THURSDAY JULY 17 ,2025
This week’s Snippetz features: Dog Trumpet, Ashley Naylor, The Maggie Pills, Mondo Freaks, Gazal, Soma, Convenience Store, Hilltop Hoods, Paradise Lost, Wolf Alice, Ruth Hazleton, 8 Ball Aitken & Taya Chani, Stonehutt, Cousin Tony’s New Firebird, Rohan, Russell Morris, Jamaica Moana, Burna Boy, Meg Mac, Jack Gray, and much more
DOG TRUMPET ‘LIVE FOREVER’ (ALBUM)
Dog Trumpet is spearheaded by brothers Peter O’Doherty and Reg Mombassa, original members of iconic ARIA award winning and Hall of Fame band Mental As Anything.
Featuring Bernie Hayes on Bass and Vocals and Declan O’Doherty on Drums and Vocals.
Over the last thirty years as Dog Trumpet they have released eight critically acclaimed albums: Two Heads One Brain, Suitcase, Dog Trumpet, Antisocial Tendencies, River of Flowers, Medicated Spirits, Great South Road and Shadowland.
Parallel to their music careers Reg is well known too for his idiosyncratic work for Mambo Graphics and as a fine artist. Peter is also a successful and much sought after painter. For over four decades the brothers have exhibited in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, USA and Asia.
Our latest single is High On The Rocks from the new album “LIVE FOREVER”. High On the Rocks is a song about a lifelong fear of falling, childhood and anxiety, riding on a psychedelic bed of guitars and organs, all immersed in a dreamlike state of memory and existence; a constant reminder that change is constant and nothing repeats or remains the same.
Over melodic guitars and organ, the music ebbs and flows as do the lyrics. The album feature tracks include, Space and Time, Marianne, Live Forever, High On The Rocks, Ding Dong Butterfly and Underwater. Live Forever is released on Vinyl, CD and Digital on 11th July 2025.
With 2025’s LIVE FOREVER, Dog Trumpet – featuring former MENTAL AS ANYTHING members REG MOMBASSA and PETER O’DOHERTY plus longtime bassist BERNIE HAYES, and Peter’s son DECLAN on drums – has released their best album to date. And while I have probably said that about each of their albums, LIVE FOREVER is the real deal. It is an album that can be playful and fun, but also serious and focused… sometimes in the same song. In short, LIVE FOREVER is an essential purchase and truly one of the best albums of the year.
ASHLEY NAYLOR ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM ALEXANDRIA SUNSET AND RELEASES NEW TRACK “AS GOOD AS GOLD”
Melbourne musician Ashley Naylor plays guitar in The Church, The Stems, Paul Kelly, the RocKwiz Orkestra and for a host of other artists. He is the beloved guitarist, songwriter and singer of ’90s Triple J faves Even, leader of instrumental outfit Ashley Naylor Spaceship and co-conspirator in a number of other acts including The Grapes and The Ronson Hangup. Today he breaks substantial ground in a new phase in his career with the surprise announcement today of his new solo vocal album Alexandria Sunset and the release of the new track “As Good As Gold”.
PURCHASE OR STREAM HERE – As Good As Gold | Ashley Naylor
The new solo vocal material follows Naylor’s acclaimed instrumental solo guitar album Soundtracks Vol. 2 and the birth of his new solo band Spaceship and is Naylor’s first vocal solo recording in over a decade. Primarily song focused rather than a vehicle for Naylor’s guitar playing, Alexandria Sunset is the first solo album on which Naylor himself plays and sings every note himself since 2004’s Four Track Mind and it’s a much more evolved record than that was. It digs deep into the classic stylings of the late ’60s and ’70s that Naylor has always loved. As the artist himself says, “I’m an indie artist hung up on classic rock”.
“I’ve been working on three separate albums in recent years,” continues Naylor. “This one finished itself first once I committed to the idea that it would consist of songs I recorded all the parts for on my own. Much of what I do is in a collaborative environment; this album is a deliberate move into a very singular musical world I’ve created. These songs were recorded in spare quiet moments which informed the intimacy of much of the material”
“As Good As Gold” follows two album previews released last year. “Donovan Dreams”, an ode to the legendary ’60s Scottish psychedelic folkster Donovan (“Mellow Yellow”, “Hurdy Gurdy Man”, “Sunshine Superman” etc.) continued in the heady tradition of Naylor’s sublime work on Even’s massively-acclaimed double album Reverse Light Years, while “A Blue Sky” was more plaintive, highlighting Naylor’s superb 12-string guitar and way with melody. “As Good As Gold” is both trippy and plaintive.
The three songs together reveal just part of what is a varied and rich work from an artist whose abilities continue to grow and whose wide-ranging work with some of today’s finest artists – in addition to his ever-expansive listening habits and his inability to let his guitar leave his hands – continues to enlarge his pallet. Naylor adds, “This album is an unfettered foray into my own rock fantasy, where guitar solos are long, songs take detours, and the audience would just sit and listen to the music. I believe the true essence of this album will reveal itself over time”
Currently not on tour with The Church, Paul Kelly, The Stems or Rockwiz – although dates with all are on the horizon – Naylor has the next little while to focus on his own music. A wildly received recent performance of the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s classic debut at Melbourne’s Cherry Bar allowed Naylor to drop in to see what condition his condition is in (it’s fine, thank you very much) and he’s raring to explore it deeply while he has the chance. Pre-order Alexandria Sunset now and keep your eye out for live performances to be announced soon.
ASHLEY NAYLOR’s ALEXANDRIA SUNSET IS OUT SEPTEMBER 6, 2025 ON EL RENO MUSIC.
PRE-ORDER CD OR DIGITAL RELEASE, OR “FOLLOW” FOR NOTIFICATION OF THE LIMITED-EDITION VINYL RELEASE, HERE
MORE ABOUT ASHLEY NAYLOR
Ashley Naylor is one of Australia’s most in-demand and beloved musicians. Guitarist for The Church, Paul Kelly, The Stems, & the RocKwiz Orkestra, singer/songwriter/guitarist with beloved Melbourne band Even, leader of Ashley Naylor Spaceship, co-conspirator in The Grapes, The Ronson Hangup and Monterey Honey, and a musician who has worked with Vika & Linda, Tim Finn, both Stephen Cummings and The Sports, Fanny Lumsden, the Countdown Spectacular house band, the Allman Betts Family Revival and more. Ashley Naylor is also an acclaimed solo artist who has released solo singer/songwriter and guitar instrumental albums.
From his Beatles-inspired work with Even, through to the Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Hazel and David Axelrod inspired music he has made on solo albums ‘Soundtracks Vol 1’ and ‘Soundtracks Vol 2’ and with his new 4-piece band Ashley Naylor Spaceship, Naylor is a consummate musician and a genuine seeker; someone who is always looking to expand his horizons and improve his abilities.
Naylor’s previous album is ‘Soundtracks Volume 2’ was released late in 2023. It enjoyed a top 5 position on the AIR charts upon release and has had a stellar response in the music press, and it followed Even’s 2021 double magnum opus, ‘Reverse Light Years’ which went Top 20 in the ARIA Album chart on the back of the best press of the band’s career.
Ashley Naylor – Official | Facebook
Ashley Naylor – Official | Instagram
Ashley Naylor Official – YouTube
elrenomusic.bandcamp.com
THE MAGGIE PILLS ANNOUNCE SOPHOMORE ALBUM ’HEARTS ENDURING LINGERING LOSS’ REVEAL BUZZING SINGLE ‘GOTHS OF DISGRACE’
Naarm/Melbourne’s fierce and unflinching post-punk outfit The Maggie Pills have just announced their sophomore record ‘Hearts Enduring Lingering Loss’ – due out Friday, August 22, via Cheersquad Records & Tapes. Pre-Order Album HERE.
Alongside this announcement is their visceral single, ‘Goths Of Disgrace’, a fuzz-drenched, slow-burn track where menace and melody intertwine. Lead singer Delfi Sorondo’s vocals float just above the chaos, as she trades melodic lines with angular guitar through the verses. Drawing from goth and punk influences, the track leans into dissonance without losing its haunting charm – a soundtrack for spirals, self-sabotage, and all the sweetness we somehow keep pushing away.
“It’s about wanting something deeply – a project, a relationship, a life – and doing everything possible to destroy it,” Delfi shares. “We put bitterness where we want sweetness. The art of love and the art of war get mixed up in the most confusing ways.”
To mark the release, The Maggie Pills will perform at Naarm/Melbourne’s Shotkickers on Friday, July 25. They will also bring their visceral live show to some of the city’s most iconic venues later in the year, including Northcote Social Club, The Old Bar, The Night Cat and The Brunswick Ballroom.
In the live arena, the group has shared the stage with Black Lips (USA), Shihad, Cable Ties, The Meanies, Battlesnake, The Mark Of Cain and Private Function and have sold out multiple headline shows, including their ‘GOLD’ single launch.
Led by Argentinian frontwoman Delfi Sorondo and Venezuelan drummer Mario Perez, the group formed in 2019 shortly after both members immigrated to Australia. Their music has been supported by triple j, triple j Unearthed, Double J, and Australian Community Radio stations such as 3RRR, PBS, 2SER, and 4ZZZ, among many others. In the blogosphere, they have seen support from Rolling Stone (AUS), Pilerats, Backseat Mafia (UK/AUS), Blunt Magazine, The Music, Wall of Sound, Tone Deaf, and HEAVY Magazine.
‘Goths Of Disgrace’ is available worldwide now
‘Hearts Enduring Lingering Loss’ will be available worldwide on Friday, August 22, via Cheersquad Records & Tapes
Pre-Order Album HERE
THE MAGGIE PILLS UPCOMING TOUR DATES
Tickets available now at moshtix.com.au
FRI 25 JUL | SHOTKICKERS, NAARM/MELBOURNE VIC
WED 6 AUG | NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, NAARM/MELBOURNE VIC
FRI 8 AUG | THE OLD BAR, NAARM/MELBOURNE VIC
FRI 17 OCT | THE NIGHT CAT, NAARM/MELBOURNE VIC
SAT 22 NOV | THE BRUNSWICK BALLROOM, NAARM/MELBOURNE VIC
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GAZAL NEW EP GODS INTO FRAUDS OUT NOW
Gods Into Frauds, the majestic, coruscating sophomore EP from the Sydney born and raised GAZAL Is out today. It is by turns propulsive and beautiful, raw and emotional – and sees GAZAL laying herself bare like never before.
Without wasting any time at all, the EP opens with the strident, furious clarion call of “You Told Me To Be A Man”, a visceral essay about femininity lived in the cross-hairs of society, fuelled by fear, exhaustion, frustration, but also a kind of white hot political awakening. The lush, trumpet-fuelled ‘Piggies’, meanwhile, is a a full-bore, high-stakes, in your face riposte, as urgent as it is compelling, and “Mkae Snese” is alternately moving and defiant, with a chopped up, collaged structure perfectly mirroring the landscape it maps; a place of beauty and danger, of violence and dogged resistance. The centre, GAZAL is keen to remind us, will not hold (“I don’t need to fail, I don’t need to win, I don’t need it to make sense to feel right”) – and here she is driven to document every unsparing detail.
Anyone who has encountered GAZAL’s music before would know that she is a force to be reckoned with – potent, vital, off-kilter, and never anything less than fully compelling. Gods Into Frauds is a powerful mission statement, capping off an incredible run of tracks and cementing her position is one of the most incredible and exciting new artists we have around today. Packed to the rafters with song after masterclass song, it’s an ingenious and seamlessly edited listening experience, from start to dazzling finish.
ABOUT GAZAL
• GAZAL is a Lebanese-Australian artist whose music blends her cultural roots with a bold, contemporary sound. Raised with a deep value on loyalty and family, GAZAL’s upbringing shaped her sense of connection, which shines through in her art. Her powerful storytelling reflects the complexities of navigating life as a woman in today’s world, and her music is a platform for women striving to articulate their experiences and assert their strength.
• GAZAL’s previous singles have already gained significant traction, landing on Spotify’s Fresh Finds global playlist and going viral on TikTok with over 15 million views. But this is only the beginning. Her new sound taps into her sassy, unapologetic ethnic side, offering a voice of empowerment for those fighting against a world that often turns its back on them. As she enters 2025, GAZAL’s unique blend of cultural pride and defiance promises to make a lasting impact.
• GAZAL has two headline shows coming up this month in Melbourne and Sydney, and has been announced as part of the first wave of artists playing SXSW Sydney in October.
UPCOMING LIVE DATES
July 17 – The Esplanade Hotel, Melbourne – tickets here
July 24 – The Plaza Hotel, Sydney – tickets here
Oct 19-24 – SXSW Sydney
GODS INTO FRAUDS out now LISTEN HERE
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MELBOURNE 10 PIECE FUNK OUTFIT MONDO FREAKS DROP NEW SINGLE ‘WON’T YOU DECIDE’ + ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM
Melbourne 10 piece outfit Mondo Freaks stay on their roll with “Won’t You Decide”, another irresistible piece of sophisticated funk, the third single they have released this year. It’s a taste of their forthcoming debut self-titled album, which has been announced for release on October 17th via their own Every Star Records.
Formed by the rhythm section of in demand session bassist Luke Hodgson and drummer Graeme Pogson (GL, The Bamboos) who were also both long time players with Harvey Sutherland, Mondo Freaks are the next artist ready to break out internationally from the world renowned Melbourne Soul scene, which has acts currently riding high like Hiatus Kaiyote, The Bamboos and Surprise Chef.
Originally conceived as a concept band, equipped with an ever-evolving setlist of late ’70s and early ’80s Funk classics, their journey has seen them invited to be the backing band for the Australian tours of such US Soul Music luminaries as Leroy Burgess (the producer and artist behind Boogie and Disco favourites Black Ivory, Logg, Aleem, Inner Life, and Universal Robot Band) and the iconic Evelyn “Champagne” King.
Vocals this time are handled by Aaron Mendoza, who is also one of two keyboard players in the band (and also one of their five vocalists) and was previously a core member of the much-missed Melbourne act Electric Empire. The lyrics to “Won’t You Decide” dive headfirst into a classic love dilemma. Leaving it all on the floor, this song is for anyone who’s ever danced through the confusion of “are we, or aren’t we?” A dynamic musical collaboration with bass player Luke Hodgson and drummer Graeme Pogson, Aaron recruited his brother, Darius, to add his unique twist to the song. Flirty, funky, and full of heart, this song keeps the vibe high even when emotions run deep.
Recalling the work of Kashif, the legendary vocalist, producer and songwriter who was behind the success of Evelyn “Champagne” King, Melba Moore and the start of Whitney Houston’s career, “Won’t You Decide” once again breathes new life into the golden sound of late ‘70s and early ‘80s Funk. But with songwriting and performances this strong the music transcends what would be mere homage into something truly timeless.
Following on from “I’m A Fool”, “Won’t You Decide” will be accompanied by a live video recorded at The Quadraphonic Club, proving why Mondo Freaks have such a formidable reputation in Melbourne’s furtive Soul scene.
Watch “Won’t You Decide – Live at the Quadraphonic Club”
The track along with the album was mixed by multi Grammy winner Michael Brauer who is known for working on recordings by the likes of Coldplay, Springsteen, Dylan, McCartney and Rolling Stones. But Mondos reminded him of the Rn’B records he started out working on in the late ’70s / early ’80s, which had huge influences on the band such as Change, B.B. & Q. Band, Was (Not Was), Gwen Guthrie, Grace Jones, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Pleasure, Cheryl Lynn, Cerrone, Jones Girls, Kid Creole, Teddy Pendegrass, Morris Day and many more.
Aaron Mendoza recalls how the song came together: “Luke came around and we quickly found ourselves locking in together. I distinctly remember as I sung the pre-chorus idea, a quiet “Yes!” slowly whispered from behind. Luke and I were onto something. “Won’t You Decide” is a sensitive song but it makes you wanna dance at the same time. I love those kinds of songs! To be honest, it was the impetus that led to a burst of creativity for me. Ultimately resulting in co-writing more material for the album. An opportunity I will forever be grateful for.”
Mondo Freaks debut album started coming together during the long Melbourne COVID lockdown and recording ended up stretching over almost 12 months with snatches of time together during the brief windows in that time. Needless to say, the band have been itching to unleash it upon the world. Expect more tasters to be let out before October 17.
The band have been announced on the line up of the boutique Wonder Mountain Festival in Beechworth, outside of Melbourne, on September 6th alongside the likes of Ella Thompson, Wrong Way Up, Intermood, Mudrat, Danika and many more quality Melbourne artists. More Mondos live dates will be announced shortly.
Mondo Freaks “Won’t You Decide” is out now – Stream/Download: https://linktr.ee/mondofreaks
Mondo Freaks Debut album will be released Oct 17th on limited edition vinyl as well as digital – Pre-order from their Bandcamp from July 21st
Follow Mondo Freaks Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp
JEMMA SILES RETURNS WITH POP ANTHEM ‘TELL ME ALL YOUR LIES’
Today, award-winning singer-songwriter Jemma Siles has returned with her most powerful single yet, ‘Tell Me All Your Lies‘. Cramming together the very best chapters of the Pop Encyclopedia of the last 10 years, this new chapter from Jemma wields a heart-pounding, emotionally charged release that fuses sharp production with bare-bones vulnerability.
Co-written by long-time collaborator Xavier Dunn (Jack River, GRAACE) and produced alongside Liam Quinn (Peach PRC, Rita Ora, Ruel), the song juxtaposes iconic pop sonics against a striking, emotional core, wrapping raw emotional honesty in confidence and clarity. Her nostalgic, bittersweet lyricism shapes a release that’s as vulnerable as it is explosive; it tells a story about the desire to be truly known, and the quiet power of unmasking.
“This song almost didn’t make the cut,” says Jemma. “This was the first song I wrote with Xav back in May 2021… I think it was a day or so before my ex and I of 5 years broke up. I was exhausted mentally, and I didn’t want to write about what I was going through anymore. I was thinking about my best friend at the time – about relationships where you can take off the mask, and ‘tell them all the lies’ you show to the world. This song is an anthem for those people who feel stuck having to be someone that they think the world wants them to be.”
A distinct voice in the Australian music landscape, Jemma is no stranger to emotional storytelling. With over 4 million global streams, a TikTok audience of 60k, and collaborations with EDM heavyweights NERVO and Wolfpack, she’s already established herself as a rising voice in pop. Her previous releases have earned her titles including 2x Australian Pop Songwriter of the Year, Australian Ballad Songwriter of the Year, and 3x International Songwriting Competition Semi-Finalist. She cites the early works of pop’s most prominent storytellers as key inspiration for her writing; Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Gracie Abrams have all been deeply foundational to her own conceptual voice.
Jemma balances emotional intensity with undeniable pop clarity; as a medical student by day and an artist by night, she offers sonic comfort to anyone who’s ever felt too much, too soon, or too often. ‘Tell Me All Your Lies‘ is out now.
‘TELL ME ALL YOUR LIES’ – OUT NOW
MORE INFO: INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY TIKTOK WEBSITE
SOMA ‘RAW’ (SINGLE)
After turning heads and earning critical acclaim with her debut mixtape Cobra earlier this year, breakout alternate hip-hop artist SOMA returns with her boldest release yet: RAW – a hypnotic, beat-heavy deep dive into the brutal honesty of heartbreak, obsession, and emotional survival.
RAW explodes with the lyrical intensity and rhythmic edge that’s becoming SOMA’s signature. Backed by gritty, atmospheric production from long-time collaborator Danny Duke, the track is a raw confession set to a dangerously seductive beat, exploring a toxic relationship that’s both intoxicating and unrelenting.
“I wanted to capture that feeling of knowing something is breaking you, but not being able to pull away,” SOMA says. “It’s not just about love, it’s about the parts of ourselves we protect, and what happens when we stop hiding.”
Blending razor-sharp poetry with infectious hooks, SOMA transforms pain into power, spinning vulnerability into weaponry. RAW doesn’t just hit hard, it lingers, echoing the duality of desire and destruction, self-love and sabotage.
With RAW, SOMA continues to cement her place as one of the most compelling voices in Australia’s alternative hip-hop landscape; unapologetic, unfiltered, and completely in her lane.
Following the success of her Cobra mixtape, which was hailed for its cinematic scope and unflinching storytelling, RAW signals the next chapter in SOMA’s evolution: fearless, emotionally charged, and sonically distinct.
Raw is out now STREAM: RAW
CONVENIENCE STORE ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM TABIS OUT 12 SEPTEMBER + SHARE NEW SINGLE ‘I WANNA BE YOUR DANCER’
Melbourne’s Convenience Store has always written songs that feel like secrets overheard on a late-night train ride: intimate, cinematic, and just a little surreal. Today, the group announces their long-awaited debut album Tabis, due out on 12 September, and shares their second single ‘I Wanna Be Your Dancer’.
On Tabis, Convenience Store push their signature tightrope between confession and cinema to its most ambitious and affecting extremes. It’s a record about illusions: the stories we tell ourselves to survive, the doublespeak of growing up, and the disorienting sense that nothing in life ever fully resolves. Named after the Japanese split-toe shoe that conceals five toes within the illusion of two, Tabis is steeped in multiplicity. Across eleven tracks, the album shapeshifts, with each song a different kind of disguise, walking the line between deception and truth, artifice and honesty.
A jangly, melancholy love song about teenage devotion, ‘I Wanna Be Your Dancer’, which follows last month’s ‘Tabis (Walk Me Through The Night)’, wears its influences proudly. It’s an uncanny tribute to the band’s mutual love of The Smiths, shot through with the kind of vulnerability that’s become their signature. “It’s an indie-pop love song about wanting to serve someone, and relying on their presence to feel grounded and safe,” they explain. “We actually wrote it as teenagers, but never had the production chops to give it what it deserved until now.”
Written and recorded DIY in the band’s basement studio, Tabis explores the quiet ache of things left unresolved and the illusions we cling to as we grow. Across eleven tracks, the band walks the line between confession and artifice, nostalgia and forward motion, crafting something deeply personal yet strangely universal.
Convenience Store may be children of the internet, but Tabis is anything but ephemeral. It’s a deeply considered, sonically ambitious debut full of bruised, beautiful truths; an album about movement, memory, and the weight of meaning, and perhaps, more than anything, about continuing to walk forward even when you don’t know where you’ll end up.
Convenience Store will launch ‘I Wanna Be Your Dancer’ at Bootleggers in Newtown on 19 July. Tickets here.
Convenience Store is Nick Baker, Jack Phillips, Vincent Barker and Alex Siderov.
‘I WANNA BE YOUR DANCER’ – OUT NOW LISTEN HERE
TABIS – ALBUM OUT 12 SEPTEMBER PRE-SAVE HERE
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HILLTOP HOODS RELEASE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO ‘NEVER COMING HOME FT SIX60
HILLTOP HOODS have today revealed their new single, ‘NEVER COMING HOME’, featuring acclaimed New Zealand act SIX60, and accompanied by an official video featuring the who’s who in Australian Combat Sports, including UFC World Champion Alexander Volkanovski.
“‘Never Coming Home’ is about striving for greatness, and that’s why it made sense to have World Champion, Alex Volkanovski, in the clip. Talking to him about what he’s achieved, you quickly realise that the ingredients of greatness are talent and discipline. And Volk is talent and discipline in their purest forms.” – Suffa
“Never Coming Home is about a journey of self-growth and achievement. It’s about setting out on that sojourn and not coming back until you’ve achieved your goals. This song was the first one we wrote over a two-day writing session with SIX60 & One Above and became our favourite writing collaborations we’ve done in years. Massive shout out to Alexander The Great Volkanovski and Colby Thicknesse for being in the clip and bringing it to life.” – Pressure
“Writing Never Coming Home with the Hoods just felt very natural, when we connected there was a mutual respect between us. We wrote a bunch of songs with this one coming together quickly. That was a couple of years ago, so it’s really cool to see Never Coming Home now out in the world, everything has its time and the time is now.” – Matiu Walters, SIX60
Directed by Jeremy Koren (Forest Claudette, Ruel), the official video was filmed in Melbourne with the concept led by ARIA award winning director Bill Bleakley (Didirri, Teskey Brothers, Confidence Man). Joining Hilltop Hoods and Matiu (SIX60) is a powerhouse line-up from the most respected and recognizable in Australia’s Combat Sports.
The video brings together Colby Thicknesse (UFC Bantamweight Fighter), playing the lead role alongside UFC Featherweight World Champion Alexander Volkanovski, Aaron Maher (Oceania freestyle wrestling national champion) playing Colby’s opponent in the clip, double ADCC Jiu Jitsu champion Adele Fornarino who plays the referee, and an appearance from Craig Jones (number 2 grappler in the world) and Adam Jones (BJJ Black Belt).
“I’ve been a big fan of both Hilltop Hoods and SIX60, it was so cool to be a part of the video. Growing up I’ve always listened to Hilltop Hoods and always been a big fan of them. As soon as I got wind that they were doing this, I knew I had to make it happen and be a part of the clip along with Colby, I love doing these acting gigs and really enjoy it. It was funny, as soon as we knew this was happening, I literally got to the gym and Hilltop Hoods were playing. You’re Never Coming Home till your champ.” – Alexander Volkanovski
“I discovered Hilltop Hoods when I was about 11 years old and I remember my dad playing them in the car. The first track I heard was The Nosebleed Section and I would listen to it to gee myself up before wrestling tournaments as a kid. I listen to a lot of their music at the gym throughout my fighter journey, so now, not only do I get to star in the music video but having it about fighting is just a very surreal moment for me. It’s been a real cool experience, a full circle moment” – Colby Thicknesse
‘Never Coming Home ft. SIX60’ is lifted from HILLTOP HOODS forthcoming ninth studio album , FALL FROM THE LIGHT out Friday August 1st (through Island Records/UMA) and arrives days after the Hoods announced their long-awaited NEVER COMING HOME TOUR.
With their eagerly anticipated new album only three weeks away, Fall From The Light can be pre-ordered and pre-saved now from here.
Produced by One Above with additional production by Sesta and Suffa, Fall From The Light was recorded in Adelaide, Darwin, Melbourne and New Zealand. The 12-track album features the 2025 lead single ‘The Gift’ feat. Marlon’, recent fan-favourite single ‘Don’t Happy, Be Worry’ and the Gold accredited ‘Laced Up’.
Fall From The Light will be released on Limited Edition 180-gram 2LP coloured vinyl variants, available through the bands official store, JB HiFi and selected retailers. The first vinyl pressing features a special gatefold design, complete with an exclusive obi-strip making it a must-have for fans. The album will also be available on CD and tape, with official Fall From The Light merchandise available from the bands store.
Hilltop Hoods are making a massive return to the live stage with the announcement of the Never Coming Home Tour in Feb & March 2026. The trio are also set to play a number of headline/festival dates overseas including Tauberta (GER), Lakelive (CHE), Electric Picnic (IRE) and locally at One Street One Day (QLD), Handpicked Festival (SA) and more to be announced
HILLTOP HOODS – NEVER COMING HOME TOUR
Presented by TEG and Blue Max Music
Sat 14 Feb – MyState Bank Arena – Hobart (AA)
Sat 21 Feb – Entertainment Centre – Adelaide (AA)
Sat 28 Feb – Qudos Bank Arena – Sydney (AA)
Sat 7 Mar – Rod Laver Arena – Melbourne (AA)
Sat 14 Mar – Entertainment Centre – Brisbane (AA)
Sat 21 Mar – RAC Arena – Perth (AA)
– Festival Dates 2025 (AUS) –
Sat 26 July – One Street One Day Festival, Townsville, QLD
Sat Nov 8 – Handpicked Festival, Langhorne Creek, SA
HILLTOP HOODS NEW ALBUM FALL FROM THE LIGHT RELEASED FRIDAY AUGUST 1st
ABOUT HILLTOP HOODS
Their unparalleled career speaks for itself – over 89 Platinum accreditations, 1.1 million album sales and over 1.8 billion global streams, six #1 albums, the most entries into triple j’s Hottest 100 for an Australian Artist, ten ARIA award wins, and multiple sold-out Arena tours solidifying the Hilltop Hoods as one of the country’s most successful names in music, period.
The labels are numerous: ‘Platinum Selling’, ‘Multi-ARIA Winning’, ‘Sold Out Arena Tours’ – yet at the end of the day, Hilltop Hoods’ resolve remains the same. The music they make is done with the intent to connect and last with fans, regardless of age, background, or creed; time and time again, their formula pays dividends and then some.
Their sphere of influence has extended into international markets, with the Hoods having maintained a strong presence throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and North America; a performance career that has included peak sets at Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Openair Frauenfeld, and Summerjam to name a few.
The trio are synonymous with working with up-and-coming artists whether on tour or in the studio. Ecca Vandal, Ruel, Adrian Eagle, Nyassa and Montaigne, to name just a few.
In 2020 they released the fundraising single ‘I’m Good?’, which was recorded in isolation during quarantine and has so far helped raise OVER $630,000 in much needed aid for SUPPORT ACT’s ‘Roadies (Crew) Fund’ and in 2023, they headlined Now & Forever, the all-ages, all-inclusive concert in support of The Voice referendum’s Yes Campaign.
Hilltop Hoods have continued to thrill fans worldwide since the release of their chart-topping The Great Expanse LP with a steady output of singles – I’m Good (3xPlatinum); Show Business ft. Eamon (Gold); A Whole Day’s Night ft. Montaigne & Tom Thum (Gold), Laced Up (Gold), and new singles – The Gift ft. Marlon & Don’t Happy, Be Worry.
Trailblazers in a genre that eventually married the underground with commercial success, setting a blueprint for waves of contemporaries to follow, the group’s legacy is undeniable.
PARADISE LOST Reveals ‘Serpent On The Cross’ New Album, ASCENSION Out September 19TH Via Nuclear Blast Records
Icons of goth and doom, PARADISE LOST have revealed the second single, ‘Serpent On The Cross,’ from their long-awaited, 17th album Ascension that’s out September 19th from Nuclear Blast Records.
Commenting on the song, vocalist Nick Holmes says: “The cross represents stability, prosperity, hope and happiness. The serpent represents trepidation, anguish and overbearing sadness, lurking in the shadows ready to take everything away.”
Stream ‘Serpent On The Cross’:
https://paradiselost.bfan.link/serpent-on-the-cross
Pre-order Ascension:
https://paradiselost.bfan.link/ascension
Australian Pre-order: https://aus.omerch.com/collections/paradise-lost or via https://www.jbhifi.com.au/collections/paradise-lost-ascension
Watch the music video for ‘Serpent On The Cross’:
https://youtu.be/EVtZZ15oQDQ
PARADISE LOST’s first album in 5 years, following 2020’s critically acclaimed Obsidian, was produced by guitarist Gregor Mackintosh and mixed/mastered by Lawrence Mackrory. Ascension is a testament to the band’s longevity and relevance over their 35+ year career, encompassing their signature styles of gothic, death and doom fans have cherished along the way.
Ascension’s album cover fittingly features the painting The Court of Death (1870-1902) by renowned British artist George Frederic Watts, which hangs in the Tate Gallery in London. The painting depicts Death as an enthroned angel flanked by allegorical figures of Silence and Mystery guarding sunrise and the star of hope, while a warrior surrenders his sword and a duke his coronet, showing that worldly status offers no protection. The painting’s bleak, prophetic vision embodies Ascension’s dark, tormented soundscapes as mournful verses collide with dire, foreboding riffs.
Watch the video for the band’s previous single, ‘Silence Like The Grave’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSAlEVzLhDc
About PARADISE LOST:
More than three decades into their career, and with over two million albums sold, PARADISE LOST remain the undisputed kings of metal’s dark side. Formed in Halifax in 1988, the band quickly became noted as the pioneers of gothic metal through their early groundbreaking albums like 1991’s aptly-titled Gothic, a mixture of heaviness intertwined with shadowy melody and atmosphere.
Never a group to remain creatively static, across their career they’ve explored a myriad of avenues of dark music, from sludgy doom-death roots, to conquering the metal mainstream with the enormous, lush sounds of 1995’s Draconian Times, to more experimental, electronic leanings, leaving an influence on a trail of artists as varied as CRADLE OF FILTH, HIM, GATECREEPER and CHELSEA WOLFE.
Now, in 2025, the Yorkshire quintet return with their staggering 17th album, Ascension, a record that sees their crown continue to gleam as it underlines just how they attained their position. Produced by guitarist Gregor Mackintosh at Black Planet studios in East Yorkshire, with drums and vocals captured at NBS and Wasteland studios in Sweden, its 10 tracks traverse the multitude of sounds in the band’s arsenal, from full-bore heavy metal to sky-high melody, all the while keeping a minor-key melancholy that remains irresistible.
Follow PARADISE LOST: Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Youtube | Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp
WOLF ALICE UNVEIL BRAND NEW SINGLE ‘THE SOFA’
Beloved British band Wolf Alice share new single, ‘The Sofa’ – another dimension to their highly anticipated fourth studio album The Clearing confirmed for release on August 22nd via Mushroom Music. Following a triumphant return to the stage with headlining festival performances at Primavera and a history-defining Glastonbury set on home soil, this new era announces Wolf Alice as a band who are in a league entirely of their own.
‘The Sofa’ is the album’s psychological portrait which is a microcosm of the wider themes it reckons with: falling in love with your life for exactly what it is and finally letting go of unrealised dreams without shame, guilt or disappointment as you grow older. Unspooling like a daydream on an idle afternoon, ‘The Sofa’ is a piano ballad fortified by the best songwriting of Ellie Rowsell’s career – radical in its unflinching honesty. “Didn’t make it out to California / Where I thought I might clean the slate / Feels a little like I’m stuck in Seven Sisters / North London, oh England / And maybe that’s ok,” Rowsell sings. In abandoning the self-consciousness which weighs down your twenties, Wolf Alice reach a point of hard-won serenity.
“It’s about not trying so hard to figure everything out, reflecting on getting older and trying not to agonise over things that have or haven’t happened in your life. It’s also about trying to get to grips with the polarising aspects of one’s life when you’re in a band. You’ve just played a huge tour – and you come home, and you have your dinner on the sofa. For me, it’s summed up in how I treat TV. I used to never watch the same thing twice because I thought I’ve got so much to discover! And now I’m like, It’s okay if I just want to rewatch Peep Show for the thirteenth time.” – Ellie Rowsell
Shot on the streets of the band’s native North London in homage to the lyrics, the video for ‘The Sofa’ captures the day-dreamy spirit of the song in boldly-coloured slow motion. Ellie is transported on a surreal fantasy through the euphoric messiness of British summertime street life while never leaving the comfort of her sofa. Inspired by classic street photography, these vignettes capture the blissed-out interactions of people from all walks of life, celebrating the shared joy we feel with strangers on a sunny day. The video was directed by Fiona Jane Burgess (Christina Aguilera, girlinred, Gucci) and features numerous easter eggs for the band’s upcoming album.
WATCH: Wolf Alice – The Sofa (Official Video)
The single release follows Wolf Alice’s victorious return to Glastonbury Festival this past month, performing a razor-sharp set of hits to a sunset crowd on the Other Stage on Sunday afternoon. Combining fan favourites such as ‘Bros’ and ‘Don’t Delete The Kisses’ with jubilant new singles ‘Bloom Baby Bloom’ and ‘The Sofa’ – the slot felt like a victory lap for a band truly at the peak of their powers.
Written in Seven Sisters and recorded in LA with Grammy-winning, master producer Greg Kurstin last year, The Clearing reveals where Wolf Alice stand sonically in 2025, delivering a supremely confident collection of songs bursting with ambition, ideas and emotion; The Clearing is a truly timeless record.
Wolf Alice – ‘The Sofa’ Out now via Mushroom Music LISTEN / WATCH
Wolf Alice – The Clearing Out Friday 22 August via Mushroom Music PRE-ORDER
RUSSELL MORRIS ‘GET YOUR MIND RIGHT’ (SINGLE)
Get Your Mind Right is the first track from the album Jump Start Diary by Russell Morris.
This studio album was released on 1 June 2008, just prior to Russell Morris’s induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame. However, without a record label the album quickly faded.
Rediscovered in 2025 by Ambition Music the album is enjoying popular acclaim with fans, media and critics alike. The album is a collaboration between Morris and Australian musician, Peter Robinson, who co-wrote numerous tracks and was the co-producer and designer of the sleeve.
Robinson plays multiple instruments, including: guitar, bass, piano and strings and provided backing vocals. This album is being touted as one of Morris’s best albums of his career. A great discovery!
RUSSELL MORRIS And His All Star Band FAREWELL TOUR 2025
Bendigo – Ulumbera Theatre Thursday July 31 7PM
Adelaide – Festival Theatre Sunday August 3 6PM
Newcastle – Civic Theatre Thursday August 7 7PM
Perth – PCEC Saturday August 9 7PM
Mandurah – Performing Arts Centre Sunday August 10 5PM
Geelong – Arts Centre Friday August 15 7PM
Canberra – Canberra Theatre Thursday August 21
Brisbane – QPAC Friday August 22 3PM & 7PM
Tweed Heads – Twin Towns Saturday August 23 3PM & 7PM
Melbourne – Hamer Hall Wednesday August 27 7PM Thursday August 28 3PM & 7PM
Thirroul – Anitas Saturday September 3PM & 7PM
Sydney – Sydney Opera House Sunday September 7 5PM
JAMAICA MOANA ‘GIVE INTO MY FEARS’ (ft. PA777IENCE & ZAY.R)
Debut EP BUD & DENI Out Friday 1 August. Sydney EP Launch Announced For 6 September
Sydney-based queer rap artist JAMAICA MOANA shares empowering new single, ‘GIVE INTO MY FEARS (ft. PA777IENCE & ZAY.R)’. A track centered around powerful lyrics, paired with raw, minimalist beats, delivers a message of perseverance for QPOC artists from the West. This new single follows the announce of JAMAICA MOANA’s debut EP BUD & DENI, due Friday 1 August via Pointer Recordings. Jamaica will be launching BUD & DENI live at the Red Rattler on Saturday 6 September in Sydney. Tickets are on sale now here.
‘I claim this song to be the lyrically best song I have ever created. I always wanted to do a track like this. If I was a QPOC artist from The West, I would utilise this as a template on how to never give up and persevere through it all! It gets better. From the fun and playfulness of ‘TUGGAWAR‘, I knew the next track needed to be only 2 flows on the verses – the same for verse 2. The overarching message of this song is to obviously never give up. I had to touch base on this because there has been so many people, companies & brands who only care about me during the pride season and then flick me off, entailing the message of ‘give up while you can, you’re only hot during Pride!’. 6 years of this rhetoric can definitely lead you to having the inner conversation of why I’m doing this. My why is for me, my home & my family – no deep explanation because this is enough to forever carry me through.’
‘GIVE INTO MY FEARS’ is the final offering ahead of the release of Moana’s debut genre-bending EP, BUD & DENI. The new track following previous singles, ‘LIVIN’ OUT WEST‘, ‘KEEP IT REAL‘, and ‘TUGGAWAR‘. Three dynamic tunes that reveal the multitudes that make up Jamaica Moana, and a promise of what’s to come in the EP.
“I knew this EP had to begin with loss and go from there. Bud & Deni are my parents. I grew up calling my father Bud (rhymes with good, short for buddha) and my mother Deni (short for Denise). They are the reason I was born, so my first-born EP is named after them,” said Jamaica of the six-track EP.
“This EP feels like the collection of my vast intersection of life through one formed story. I have many pieces of my life that individually are challenged by societal norms, but collectively accepted in the form of Jamaica Moana. For example, people still think living out west is a disadvantage but when it’s a part of my story, they like it. With this template, I’ve seen people who don’t understand QPOC, yet through my music – they somehow can understand me beyond our differences.
The EP tracks 6 different genres, but is a linear storyline, like 6 unique siblings that share the same blood.”
Fresh off a blistering triple j BARS appearance, standout headline sets at Sydney’s Phoenix Central Park and Sissy Ball, and a special guest spot at DEVAURA’s April launch show, Jamaica Moana has had a powerful start to the year. Add to that a recent appearance at Dark Mofo and upcoming performances at SXSW Sydney and The Others Way Festival in Aotearoa / New Zealand, and it’s clear she’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Jamaica Moana currently lives and works on both Dharawal & Gadigal Country of the Eora Nation and is spiritually entwined with Hokianga and Waikato in the motherland of Aotearoa. She balances her professional career as a multidisciplinary artist whilst being a leader and resident commentator of the Australian ballroom community and founder of The West Ball. She has modelled for multiple Australian Fashion Week shows including Erik Yvon, Jordan Gogos, Nicol + Ford, and has also performed at FBi Radio SMAC Fest, Kooky, Kira Puru’s Club Crush and supported Cakes Da Killa, Junglepussy, and Ngaiire.
Stream / Download ‘GIVE INTO MY FEARS’: https://jamaicamoana.lnk.to/giveintomyfears
Pre-Save / Pre-Order BUD & DENI: https://jamaicamoana.lnk.to/budanddeni
Jamaica Moana – BUD & DENI Sydney EP Launch: https://events.humanitix.com/jamaica-moana-bud-and-deni-with-special-guests
Jamaica Moana Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
STONEHUTT ‘TOGETHER ALONE’ (SINGLE)
Together Alone is StoneHutt’s latest single from the Watershed album, which will be out in the world in mid-August.
A home and safe shelter is a human right. Together Alone is a poignant song that follows a young person’s struggle to survive on the streets, and is also a tribute to the support of volunteers and community services that keep many going in the short term, and help many onto a path to ‘homefulness’ in the longer term.
The song is a reflection on loneliness, hardship, and the disconnection that afflicts so many.
ABOUT STONEHUTT
StoneHutt music is founded on the passion, talent, and experience of a group of songwriters, musicians, and friends from the deep south of the island continent – Kaurna country / Adelaide.
StoneHutt music is an original and unique blend of honest rock, folk rock, and alt country, with lashings of fine vocals and harmonies. The songs are heartfelt, and laden with stories and characters from Australian life.
The band is David Vaughan – vocals, harmonica, percussion, small stringed things, Alan Richardson – bass guitar and vocals, Brian Hales – guitars, Gary Baker – guitars and woodwork, and Verity Sanders – vocals, keys, saxophone.
Website StoneHutt
Facebook Here
CRAIG DAVID RELEASES NEW SINGLE/VIDEO ‘IN IT WITH YOU’ FEATURING JOJO
Craig David has just released his brand-new track ‘In It With You’ featuring the iconic JoJo – listen here. A powerful, uplifting slow jam, ‘In It With You’ brings two standout voices together in perfect harmony, the single is taken from Craig’s upcoming album ‘Commitment’, set for release on August 8th. Pre-order the album here.
The collaboration was sparked when Craig reached out to JoJo via DM, following his work with their mutual colleague, singer Tori Kelly. The pair quickly bonded over their shared experiences of writing books and growing up in the spotlight from an early age, resulting in a match made in ballad heaven. The video is available here.
On the track Craig quotes, “I can’t tell you how gassed I felt hearing her vocals. The ad-libs? Wow,” He continues, “We both felt vulnerable releasing books, but it was also cathartic and freeing. So this isn’t just two artists who sing well together, and it’s a vibe. No, we’ve been through stuff and we’re saying, we know the drill, we know the game, and we’ve got each other’s backs.”
25 years after Craig took the scene by storm with his critically acclaimed debut, ‘Born To Do It’, he’s back with new album, ‘Commitment’, which is imbued with a resounding sense of joy and playfulness. The 13 track-player balances a powerful feeling of confidence and ebullience alongside an agile nuance and delicate vulnerability. Craig comments on the upcoming new album: ‘‘Commitment’ is everything to me now that ‘Born To Do It’ was to me then.
Since bursting onto the scene with his critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Born To Do It’, a genre-defining record that established Craig David as one of the UK’s most beloved artists, Craig has since remained at the helm of his own unique, authentically British sound. Making waves across the globe as the voice of one of the most pivotal eras in UK music, bringing Garage from the underground and to the forefront of the mainstream, and becoming one of the most successful artists in UK chart history.
Across his career, Craig has collaborated with everyone from Sting to Kano to Diplo to KSI, while also becoming one of the biggest DJs in Ibiza via his TS5 soundsystem. Award-wise Craig has received 14 BRIT Award nominations, two GRAMMY nominations, four MOBO awards, three Ivor Novellos honouring his songwriting, and most recently an MBE for his services to music.
After emerging at the end of 1999 with instant UK garage classic ‘Re-Rewind’, Craig has scored 25 UK Top 40 singles (16 of them Top 10), nine UK Top 40 albums (five in the Top 10) and amassed over 5 billion streams worldwide. In addition to this, Craig has one of Ibiza’s most successful and long-standing residencies playing Ibiza Rocks, coming back this year for its 7th season.
Follow Craig David on socials: Website | X | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook
RUTH HAZLETON ‘THE RETURNING (SELKIE)’ (SINGLE)
Electronica – yes – with a big dab of folk. Darkfolk. The beats and groove are bold on Ruth Hazleton’s new single The Returning (Selkie).
A mythic journey back to the sea, Ruth Hazleton unveils a second darkfolk single, The Returning (Selkie), a lyrical ballad steeped in folklore, defiance and liberation.
Inspired by ancient Celtic and Nordic Selkie myths, The Returning (Selkie) tells the story of a seal-woman reclaiming her stolen skin and returning to the sea — a poignant metaphor for personal sovereignty and the pull of home. The track pairs electronic sampling and sound design with powerful vocals, evoking wild coastlines, salt air, and the deep call of the ocean.
“In the old stories, the Selkie may choose to retain their human form, remaining ashore to be with a human lover (and sometimes children), though they can be trapped if their skins are stolen or hidden from them”, says Ruth Hazleton “This song is about a Selkie betrayed, exploring themes of choice, agency, coercive control and the reclaiming of identity or skin”.
With its elemental lyricism, and cinematic depth, The Returning (Selkie) is a powerful new offering from one of Australian folk’s most celebrated voices. The track is accompanied by artwork by American linocut printmaker, Diem Dangers (feathersandfolktales.com).
This is the second track release from Hazleton’s upcoming album, Heronbones, to be released in September 2025. Heronbones draws on Hazleton’s love of traditional song and folkloric storytelling, using sampling, soundscapes and electronic beats alongside electric guitar, banjo, drums and strings. Awarded 2021 ‘Artist of the Year’ (Australian Folk Music Awards), this album marks 30 years in music for Ruth.
Listen to The Returning (Selkie) on streaming PLATFORMS
Follow Ruth Hazleton on Instagram / Bandcamp / Website
8 BALL AITKEN & TAYA CHANI ‘CHANGED YOUR MIND’ (SINGLE)
Two heavyweights of the Australian blues-rock-soul scene 8 Ball Aitken & Taya Chani have teamed up with a new album project ‘Nightbird’ released on July 14th (today). The brand new single ‘Changed Your Mind’ is track #1 on the album. A soulful Americana duet with beautiful guitars, strings and harmonies.
The title-track ‘Nightbird’ immediately hit #1 on the Australian AMRAP Regional Charts in March 2025 for two weeks in a row as did their second single ‘Miss You The Most’ in May. Their signature harmonies and groovy guitars have proved to be a winning combination. 8 Ball Aitken & Taya Chani are embarking on their second national Australian Tour in over the Autumn and Winter months of 2025.
8 Ball Aitken has toured the world for more than a decade performing across twenty countries to date. 8 Ball moved to Nashville, Tennessee, USA in 2012 and worked for nine years with many of the best in the blues and roots business today. He won second place in the 2021 International New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival.
Soul-blues singer Taya Chani released her debut album ‘Restless Heart’ widespread airplay and rave reviews in 2019. In 2023, the duo released their first collaboration, ‘Only Guiding Light’ from album ‘Ice Cream Man 2’ that both hit #1 on the Australian Blues & Roots Charts.
8 Ball and Taya’s mutual love for Southern American music, blues, country, soul and fancy jazz chords brought them together. Whilst on their first Australian tour in 2022, they began co-writing songs. They realised very quickly that they had an album worth if songs and set a studio date.
The cast of musicians on the new ‘Nightbird’ album include USA saxophone legend Buddy Leach (George Thorogood & The Destroyers), drummer extraordinaire Declan Kelly, and 8 Ball’s younger brother Dillion James Aitken on keys. Check out the tour dates on 8ballaitken.com
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
JUL 18 – QLD, Ipswich, Banshees, 8 Ball Aitken Band + Taya Chani & Captain Moonshine. TIX: https://bansheesbar.com.au/event/spark8ball
JUL 19 – QLD, Brisbane Album Launch @ Royal Hotel Nundah, 7pm, with Taya Chani TIX: https://tickets.avclive.com.au/outlet/event/0317852d-9e48-4555-bc59-4cd6aaddeb25
JUL 20 – QLD, Splendour In The Glass House Mountains – Backyard gig to celebrate the Album Launch – https://events.humanitix.com/splendour-in-the-glass-house-nightbird-launch/tickets
JUL 24-27 – VIC, Echuca Winter Blues Festival, 8 Ball Aitken Band + Taya Chani
AUG 1 – VIC, Melbourne Album Launch, Memo Music Hall, 8 Ball Aitken Band + Taya Chani. Supported by Eils & The Drip. TIX: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1417736
AUG 2 – QLD, Beenleigh, Distillery Market Road, 8 Ball Aitken Band + Taya Chani, 6pm-7pm
AUG 3 – QLD, Toowoomba, Bone Idol Brewing, with Taya Chani & Pepper Jane. TIX: https://events.humanitix.com/8-ball-aitken-taya-chani-toowoomba-bone-idol-brewery/tickets
AUG 7 – QLD, Gold Coast, Wallaby Hotel, 7pm
AUG 17 – QLD, Sunshine Coast, Phil Barlow House Concert. TIX: https://events.humanitix.com/phil-barlow-house-concert-w-8-ball-aitken
AUG 22 – QLD, Hervey Bay, Robert Mackay House Concert
AUG 23 – QLD, Bundaberg House Concert @ Suzy’s Place
AUG 24 – QLD, Brisbane, Lefty’s, Memphis Blues Challenge
AUG 28 – QLD, Gympie Music Muster
SEPT 5 – NSW, Wooli Hotel, 7pm, with Taya Chani
SEPT 6 – QLD, Gold Coast, Mudgeeraba Blues Rock @ The Wallaby Hotel, with Taya Chani
SEPT 12 – QLD, Atherton, Tableland Music Lovers, TIX: https://events.humanitix.com/8-ball-aitken-tablelands-music-lovers-atherton
SEPT 13 – QLD, Machans Beach, Moon Over Machans, 7:30pm
SEPT 14 – QLD, Cairns, Elixir Music House (+ special guest Jax Bee), TIX: https://events.humanitix.com/8-ball-aitken-elixir-music-house-supported-by-jax-bee
SEPT 20 – QLD, Nambour, The Presynct, 8 Ball Aitken, Jodi Martin & Dillion James, 7pm. TIX: https://tickets.sunshinecoasttickets.com.au/outlet/event/1d226c2c-72bf-4291-b200-7dd87fbd3059
SEPT 21 – NSW, Portland, Down Under Cigar Box Festival, 11am-3pm
SEPT 21 – NSW, Sydney Album Launch, Marrickville, Lazybones, Sydney Album Launch, doors 5:30pm
SEPT 24 – QLD, Wooloongabba, The Cave Inn, w-Jodi Martin, TIX: https://www.trybooking.com/DCZHU
SEPT 25 – QLD, Wynnum, Lou Lou Room, w-Jodi Martin, TIX: https://www.trybooking.com/DDDJM
SEPT 27 – QLD, Private gig (book yours), 2pm-5pm
OCT 10, QLD, Maleny Hotel
OCT 18 – QLD, Private Concert (book yours)
OCT 30 – NSW, Newcastle, Flamingos Live, with Taya Chani. TIX: https://flamingos.live/show/8-ball-aitken-and-taya-chani/
OCT 31 – NSW, Sydney, Butchers Brew, Dulwich Hill, with Taya Chani
NOV 1 – NSW, Dubbo, Crossroads Bar
8 Ball Aitken
► MUSIC & MERCH STORE: https://www.8ballaitken.com/8ball-aitken-shop
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New Single: NIGHTBIRD: https://open.spotify.com/album/1gvMrPRxvOvDGHvvITQq8z?si=1Nz-xwTCQ8aH6r0S2J9m4A
Latest Video ‘PEACE, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING’ https://youtu.be/ruJFVr5hWM8?si=9HPHnMmznV_lxP9b
Live Video ‘ MAMA’S COOKIN’ https://youtu.be/ca8yjysbS48?si=jwNnsq7ppuZwZpZY
AVANTIKA ‘MOODY KOYAL’ (EP)
Burgeoning breakthrough star Avantika makes her debut on the revered Berlin-based label Get Physical Music with her bold and genre-defying Moody Koyal EP. Known for championing global talent and shaping the sound of contemporary club culture, Get Physical provides the perfect platform for Avantika’s visionary sound.
With this striking two-track release, the rising Indian artist fuses traditional influences with modern club energy crafting a distinctive voice that’s both deeply rooted and forward-thinking. Avantika’s artistic identity is a rich tapestry of contrasts: classical Indian training meets a rock vocal background, layered with tribal, Afro, Latin, Middle Eastern, and Indian electronic textures.
Her hybrid live DJ sets, where she sings while performing, have already captivated audiences worldwide. As the first Indian DJ to play at Exit Festival and with standout sets across many countries and continents, Avantika is fast becoming one of the most exciting new voices in global dance music.
Her DJ sets themselves are also powerful and uniquely groove-driven, with a distinct energy, and emotional depth that reflect her musical identity.
Opening track Maro Dum reimagines the iconic Dum Maro Dum as a deep, seductive club cut. Dreamlike vocals float above pulsating rhythms and swirling synths, creating a hypnotic blend that pays homage to the past while boldly pushing into new sonic territory.
Title track Moody Koyal is a fierce, sensory tribute to India’s wildlife. Tribal percussion, eerie Koyal birdsong, growling basslines, and snippets of monkey chatter combine with edgy synth stabs to create a raw, electrifying jungle journey. Primal yet futuristic, the track is a vivid soundscape that commands attention.
With Moody Koyal, Avantika doesn’t just make a statement, she tells a story. One that crosses borders, blends traditions, and invites listeners into a space where emotion and rhythm coexist.
Rooted in India but resonating far beyond, Avantika is a sonic shapeshifter. Her fearless fusion of genres, languages, and lived experience makes her not just a producer to watch, but a transformative force in electronic music, one who turns dancefloors into spaces for release, connection, and cultural celebration.
Avantika ‘Moody Koyal’ Released 25th June 2025 on Get Physical Music
DAISY WORLD RETURNS WITH ELECTRIC NEW SINGLE “BAD SURPRISE”
Los Angeles born musical powerhouse DAISY WORLD is back with her exhilarating new single “Bad Surprise” dropping July 11. Packed with attitude, grit, and signature sass, “Bad Surprise” is a bold sonic statement inspired by the raw power and glamour of ’90s grunge rock, filtered through Daisy’s unmistakable lens of modern soul and jazz laced pop.
“Bad Surprise” is a fierce and flirtatious anthem that channels unapologetic confidence and power. Written in a fast and fiery session with collaborators Franco Reid and Natalie Sawicki, the track came together in a flash of inspiration. DAISY WORLD drew deeply from her early love of ‘90s riot girl grunge music, which made her feel bold and unstoppable. With gritty guitars, seductive vocals, and pulsing production, “Bad Surprise” is a liberating, glam soaked ride that invites you to strut through chaos with your head held high.
“I LOVE THIS SONG! I had so much fun making this in the studio,” says DAISY WORLD. “Shout out to my dream team Franco Reid and Natalie Sawicki! I was super inspired by one of my favorite bands, Garbage, that my dad played for me when I was a baby. Their music makes me feel sexy and confident and powerful and I wanted to make people feel the same way.”
DAISY WORLD’s world is rich, textured, and endlessly captivating. With “Bad Surprise” she once again proves her knack for blending vintage flavors with a fearless, future facing edge. The track follows in the footsteps of her genre defying catalog that’s earned her praise from Billboard, NYLON, The Fader, and Ones to Watch, alongside a rapidly growing fanbase spanning across the globe.
Truly an artist’s artist, DAISY WORLD is beloved by the likes of Tyler, The Creator, Steve Lacy, and Benny Blanco. With 73 million plus global streams and a loyal social following of over 20,000, she continues to cement herself as one of LA’s most magnetic musical voices. Her collaborations include Grammy winning features on Tyler, The Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost and a Grammy nominated turn as the sole feature on Steve Lacy’s Apollo XXI. She’s also worked with genre blending favorites Taku, Matt Martians, and Patrick Paige of The Internet.
On stage she’s a force to be reckoned with, DAISY WORLD’s live shows are a masterclass in charisma and control, her vocals dancing confidently above tight grooves and soul soaked arrangements. She’s the artist you didn’t know you were missing, but once you’ve heard her, you’ll never forget.
CONNECT ONLINE WITH DAISY WORLD
MADDISON KATE ‘MORE TO ME’ (SINGLE)
Meanjin-based folk artist, Maddison Kate, continues to deliver raw emotion with her warm tones and tender melodies in her single ‘More To Me’. She brings a contemplative and honest energy on this stunning new track, providing a glimpse of her upcoming EP ‘What I’d Say To You’, out on Friday, August 8.
Maddison Kate’s journey into music started at age 9, where she would perform at open mic nights with just her vocals and her guitar, and since then her career has taken off to soaring heights. Now, she has a number of notable venues under her belt, including Gympie Music Muster and Queensland Music Festival, and recently, opening for Kyle Lionhart, on the Queensland leg of his 2024 ‘Careless’ Tour.
Her poetic sound, folk melodies, and earthy tones have led to plenty of eyes on her and won her competitions like the 2TM Discovered Competition for Tamworth Country Music Festival and Queensland Music Festival’s On Song competition.
‘More To Me’ is an introspective tune made from the gentle plinking of piano, soaring violin, charming guitar and vocals that play with the spectrum of emotion and become something angelic. This gentle song explores the overwhelming feelings about being better off without someone unless they grow and change, and hoping for that change regardless. With her enchanting voice and delicate composition, this song is an introspective and meditative folk-pop number that moves like a playful dance.
All of this comes ahead of the release of her debut EP: ‘What I’d Say To You’ is a 4-piece stained glass window to her soul, allowing a glance into her heartbreak, her healing, and her growth, with all the mess and all the magic the journey from teenage years into twenties brings.
True to its name, every track gives a voice to what Maddison Kate has left unsaid. When asked about the themes of the EP, she said, “It’s about having the courage to let go of who you’ve been, speak your truth, and feel everything — even when it’s messy.”
Join Maddison Kate in the preparation for her upcoming ep ‘What I’d Say To You’ by tuning in to her single ‘More To Me’, out now.
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LLOYD & THE LEFTOVERS ‘SPIN THE WHEEL’ (SINGLE)
Lloyd & The Leftovers take a moment to get honest in their debut album’s title track, ‘Spin The Wheel’, and explore the daydream in its companion music video. Their debut album will follow on Friday, August 8.
Hailing from Walyalup (Western Australia), Lloyd & the Leftovers are five-piece indie-folk/rock band that take the sounds of americana and adds an Australian twist. Known for their vibrant live shows and DIY recordings, they’ve left their mark on the scene at festivals like In The Pines RTRFM Festival and the City of Fremantle Winter Festival, and see a range of support from Apple Music, ABC Country, Double J, RTR FM, AAA Backstage and many more
Harmonica and unconventional percussion add a country twang to Lloyd & The Leftovers’ indie folk/rock sound in their album’s title track ‘Spin The Wheel’. Built from strings of emotions, this single is packed with the authenticity that Lloyd & The Leftovers is known for. With vocals packed with longing, singer-songwriter Luke Giglia-Smith takes a walk through a love confession:
“I want the song to give a sense of longing for someone and weighing up feelings for someone who lives that same life of working on the road, always being far away from home and out of service, counting the days until you can get back and lift all the weight of these feelings off your chest.”
Shot like a short film, the music video dives into a daydream of a fish and chip shop worker as she finds escapism in a love story with herself and a customer at the centre. Contrasting the dull tones of a fish and chip shop with the warm and sun-soaked colours of the day dream, the girl imagines a life with the man, complete with arguments and apologies, dances and drives, until she comes back into reality at the end, simply exchanging a smile with him.
The careful composition of the song and video offer a salted and paper-wrapped taste to their upcoming album, when it comes out on Friday, August 8. With 11 tracks written over the course of 2 years, the album pieces together a broader narrative arc. With a generally positive theme, the album explores love and longing, along with soft thoughtful ballads about finding oneself in the flurry of life. This free-flowing sketchbook of ideas link together to echoes the experiences of Lloyd & The Leftovers, as they reflect on what it represents:
“For us this big dynamic spectrum between the songs feels like it kind of follows the seasons, most of the songs written in cold months were recorded the following years, in the winter of 2024 and 2025, and then the more carefree moments written early 2023 were recorded in February 2024 when we initially started live tracking the album. It’s these broad vignettes of time and memory that as a band we feel represent us to our core, as players and as artists. As a songwriter I feel they all mean a whole heap to me, like a sound journal, by the end if shifts to quite a lonely tone, in a bitter-sweet and retrospective way.”
Fall in love with Lloyd & The Leftovers’ new single ‘Spin The Wheel’ and its music video, and daydream about the album that lies ahead on Friday, August 8.
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VERNON REID ANNOUNCES HIS KALEIDOSCOPIC OPUS ‘HOODOO TELEMETRY’
The virtuosic talisman Vernon Reid has announced details of his new solo album Hoodoo Telemetry, which will be released on October 3, 2025 on Artone / The Players Club Records. To celebrate he has revealed the video for the first single, The Haunting, which you can watch HERE.
If you’ve followed the beats of his half-century career, you’ll know Vernon Reid as an artist who paints in every colour. Depending on the era you dive into and the album on your turntable, you’ll find the New York polymath pinballing between jazz, metal, punk, funk, electronica and hip-hop, cutting heads with collaborators as eclectic as Mick Jagger and Public Enemy, endlessly shedding his skin yet always speaking his truth.
Globally celebrated as a giant of electric guitar (he was recently hailed by Rolling Stone amongst the top 50 players of all-time), Reid’s Grammy Award-winning records with alt-rock trailblazers, Living Colour, still sound as fresh and fierce as when Cult Of Personality hijacked the Billboard chart in the late-’80s. But to take the pulse of the zeitgeist as he sees it – and hear his fearless musicality in microcosm – you need only drop the needle on his new solo album.
“Hoodoo Telemetry,” considers the 66-year-old of this kaleidoscopic 14-track opus, “is like a piece of my all-over-the-place mind. It took me a while to start this record because I was thinking about what I wanted to do next, managing my time with all my other projects. I was also in different spaces with these songs: some are new, others are reclamations of material from a long time ago. But suddenly, I found the focus and it was very clear to me: I gotta do this now.”
The overdriven funk bassline and glistening soul of first single, The Haunting finds Reid tipping his hat to a fellow chameleon (“I’m a huge Prince fan and there’s some of who he was in that song’s DNA”), before the scratch ‘n’ glitch of the brass-driven Bronx Paradox salutes the New York neighbourhood’s greatest musical export. “I wrote that in tribute to DJ Logic,” he explains. “Everybody considered the Bronx a wasteland, a warzone. But with hip-hop, those kids created the final original music of the 20th century.”
Hoodoo Telemetry isn’t a linear piece, but a thrillingly tangled tapestry of genres, collaborators and material from different time periods. Its energy and chaos seems to reflect and challenge what Reid considers the “tumultuous”
Living Colour, Reid’s best-known band burst into bloom on a New York live circuit that was more fluid than ever before or since. “We had an ecology of clubs to play at, from CBGBs to the Cat Club and the Ritz,” he recalls of the first steps of a solidified lineup featuring Corey Glover (vocals), Muzz Skillings (bass) and Will Calhoun (drums).
Carried by word of mouth, the tinderbox was already set to explode when the patronage of Mick Jagger sent the band over the top, the Rolling Stones singer manning the desk for their demos. “He worked on Glamour Boys and Which Way To America?” explains Reid, “and he was a great producer. He really coached Corey along. But it was so fundamentally weird that he entered our lives. I didn’t know where to put my hands.”
Seizing his opportunity, Reid threw everything on his mental jukebox at Living Colour’s deathless debut, 1988’s Vivid. “You had Broken Hearts on the same album as Cult Of Personality,” he points out of a tracklisting where anything could happen. “We might be playing metal one moment then writing a country song with hip-hop the next. Or Funny Vibe, which is like prog-folk informed by King Crimson.”
Sailing to #6 on the US Billboard chart – and ultimately double-platinum status – Vivid proved adventurous music could still sell by the ton. The following year, a support on the Stones’ Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle tour bumped their profile – and gave Reid a close-up glimpse at the rock ‘n’ roll super-league. “Backstage on that Stones tour they had all the parlour games – I remember Bill Wyman kicking my ass at ping-pong!”
Alongside Living Colour’s six albums and counting, Reid has worn a thousand different hats since those breakout years, whether producing Grammy-nominated albums for the likes of Salif Keita, composing hit movie scores or lending his guitar skills to a who’s who including Janet Jackson, B.B. King, Tracy Chapman and Mariah Carey.
No doubt, it’s these competing demands that mean Reid’s solo career (which began with 1996’s Mistaken Identity) has lain dormant since 2004’s Known Unknown. “But with everything that’s been happening, suddenly I had a focus,” he says of the febrile context to Hoodoo Telemetry. “Y’know, the world is a ball on a pendulum. It swings. Right now, we’re living through unprecedented times, and not just in America.”
In hard times, Hoodoo Telemetry doesn’t have the answers. But to play Vernon Reid’s breathtakingly ambitious new album is to hear every shade of humanity and question where we are headed next. “These songs are looking at the past through a different lens, then looking forward,” he concludes. “Like, ‘Where is this going and how are we getting there? Are we driving the bus or are we passengers in this self-driving vehicle into the future?’ That’s the space that Hoodoo Telemetry is really exploring…”
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SAN FRANCISCO/MELBOURNE ALT-POP ARTIST & PRODUCER ROHAN BASKS IN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF ALL KINDS ON ACOUSTIC-MEETS-SYNTHY “PRECIOUS”
OUT NOW–LISTEN
Melbourne/San Francisco alt-pop artist & producer ROHAN basks in unconditional love on “Precious” out today with a vibrant, Bay Area-set visualizer. Breezy and tender, the feel good tune captures unconditional love outside of romance–from pets, to family, to best friends.
Light ukulele strums mix with electric guitar textures and stirring synths to evoke a magical yet grounded, serene sense of calm. ROHAN shares, “I wrote it about my dog, Kosta, but it’s really about unconditional love in its purest form. The kind that doesn’t ask for much back but still changes you. I sing: ‘You are my precious, not quite my kind, but I have found a way for words to make sense to you.’
ROHAN continues, “That line sums it up — how love can exist even when you’re wired completely differently from someone. Whether you’re a partner, a parent, a sibling, or a pet owner, that feeling of giving your whole heart without needing to explain yourself — that’s what this song is chasing.”
Produced by himself, the artist and producer was influenced by Billie Eilish’s production style, with her keen ability to blur softness with unease. On the production, ROHAN says,”I wanted that tension: warmth wrapped in something just a little bit unsteady. It’s the kind of love that makes you feel seen and safe — but also kind of vulnerable.”
Watch “Precious” (Official Visualizer)
The visualizer, shot with longtime collaborator Mark Kohr (Shakira, Green Day), captures that mood across placid Bay Area landscapes — open roads, quiet nature spots, and fleeting moments between stillness and motion. ROHAN adds, “There’s no storyline — just feeling. ‘Precious’ is about whatever bond makes you feel safe enough to ask, ‘Do you love me too?’ even when you already know the answer.”
Earlier this year, after receiving encouragement via TikTok from Beabadoobee, ROHAN shared the confessional “I Wish I Could Tell You” where he yearns for closure over a hooky guitar loop. Several tastemakers praised the track, including Unheard Gems, who wrote, “a refreshingly honest approach to bedroom pop..feels both familiar and uniquely his own.” Envi Media added, “Sepia toned distant love crooned from 2000s John Mayer, Gin Blossoms and 2020s keshi, and Dominic Fike.” On the visual, From The Intercom added, “The visuals match the raw sound of the song with cool tones and nostalgic cinematic views.” The track was added to Spotify’s Fresh Finds in Australia and New Zealand, and Apple Music’s heartache playlist.
“Fizzy,” shared last month, is a nostalgic, punky tune that sinks into the messiness of a bad breakup. Off The Record Press wrote the track is, “.dangerously loud and impossible to ignore. ROHAN perfectly delivers a heartbreak anthem that feels like equal parts of a journal entry and live-wire performance. Punchy guitar work and live-band energy..raw, frustrated, and emotionally exposed vocals.”
Watch “I Wish I Could Tell You” (Official Visualizer) | Listen
Watch “Fizzy” (Official Visualizer) | Listen
ROHAN was raised by Indian parents between Australia and Singapore and was introduced to music through Australian Idol and Green Day’s American Idiot. After high school, he moved to California and attended Stanford to continue exploring his love for technology and music. Recently opening for Devon Again proved to be a cathartic moment as the pop artist was a shared love of ROHAN and his former love. Now, out of his own studio in San Francisco and pulling inspiration from Australian indie rock bands like Skeggs, 90s R&B like Lauryn Hill and contemporary pop artists like Dominic Fike, he’s ready to officially introduce himself with his own blend of Australian indie rock with R&B, electronic and folk influences that form his self-produced confessional alt-pop anthems. Earlier this year, ROHAN supported Chappell Roan’s favorite pop artist, Devon Again at her sold out San Francisco show.
Wrapped in warmth and the joy of safe, easy love, ROHAN’s “Precious,” out now, unfolds like a smooth summer day. Connect with ROHAN on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube and stay tuned for much more to come from the rising artist.
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COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD UNLEASH ANTICIPATED FOURTH STUDIO ALBUM ROSEWATER CROCODILE VIA DOUBLE DRUMMER
Built on a bed of rich sounds and lyrical nuance, Melbourne indie group Cousin Tony’s New Firebird present their most cohesive collection of stories and music to date with their fourth full-length project, Rosewater Crocodile.
Featuring singles ‘My Ghost & Its Crawling’, ‘Rosewater’ and ‘Mercury Rising’, the album thrives on its ability to weave brooding, emotional moments, with vibrant musicality and heart. For fans who have been with the band since the beginning of their journey in 2015, this is the type of project that feels absolutely fitting for where the overall Cousin Tony sound has grown. For those who are being introduced to the band’s catalogue through Rosewater Crocodile, consider this to be a perfect gateway.
The album, created in a chapel in Mollogghip, Victoria was produced by CTNF’s Lachlan Rose and Josh Barber (Georgia Fields, Queenie), sees Cousin Tony explore the intricacies of relationships (‘Rosewater’, ‘My Ghost & Its Crawling’), the way we relate to one another, and the mysteries of the human condition (‘Flee The Cage’, ‘Crocodile’, ‘Mercury Rising’). Horns and strings blend together with warm textural rhythms from bass and guitar; striking backing vocals buoy the lead vocals of Rose, whose tone offers a yearning perspective as he explores the above themes with intimacy and richness.
“The more songs I write, and the more we bring them to life as a band, the more we learn to let go. David Lynch described the process of creativity as sinking. Below the ripples and the waves lies a dark ocean of ideas (or fish). The longer you train yourself to sink down there, the bigger and the stranger and the more dangerous the creatures become. The rosewater crocodile was what I found down there. It’s a world of exotic jungles, singing ghosts, recalcitrant fairies, dream bears and winding rivers that fizz with iridescent, oily bubbles. Or as our producer Josh Barber described it – ‘a magic album about magic.’” LACHLAN ROSE, COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD
Since Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird made their emphatic entry with debut album Electric Brown in 2018, the band wasted no time in releasing music that consistently showed elevation and a masonic curiosity to expand their sonic vision. To date, they have released three albums in Electric Brown, New Romancer (2019) and Smiles of Earth (2022) – Rosewater Crocodile is set to be the next exciting addition to an ever-powerful catalogue of music.
With their prolific output and constant touring, Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird have built a devoted following in their homeland. They’ve sold out shows across massive headline tours and have played at numerous festivals including Falls Festival, Loch Hart, Happy Wanderer, NYE on the Hill and Beyond the Valley.
Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird will be touring Rosewater Crocodile in Australia this July and August – tickets are on sale now.
“The tour has been a long time coming. We’re at our happiest in a van together on a 10 hour drive. But the show at the end of the ride always transcends that feeling. We’re so humbled by the joyous, nurturing and cathartic essence of the crowds that come to Cousin Tony shows. To be immersed so regularly in them is a true pleasure and one we’ll be seeking out as long as we live. Special mentions to our treasured saxophonist Oliver Whitehead who is returning from living overseas straight into our tour van. Happy days.”
LACHLAN ROSE, COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD
TOUR DATES
Friday July 25 The Corner Hotel Melbourne
Saturday August 2 The Ed Castle Adelaide
Saturday August 9 Oxford Art Factory Sydney
Tuesday August 12 The Brightside Brisbane
Rosewater Crocodile out July 10th
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UNHEARD SONGS FROM RODRIGUEZ UNVEILED IN PERTH AND MELBOURNE
Sandra Rodriguez to Premiere Unreleased Music in “Sugarman – The Rodriguez Story”
Australia — July 2025: A remarkable chapter in the Rodriguez legacy is about to be written. In a world-first event, Sandra Rodriguez, daughter of the late singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez, will perform a selection of never-before-heard songs from her father’s archive at the upcoming Perth and Melbourne season of Sugarman – The Rodriguez Story, created by acclaimed Australian artist Howie Morgan.
The unreleased tracks – passed on by Rodriguez to his daughters – were originally intended for a third studio album that never came to fruition. Sandra, herself a seasoned musician has recently recorded these songs for the first time. Their debut will coincide with the Perth and Melbourne premiere in August, as part of a worldwide launch.
“These songs are incredibly personal,” Sandra said. “They were sung to us by Dad for years and now it’s time to share them with the world.”
Sixto Rodriguez’s extraordinary life, famously captured in the Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man, remains one of music’s most inspiring tales. From working on demolition sites in Detroit to unknowingly becoming a cult icon in South Africa and Australia, Rodriguez’s journey defied belief.
Born in 1942 to working-class Mexican immigrant parents, Rodriguez released Cold Fact and Coming from Reality in the early ’70s – albums that flopped commercially in the U.S. but later became soundtracks to anti-establishment movements abroad. Banned yet beloved, his music resonated deeply with those living under oppression in apartheid South Africa.
For decades, the man behind the myth was presumed dead – until two South African fans tracked him down, still living humbly in Detroit, unaware of his fame. The story made global headlines and brought Rodriguez roaring back into the spotlight, touring to packed stadiums across the world.
Now, that legacy is set to continue in Melbourne.
“Sugarman – The Rodriguez Story” is an immersive live music experience that interweaves Rodriguez’s haunting lyrics with narration, archival footage, and heartfelt tributes. The addition of Sandra Rodriguez, performing some of the hits and the unreleased gems, gives the show new depth and rare authenticity.
“This isn’t just a concert,” Howie Morgan said. “It’s a tribute to a man who changed lives without even knowing it. Having Sandra on stage – performing her father’s hidden songs for the first time – is incredibly powerful.”
The Perth and Melbourne shows will mark the first time the Rodriguez estate has endorsed such a performance in Australia.
The new songs will also be made available for global digital release following the performance run.
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to relive the Rodriguez story once again.
For tickets and more information, visit www.RodriguezStory.com.
Tour Dates
• The Rechabite, Perth – Sunday, 17 August 2025 | on sale soon
• The Palms at Crown, Melbourne – Thursday, 21 August 2025 | Tickets
• Frankston Arts Centre, Melbourne – Friday, 22 August 2025 | Tickets
What to Expect
•Powerful live performances of Rodriguez’s most iconic tracks like Sugar Man, I Wonder, Inner City Blues, I Think of You, plus more with a full live band and dynamic arrangements.
•Exclusive first performances of unreleased Rodriguez songs—brought to life for the first time by Sixto’s daughter, Sandra Rodriguez, and set for future release.
•Intimate storytelling that traces his life from Detroit’s working-class streets to global cult hero.
•A night that celebrates the voice, the story, and the legacy of Sixto Rodriguez.
Social Media & Links
Website: www.RodriguezStory.com
Facebook: SugarmanTheRodriguezStory
YouTube: @SugarmanTheRodriguezStory
BIG DELICIOUS ‘DRY JULY’ (SINGLE)
That line about how the things that don’t kill us make us stronger? Turns out it’s rubbish.
Recent University of Melbourne research shows repeated natural disasters are driving the mental health crisis in rural Australia. You might bounce back from a bushfire—but not if it follows a flood, pandemic or drought. Those earlier hits don’t toughen you up; they wear you down.
Anyway, here’s a song about The Big Dry, and how it’s enough to drive a man to drink. May appeal to fans of Bobby Bare, Hayes Carll, John Prine and The Pink Stones.
About the Artist
“Dry July” is Big Delicious’s first single release from their upcoming debut album “Here’s Trouble”.
Big Delicious is too many people on not enough stage. It is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist, songwriter – but not, crucially, singer – John Palmer. He wanted to write smart, 60s and 70s-style Nashville songs and realised he knew so many people who could sing them far better than he ever could.
“I’m greedy. I never met a kitchen sink I didn’t want to throw in. So I decided to drag a rotating cast of vocalists into this project and exploit their talents to the maximum. Last time I checked there were nine of us. Or ten.”
Featuring a ragtag team of musicians and singers from Melbourne’s best-loved bands (Klinger, Sophie Koh, Slow Fades, The Glorious North, Michael Meeking and the Lost Souls, Georgia Fields, Cheezelkane and more), the band serves up a hearty stew of all your musical comfort foods: high-lonesome pedal steel, honky tonk piano, old-timey fiddle and the kind of guitar solos that make you want to do burn-outs in a Holden Torana… all on a tasty bed of Wilco-esque indie-rock.
So is it a supergroup? Community support initiative? Massive scheduling nightmare? Who could say. All we know is… It’s big. And it’s delicious.
Connect with Big Delicious www.instagram.com/bigdeliciousmusic
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SAINT VICTOIRE ‘THE MILL’ (SINGLE)
Alt-folk-rock powerhouse Saint Victoire reflect on societal expectations on dream-inspired new single ‘The Mill’. Announce headline show in anticipation of sophomore EP I Once Loved You, Summer out August 7
Saint Victoire have today released their striking and long-awaited live favourite ‘The Mill’, the fourth single lifted from their sophomore EP I Once Loved You, Summer out August 7. Stream HERE and pre-save the EP HERE. Hailing from the outer suburbs of Melbourne, the alt-folk-rock powerhouse will celebrate ‘The Mill’s release, as well as their forthcoming EP, with a headline show at Sooki Lounge in Belgrave this Saturday 19th July.
A song that frontwoman Heidi Waddell says came to her in an almost lucid dream, ‘The Mill’ is a stirring commentary on the societal pressures to constantly produce and perform.
“Writing ‘The Mill’ was actually quite a bizarre experience,” Heidi reflects. “I was having a dream that I was performing the song to a big room of people, and somewhere in the dream, I realised I was dreaming. I woke myself up and quickly wrote down everything I could remember. The way I’ve interpreted the song—because it doesn’t even feel like I really wrote it, more like it was given to me to sing—I think I must have been processing my exhaustion in my sleep, and my frustrations about this system I feel caught up in that sends me a bit crazy. So I guess it just came out to this dream audience.
“I feel the weight of the expectations we put on ourselves to constantly produce, to try and fit into a mould that society deems ‘acceptable’—and even then, we’re told our best effort isn’t enough, as if what we do is where our value lies. This song is about acknowledging all of that and saying, ‘I won’t take it all on me. Don’t take it all on you.’ Just don’t give those ideas power anymore.”
Saint Victoire have released three tracks ahead of their upcoming self-produced EP, including ‘How It All Came Down’, ‘You’re Gonna Get There’, and ‘You All The Time’. Brought to life by elements of alt-country, soft rock, and folk fused with Heidi’s poignant lyricism, the record is primed to take listeners on a heart-on-sleeve – and at times, heartbreaking – journey, with a soft but undeniably powerful landing.
While writing the EP, Heidi noticed a recurring summer motif throughout the songs, however, instead of evoking the usual bright, carefree feelings often associated with the season, she remarks: “it felt like a season that had let me down.”
“Summer is meant to be the time we make our happiest memories, so when things were falling apart, I realised I was holding a lot of sadness and frustration toward it. ‘The Mill’ is one of the more upbeat, universal ideas on the EP, and while it doesn’t directly mention summer, it still carries that same feeling of frustration and the longing for change. It speaks to the exhaustion everyone was feeling during that time—and maybe still is.”
A strong sense of community is at the heart of Saint Victoire, and as such, Heidi says the upcoming record is dedicated to her friends who have stayed the course throughout challenging times. “We’ve walked through all these hard things together, and they honestly feel like family. At some point, I realised I needed to stop writing just from my own perspective and start telling the shared stories—songs that hold our experiences, not just mine.”
New listeners and longtime fans alike can experience this at Saint Victoire’s upcoming launch show in anticipation of I Once Loved You, Summer. Tickets are on sale now and available HERE.
Saint Victoire
The Mill + I Once Loved You, Summer EP Launch
Saturday 19th July – Sooki Lounge – Belgrave, VIC
For tickets and more information click HERE.
‘The Mill’ out now
About Saint Victoire
Saint Victoire is Melbourne’s rising alt-folk-rock powerhouse act, blending the warmth of country, the storytelling depth of folk, and the anthemic energy of War on Drugs-esque rock. Fronted by Heidi Waddell (formerly of Cordial Factory), the band has built a reputation for raw, soul-stirring performances—big on energy, emotion, and the kind of cathartic singalongs that stick with you long after the show.
With a lineup featuring Timothy Wolf (electric guitar, vocals), Zac Saber (multi-instrumentalist), Graham King (drums), Jono Allison (keys), and Sam Tinsley (bass), Saint Victoire brings together familiar faces from Melbourne’s thriving music scene. The group share a love of high-energy, heartfelt music that translates effortlessly from studio to stage. Following the success of their emotionally-charged debut EP A Thing I’d Hate to Change, the ’70s-rock-inspired single Foreigner, and the live recording of The Mill from their headline show at Gasometer Hotel, Saint Victoire is ready for its defining moment. Their upcoming EP, I Once Loved You, Summer—tracked at Sunderland Studio on Phillip Island and mixed by Ethan Reginato at Forbes St Studio, Sydney—finally captures the full scope of their sound.
With three tracks already released (You All The Time, You’re Gonna Get There, and How It All Came Down), Saint Victoire’s crowd favourite, the studio version of The Mill, lands on 16th July. The band is building toward the full release with a hometown headline show at Sooki Lounge on 19th July.
For fans of Fleetwood Mac, Maggie Rogers, and Angie McMahon, this is folk-rock with fire in its veins.
BIG NOTER RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘TALK STRAIGHT’
After lighting a fuse with debut single “Identity”, BIG NOTER returns with round two: “Talk Straight” – a sharp-tongued, riff-heavy banger dropping today via Island Records Australia. The new single hits just as the band embarks on a massive national tour with Karnivool, kicking off in Hobart.
Fronted by Yorta Yorta Icon (and national treasure) Briggs, BIG NOTER is the sound of unfiltered power and a full-circle return to the raw energy that first drew him to music. While Briggs built his reputation in hip-hop with razor-sharp lyricism and fearless delivery, BIG NOTER tears into the realm of hardcore, punk, and metal with the same intent – just louder, heavier, and with nothing held back.
Produced by Nick Didia (Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam), “Talk Straight” is a callout to the performative and the disingenuous – a track born from the desire to cut through the noise and say what needs to be said. The chorus hits hard and direct: “Talk straight… watch your mouth if you’re talkin’ to me.”
BIG NOTER have just returned home after taking their heavy-hitting live show to new audiences across Europe with Amyl & The Sniffers. Now back on home soil, they’re set to tour nationally with Karnivool, with their first-ever headline show at Northcote Social Club this August already sold out. For those who missed out, they’ll also join thrash icons Suicidal Tendencies as main support on their 2025 Australian tour.
With their debut album looming BIG NOTER is rolling with purpose. This is Australian heavy music with a message, and zero interest in playing nice.
TALK STRAIGHT IS OUT NOW.
Tickets and info: www.thebignoter.com
BIG NOTER – TALK STRAIGHT
Out Now Via Island Records Australia
FOLLOW BIG NOTER Big Noter thebignoter thebignoter.com
GORDI SHARES ‘HEAD RUSH’ FROM NEW ALBUM LIKE PLASTICINE, OUT NEXT MONTH
With just over three weeks to go to the release of her third album Like Plasticine, Australian indie-pop singer, songwriter and producer, Gordi, shares one final taste of the record with the John Congleton co-produced ‘Head Rush’, and announces a new purple vinyl colourway, available now via her online store.
The single follows her recent back to back appearances on US television. In addition to a performance on The Kelly Clarkson Show in June, Gordi recently took time out of her hectic schedule to perform three songs for CBS Mornings, including ‘Peripheral Lover’ as well as a special version of ‘Lunch At Dune’ with acclaimed violinist Rob Moose (Taylor Swift, Bon Iver). Earlier in the month, she dropped into KEXP in Seattle for a set live on air, featuring Bon Iver’s S. Carey in her band – the KEXP session video will follow shortly after her album release.
Last week Gordi was also announced as a late addition to Hinterland Festival in Iowa, featuring headliners Lana Del Rey and Tyler, The Creator. Currently touring Europe with Foster The People, Gordi will return to the UK and Europe later in the year for the Bryce Dessner curated Sounds From A Safe Harbour Festival and Residency in Cork Ireland, along with Reeperbahn Festival in Germany and a run of headline dates.
Written by Gordi and produced alongside John Congleton, new song ‘Head Rush’ is fast-paced, intoxicating hit to the senses.
“I was sitting at my friend, Sarah’s, Wurlitzer in Los Angeles, playing the same thing over and over again and then Head Rush arrived. It was one of those songs that came in a flurry of words out of my mouth quicker than I could write them down. I was thinking about New York, a place where I’ve spent a lot of time over the years, where my friend used to live in a rundown place on Division St. Head Rush is about how everything comes to an end eventually. About having to grow up before you’re ready. That transition from reckless ecstasy to stability. From chaos to plans.
“I finished this song with John Congleton in LA – we worked at a feverish pace, which was a perfect match for the energy of the song. You’ve gotta turn the last part up real loud.” – Gordi
The song comes with a video from Gordi’s long-time collaborator Madeleine Purdy; an abstract visual diary of Gordi’s musings on the chaos of New York and the accompanying emotional symbolism. Purdy reflects on the power of simplicity, saying, “With this video I just wanted to make it feel joyful and unceremonious. Casual and off the cuff.”
WATCH: Gordi – ’Head Rush’ (Official Video) LISTEN / WATCH
‘Head Rush’ lands on the heel of a string of cuts from the album, beginning with ‘Lunch At Dune’ from Gordi’s EP of the same name last year and quickly followed up with ‘Alien Cowboy’, ‘Peripheral Lover’, ‘Cutting Room Floor’, ‘PVC Divide’ (feat. Anaïs Mitchell) and album opener ‘GD (Goddamn)’. Songs from the album have solidified Gordi’s global footprint, drawing acclaim from Grammy.com, The Guardian, NPR, Stereogum, Rolling Stone, Dork and more, with radio love from BBC Radio 1, BBC 6, Radio X, and major AAA stations in the US including KEXP, KCRW, and Sirius XM. Not to mention two billboards in Times Square – one for Spotify’s GLOW, and another for Amazon Music’s PROUD.
Like Plasticine chronicles the last few transformative years of Gordi’s life. From coming out and having to adjust the vision of her future, to working as a doctor on the frontline during the pandemic, Gordi explores the beauty, heartbreak and finite nature of human experience across 12 new songs.
Like Plasticine is out August 8 via Mushroom Music.
MORE ABOUT GORDI…
An award-winning and beloved Aussie export with tens of millions of streams to her name across DSPs, Gordi has an impressive catalogue and history behind her, including two full-length album releases and collaborations with Troye Sivan, Bon Iver, Ben Bohmer, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and more. The documentation of her journey through self-discovery, sexuality and identity shines through on albums Reservoir and Our Two Skins, the latter of which was recognised with an AIR Award and nominated for an ARIA and two J Awards. Gordi has completed extensive tours of Australia, the US and Europe, solo and also with artists such as Bon Iver, The Tallest Man On Earth and Gang of Youths.
Gordi – ‘Head Rush’ Out now via Mushroom Music LISTEN / WATCH
Gordi – Like Plasticine Out Friday 8 August via Mushroom Music PRE-ORDER
FOZZY RELEASE VIDEO FOR SINGLE ‘FALL IN LINE’
FOZZY, the band featuring wrestling superstar Chris Jericho and STUCK MOJO mastermind Rich “The Duke” Ward have released a video for their latest single ‘Fall In Line’.
Fuelled by razor-sharp guitars, thunderous drums, and Jericho’s signature powerhouse vocals, the track is pure fire — a hard-hitting anthem that dares listeners to stand up, speak out, and never fall in line.
“Fall In Line is the most exciting and unique song Fozzy has recorded for so many reasons. In some ways, it has the familiar Fozzy sound that’s been out trademark for 25 years. But in other ways, it sounds nothing like anything we’ve done before. That’s why we feel it’s gonna be a MASSIVE addition to our catalogue & we are stoked to unleash this tune on the world AND to play it live on our next tour!” – CHRIS JERICHO
Produced by Johnny Andrews (Three Days Grace, All That Remains, Halestorm) and Mixed by Andrews, Rich Ward, and Wyatt Oates. Living up to their unabashed and uncaged reputation, Fozzy continues to push the boundaries both sonically and artistically on ‘Fall in Line’, their new single available via Madison Records.
The Lawrence Hinson-directed music video was filmed at HM Studios in Las Vegas, Nevada, based on a video concept by Hinson and Mark Willis.
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NH5QstWJCI
With the superstar showmanship of front man Chris Jericho tag-teamed with guitar genius Rich Ward, FOZZY are a band that deliver a truly rock n roll experience – a sonic assault of headbanging riffs, energy and most importantly, amazing songs. The backbone of their sound comes from the killer combination of Grant Brooks on drums, bassist PJ Farley and Billy Grey leading the charge on guitar shredding solos. It’s only good times and guaranteed electric performances no matter the crowd or country.
At 12 million strong on social media, there is nothing Chris Jericho can’t do. He is easily one of the biggest entertainers of the modern era, cross-pollinating the rock, wrestling, and broadcast realms.
WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Website // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram
THE CRYSTAL SHIP STYLE UP IN COLLABORATION WITH DANGERFIELD SPECIAL FUNDRAISER FOR LIFELINE MELBOURNE AT REVOLVER
Emerging as one of Melbourne’s most exciting groups in recent years, The Crystal Ship continue to funnel their natural chemistry into new music, performances and recently, fashion. Teaming up with iconic brand Dangerfield across this month, the psychedelic four-piece have taken a deep dive into the clothing brand’s archives, presenting a campaign that they describe as “half Madmen, half Skins”.
It has been an opportunity for The Crystal Ship to not only show off their own unique brand and personality through garments and fashion, but also to continue to grow their connection to the local scene. The collaboration between The Crystal Ship and Dangerfield culminates on Thursday 24 July with a special fundraising event held at the iconic Revolver, raising awareness and proceeds for Lifeline Melbourne.
Though a free event, fans will need to RSVP at the link below to ensure their spot at this unmissable show. Along with The Crystal Ship performing their now-renowned live show fusion of psych/indie/raga/rock music, the talented Gypsy Lee and Isabelle Skye will also be showing up and showing out for a good cause as support acts.
$5 raffle tickets will be on deck for punters to have a chance to win a $500 Dangerfield, RayBan and Dr. Martens voucher, all the while pooling together much-needed and appreciated funds for Lifeline and the important work they do every single day.
For those who need more of The Crystal Ship in their lives as we approach the end of a long winter, the band will be headlining a raucous evening at The Punters Club in Fitzroy on Monday 11 August – who says a weekend needs to end on a Sunday?
The Crystal Ship have built a strong following off the back of busy chapters of performance. Between 2023 and 2024, the band has dominated stages across the city; from residencies at Cherry Bar, unforgettable appearances at The Espy and attention stealing moments in Federation Square as part of ALWAYS LIVE, The Crystal Ship are anticipating one of their busiest arcs to date as the second half of 2025 amps up!
THE CRYSTAL SHIP x DANGERFIELD FUNDRAISER EVENT
Thursday 24 July Revolver Prahran RSVP ESSENTIAL
with Gypsy Lee and Isabelle Skye
Monday 11 August The Punters Club Fitzroy
THE CRYSTAL SHIP
Anant Caprihan (vocals)
Miles Rothe (guitar)
Nic Durant (bass)
Ned Fillingham (drums)
MY DYING BRIDE – Australia, September 16th – 17th, 2025
TWO EXCLUSIVE SHOWS ONLY!
ON SALE NOW
Finally, after 35 years of despair, the England’s most disconsolate export, pioneers and kings of doom metal MY DYING BRIDE, make their very first appearances in Australia with two exclusive shows this September.
Well known for haunting atmospheres and sorrowful tones whilst balancing uniquely heavy desolate riffs with melancholic melodies, MY DYING BRIDE redefined musical misery with their earlier albums Turn Loose the Swans (1993), The Angel and the Dark River (1995) and Like Gods of the Sun (1996). A consistent flow of exceptionally somber albums and EP’s have followed with highlights including The Dreadful Hours (2001), A Map of All Our Failures (2012), and today they continue their endless suffering like no other band of this ilk can.
Featuring Mikko Kotamaki from “Swallow The Sun” as special guest vocalist, this once in a lifetime opportunity is not to be missed!
MY DYING BRIDE performing at:
Sept 16th – Sydney, Metro Theatre
Sept 17th – Melbourne, Northcote Theatre
TICKETS ON SALE NOW at:
SYDNEY – https://premier.ticketek.com.au
MELBOURNE – www.moshtix.com.au
My Dying Bride – For You (from Like Gods of the Sun)
www.facebook.com/MyDyingBrideOfficial
https://swdpresents.com
Chinese-Australian emcee MADAME WU teases upcoming album with first
single ‘我是 MADAME WU’
Sydney/Eora hip-hop artist Madame WU has emerged with the first taste from her upcoming album ‘Cicada Sunlight’ (out 2025) – releasing ‘我是 Madame Wu’ (‘I Am Madame Wu’) today. The Sydney emcee worked with frequent collaborator riverkid, who produced the track and features throughout the LP.
Always one to proudly embrace and represent her experience as a Chinese-Australian through her music,我是 Madame Wu (I am Madame Wu) is the intro song from Madame Wu and riverkid’s upcoming album, ‘Cicada Sunlight’, and features lyrics in both English and Mandarin. Lyrically, Madame Wu explains that the track “celebrates you as you are” and was “Originally written to cheer up my sister ‘Fuck anyone who doubts you, I’m so proud of you, you tell me what you amount to’ the song is a middle finger to pressure to conform, and is a celebration of family, identity and giving in to the beat.
The song is also about pride, pride to be Chinese Australian, pride to be an aunty and a mum, but the song is also about taking away those roles and answering what my name is and what I do with the same answer, my name, just being me. Qing Sl is my Chinese name that was given to me by my grandfather, it means ‘music’ and ‘missing or wanting someone’.”
The track also features samples from her friends, who provided speaking parts in Mandarin used throughout the track.
“Vocal samples in Mandarin were recorded at my home by my friends Alex Toh and Shelley Guo. My mandarin is imperfect, so it makes me feel even more vulnerable having it on the album, but that’s the experience of a lot of Chinese Australians, and the song is about just having a go and letting loose.” MADAME WU
Produced by artist/producer riverkid, the track features a textured, dynamic beat that lays the perfect platform for Wu’s verses. On the origin of the beat, riverkid explains that “This was the result of just some idle messing around on a kalimba I’d had for years, but it turned into a fun beat. Then when Madame Wu sent me back her vocal I was floored by the raw power and attitude she brought to the track. It turned into such a great statement of her artistry and her personality. I really love when she comes out strong in the second verse with ‘f*ck anyone who doubts you!’ that’s the Madame Wu I know and have been proud to work with and call a friend.”
Madame Wu has been making waves in the underground hip hop scene for a little while now, with two full length LPs under her belt (‘Madame Wu’ (2012) & ‘Time Waits For No Woman’ (2016)) and a string of singles over the last few years. She’s previously collaborated with artists such as Radical Son and Ev Jones, and supported the likes of De La Soul, Thundamentals, Tuka, Pez & L Fresh The Lion in her time. With the rest of ‘Cicada Sunlight’ set to drop later in 2025, Madame Wu has a big 2025 in front of her – with more news to come.
Madame Wu: Facebook | Instagram | Triple J Unearthed
MEG MAC RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE “HE SAID NO” FROM HER FORTHCOMING ALBUM “IT’S MY PARTY”
ARIA chart-topping soul powerhouse Meg Mac returns with new single “He Said No”, an exploration of heartbreak that marks the first glimpse of her fourth studio album, slated for release later this year. Listen HERE.
Born from an unexpected creative process, “He Said No” represents a departure from Meg’s typical songwriting approach emerging when Mac and producer Nathan Jenkins aka Bullion (Carly Rae Jepsen, Ben Howard) were sifting through her loop pedal for hidden treasures. “We found this ‘he said no’ vocal loop and Nathan pulled it up and built this whole world around it,” Meg explains. “But then I had to figure out what ‘He Said No’ even meant and figure out what I would sing.”
The result is a song about loss set against the backdrop of an airport departure—that familiar moment of uncertain goodbyes. “Nothing seems sadder than dropping someone to the airport and not knowing if you’ll ever see them again,” Meg reflects. It’s about being the one left behind, watching someone disappear into the sky with no promise of return.
Drawing inspiration from John Denver’s timeless “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” Meg flips the narrative playfully to capture the perspective often left untold. “I am obsessed with that song and I wanted to capture that feeling, but from the person left behind at the airport,” she says. The track feels “so satisfying and fun” on the surface yet carries real emotional weight—Meg’s signature ability to wrap genuine feeling in irresistible melody.
The accompanying visual, crafted personally by Meg Mac as part of her “mixed media” aesthetic for her next album, features stunning background footage courtesy of an unexpected collaborator—her airline pilot father. “My favourite thing is the background videos, they’re taken from my Dad. He was an airline pilot and setup his phone in the cockpit and would do these timelapse videos,” she shares. “They’re all Australian cities and landings and so pretty.”
Meg will celebrate this new era with a pop-up residency at Sydney’s iconic Belvoir Street Theatre in August, offering fans an exclusive journey through her catalogue including a first listen to material from the forthcoming album. Trading the traditional concert hall for a theatrical setting, these three Monday night performances will present Meg in a new light through a carefully crafted blend of music, storytelling, and environment. In collaboration with award-winning director and lighting designer Alexander Berlage, the shows promise Meg’s most intimate and personal performances yet. Tickets are available HERE.
Since her breakthrough with 2014’s “MEGMAC” EP, Meg has established herself as Australia’s premier pop soul voice. Her 2016 anthem “Never Be” entered the ARIA top 40 and claimed No. 11 on Triple J’s Hottest 100, while debut album “Low Blows” commanded the No. 2 ARIA Chart position in 2017. The trajectory peaked with 2022’s “Matter of Time,” which claimed the ARIA summit at No. 1, confirming Meg’s status as a chart force and critical darling.
Her commanding vocal presence has earned international recognition while her live performances continue to captivate global audiences. Recent touring highlights include several sold out national tours + supporting Teddy Swims across Australia (2024), Jacob Banks throughout North America (2022), and Sam Smith on their Gloria tour of Australia and New Zealand (2023).
BURNA BOY ANNOUNCES NO SIGN OF WEAKNESS WORLD TOUR AUSTRALIA 2025 DATES
Tickets go on sale July 24 at 12pm local time
GRAMMY® Award-winning universal icon Burna Boy will celebrate his eagerly awaited eighth studio album, No Sign Of Weakness, with an epic global tour that will include Australia with four exhilarating shows at some of the country’s most credible venues.
The No Sign Of Weakness Australia Tour will kick off in Melbourne on 16 October at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, before moving to Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre and finishing up in Perth on 24 October at RAC Arena. The tour will then head to North America to play 16 massive venues, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, making Burna Boy the first Nigerian artist to ever headline the iconic venue.
Tickets to the Australian tour dates go on sale to the general public Thursday 24 July at 12pm (local time) from Ticketek and TEG, with presales kicking off from Tuesday 22 July at 9am (local).
Known around the globe for his explosive, show-stopping live performances, including countless sold-out shows and milestone festival appearances, Burna Boy has made a truly titanic rise to the forefront of the world stage as this generation’s leading ambassador for African music in the 21st century.
The first African artist to have two albums earn over 1 billion streams on Spotify, Burna Boy has released eight studio albums and has racked up a truly extraordinary list of accomplishments and accolades, including 11 GRAMMY® Award nominations, 4 BET Awards for ‘Best International Act’ (the first African artist to win the award three consecutive times), a 2023 Billboard Music Award for ‘Top Afrobeats Artist,’ and countless other nominations.
Burna Boy is among the most significant and groundbreaking African artists in music history, a landmark cultural figure hailed worldwide for his trademark union of Afrobeats, pop, R&B, hip-hop, reggae, and an all-encompassing range of other musical approaches.
No Sign Of Weakness was released on July 11 via Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Once again showcasing his larger-than-life charisma and unmistakable fusion of global influences with melodic pop sensibility, the highly anticipated collection includes the scintillating new single TaTaTa featuring Travis Scott, the romantic, reggae-flavoured Sweet Love, the anthemic Update, and the triumphant fan-favourite, Bundle By Bundle.
Tickets go on sale to the general public Thursday 24 July at 12pm (local time) from Ticketek or TEG.
For complete details and ticket information, visit TEG.
Thurs 16 Oct | Melbourne | Sidney Myer Music Bowl | TICKETS
Sat 18 Oct | Sydney | Qudos Bank Arena | TICKETS
Mon 20 Oct | Brisbane | Entertainment Centre | TICKETS
Friday 24 Oct | Perth | RAC Arena | TICKETS
About BURNA BOY
GRAMMY® Award-winning global superstar Burna Boy is among the most significant and groundbreaking African artists in music history, a landmark cultural figure hailed worldwide for his trademark union of Afrobeats, pop, R&B, hip-hop, reggae, and an all-encompassing range of other musical approaches. The first African artist to have two albums earn over 1B streams on Spotify, Burna Boy has released seven studio albums and has racked up a truly extraordinary list of accomplishments and accolades, including 11 total GRAMMY® Award nominations, 4 BET Awards for “Best International Act” (the first African artist to win the award three consecutive times), a 2023 Billboard Music Award for “Top Afrobeats Artist,” and countless nominations spanning nods for American Music Awards, Brit Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, BET Awards, BET Hip-Hop Awards, NAACP Image Awards, Soul Train Awards, MOBO Awards, and many more. Burna Boy is known around the globe for his explosive, show-stopping live performances, including countless sold-out shows and milestone festival appearances. Now, with the imminent release of his eighth studio album No Sign Of Weakness, Burna Boy shows no signs of stopping his truly titanic rise to the forefront of the world stage as this generation’s leading ambassador for African music in the 21st century.
JACK GRAY SHARES NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO ‘DUMB SH*T’
LA based artist releases ‘Dumb Sh*t’, a laidback ode to reckless youth (out on Island Records Australia/UMA) which is produced by Jack and co-written with Jon Hume & Jillian Shea. ‘Dumb Sh*t’ is built around acoustic guitars and lyrical snapshots, shifting between sprightly verses and open-hearted choruses. “It’s really about those years in high school and that feeling of just being foolish, spending time with your mates and trying things for the first time. Feeling like you can do anything and just blame it on being young, or young at heart,” Jack says. A perfectionist by nature, he worked through thirteen versions before sticking with the very first.
The accompanying music video was created with his close friends in LA— actors and filmmakers Bryce Gheisar and Jem Matthews, who co-directed the visual, with Miles Murphy as director of photography. It’s loose, nostalgic, and grounded in friendship—a short film disguised as a memory.
WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO CLIP ‘DUMB SH*T’
Directed by Bryce Gheisar and Jem Matthews
Cinematography by Miles Murphy
Produced by Amanda Mickwee & Jillian Shea Spaeder
Jack is a self-produced, multi-instrumental artist who has quietly spent the past 12 months crafting his debut album from songs he has written over the last few years. He’s co-written, performed, and produced nearly every part of it himself. In between, he’s composed a film score, collaborated with other artists as a producer and writer, and had songs picked up by emerging K-pop acts.
Onstage, Jack has toured extensively throughout Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada, supporting artists like Tate McRae, Mahalia, Matt Corby, Maisie Peters, and Ella Vos.
Born and raised in Mackay, Queensland, Jack grew up in a musical family—his dad a drummer, his bedroom a makeshift studio. From a young age, he threw himself into learning any instrument he could find, eventually getting hold of basic recording software in high school. The early demos were rough, but they sparked something: a fascination with songwriting, sound, and building full songs from scratch. A girlfriend at the time encouraged him onto a stage, and soon he was gigging locally, then studying music in Brisbane—briefly. After six months at QUT, he dropped out to chase something more instinctive. That urgency to make something honest, unpolished and real still drives everything he does
Jack’s full-length debut album is still under wraps. He’s not revealing much yet—just a few snapshots, a couple of songs, and the feeling that something’s coming. Enough to keep you listening. And maybe remembering the dumb shit you did, too.
This August, Jack Gray will return to the stage to support Daniel Seavey on his rescheduled ‘Second Wind Tour’ dates.
JACK GRAY LIVE SHOW DATES
SUPPORTING DANIEL SEAVEY ‘SECOND WIND TOUR’ AUNZ
Saturday August 2nd – Powerstation, Auckland
Tuesday August 5 – The Forum, Melbourne
Wednesday August 6 – The Enmore, Sydney
Friday August 8 – Eatons Hill, Brisbane
Sunday, August 10 – AEC Theatre, Adelaide
Tuesday, August 12 – Rechabite, Perth
For all ticket and touring information HERE
JACK GRAY ‘DUMB SH*T’
IS OUT TODAY ON ISLAND RECORDS AUSTRALIA