third single ‘The Great Divide’.

Each of the three singles from By Design, the upcoming LP by Gadigal/Sydney trio The Electorate (Eliot Fish, Josh Morris & Nick Kennedy), has deliberately highlighted a different side to band. ‘Face of a Giant’ is angular, ethereal and metronomic. ‘Peace Love & Kindness’, which has received over 165 plays across the Australian Community Radio Network since its release, is frantic, sharp and political. ‘The Great Divide’ is vulnerable, honest and stripped back to its bare bones.

“If you are lucky enough to be in a long term relationship then you probably know that you need to work at it,” says Josh. “The lyrics to ‘The Great Divide’ tell the story of what happens when you forget that. When you get lazy, or swamped, or focus too much on telling people what you think they want to hear, rather than telling them how you actually feel. The lyrics became a way out of a maze for me – part confessional voice, and part navigational tool. In an album full of confessions, it’s probably the most personal.”

The song arrived almost fully formed, heralding the rupture it would then rake over. Opening with an acoustic guitar in one ear and a Mellotron in the other, ‘The Great Divide’ builds slowly to a crescendo of all three members of The Electorate in full flight, and full voice. Nick’s ride cymbal chimes openly and sparingly with Josh’s guitar, whilst Eliot’s harmonies once again soar over the song. There are echoes here, but the Great Divide is its own unique beast of brutal honesty and bare beauty.

‘The Great Divide’ is out now on Bandcamp, streaming services, and Amrap for our community radio friends across Australia.

NEW ALBUM BY DESIGN OUT MAY 30TH
LOVE AS FICTION RECORDS PRE-ORDER

BANDCAMP PRE-ORDER

GRACE VANDERWAAL SOPHOMORE ALBUM, ‘CHILDSTAR’

Internationally acclaimed artist and actress Grace VanderWaal releases her highly anticipated sophomore studio album, CHILDSTAR today via PULSE Records. Undoubtedly her most personal body of work to date, on CHILDSTAR VanderWaal amplifies the sound of healing scars, shedding skin, and stepping into her power.

CHILDSTAR: Final Act, a short film co-directed by Grace VanderWaal with Luca Renzi and Jacob Boehme, and co-choreographed by VanderWaal and Renzi. The video features five captivating performances from CHILDSTAR, including ‘Proud’, ‘Brand New’, ‘Homesick’,’Behavioral Problems’, and ‘Fade’. Heartbreaking, captivating and cathartic all at once, Grace bares her soul, sharing her experiences growing up in the public eye through song, dance and raw emotion in each of these five performances.

Next month, Grace takes CHILDSTAR on the road, with a six city North American headline tour, marking her first since 2019.

Speaking about the album, Grace reveals “I felt for a long time I was a walking shadow of myself. I felt stolen. My name, my face, my body. While writing CHILDSTAR, I realized, I have something no one can take away, and that’s my story. This album gifted me something I’m eternally grateful for, and that’s my power. To you reading, thank you endlessly for listening. I hope this album grants you a gift as it did to me.”

The arrival of CHILDSTAR follows a whirlwind 2024 for Grace VanderWaal, which included a spine-tingling performance at the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors (WATCH) and a featured role from the legendary Academy® Award-winning filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, in his epic, “Megalopolis”, starring alongside Academy Award® nominees Adam Driver and Laurence Fishburne. The film, which made its premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, received a seven-minute standing ovation for the famed director’s work.

VanderWaal’s debut EP, Imperfectly Perfect was the biggest selling EP in 2016, entering the Billboard 200 albums chart at number nine. The following year, she released her first full-length studio album, Just The Beginning to vast critical acclaim. Between releasing music, she has toured with everyone from Florence + the Machine to Imagine Dragons. Among many accolades, she earned a Teen Choice Award in addition to receiving the Billboard “Women in Music” Rising Star Award and becoming “the youngest person ever” to be featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 music list. Not to mention, she starred as the title character in the Disney+ film series Stargirl.

Finding herself independent again in 2024, she dove into creating what would become her next musical statement. With a pen in hand, she’s writing the next chapter of her story—on her own terms.

Watch the ‘Proud’ performance video

CHILDSTAR – OUT NOW LISTEN / BUY HERE

MORE INFO: INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK T IKTOK YOUTUBE

BALL PARK MUSIC ‘Coast is Clear’ (Single)

Brisbane’s Ball Park Music follow up recent hits ‘Like Love’ and ‘Please Don’t Move To Melbourne’ with ‘Coast Is Clear’, the heartfelt focus track of their much-anticipated eighth studio album Like Love, ahead of embarking on a massive 30-date Australian & New Zealand tour in May.

Where the album’s title track, ‘Like Love’, shows a softer and more introspective side of the band and ‘Please Don’t Move To Melbourne’ had you singing along to its upbeat melody and undeniable chorus, the album’s third single, ‘Coast Is Clear’, gives us a profound insight into the effects of getting caught up in the day-to-day grind instead of being present for life’s everyday joys and the debilitating guilt that comes with that realisation, all set to a beautiful, hopeful, building rhythm begging that “Someday You’ll Appear”.

Ball Park Music singer-songwriter Sam Cromack says of the song, “This song has been kicking around since before Weirder & Weirder, but it remained on the sidelines for some reason. When we revisited it during the making of this album it became one of our favourites. It was the first song we did when we arrived in Sydney to start recording. It began with me thinking how busy/absent/distracted I can feel not just as a parent, but as a person. I often find it hard to unplug from the rush of the world and to be present with those I love, and am left feeling intense guilt and self-loathing at my inability to change. I originally sang ‘Someday I’ll appear’ but it felt much better when changed to ‘you’. The original feeling of the song remained but now this mysterious open-ended question was cast over who it is that may appear one day. I liked that”.

STREAM & DOWNLOAD BALL PARK MUSIC’S ALBUM ‘LIKE LOVE’

Ball Park Music also release their much-anticipated album, Like Love. Named after the title track, their 8th studio album contains ‘Like Love’, ‘Please Don’t Move To Melbourne’ and ‘Coast Is Clear’ and further proves the band as one of Australia’s most influential acts of the last decade, expanding on their incredible catalogue of songs that have sound-tracked so many lives.

Since the release of the band’s critically acclaimed 2011 debut album, Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs, Ball Park Music have secured six consecutive Top 10 ARIA Album Chart spots, with three of those records debuting at #2, while four albums have also been certified Platinum.

Ball Park Music have also had an unbelievable 13 songs place in triple j’s Hottest 100, including two in the top 10, with ‘Cherub’ at #4 and ‘Stars In My Eyes’ at #8, while all seven of their previous records have appeared in the top 10 triple j Album of the Year listener poll in the year of their release.

Further critical acclaim has come through the multitude of awards recognising the band’s achievements, including winning a J Award and multiple Queensland Music Awards, as well as being nominated for 11 ARIA Awards, three J Awards, three AIR Awards, two National Live Music Awards and one nomination each from the APRA Awards, Rolling Stone Australia Awards and Channel [V] Awards.

Now, you can get a sneak-peak, behind-the-scenes insight into how Ball Park Music created Like Love, via their incredibly candid in-studio documentary, ‘World Behind Your Eyes’, captured by filmmaker and friend of the band Jason Tran. Episodes one, two and three are out now.

You can also order Ball Park Music’s Like Love on vinyl in two limited edition styles (‘Saffron’ and ‘Clear & Orange Splatter’), alongside Like Love t-shirts, a jumper and mug, as well as an embroidered ‘Please Don’t Move To Melbourne’ t-shirt all via the Ball Park Music Merch Store.

ORDER BALL PARK MUSIC MERCH

Known for their epic live shows, Ball Park Music will play new songs from Like Love and a plethora of their much-loved hits in a huge 30-date Australian & NZ tour kicking off this coming May, supported by fellow Brissie band Bean Magazine and presented by triple j.

Fri 2 May – Forth Pub, Fort TAS – Buy Tickets
Sat 3 May – Odeon Theatre, Hobart TAS (All Ages) – Buy Tickets
Thu 8 May – Prince of Wales, Bunbury WA – Buy Tickets
Fri 9 May – The River, Margaret River WA – Buy Tickets
Sat 10 May – Metropolis, Fremantle WA – Buy Tickets
Thurs 15 May – Forum, Melbourne VIC – Buy Tickets
Fri 16 May – Forum, Melbourne VIC – SOLD OUT
Sat 17 May – Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide SA – Buy Tickets
Fri 23 May – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD – Buy Tickets
Fri 30 May – Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW (All Ages) – Buy Tickets
Fri 6 June – San Fran, Wellington NZ – Buy Tickets
Sat 7 June – Tuning Fork, Auckland NZ (All Ages) – Buy Tickets
Fri 13 June – UC Refectory, Canberra ACT – Buy Tickets
Sat 14 June – Beer Deluxe, Albury NSW – Buy Tickets
Fri 20 June – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns QLD – Buy Tickets
Sat 21 June – JCU Uni Bar, Townsville QLD – Buy Tickets
Sun 22 June – Flamingos, Rockhampton QLD – Buy Tickets
Thurs 26 June – Finnians, Port Macquarie NSW – Buy Tickets
Fri 27 June – The Recky, Elizabeth Beach NSW – Buy Tickets
Sat 28 June – Drifters Wharf, Gosford NSW – Buy Tickets
Fri 4 July – Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads NSW – Buy Tickets
Thurs 10 July – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine VIC – Buy Tickets
Fri 11 July – The Pier, Frankston VIC – Buy Tickets
Sat 12 July – Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads VIC – Buy Tickets
Fri 18 July – The Station, Sunshine Coast QLD (All Ages) – Buy Tickets
Sat 19 July – The Powerhouse, Toowoomba QLD – Buy Tickets
Sun 20 July – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast QLD – Buy Tickets
Thurs 24 July – Tilba Winery, Tilba NSW – Buy Tickets
Fri 25 July – Waves, Woolongong NSW – Buy Tickets
Sat 26 July – The Station, Jindabyne NSW – Buy Tickets

TEENAGE JOANS ’Sweet And Slow’ (Single)

Australia’s favourite rock-punk powerhouse, Teenage Joans, kick off 2025 with ‘Sweet And Slow‘, a brand-new single infused with 2010s pop-punk nostalgia. Bursting with punchy riffs, soaring vocals, and a scream-it-at-the-top-of-your-lungs chorus, the track follows their critically acclaimed 2023 debut album, The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest, their recent single ‘1800-PAINLESS’, and a standout triple j Like A Version performance last year.

‘Sweet And Slow’ is a sonic distillation of everything Teenage Joans do best—catchy hooks, raw emotion, and an infectious energy that demands to be blasted at full volume. “We love to refer to Sweet and Slow as our ‘Disney Channel’ song, as it emanates that early 2010s pop-punk sound,” says vocalist and guitarist Cahli Blakers. “We brought this super catchy chorus we had written to Jayden Seely, who co-wrote the song with us. It was our first session with him, and the energy in the room was great—we all knew we were writing such a fun song.”

From name-dropping Phoebe Bridgers to likening love to a game show rigged against them, Teenage Joans effortlessly weave pop culture touchstones into their storytelling, making ‘Sweet and Slow’ feel both deeply personal and universally relatable. The track plays with contrasts—love as a whirlwind yet a slow burn, a hurricane yet a daisy chain—mirroring the dizzying push and pull of infatuation.

At its core, ‘Sweet And Slow’ is a love letter to the ones we can’t quit—an ode to choosing the same person, time and time again, no matter the circumstances. “The lyrics came naturally, and we love how effortlessly they match the song’s cheesy energy,” Cahli adds.

Channelling raw emotion into irresistibly catchy, heart-on-sleeve pop-punk, ‘Sweet And Slow’ sets the tone for an exciting year to come for Teenage Joans.

More about Teenage Joans: After taking out the triple j unearthed high crown in 2020, the Adelaide two-piece has not slowed down – the self-proclaimed “Juice-box punk-pop” girls have taken out #87 in the 2020 H100, #84 in the 2021 H100, released their debut EP Taste Of Me and won a record-breaking 7 Awards at the 2021 SAM Awards including awards for ‘Best New Artist’, ‘Best Live Performance’ and ‘Best Release’ as well as taking home ‘Best Punk Artist’ in 2022 & 2023.

Going from strength to strength, Teenage Joans has spent the last few years on tour around Australia and the US with the likes of Foo Fighters, Sum 41, Noahfinnce, Amy Shark, Pale Waves, Ball Park Music, The Chats + many more, as well as selling out multiple national headline tours. They were also invited to perform at festivals such as Good Things, Unify, SXSW Austin, Splendour In The Grass, Groovin The Moo, Laneway Festival, Spin Off, and many more to come.

Last March, Teenage Joans returned to the US on their first international tour supporting Noahfinnce (UK) and ending 2024 supporting Sleeping With Sirens and Holding Absence around the USA.

‘SWEET AND SLOW’ OUT NOW BUY/STREAM HERE

MORE INFORMATION: WEBSITE TIKTOK INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE SPOTIFY

THORNHILL RELEASE THIRD STUDIO ALBUM BODIES

The wait is over, and today an astonishing new era for Melbourne’s Thornhill has arrived via their brand new studio album BODIES, out now via UNFD.

A dauntless pastiche of creative freedom and ingenuity, BODIES finds Thornhill in full flight, with its 11 tracks layered with authenticity and electrifying execution, cementing the group’s status yet again as one of Australia’s most engaging heavy acts.

Opening with percolating bounce via DIESEL, BODIES thrives with caustic urgency (Revolver), swooning melodics soaked in oscillating chaos and clarity (Silver Swarm), serene reprieves (fall into the wind), grinding swagger (TONGUES) and mellow R&B flavours (CRUSH), offering an expansive and kaleidoscopic palette that circles upbeat buoyancy and crushing heaviness; a snapshot of Thornhill in their most assured form to date.

Coinciding with the release today of BODIES, Thornhill have also shared a visualizer for the album’s haunting penultimate track under the knife.

“I wanted to convey an underlying fear of being unnoticed or forgotten,” the band shares of under the knife, “the notion of a silhouette falling between fingers conveys a message of fleeting moments—something that can be grasped but never fully held. Within the atmosphere of the instrumentation, a haunting exploration of love and lust, blends these two feelings into something more tragic, yet hopefully relatable. There’s a delicate balance between submission (“underneath your knife”) and resistance (“I don’t wanna know yet”), which creates a soft tension, a push/pull that moves with song dynamics.”

Watch the visualizer for under the knife here:

“BODIES marks a bold evolution in our ever-developing sound,” shares Thornhill of their latest opus. “Heroine was defined by its meticulously crafted and tightly woven concept, but the weight of this careful construction sometimes overshadowed the energy of the music itself, leaving some listeners feeling disconnected. With BODIES, we have embraced a more immediate, unfiltered approach that feels like a lightning bolt, looking to capture the energy of “Thornhill right now.”

“The album thrives on spontaneity and freedom, foregoing rigid concepts in favor of pure, in-your-face authenticity. It’s less about delivering a carefully constructed narrative and more about creating a visceral, open-ended experience. BODIES serves as a sonic moodboard—a collection of feelings and vibes—intentionally left open to interpretation. It has an upbeat and almost celebratory, party energy at times, but also retains all the emotion and intensity Thornhill are known for, making it our heaviest and most explosive work to date.”

“With BODIES, we invite listeners to connect on their own terms. It’s raw, personal, and unapologetically immediate—a record that thrives in the moment, capturing our band at our most authentic and free.”

Globally renowned for their artful and engaging heavy creations, Thornhill possess a flair for gripping charm forged with unforgettable ferocity. Via their ARIA Award-nominated 2022 album Heroine, Thornhill cemented their reputation as one of the most innovative heavy acts in the Australian scene, with Heroine debuting at #3 on the ARIA Albums charts, and at #1 on the Australian Albums charts.

While Heroine revelled in lush textures and bold, curated aesthetics, the upcoming third studio album BODIES finds Thornhill opening the floodgates to spontaneity. Balancing intensity with boundless creative freedom and ingenuity, album #3 for Thornhill is not only a definitive snapshot of a band in full flight just shy of a decade into their staggering career; it’s also a celebration of authenticity and gripping dynamism from one of Australia’s most engaging heavy acts.

Thornhill have amassed a heaving array of accolades over the years, including triple j’s Feature Album and additions to countless Best Of The Year listings for their 2019 release The Dark Pool. And in 2023 and 2024, the band gifted some insatiable new material courtesy of standalone singles Viper Room and Obsession, as well as a live album, Live On Tour!, boasting performances captured in the wild across the globe that released in June.

Earlier this year, Thornhill supported A Day To Remember for the legendary Florida group’s only Knotfest Australia headline sideshow, and also performed three special intimate album preview shows for Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney late last month, with all three shows entirely sold out.

Looking ahead, Thornhill are set to return to North America for a headline run, kicking off next week supported by Avoid, Ocean Grove and Banks Arcade, and will also perform at Louder Than Life in Kentucky this September, and Aftershock in California in October.

BODIES – OUT NOW https://thornhill.komi.io/

KINGSWOOD release new single ‘YOU WRECK ME’

Multi-Platinum & Gold ARIA-certified, ARIA-nominated, and 4x Golden Guitar nominees, KINGSWOOD, return with a powerful tribute to one of rock’s greatest icons.

Blending the raw energy of classic rock with the rich storytelling of modern country, KINGSWOOD have built a reputation for electrifying performances and genre-defying artistry. Now, with their latest release, a bold reimagining of Tom Petty’s ‘You Wreck Me’, the band reiterate to audiences why they maintain a reputation as one of the most beloved acts in Oz, standing at the crossroads of heartland rock and country soul. SMART URL

Fueled by passion, grit, and a relentless pursuit of sonic authenticity, KINGSWOOD breathe new life into this timeless anthem. Their rendition channels the reckless energy of love and destruction, honoring Petty’s legacy, all the while stamping the song with their own signature blend of soulful harmonies, driving guitars, and unfiltered emotion.

On the iconic track and their decision to cover it for their next single, the band expressed:

“It’s love, chaos, and obsession colliding at full speed. The feeling of being completely wrecked by someone, it’s something we’ve all lived through. Surrendering to a force greater than you’re able to control. The reckless pursuit of something you can’t quite hold onto. When we play it, we’re tapping into that raw, untamed emotion—like going into a boxing ring.” KINGSWOOD

From roaring festival stages to stripped-back honky-tonk sets, KINGSWOOD continue to push boundaries, bridging the spirit of Springsteen, Petty, and Alan Jackson with their own distinctive edge. In uniting the charm and soul of such inspirations with their own, the band demonstrate that ‘You Wreck Me’ is more than just a cover— it’s a declaration of passion, power, and the unbreakable spirit of rock & roll.

Alongside the stunning rendition of Petty’s track, KINGSWOOD have announced that they are set to undertake a HUGE lineup of shows across the remainder of 2025, revealing THE MIDNIGHT MAVERICKS TOUR. Taking place from this month through to October, and spanning Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland, this colossal tour is not one to be missed!

THE MIDNIGHT MAVERICKS TOUR 2025
All tickets on sale Friday April 4th 2025 @ 8am AEDT

BUY TICKETS HERE

Friday 25th April Barwon Club Geelong VIC
Saturday 26th April Bridge Hotel Castlemaine VIC
Friday 2nd May Sooki Lounge Belgrave VIC
Saturday 3rd May Odessa Creswick VIC
Friday 9th May Big Easy Radio Aldinga Beach SA
Saturday 10th May Beer Garden Brewing Port Lincoln SA
Sunday 11th May Lefties Whyalla SA
Friday 16th May The Setts Mildura VIC
Saturday 17th May Broken Hill Pub Broken Hill NSW
Thursday 22nd May Crossroads Dubbo NSW
Friday 23rd May Little Albert’s Bathurst NSW
Saturday 24th May The Beer Shed Leumeah NSW
Sunday 25th May Tallagandra Hill Winery Gundaroo NSW
Friday 30th May William Farrer Hotel Wagga Wagga NSW
Saturday 31st May Brady’s Railway Hotel Albury NSW
Sunday 1st June Longstocking Brewery Pambula NSW
Friday 6th June Alice Spring Brewing Co Alice Springs NT
Sunday 8th June Mayberry Darwin NT
Thursday 12th June Roebuck Bay Hotel Broome, WA
Friday 13th June Hula Bar Karratha WA
Saturday 14th June Frothcraft Brewery Exmouth WA
Friday 20th June Frothcraft Brewery Perth WA
Saturday 21st June Frothcraft Brewery Bunbury WA
Sunday 22nd June Six Degrees Albany WA
Saturday 5th July Riverview Pub Tarwin Lower VIC
Sunday 6th July Northcote Social Club Melbourne VIC
Thursday 10th July Avoca Beach Theatre Avoca Beach NSW
Friday 11th July Full Throttle Ranch Buttai NSW
Saturday 12th July Backroom @ Coffs Hotel, Coffs Harbour, NSW
Sunday 13th July Beach Hotel Byron Bay NSW
Saturday August 30th Gympie Music Muster Amamoor State Forest QLD
Saturday Oct 10th Savannah in the Round Kerribee Park QLD

‘You Wreck Me’ is out now
KINGSWOOD: Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

BRIGGS INTRODUCES US TO HIS NEW MUSIC PROJECT BIG NOTER

Introducing BIG NOTER, an all-new project from Aboriginal Australian icon BRIGGS, a proud Yorta-Yorta/Wurundjeri/Wemba-Wemba man from country Victoria. Now trading hip-hop beats for guitar riffs, BIG NOTER is a sonic return to the heavy sounds he grew up on, tapping into his hardcore, punk and metal roots, with a full live band in tow.

“People might be surprised, but this is where I’m most at home, this is the sound I was raised on.”

The first taste comes via IDENTITY released today on Island Records/UMA. Working with acclaimed engineer Nick Didia (Rage Against The Machine, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen), there was never any intention of messing around and making a small splash here. LISTEN HERE

From the get-go on the debut single the listener can feel the change of gears, as the nostalgic guitar kicks in, the accompaniment of BRIGGS vocals at their most aggressive to date prick the listener’s ears up with his modern yet classic take on hardcore/punk energy. The fiery passion is undeniable and as is the heart behind the track. There’s no secret Briggs is still a champion of Australian music with an unwavering connection to his people. This is evident in attitude, his unapologetic lyrics and take-no-prisoners approach always at the fore.

BRIGGS has spent the past 15 years touring extensively across Australia and UK/Europe, headlining shows, playing major festivals and supporting legendary artists such as Body Count, Ice Cube, MF DOOM, Ghostface Killah and Pharoahe Monch to name a small few.

As a touring act, BIG NOTER consists of BRIGGS (Vocals), Steve Smith (drums), Leigh Davies (guitars) and Craig Strain (bass).

With a debut album well under way, as well as debut shows supporting Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, Tom Morello on his April 2025 Australian tour, BIG NOTER is set to make waves and land with a major impact in the Australian music scene.

CHECK OUT BIG NOTER LIVE THIS MONTH SUPPORTING TOM MORELLO.

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 @ Forum Theatre, Melbourne
Wed, 16 Apr 2025 @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney

BiG NOTER NEW SINGLE ‘IDENTITY’ OUT NOW ON ISLAND RECORDS AUSTRALIA/UNIVERSAL MUSIC

FOLLOW BIG NOTER HERE

MERPIRE WADES INTO THE UNKNOWN ON FORTHCOMING ALBUM MILK POOL (4 JUL); ‘BIGGER’ OUT NOW

Following a launch for recent single ‘Premonition‘ and a “transportive” performance at Brunswick Music Festival, signalling a lauded return for the acclaimed artist & multi-instrumentalist, Naarm/Melbourne’s MERPIRE aka Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt (she/her) today announces her forthcoming second album MILK POOL (4 July). Fluid and metaphysical as the tides, MILK POOL is for the romantics, the daydreamers, and those moving through intense periods of change – a dark-pop album punctuated by unconventional rhythms and chord choices, provocative guitar, moody synths and vivid imagery, its title representing “the murky fluidity of the action [she] took to create it”. The announcement comes alongside new single + self-directed video, ‘Bigger’: an electrifying ode to those tentative moments before a first kiss, and that beautiful-yet-naive feeling when it finally happens that your whole world just changed. ‘Bigger’ is out everywhere now – listen / watch HERE; MILK POOL is out 4 July – pre-order on vinyl HERE / pre-save HERE.

“Like your fingers in my mouth, and when I stopped you going south…”

Coming to life via collaboration with London-based producer/engineer James Dring (Nilüfer Yanya, Genesis Owusu, Porches) who hand-picked ‘Bigger’ to work on with Merpire after they connected in 2022 during her first UK shows, the track’s giddying peaks and heart-stopping valleys hammer home Merpire’s gift for organic dynamism that feels equally alluring and slightly unsettling, with a self-directed video shot on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country to match. True to its name, ‘Bigger’s tight 3-min run time builds from a nostalgic cassette sample, heartfelt indie verses and a blush-inducing surf-rock-inspired chorus, ultimately giving way to head-thrashing guitar/synth lines with all the spike, sparkle and spunk of late 00/early 10s alt-pop – also plunging further into sex and desire than the self-admittedly “horniest yet” lyrics found on lead single ‘Premonition’ which marked Merpire’s first official new release in 4 years on Valentine’s Day, and her first time writing so openly about these themes. “The most exciting song on the record for me”, Merpire says, was written / demo’d before MILK POOL was ever conceptualised, the track’s delightfully tense middle 8 penned on a classic double-decker London bus on the way to her only IRL session with Dring: “risky but it worked!” adds Merpire, “I was mesmerised watching [Dring] find and manipulate sounds to add to the song. One of those moments where I felt I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I gave him complete freedom to do whatever he wanted production-wise with the 3 stems I gave him – my vocal, the guitar chords and the main guitar riff, then we went to his studio to finish off the vocals. I was in love with the first thing he sent back. He nailed the dark, sexy, sinister mood. I couldn’t be happier with the result.”

WATCH: Merpire – ‘Bigger’

Written at a crossroads in Merpire’s life where she felt called to make huge changes, its title representing “the murky fluidity of the action [she] took to create it” including stepping away from her achievements as a founder of live music streaming series ISOL-AID during the pandemic – an effort she began to bolster the struggling artist community which featured 146+ artists incl. Angie McMahon, Courtney Bartnett, Sarah Blasko etc – and from interpersonal relationships, MILK POOL was recorded at Melrose Place on Wurundjeri Country with production by Merpire, James Seymour (Pillow Queens, Elizabeth M. Drummond, Jacob Diamond), and contributions via James Dring (Nilüfer Yanya, Genesis Owusu, Porches) and Elizabeth M. Drummond, mixed by Ali Chant (PJ Harvey, Aldous Harding, Perfume Genius). MILK POOL’s themes – diving into the unknown, sexuality & pure crush, home in community, putting the final stitches over past traumas, restlessness, rediscovery of self and values – echo Merpire’s lived experiences, intentionally written to eddy & swirl in meaning depending on the listener – without ever losing her trademark sense of humour, buoyed by the human connection we share & a deep romanticism for people, places and how they inevitably change over time. Fluid, dynamic and metaphysical – a dark-pop album punctuated by unconventional rhythms and chord choices, provocative guitar, moody synths and vivid imagery: MILK POOL is for the romantics, the daydreamers, and those moving through intense periods of change, featuring instrumentation via Merpire (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, synths, tambourine), James Seymour (backing vocals, piano, ukulele, electric guitars, bass, programmed drums, synths, percussion), James Dring (electric guitars, bass, drums, beats and percussion), Elizabeth M. Drummond (backing vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, programmed drums, synths, bass), Jess Ellwood (drums) & Jeremy Gara (drums, percussion) – and is the result of an artist reclaiming her body, her joy and her desire.

A self-described “child-like at heart” lover of daydreams, dogs and unconventional songwriting with over 1.2 million streams on Spotify alone, who counts the likes of Angie McMahon among her long-time supporters, Merpire’s enthralling lyric-forward dark-pop draws from the familiar and the unknown in equal measures, with a filmic sense of whimsy and grit – sitting somewhere between the off-kilter cult favourites of romance, horror and comedy – underpinned by subtext profound enough to stop you in your tracks. The universe of Merpire – first glimpsed through her Endless Chatter EP (2018), expanded via her debut album Simulation Ride (2021) released via ADA to debut at #8 on the AIR Independent Label Album Charts with praise across her discography including MILK POOL’s lead single ‘Premonition’ from BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders’ Future Artists, NPR, La Blogothèque, CLASH, NME, The Sunday Times, The Line of Best Fit, Rolling Stone, frankie magazine, The AU Review, Ramona Magazine, Happy Magazine, The Music, Music Feeds, Tone Deaf, Women In Pop, Backseat Mafia UK, Atwood Magazine US, Steven Ray Morris’ See Jurassic Right podcast, triple j, triple j Unearthed, Double J, Triple R, adds at rage, SYN, 2SER, Edge Radio and major metro community radio support including feature album on Double J and SYN (Simulation Ride) and DSP playlisting for ‘Premonition’ with Spotify’s Tapestry, Fresh Finds AUNZ, New Music Friday AUNZ, Apple Music’s indie + chill, New in Indie and more – plunges into caverns and depths unexplored with MILK POOL.

With years of experience across the alternative, rock and jazz scenes, Merpire’s shows are described as an “emotional rollercoaster” – moving between intimate pop ballads and fully immersive alt-indie heart-shakers, made all the more engaging by her instinctive approach to guitar. Most recently performing a single launch at Naarm’s The Tote & Brunswick Music Festival’s 3x-sold-out event At The Altar Of Us with Ruby Gill and Porpoise Spit, an intimate evening celebrating queer storytelling and songs at Brunswick Uniting Church – one of the first churches in so-called Australia to start accepting queer marriage – and supporting Los Bitchos earlier this year, Merpire’s mesmeric craft and stage presence has seen her support Julia Jacklin, Angie McMahon, Pillow Queens (IE), Spacey Jane, Hockey Dad, James Bay (UK) and many more, boasting three UK & Ireland tours in as many years featuring a sold-out London headline show, a mammoth 2024 featuring three national tours with Fanning Dempsey National Park, Magic Dirt, Bombay Bicycle Club and more including slots at high-profile festivals like A festival called PANAMA, St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival (with RAT!hammock), Woodford Folk Festival, Bass in the Grass, mentorships with Andy Bull, Ainslie Wills and beyond.

Merpire – MILK POOL out independently Fri 4 July Pre-save / pre-order

CONNECT WITH MERPIRE merpiremusic.com

MERES ‘Quiet Australians’ (Single)

Album ‘WORRIED SICK’ out April 25 | Pre-orders live now via Bandcamp

Yes, it’s been a minute since we heard from Tasmania/Lutruwita’s punk-adjacent quartet Meres — but they’ve been busy doing life (and other complicated things), and now they’re back with a heavy dose of grit, heart, and their trademark shambolic existential dread in new single Quiet Australians, out April 9. The track marks the lead-up to their long-awaited debut album WORRIED SICK, out April 25 on vinyl and digital via Bandcamp.

Following up their 2023 single Ocean View, Quiet Australians is sharp-edged and self-aware, part confession, part condemnation — a raw ode to burnout, performative depth, and the existential theatre of trying to “do good” in a world that mostly wants you powerless, subservient and down-right grateful for the opportunity. What began as a tongue-in-cheek working title (Leftie Greenie Latte Sippin’ Bastid – Where’s My Avocado House?) became something darker and more biting, resulting in a song that traverses cynicism and sincerity, rage and resignation.

“Quiet Australians is part satire, part emotional survival strategy. The theme came from my psychologist telling me to ‘put on the Arts Producer blazer’ (literally and metaphorically) in order to survive events where I’m mad at the world but still need to smile politely at politicians to play the game of securing funding for vital community initiatives. Initiatives that maybe wouldn’t even be needed if we had leaders, and/or voters, who actually prioritised people over profit.

It’s about caring too much and not enough at the same time — and overthinking both. Also, everything is your fault, baby – so enjoy the ride you’ve been strapped to against your will, ‘cause it ain’t stoppin’!”

Quiet Australians marks the second release from Meres’ debut 10-track album WORRIED SICK, which boasts a strong credit listing – Produced by Anna Laverty (Stella Donnelly, Camp Cope), engineered by Ben Simms (A. Swayze & the Ghosts), and mixed by Justin Pizzoferrato (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., The Pixies)

The single captures Meres’ signature mix of fuzzed-out alt-rock and gut-punch vocals, combining 90s slacker grit with now-core existentialism. It’s music to scream into the void to – and a good sign of what’s coming next.

Meres will be playing shows across Lutruwita/Tasmania in support of WORRIED SICK’s release in May 2025, with details soon TBA.

For more information on Meres, upcoming releases, and future shows, visit the Band’s Website or follow them on social media: Instagram, Facebook and Youtube.

‘QUIET AUSTRALIANS’ OUT NOW

LINKTREE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

DANKO JONES release infectious new single ‘What You Need’ alongside lyric video

Hot on the heels of re-visiting Latin American stages and announcing both a new album and a European headline tour for autumn 2025, Canadian premiere rock’n’roll three-piece DANKO JONES have released their highly anticipated single ‘What You Need’ today. The song represents the first glimpse into their new album and also marks their debut at their new label, PERCEPTION, while their partnership with Sonic Unyon Records in their home country remains unchanged.

While fans still have to be a little bit more patient before finding out more about the forthcoming album, the new track delivers a message that is straight to the point: “If you want it, you got it, we’re gonna give you WHAT YOU NEED!” Who could possibly say no to that?! Contagious guitar riffing introduces the single before the rest of the band jumpstarts ‘What You Need’ leading into its immersive chorus, making it an undeniable future live classic.

Danko adds: “‘What You Need’ is not only the first single off our new album, it’s also the opening cut to it. It’s loud, fast, and infectious. Turn this up until the volume knob breaks or your ceiling caves in!”

Watch the lyric video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgHtnecVT8o

Stream ‘What You Need’: https://dankojones.rpm.link/whatuneedPR

‘What You Need’ was crafted with long-time partners — Grammy and Juno award-winning producer/mixing engineer Eric Ratz (BILLY TALENT, BIG SUGAR, CANCER BATS etc.) and Grammy winning mastering expert Harry Hess (Hbomb Mastering) — and arrives in time for the trio’s first 2025 European show, which will see them take the Paaspop stage in Schijndel, Netherlands in two weeks. Adam Mallett, another well-known face in the DANKO JONES universe, contributed contemporary single artwork which is additionally displayed on the “Danko Jones Is What You Need” tour admat and on the mural in the lyric video that can be found in the live music venue Bridgeworks in Hamilton, ON in Canada.

THESE IDLE HANDS ‘Somewhere Else To Go’ (Single)

Somewhere Else To Go is essentially a song about the beginning and ending of love over one’s lifetime. The impermanence of relationships despite one’s best intentions. In essence, It’s a hopeful song, a reminder that ’Love always has somewhere else to go’

These Idle Hands are an elusive kind of sonic event: Their luminous acoustic balladry & harrowingly intimate lyricism combine to craft often hauntingly retrospective alt folk & Americana. Live, expect flourishes of double bass, soaring violin, piano and percussion, doused with rich vocal harmonies, make for a bottled blend of synergy and lightning that’s not to be missed.

TIH have received high praise & air play, both here & overseas for their two full length album release’s, Petrichor & Meraki and are soon to release their third, self titled album later this year. They were also previous finalists in The Gold Coast Music Awards, in the category of Release of the Year for their album Meraki.

“These Idle Hands will pull you in and hold you close like a warm, familiar embrace.”
Beat Mag

“These Idle Hands music, much like fine wine, to be imbibed and savoured within the shadowy twilight of self-reflection and contemplation.”
BlankGC

These Idle Hands is a collaborative union of like-minded musicians. Their music is best described as hauntingly retrospective, emotive & impressionistic Alt-folk & Americana. The band are always refining & expanding their luminous acoustic balladry.

Not afraid to explore the darker aspects of the human condition, their music at times conveys an intensely personal lyrical perspective. These Idle Hands members hail from the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

https://theseidlehands.com.au/

PAIGE BARNARD ‘What Else’ (Single) & Announces Debut Album ‘Find Your Way Back’ Out June 4

Singer-songwriter Paige Barnard has released yet another gut-punch single, ‘What Else’, gripping the minds of its listeners for four minutes and forty seconds. The track is a preview of her upcoming debut album, ‘Find Your Way Back’, set for release on June 4.

In her second release of 2025, Paige gives it her all in yet another showcase of her talents, showing why she’s earned praise from Triple J Unearthed, Aus Music Scene, Milky, and more, and why she’s received recognition from the Darebin Songwriters Judges Award 2020 and the AIR Women in Music Mentor Program.

Though this single encapsulates her iconic emotive sound and the grandeur of her storytelling, ‘What Else’ breaks from her usual style with its country twist, through the pedal steel guitar, slow drums and bed of piano the track is laid upon. The heart of the track is the vocal performance of Paige Barnard, adventuring the emotional and literal highs and lows of the track in truly showstopping form. ‘What Else’ is a ballad reminiscent of a song at the emotional peak of a musical, its incredible vocal range paired with immersive storytelling.

This song explores the stage of a relationship where the same arguments repeat, the threads wear thin, and love feels like a cycle of unresolved problems—no matter the effort, both sides are always in the wrong. Paige describes the inspiration as,

“Having the same disagreements play on repeat, feeling guilty for how I react but still trapped in the cycle, like nothing will ever change. This song was me screaming out in desperation to find a way to change the narrative. But at the end of the day, it’s unconditional love, so we always find a way to forgive each other.”

The music video mirrors the song’s raw emotion against the stunning landscapes of the Arakwal people’s country in the Bundjalung Nation. The video unfolds across stunning coastal landscapes—cinematic sunset shots on the beach, sweeping cliffside views, winding trailheads, and cascading waterfalls—all capturing the song’s themes of longing and reflection. Under the masterful cinematography of Jarrah Hatchett, with Somalie Cook’s thoughtful production and set design, and Orlando Hudson’s seamless editing, the video mirrors the emotional turbulence of ‘What Else’ through its natural grandeur.

With the single launch on Friday, May 30 at Catfish in Fitzroy, people will be able to catch Paige Barnard’s phenomenal vocal performance of ‘What Else’ live and drift away with the story of it all.

This is all in anticipation of her debut album ‘Find Your Way Back’, out June 4—an introspective and emotionally raw collection of songs, recorded in Bernard Fanning’s studio in Byron Bay with producers George Carpenter and Ian Peres, who played a big role in bringing the songs to life.

Fall into a pattern on with Paige Barnard’s new single ‘What Else’.

Follow Paige Bernard Official Website | Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

PENTAGRAM ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIAN TOUR

HARDLINE MEDIA are proud to announce for their FIRST time in Australia and New Zealand, the legends of doom, the almighty PENTAGRAM, to tour in August 2025.

Pentagram is an American doom metal band from Alexandria, Virginia. They are noted as one of the pioneers of Heavy Metal, particularly of the aforementioned sub-genre Doom Metal. As such, they are considered one of the “big four of Doom Metal” alongside Candlemass, Saint Vitus and Trouble.

Lead vocalist Bobby Liebling has been referred to as “very much the US version of Ozzy Osbourne”, with the singer now being a viral sensation due to the Ghoul Stare, opening up the ears and eyes of the general public to what all the Metal Heads already knew about, that Pentagram are one of the longest enduring, influential, Gods Of Doom!

PENTAGRAM Live in 2025: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXCdmMK17fk

The Viral video of Ghoul Eyes: www.youtube.com/shorts/Mk5dHwWBWiE

These shows are a once in a lifetime chance to see the band in Australia and New Zealand – don’t sit on the fence, these will sell out, so get in quick.

PENTAGRAM Australian Tour Dates:
Wednesday 6th August – CANBERRA – The Baso
Thursday 7th August – BRISBANE – Crowbar
Friday 8th August – SYDNEY – Manning Bar
Saturday 9th August – MELBOURNE – The Croxton
Sunday 10th August – ADELAIDE – Lion Arts Factory
Tuesday 12th August – PERTH – Amplifier

PENTAGRAM New Zealand Tour Dates
Thursday 14th August – WELLINGTON – San Fran
Friday 15th August – CHRISTCHURCH – Loons
Saturday 16th August – AUCKLAND – Galatos

TICKETS & INFO: www.hardlinemedia.net

ESKIMO JOE ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE ’MIRACLE CURE”

AVAILABLE here

Hot off the back of their APRA Award nomination for Most Performed Rock Work for their song, ‘The First Time’, Eskimo Joe are thrilled to unveil their banger new single ‘Miracle Cure’.

Written and recorded between Kav Temperley & Joel Quartermain’s studios in Fremantle & Melbourne, they were also fortunate enough to get Oscar Dawson from Holy Holy to mix the song, which brings a new flavour to their sound. The video clip was shot by cinematographer David Le May, who captured the energy of the band performing live at the historic Old Customs House in Fremantle. They have blended Picnic at Hanging Rock with Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu to create their own version of ‘Australian Gothic.’

Says Kav “Miracle Cure is about the search for redemption and how only love can pull us back from the edge. It’s about hope and the vulnerability that comes with trusting someone to save you. This song is about confronting our flaws and finding strength in love and hope, even if the cure were searching for might not exist.”

While successfully straddling the line between commercial success and managing to keep their Alternative Music roots secure, over their 28-year career, Eskimo Joe have racked up a long list of impressive accomplishments. With 6 studio albums under their belts and sales in excess of 750,000, in Australia alone, the band has seen 3 of those albums debut at number 1 on the ARIA charts, with juggernaut ‘Black Fingernails, Red Wine’ shining for a monster 62 weeks in the ARIA Chart Top 50 and “Foreign Land”, from their fourth album ‘Inshalla’, bringing home 2 APRA Awards, for Most Played Rock Song on Australian radio and Best Rock Song of 2010.

Eskimo Joe have enjoyed 35 ARIA nominations in their career thus far – a number only surpassed by Silverchair, Powderfinger, Kylie Minogue and John Farnham. They have brought home 3 International Song-writing Awards, 11 WAMi Awards and 8 ARIAs and 11 of their compositions have featured in Triple J’s Hottest 100 countdown, with ‘Black Fingernails, Red Wine’ landing 2nd place. That same single hit multi-platinum in Australia and spent 62 weeks in the ARIA Top 50.

Video of Miracle Cure available here

www.eskimojoe.net

REVERED MELBOURNE HARDCORE BAND IRON MIND SHARE CRUSHING, ANTHEMIC NEW SINGLE “SOLITARY REALM”

Announce Test Of The Iron Mind LP out June 13 via Last Ride + Flatspot Records

Melbourne’s Iron Mind have been torchbearers for Australian hardcore for nearly twenty years. Today, the band announce their third album, Test Of The Iron Mind, set for release June 13 via Last Ride Records / Flatspot Records. The news arrives with towering first single “Solitary Realm”.

Aptly titled, the ten tracks on Test Of The Iron Mind nod to Iron Mind’s history, while clearly written with the band’s contemporary vision. Groove-driven riffs, stomping breakdowns, and confidently delivered lyrics make up the bulk of the record. Produced by Otis Bennie (AWOL), recorded by Sam Johnston at The Black Lodge, and mixed by Taylor Young at The Pit, the raw energy found on Iron Mind’s past releases is transformed into a massive, crisp sound that still instills a heavy conveyance.

First single “Solitary Realm” leads with primal drums and crushing guitars that make way for an anthemic expression of perseverance.

Vocalist Sam Octigan shares, “This is a song about recognising the tendency towards self isolation and the necessity to move away from it or suffer further consequences, while acknowledging the difficulty in doing so.”

Breaking out with 2009’s The Sun Has Set EP, followed by their 2011 debut album Hell Split Wide Open, Iron Mind signed to Flatspot Records in 2014 for the release of their self-titled LP. Building up a global name for themselves with intense live sets, they toured with bands such as Turnstile, Terror, No Warning and Harm’s Way during that time. Shifting down a gear in terms of a full tour schedule and releasing new music, Iron Mind opted to simply play an annual show at home for a number of years, the band returned in 2023 with Assume Your Ultimate Form.

Controlled, collected and motivated, the band thereafter entered the studio to record what would become Test Of The Iron Mind. With pragmatic lyrics, a sonic fury, and bridging their past and future, Iron Mind’s forthcoming album is set to be their most definitive. The band shared a preview of the record at a sold out show in Melbourne last weekend, leaving the passionate crowd wanting more. Check out some footage from the unforgettable gig here.

Iron Mind is Sam Octigan (vocals), Neil Bloem (guitar), Akira Asahina (guitar), Josh Barclay (drums), and Dan Collins (bass).

IRON MIND – TEST OF THE IRON MIND

Out June 13 Via Last Ride / Flatspot Records

PRE-ORDER | PRE-SAVE

VAPORS OF MORPHINE AUSTRALIAN TOUR

90’s Low Rock Trio feat original member of Morphine, Touring April & May Local Supports Announced

“Vapors of Morphine proved that an avant-garde band can be faithful to its roots and yet continue to be innovative. — The Manhattan Beat 90’s low rock trailblazers, Vapors Of Morphine kick off their Australian tour in late April at the Gumball Festival in the Hunter Valley. They then take their hypnotic show to venues up and down the east coast with Melbourne based guitarist, singer-songwriter Jeb Cardwell as special guest on all shows.

Local openers for these headline shows have just been announced.

In Sydney, Morton Choppers will bring a heady mix of gothic Australiana type folk, spoken word landscapes & gospel blues ditties to the Crowbar.
www.facebook.com/mortonchoppers

On the Melbourne and Castlemaine shows, Salt & Steel will deliver a raw, earthy rock experience, blending psychedelic elements with the grounded essence of rock roots and blues. The couple live full time in their van and have performed at festivals including Woodford Folk Festival, Party In the Paddock, Airlie Beach Festival of Music, Byron Bay Bluesfest and recently opened for Wheatus on their acoustic tour in January.
saltandsteelmusic.com

For the Gold Coast and Brisbane shows, Dan Bud Wiser from the punk band “One Bud Wiser” who are known for their energetic performances filled with humour and captivating lyrics brings more of the same but much older and Wiser with only an acoustic guitar in hand. Brandishing a folk sound with the old familiar punk rock attitude.
www.facebook.com/danbudwiser

TOUR DATES
April / May 2025
Sun, April 27: Gumball Fest, Hunter Valley
Wed, April 30: Crowbar, Sydney
Thurs, May 1: Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Fri, May 2: Theatre Royal, Castlemaine Vic
Sat, May 3: Vinnies Dive Bar, Gold Coast
Sun, May 4: Crowbar, Brisbane

Tickets available from
www.bigapachee.com.au/batours

vaporsofmorphine.com

CHARLIE COLLINS ANNOUNCES ONE OFF SYDNEY SHOW

PADDINGTON UNITING CHURCH – FRI MAY 9 WITH SUPPORT FROM SEB SZABO
NEW SINGLE ‘TRANSACTIONAL DEAL’ IS OUT NOW

CHARLIE COLLINS has announced an intimate one off show at Sydney’s Paddington Uniting Church on Friday May 9th. Tickets are available from here

The upcoming show will mark the launch of Charlie’s new single ‘Transactional Deal’ and will see the Sydney local and her band perform a setlist of unreleased songs from her third studio album out later this year via Island Records/Universal Music.

Recorded with legendary Neil Finn and Steve Schram at Roundhead Studios in Auckland and mixed by Tom Iansek (Big Scary/#1 Dads), ‘Transactional Deal’ is Collins first new music since her acclaimed second album Undone (2022).

Charlie Collins’ naked honesty has always been at the root of her success as an artist, since she first broke out with Snowpine in 2019, “I’m not one to shy away from confrontation when it comes to stuff like this,” she says “I want to encourage women in particular to be bold and talk about the uncomfortable, we can also be real and raw with this and say it how it is.”

‘Transactional Deal’ is a long awaited taste of new music from Charlie Collins. For longtime fans, she hopes they’ll treat her forthcoming new music as a companion piece to her debut solo album Snowpine (2019) and for those just discovering Australia’s worst-kept, musically gifted secret, you’re in for a treat: Charlie Collins at her purest.

CHARLIE COLLINS

Special Guest Seb Szabo
Fri May 9 – Paddington Uniting Church – Oxford St Paddington
6pm – 11pm AEST
Get tickets

THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS

Celebrate The 20th Anniversary of Iconic Album, We’re Already Gone By Playing It In Full On Massive Australian Tour

In 2025, The Beautiful Girls are hitting the road for a massive Australian National Tour to celebrate 20 years of their iconic album, We’re Already Gone. Spanning capital cities and regional stops, this tour will be a must-see for fans old and new.

For the first time ever, the band will perform We’re Already Gone in its entirety, alongside some of their biggest hits. With a six-piece lineup bringing the songs to life, expect an unforgettable night of sun-soaked melodies, reggae grooves, and deep nostalgia.

Originally released on July 4, 2005, We’re Already Gone became a Gold-certified classic, racking up over 50 million streams and earning nominations for ARIA, APRA, and Triple J awards.

Featuring standout tracks like Ashes and Long Way Home, the album hit #1 on the AIR charts, cracked the ARIA Top 20, and even landed in the Top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Reggae charts.

Don’t miss your chance to celebrate this milestone with The Beautiful Girls live on stage.

TOUR DATES
Friday, May 2: Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads
Saturday, May 3: Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
Friday, May 9: Hotel Steyne, Manly
Saturday, May 10: King Street Warehouse, Newcastle
Friday, May 23: Indian Ocean Hotel, Perth
Saturday, May 24: The River, Margaret River
Friday, May 30: Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Saturday, May 31: Torquay Hotel, Torquay
Friday, June 6: The Gov, Adelaide
Friday, June 13: Lefty’s Music Hall, Brisbane
Saturday, June 14: Kings Beach Tavern, Kings Beach
Friday, June 20: Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
Thursday, July 17: Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
Friday, July 18: The Warehouse, Townsville

Spotify Presale – Tuesday, March 11 @ 9am AEST
Artist Presale – Wednesday, March 12 @ 9am AEST
General On Sale – Thursday, March 13 @ 9am AEST

For all tickets go to
https://threekingstouring.com.au/artist/the-beautiful-girls/

Follow The Beautiful Girls
Web | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

JO DAVIE ‘Colder’ (Single) ‘Nothing Comes Free’ Debut EP Out, Friday, May 2

Embrace the changing seasons with Jo Davie’s unearthly alt-indie single ‘Colder’ (out now) and prepare for the best in the wait for her upcoming debut EP ‘Nothing Comes Free’, out on Friday, May 2.

Ever since Jo Davie graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium in 2017 with First Class Honours and the University Medal, her music career has bloomed, becoming a regular on the festival circuit with regular performances at the Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), The National Folk Festival (ACT), and the Caloundra Music Festival (QLD) among others since 2018.

In the last few years, her career has been rising to new heights, receiving the Carol Lloyd Award at the Queensland Music Awards, performing a sold-out solo show at the 2024 Sydney Festival, supporting ARIA-winning artist Katie Noonan across a variety of venues, performing internationally on other projects, all while completing her PhD. Her lilting voice, impressive versatility and technical skill, and masterful storytelling weave together an experience that stirs the soul and lingers in the heart.

‘Colder’ is her newest single, a folk-pop song that feels like a well-worn memory. With kaleidoscopic guitar, heavenly strings, and dreamy riffs, this song builds an intimate atmosphere. Jo Davie’s vocals are powerful yet gentle and vulnerable, perfectly carrying the listener through the story of the song.

Packed with rich storytelling through metaphor, ‘Colder’ explores the feeling of how a relationship falls apart: from the first stages of uncertainty all the way to the days of healing, finding that something better blooms in the spots they left behind. It drives home that there’s a power in leaving, facing that fear of being alone.

This single is the final release before the countdown to her much-awaited debut EP begins. In May, the ‘Nothing Comes Free’ EP will debut, providing six tracks of storytelling, including previous releases like ‘Throw Me A Rope’ and ‘Sandcastles’. This EP will be release while Jo Davie travels the Australian East Coast in her ‘Nothing Comes For Free’ tour, giving fans a chance to see her live.

Chill out with Jo Davie’s ‘Colder’ and settle in for a beautiful anthology when her EP ‘Nothing Comes Free’ releases in May.

‘Nothing Comes Free’ Tour – Information
Thursday, May 1 – Canberra @ Smiths Alternative w/ Stella Eve | Tickets
Friday, May 2 – Sydney @ Butchers Brew w/ Betty | Tickets
Saturday, May 3 – Melbourne @ Merri Creek Tavern w/ Kaitlin Keegan | Tickets
Sunday, May 4 – Warburton @ Arts Centre w/ Follow The Robin | Tickets
Saturday, May 10 – Ipswich @ Studio 188 w/ Paulina | Tickets
Sunday, May 11 – Sunshine Coast @ Eudlo Hall w/ Those Folk | Tickets
Friday, May 16 – Murwillumbah @ The Citadel w/ Cigány Weaver | Tickets
Saturday, May 17 – Brisbane @ Black Bear Lodge w/ Lottie McLeod & Serendipiti | Tickets

‘Nothing Comes Free’ EP Out, Friday, May 2

LAURA ADELINE ‘501s’ (Single)

Slip into your denim and sink into the smooth flow of Laura Adeline’s ‘501s’, a sexy R&B single that, like the jeans, is a timeless fit. ‘501s’ is out now.

Laura Adeline, known for her smooth, sultry voice and addictive beats, has been making waves in Perth’s live scene and now in Melbourne with her contemporary R&B-pop sound. Her last single, ‘Curbside’, earned airplay on Triple J and rotation on Unearthed, landed on multiple Apple Music playlists, and received support from The AU Review, AAA Backstage, Stereofox, and more—all while selling out shows wherever she goes.

‘501s’ is an irresistible R&B groove built on hypnotic basslines and smooth guitar riffs, designed to move both hearts and bodies. Laura Adeline’s intoxicating voice stands out in the track– her airy vocals and rhythmic flow ride the chilled-out instrumentals, evoking the feeling of nursing an expensive drink in a luxe bar.

Written to grab someone’s attention at a gig, ‘501s’ is a song about desiring a particular person, sensing that you could be the perfect match, and imagining a connection as comfortable and lasting as your favorite pair of jeans.

A crowd favorite, ‘501s’ quickly became Laura Adeline’s most requested song, earning a permanent spot at the top of her setlist—proof of how her real-life experiences fuel her music. When asked about her process for this song, Laura shared that,

“Writing 501s wasn’t like another song I’d written before – I did it with a vendetta. Sometimes the moment gets the best of me and I can’t express what I want to in a conversation, and the only passage for me is to put it into my art, it’s the best way I know how.”

Just like a classic pair of ‘501s’, this track is effortlessly cool, endlessly versatile, and built to last. Don’t miss Laura Adeline’s ‘501s’—out everywhere now.

BRENTON THWAITES ‘Come Back Down To Earth’ (Single) Debut Album Searching For The Man Out 2 May

Multi-faceted Australian talent, Brenton Thwaites, today unveils his latest single, the earnest and soul-stirring ‘Come Back Down To Earth’ lifted from his forthcoming debut album Searching For The Man, out on 2 May (with vinyl to follow on 23 May pre-order now).

A reflective letter to self, ‘Come Back Down To Earth’ cuts through the hum and buzz with raw honesty. A stark reminder and slap in the face that within the fever and furore, the things that bring us fame or glory aren’t the things that really matter. “This is me humbling myself, reminding myself of who I am, where I come from and what I stand for,” Brenton describes. “It’s about being taken by the success train in the film industry in my early twenties and realising mid-ride that I may need to get off to be the man that I wanted to be and have the life that I truly dreamt of having: to become a dad, be part of a community, travel and play music.”

Over the past few months, Brenton has been quietly offering glimpses of his debut album, each track an evolutionary tale of his history and artistry. There’s the bluesy, heartfelt ‘What You’re Made Of’, featuring the honeyed vocals of Sarah Grace Buckley (of The Buckleys); the tender, nostalgic ‘Flying High’; and the playful, toe-tapping ‘Chocolate Squares in Tennessee’, brimming with charm and energy.

Searching For The Man came together while Brenton was filming Titans in Toronto, when he dove head first into music and recorded the album with producer Justin Abedin. It weaves together styles from blues and folk to singer-songwriter and country, showcasing Brenton’s artistic range. Primarily acoustic, the album pulses with energy on several blues tracks that feature electrifying performances from a remarkable band. Brenton’s lyrics offer an intimate glimpse into his journey through Hollywood, life on the road with his family, and the rollercoaster of highs and lows that define it.

“I found an art form to help express how I feel about my life. My life in Hollywood, being a young father, being scared of the unpredictability of my industry, being homesick,” describes Brenton. “I fell in love with songwriting and signed my own deal! This will be a lifelong endeavour, Searching For The Man being the maiden voyage.”

In celebration of the debut album Searching For The Man, Brenton and his remarkable live band will play an intimate live album launch show at Miami Marketta on Saturday 8 May. Tickets are available now here.

Recognised globally for his work on screen, Brenton Thwaites launched his acting career in 2011 with a breakout role in the Australian series Slide, before captivating audiences in Home and Away. After relocating to the U.S., he went on to lead major international films including Oculus, The Giver, Gods of Egypt, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. From 2018 to 2023, he portrayed the iconic Dick Grayson/Robin/Nightwing in DC’s Titans, earning a devoted global following.

Most recently, audiences saw Brenton in the much-anticipated film adaptation of How To Make Gravy, starring alongside Hugo Weaving in a reimagining of Paul Kelly’s iconic song, with the screenplay co-written by director Nick Waterman and Megan Washington.

As a musician and songwriter, Brenton’s style blends soulful blues, acoustic warmth and introspective lyricism, with echoes of Jack Johnson and Donovan Frankenreiter, a vocal tone reminiscent of John Mayer, and a subtle thread of country woven throughout.

‘COME BACK DOWN TO EARTH’ Out Now

SEARCHING FOR THE MAN Out 2 May – Pre-Save

Vinyl Out 23 May – Pre-Order

SEARCHING FOR THE MAN ALBUM LAUNCH
Thursday 8 May – Miami Marketta – Gold Coast, QLD
Tickets

BRENTON THWAITES
Instagram | TikTok

GARBAGE REVEAL BRAND NEW SINGLE “THERE’S NO FUTURE IN OPTIMISM”

AND ITS ACCOMPANYING VIDEO – WATCH HERE
Garbage have today revealed the single “There’s No Future In Optimism ” – accompanied by a gorgeous cinematic video, shot and directed by Benjy Kirkman. This is the first single from the band’s forthcoming new album Let All That We Imagine Be The Light, out 30th May via BMG.

Speaking about “There’s No Future In Optimism”, Shirley Manson says:

“I love the title. The band sent it to me and I was like, “This is great. I’m keeping that.” But the lyrics are an action against that title. Because if we allow our fatalism or our negativity to really take over, we will crumble. It’s about a city, in my case, Los Angeles, but it could be anywhere where bad stuff is happening. After the George Floyd murder, which is one of few things in my life that I wish I’d never seen: I was changed entirely by seeing the footage of that cop kneeling on George Floyd’s neck. In Los Angeles there were huge protests and a lot of upheaval after that. Above our house in Hollywood, there were helicopters all day long, for days on end. It was really precarious, chaotic and terrifying.”

Garbage’s new album Let All That We Imagine Be The Light was recorded at Red Razor Sounds in Los Angeles, Butch Vig’s studio Grunge Is Dead, and Shirley Manson’s bedroom. The record was produced by the band and longtime engineer Billy Bush. The album is unmistakably Garbage and all the hallmarks and signatures for which they are known are present. Big angular guitars, precise, propulsive beats and cinematic soundscapes all lurk beneath Shirley Manson’s unmistakable voice, her lyrics bristling with attitude. This is the sound of a group at the peak of their creative powers – characteristically harnessing sonic juxtapositions and moods to create an album that thrums equally with both light and shade.

Speaking about the album, Manson adds: “This record is about what it means to be alive, and about what it means to face your imminent destruction. It’s hopeful. It’s very tender towards what it means to be a human being. Our flaws and our failures are still beautiful, even though we’re taught that they’re not. This is a tender, thrilling record about the fragility of life.”

Garbage consists of all four original band members, Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig. Over the 30 years since their inception in 1995 they have sold over 20 million albums. Their unique sound, songwriting and electric live performances have inspired worldwide adoration, chart success and critical acclaim. They are considered one of the most influential bands of their generation.

Garbage will embark on a 31-city tour across North America this Autumn, in support of the new album. “Happy Endings”, Garbage’s forthcoming tour, will stop at New York’s Brooklyn Paramount, Washington D.C.’s The Anthem, San Francisco’s The Warfield and more, with tickets on sale now. For over thirty years, Garbage’s powerful live show has captivated audiences and continues to inspire worldwide adoration and this year’s shows are the band’s first extensive headline tour dates in the U.S. in almost ten years.

For more information on Garbage’s live dates, visit their website.

Garbage’s new single “There’s No Future In Optimism” is out now.

Their new album, Let All That We Imagine Be The Light is released on 30th May.

P re-order / save the album H ERE .

TYNE-JAMES ORGAN ‘Worth My Time’ (Single) ‘The Other Side (Album out May 16)

TOURING NATIONALLY MAY – JUNE

Singer-songwriter, Tyne-James Organ, is back with a new single ‘Worth My Time’ out today, from the upcoming new LP ‘The Other Side’, out Friday May 16 via Dew Process/Universal Music Australia – available to pre-order now HERE.

Produced by ARIA award-winning Chris Collins (Gretta Ray, Budjerah, Royel Otis), ‘Worth My Time’ explores the push and pull of relationships, not just the romantic ones, but all the connections in our lives that test us in unexpected ways while we figure out what’s worth fighting for.

One of the last songs recorded for the upcoming LP, sonically it has a different feel from anything Organ has released before. “Originally, it had my usual sound, but when Chris added a disco-style drum loop, it took on a whole new vibe,” Tyne-James shares.

‘Worth My Time’ is accompanied by a one shot take style music video clip directed by multi-award winning cinematographer Jack Shepherd which will be released next week.

‘Worth My Time’ is the fifth song from Organ’s forthcoming second album. It follows on from previous standout singles ‘One Way Ticket’, which premiered on triple j and was cover artist on Spotify Front Left and playlisted on Breaking Hits and Local Noise, the first single ‘Blue’, ‘All On Me’, which amassed over 450K streams, topped triple j’s most played and earned a spot on Spotify’s Best Of Front Left Playlist for 2024, and ‘Comedown’. These five singles have amassed over 1 million streams combined to date.

With the release of the new LP ‘The Other Side’ weeks away; a collection of heartfelt songs about life in all its trials, delights and heartbreaks, and somewhat a sequel to ‘Necessary Evil’, Organ’s top 10 debut album, Tyne- James is getting ready for an electrifying national tour. Organ’s always captivating, and all heart live shows, ‘The Other Side’ tour will be another must-see for fans. Special guests joining Tyne-James on this national tour is Melbourne based indie-rock band The Velvet Club, multi-instrumentalist and producer from Perth Mitch Santiago, and the charismatic Jacob Fitzgerald & The Electric City.The tour starts in Brisbane at The Triffid on Friday May 23, then moves onto Sydney at The Factory Theatre on Saturday May 24, Perth at Rosemount Hotel on Friday May 30, Melbourne at 170 Russell on Friday June 6 and wraps up in Adelaide at Lion Arts Factory on Saturday June 7.

TYNE-JAMES ORGAN

THE OTHER SIDE TOUR

with special guests The Velvet Club*, Mitch Santiago**,

Jacob Fitzgerald & The Electric City

Friday May 23rd – The Triffid – Brisbane *
Saturday May 24th – The Factory Theatre – Sydney *
Friday May 30th – Rosemount Hotel – Perth **
Friday June 6th – 170 Russell – Melbourne *
Saturday June 7th – Lion Arts Factory – Adelaide *

For all ticket and event information head to www.tynejamesorgan.com/tour

TYNE-JAMES ORGAN ‘THE OTHER SIDE’ ALBUM OUT FRIDAY MAY 16

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