Rails in a Daze
Once again, multi-award-winning songstress Kellie Knight and her 7-piece jazz/funk ensemble, The Daze, are playing at their beloved hometown venue, The Rails, on Friday.
Expect to hit the dancefloor with their unique blend of soul, funk and jazz, with an early set of favourite funked-up jazz standards.
Picking up awards for three of the five tracks from debut EP Twisted in 2015, the northern New South Wales outfit have brought their music to Australia’s world-renowned festival stages, including Bluesfest, Adelaide Fringe and Woodford Folk festivals.
If you’re into sophisticated funk topped with powerhouse vocals and strong improvisation, this band is a must-see.
Ridout uplifts
Mark Ridout sings rousing and uplifting folky/roots songs inspired by true love, nature and the exploration of self. Originally from London, Mark has supported Ed Sheeran and Kate Miller Heidke, sung with top electronic producers such as Jamie Stevens and King Unique and reviewed music for BBC Radio.
He is a natural troubadour and traveller, and Mark Ridout’s rootsy sound has been crafted in the wilderness of India and Morocco and in the buzzing cafes and streets of London, New York and Barcelona. Along the way he has taught music in psychiatric wards in London and in the disability services in Australia.
Sunday at the Poinciana Cafe in Mullumbimby from 10am.
Join the Gang
GANGgajang has been part of the Australian pub music landscape since 1984; the band’s self-titled debut album dropped in 1985 and contained the hits Gimme Some Lovin’, Giver of Life, House of Cards, The Bigger They Are and the perennial Sounds of Then (This Is Australia).
Late last year, the band’s remaining four original members – Mark ‘Cal’ Callaghan, Graham ‘Buzz’ Bidstrup, Geoff Stapleton and Robbie James – along with bassist Peter Willersdorf, returned to the studio for the first time since the death of original member, bass player Chris Bailey. In March they released the first new single, Circles In The Sand, taking us back to where it all began. It reminds us once again of who we are, where we live – and in doing so offers a glimpse of a different, more inclusive future. The song’s striking music video was shot in front of majestic Uluru. In doing so, they are the first band to be given permission by the traditional landowners to shoot a music performance video at the sacred site. They are joined by Antibodies and Meraki Rose at Lismore City Hall on Friday at 7.30pm.
Tickets on sale now from NORPA box office. www.norpa.org.au/events/ganggajang-circles-in-the-sand-tour, www.facebook.com/events/201771296892005/
Smokin’ slide
Hot-stepping back for a local Aussie show or two – internationally touring blues guitar wizzardess Fiona Boyes returns from USA and Canada festival-land.
Smokin’ slide guitar and frantic finger-picking her trademarks, it’s a fine time to catch the melody rocket that is Fiona Boyes.
A string of awards and music-industry nominations continue to float in her trail. She plays at the Rails on Thursday at 7pm.
Full Bunny Racket
A Chicken is Not a Fruit is a taste of things to come, including an album and an online music video series that follows the adventures of King Bunny – a guitar-wielding, skateboard-riding, nature-loving rabbit with a passion for playing rock’n’roll – LOUD!
The creation of Australian musician Andy Walker, Bunny Racket’s forthcoming debut album Rock’n’Roll Animals features the work of some pedigree rock rabbits with Walker’s mate Brant Bjork (Kyuss, Fumanchu) taking on drums and backing vocals, Robby Krieger of The Doors joining the studio lineup as lead guitarist and Sam Cutler, legendary tour manager for The Rolling Stones and Grateful Dead, adding spoken word.
And it doesn’t stop there. Hopping on stage with King Bunny is an all-star, revolving live lineup including members of The Vines, Wolfmother, Skunkhour and Grinspoon. They ruled Little Splendour at this year’s Splendour in the Grass and will soon hit the stage at Aussie kids’ festival Dress Up Attack.
The sound… Imagine the Ramones, KISS and AC/DC joining forces with The Cat in The Hat and you get an idea of where Bunny Racket sits on the musical spectrum.
‘Rock’n’roll struck me like lightening when I was 12 and went to my first gig, the Ramones. I was struggling to see the band when some older guys, punks, saw me and put me up on their shoulders. The feeling of that experience has stayed with me. Music brings people and generations together,’ said Walker.
It’s this idea of shared experience that brought Bunny Racket to life, driven by Walker’s fierce love for rock music and a yearning for kid-friendly tunes that are relevant, positive, educational and inspiring. There are lessons to be learned in spelling, counting, colours, geography and of course music.
With A Chicken is Not a Fruit set to prick up the ears of both young and old, it’s time to bring Bunny Racket to life. Backed by a great crew and an epic soundtrack, Andy Walker and the team are ready to get filming, but they need help to make it happen.
Coinciding with the release of A Chicken is Not a Fruit, a Bunny Racket Kickstarter campaign launches today and will help fund the production and post-production phases of the first four episodes.
Hey Brew
Brewster Brothers, John and Rick are the well-renowned songwriters and guitarists of the legendary rock band The Angels, one of Australia’s most loved, respected and enduring acts throughout the most prolific decades of the Australian pub rock scene with classics such as No Secrets, Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again, Marseilles and Take A Long Line.
Nowadays the Brewster Brothers boast an arsenal of finely crafted songs – majestic melodies and poetic images of the endless highways and byways they’ve traversed since their far-off beginnings in Adelaide. Don’t miss their Club Mullum show with John’s son Sam Brewster on bass, Nick Norton on drums.
Sunday at Mullum Ex-Services at Club Mullum, 1.30–3.45 pm.
Tickets $30. Available now at the club.
the Byron Community Centre on Thursday
Begging for Deborah
Everybody’s Begging is the ninth and latest album from iconic Australian singer/songwriter Deborah Conway and longtime collaborator Willy Zygier.
Everybody’s Begging comes twenty-five years after Conway’s breakthrough solo record String of Pearls, which occupies an essential place in Australian music.
The new album launches with a series of very special shows in which Conway and Zygier perform Everybody’s Begging and String of Pearls in full, backed by a full band of Australia’s finest musicians including Niko Schauble, Clio Renner (RocKwiz), Simon Starr, and other special guests. She will be performing in Byron Bay at the Byron Theatre on Thursday 8 September.
Jade Hurley in the RAW
Australian entertainment legend Jade Hurley first came to notice as a 14-year-old singing in a talent quest in the beer garden of a Sydney hotel. Johnny O’Keefe saw enough to launch his career on the historic television program Six O’Clock Rock. The rest is history.
Jade Hurley OAM, with more gold, platinum, and double-platinum albums than he can count, forged a career that has left him with legendary status in a tough and demanding industry. Jade Hurley is the ultimate survivor in the Australian music industry, and has, without doubt, lived up to the tag bestowed on him by the late Johnny O’Keefe.
He plays at the Ballina RSL on Friday 16 September, 7.30pm. Tix at the club.
It’s all about the Vibe, man!
Island Vibe is Australia’s number-one outdoor festival dedicated to reggae, dub, soul and island culture. Island Vibe has also won several coveted Greener Festival awards for its eco and sustainability practices. Once again bringing together the cream of Australian and international talent, Island Vibe is excited to announce the full lineup!
New additions to the bill include New Zealand’s greatest reggae export Katchafire, drum’n’bass producer Soulware (NZ), Australia’s number-one soundsystem crew The 4’20’ Sound featuring Jamalski (NYC), reggae royalty Dub Princess, Ugandan dancehall artist SK Simeon, world-famous reggae producer Mista Savona, Kenta Hayashi (JPN), Bobby Alu (solo), Brisbane’s own Dubmarine, the Astro Travellers, Fat Picnic and the Upsteppers, who will be joining Nattali Rize (Blue King Brown), Melbourne’s mighty Kooyeh and Echo Drama, Salmonella Dub’s frontman Tiki Taane (NZ), dancehall kings Macka Banton and Stryka D (UK), Kuranda reggae legends Zennith and Sydney’s hip-hop reggae rudeboys The Strides to name a few.
Island Vibe Festival, Stradbroke Island 28–30 October.
