13 June 2014
You have probably heard about 360’s Utopia tour. And if you have heard of the tour, and even if you haven’t, you have probably heard about the massive fan packages he is offering (the packages have copped some backlash, chiefly from idiots). Anyway, the tour coincides with the release of Utopia, his third effort. It also marks his first headlining tour in two years. Festival Hall – September 12.
13 June 2014
Next to the AFL Grand Final, the Reclink Community Cup is arguably the greatest game of footy you’re likely to see, pitting the might of the Rockdogs against the dogged determination of the Triple R 102.7FM & PBS 106.7FM Megahertz team. Painters and Dockers, The Smith Street Band, Saskwatch, Fraser A. Gorman, and David Bridie will all perform. Elsternwick Park – June 22. It’s on!
13 June 2014
It seems the lads of Dead Letter Circus are in an acoustic sort of mood of late. The Brisbane-based five-piece recently took to triple j’s ‘Like a Version’ to serve up an acoustic cover of Rage Against the Machine’s ‘Killing in the Name’ (well worth a listen, by the way). They also released an acoustic rendition of ‘Lodestar’ last year. Next up is a small number of acoustic shows a little later in the year. The Toff – September 6.
13 June 2014
Kylie Minogue’s latest album, Kiss Me Once, is a bitter pill to swallow. The first album under the new management of Jay-Z’s RocNation is not exactly her greatest (and, in very fact, might just be her least favourable ever) and after hearing news a ‘Dance Kylie’ style album was recorded, then shelved, which was allegedly then followed by an ‘Indie Kylie’ style album being recorded, which too was also shelved, what has apparently happened here is the two sounds we most wanted Kylie to be doing were ditched for a collection of bad judgement calls and terrible “executive producing” on Sia’s part.
13 June 2014
If you’re a fan of Coldplay, you are going to want to get on to this one – now! The band is set to join Foxtel’s Max Sessions crew for its 50th outing on June 18 in Sydney. A major prize of tickets, accommodation and return flights is on the table. Plus, you get to ask the band a question. Since its inception in 2003, Max Sessions has hosted everyone from Powderfinger to Slash. Competition closes June 15.
13 June 2014
For years I’d been aware that Days of Future Past was considered one of the great X-Men storylines, so I could barely contain myself when picking up a trade while visiting America. The Future Past storyline, it turns out, is only two issues in length, with the rest of the trade being filled with Nightcrawler visiting the nine circles of Hell and also some other stories that weren’t very memorable. But hey, I thought, even if the DoFP story is a little shorter than I expected, it’s still meant to be incredible. Then I read it.
13 June 2014
Here’s something out of the all-ordinaries. A recent report by City Lab has suggested that countries with higher wealth also have more metal bands per 100,000 residents. Basically, the stronger the country’s economy, the more metal bands reside within that country. Unsurprisingly, Scandinavia has the highest concentration of metal bands per 100,000 residents and also boasts a high level of “relative wealth, robust social safety nets and incredibly high quality of life”. Australia, North America and the rest of Anglo-Europe all have roughly the same amount of metal bands per 100,000 and share similar economies.
13 June 2014
Currently the most played single on triple j, it’s evident right from the get-go that Kim Churchill has done well with Silence/Win, his latest release. Opening with ‘Single Spark’, it sounds like he has for a moment been hanging out with an indie rock band because the instrumentation in the track is a lot more sparse than Churchill’s previous works. Jangly guitar lines and thundering drums are sure to get your head bopping along like it did mine.
12 June 2014
It may be cold outside but things are heating up for bong-loving Brisbanites, the Dune Rats. Not ones to revel in bad weather, the Dunies are back on home soil with plans to make these first weeks of winter their bitch. Now affectionately known as the month of Dune, it’s the perfect time to check out their explosive live show when they roll into town in support of their self-titled debut album.
12 June 2014
Another issue out, another awesome Nature Session! This episode features Josef and Jan Prasil, twin brothers who together form Amistat. Originally from Germany, the brothers reunited in 2013 to rekindle their music which you’ve probably heard of on the streets of Melbourne. Inspired by a life on the road, Josef and Jan’s kinship shows through their harmonies and lyrics, in which these young musicians infuse their sentiment, hopes and ambitions. Amistat perform a new original ‘Loner’ under shelter from heavy rain in the midst of an Apple orchard. Turn up your volume and check it out!
12 June 2014
“If I’m up there singing about someone losing their job and nobody’s buying it, then why am I doing it?” asked Forte favourite and local musician Nathan Seeckts. “If I don’t believe in what I’m singing, how the hell is anyone else that’s watching or listening going to? That’s a thought constantly in the back of my head.” Nathan is a natural born storyteller inspired by the likes of Bob Seeger, Tom Waits and The Boss, Bruce Springsteen. “These tales come from where I live, the place I call home…” As a Geelong native, his lyrics echo themes felt by all in the community – pride, love, loss, hope and resilience.
12 June 2014
From the early days of Northeast Party House, an exceptional and high energy live show has always been a must. Now four years on, they are releasing their debut record, Any Given Weekend. Guitarist for the outfit, Jack Shoe, feels that after a long time of refining the songs, being able to put the album out releases some pressure off the band and gives them time to consider their next move. “These songs have been two years in the making and to finally have the disc out is great.”
12 June 2014
Another songbird is set to join Doctor Who, with Foxes, aka Louisa Rose Allen, joining the cast when the show returns to TV later this year. Rose Allen: “I was playing a gig and got chatting to the show’s production team who’d been watching my performance. I was telling them how much I loved Doctor Who and next thing they invited me to be on it.” Foxes and Zedd recently picked up a Grammy for their collaboration, ‘Clarity’.
12 June 2014
So it looks like the ABC’s attempt to revive Spicks and Specks is over. According to various reports, not only will the ABC be pulling the show after airing 20 of the 26 episodes – the remaining six will air later in the year, which is usually code for “the non-ratings period” – but the ABC has also confirmed that “there aren’t plans for the show in 2015”. While this is slightly sadder news than the usual demise of an ABC panel show – unlike both Randling and Tractor Monkeys, the revived Spicks and Specks was occasionally actually entertaining – this wasn’t exactly difficult to see coming.
12 June 2014
Tables are set out through the main room at the Wool Exchange Entertainment Complex in Geelong. On stage is a simple red curtain as a backdrop and simple amplification setup for the solo tour of Dan Sultan. This is the first time that anybody has really heard of Dan Sultan in around four years and there is a particular hype and buzz in the room as he takes to the stage to play two cracking sets of music, debuting tracks of his (then) upcoming third album Blackbird.
12 June 2014
The acoustic pop memories of Fairground Attraction must seem like a lifetime ago for songwoman Eddi Reader. It was a touch over 25 years ago when the band released mega single ‘Perfect’. Since then, Reader has been a strong solo artist, releasing her tenth album, Vagabond, early this year.
12 June 2014
The project of Filip Mardberg and Fredrik Gilenholt, Ticon is one of the amazing outfits set to join Earthcore’s 21st celebrations later in the year. Walking the line between progressive house and trance, Ticon have been filling floors since 1999. We at Forte were thrilled to land a chat with the floor-shakers.
12 June 2014
Two years ago, we challenged ourselves to reinvent the electric guitar string. The result is the all new NYXL range by D’Addario. These are the strongest set of electric guitar strings ever made. Stronger than any of their predecessors, they settle to pitch faster, and hold pitch better– with wound strings boasting more output and plain steel strings that aren’t so plain.
12 June 2014
Tim ‘Tonic’ Hulsman is much more than just a man playing lapsteel on stage. Together with his intimate stories and delivery, Hulsman is a storytelling experience that is about the journey and deeper meaning, rather than just getting up on stage to play through a set of songs. Finally and excitedly, we are able to get our hands on Dead Man’s Garden, Hulsman’s incredible debut record that is to be launched at Beav’s Bar on Friday, July 4. Leading up to the release of the album, Tim sat down with Forte to give us an insight into how it was created.
11 June 2014
Do you like time machines? I like time machines, but I guess that is irrelevant to this review. It’s been 17 years since Propagandhi last played in Geelong. When I was first told I was surprised because it felt like it was only a couple of years ago. I then looked in the mirror and realised it really was 17 years since last time – and they have released four studio albums in that time, with only one that I have heard/owned. So the fact was I’d more than likely not know 3/4 of their setlist.
10 June 2014
Happiness means different things to different people – delight, good cheer, glee. All the feelings at Forte when we heard Taking Back Sunday and The Used would be back in Australia co-headlining five highly-anticipated shows this August. And to make the news even sweeter, Taking Back Sunday’s guitarist John Nolan called in for a chat.
9 June 2014
October 2014 marks the first time that renowned RnB singer Anthony Hamilton will be coming to Australia. On the line-up for the inaugural Soulfest, which includes a stellar line-up of Maxwell, D’Angelo, Common, Aloe Blacc, Mos Def and Angie Stone to name but just a few, Hamilton is excited as ever to grace our shores and take the stage. “Man! I’m reeling, let’s hit it! My first time in Australia, I want to do everything. It’s exciting that I’m playing on the festival bill and I hope the crowds come out and can bring the party … It’d be cool to pat a koala if I get the opportunity to.”
8 June 2014
“It’s always a relief and a little bit nerve-racking when you release a new body of work,” Curran said about the release, “and we have been receiving nothing but positive feedback so far from critics and our fans which is great. Over the past few years since we’ve branched out into interstate touring, there has been a lot of support for the tunes and what we are doing and we can’t thank everybody enough.”
5 June 2014
When exactly did television stop being the low man on the entertainment totem pole? We’ve been talking for the last decade or more about how television is currently in a golden age, but part of the reason why television – the high-end drama side of things, at least – has been so golden lately is that people just aren’t going to bother watching anything that isn’t up to the gold standard.
