Thursday May 8
STEVE RYAN-GLEDHILL “Now I Feel the Rain” (Single)
“Now I Feel the Rain” is the new single from Steve Ryan-Gledhill’s self-titled LP, due for release June 27. The song follows his recent AA side singles “It Happens Every Day” and “End of the Line”.
In its original form, “Now I Feel the Rain” was a Country Ballad, and came from a joint song-writing session with Ryan-Gledhill, Justin Smith and John Webster when all were members of The Broken Sweethearts. Shortly after completing the song, Australia’s southern states endured the horrific Black Saturday bush fires. Following that catastrophic event, The Broken Sweethearts recorded a version of the song and donated the sale proceeds to The Country Fire Authority.
For his debut solo outing, Ryan-Gledhill re-worked “Now I Feel the Rain” with what he felt was a more appropriate Country Gospel feel. He explains “From a musical perspective, the introduction, in line with the Gospel feel, opens with Bruce Haymes on Hammond Organ with acoustic guitar, bass, drums and the lead vocal starting with the first and second verses. I play acoustic guitar, sing lead vocals and a backing harmony in the verses.”
The song opens with concerns over the impending fires, saving precious mementoes and ensuring everyone’s safety. It becomes clear fires are coming and panic and separation ensues. Families separated, communications non-existent. Those that are able, are fighting the fires. The Bridge speaks to the confusion and chaos “So many going nowhere; and I was without you”. A guitar interlude then leads into the aftermath, surveying the damage and then a redemptive final Chorus and Outro where the much prayed for rain arrives, the townspeople survey the damage and vow to re-build.
“After the Bridge, there is a guitar solo, I played the first half of the solo, Cam played the second half of the solo and we both played the ending riff as a harmony part. The solos (apart from fixing one errant note of mine) was done in one take without any discussions about the structure. Just one of those unplanned, special moments.”
Ryan-Gledhill continues “After the solo section, the dynamics are brought back down before building to the Chorus and the Outro. This section shines as a powerful (and I hope, uplifting) redemptive section with the Gospel harmonies arranged and sung by Tracy Kingman.”
“I’m really proud of this song and the production, arrangement, instrumentation and dynamics now marries seamlessly with the story and sentiments of the song. I hope you like it!”
Steve Ryan-Gledhill’s album will be released on all major platforms on Friday June 27, with a live performance featuring an outstanding 7-piece band the same night at George Lane, St Kilda.
ABOUT STEVE RYAN-GLEDHILL
Steve Ryan-Gledhill is probably one of the more interesting people you’ll have come across lately. Diagnosed with both Asperger’s and Parkinson’s, this former high-flying finance executive with an IQ of 142, hasn’t allowed either illness to affect his desire to live a fulfilling life.
Determination was on show early in Ryan-Gledhill’s early life. Achieving a B.A. Degree majoring in Psychology, with minors in Economics and Statistics, he was offered a position at a Funds Management Company in Hong Kong, before rising to become head of the Asia Pacific for both Chase Manhattan and Bank of America. These positions saw him mixing with the likes of Dr Henry Kissinger and Walter Mondale (VP to Jimmy Carter).
By 2002, after more than 30 years in the financial sector, Ryan-Gledhill had moved back to Australia to focus on a more creative life for himself centred on music – a lifelong love since first picking up the guitar at the age of 11.
Returning to school to complete a two year Advanced Diploma in Music Performance (Jazz and Contemporary) at NMIT, Ryan-Gledhill was by this time playing in and managing his own band, teaching Guitar and Bass and managing two Jazz Guitarists.
The next step was Ryan-Gledhill’s decision to start a short-lived record label. Ultimately, the dramatic rise of streaming services, combined with the small market for Jazz saw the business wind up. Undeterred, Ryan-Gledhill formed The Broken Sweethearts, a band which ran for about a decade, focusing on original material and releasing 3 EPs and a number of singles.
In 2016 Ryan-Gledhill was diagnosed with Asperger’s. He continued to play, write songs, work full time and take vocal coaching lessons which led to The Charlemagne Project.
Post Covid, Ryan-Gledhill noticed tremors in mainly his left hand– not great for a guitar player. He was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2021. It was a bitter blow.
As Ryan-Gledhill says “Accepting the issues Parkinson gives you, I continued to write and play, culminating in the completion of my debut album. This was scheduled with consideration of Parkinson’s with breaks between recording and keeping sessions to a reasonable length.”
“There really was only one day where my symptoms made it impossible for me to play the guitar parts required. Fortunately, Cam McKenzie (producer) stepped up and played the two parts so recording could continue.”
The end result, at age 69, is his eponymous debut album which will be released Friday 27th June. https://www.facebook.com/SteveRyanGledhill
THE TERRYS ‘Catalonia Dream’ (Single) and Announce Tour
Gerringong-based indie-rock upstarts The Terrys have just announced their biggest national tour yet in support of their self-titled album – out Friday, July 11. Alongside this news is the announcement of their signing to Westway Collective and the release of their tranquil single ‘Catalonia Dream’.
Pre-order vinyl HERE + HERE.
Produced and mixed by their continuing collaborative partners Tasker (3%, Chillint, Tia Gostelow), Paddy Cornwall and Taras Hrubyj-Piper, ‘Catalonia Dream’ sees the band expanding their horizons and traditional genre staples, incorporating ethereal synths to create a floating, immersive sonic ride. However, the track still oozes that Terrys charm, as balmy acoustic guitars mix with Jacob “Finchie” Finch’s distinctive delivery and endearing lyricism.
Accompanying the single release is the news of The Terrys’ biggest national headline tour to date, including stops in Meanjin/Brisbane, Tarndayna/Adelaide, Boorloo/Perth, Naarm/Melbourne, Eora/Sydney, Nipaluna/Hobart and Lutruwita/Forth. This continues on from selling out shows across Australia, the UK, EU & NZ and playing Australian mainstays Beyond The Valley, Chasing Tides, Hay Park, Spaced Out Festival, Yours & Owls, NYE on the Hill, Rolling Sets and Festival of the Sun. Recently, they also played the Too Turped Up Weekender across Wagga Wagga and Albury.
Last year, the band went from strength to strength, with their sophomore album ‘Skate Pop’ debuting at #2 on ARIA’s Album Chart and landing a coveted triple j Feature Album spot. The singles also appeared at #93 (‘No Bad Days’), #103 (‘Hopscotch’) and #181 (‘Silent Disco’) in triple j’s Hottest 100 (2023). Their first record ‘True Colour’ also debuted at #3 on the ARIA Album Chart.
The Terrys’ true north has always been this: stay positive, take it one day at a time and look towards the horizon with a smile and, ideally, beer in hand.
‘Catalonia Dream’ is available worldwide now
Pre-order vinyl HERE + HERE
THE TERRYS ALBUM TOUR DATES
Tickets available at theterrysband.com
FRI 22 AUG | THE GOV, TARNDANYA/ADELAIDE SA
SAT 23 AUG | THE RECHABITE, BOORLOO/PERTH WA
FRI 5 SEP | 170 RUSSELL, NAARM/MELBOURNE VIC
SAT 13 SEP | LIBERTY HALL, EORA/SYDNEY NSW
FRI 19 SEP | THE TIVOLI, MEANJIN/BRISBANE QLD
THU 25 SEP | WHAMMY BAR, AUCKLAND NZ
FRI 26 SEP | MEOW, WELLINGTON NZ
SAT 27 SEP | THE LOONS, CHRISTCHURCH NZ
SUN 28 SEP | YONDER, QUEENSTOWN NZ
THU 30 OCT | ALTAR BAR, NIPALUNA/HOBART TAS
FRI 31 OCT | BRIDGE HOTEL, LUTRUWITA/FORTH TAS
FOLLOW THE TERRYS
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | TIKTOK | TRIPLE J UNEARTHED
SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | AMAZON MUSIC | BANDCAMP | YOUTUBE | WEBSITE
KALANDRA
Nordic Folk-Rock Acts New Album, A Frame Of Mind, Out Now
Touring Australia For The First Time in November
Spearheaded by four Norwegian and Swedish musicians, Kalandra have captivated the world with their unique blend of melancholic Nordic folk, gritty guitars and ethereal melodies. This November the group will bring their hauntingly beautiful live show to Australia for the first time. Kalandra promises to be a captivating experience that weaves fragility and fortitude into an immersive sonic journey.
Their second album, A Frame Of Mind, was released in late 2024 via By Norse Music and featured the singles,The State of the World, Bardaginn, Are You Ready and I Am.
Each song on the album reflects Kalandra’s unique fusion of atmospheric rock and dark pop.
“A Frame of Mind” marks their second studio album effort and after the success of their 2020 debut The Line, being featured on the soundtrack to the Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands video game and a a viral cover of Wardruna’s “Helvegen” nearing 6.5 million YouTube views, Kalandra’s debut tour is a moment not to be missed.
The album can be described as an introspective journey about life’s experiences and how they shape the way we perceive the world. It explores what we put within the frame of our day to day lives, but also what is excluded. The band has combed through their memories and written about past traumas, cheri shed childhood memories, and a wariness about the future and the state of the world.
Vocalist Katrine states: “I Am” serves as the opening chapter of Kalandra’s upcoming album, “A Frame of Mind”, setting the stage for the introspective journey that lies ahead. The lyrics delve into the act of self-reflection, acknowledging the person you’ve become and taking responsibility for your own evolution.
The music video is made by the multi talented filmmaker, puppet maker and stop motion artist Martyna Koleniec.
Watch the video for I Am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL7NWFIUpxQ
A Frame Of Mind is available now
**********
Led by Katrine Stenbekk’s sublime vocals, the band have spent over a decade refining their sound and building a world which has led to them sharing stages with acts like Wardruna, Leprous and Eivor while earning acclaim at festivals such as France’s Hellfest and Norway’s Midgardsblot.
Australian crowds will witness a dynamic performance rooted in Norse folk, progressive rock and Scandic pop delivered with an intensity that’s both intimate and vast that will undoubtedly be heralded as the years most transformative experience.
TOUR DATES
Wednesday, November 19: Amplifier Bar, Perth
Friday, November 21: Stay Gold, Melbourne
Saturday, November 22: Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
Sunday, November 23: The Brightside, BrisbaneTickets are onsite now
https://daltours.cc/kalandra
Follow Kalandra
Web | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
JO DAVIE ‘Nothing Comes Free’ (Out Friday, May 2)
Rest your head and listen to the stories Jo Davie has to tell in her debut EP, ‘Nothing Comes Free’, a rich anthology told through gorgeous indie-folk and her spellbinding voice, coming out on Friday, May 2. Watch ‘Nothing Comes Free’ Music Video
For as long as it’s been around, music has been used to tell stories, and since graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium in 2017 with First Class Honours and the University Medal, Jo Davie has been channeling her ancestors, telling tales through songs live on stage at festivals like Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), The National Folk Festival (ACT), and the Caloundra Music Festival (QLD), connecting with an audience and giving them something to bring home with them.
Her focus on human connection has resulted in her earning the Carol Lloyd Award at the Queensland Music Awards, selling out her shows, and supporting ARIA-winning artist Katie Noonan across a variety of venues, all while working on her PHD.
Now, she is releasing her debut EP – a 6-track journey into the wonderland of her mind, played across a variety of instruments from strings to synth. It begins with ‘Throw Me A Rope’, a slow jam woven from a lilting voice that rises and falls with the grace of a songbird and instruments with a noncorporeal nature brought in through the fuzz of the guitar and soft echoing effects. This tells the story of a love left away from harbour but not let out to sea, how it feels to want to either be loved or ‘let go’, but not left drowning in the middle.
The second track, ‘Cemetery’, is equally as tender and vulnerable, highlighting Jo Davie’s acoustic roots within an immersive, swirling soundscape. Twinkling picked guitar enchants when paired with gentle violin and her captivating voice, with grounding drum cycles that support the track as it reaches out to the sky. There’s an air of sadness to the track, though it finds peace in an atypical situation, mourning the loss of a relationship in the place where things are laid to rest.
The third track, ‘Sandcastles’, was a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Its clear opening and drum cycles invite the listener into pure indie-rock Australiana, evoking sad memories on a sunny day. This song explores loss in all its forms– even when a sandcastle gets destroyed by the tide, it will live on in beautiful memory.
‘Say The Word’ is a break from her usual folksy style, opening with vocoder harmonies that stand alone to be joined by subtle, complimentary synth, bringing to mind the gentle sounds of a church organ and images of digital angels. It captures the strange feeling of devotion, knowing just a word could convince you to stay forever.
‘Colder’ is a folk-pop tune that sounds like a well-worn memory. With dreamy instrumental construction and Jo Davie’s powerful yet vulnerable vocals, this song is an intimate dwelling on a relationship’s end and finding the beauty that blooms in the emptiness they’ve left.
The track sharing the name of the EP and its finale, ‘Nothing Comes Free’ is a perfect example of the tenderness and vulnerability that Jo has mastered. Gentle guitar and layered vocals are a warm blanket, something familiar and nostalgic with a twist, as the electric guitar solo brings the music to a hopeful peak. This song is a three-act story in its own right, exploring how easy it is to worry so much about something that you forget to enjoy it, and the other side of that coin– finding the beauty in the moments as they come.
Accompanying the release of the EP is the title track’s music video, filmed by longtime friend and collaborator Caleb Colledge. Shot on the quiet shores of Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah—a place Jo describes as “maybe my favourite place on earth”—the video captures a golden afternoon spent chasing the sunset. With her family memories tied to that beach and the song’s message about finding peace in the present, the setting couldn’t have been more fitting. It’s a visual reflection of the track’s core: letting go of the end and choosing instead to be right where you are.
As of May 1, Jo Davie is officially on tour, giving people a chance to engage with her stories face to face and share the moment in a community of listeners.
Get immersed in Jo Davie’s world with her magical debut EP ‘Nothing Comes Free’, out Friday, May 2nd.
‘Nothing Comes Free’ Tour – Information
Thursday, May 1 – Canberra @ Smiths Alternative w/ Stella Eve | Tickets
Friday, May 2 – Sydney @ Butchers Brew w/ Betty | Tickets
Saturday, May 3 – Melbourne @ Merri Creek Tavern w/ Kaitlin Keegan | Tickets
Sunday, May 4 – Warburton @ Arts Centre w/ Follow The Robin | Tickets
Saturday, May 10 – Ipswich @ Studio 188 w/ Paulina | Tickets
Sunday, May 11 – Sunshine Coast @ Eudlo Hall w/ Those Folk | Tickets
Friday, May 16 – Murwillumbah @ The Citadel w/ Cigány Weaver | Tickets
Saturday, May 17 – Brisbane @ Black Bear Lodge w/ Lottie McLeod & Serendipiti | Tickets
Follow Jo Davie Official Website | Spotify | Apple Music | Soundcloud | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Bandcamp
SHANNON SMITH ‘Out Of The Shadows’ (ALBUM Out Friday, May 2)
On Friday, May 2nd, in all of his bearded glory, Shannon Smith steps ‘Out Of The Shadows’ and into the spotlight with his debut album to deliver a dose of 70s pop-Americana that utterly glows.
Growing up in a musical household, music runs in Shannon Smith’s veins, and every song on this album is pulled straight from his heart. With each song inspired by stories of Shannon Smith’s life, his debut album is the perfect way to get to know his world, where hope always prevails and the music shines bright.
‘Dance The Night Away (Do Do Do Do)’’ is 4 minutes and 13 seconds of pure feel-good energy. With its cheerful hook of ‘Do Do Do Do’, this soulful pop jam radiates joy, encouraging the listener to tap their toes into the morning light.
The next song is softer but radiates just as much light– ‘Till I’m Home’ is rooted in the campfire warmth of Americana, a relaxed, mid-tempo ballad that rides on comforting layered vocals, rolling guitar riffs, and soothing basslines. It channels the wanderer’s longing for home, that fuzzy feeling that comes from finally returning to loved ones. Written in the middle of a rough patch with his partner, this song pleads, “keep the belief in me, that I can work on myself and come through the other end, a better person, stronger and hopefully wiser.”
Following on from that tender note, ‘I’m Gonna Change’, a redemptive folk-rock track with the extended version giving it more room for the tension to build and giving it a more satisfying release. Officially launching the soft portion of the album, there’s more to this track than what meets the ears– Shannon Smith encourages listening with a good pair of headphones to pick up on all the subtle complexities this track has to offer.
‘Valentine’s Day’ is just as romantic as its namesake, a country-tinged slow jam with gospel backing vocals from stunning The McCrary Sisters. It’s perfect for a slow dance with a lover, with its gentle swing and lyrics that celebrate love, connection, and intimacy.
Marking the midpoint of the album, ‘Break Free’ is a bluesy-folk experience that emphasises the powers of breaking free of toxicity and reclaiming personal freedom. With its soft beginning and momentum gained throughout, this is more than a song: it’s a journey.
In musical contrast, the next song, ‘It Started Off With Lies’ is punchy and boppy from the get-go, with propulsive drums and guitar starting the song on a particularly danceable note, though the breaks of confessional guitar solos and honest lyrics make it a bittersweet song that pairs the heaviness of dishonesty with the uptick that comes with redemption.
Continuing the groovy tracks, ‘Feel Good’ is a funky, up-tempo soul-pop jam, using keyboard and addictive riffs to encourage the listener to find joy in the simple things in life and let themselves ‘Feel Good’.
On a romantic note, ‘I Do’ was written the night before Shannon Smith’s wedding– this gentle country-pop ballad wraps listeners in the sweetness of lifelong devotion with delicate melodies and heart wrenchingly earnest vocal performance.
‘Every Single Day’ explores what comes next— the sort of love that shows up in little actions every single day. With its warm and sunny chorus, this song is as sweet as a pitcher of iced tea on the front porch.
The final song on the album, ‘Light on the Hill’, is dedicated to Shannon Smith’s late uncle Rob. Grief comes in many forms and changes as the days do, and this song reflects that, starting gently and shifting as the days find their colour again. This song reflects the core of the album and dwells on finding the light in even the darkest of places and emerging with a newfound sense of gratitude and appreciation for life.
Shannon Smith’s debut album ‘Out Of The Shadows’ is more than just an album; it’s an anthology and philosophy on how shedding the weight of the past lets us experience new, beautiful things.
‘Out of the Shadows’ uniquely won’t be available on streaming services until later this year. Listeners can get the album first by purchasing the CD or vinyl—and only physical and direct digital buyers will get access to extended versions of select tracks that won’t ever hit streaming services. Purchase ‘Out Of The Shadows’ here.
Embrace the light on Friday, May 2nd, when it releases into the world.
Follow Shannon Smith Website | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram
KAT GRETA ‘Set You Up’ (Single Out Friday, May 2)
Melbourne/Naarm-based artist Kat Greta is stepping into bold new territory with her latest single ‘Set You Up’, out Friday, May 2—an explosive, percussion-driven anthem and her first fully self-produced release. Backed by earthy chants, rolling grooves, and undeniable energy, ‘Set You Up’ is a rallying cry for connection, built to be felt in the body as much as in the heart. Watch ‘Set You Up’ Music Video
Known for her blend of contemporary pop, soft rock, and worldly folk influences—as well as her magnetic stage presence and fierce drumming—Kat Greta channels that same power into ‘Set You Up’, a song that pulses with communal spirit. Chant-like call-and-response vocals meet layered percussion in a track designed to bring people together, whether in the crowd, on stage, or listening solo with headphones. Mixed by Nathan Zammit, the single hums with a raw, unfiltered urgency that’s impossible to sit still through.
“Set You Up is about community, connection, and the energy that comes from people coming together,” Kat shares. “It’s built on rhythm—layered percussion, call-and-response moments, and a raw, unfiltered energy that makes you want to move.”
To bring the track’s heartbeat to life visually, Kat teamed up with director Dayne Edward for the music video—featuring none other than her own family. Filmed entirely via Zoom, the video captures Kat and her loved ones drumming together from afar, proving that distance is no match for rhythm when connection is the goal.
“I wanted the video to reflect the spirit of the song—raw, real, and full of energy. Having my family involved made it even more meaningful, showing that music is something we share, no matter the distance.”’
To celebrate the release, Kat Greta will perform ‘Set You Up’ live at a special single launch show on Saturday, May 3 at 2PM at Kindred Art Space (VIC)—a vibrant, percussion-packed event that brings the track’s communal spirit to life.
Fans can expect an immersive, high-energy experience with live percussion, audience interaction, and a deep dive into the communal magic that drives Kat’s sound.
‘Set You Up’ is the first taste of her upcoming EP, due in the second half of 2025.
Feel the rhythm, find your people—‘Set You Up’ drops Friday, May 2.
‘Set You Up’ Single Launch
Saturday, May 3 – Kindred Art Space, Frankston | TICKETS
Follow Kat Greta Official Website | Spotify | Apple Music | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp
CYRIL TEAMS UP WITH JAMES BLUNT FOR MELANCHOLIC NEW SINGLE ‘TEARS DRY TONIGHT’
BUY/STREAM: CYRIL & JAMES BLUNT – TEARS DRY TONIGHT
Australian producer CYRIL has rapidly risen to global prominence, with his breakout tracks ‘Stumblin’ In’ and a remix of ‘Sound of Silence’ amassing over 1 billion Spotify streams. He topped Spotify Australia’s Global Impact List, and earned a second placement with his remix of Teddy Swims’ ‘The Door’.
Within just 18 months, CYRIL scored two #1 singles on the AU National Airplay Chart, most recently with ‘Fall At Your Feet’, and is currently at #3 with ‘Still Into You’.
His success has earned him 2x ARIA Award nominations, and multi-Platinum, Gold, and Diamond certifications across Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Germany, France, and more.
In 2024, he became the only Australian artist to top the half-year airplay chart, outpacing global heavyweights Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Billie Eilish
Signing for one of this year’s most extraordinary collabs, Australian DJ/producer CYRIL has joined forces with UK hit singer James Blunt for the touching, originally penned new single “Tears Dry Tonight.” It’s a remarkable tune blending both artists’ trademark styles, respectively CYRIL’s gentle, soft-hearted deep house productions and Blunt’s warm, compelling songwriting. Effectively, “Tears Dry Tonight” proves the ultimate comfort song, featuring tranquil guitar chords, subtle yet punchy rhythmics and affective, instantly moving vocals. A true shoulder to lean on, this gem out now via Warner Music.
CYRIL has catapulted to quick international fame following his 2023 breakthrough single “Stumblin’ In,” a tune that saw him rework the eponymous 1978 hit with a smooth, 21st century deep house production. Kickstarted by a TikTok video that amassed millions of views, things started rolling for CYRIL, leading to an official signing with Spinnin’ Records and an equally successful official release of the song, currently counting over 550 million streams on Spotify alone.
A true Aussie of the moment, CYRIL kept dropping gold from then on, adding his trademark sound to Disturbed hit “The Sound Of Silence,” resulting in a next smash that by now counts 440 million streams. 2024 also saw him team up with Robin Schulz on hit single “World Gone Wild” and maryjo on the upbeat club track “Still Into You.”
As his style breathes a warm, melancholic vibe, CYRIL couldn’t have found a better collab partner for his next single than the eminent, world famous singer-songwriter James Blunt.
Renowned for his particular singing style, spread across soft, compassionate melodies, Blunt has created a benchmark for contemporary pop music. Forever linked to his 2005 hit “You’re Beautiful” (soon to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify), he’s continued to conquer an international audience with this sound, having sold 24 million albums worldwide to date, and still going strong till this day.
Never too shy to share his ironic view on all the success (and backlash) throughout the years, Blunt is currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of debut album Back To Bedlam with a humorous content led campaign that brought together hardcore fans, the wider public and media globally, becoming a cultural conversation piece that had a total reach across social platforms of over 53 million views and 2 million likes.
As a result, James enjoyed a huge uplift of new followers, both online, on TV and in press around the world including coverage across US TV such as Good Morning America and The Today Show.
But, as it happens, he’s also still making music, more inspired than ever, now perfectly emphasized with new single “Tears Dry Tonight.”
As said, the song builds a wonderful bridge between CYRIL’s famed production style, firmly grounded in today’s deep house sound, and Blunt’s instantly recognizable vocal efforts.
“Tears Dry Tonight” opens with subtle guitar chords, accompanied by Blunt drenched in sweet reverbs, leading to a heart-warming chorus that delicately drops into a subtle beat. ‘I want you to hold me,’ Blunt cautiously sings, underscoring the weight of the moment as he continues with ‘I want you to want me, like I was the one.’
While the mood is deep and emotional, both artists perfectly set the tone for consolation, finding each other in their respective melancholic sounds. Blunt has clearly found a kindred spirit in CYRIL, whose rhythmic approach seems to lift up the singer’s well-known vocals to new heights, this time building an instant classic that touches both heart and dance floor – sure to elevate audiences throughout the upcoming summer season.
For more info on CYRIL, visit: INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE
For more info on James Blunt, visit: INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE
BEA AND HER BUSINESS AUSTRALIAN TOUR
Secret Sounds is thrilled to announce a set of headline shows for rising UK popstar, Bea and her Business. The pair of shows will mark Bea’s first ever headline shows in the country, taking place in Melbourne and Sydney this September/October.
Bea started 2025 with a bang when she was named in Amazon’s Artists To Watch, was selected as a Shazam Fast Forward Artist for 2025, and was nominated for MTV Push for the UK and Ireland. Her rising status has been amplified by the show-stopping drama of her latest single ‘Rich’, a self-confident girl-next-door anthem for being determined to be yourself – regardless of what anyone else thinks. It perfectly positions Bea for what is sure to be her biggest year to date.
Bea and her Business arrives in Australia this September as support on The Wombats OH! The Ocean Australian Tour, as well as appearing at SummerSalt Festival alongside The Wombats, DMA’s, Ball Park Music and more. Her headline shows will take place on Tuesday 23 September at Howler, Melbourne and Tuesday 2 October at Oxford Art Factory, Sydney.
Secret Sounds members can secure tickets during the presale which commences at 10am on Tuesday 6 May and concludes at 9am Wednesday 7 May. Fans can register for access at secretsounds.com/register.
General public tickets go on sale on Wednesday 7 May, 10am.
BEA AND HER BUSINESS
AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES 2025
TORQUAY COMMON, TORQUAY^
SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER
AEC THEATRE, ADELAIDE*
SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
HOWLER, MELBOURNE – NEW SHOW
TUESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER
FESTIVAL HALL, MELBOURNE*
WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER
RIVERSTAGE, BRISBANE*
FRIDAY 26 SEPTEMBER
WOODSTOCK FARM, TAMBORINE^
SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
SPEERS POINT PARK, LAKE MACQUARIE^
SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER
HORDERN PAVILION, SYDNEY*
WEDNESDAY 01 OCTOBER
OXFORD ART FACTORY, SYDNEY – NEW SHOW
TUESDAY 02 OCTOBER
ESPLANADE PARK, FREMANTLE^
SATURDAY 04 OCTOBER
TICKETS ON SALE 10AM WEDNESDAY 07 MAY
Secret Sounds Presale: Tue 06 May, 10am – Wed 07 May, 9am
*Supporting The Wombats
^SummerSalt Festival
For complete tour & ticket information, visit: secretsounds.com
CONNECT WITH BEA AND HER BUSINESS WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | X | YOUTUBE | TIKTOK | SPOTIFY
FASTER PUSSYCAT ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE ‘MOTORBIKE’
OUT MAY 16 – AVAILABLE NOW FOR DIGITAL PRE-SAVE AND 7″ COLORED VINYL PRE-ORDER
Legendary rockers Faster Pussycat are shifting into high gear and revving things up with their brand new single ‘Motorbike,’ which officially drops May 16. The adrenaline-fueled track is available to pre-save today on all major streaming platforms.
In true Faster Pussycat fashion, ‘Motorbike’ captures the gritty, fast-lane energy that has made the band icons of the late-‘80s hard rock scene, delivering a roaring joy ride of sleaze, swagger and attitude.
“Sex, rock and roll and motorcycles! The lyrics are tongue in cheek, you can take them how you want to…” raves Faster Pussycat founder and frontman Taime Downe of the single. “I started writing ‘Motorbike’ about a decade ago, then the pandemic happened and… I’m slow…” he trails with a laugh. “We actually recorded this a couple times before, I finally felt like we got it right.”
Pre-save ‘Motorbike’ HERE
Fans will be thrilled to learn that a limited edition 7-inch of ‘Motorbike’ printed on “Pussycat Purple” vinyl is also available to order now, with the same May 16 release date. For collectors, an even more limited number of 7-inches signed by Taime Downe are available exclusively at www.fasterpussycat.com.
As was the case with the band’s previous two single releases, the vinyl b-side is a cover that has Downe just as excited as his Faster original – a fuel-injected and grease-splattered take on the INXS classic ‘Don’t Change.’
“I’ve been a big fan of INXS for years – I even hung out with Michael Hutchence, Iggy Pop and Debbie Harry after an awards show, which was a night I’ll never forget,” waxes the frontman. “I’ve always wanted to do an INXS cover – they have so many great songs, but this is one of my favorites. We’ve been playing it on and off for years, and it’s obviously in the set when we play Australia. I’m psyched to finally get it recorded and out there with our own spin. It’s INXS meets the Sex Pistols, as only Faster Pussycat can.”
As Taime appropriately sings on ‘Motorbike,’ “hold on tight and enjoy the ride!”
Pre-order ‘Motorbike / Don’t Change’ on vinyl HERE
Faster Pussycat rose from the depths of the mid-‘80s Hollywood rock scene and took the Sunset Strip by storm with a sound that wasn’t glam and wasn’t punk, but blistered somewhere in between. With an attitude and swagger all its own, their self-titled debut featured the instant classics “Babylon,” “Bathroom Wall,” “Cathouse” and “Don’t Change that Song,” and its follow-up ‘Wake Me When It’s Over’ climbed even higher with the radio hit “House of Pain,” “Poison Ivy” and “Where There’s a Whip There’s a Way.”
Despite sales in excess of two million records worldwide, Faster Pussycat defied the mainstream mold and always followed their frontman’s underground sensibilities. The accolades are nice, but Taime considers his greatest accomplishment longevity. “The only number that really matters to me is the number 40. Four decades later, Faster Pussycat are still rocking, and it feels as fresh as it did in 1986.”
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JOHN CALE Releases MiXology (volume 1)
Companion Release to Recent Albums MERCY & POPtical Illusion
Watch ‘Long Way Out of Pain (feat. Tony Allen)’ Visualiser Here
Watch John Cale & Maggie Rogers perform on Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney Here
Playing at Unsound Festival in Adelaide and Sydney Headline Show in July
John Cale does not stop. Last year saw the release of POPtical Illusion, the Paris 1919 Deluxe Editionand The Academy in Peril reissue, and this year kicked off with a six week European and UK tour, including an 83rd birthday celebration in Stuttgart, Germany. Earlier this week, Cale appeared on Netflix’s Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney to perform the “hypnotic” (New York Times) POPtical Illusion highlight, ‘Shark-Shark’ alongside Maggie Rogers. The pair chatted with Mulaney on the couch and also gave the in-studio crowd a special, exclusive treat with a performance of ‘Barracuda’.
Watch John Cale & Maggie Rogers Perform ‘Shark-Shark’ on Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney
Now, today via Double Six/Domino, Cale releases MiXology (volume 1), a companion release to the aforementioned POPtical Illusion and 2023’s MERCY featuring previously unreleased songs and alternate versions taken from the albums’ sessions. Tracks 1-4 are from MERCY and in line with the album’s collaborative spirit featuring guest appearances from Tony Allen and Tei Shi; tracks 5-7 are from POPtical Illusion.
MiXology is available today in its entirety on digital platforms. The companion release will be out via CD and a 500 limited edition vinyl pressing on August 8th, and is available for preorder now. In conjunction with today’s release, Double Six/Domino presents the ‘Long Way Out of Pain’ visualiser, which is an animation based on a photo of Cale & Tony Allen taken at the recording session.
Watch the ‘Long Way Out of Pain (feat. Tony Allen)’ Visualiser
John Cale will also be making his way to Australia in July, having recently been announced as a headliner at Unsound Adelaide alongside artists like Wolfgang Voight, aya and LOS THUTHANAKA. Cale will also play a headline show at Sydney’s City Recital Hall. Details on these shows below.
John Cale Australian Tour Dates
Thursday, July 10 | City Recital Hall, Sydney NSW
Saturday, July 12 | unsound, Adelaide SA
More Info
JAPAN’S ZOOBOMBS TO RELEASE AUSTRALIAN EDITION OF CLASSIC 1999 ALBUM LET IT BOMB FOR MAY/JUNE AUSTRALIAN TOUR
Tokyo’s legendary funk-garage rockers ZOOBOMBS are back! After more than a decade away from Australian stages, the unstoppable sonic force returns for a long-awaited tour in May and June 2025.
To coincide with the tour, the band will be releasing a new Australian edition of their classic 1999 album Let It Bomb via Cheersquad Records & Tapes. The album is out May 23 in limited red and black vinyl pressings, just in time for the May 29 tour kick off.
Pre-order Let It Bomb here https://zoobombs.bandcamp.com/album/let-it-bomb
or pre-save/pre-order it here https://bfan.link/let-it-bomb-25
Fusing raw garage energy with deep funk grooves and fearless improvisation, ZOOBOMBS have captivated audiences worldwide, from SXSW to Primavera Sound, and shared stages with the likes of The Black Keys and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. First turning heads Down Under on the Big Day Out festival tour in 2001, their high-octane performances left a lasting imprint on Australia’s underground music scene, and they are favourites of numerous local bands, including Regurgitator, The Meanies and Rocket Science. Indeed, Regurgitator’s Ben Ely is playing with ZOOBOMBS in Brisbane with his band Ben Ely and The Mango Fungo Band, and The Meanies and Rocket Science are each playing one of their two Melbourne shows.
Get ready for a mind-bending, groove-heavy ride when ZOOBOMBS return!
ZOOMBOMBS IN AUSTRALIA MAY/JUNE 2025
Thu 29 May – The Crowbar, Brisbane with The Unknowns, Ben Ely and The Mango Fungo Band
Fri 30 May – The Crowbar, Sydney with The Unknowns, Liquid Zoo
Sat 1 June – The Evelyn, Fitzroy with The Meanies, The Vovos
Sun 2 June – Kindred Studio, Footscray with Rocket Science
Don’t miss your chance to experience one of Japan’s most electrifying live bands. ZOOBOMBS are back—louder, wilder, and funkier than ever.
Tickets on sale via www.toshimaeda.com.au
The Zoobombs (ズボンズ)
www.cheersquad.com.au
WOLFGANG VAN HALEN’S MAMMOTH
Returns With Incendiary New Single “The End”
Music video features cameos by Danny Trejo, Slash, Myles Kennedy, Valerie Bertinelli and the MAMMOTH live band
GRAMMY® Award-nominated songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wolfgang Van Halen is back with the latest single from the band he masterminds, Mammoth.
“The End” is an adrenaline-driven rocker that kicks off with a signature lead guitar riff that has become a fan-favorite element in Wolfgang’s music. The anthemic build of the intro gives way to the driving verse melody with each part carefully created and performed by Van Halen and his returning collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette. The chorus is driven by the unforgettable vocal melody as the message of “Take your hand in mine and watch the end with me.” The song is now available for pre-save via all digital service providers.
Listen here
https://mammoth.lnk.to/TheEndPR
“I’ve had the tapping idea on the intro for ‘The End’ since before Mammoth. I was able to fit it into this world. It’s still over-the-top and shreddy, but it’s also melodic and controlled. Overall, I was doing some different things on the record, and I knew this was going to be a big step. Once we finished ‘The End,’ it felt really special to me,” explains Wolfgang Van Halen.
To coincide with the single release, Wolfgang and Mammoth have released a music video for “The End” that is one for the history books and something rarely seen in music videos anymore. Wolfgang teamed up with legendary director Robert Rodriguez to do a modern-day interpretation of Rodriguez’s 1996 hit film, From Dusk Till Dawn. The video tells the story of a rock band that is booked to play a show at a dive bar and given an ominous warning from the club owner portrayed by Danny Trejo. Mammoth decides they know better, and things quickly turn dire for the band before a surprising revelation during the final moments tie the complete video lore from the band together. Friends of Mammoth including Slash, Myles Kennedy and Wolfgang’s mother Valerie Bertinelli all show up throughout the short film. Horror effects icon Greg Nicotero offered his talents to the video to create zombies, werewolves and vampires that all bring a deadly end to the attendees of the show.
The music video for “The End” can be seen here.
https://youtu.be/7w7rAEnMXDI
ABOUT MAMMOTH
GRAMMY® Award-nominated songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wolfgang Van Halen continues to separate Mammoth from the pack. The music stands alone on a foundation anchored by his impressive sonic proficiency (across drums, bass, keys, and guitar) and airtight arena-size hooks with unforgettable vocals. He harbors an irresistible signature sound, inventive vision, and incomparable identity vaunted by a fervent global fanbase. For as unique as the music is, his story so far proves to be just as unprecedented. This is arguably the first hard rock act to genuinely break out from ground zero in the 2020’s, generating north of 100 million streams, toppling charts, and selling out headline tours less than five years since its debut. Back in 2021, Mammoth’s first offering, Mammoth WVH, took flight, bowing at #12 on the Billboard 200 and capturing #1 on three Billboard charts—Top Hard Rock Albums, Top Independent Albums, and Top Rock Albums. “Distance” soared as the first of two #1 Rock Radio Hits and earned a GRAMMY® Award nomination for “Best Rock Song.”
Two years later, Mammoth II only saw him pick up the pace. It debuted in the Top 5 of the Billboard Top Album Sales Chart in addition to bringing him back to #1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums Chart. It incited widespread applause from Rolling Stone, Guitar World, GRAMMY.com, Classic Rock, American Songwriter, and KERRANG! The band canvased the globe with Metallica and Pantera and supported Foo Fighters in North America as well as filling houses on their own. They performed on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, at MusiCares 2024 gala in honor of Jon Bon Jovi, and Wolf took the stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® Induction of Ozzy Osbourne. Now, Wolfgang pushes forward on Mammoth’s third full-length LP.
Connect with Mammoth
Web | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
PARCELS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘LOVED’ OUT 12 SEPTEMBER
+ NEW SINGLE ‘YOUGOTMEFEELING’ OUT NOW + AUSTRALIAN TOUR ON SALE
Parcels have announced their third studio album, LOVED, set for release on 12 September via Because Music. LOVED will consist of 12 tracks including recent singles ‘Safeandsound’, ‘Leaveyourlove’ and new single ‘Yougotmefeeling’ – performed by the band in a new live session, also available to watch now.
LOVED promises to be an exuberant and euphoric collection of music, while also offering moments of reflection. The band describe it as an album of unity – with each other and with their listeners. Some of the new music has been previewed at their recent live shows, including at Coachella Festival last month, and will be seen locally when the band are back home at the end of the year for their biggest Australian tour dates yet.
The album follows their previous studio LPs, the critically acclaimed 2021 release Day/Night, and the band’s breakthrough debut Parcels from 2018.
Of the record, Parcels say: “It’s very internal for all of us, so personal and so deep, which is sometimes quite uncomfortable. But I guess that’s what Parcels is — at least at the moment — all of us having that individual journey, then trying to make a space so we can funnel everybody’s experiences into the same world and express it as a celebration.”
The album’s journey began following a six-month hiatus in early 2023, the first time the band had rested since they formed in 2014. When the quintet – comprised of guitarist Jules Crommelin, keyboardist Louie Swain, keyboardist/guitarist Patrick Hetherington, bassist Noah Hill, and drummer Anatole “Toto” Serret – reconvened, they brought individual compositions to life in studios across Berlin, Byron Bay, Sydney, Oaxaca, and Mexico City. This approach differed from their previous album, Day/Night, which was recorded in a single studio.
The news of Parcels’ forthcoming album LOVED comes as anticipation grows for the band’s appearance on the West Holts stage at Glastonbury Festival this year. Then, in September, Parcels will return to play their biggest US shows to date including stops at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum and the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. All this after their joyous performances at this year’s Coachella Festival, helps cement their reputation for one of the must-see live bands right now.
Parcels have established themselves as one of the most impressive and acclaimed bands of recent years – both live and on record. Their debut self-titled album, released in 2018, has gone double Platinum (SNEP) and was followed by the ambitious double album Day/Night (2021) and two live albums, Live Vol. 1 (2020) and Live Vol. 2 (2023) – both highly beloved among their devout fanbase. They have amassed over one billion streams and sold 600,000 albums worldwide and their live performances are continuously met with critical acclaim. NME called their last London show “a dextrous show of live prowess” and urged, “you simply have to see this band live”.
LOVED, the new album by Parcels, will be released September 12th via Because Music.
Watch ‘Yougotmefeeling’ live session
Parcels’ LOVED Australian tour dates:
Tickets here
Friday 28th November – Riverstage – Brisbane, Australia
Thursday 4th December – Sidney Myer Music Bowl – Melbourne, Australia
Saturday 6th December – Sydney Opera House Forecourt – Sydney, Australia
Sunday 7th December – Sydney Opera House Forecourt – Sydney, Australia
MORE INFORMATION:
WEBSITE
TIKTOK
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOK
X
KING PARROT Drop New Single + Video: “Get What Ya Given”
Australian Tour Kicks Off This Friday In Warrnambool
USA Tour Dates Through July + August + September On ‘The Heaviest Tour Of The Summer With Pantera + Amon Amarth”
KING PARROT have scraped their latest single and video from the cutting room floor entitled
“Get What Ya Given”.
This latest single from their forthcoming album shows the band at their most raw and vicious. Delving deeply into grind-core and power-violence influences all while delivering it with the trademark King Parrot approach. A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot is due out on June 6.
Further to the new video King Parrot kick off their Australian album launch tour this weekend with shows in Warrnambool and Bendigo. They’ve also been added to the Acid Bath + Pentagram show in New York on July 25 at Brooklyn Paramount before joining “The Heaviest Tour of the Summer” alongside Pantera and Amon Amarth all over the US.
Listen to “GET WHAT YA GIVEN” on King Parrot Spotify now: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1SUN3Jk6gB9lBElMNXVC0f?si=-wGmLB4DRHOay26f_11QJg
Watch the video for “GET WHAT YA GIVEN” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfP9A68j91Q
After recently completing a monstrous 33 date tour through Europe and the UK with stadium dates alongside Pantera and Power Trip followed by a full European club tour with death metal pioneers Master, KING PARROT deliver new single “GET WHAT YA GIVEN” from their forthcoming new album ahead of their first shows on the new album launch tour Matt Young had this to say about the new single: “After experiencing the loss of 2 of my closest friends in 2023, the experience of grief and life hit not only me, but the entire band in a heavy way. We lost our greatest friend and ally Boyd Synnott in 2023 who had done several of our album and EP covers, countless art and merch ideas, as well as acting and helping produce our music videos. This loss crushed us, but also helped fan the fire and drive motivation to push forward with this new album. This song particularly deals with grief, loss and the pressure of everyday life that some find so suffocating. This is a homage to the friends we’ve lost, and to anyone who struggles with this shit. We are grateful to have heavy music as an outlet and channel to work through it all. We have the live shows to come together with our people, celebrate the music and blow off some steam, it’s a pretty damn good deal.”
Further to the release of the single, King Parrot will be launching the new record all over Australia with a swag of new dates announced all around the country kicking on Friday at The Whalers Hotel in Warrnambool and The Golden Vine Hotel in Bendigo on Saturday May 10.
A new US show alongside Acid Bath + Pentagram will take place in New York at Brooklyn Paramount on July 25 before the band join Pantera + Amon Amarth on “The Heaviest Tour of The Summer” all over the USA. A full list of the bands upcoming tour dates can be found below, with more North American dates to be announced in the coming weeks including a string of Canadian shows.
A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot marks the band’s first new output in five years. A hostile and abrasive slab of sensory destroying anthems, the record features ten thoroughly crafted blasts through the psyche of this crazed Aussie quintet. Recorded at Melbourne’s Dangertone studios with engineer Luke Walton, it’s the first full-length album since 2017’s critically adored Ugly Produce offering and their first new music since 2020’s Holed Up In The Lair EP.
Applying a similar approach to the writing process of their previous records, which has been historically organic and old-school, KING PARROT adopted a new approach to the studio process. Pulling the new record together was a meticulously creative endeavour and the final product is the most complete, aggressive, and urgent the band has ever sounded.
“A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot” will be released on June 6, 2025
Pre order are available now!
https://linktr.ee/kingparrot
A Young Person’s Guide To Track Listing:
1. Get What Ya Given
2. Fuck You And The Horse You Rode In On
3. Cunning As A Dunny Rat
4. It’s A Rort
5. Punish The Runt
6. Target Pig Elite
7. I Got The Right
8. Look Away I’m Hideous
9. Glazed And Diseased In Defeat
10. Pissing On The Fist Of The Law
A YOUNG PERSON’S GUIDE TO KING PARROT AUSTRALIAN ALBUM LAUNCH TOUR
Friday 9 May – Whalers, Warrnambool, VIC
Saturday 10 May – Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo, VIC
Friday, 30 May – The Warehouse, Townsville QLD
Saturday 31 May – McGuires Hotel, Mackay QLD
Friday 6 June – Republic Bar, Hobart
Saturday 7 June – Royal Oak, Launceston
Friday 20 June – Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne VIC
Saturday 21 June – Barwon Club, Geelong VIC
Sunday 22 June – Singing Bird, Frankston VIC (Arvo All Ages)
Friday 27 June – Crowbar, Sydney NSW
Saturday 28 June – Thrashville, Hunter Valley NSW
ACID BATH + PENTAGRAM + KING PARROT
July 25: Brooklyn, NY – Paramount
ALL TICKET LINKS FOR THE ABOVE AT
INDIE ROCK QUARTET MO LOWDA & THE HUMBLE OFFER A CREATIVE CONFIDENCE BOOST WITH BREEZY GROOVE “THE PAINTER”
OUT NOW–LISTEN
LUSH, SPIRITED FIFTH LP TAILING THE GHOST IS DUE OUT JUNE 20–PRE-SAVE
NEW DATES ADDED TO SUMMER/FALL NORTH AMERICAN TOUR BEGINNING MAY 23 IN AMAGANSETT, NY WITH A FESTIVAL RUN INCLUDING BOSTON CALLING, GREEN RIVER & MORE
WITH SUPPORT FROM FRENCH CASSETTES & ILLITERATE LIGHT–TICKETS
Philadelphia-based indie rock quartet Mo Lowda & the Humble share their latest shuffling, smooth groove, “The Painter” out now. The synth-driven bubbly, encouraging tune aims to break free from self-doubt and attempts to maintain artistic inspiration through self-compassion and patience.
The band’s spirited, texturally rich fifth studio album Tailing The Ghost is due out June 20 and available for pre-save now. Recorded entirely on the road across America’s most scenic settings, the spellbinding LP promises to be the band’s most commanding, cohesive body of work yet.
Plus, the group will embark on a lengthy North American tour this summer and fall, with support from French Cassettes and Illiterate Light and a slew of festival appearances at Boston Calling, Green River and more. See a full list of dates below and grab tickets now via molowda.com/motour.
Led by a steady, shuffling synthy guitar loop, “The Painter” encourages creativity and shakes off writer’s block with its yacht rock-esque, relaxed energy. Jordan Caiola (lead vocals, guitar, bass) says the track, “tells a story of an artist’s journey–marked by doubts from others/themselves, outside pressures and the ongoing process of finding the inspiration and energy to both start and finish projects. With an overarching theme of ‘every canvas starts off empty and blank,’ this song is meant to provide the nudge and confidence so many creators need to put things out into the world.”
Built across many towns, days and cabins, the bouncy, melodic tune came to life in Pioneertown, CA. Pulling modern jazz-forward guitar inspiration from 1970s Pat Metheny and Robert Fripp, Jeff Lucci (bass, guitar, keyboard, vocals) adds it’s a nod to “the constant battle to find and maintain ambition, inspiration, and work ethic, especially once the initial excitement and muse of creating something new wears off. Finishing things is hard, but I think it’s everything.”
The previously shared double single “7.31/Sara’s Got Big Plans” finds the band coming to terms with change and wishing the best to a past love with their signature warmth, gang vocals and rhythm guitar. Earlier this year came the lush, guitar-driven track “Canary” and its splashy animated music video sinks into the nerves of a budding new romance. RIFF Magazine praised its free-flowing, airy spirit, writing, “[‘Canary’] has a carefree yet grounded energy. Surf-pop-inspired riffs give it a familiar but fresh feel, perfect for fans of alt-folk with a summery edge.”
Listen: “7.31” & “Sara’s Got Big Plans”
Watch “Canary” (Official Music Video) | Listen
The highly anticipated forthcoming fifth studio album, Tailing The Ghost, was written fully on the road with four members setting up their instrument stations in a circle, facing each other and working through the arrangements in real time between home-cooked meals, poker games, and movie viewings. Breathtaking views in Joshua Tree, Lake Travis, TX, Colorado and Tennessee inspired its magnetic sound–the arrangements vary from sparse and spacious like the California desert, glistening like various lakes to lush and sweeping like the Rocky Mountains–taking on the energy of the environments in which they were created.
Lucci explains, “More spontaneity, gut and sense of self assurance was embodied in my approach to writing and recording this record than any other.” The album captures who they each were in the moment, fleeting and on the move, which pushed them to record tightly and quickly. Lucci adds, “It inspired confidence–the cocktail of quickly writing something and recording it rid the band of self-doubt.” The warmth of their true camaraderie is heard in the gang vocals throughout, and each melody lingers long after each track ends.
The highly energetic, unmatched live show will grace stages across the U.S. and Canada beginning with Boston Calling in May and will move through Chicago, Vancouver, Seattle, Austin, Los Angeles, Nashville, and conclude in their home city of Philadelphia in November. With new dates across California, Texas and North Carolina added, tickets are on sale now here.
Born out of the house show scene in Philadelphia, Mo Lowda & the Humble shared their first album, Curse The Weather in 2013, and have been non-stop ever since–vigorously playing over 90 shows a year. Remaining fully independent, the group have garnered millions of streams across platforms and boasts over 47K listeners on Spotify alone. The quartet has captivated audiences nationally and internationally and have solidified veteran festival status regularly playing Firefly, Peach Fest, Mountain Jam and more. Now, the band is ready to ascend to the next level with an assertive album that showcases their singular chemistry, masterful instrumentation and unparalleled blend of precision and spontaneity.
With its tight harmonies and rolling rhythm, Mo Lowda & the Humble’s “The Painter,” out now, offers a buoyant reminder to trust one’s own creativity. Tailing The Ghost, their glowing, driving fifth studio album is due out June 20 and available for pre-save now. Don’t miss the lively quartet live this summer and fall across North America with tickets on sale now via molowda.com/motour. Keep up with all things Mo Lowda & the Humble on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube and stay tuned for much more to come from the bonafide rockers.
CONNECT WITH MO LOWDA & THE HUMBLE:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud | TikTok | Bandcamp
SARCOMA ‘KAAMOS’ (Album out May 29)
She/Her Records and SARCOMA present KAAMOS, the artist’s second full-length album, arriving May 29, 2025. KAAMOS marks a stark evolution in SARCOMA’s sound — descending into the bleak terrain of death industrial and classic power electronics, and leaving behind the EBM pulse that defined her earlier work.
Written and recorded during the depths of winter 2025, KAAMOS is a raw, unflinching reflection on SARCOMA’s time in Finland, limerence, borderline personality disorder, and the isolating weight of dysphoria. Saturated with dense textures, haunting samples, and a visceral emotional core, the album is described by the artist as “a breakup with her EBM phase.”
Following her contribution to TDoV Compilation 1, KAAMOS marks SARCOMA’s first solo release on She/Her Records.
KAAMOS was written and recorded by a troubled and complicated lesbian. Expect nothing less than brutal honesty and uncompromising noise.
About SARCOMA //
SARCOMA is the experimental project of Luna Jiménez, a Madrid-based trans noise artist whose work blends power electronics, death industrial, and post-EBM deconstruction. Also active in La Profecía, Dunkelwald, Junio, and Asalto, Luna channels SARCOMA as a raw and emotional outlet for exploring dysphoria, chronic loneliness, and the complex, often painful experiences of trans existence. Through intense soundscapes and confrontational noise, her work becomes a space to navigate survival and release — turning suffering into cathartic sonic expression.
SARCOMA’s debut album NOT CROSSES (2024) emerged as a personal Downward Spiral — an unflinching exploration of emotional extremes shaped by trauma and isolation. The album, with its fractured rhythms and abrasive textures, resonated deeply within the experimental noise community. This success led to vinyl editions of both the original album and a remixed version via 「lotura」, and soon after, Luna began performing live, including a debut show opening for Lydia Lunch in Madrid. She followed the album with Peritoneal Disseminations, an EP centered on grief and the emotional roots of the project. In early 2025, her contribution to TDoV Compilation 1 on She/Her Records further connected SARCOMA to a wider network of trans experimental artists.
SARCOMA’s sound has been described as “Pharmakon’s pain and Merzbow’s stridencies meeting at the most depressing rave on the outskirts of Madrid.” Luna’s music blends punishing noise with emotional urgency, creating a raw, visceral listening experience. Her live shows often incorporate nudity as a political act — reclaiming the trans body in non-eroticized, desexualized spaces — heightening the emotional intensity and transforming each performance into a shared confrontation with discomfort, embodiment, and connection.
KAAMOS Tour Dates //
To celebrate the release of KAAMOS, SARCOMA will be embarking on a short but powerful tour across Spain. The tour will feature intense, immersive performances designed to bring the emotional weight of the album to life.
Dates:
17.05 – Valencia (La Resi)
29.05 – Madrid (El Balconcito)
30.05 – Bilbao (Donations)
01.06 – Santander (La New)
Video teaser:
https://youtu.be/ajwvQSvf0HU
Tracklist:
01. Infinite Bargaining
02. The Lesbian Posture
03. Psychic Rejection
04. Cumming LCL
05. MTD (Male to Dyke)
06. Growing a dick in dreams
07. Kill The Cis
08. Let Go
Release date:
May 29th, 2025 (available on all major streaming and music distribution platforms)
Pre-order already available on Bandcamp & Ampwall
Pre-order link:
https://album.link/sarcoma-kaamos
ELLA ION RELEASES TWO-TRACK “MAP // CREATURE SKIN”+ SIGNS TO CRASHER MUSIC FOR AU/NZ BOOKINGS
+ PLAYING THE GREAT ESCAPE NEXT WEEK + SUPPORTING FOLK BITCH TRIO IN LONDON & PARIS
This week Kaurna Land/Adelaide based Ella Ion shares her first new music in over two years with two track “Map // Creature Skin” out now via Our Golden Friend. Ella will also showcase at The Great Escape in Brighton this month and support Folk Bitch Trio at their shows in London and Paris, full tour dates below.
~ LISTEN TO “MAP // CREATURE SKIN” HERE ~
With her first release since 2023 album ‘Waiting’, Ion is determined to disrupt the circuit of tension that was bubbling throughout her debut LP. All grown up, she’s no longer content with waiting. In a reclamation of agency, she’s chasing after what she wants, and she’s doing it on her own terms. With this new perspective comes a new layer of rugged vulnerability to her sound.
A serendipitous meeting between Ella and Stefan Blair, one half of Good Morning, led to Ella extending her time in Melbourne early last month, initially only in the city on account of a one-off pop-up show at The Tote. Over two days at York Street Recorders they melded Ella’s folk leanings with Stefan’s intricate production skills honed through a decade in one of Australia’s most beloved self-produced indie duos. The songs were mixed by Dylan Young (Way Dynamic) and Liam “Snowy” Halliwell and features the cello of Lucinda Machin.
On ‘Creature Skin’, one half of her latest two-track release, Ion confronts past iterations of herself. Like shedding layers of skin that she no longer needs, the track explores Ion’s newfound strength in fragility – a product of necessity born out of leaving a version of who she once was behind. She steps into the light of blatant honesty, raw but ready. The counterpart track, ‘Maps’, offers a further insight behind the veil of the musician’s reflective contemplations as she moves forward. Centred around the strangeness of trusting someone new, Ion’s ability to trace the contours of old wounds with poetic lyricism is an exercise in cutting the listener straight to the bone. Exploring ideas of bodily autonomy and the hands of another, the musician treks through a terrain of emotional uncertainty as she figures out how to tread safely in complete and utter exposure.
Alongside the new music comes the announcement that Ella has signed with Crasher Music for bookings in Australia and New Zealand. Helmed by Chinese-New Zealand agent, DJ, and multi-award-nominated music journalist, Jess Fu. Having worked in the music industry in Aotearoa, Australia and the USA, Jess has built up a unique perspective and experience. Previously working at Village Sounds Jess built up a roster of rising NZ artists that fast became fan favourites. Her artists have sold out a multitude of shows, won national awards, and opened for major international acts. She currently works with the likes of D.C. Maxwell, Holliday Howe, Hanbee and BBYFACEKILLA.
Single artwork by Tom Katsaras
Emerging from Kaurna Land (Adelaide, Australia), fragmented-folk musician Ella Ion crafts music that cuts deep to the core. Drawing on influences of indie-rock, folk and country, her eloquent lyricism and masterful musical control delivers a cacophony of raw emotion, anchored by grit and heart. Ion has already amassed a loyal following across Australia, having played at a plethora of prolific venues, events and shows. However, the reach of her sonic capabilities stretches beyond country borders, with listeners streaming her music across the UK, US, Europe and more.
From picking up a guitar at 10 years old to performing in beloved local bands as a teenager, Ion broke into the wider music scene in 2023 with her debut LP ‘Waiting’. A 10-track exploration of the tension between longing, stagnancy and growth, ‘Waiting’ saw Ion earn praise for her seamless ability to balance deft introspection with an outward curiosity. Like her songwriting, Ion’s live performances similarly demonstrate the musician’s masterful range. From intimate encounters of tender folk to electrifying post-rock arrangements, Ion flaunts her ability to transform a room of anyone and everyone into a fan with her magnetic stage presence, considered songwriting and angelic vocal range.
Ella Ion is holding nothing back as she barrels forward in a direction of raw sonic and personal exploration. With a renewed creative direction and personal clarity, she’s carving out her own path in real time.
You can listen to “Map // Creature Skin” HERE
TOUR DATES
Wed 14 May – St Pancras Old Church – London, UK (supporting Folk Bitch Trio) – SOLD OUT
Fri 16 May – Manchester Street Arts Club @ 1:15PM – Brighton, UK (Pure Represents Showcase)
Sat 17 May – TGE Beach @ 3:00PM – Brighton UK (Sounds Australia Showcase)
Mon 19 May – La Méchanique Ondulatoire – Paris, FR (supporting Folk Bitch Trio) – TICKETS
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LADYBIRDS ‘BALLADS BEHIND BARS 5’ (Album)
LADYBIRDS is the exciting new fifth release from the Songbirds Prison Music and Art program, funded by the Community Restorative Centre and Corrective Services NSW.
It is the culmination of the very successful Make Music Project initiated by Rolling Stone/Brag media, Corrective Services NSW and CRC; a tour of 6 NSW Women’s Prisons from Silverwater to Grafton Via Wellington and Broken Hill, featuring live concerts from artists such as Amy Shark, Karen Lee Andrews, A Girl and Nancy Bates.
The women in custody attended workshops and wrote songs prior to these shows, where they got to perform them using professional sound and lighting, alongside these well-known female artists, to rapturous encouragement and responses.
The songs were then recorded inside and arranged and backed by Songbirds coordinator and founder Murray Cook (Midnight Oil, Warumpi Band, Mentals, Mixed Relations, Leah Purcell), who has 30 years of prison music teaching experience, then produced by Murray with Marc Scully (Rat Cat, Omegaman, Nick Barker, Deadly Hume) at Studio 57.
Cameos from some of the best Australian Musicians such as Amanda Brown (REM, Go Betweens), Jim Moginie (Oils), Nerida Wu (Taikoz, Western Distributors) and Rick Robertson (D.I.G).
The cover art comes from female participants in the Songbirds Art program and the Torch prison art project in Victoria.
The strength, honesty and candour of the lyrics and music shine through along with the quality of production and backing to create an amazing set of songs, both confronting and catchy; please support this project and of course the ladies, who have turned their lives around with music and had their stories heard.
THE MAKING OF LADYBIRDS ALBUM
Ladybirds is the 5th album in the Community Restorative Centre’s (CRC) Songbirds lauded series of original songs written and recorded in NSW Correctional Centres. It is the culmination of the successful ‘Make Music’ tour of women’s prisons, initiated and sponsored by Brag Media / Rolling Stone, Corrective Services NSW and CRC.
The institutions contributing were Silverwater Women’s CC, Dillwynia CC, Wellington CC, Clarence CC, Mid north Coast CC and Broken Hill CC; these were recipients of concerts by well known female performers Amy Shark, Karen Lee Andrews, A Girl and Nancy Bates.
Prior to the concerts the women in custody participated in Songbirds songwriting workshops with coordinator Murray Cook (Midnight Oil, Warumpi Band, Mental as Anything, Mixed Relations, Leah Purcell Group) and performed their original songs at these professionally produced concerts to rapturous responses from fellow women in custody, prison staff and visitors. The visiting artists sat with the incarcerated ladies and answered questions, chatted, laughed shared tips and stories, and in turn listened to their own stories and hopes and dreams for the future post-release.
The original songs were recorded on the inside (often in gyms, libraries, cells, bathrooms!) using Murray’s portable but high quality recording setup, some of the women played their own guitar accompaniment, but most had limited experience of singing in to a microphone and the whole recording process. After a few attempts, turning down of lighting to minimize nerves and encouragement from their peers, the results exceeded all expectations. Songs of love, loss, abuse, violence, redemption, desolation and hope were sung with so much feeling and depth of experience; even including spoken word and poetry. The potential mix, feels and musical genres of the songs were discussed and planned before the workshops ended.
The raw songs, mostly sung to a lone guitar or beatbox accompaniment, were taken back to Fuddsville Studios, where they were arranged and backed by Murray and rough mixes sent back to the writers/performers for approval. Studio time at Studio 57 was booked after achievement of acclaimed results there for Songbirds 4, and the songs were professionally mixed and enhanced with cutting edge recording technology by producer Marc Scully ( Omegaman, Ratcat). In most of the songs the original drum machine was replaced by the beats of revered drummer Nerida Wu (Taikoz, Western Distributors), and cameos from Amanda Brown (Go Betweens, REM), Maya Luana (Clews), Rick Robertson (D.I.G) and John Kaldor (Western Distributors).
The mixes were mastered by Marc Scully after some painstaking work and much tweaking; the results speak for themselves, amazing despite a shoestring budget. From the driving hip hop opening track we move through soul, funk, spoken word, gospel, country, drill rap and R and B, the song order tells us a story climaxing with the beautiful and soulful ballad ‘Love is Green’ from the women of the Clarence Correctional Centre.
The artwork on the CD cover is an original painting by a Taungurung woman from a Victorian prison, and CD and online artwork feature paintings from the Songbirds Art program. Striking graphics were created by artist Rory Flynn (Fairfax, Nine, SMH). The entire package is a superb representation of the women’s expression, talents and determination to have their stories told and listened to; and as such is not only a joy to listen or dance to, but a social and historical document. Do yourself a favour and buy a CD or download, all money goes back into this important program
https://songbirds.bandcamp.com/album/ladybirds
https://www.crcnsw.org.au/services/post-release-music-arts/
MOVIE CLUB ‘Black Mamba’ (EP/Video)
Relentlessly pushing boundaries and breaking new ground, Movie Club continues to use their Venice Beach locale to influence them both sonically and visually. Introducing Black Mamba – the band’s 7th studio record and their heaviest songs yet – a threesong release centered around the Year of the Snake. The songs were recorded and mixed by Mike Kriebel (Oh Sees, Ty Segall) and feature continued collaboration with bassist Tim Lefebvre (David Bowie) and David Ralicke (St. Vincent) on baritone sax. The band is releasing a 7’’ and double music videos alongside the digital drop, all due out on Friday, June 6th. Movie Club has been working feverishly towards the dream since 2018, with drummer Jessamyn Violet and guitarist Vince Cuneo gathering momentum towards their Psychedelic Circus West Coast tour June 10th-19th in celebration of the duel releases of the Black Mamba EP as well as Jessamyn’s second novel Venice Peach (out June 10th through Maudlin House). “The way we were able to weave these releases together is pretty wild and unexpected,” Jessamyn says. “We shot a spoof trailer for my book that ended up bleeding into the other two music videos, plot-wise, in a really fun way. I’ve savored every minute of this past year’s creative process and am so grateful to be able to make it happen in these trying times. We believe art is absolutely essential—especially right now—and we all must do whatever it takes to keep going.”
Introducing Grindhouse Venice, the music video package for singles “Python” and “Black Mamba” that is basically a 10 minute short film. It features a quick funny trailer at the top, then dives into the music video for “Python” directed and edited by Jessamyn, featuring Vince as a Venice clown goofing around town. Immediately following is the music video for “Black Mamba” – directed and edited by Vince and featuring Jessamyn as an assassin taking out select shady characters around Venice. The two also shot the videos themselves, assuming all the roles needed to get the job done. This double music video presentation and format draws reference from Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s 2007 director double feature film Grindhouse. “Since this group is centered around our love for cinema and how music can enhance a visual, this was one of the most fun projects we’ve taken on as a band,” Vince says. “There was a point where I had to get into my clown suit four times in a week. It felt like it was my new day job. What I enjoyed most was that we live in a place where people told me they liked my ‘outfit’ instead of saying they liked my ‘costume.’ To me, that sums up Venice Beach: Accepting of anyone and anything.”
NIKOLAS LEE ‘Suspended City’ (Single)
Nikolas Lee, the independent singer-songwriter known for blending introspective folk with nostalgia and psychedelic elements, is set to release his latest single, “Suspended City”. The track, available on all major streaming platforms, is part of the debut EP, Friend Frequency, and takes listeners on a journey through the unfamiliarity of a new place and the familiar pull of past memories.
Blending Nostalgia and New Beginnings in a Psychedelic Folk Anthem
Beginning with a mysterious atmosphere blending distorted guitar and drums, “Suspended City” captures listeners attention from the top. As the track unfolds, the mood shifts to a brighter, more optimistic tone, with growing guitars, piano, and rhythmic drums evoking both nostalgia and uncertainty. The folk-indie anthem features soft, ethereal vocals that enhance its psychedelic feel, offering a dreamy yet grounded atmosphere. The song’s narrative follows a character adjusting to life in a new city, facing her fears and reflecting on her past, all while navigating a space where she feels out of place. With memorable riffs and a mix of folk, rock, and psychedelia, “Suspended City” captures the emotional complexity of starting over and finding belonging, blending the past and present in a powerful exploration of self-discovery. “Surviving in a city where I feel like I’m gonna drown/ It’s got my head spinning for fear that I won’t back down”.
Nikolas Lee’s Music: A Road Of Personal Growth
Nikolas Lee is an independent singer-songwriter and producer whose music blends nostalgia with world-weary optimism, fostering personal growth and self-discovery. Influenced by both, classic and contemporary songwriters, Lee brings authenticity wrapped in warm, lush tones, punctuated by moments of distortion and psychedelia. A signature element of his artistic identity is Freddy, the “Pink Creature” representing his ADHD alter ego—creative, funny, and optimistic, yet often masked by a more serious, anxious side. Originally from Brighton, UK, Nikolas began his musical journey in his 20s, performing with international artists across the UK, Europe, and North America. After a creative hiatus, he now calls Melbourne home, with a renewed sense of purpose, channelling his experiences into music, his debut EP “Friend Frequency” marks a new chapter as an artist.
Friend Frequency is an intimate EP, speaking to those still searching for a place in an ever-changing world while exploring themes of self-discovery and emotional catharsis. Produced by Ben Provest, with a blend of poetic lyricism and layered folk instrumentation, it features tracks like “Gone”, a catchy anthem, “Never Had a Home”, a reflective folk piece, and “Emily”, a raw look at overcoming childhood trauma. The EP, available now on all major platforms, invites listeners on a personal journey through nostalgia and growth.
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