LIVE REVIEW: Marlon Williams & The Yarra Benders, Ben Salter @ Oxford Art Factory, Sydney (21/11/15) With the sold-out sign stuck to the front window of the venue Ben Salter ambled on-stage, unassuming and with that tousled mop of hair. Sans The Gin Club he’s a riveting performer with loop and vocal effect pedals and … Continue reading
Lucinda Williams, Dan Sultan @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney (02/12/15) On this night of alt. country royalty returning to Sydney Dan Sultan had the opening honours and with just electric guitar, mic and keyboard he showed the full gamut of his musical CV, from brooding bluesy stomps to anguished and emotive soul music. He admitted he … Continue reading
Peter Bibby graced the stage in solo format for his opening set and he’s increasingly becoming a rambling rambunctious storyteller. Looking like a homeless Jeffrey Lee Pierce and dispensing his brand of Dylanesque Australian larrikin song he charmed the audience with plenty of songs from his last album including fan favourites Hates My Boozin’, Cunt … Continue reading
In the absence of the cancelled Sydney leg of the Out On The Weekend festival it was up to the sideshows to show us what we were missing out on. What we got was a masterclass in playing from the OOTW house band led by the charismatic Robert Ellis. Their first set was backing Alabama’s … Continue reading
This was a night of friends and collaborators celebrating the release of Shane Nicholson’s new solo LP Hell Breaks Loose. Nicholson produced Josh Rennie-Hynes’ debut album February and invited the songwriter down from Brisbane to open the show. Rennie-Hynes had only met local pedal steel player Jy-Perry Banks (Cruisin’ Deuces) that afternoon but the pair … Continue reading
Lost Highway Records continue to showcase the best new and established acts spanning folk, alt. country and rock n roll. William Crighton and his band the Circus Men had opening honours and filled the room with their soulful and ragged country rock. There was a nod to one of the genre’s icons with their cover … Continue reading
The third instalment of The Wild Wild Inner West Revue happened last night at The Vanguard in Newtown and the small crowd was treated to another excellent night of music. Bree De Rome, recently relocated to Sydney from the Gold Coast, opened the evening with a strong set of intimate country-tinged torch songs with some … Continue reading
Laura Jean opened the evening with an absorbing set that highlighted both her clever lyrical turns and delicate, almost textural finger-picking guitar style. Songs about married life, domesticity and crazy dogs from her 2014 album comprised the bulk of her performance as she drew the audience into her world of observational songwriting and dry-humour. Her … Continue reading
Ben Horder’s set started with some guitar issues and forgotten lyrics but that was quickly overcome and he set about delivering a batch of honest, observational songs that chronicled everyday life in Australia. With a style reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel and The Tallest Man On Earth his set concluded with two thirds of the … Continue reading
Solo and acoustic, Shane Nicholson previewed songs from Hell Breaks Loose as well as various highlights from his back catalogue. With his laid-back and commanding stage presence he offered up observations on the dangers of facial hair and harmonicas between songs and coyly commending the audience for supporting real country music. A social media … Continue reading
Melbourne’s Lost Ragas set the scene early with a set that felt more low-key than some of their other recent shows but it was by no means any less captivating. Their sound was a widescreen take on soulful blues and country with flashes of Beatles-esque and 70s power pop. From tales of 1970s motorcycle daredevil … Continue reading
Ruby Boots had opening honours and showed just why the powers that be at Lost Highway Records have recently signed her as a recording artist. With electric guitarist Lee Jones carving out some wonderful solos and backing she showcased her songs (old and brand new) of heartache sung with a strong country voice and interspersed … Continue reading
Roger Knox has been a legend of the Aboriginal music scene and the wider country music community since the 1980s. In recent years Knox’s music has spread to a larger audience via Clinton Walker’s Buried Country book/soundtrack/documentary (2000) on Aboriginal country music and his 2013 collaboration with Welsh musician/producer Jon Langford on the landmark album … Continue reading
Harry Hookey has been touring his Misdiagnosed album all over the country since it’s release and tonight’s opening slot for partner Kasey Chambers was an opportunity to reach a wide demographic of music fan. The majority of the seated crowd responded warmly to Hookey’s enthusiastic performance, genial stage manner and the memorable melodies he embeds … Continue reading
Last night the wonderful Mother Hen Touring presented a great triple bill at the Petersham Bowling Club in Sydney’s inner west. Bell St Delays are the wife and husband duo of Tracy McNeil and Luke Sinclair (Raised By Eagles) and they played a beautiful set that gently dipped into country and folk styles while staying fully … Continue reading
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