The Goodnight City Tour begins at Perth’s Astor Theatre on Wednesday 8th March, before traversing the country to take in Sydney, Thirroul, Canberra, Newcastle, Lismore and Brisbane. The tour will wrap up with Hobart, Devonport and Bendigo performances. Tickets are on sale at 10am local time, Friday 11th November.

On this visit, Martha will be accompanied on vocals and guitar by a three-piece band, comprising drums, piano and bass.

Martha’s new album and first in four years, Goodnight City will be released on 11 November (Inertia), and is poised to be her best record yet. The 13-track album is confessional, impressionistic and dynamic – songs that twist and turn with a surging intensity, showcasing her distinguished songwriting craft and an astonishingly versatile voice; a voice that soars, sighs, provokes and tells secrets.

Goodnight City includes several original works as well as songs written for the album by Beth Orton, Rufus Wainwright, Michael Ondaatje and Glen Hansard.  The album was produced by Thomas Bartlett (Sufjan Stevens, Glen Hansard) and Brad Albetta (Angus and Julia Stone, Teddy Thompson).

‘Around The Bend’ is the stunning lead single from Goodnight City, recently premiering on The Line Of Best Fit, where it was described as, “ as sweetly melodic as it is dramatic with tinges of dark humour.” NPR suggest that the track has  “… an air evocative of Kate Bush…”

Martha’s commanding stage presence has taken her to some of the world’s premiere music festivals, from Glastonbury and Bonnaroo to Lollapalooza and V Festival, at which she performed with Snow Patrol in 2007. With an undeniable voice and an arsenal of powerful songs, Martha has sold out iconic venues including NYC’s Carnegie Hall and more.

A late night television staple, Martha has performed live on The Late Show with David Letterman, Later with Jools Holland, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and more, also gracing the set of local ABC program Spicks And Specks in its second season.

Joining Martha as Special Guests on the full tour are local pop duo Oh Pep!. Stadium Cake, the debut release from the talented outfit has been praised by Rolling Stone as “faultless folk-rock”, while Stereogum described it as “instantly captivating”. The Australian noted “…acoustic pop earworms… gloriously hummable hooks” in a 4-star review.

Martha Wainwright is a refreshingly different force in music. Prior to her 2005 critically acclaimed and commercially successful debut self-titled album, she began building a buzz with her well-noted EPs. London’s Sunday Times included the song “Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole” in their songs of the year and Rolling Stone called it “a blistering prelude to her debut album.”

The daughter of folk legends Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III, Martha’s immersion in music from an early age is evident in her command of the stage and her masterful handling of a spectrum of musical styles. Her songs provide a window into her life without artifice or pretension.

Don’t miss this extraordinary performer when she lands on our shores for intimate shows in March 2017.

Martha Wainwright Aussie Tour
March 08 – Astor Theatre, Perth
March 10 – Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne
March 11 – Taronga Zoo, Sydney
March 12 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
March 14 – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul
March 15 – Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra
March 16 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
March 18 – City Hall, Lismore
March 19 – The Triffid, Brisbane
March 22 – Theatre Royal, Hobart
March 23 – Entertainment Centre, Devonport
March 24 – Capital Theatre, Bendigo
www.marthawainwright.com

It also highlights how effective a band leader Budjana is as he coaxes some amazing performances from his fellow contributors. Takes the guitar work from guest ax man Guthrie Govan. Govan steps way outside his pyrotechnical Aristocrats wrangling and delivers a rubbery tone poem so drenched in selective emotions it’s remarkable. Elsewhere Danny Markovich breathes life into his woodwind with some unison playing that lock steps on the road to nirvana.

The backing band is also filled with heavyweights (and includes Tony Levin, Jack Dejohnette and Gary Husband to name a few) but then it defies contemporary logic with interplay that is so subtle and finely nuanced. Individual glory completely submerged to the collective gain. Once again Budjana’s leadership is an outstanding feature. There is even some real live orchestral embellishments care of the Czech Symphony Orchestra that provide even more emotional impact.

Saying music is a universal language is an easy statement to make but one that carriers great importance, especially given the divisive times we currently have to endure. This work collects talent from across the globe and puts it to work in a way that helps to transcend borders and theologies. Worldwide unity will have to come from the creative sphere because so little exists outside of it.

Rob Hudson
www.dewabudjana.com

The song is the first taste of new music from their yet-to-be-announced forthcoming second LP to be released in 2017 via Dew Process / UMA.

The band have also revealed the details for their one and only Australian headline show to take place at Paddington Town Hall, Sydney on Thursday, January 5 – Ballot is now closed and entrants will be sent an invitation for the ticket link shortly.
www.londongrammar.com

The Dandy Warhols return to Australia in support of their latest album, ‘Distortland’.

‘Distortland’ was first recorded in’frontman, Courtney Taylor’s basement on an 80s cassette recorder with the band’putting on the finishing touches in a studio. Jim Lowe – best known for his work with Taylor Swift and Beyonce – mixed’ the album. Courtney notes that the end result is an album that is “organized like a pop record but still has the sonic garbage still in there”. This will be Australia’s first chance to hear new material live and in living colour. Speaking to Mixdown Magazine, frontman, Courtney Taylor spoke about the upcoming Australian tour, “We love Australia it’s part of our family, it’s part of our body.“

With an impressive back catalogue of iconic hits, The Dandy’s set list is sure to not only include Distortland future classics, but also be jam packed with pure pop crowd favourites, including ’We Used To Be Friends’, ’Horse Pills’, ’Get Off’, ’Godless’, ’Everyday Should Be A Holiday’, ’Boys Better’ and of course the evergreen crowd pleaser ’Bohemian Like You’.

The Dandy Warhols Distortland Tour
26th October – PERTH Metro City
27th October – ADELAIDE HQ
29th October – BRISBANE Eatons Hill Hotel
30th October – GOLD COAST Parkwood Tavern
3rd November – CANBERRA ANU Bar
4th November – SYDNEY Big Top
5th November – MELBOURNE Palais Theatre
www.dandywarhols.com

‘Where’s The Laughter’ was written and recorded by Steele in the basement studio of her childhood home in Perth and co-produced with fellow Perth native Matt Gio (Abbe May, San Cisco, Birds Of Tokyo). Of working with Gio, Steele says their collaboration was inspired by experimentation and hip hop production. “We started to experiment with making our own loops out of percussive layers like clicks, claps and things really started to change feel. The sngs started to feel real and human. We were heavilty influenced by raw, organic sounding percussion and it really became a foundation for the record. I wanted tomarry that element with my obsession with the voice and gospel choirs.”

That percussive exploration also influenced the mixing of the record, as Katy enlisted Eric J Dubowsky (Flume, Chet Faker, Wafia) who’s revered touch added a contemporary dynamic that pushed the record to another level.

Human is an album filled with colour and versatility, showcasing a determined level of artistry, that is immediately obvious thanks to the sheer amount of energy Steele and collaborator Matt Gio have injected into the LP. The songs have undergone several evolutions, as Steele explains. “Some of the tunes were written in Perth on a clunky upright in my parents front room. Some were written in an underground studio in Dumbo, Brooklyn. This debut really is a snapshot of the last few years of my life.”

Since her time fronting Little Birdy, the “nation-conquering rock outfit led by one of our country’s most charismatic and gifted female musicians” (The Music) for eight-years and three wildly revered ARIA top 10 albums (Confetti (2009), Hollywood (2006) and Bigbiglove (2004)), Steele has proven herself to be an artist that has carved out a career in her own right. Human allows for an eye opening glimpse into all that Katy Steele’s journey has lead up to until now, while providing sonic clarity to the path she is set to take in the future.

Katy Steele “Where’s The Laughter” National Tour
THURSDAY 8 SEPTEMBER – PLAN B, SYDNEY, NSW
FRIDAY 9 SEPTEMBER – WORKERS CLUB, GEELONG, VIC
SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBER – HUGS AND KISSES, MELBOURNE, VIC
SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBER – BLACK BEAR LODGE, BRISBANE, QLD
SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBE – MOJO, FREMANTLE, WA
www.katysteele.com

Love You To Death is the band’s 8th studio album and once again finds the group working with producer Greg Kurstin (Adele, Sia, Beck, Ellie Goulding). It is slated for release on June 3rd, with the first single ‘Boyfriend’ out now.
 

 
Boyfriend has already received rave reviews from fans and press alike. Vulture exclaims “Are there two greater pop songwriters walking this Earth than Tegan & Sara Quin? Not many. And oh baby, they’re finally back with more synth-pop perfection.” SPIN calls the track a “swirling, lushly synthesized confection (handclaps and a f**king killer chorus included),”and Rolling Stone proclaims “The synths beam and blare over thundering percussion, while Sara Quin belts the song’s charmingly cheeky and lovestruck hook.”

Tegan & Sara have been featured by Buzzfeed in a comprehensive document of the duo’s journey over their 17-year career, from their early days to indie rock success, signing to a major label and performing at the Academy Awards, right up to recording Love You to Death. In the unprecedented music profile, Tegan discloses that the album is about “how debilitating and transformative” relationships can be, including those Tegan & Sara have with each other. The album is a product of their strengthened bond and of being more comfortable with who they truly are, and Buzzfeed identifies it as their “strongest, catchiest record to date.”

Born in Calgary, Alberta and now residing in Vancouver, BC, Tegan and Sara have won 3 Juno Awards, 2 Polaris Prize nominations and a Grammy nomination.

Tegan & Sara 2016 Australian Tour
Sunday 24 July 2016 – Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay
Monday 25 July 2016 – 170 Russell, Melbourne
Tuesday 26 July 2016 – The Metro, Sydney
www.teganandsara.com

David Bowie is was created by the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London drawing upon unprecedented access to the David Bowie Archive of costumes, objects, album artwork, and memorabilia. The exhibition includes lyric sheets, hundreds of photographs, stage sets, rare videos, filmed live shows, over 50 costumes and interviews with key collaborators.

Special displays within the exhibition explore Bowie’s influences as musician, stage performer, writer and actor – and his continuing legacy. At its world premiere in London in March 2013, it was the V&A’s fastest selling exhibition and became one of its most popular shows, drawing over 311,000 visitors and widespread critical acclaim.

ACMI Director & CEO, Tony Sweeney, said the landmark exhibition showcases Bowie as a true innovator in music, fashion and culture, and traces his changing style and reinvention.

“The mystery of David Bowie as an enigma is so lovingly explored in this incredible immersive exhibition you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped inside the mind of this astonishing cultural and pop icon,” Tony said. “Bowie is a figure whose social and creative influence and significance far exceeds his status as a pre-eminent rock performer and in David Bowie is, his incredible career is showcased in glorious detail.”

The V&A’s curators, Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh, from the Museum’s Department of Theatre and Performance, selected more than 300 objects and films for the show. Of the exhibition they said:

“The exhibition looks in-depth at how Bowie’s music and radical individualism has both influenced and been influenced by wider movements in art, design, film and contemporary popular culture over an incredible 50-year career and demonstrates how Bowie has inspired others to challenge convention and pursue freedom of expression.”

Bowie’s first major hit Space Oddity (1969) and the introduction of his first fictionalised stage persona Major Tom, inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, granted him critical and commercial success as an established solo artist. His cinematic influences abound with his elaborate storyboards and set design for the Diamond Dogs tour (1974) – originally envisioned as a musical – inspired by Fritz Lang’s film Metropolis (1927), leading him to take the combination of rock music and theatre to new heights.

Excerpts and props from Bowie’s own work in feature films such as Labyrinth (1986) and Basquiat (1996) are displayed in the exhibition, as do many of his ambitious and ground-breaking music videos. The year 1972 marked the birth of his most famous creation; Ziggy Stardust, a daringly androgynous and otherworldly being. A pivotal performance of Starman on Top of the Pops in a multi-coloured suit signalled a challenge of social conventions, daring fans to shape their own identities.

Bowie’s collaborations with artists and designers in the fields of fashion, sound, graphics, theatre, art and film are explored throughout the exhibition. On display are more than 50 stage costumes including Ziggy Stardust bodysuits (1972) designed by Freddie Burretti, Kansai Yamamoto’s flamboyant creations for the Aladdin Sane tour (1973) and the Union Jack coat designed by Bowie and Alexander McQueen for the Earthling album cover (1997).

Bowie’s fruitful experimental period in Berlin between 1977 and 1979 is also explored through a series of pioneering records he produced known as the Berlin Trilogy, including the creation of the stylish Thin White Duke persona identified with the Station to Station album and tour (1976).

More personal items such as never-before-seen storyboards, handwritten set lists and lyrics are also featured in the exhibition as well as some of Bowie’s own sketches, musical scores and diary entries, revealing the evolution of his creative ideas.

ACMI is the exclusive Australasian venue for David Bowie is. The ACMI season will include a specially curated program of talks and special events, late night programs, film screenings and live performances.

“The sheer grandure brought tears to my eyes” – The Daily Telegraph

“Absolutely incredible… fabulous” – Jean Paul Gaultier

“A simple endorsement of pure stardom” – The Independent

David Bowie is
16 July – 1 November 2015
Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne
www.acmi.net.au/exhibitions/bowie