Clea
Indie/Alternative
Clea calls Grizzly Bear an influence. You can hear it her well-negotiated electric guitar patterns and the elliptic shape of her songwriting. The propulsive rhythms and soaring vocals, meanwhile, give a nod to another core influence, Wye Oak.
Thursday November 17 – The Foundry – Brisbane, QLD
Fortunes
Alt-R&B
Melbourne based Kiwi expats Fortunes are looking to score. Sex and romance runs through the group’s slinky R&B tunes, as well as a distinctive vocal personality that ensures they don’t fall into the ‘nice-but-plain’ category.
Thursday November 17 – Black Bear Lodge – Brisbane, QLD
Robert Forster
Indie Rock
I was first introduced to Robert Forster via his music reviews for The Monthly. The erudite and passionate writer sounded like someone I needed to know, which led to a longstanding infatuation with The Go-Betweens. Forster’s Go-Betweens band mate Grant McLennan passed away ten years ago and Rob’s just published a memoir called Grant & I. He’s playing some solo shows in support, and with the promise of Go-Betweens numbers and Forster solo tunes, you’d be a div to miss it.
Friday November 18 – Newham Mechanics Institute – Newham, VIC
Rainbow Trout
Psych/Dance
Rainbow Trout makes party mixes that meld jam band psychedelia with corporeal soul music, fear-of-God rhythmic insistence with blistering guitar lines. It’s not your average club dance party, that’s for sure.
Friday November 18 – Leonard’s House of Love – Melbourne, VIC
Bleach Girls
Punk/Pop
Bleach Girls are possessed by the spirit of the Bleeders, the Ramones, Martha and the Muffins and Plastic Bertrand. High speed pop sing-alongs with lashings of dirty guitar are their bread and butter.
Friday November 18 – Waywards – Sydney, NSW
Dallas Frasca
Rock
Dallas Frasca has a way of turning dirty, mean blues rock into an unconquerable, unifying force. Her shows are never merely amplified, but always comprehensively hair-raising.
Friday November 18 – Jive – Adelaide, SA
The Peep Tempel
Punk/Rock
The Peep Tempel’s character-heavy lyrics and Blake Scott’s corresponding range of vocal personalities should be a pretty good indication that their live shows aren’t just a by-numbers run through of recorded material. Scott’s lyrical flair crosses over to his onstage banter – it’s some of the best in the business, which alone should convince you to get along to their Joy album tour.
Saturday November 19 – Corner Hotel – Melbourne, VIC
Ela Stiles
Experimental
Ela Stiles makes music that sounds a bit broken, a bit drug-addled and a bit like a mystery you’re desperate to unlock. It doesn’t sound pretentious though, which is almost a miracle.
Saturday November 19 – The Bird – Perth, WA
Tkay Maidza
Hip Hop
Tkay’s got some bangers, that’s for sure. Oh man does she have some bangers. And you’ve probably never seen anyone enjoy themselves more on stage. Like, she seriously can’t stop smiling, can’t believe how many bangers she has. It’s a good time for all.
Saturday November 19 – Republic Bar – Hobart, TAS
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Emma Russack
Folk/Pop
If you haven’t listened to Emma Russack’s In A New State LP (which came out in June) yet, then I don’t know why we’re still talking. Look, it’s really good. Her lyrics are sometimes blunt, sometimes surreal, sometimes quite vulnerable and sometimes quite sweet. Her melodies are familiar and enchanting and the arrangements journey through folk, pop, Americana and rock.
Monday November 21 – Newtown Social Club – Sydney, NSW
