Five years on from her last Australian visit, Feist’s towering live performances have gained her worldwide acclaim, with the musician swinging between whispers and wails, from luminous ballads to the unhinged guitars also heard in her work with Broken Social Scene.

Possessing a nomadic, ever-evolving spirit with echoes of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and fellow Canadian Leonard Cohen, Feist’s recent six year sabbatical saw her side-step any pop traps set by the immense success of The Reminder and Metals, the latter of which debuted at No.9 on the Billboard Chart and was named Album of the Year by The New York Times.

To date, Feist’s music has sold over 3 million units worldwide and amassed more than 500 million streams. She’s been described as “an artist yet to disappoint” by tastemaker Consequence Of Sound, and on her November-December dates will draw from five timeless albums to mesmerise Australian audiences.

Feist Australian Tour
November 28 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
December 01 – Forum Theatre, Melbourne
December 03 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney
www.listentofeist.com

The driving, ecstatic ‘It Came to Me’ begins with a squall of guitar and a rush of drums, quickly formed into a mean, bluesy riff textured with classical acoustic harp.  Brad Barr’s voice distorts to a rasp, telling the tale of a Zen-like quest for answers to the questions of the universe.

“Since we were kids, Brad and I would sit down at our instruments and, without speaking, launch into playing loud rock and roll at high volume. It was probably in part to drown out the confusing noise of youth and being told what to do all the time, and in part it was a way of communicating with each other in a language that was probably more expressive and fun than our normal middle school banter – it also prevented a lot of fighting over the remote control. All to say, when we went to St. Zenon (In Quebec, to demo songs for the new album) late one night, we sat down together and started playing this one. It came easily and cheerfully, and when Brad started singing “It Came to Me”, I laughed at this almost “snake chasing its tale moment”, a song lyric aware of itself  – and so this one came like that, when we sat down with no agenda and tapped into one of our oldest sorts of dialogue,” says Andrew Barr.

The new album arrives after the longest-ever pause in Brad and Andrew Barr’s 20-year career in music.  Both became fathers since 2014’s Sleeping Operator was released.  In that time, Sarah Page also found ways to completely redefine the harp, its sound, and its role in modern music. ‘Queens of the Breakers’ was born out of reflection of what home and family mean now, after the effects of life on the road.

The Barr Brothers released their debut album, recorded in a boiler room in Montreal, in 2011.  Since then they’ve performed on The Late Show twice, several NPR programs, CBC ‘q’, CBS This Morning Saturday, Canada AM, France Inter “Le Nouveau Rendez-Vous”, KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic and more. They’ve shared stages with The National, The War On Drugs, Patrick Watson, My Morning Jacket, Emmylou Harris and countless others.  They headlined the Montreal Jazz Festival in front of 40,000 people and have sold out venues across the world.  2014’s Sleeping Operator was a breakthrough record, with spins on over 50 Triple A radio stations in the US. It was playlisted with all 3 singles and the band did 6 sessions across every BBC Radio stations in the UK. Sleeping Operator is now over 60 million combined streams.

‘Queens of the Breakers’ was engineered by Ryan Freeland (Milk Carton Kids, Ray LaMontagne, Bonnie Raitt) and Marcus Paquin (Arcade Fire, The National).  It was recorded in Montreal and St. Zenon, Quebec.
www.facebook.com/thebarrbrothers

Talking to Stack Magazine about the process of writing When We Fall, Elana explains: “Writing is an incredibly diplomatic experience, everyone in the group, on the album, has three songs each. There really isn’t any arguing. I know that sounds like it must be bullsh-t, but it really isn’t. There were no egos to begin with because of the way the band started – it was a fun project and it wasn’t intended to go this far. It’s really always been about the friendships, they’re the most important thing. And if everything else goes well, then that’s great.”  Discussing the naming of When We Fall with The Brag, Georgia adds “The thing I like about was that it’s a collective thing, When I fall I have the girls; When we Fall we have each other”.

A testament to their musical strength and vulnerability, When We Fall is a collection of songs that are enough to make grown men bawl. But beneath the sweet, potent harmonies and lamentations of love, lie four witty and intelligent feminists who harness their talent for good not evil. When We Fall was produced and engineered by Wayne Connolly (Sarah Blasko, Silverchair, You Am I) and features musicians Zoe Hauptmann (Finn Brothers, Lanie Lane, Paul Kelly), Evan Mannell (Faker, Bertie Blackman, Lior), Dave Symes (Boy and Bear, Sarah Blasko), Tim Hart (Boy and Bear) and Hamish Stuart (Lucie Thorne, Jackie Orszáczky).

The Exes share a deep passion for vocal harmonies and heartbreakingly good songwriting. This killer combination has seduced audiences across the country and the world as they travelled across Australia from Port Fairy Folk Festival to Darwin Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, WOMADelaide and The National Folk Festival. Not to mention closing proceedings at the Sydney Opera House for TEDx, stunning audiences in Ireland, the UK and US; playing their biggest headline shows on home soil and touring regionally with Boy and Bear; signing a record deal with ABC Music; being nominated in the 2016 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition; a string of nominations for the inaugural National Live Music Awards; recording with (no big deal) Ryan Lewis and supporting the likes of The Backstreet Boys (USA), Passenger  (UK), Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats (USA) and Tiny Ruins (NZ), and Australian icons Megan Washington, Kate Miller-Heidke and Mama Kin. Seriously, do these ladies ever sleep?

With the release of their debut on the same day as their Perth Festival show, Talking to The West Australian, Hannah promises plenty of celebrating on stage.  “You should expect us having four bottles of champagne and shaking them up and down and just pouring them over each other,” she says, laughing, “and the audience.”

Our Exes Live in Texas When We Fall National Tour
10 June 2017 – LIZOTTES, NEWCASTLE
FRI 16 June 2017 – BRASS MONKEY, CRONULLA
SAT 17 June 2017 – METRO SOCIAL @ THE METROPOLE, KATOOMBA
FRI 23 June 2017 – JIVE, ADELAIDE
SAT 24 June 2017 – BABUSHKA, PERTH
SUN 25 June 2017 – FLY BY NIGHT, FREMANTLE
FRI 30 June 2017 – HERITAGE HOTEL, BULLI
SAT 01 July 2017 – FACTORY THEATRE, SYDNEY
FRI 07 July 2017 – HOWLER, MELBOURNE
SAT 08 July 2017 – WORKERS CLUB, GEELONG
THU 13 July 2017 – STUDIO 56 @ MIAMI MARKETTA, GOLD COAST
FRI 14 July 2017 – BISON BAR, NAMBOUR
SAT 15 July 2017 – OLD MUSEUM, BRISBANE
www.allourexesliveintexas.com

The last time the duo were in the country they played two sold-out shows in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as massive festival slots at Falls, Southbound and Field day, with many hailing the psychedelic folk act as ‘stand outs’ of the 2014 festival circuit. With the Sydney Morning Herald posing the question, “How do you know a hit? When everyone at the festival stops what they’re doing and sprints towards the music.” When their song ‘Stolen Dance’ hit the Valley stage in Byron, thousands of punters ran to join in the mass revelry, including the biggest line dance ever performed! It was a magic moment and one of the highlights of the festival.

After two years of solid touring including playing some of the worlds biggest festivals the German duo emerged late last year with ‘Cocoon’, signaling to their fans the arrival of a new album. The single has just achieved Gold-status in Australia, while on Spotify the track quickly amassed over 19 million plays and counting. The video has stirred up 4 million-plus YouTube/VEVO views with its gentle and seamless fusion of electronic vibes and folky singer-songwriter flourishes.

Milky Chance 2017 Aussie Tour
2 May – The Tivoli, Brisbane
3 May – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
4 May – Town Hal, Melbourne
10 May – Metro City, Perth
www.milkychance.net

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

One of the most critically acclaimed acoustic instrumental bands in the world, Rodrigo y Gabriela have sold in excess of 1.5 million albums globally, and have packed out iconic venues around the world, from the Hollywood Bowl and Royal Albert Hall to the Sydney Opera House, Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Paris’ Le Zenith.

Known for their dynamic live performances, and with roots busking in Dublin before extensive touring and a great word of mouth buzz carried them forward, Rodrigo y Gabriela are without doubt one of the most captivating live acts in the world.

Rodrigo y Gabriela Australian Tour
March 10 2018 – Forum Melbourne – MELBOURNE
March 13 2018 – Astor Theatre – PERTH
March 15 2018 – Enmore Theatre – SYDNEY
March 16 2018 – The Tivoli – BRISBANE
www.rodgab.com

For Sydney fans, Band Of Horses are hinting at a special headline performance to be announced soon. Stay tuned for more news in coming weeks. Don’t miss Band Of Horses performing all new songs and beloved classics in Australia this July!
 

 
In the past, Band of Horses founder and leader Ben Bridwell would literally run away from home to write: Holing up in a secluded cabin or other such remote location, emerging months later with new songs for his band to flesh out and fully animate. This time-whether by happenstance or conscious need for a drastic change-Ben stayed home to write. In the estrogen-charged atmosphere of a home shared with his wife and four-yes, four–daughters he allowed his everyday experiences to inform his process. Between dropping off and picking up the girls, changing diapers, and playing dress up, Bridwell spent every precious free minute-often the wee hours on the morning into daybreak–in his garage writing.

While Bridwell and his bandmates – Tyler Ramsey, Ryan Monroe, Creighton Barrett and Bill Reynolds-convened in South Carolina alongside producer Jason Lytle (Grandaddy), Bridwell struggled to bring the new material into focus. One day, at a particularly crucial part of the recording process Ben’s phone rang. It was Rick Rubin-who’d randomly heard a Band of Horses song on the radio during a drive, and had been moved to pull over and call. Without going into details, Bridwell can’t stress the value of this phone call enough. It was exactly the final push that his songs needed on their journey from conception to being sent out into the world.

The result is Band of Horses‘ fifth studio album, Why Are You OK, a record informed by experience and at the same time retaining the vulnerability that birthed their greatest songs. Creating capsule worlds populated by the strange but true cast of characters from Bridwell’s hometown Charleston, SC, Why Are You OK’s songs combined universal sentiments with Bridwell’s patented knack for storytelling-all wrapped in the lush melodic textures that have long been the bedrock of Band of Horses’ signature sound.

Why Are You OK is set for release in June via Interscope Records/ Universal Music Australia. The album was produced by Jason Lytle, Executive Produced by Rick Rubin and mixed by Dave Fridmann.

Band Of Horses 2016 Australian Tour
Friday 22 July 2016 – Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay
Sunday 24 July 2016 – The Forum Theatre, Melbourne
www.bandofhorses.com

In 2014 the band returned to the studio for some writing sessions at Aaron Dessner’s (The National) garage studio in Brooklyn, New York, before laying down tracks with producer James Ford (Arctic Monkey’s, HAIM, Florence & The Machine) in London. They released their third studio LP ‘Wilder Mind’ earlier this year. Marcus Mumford has described Wilder Mind as ‘a development, not a departure’ as the band expand their musical horizons whilst retaining key elements of their sound.

Mumford and Sons have had a long and prosperous relationship with Australia, we fell in love with the Brits right before the rest of the world cottoned on. 2009’s ‘Sigh No More’ drew us in, 2012’s ‘Babel’ got us hooked, and 2015’s ‘Wilder Mind’ is continuing to deepen our fascination. It flew into the ARIA charts, giving the band their first Aussie #1 week of release. The latest video for their single ‘The Wolf’ charts the band over 48 hours at the 2015 Bonnaroo Music & Arts festival in Tennessee in the USA. You can watch it here.

The band spent the beginning of the year performing intimate shows for fans in Berlin, London, LA and NYC, and are now in the middle of a world tour, playing huge headline shows in major cities around the globe. Earlier this year they also announced the return of their personally curated two day Gentlemen Of The Road Stopover Festivals in small and unique towns in the UK and USA. They are being joined by friends like The Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, Ben Howard, Primal Scream, James Vincent McMorrow, and rock superstars The Foo Fighters.

Mumford & Sons All Day Show Presented by Gentlemen Of The Road
Joining them as an exclusive Australian appearance, in the Domain will be UK singer songwriter and 2015 NME solo artist of the year Jake Bugg. At the tender age of 21, he has multiple platinum selling; chart-topping records, critical acclaim, sell out tours and a career trajectory most young musicians can only dream of.

Maryland synth pop collective Future Islands, whose epic live shows have been commanding attention from music lovers world wide, largely thanks to the astonishing performance antics of frontman Samuel T Herring. His unique delivery mesmerising live audiences everywhere they go.

Adding a splash of indie pop rock to the line up are fellow Brits, The Vaccines, the darlings of the UK music critics thanks to their time warped tunes that take heed from the 60’s, 70’s and 80s, delivered with dose of 2015 London.

Local heroes The Jungle Giants will hit the stage at the Domain fresh off the back of touring their second album Speakerzoid. From teenage sensations to accomplished road warriors, their indie rock tunes have made them you tube sensations and triple j favourites.

You would be hard pressed to find anyone who wasn’t totally bewitched by the voice of Melbourne’s Meg Mac, the Air Award and 2014 triple j Unearthed Artist of The Year award winner, brings her intoxicating live show to sweeten up the Domain.

Brisbane’s Art Of Sleeping will open the day with their signature expansive folk rock, with multiple singles floating about the airwaves, and a string of glowing reviews for their recent headline shows, they provide the perfect avenue to ease your way into a day long musical feast.

Mumford & Sons Wilder Mind Australian Tour
Saturday November 7 – Riverstage, Brisbane
Thursday November 12 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
Saturday November 14 – The Domain, Sydney
www.mumfordandsons.com

Having first performed at the Opera House with his neon-explosion The Age of Adz, the 39-year-old artist has become a familiar face to Vivid LIVE – debuting the solar song cycle Planetarium in 2012 with long-term collaborators Bryce Dessner and Nico Muhly.

Now set to open proceedings with an Australian exclusive four-night stand before returning to overseas obligations, Sufjan Stevens will draw from one of the most successful modern songbooks to encompass Christmas classics, regional history, freeways, the rodeo… and the profound intimacies of everyday life.

One small thing. Sufjan likes to keep it in the family. His first band Marzuki was named after his brother, a nationally recognised marathon runner. His step-father and namesake of his new album – Lowell Brams – runs Sufjan’s record label Asthmatic Kitty. He’s also released his own album entitled Music for Insomnia. Sufjan contributes.

Sufjan Stevens
22 – 25 May 2015
Sydney Opera House, Concert Hall
www.music.sufjan.com

Gone now are most of the comforting folk music embellishments and in their place are foundations of electronically and synthetically created backing tracks. Opening track Futile Devices eases the listener into this new world with remnants of past sounds but from then on it’s a brave new world.

Lacking the sanctuary of warm acoustic backdrops, Sufjan weaves vocals into these eclectic mixes to surround the listener with a human element so not all is zeros and ones. Using this approach actually open the music up. The number of ideas at play (even from someone with as much creativity as Sufjan) is impressive. Weather it’s the mutant Some Where Over The Rainbow choir of Now That I’m Older, the scary monster parade of the title track or even the blips and bleeps of Bad Communication, there are a serious number of ideas at play here.

With new works by much loved artists that represent less than immediate accessibility becoming long term favourites, The Age Of Adz could well become the new standard for Sufjan. It’s been played around these parts insistently for a while now and the results just keep getting better.
Rob Hudson
www.sufjan.com