2 October 2014
For years now we have heard various people preach that true rock and roll is dead, but whoever decided that forgot to tell the boys of Kingswood. The Melbourne locals are bringing their own brand of rock to stages across the country, unfazed by the genre’s current reputation and growing a legion of fans in the process.
2 October 2014
I don’t think there’s any better pleasure in life than listening to a passionate French musician tell you about her career in music, which is exactly what I did when I got a chance to sit down and chat with Émilie Simon. With her newest album, Mue, having been released on the 12th of September, it was easy to tell that she was excited to talk about it, as well as her involvement with the French music festival, So Frenchy So Chic.
2 October 2014
Following the release of her fifth album Idyllwild, Australian Mia Dyson is back from the US and taking her record around the country. “I’m really excited to be coming home and playing these brand new songs for whoever comes to see them,” says Dyson. “It’s going to be wonderful, it almost feels exotic now to be coming back to Australia because I spend so much time overseas, so I’m looking forward to seeing family and friends and bringing this album home.”
2 October 2014
“I had a strange childhood, we didn’t have much money and my father passed away when I was pretty young. My connection to him was music. We played together when I was a little kid and so I continued to play as I got older – it was my connection to him and the genesis of my life in music.” Man of the moment, Mat McHugh, opened a window into his inner psyche on the eve of The Beautiful Girls’ long-awaited fifth LP, Dancehall Days.
2 October 2014
With the Birregurra Weekend Festival and Art Show only a stone’s throw away, we pounced on the opportunity to have a chat with the festival’s main man, Andrew Forssman. So grab yourself a bite to eat and come take a walk with us.
2 October 2014
Stephen Cummings is a living legend of the Australian music scene, and now he is back with his brand new album entitled Nothing to Be Frightened Of. Taking a lot more of a raw feel to the songs, this album is a change of direction for Cummings and something that sounds very organic. Produced by the highly acclaimed Shane O’Mara, Cummings can’t wait to get back out on the road in support of the album.
2 October 2014
Sunshine Coast two-piece act Cleveland Blues Music is coming to play a gig at their “second home” in Anglesea on the Surf Coast this weekend. Ihaia ‘Cleveland’ Pirere (singer, songwriter & guitarist) and Andrea ‘Bam Bam’ Norden (drums & percussion) form a deadly blues combination – and they’re ready to go “hell for leather”.
2 October 2014
While he may have been absent from many of his high school classes Joss Russell, lead singer of Where’s Joss?, is giving it his all to make his band a big deal. “In Year Nine at school, I was very absent from a lot of classes. I was very lazy when it came to school, and I kind of still am now,” Joss adds with a laugh.
30 September 2014
The Collingwood trio affectionately known as ‘The Piss’ is currently in a self-imposed hibernation. “We’re working on our new album at the moment,” revealed bassist Thomy Turtle during a Friday evening catch-up. “Actually, we haven’t started recording yet,” he added, before admitting their reasons for lying low at the moment are a little more homespun. “Our drummer Marty just had a baby, so we wanted to give him time to learn how to wipe arses and shit like that!”
26 September 2014
Depending on where you stumble upon his name on the ‘net, Joel Creasey is either a Rock God or an Acid Tongue Prince. He’s certainly a funny fella. We were lucky enough to share a few laughs with the funnyman as he worked his magic abroad. Good news for locals, however, is that he has a show coming up next month.
24 September 2014
Mildura jazz group, the Don Mayne Trio, formed when they were all studying at Uni, but it’s the boys who are the teaches now, bringing their love of jazz to the classroom. “The original trio started together at Uni. We went our separate ways for a few years doing musical projects, but then all ended up in Mildura teaching, so we decided to get the band back together and have been playing for the past three or four years as a trio,” says brassiest Don Mayne.
22 September 2014
While everyone’s counting down the days to summer, here at Forte we’re counting down to Earthcore Music Festival. Who needs sunshine when you’re sweating it up under the tents and pumping beats? We had a chat with Stas from progressive psychedelic duo Da Vinci Code ahead of their performance at Earthcore.
19 September 2014
Martha Brown, or Banoffee as she is better known in musical circles, is about to release her debut EP. With a couple of shows at the BIGSOUND music conference in Brisbane as well as some headline dates in Sydney and Melbourne and a spot at Paradise Music Festival, things are heating up ahead of the tour. There is a mix of emotions in Brown’s voice as we begin to chat.
19 September 2014
While many of us are indoors staring blankly into our computer screens or watching TV, chances are Xavier Rudd is outside spending time with his red heeler and taking in the inspiration the outback offers. “I like to be in the scrub and listening to the silence and the sounds and, I guess, that’s always been a huge part of the music and always will be. Ever since I was young I was always writing about that. I draw a huge inspiration from the land and spirits in the land,” Xavier says.
19 September 2014
One of the most exciting musical events on the local gig calendar is indeed the annual Battle of the Bands. Recently held at the Courthouse ARTS in Gheringhap Street, it is a platform for young local bands on the rise to get up and showcase their talent. If you were sceptical about the lack of talent in Geelong, this article will shoot down your theory. This year saw Bound by Hound, Flawed Peace, Dayzed and The Ampersands take to the stage to fight it out for the crown, which was won by Jye Cannon.
19 September 2014
Off the back of their smash single ‘High’, the infectious boys of Peking Duk have announced a new single will be coming our way very shortly – and they’ve revealed a little of what we can expect from the track.
19 September 2014
As a fifteen-year-old, I remember hearing the rumours in the schoolyard about all my mates playing Guitar Hero and how far they had gotten in the game. ‘Through the Fire and Flames’ is considered the masterpiece to the game, and the last song that you play before completing it. Herman Li, lead guitarist for DragonForce, the band who made it famous, only achieved two per cent when he played the track on the game.
18 September 2014
They’re the Kiwi sweethearts who call Melbourne home and boy, are we happy to have them. For the past couple of months, Bonjah have been selling out venues wherever they go – from Darwin’s Railway Club to Hotel New York in Launceston and BIGSOUND in Brisbane.
18 September 2014
Three days of dirt drags, hot rods, customs, bobbers, 25+ bands, tiki, cocktail and craft beer bars, choppers, vintage speedway and more. There is a whole lot packed into next month’s Chopped Rod and Custom, so we revved our engines and took a ride down the Chopped highway with Kyle Ford.
18 September 2014
If you are unfamiliar with the sounds of singer-songwriter Kate Skinner, hop in as we take a short car ride with the songwoman making a name for herself under the moniker Rough River. We’re off to alternative folk-country land.
18 September 2014
Chances are your head is spinning with the endless list of festivals, both new and old, to spend your cash on this summer. But there’s one that might have slipped past your radar and it’s paramount that you check it out. We had a talk to Andre from Paradise Music Festival, on their beautiful location, how they survive and their knack for picking the next best thing in Australian music.
18 September 2014
It’s no secret that Dune Rats know how to party. I’m not talking about some desert-dwelling rodent here; the Dune Rats I’m referring to are simply a trio of chilled-out Brisbane boys who you wouldn’t be surprised to see stepping out of a beat-up wagon filled with strange smelling smoke and guitars.
18 September 2014
“On a day off we went to the Brisbane Koala Sanctuary. While we were all posing for photos I remember looking at this one koala. He had a huge claw right on the jugular vein in my neck and he was looking at me straight in the eye as if to say ‘one false move boy and I’ll rip this vein out!’ Please don’t tell too many I was scared of the fuzzy koala!”
18 September 2014
They’re here! New York’s Morning Glory hit our shores last week for a string of ska punk shows with local wonders The Bennies. Before they took flight, we were lucky enough to share a few words with main man, Ezra Kire. It’s time to start a revolution.
