Review by: Ben Connolly
There’s a warmth to Colin Hay’s vocals which instantly resonates. There’s no confusion as to what’s to be expected when an acoustic guitar and that Scottish-via-Sydney vocal kicks in. Like others of his ilk – namely Robert Forster, Paul Kelly and to a lessor extent The Church’s Steve Kilbey – his peculiar brand of Australian-ness swells the heart and instantly proves to be a soothing salve.
Suffering from an abundance of talent by a fairly lackadaisical approach to career direction, Hay’s name seems to have dropped out of the contemporary consciousness. Save for the odd appearance on an American sitcom (he seems to be the darling of the US medical satire Scrubs) and a recent legal stoush thanks to an opportunistic claim for copyright infringement, Hay has been relatively out of the public eye since the 1985 implosion of Men at Work. Continue reading Colin Hay – “Gathering Mercury” – Album Review→
Toby Francis is making waves. Winner of the Annual Cabaret Showcase in Sydney last year and hot off the heels of an appearance at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, the irrepressible young star brings his edgy rock cabaret show Bloklahoma! to Brisbane. Life Music Media takes a quick peek at the man behind the buzz. Continue reading Take Five With… Toby Francis | Interview→
After a great reception at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, shiny WAAPA graduate and singer-songwriter with a penchant for quirky comedy, Gillian Cosgriff is excited to be returning to Brisbane with her own special brand of cabaret in Waitressing, and Other Things I Do Well. Fresh from an ash cloud-imposed cross-country tweet-fest and quite possibly about to do another, Cosgriff took the time to chat with Life Music Media. Continue reading Take Five With… Gillian Cosgriff | Interview→
By: Pepa Wolfe
[Photo credit: Jonathon Oxlade] Life Music Media invites you to
Take Five With… Jason Klarwein
Would you sell your soul for youth, fame, power and love? Michael Gow’s adaptation of the classic tale of Dr. Faustus, the man who sold his soul to the devil, is currently conjuring praise as it plays Brisbane Powerhouse. Presented by the Queensland Theatre Company, together with Bell Shakespeare, the twisted journey is imagined through a mix of live action, video and music – from German arias to death metal, and brought to torturous life by a wonderful cast. Continue reading Take Five With… Jason Klarwein | Interview→
By: Pepa Wolfe Life Music Media invites you to… Take Five With… Mitchell Butel
While the Adelaide Cabaret Festival is currently celebrating a stellar year, Brisbane’s not about to miss all the fun, with QPAC presenting some equally smokin’ cabaret on this side of the ash cloud. 12 Acts of Cabaret features a delicious mix of artists, with international acts, Aussie stars and some of the hottest new names in cabaret.
Saturday night will see the enchanting Mitchell Butel grace the stage at the Cremorne in his show Killing Time. With an extensive career in theatre, film and television, touring in grand scale productions like Dusty, the provocative puppetry of Avenue Q, and performing for Opera Australia, Butel is about to get intimate, as only cabaret can.
Parklife is a labour of love that started as a very small party in a park in March of 2000. We did it because we wanted to share the music we love with other like-minded people in a beautiful outdoor setting close to the centre of the city… and although it’s grown just a bit over the last 11 years the idea is exactly the same: Music we love, smiling people and a great party amongst grass, trees and (hopefully!) brilliant blue skies, right in the heart of the city.
Each year we do our very best to bring you the freshest bunch of artists in styles of music we think matter the most right now, constantly refine and improve everything about the show and give you a high quality Parklife experience.
We want Parklife to be a brilliant, glowing day you and your best friends look back on fondly for the rest of your lives!
The 2011 bill includes a bunch of talented solo female artists with the likes of Lykke Li, Santigold, Katy B, Beth Ditto and Kimbra all set to feature as part of the national run of dates. Continue reading Parklife 2011 – Festival Info→
By: Stuart Blythe In May 2011, A Day To Remember stormed our shores for their very first Australian headlining tour, a tour of sell out shows, leaving a lasting impression on the league of fans that attended. With the band touring extensively throughout 2011, Life Music Media invites you to Take Five with…
Over the next three weeks, The Sit Down Comedy Club is presenting Ladies Comedy Night, featuring some of the best stand up around, male or female! With the likes of Kat Davidson, Fiona McGary and Melinda Buttle serving up the laughs, the stage is set for rollicking good time.
Pushking’s new album, “The World As We Love It” certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted! The album packs a punch with 19 tracks selected from an extensive back catalogue, and featuring a smorgasbord of rock legends, from Paul Stanley, Alice Cooper and Steve Vai (just to name a few!) For these amazing names alone The World As We Love It is worth a listen, however, Pushking definitely hold their own ground and prove their recognition as amazing European power-metal rockers that can’t help but throw you back in time to huge hair, and shiny leather pants. Continue reading CD Review | Pushking – “The World As We Love It”→
The Bloodpoets, indie rockers hailing from Brisbane have continued their infectious streak with their new EP ‘Wings’. Wings teases the listener with 6 tracks, each as unique as the other, broadcasting the diversity of the Bloodpoets style. It is great to hear real instruments amongst so much of the heavily synthesised and edited muck that is disguising itself as music nowadays. The Bloodpoets aren’t afraid to showcase their talents and diverse tastes; from trombones, trumpets and saxophones on “Sunny Day”-an amazing jazzy number, to violin and the melodic combination of male and female vocals with band’s Tom Murphy and Bec Plath complimenting one another on “She Feels It” –the definite favourite for me. Continue reading Album Review | The Bloodpoets – ‘Wings’→
Life Music Media caught up with Stu Larsen and asked him a few quick questions…
:: What track changed your life :: ‘Old Man’ – Neil Young
:: What is your favourite Album :: ‘God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise’ – Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs.
:: Favourite Quote :: As I lie here awake I am surrounded by unfamiliarity, yearning for something that I recognise, hoping for even a hint of normality, but knowing my desire will remain unfulfilled, leaving me to ponder the reasons for committing to such an endeavour, questioning the very same beliefs which convinced me not only of the value of being here, but of also merely being. – author withheld.
:: When on tour, you can’t live without :: Lagavulin.
:: When you think of Australia, you think :: Three month road trips!
:: Worst thing to happen to music is :: People encouraging people who shouldn’t be encouraged..
:: Best thing about the current music industry :: The Folk Revival!
:: Biggest influence :: Ray LaMontagne.
:: Childhood hero :: Elvis Presley
:: When you were younger you wanted to be :: Cricket’s best fielder. (I couldn’t really bowl or bat amazingly well…)
:: Last album bought :: ‘I Want That You Are Always Happy’ – The Middle East.
:: First album you ever bought :: ‘Frogstomp’ – Silverchair
:: First concert you went to :: Steve Grace – surely one of Australia’s hardest working, most travelled artists.
:: Last concert you went to :: The Chemist at The Republic Bar in Hobart.
:: Favourite current band :: Fleet Foxes / The Middle East.
:: Favourite drink :: Whiskey.
:: Favourite book :: ‘A Fortunate Life’ by A.B. Facey.
:: The best boredom buster is :: Making little videos on my phone for friends –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8plnjDquXgU
:: The best film you ever saw was :: Apocalypto
:: Your ultimate snack is :: Banana Loaf from Vargabar, Newtown, Sydney.
:: The first thing you do when you wake up is :: Wonder which day it is and what it might bring.
:: Best piece of advice you’ve received :: Don’t settle for being comfortable.
:: Your biggest aspirations :: To continue travelling the world playing music for people all along the way.
:: Best gift you’ve ever received? :: ‘The Open Road’ – a little leather bound poetry book published in 1906, a friend found it in a little Christchurch bookshop.
Review: Sibel Kutlucan Take One For The Team, the second full-length album from Sydney pop punk act Heroes For Hire definitely has a strong pop punk sound that plants them on the same page of any well known Fueled by Ramen band.
When I first heard the intro of track 1, “No Milk Will Ever Be Our Milk”, I was flooded with memories of being 14 and bouncing around to Simple Plan and Fall Out Boy in my bedroom. For those who don’t favour the whiny vocals and energetic drumming and guitar riffs reminiscent of bands like Blink 182 and Sum 41, then this definitely isn’t an album for you. Continue reading Album Review | Heroes For Hire – ‘Take One For The Team’→
Suzi Quatro legendary rocker, international superstar…icon…The Queen of Rock! There isn’t a better description when it comes to one of the most influential performers of all time.
Due to her popularity and solid fan base in Australia she returns to tour this September October.
Audiences can expect to experience 90 minutes of raw, rock-filled, energy, with Suzi playing all of her hits, including Can the Can, Devil Gate Drive, 48 Crash, and Stumblin’ In, plus tracks from her forthcoming album.
One of the beautiful things about a festival as large and varied as Bluesfest is that the discovery of something new and exciting, at least for the listener, waits around every corner. For this reviewer, Canadian First Nations singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie was the jewel of this year’s hidden treasures.
Already familiar with her 60s hit Universal Soldier and the rocking Bury My Heart at
Life Music Media invites you to
Life Music Media invites you to
Life Music Media invites you to…
In May 2011, A Day To Remember stormed our shores for their very first Australian headlining tour, a tour of sell out shows, leaving a lasting impression on the league of fans that attended. With the band touring extensively throughout 2011, Life Music Media invites you to Take Five with…
Take Five With… Kat Davidson
Pushking’s new album, “The World As We Love It” certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted! The album packs a punch with 19 tracks selected from an extensive back catalogue, and featuring a smorgasbord of rock legends, from 
Wings teases the listener with 6 tracks, each as unique as the other, broadcasting the diversity of the Bloodpoets style. It is great to hear real instruments amongst so much of the heavily synthesised and edited muck that is disguising itself as music nowadays. 
Take One For The Team, the second full-length album from Sydney pop punk act Heroes For Hire definitely has a strong pop punk sound that plants them on the same page of any well known Fueled by Ramen band. 
