With only 20 odd more sleeps to go until the Supernatural Ampitheatre comes alive for the Seventeenth time (well eighteenth if you count this years inaugural Golden Plains), Amanda Palmer (The Dresden Dolls), The Galvatrons, ROOT! and Black Pony Express join the line up. ROOT! is rumored to contain ex-members of balaclava wearing Australian act TISM. Check them out with the My Space link below.
To accompany his appearance at the Golden Plains festival (see here), Sam Beams (aka Iron and Wine) will be playing shows in the three major East Coast cities. This comes after the release of his third full length album, The Sheperd's Dog. Tickets for the shows go on sale this Friday November 30. In the mean time, check out tunes from his new album on My Space.
Fri 7 March - The Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne VIC
Sun 9 March - The Zoo, Brisbane QLD
Tues 11 March - The Manning Bar, Sydney NSW
Spoon, Augie March, silverchair, Brand New, Regurgitator, Karnivool, Gyroscope, Enter Shikari, Unkle (live), Die! Die! Die!, The Nightwatchman (no, not a former Australian fast bowler tuned musician, but Tom Morrelo playing acoustically), and others have been added to the Big Day Out line up. They will join Bjork, Rage Against the Machine, Arcade Fire, Paul Kelly, Sarah Blasko, Billy Bragg, LCD Soundsystem, Battles, and more in the festival's sixteenth year. Online tickets are all sold out for Australian shows, with only Auckland tickets available via the web. There is a small number of tickets reportedly available via ballot, or at outlets. For dates and venues see earlier news here.
(Note: Some acts mentioned may not be appearing at all venues, check the link below for further details)
Beth Gibbons grabs a second mention in the news this week, as she along with 21 others, collabrate with Annie Lennox, to release a single entitled 'Sing.' The single will be released on December 1, which is World Aids Day. Other artists involved include Joss Stone, Madonna, Beth Orton, and k.d Lang. The former member of the Eurythmics is very passionate about the cause, as can be heard through the 'Sing' website where she says "Please enjoy the music, but most of all, get involved." This song begins with the spoken words "This is a call for the national implementation of mandatory child transmission prevention programs in all the meternity hospitals of South Africa......" Preview the song at the 'Sing' website.
With their debut, Dummy (1994) and the follow up self titled album, Portishead gained a cult following that has continued to the present day. With only a couple of solo releases from members Ardrian Utley and Beth Gibbons respectively, the band has spent the majority of the last ten years in the musical wilderness. However, with only finishing touches left to go on their newly recorded album, it is possible that we will be hearing some fresh material by the end of the year, in line with their appearance at All Tommorrow's Parties - Nightmare Before Christmas Event on December 7, which the band is also curating. With the name of the new album yet to be revealed, it is expected to be released early next year. Stay tuned to the Wireless!
Former home to notable acts The Rapture, and LCD Sound System, Output Recordings have released a compilation titled I Hate Music. Featuring artists that were on the label during it's ten years of existence, which culminated last year, the record contains tracks by Fridge, Four Tet, Colder, as well as featuring Playgroup, the group that Output's founder Trevor Jackson was part of. I Hate Music is available now.
One of WB's favorite old men, is still going strong. Bruce Springsteen, will be playing a series of shows across the US early next year with his E Street Band. This follows the release of his latest offering, Magic last month.
Thurs 28 Feb - Hartford Civic Center Coliseum, Hartford, CT
Thurs 6 March - Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, NY
Fri 7 March - HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
Sun 16 March - Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Mon 17 March - Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
Mon 7 Apr - Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
Fri 25 Apr - Phillips Arena, Atlanta, GA
Deerhoof will perform at the NADA Art Fair in Miami on December 4. The band who earlier this year released their tenth album in as many years (see review here), will perform with Japanese visual artist Ken Kagami. The band's 2004 concept album, Milk Man was based on Kagami's character of the same name. The show will feature Kagami dancing around in a Milk Man costume while the band perform, as well as 12 foot high fruit pieces, which were a feature of Milk Man's album cover, and the character himself. Tickets on Sale now.
American Laundromat Records have gotten together Ok Go, They Might Be Giants, Mogwai, Joy Zipper and ten others to release a tribute to the Pixies. With each artist recording a track from the highly influential act, the appropriately titled Dig For Fire contains songs that span the Pixies short, yet highly prolific initial career. Check out a sample on My Space.
After the release of Guns, Babes, Lemonade in September (see review), Muscles will be flexing his stuff in East Coast Venues, as well as a show in Adelaide. This will fit in with his appearances at Meredith, Homebake, and New Years Shows.
Sat 24 Nov - The Beach Party, University of Newcastle, NSW
Sun 25 Nov - The Corner, Melbourne, VIC (Under 18s Afternoon Rave)
Sun 25 Nov - The Corner, Melbourne, VIC (Over 18's) SOLD OUT
Tues 27 Nov - The Corner, Melbourne, VIC
Thur 29 Nov - Rocket Bar, Adelaide, SA
Sat 1 Dec - Foreshore Festival, Canberra, ACT
Thur 6 Dec - Family, Brisbane, QLD
Sat 8 Dec - Homebake, Sydney, NSW
Sun 9 Dec - The Forum, Sydney, NSW (All Ages)
Thur 13 Dec - Never Ever Land, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, VIC (Daft Punk support)
Fri 14 Dec - Never Ever Land, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, VIC (Daft Punk support)
Sat 15 Dec - Meredith Music Festival, Meredith VIC
Sun 16 Dec - Never Ever Land, The Esplanade, Perth, WA (Daft Punk support)
Thur 20 Dec - Never Ever Land, The Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD (Daft Punk support)
Sat 22 Dec - Never Ever Land, Sydney Showground, Sydney, NSW (Daft Punk Support)
Mon 31 Dec - Village Cinema Complex, Melbourne, VIC
Tues 1 Jan - BBQ Breaks, The Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD
Tues 1 Jan - Sounds on New Years Day, Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney, NSW
In a tribute to great vocalists that have influenced her singing, Chan Marshall aka Cat Power, will release a new album of cover tracks called Jukebox. This is Marshall’s second release of this kind, after the aptly named The Covers Record in 2000. Jukebox was recorded with ‘The Dirty Delta Blues Band,’ her regular touring outfit, consisting of Jim White on drums (Dirty Three) and Judah Bauer on Guitar (The Blues Explosion), along with other notable guests. Jukebox will contain performances of songs from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Jessie Mae Hemphill. Available through Remote Control on January 19.
Radiohead have now announced a release date for the more conventional version of their new album. It will be available in CD and Vinyl, and in stores on December 29. As reported last week, this is being handled by independent label XL records, represented in Australia by Remote Control. Thom and company, performed a webcast, playing tracks from In Rainbows, as well as covering New Order and The Smiths. Samll DJ sets from all five members of the band, showcasing their musical interests (!!!, M.I.A, Kings of Leon, Bonnie Prince Billy, just to name a few) were also included. The webcast, Thumbs Down, can be viewed through the links below.
