Harry Angus: Struggle with Glory
Mullum Civic Hall | Friday 1 June | Doors 6.30pm | Show 8pm | $20–50
Harry James Angus, the explosive trumpet-playing singer from The Cat Empire, is known for his deeply original live performances in which the highest standards of musical craftsmanship are thrown into chaos, uncertainty, and ultimately transcendence.
Featuring some of Australia’s finest jazz soloists, complete with horns, vocal chorus and Angus’s soaring trumpet, Struggle with Glory is a new project that explores the archetypal stories of Ancient Greek mythology – the savage and beautiful world of the Olympian gods, of Achilles and Odysseus, of sea nymphs and of the Minotaur, re-imagined through the swoop and holler of traditional gospel music. The call-and-response, emotionally charged tropes of American gospel bring these ancient stories to life. Like a church for pagans, Struggle With Glory is by turns celebratory and mournful, completed by trad-jazz improvisations that will have even the strictest of pundits idol-worshipping in the aisles. Tix at redsquaremusic.com
Paul McKenna Band
Mullum Ex-Services | Sun 27 May | Doors 7pm | $30-20
Frontman Paul McKenna of The Paul McKenna Band sees the world as verses and choruses, and for more than a decade he has travelled the globe as a musician collecting the stories of everyday and exceptional lives. From there come the songs written and sung by a common man with a haunting voice. His vibrato is immediately recognisable and when he begins to weave a tale, an audience is stilled. Be it social injustice, inequality or an homage to the wonder and joy of simple things, he sings for everyone. His bandmates Ewan Baird, Conor Markey, Robbie Greig and Conal McDonagh weave unique melodies with traditional instrumentation.
Port Royal
Byron Brewery | Friday 18 May | 7pm | Free
Port Royal, Brisbane’s rock’n’roll royal family are debunking any preconceptions about rock’n’roll in this modern era with their new antithetical single Rock & Roll Is Dead.
It is safe to say that Port Royal are quickly becoming one of most demanded emerging rock acts from Brisbane. Now with their new single Rock & Roll Is Dead these royals give a nod to everything that was loved about the likes of Jet, the Hives and the Vines in the early 2000s rock revival while never straying far away from the iconic blues formula of the 70s golden age of rock. They are joined by King Coaster, Mind and Garage Sale.
Nomika & Jabberwocky Down
Byron Brewery | Saturday 19 May| 7pm | Free
Riding high on the success of a mountain-fresh rebrand and banging new single, Nomika is proud to announce the launch of their debut EP, Motion. The Brisbane band draws inspiration from the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, Vulfpeck, Snarky Puppy and Anderson Paak.
Drink deep from the funky well with Nomika and their partner in crime, Jabberwocky Down.
Heaven & Hell: Roy Orbison & Johnny Cash as performed by Barry Ferrier & Slim Pickens
Byron Theatre | Friday 18 May | 8pm | $35/25
If you went to the Byron Theatre on 13 April to see Heaven & Hell, the story of the friendship of Roy Orbison & Johnny Cash as performed by Slim Pickens and Barry Ferrier, you would have been disappointed. Roy came down with laryngitis and lost his voice and the show had to be re-scheduled.
The good news is that Roy has found his voice again and the show is on again this Friday! Catch them at the Byron Theatre. www.byroncentre.com.au
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