Listen once and images of raging inter-world wars and swelling storms come to mind, soundtracked ominously by stirring synthesisers, the voice of a jewel-laden deity and beats that threaten to break the dance floor in half.
Listen again and ‘Raiders’, the new single from Melbourne fantasy-pop singer and songwriter Owl Eyes – the project of scarily talented 20-year-old Brooke Addamo – offers up something else entirely: the innermost fears and hopes of a young woman trying to figure it all out. The daydream of a girl watching from the sidelines, wondering when she’ll get the chance to step up and show ‘em what she’s got. The relatable longing of anyone struggling with internal or external pressures – still set, of course, to a thrilling explosion of pop with a chorus that won’t quit.
It’s the slowly peeling layers of Addamo’s songs, as well as that voice that seems to be coming from somewhere above the clouds, that has seen Owl Eyes stealthily make her way onto the radars of radio listeners and those who’ve found themselves chasing lights in inner-city live dens in recent times, not to mention crowds at summer festivals such as Pyramid Rock and Hot BBQ.
You might know Gareth Liddiard from critically acclaimed indie rock band The Drones. Well, Gaz is out on his own, armed with only an acoustic guitar and what I'd imagine to be a rather plump notebook full of lyrics, and he's absolutely delivered the musical goods. If you've not heard the title track from his solo album "Strange Tourist", then your ears have missed out on one of the best Australian songs of 2010/11.
He has spent the last ten years based in Melbourne and North East Victoria, where he has led the universally critically acclaimed band the Drones. Busy with the almost constant touring the band demands, it has not been until recently that he's found the time to release his much anticipated solo album. Liddiard is a documentarian of sorts, unlike many of his peers, who look abroad for songwriting inspiration, Liddiard looks to the country he was born and raised in. Much like his songwriting peers born abroad.
Gossling is the project of singer/songwriter Helen Croome. Gossling’s debut EP ‘If You Can’t Whistle’ garnered plenty of attention, with the track “Days Are Over” becoming part of Triple J’s staple play list, and “He Knows My Love” being used in the Triple J ‘Unearthed’ promos. Gossling’s tracks were discovered by Triple J after she drew attention as an Unearthed artist.
Raised in country Victoria, Croome developed her musical interests through her family and strong music culture in Albury/Wodonga. After putting her Psychology/Sociology studies on hold to concentrate on a Bachelor of Music (Composition), Croome met the musicians now joining her as Gossling.
Gossling has also been winning rave reviews with her live show, both in her own headlining shows and as an opening act for the likes of Lamb, The Whitlams, Whitely, Lior, Connor O’Brien (The Villagers) and Oh Mercy in recent times. Gossling has also made recent festival appearances at One Fine Day, Woodford, Peats Ridge and Boogie Festival.
With a tender, sweet style, Gossling’s song writing is both distinctive and alluring. She mixes heart-felt lyrics with graceful and memorable melodies. She is truly an artist to watch out for.
In retrospect it's obvious that horror and country music go together like peas and carrots - it just took Graveyard Train to show us.
Utilising old timey instruments (banjo, dobro & washboard) with the unorthodox percussion of hammer & chain, all underneath a six part baritone 'wall of men' vocal delivery, Graveyard Train have created a unique sound and an equally unique way to deliver it. Exclusively singing songs and stories about death, despair, vampires, werewolves and anything macabre, Graveyard Train have drawn on the storytelling styles of old folk songs and mashed it with a punk/rockabilly/country frenetic foot stomping energy to create 'Horror Country'.
Dallas Frasca and her band have just returned from New York with their second full length album in hand, where they worked with Australian producer Andy Baldwin (Bjork, Chrissie Amphlett, Living End, Kram, Cat Empire) at Rola Pola Studio’s in Brooklyn.
One of the tracks from the upcoming album has been mixed by the legendary producer Tchad Blake (Black Keys, Elvis Costello, Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Sheryl Crow, The Dandy Warhols, Gomez) in the south of France. It’s shaping up to be a big year for the Australian Underground retro riff rocker, with “Sound Painter” due for release in 2012.
One very loud woman stands out musically and vocally from the rest. Independent of major labels, trends and a bullshit industry that all to often is nothing but smoke and mirrors.
Dallas Frasca is a hard working independent juggernaut who, with this yet to be released album, is carving the way with her band in Australia and internationally.
Bomba is renowned for their energetic live shows and passionate performances. The secret of Bomba's success has always been their eclectic and righteous party blend of riddems, beats, dubs and funky soul! Bomba's third album Learn To Breathe blends all these sounds with their impeccable reggae sensibilities and finds them poised to convert new fans not only in Australia, but overseas as well. If you've got thirsty ears and itchy feet come out and sample some of the most intense dance grooves, rich harmonies, powerful horns and soulful original material this side of the equator.
The irrepressible master of groove and multi-instrumentalist Nicky Bomba leads Australia’s funkiest dance/reggae band Bomba.
If A French Butler Called Smith had to sum up their mission statement in one word it would be DANCE and they’re willing to use any weapon in their artillery of musical genres to do it. Whether its funk, latin, gypsy or anything in between make no mistake – you will be on your feet.
These 5 gentlemen having been gallivanting across the country strutting their extremely unique and infectious sounds to ever-growing audiences, fast gaining a reputation for the best entertainment you can have with your clothes on.
After blowing audiences away with some explosive performances around the country in 2011, including Byron Bay Bluesfest, Splendour in the Grass, Queenscliff Music Festival, Caloundra Music Festival and a 30 date national tour, the Butlers ventured into Lovestreet Studios to evolve their unmistakably unique sound into another dimension with a new EP ‘Eating Crow’ to be released early 2012. With incredible new flavours and capturing the electric energy their live set has become known for, they are ready to take the country and the world by storm – you have been warned!
Austin Busch brings his love of blues, soul and song together with a diverse vocal range and creates a musical journey which is unique. Inspired by old time Blues and Soul he delivers a performance which can jump from a smooth soulfulness to a raspy punch.
Spending the last few years travelling throughout the country and abroad with his band Austin has become a regular on the touring circuit playing at festivals and earning supports for artists such as Bob Brozman (USA), James Hunter (U.K).
Now as he and the band take a well earned break from the extensive touring and spend time writing material for a new cd Austin has stripped back his songs, crafted them into solo format and taken them on the road on his own. This is where it all grew from for Austin and is quite fitting to have come full circle for the next stage of his story.
A music guru who has legendary status across the high country and internationally, DJ Eddy mixes with best of them. He jets in for a special Cool Summer Festival performance in 2012, be there!!!
There is a certain stubborness needed to be an artist untouched by the inevitable lure of commercial short term gain. Few however, take it to the extremes that Lee Rosser does. Growing much of his own food and living in a house he built himself from mostly recycled materials, many of the ideas and philosophies contained in “Giving yourself away” are based on the process of supporting yourself and the compromises needed to do it.
This debut solo record from the former ʻRambunctiousʼ frontman has the rare quality of working as well in the studio as it does live. Blessed with a three octave vocal range and grooving right hand, the album uses only voice, guitar, and drums (Nicky Bomba). The result is a far cry from the normal singer/songwriter spangle jangle. By using minimal effects and overdubs it has a very upfront, percussive feel.
There is a certain craftsmanship to song-writing, and mastering the ability to convey a story as well as emotion is always a fine balance. Melbourne artist Ben Smith has been treading this line for years.
After having lived and travelled the streets of London in his early 20’s, absorbing the surroundings then returning to Melbourne, he’s subsequently translated those experiences into songs that speak about life, love, good times and bad. A concoction of tunes that blend acoustic guitar based pop-rock with a more earthy and soulful blues-roots feel.
Now the time has come for the next instalment on the musical journey for Ben Smith. The cogs have begun turning and the second as-yet untitled album is due for release very soon. It promises to be an edgier and more energetic step up from Ben’s debut. In the meantime he continues to hone his craft by playing to live audiences around Melbourne, so be sure to check out Ben Smith in a venue near you.
From the moment Rhys Crimmin starts playing, audiences are drawn to the warm sound he creates. Sitting amongst an array of instruments, the rhythmic pulse of the stomp box, along with the haunting drone of the didgeridoo, or bluesy sounds of the harmonica. His guitar work playing underneath while his raw, powerful and emotive vocals soar above.
On stage, his infectious live show blends 4 different styles of guitars, including 6 and 12 string Acoustic Guitars, Resonator Guitar and Weissenborn Lap Steel Guitar, along with didgeridoos, harmonicas, kazoo, and foot percussion!
This busy performer has managed to teach himself all of these instruments, and plays them all simultaneously, in a mind-blowing performance!
If this isn’t enough, his guests at festival appearances The Toms, Meagan Thomson on the Fiddle, Tom Collins on Double Bass ,and Tom Jones on the Drums, add another dimension to this wall of sound! Rhys lets his music do the talking, and the crowd is ready to listen.
My Left Boot formed in 2005 in response to the film March of the Penguins, narrated by Acadamy Award nominated actor Morgan Freeman. Since then the band has taken their brand of psychedelically infused fuzz rock to grand new heights musically, whilst continuing to grab fans along the way.
The band has played at the most loved venues and festivals across the continent, sharing stages with countless amazing bands and it shows. The Boot’s live show is a formidable beast of a thing. Huge blues-soaked riffs, old school hideously powerful rhythm section topped with what must be one of the most jaw dropping vocals in the land. Seriously!
Early 2012 will see the band releasing their much awaited full length LP, an impressive document of a band who have been at the front of Melbourne’s underground rock scene for eons. Could you pass the salt please.
One of Australia's best kept musical secrets, The Ox And The Fury enjoy a fast growing reputation as one of this countries best live bands. The band is led by Exekiel Ox (Mammal, Over-Reactor, Full Scale Revolution), and features Lucius Borich (Cog, Floating Me, Kevin Borich Express) on drums. Completing the line up is Melbourne guitar virtuoso Dom Italiano and bass guru Ben Brennan.
The album "Guitars Die In Hot Cars" came out April 2010. Showcasing raw, open and emotional stories about love, life and getting through. Ox and his band have created a folk rock album to stand the test of time and span generations of listeners. Already known along the East Coast of Australia for their punchy, blues driven performances, the band is built for the stage, with sprawling arrangements, extended jam sessions and uplifting lyrics.
Richard Person, being an only child he always had to make up for his isolation by creating the same amount of mess as 3 kids. Therefore it was only a natural progression that led him to making as much noise as a 3-piece band. He doesn’t seem to have enough arms, legs or lungs to pull off such a physically demanding performance but that doesn’t stop him from playing 3 didgeridoos, driving a weapons cache of 4 overdriven acoustic guitars and somehow managing to replace the roll of a drummer with little more than his 2 feet.
Having only picked up the guitar 6 years ago, it is fair to say that Richard Person has achieved more in his short time than many musicians may ever dream of achieving.
The momentum is building while the path Perso blazes is spreading and has just been invited back to Canada for the 2012 festival season. During recent performances, Richard has been voted by festival goers as one of the most popular acts, outranking many of the headline acts.
With 8 albums, a swag of accolades to his name and 20 years performing, writing and recording, Lloyd Spiegel has certainly squeezed more into his 30 years than many do in a lifetime. It’s that experience and presence well beyond his years that has seen him become one of this country's leading Blues artists and most respected guitarists.
Since age 13, Spiegel has toured the globe with frequent visits to Germany, New Zealand and the United States where he toured with countless blues legends and supported the likes of Ray Charles, Bob Dylan and Etta James. More recently, Lloyd found commercial success in Japan, performing sold out concerts at Tokyo Disneyland regularly.
Lloyd is also the world-wide demonstrator and premier endorsee for Cole Clark Guitars. Australia’s most internationally recognized musical instruments were first designed with Lloyd’s hard hitting style in mind and as a result, he has been invited to perform at every major guitar event in the world.
King Of The North are an explosive new Guitar/ Drums rock duo currently based in Melbourne, Australia. Although being a two-piece KOTN takes Rock to a new level with a bone-crushing wall of sound any five-piece band would be proud of. The use of 3 amps, loops, drums and dual vocal harmonies creates a unique brand of riff laden Rock n’ Roll that has to be seen live to be believed!
Way back when, amongst the vibrant green rolling landscape of Kennedy's Creek, a vicious sound was being sculpted. The purveyors of this unrelenting audio were brothers Jo and Jorge Gardner. Guitar and Drums respectively, Red Eagle had finally arrived. Together, Jo and Jorge meshed rhythm and melody into a primal force that was both raw and pure.
It wasn't until many years later (2008) that a chance encounter with one Brady "Brother Bear" Jones, in a sand pit(/informal kitty litter tray) at Port Fairy Folk Festival, would see Red Eagle evolve into the ever elusive "Power Trio".
With a mentality of "Garage Blues & Dancing Shoes", Red Eagle are a visceral entity that provide anyone within earshot a soundtrack rich with distortion, groove and an undying love for Rock n' Roll aesthetics.
Dirty foot-stompin', hard hittin' Blues/Rock outfit who play a high-energy and entertaining set based on groove riffs, wailing slide guitar, smoky vocals and driving beats. Crowd participation, ankle-busting stompouts, call-and-response, percussion jams, burlesque dancing, halftime breakdowns, sweaty participants, megaphone taunts and general in-your-face blues/rock action = something TDS.
Transvaal Diamond Syndicate (TDS) are the manufacturers of some of Australia's finest foot-stompin' swamp and dirty blues/rock.
Consider the great Australian racehorse Phar Lap: old when compared to his contemporaries, brutishly ugly and with an ungainly yet phenomenal stride & gargantuan stamina. In much the same way, Sons of Lee Marvin are a punter’s delight.
Bryan Mayden (bass & vocals), Stu Manchu (guitars & vocals), Coz Loco (guitars & vocals) and featuring both Kidd Gloves and Knuckles O’Hara on drums - yep, there’s two of them, at the same time.
But the personnel list keeps growing…a shadowy cabal of guitar slingers and noise auteur living amongst the Australian music scene like a hidden and aggressive cancer. You never know who will show up on stage…and it’s like watching a horse that looks like he’s going to shake himself to bits but is leading the bunch by a furlong.
So bet on the horse with heart - and stand and cheer – because an ugly new horse is set to raise people’s hopes hearts and spirits right as we slip into the great cultural depression.
Standing in the dark of a Melbourne venue of a night, if you’re lucky, you may catch a fleeting glimpse of Sheriff. Between three men, Sheriff put on a show the same way a magician controls a tempest- It’s wild, it pounds at your ears and eyes and awakes your screaming primal instincts conjuring the need to be amongst the insanity.
Formed in 2008, Sheriff almost immediately burst into Melbourne’s music scene with a finely-crafted set of songs and the onstage antics to match the wild nature of the music. After relentless gigging over the past few years and having ripened their unique blend of Southern-Psychedelic-Horror-Blues-Rock, 2011 saw the band encamp in Woodstock Studios, St. Kilda to document their sound in the form of a debut EP. On the back of their recent single launch for ‘What You Want’ the band is now gearing up for a breakthrough 2012 with the release of their debut EP set for early in the year.
Put on your dancin’ shoes and cowboy boots and come witness Sheriff’s captivating live show when Cool Summer rolls around in February! Yee-Haw!
Dylan Hammond is a lover of life and music. He is a multi- instrumentalist, a passionate vocalist and an energetic performer. This picker and strummer of stringed instruments, has guided himself through the exploration of acoustic, electric and bass guitars, mandolins, ukuleles and banjos. His sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter, often powerful and always emotive vocal performances are for the eyes as well as the ears. The effort behind each note can be seen in the expressions of his face and the movements of his body as he travels freely through aggressive screams into delicate falsettos.
Essentially Dylan is a guitarist/vocalist and will often strip back his shows to their pure form; his voice and his acoustic guitar. But in sensing the mood and nurturing it, his performance will progress to encapsulate his multi-instrumentation, his infectious percussive grooves and the spontaneity that he lives for.
'The Folk Alliance International Conference in Memphis Tennessee called Brett Campbell "One of the top children's performers from around the world!".
After a showcase at the event Grammy's voting board governor, Gene Shay, went so far as to call Brett's hit tune Scary Monster, "The perfect song!".
With this endorsement Brett returned to Australia and since then has firmly cemented his reputation at home.
He has appeared at over 350 self promoted shows per year since 2009 and has performed at many of Australasia's major festivals. These include the National Folk Festival, Moomba Festival, Apollo Bay, Auckland Folk Festival (twice), Fairbridge, the Snowy Mountains of Music, Urban Country, Queenscliff Music Festival, Out of the Box (Sydney), Caloundra Music Festival (twice) and the Royal Melbourne Show. He is the only act to appear at all of the Rhymes Kids Music Festival events throughout 2011 and he also performed at Fun4Kids - the largest single event children's festival in the southern hemisphere.
In that period he found time to return to the U.S. and he is now being played on several North American radio stations that cater to children. Brett’s holiday song, “Arthur the Christmas Cat” is also receiving international airplay as well as support at home from the ABC and other stations.
Brett is looking forward to seeing you at the 2012 Cool Summer Festival, so don't forget to pack your dancing shoes and come and say Hi!'
TBA!
Mt Hotham's favourite towie and all round legend Benny Williams brings his impressive musical onslaught back to the mountain for Cool Summer Festival 2012. A must see for the weekend.
Have you ever danced with the devil... by the pale moonlight?
