Moving through arena sized venues, starting at the Adelaide Entertainment Theatre on the 18th November, continuing to the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on the 1st December and finishing up in her home town of Melbourne at the Margaret Court Arena on the 14th December. She will be joined by likeminded strummers Pierce Brothers and forest ravers Willow Beats for a celebration of musical freedom and instrumental virtuosity.

Tash Sultana has spent the last 18 months collecting fans and selling out shows worldwide in what can only be described as a whirlwind of activity. Riding high on the back of her singles ‘Jungle’, ‘Notion’ and ‘Murder To The Mind’, the accolades have come thick and fast. She landed at number 3 in last year’s triple j Hottest 100 (picking up the Unearthed J Award on the way through), fixed herself in the top 10 of the ARIA chart with her Notion EP and has watched the view count on her YouTube channel rocket into the millions.

Returning home for another victory lap before focusing her attention on that all important debut record, these standalone performances (no extra shows will be added to this tour) will serve as a benchmark to just how much Sultana has achieved since she was first noticed busking amongst Melbourne’s humming CBD. Solo on the stage, as she was on the street, Sultana has a rare ability to create wholly intimate atmospheres, even in the largest of spaces. A diminutive figure equipped with searing confidence and incredible skill, Sultana utilises her self-taught skills on several instruments (guitar, horns, drums) to compliment her powerfully exotic voice and build a truly intoxicating on-stage atmosphere.

Also appearing at these landmark shows are fellow former buskers Pierce Brothers. Forging a similar path to Sultana, this brotherly duo has garnered considerable buzz worldwide for their high energy performances and virtuosic skills. Their latest EP The Records Were Ours came in at #9 on the ARIA chart after topping the iTunes charts across the globe. Opening up will be Melbourne based free spirits Willow Beats, an uncle-niece partnership who will provide glorious, tropical rave pop.

Tash Sultana Homecoming Tour This November/December
November 18 – Adelaide Entertainment Theatre, Adelaide
December 01 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
December 07 – Freo Arts Centre, Fremantle
December 09 – 3 Oceans Winery, Margaret River
December 14 – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne
December 16 – Noosa AFL Grounds, Noosa
www.tashsultana.com

Taking away the often times bombastic soundscape that heavy use of outboard gear allows gives band mainstays Sasha Markovic and Kana Kamitsubo the opportunity to create a world of both introspection and intimate appeal. These are songs that invite you to get inside them, like the feeling of wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket on a cold winter’s night.

The band’s duo core is supplemented by a plethora of guests that further expand the scope of the proceedings. Dewa Budjana and Anthony Mullin’s guitar work and Wen Chang’s violin are just a few of the stellar additions and add further textural revelations.

The version of Free’s Wishing Well is particularly enlightening and their reinvention of such a familiar melody with strong piano chords and subtle plucked and bowed notes is startling. So weather it’s the wide open west expansion on Sound Of M, the classical gas take of Deep Purple’s Burn or the swing sway of North, this is a work of constant surprise and engagement.

Being truly progressive relies on an open-minded approach where there are no expectations that can’t be ignored and no compositional leaps that can’t be cleared.  Reinvention or revelation, Kai is inviting in both extremes.

Rob Hudson
www.yagull.com