Lillian Albazi channels the unpredictability of live jazz and the gold sounds of vintage equipment on ‘After-Image’
She relishes in the vibrant artistic community of Brunswick, Fitzroy and Collingwood – “then there’s little old me trying to soak up as much of it as possible” – she feels privileged to be living the career she has always wanted. Albazi is daughter of an Assyrian refugee, who was conscripted into the Iraq War under Saddam Hussein before fleeing to Australia.
“He left everything behind in the hopes of seeking a safer future,” she says. “The history of my family is absolutely sacred and has a profound daily effect on me. To put it simply, I cherish the little things in life.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
“My father never had an opportunity to choose a career that he wanted so to me, being an artist is a privilege and something I will never take for granted. I grew up listening to all sorts of music in my dad’s car. Assyrian music, Arabic music, Indian music. Listening to tonal systems that you rarely hear on mainstream radio stations. He’d sing along and talk to me about life and culture in Iraq. As I said, all this music was totally out of context to the pitch organisation of western music that I was used to as a little girl and, I think looking back, is something that has really contributed greatly to my love for jazz. The scales and harmony within jazz are so complex. It’s exciting and endless. You can spend hours getting lost in transcribing solos or looking at the different harmonic structures/substitutions that different jazz musicians have used to play the same standard.
“In my liner notes of my album, I write to Dad ‘thank you for teaching me that kindness and hard work will open doors’. I simply wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for his courage so I am forever grateful to be here, making music and I think Dad is proud that his sacrifices allowed him to tell everyone now that his daughter is a musician.”
It’s a dream progression that Albazi has carefully earned. She first came to prominence at 22 years old with her quintet, debuting at the 2016 Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
Since then, she’s toured Australia extensively playing at key venues and festivals including MONA Museum, Devonport Jazz Festival and Melbourne Recital Centre.
After six years of playing alongside fellow collaborators Luke Andresen (drums), Henry Davis (guitar), Oscar Neyland (double bass), Shaun Rammers (tenor saxophone), she was asked by an audience member when her album was due.
“We walked into Rolling Stock Recording Rooms six months later, Myles Mumford hit that rolling button and here we are,” she says. The album also features special guests Tony Gould AM, who accompanies Lillian in a hauntingly beautiful presentation of ‘My Funny Valentine’ whilst ‘Comes Love’ features rising star Kade Brown on piano.
“After-Image highlights our strengths and voices as individual improvisers but also the sound we create when we come together. It tells the story of the last six years of touring and playing shows around Australia, where we have come from and where we’d like to go. Practice for this album was done on the road, at gigs.”
Albazi’s heritage subtly underlines her work, which broadly reflects her joyous approach to life. On the captivating debut album After-Image, she renews the familiar with deft, complex takes on classic and contemporary standards, performing a range of modern jazz styles with wit, playfulness and sombre romanticism.
“An after-image is the impression left on the closed eyelid – an impression of a piece of music filtered through someone else,” she explains. “Over time, the after-image might distort and change, leaving you with a sentiment, a feeling or just the framework of what was. For this reason, it feels a perfect analogy for the re-interpretation and arrangements of the standards on the album, presenting the listener with an after-image of the familiar. Seeing things through my eyes, listening to my after-images.”
Her album tour opened back in July with Albazi and her band performing to capacity houses in Ulverstone and Hobart, Tasmania as well as a beautiful showcase on the lawns of MONA before COVID lockdowns brought things to a halt.
The tour will now recommence with rescheduled dates planned from November through to February, 2022. For those who are unable to catch her live, however, she went to great lengths to ensure she packed the same unique energy into her album recording.
“I’m a fan of everything old school and handmade.. old recording techniques, vintage gear, valve amps,” she continues.
“I just think it all sounds better and has a history and depth to it. I’m in awe of musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and their recordings. You put that needle down on a live Keith Jarrett LP and you can hear him grunting and groaning the whole way through it. The cracks and creeks of Holiday’s voice are and will always be unmatched by any perfectly pitched, unwavering vocal that you could play me.
“Some of Davis’s most iconic albums were recorded over two days just blitzing through standards and seeing what transpires. Deep listening, leaving space for improvisation/the unknown plus that amazing grittiness and bite of old live recordings. That’s what I’ve tried to achieve here. A sound that is just like you’d hear if you attend a gig and all the raucous fun in-between.
“In my studio at home I have framed Art Kane’s, ‘A Great Day in Harlem’. It’s the most incredible photograph and captures so many giants of jazz and a time in history that as a jazz musician you should always pay respect to and immerse yourself in. There are too many musicians to list that inspire me in that photograph but on a very personal level, my mother singing old folk songs to me every night as a small child is something that has had a deep effect on my love of singing.
“I’d say the musicians who I get to work with in both the bands that I am part of inspire me greatly too. They challenge me to be better, to reach higher levels of proficiency and strive for greater success.”
With the album launched and touring set to recommence, she returns to her nation-trotting schedule, but not before supporting the family and local community that brought her this far.
“The future holds lots of touring, new releases, recording studios, giving my mum a big old kiss and getting out in my local community to support the venues, stores and shops that have been doing it rough these past few years with the lack of funding,” she says.
“Our Australian jazz community is truly golden. It is a melting pot of diverse musical influence, critical thought and open mindedness. That paired with that space that is left for improvisation and freedom of interpretation while drawing on the complex political and cultural history of jazz makes for an amazing scene.
“Lastly, I would like your readers to know that I apologise in advance for my terrible jokes that they will be a witness to when they come to one of my shows.”
For all touring information and to order ‘After-Image’, head to her website.
Grand Wazoo
Grand Wazoo
Grand Wazoo
Grand Wazoo
The Wild Halloween Weekend (on NYE!)
One of Europe’s top trash garage and gogo weekenders The Wild Weekend is coming to Australia for the first time. It’s a kreepy and kooky fuzzed out fiesta, three days of monstrous mayhem in Melbourne.
Zombie Zoo Productions’ Skipper Josh and Babz Collins present a weekend of Retro Fuzz, Crazy Costume parties and vinyl throwbacks…Set in various venues in the Melbourne CBD, The Wild Weekend features top retro trash bands, gruesome Gogo Goddesses, deviant decor, dastardly disc-jocks, crazy cabaret, mad movies, a boat cruise to nowhere and the Surf-fink Swap-meet.
The Wild DIY Garage of STRAIGHT ARROWS– Raw Noisy Fun from this professional bunch of Sudney party starters!
The Punk Junk of THE UNKNOWNS –these Creepy Creatures of the Sunshine Coast will get ya pogoing all over the place till your head pops off.
The Primitive Blast of DROP OFS – freak out to Fuzzed up slammers from Wollongong’s masters of double drum destruction.
The Evil Twang of THE BLACK WIDOWS – All female, all Link Wray, All bloody scary! These conniving ladies spin a venomous web of instrumental rock and roll and sensual spider stomps.
The Grunting Debauchery of THE HUMAN FLIES. Arch enemies of the Black Widows these bugged out, bondage freaks get their kicks from shiny black leather and human excretions, playing a cramped up blend of .
The Medical Mayhem Of CHILLS AND FEVER – This Diabolical Dr and Nurse duo playing a sick set of medical monstrosities, as they fill your cranial cavity with medicinal bliss. Hang on Spooky, time for your frontal lobotomy!
THE Hirsute Horrors Of HOWLING LUPITA AND THE LOUPS GAROUS– It’s a full moon every night with these wigged out werewolves. A classic set of Hirsute Halloween Howlers led by leader of the pack, The Lady Lupita…
The Warped Sixties Sounds of THE TEXAN FLASHBACKS (San Antonio) – A super group of fans playing Texas garage. A wild, harp wailing Rhythm & Blues show.
The Classic Garage Beat of THE PREDAWN CIVILIZATION – An Atlantean Assault on the senses. Unadulterated mid sixties groovers .
The Mexican Maniac Thrash of MONSTRA COSA – A cuthulu cult of high energy rock and roll.
The Sweet Surf Sounds of LOS TREMOLEROS – Atmospheric surf twangers with an Hispanic influence and wrestling masks!
The Piractical Swing of THE WYLDE WYLDE OSCARS – Beat Island’s most nefarious rogues conjure up a treasure chest of stomping garage shanties.
The Fiery Rock and Roll of THE PLASTIC SECTION – A Devil’s delight of Revved up Rock and Roll raw-cousnes from this Melbourne threesome.
The Screaming Jay Blues OF WHAM E WHAMEE AND THE FRENZIES– Early Blues Magoos, and Rockin‘ demons bought back to chilling after life by a bunch of no good low down finks….Hello Henry!
The Mexi Trash of NATO GRATO Y LOS FEOS– The most hated band in all of the Latin world, these uglies can’t boogaloo, can’t salsa
and cant play guitar either.
The gaillo guitarro of THE CRYPT KICKER FIVE– Get cremated by a scorching blast of tombstone twang, cemetery crunch and lashings of reverb laden surf.
Rosario De Marco Live – Mediterranean Sound with No Borders
Rosario De Marco, guitarist – composer. Rosario has performed live as well as for national TV and radio. He has released several CDs, including “Light and Shadows” “Roots” and “Intuition”.
His music captures the warmth and passion of the Southern European lands, taking elements from flamenco, jazz, classical, folk and popular music. With this mixture of different musical inspirations, he creates his own personal and highly melodious style…
Successful performances include as support act for Omara Portuondo (Buena Vista Social Club), and Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the Melbourne Concert Hall.
This music displays harmonic sensibility and sophistication with fascinating and elegant harmonic structure.
It would be difficult for even the most jaded musical sensibility to become bored with this music.
Rosario’s quality is easy to sense but hard to define – call it feel, soul or even spirituality.
In summary, the music of an urgent, passionate, romantic and very talented soul.
The Jackson Combo Duo
Love Police have started a brand new label with four upcoming releases
The new label is a creative partnership between BT from Love Police Touring and Dave Laing, and is kicking off with four releases from Warumpi Band, Melissa Carper, Alex Hamilton and Mylee Grace.
The Warumpi Band release is a very raw and very early recording of the band playing mostly covers, including a blasting version of the early Eagles rocker ‘Already Gone.’
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Caper is an American up & comer, Hamilton is a Melbourne’s folk/country-rock singer/songwriter/guitarist, while Grace is an alternative-country anti-folk rock-and-roll singer-songwriter from the Northern Rivers area, whose record has been described as “music that makes you feel like you’re on holidays with friends…”
“I’ve been bringing international Artists to Australia for over 20 years,” BT says.
“Most of them have a record label with representation here, but some don’t. Some are only just starting out on their journey and don’t have a record deal anywhere.
“This label is here to license and release quality recorded music locally that we believe in. Music that might otherwise slip through the cracks, and not find a home here. We get to tell the story of that music and Artist in a bigger way. With an album, with a tour, holding hands the whole way.
“We may also delve into the past and bring back some forgotten gems. We may look down the street and discover something right there that is undeniable. Our ears are open.”
The label have merch and surprises in store and for now that they’re only selling online. All the albums are being released November 19 with more to come, but you can pre-order them all here.
MOD CON, Parquet Courts + more, our favourite records of the week
There are a bunch of highly-anticipated albums dropping this week.
After years of waiting, some of our favourite bands are back with new records. It’s been a red hot minute since we last heard from MOD CON, Parquet Courts and The War On Drugs, but thanks to this week’s epic drop of fresh albums, we can give their last records a break and hit repeat on some new tunes.
Here are our favourite new records out this week.
This week’s top picks:
- MOD CON – Modern Condition
- Parquet Courts – Sympathy For Life
- The War On Drugs – I Don’t Live Here Anymore
Read all the latest music news here.
MOD CON – Modern Condition
After drip-feeding us singles ‘Ammo’, ‘Learner in an Alpha’ and ‘X-Ray’ over the past couple of months, MOD CON’s highly-anticipated second album, Modern Condition, is dropping on Friday October 22.
Full of anxiety, gutsy riffs, screeches and tempered rhythms, the record is a fresh slice of poignant, political punk that showcases the three piece’s growth since 2018’s Modern Convenience.
Listen to ‘X-Ray’ below.
Parquet Courts – Sympathy For Life
Parquet Courts are delivering the groove with Sympathy For Life, their follow-up to 2018’s universally-adored Wide Awake!.
“Wide Awake! was a record you could put on at a party. Sympathy For Life is influenced by the party itself,” said co-frontman Austin Brown of the new record.
Written before the pandemic hit, the record came as a result of Parquet Court embracing dance parties.
“Historically, some amazing rock records have been made from mingling in dance music culture – from Talking Heads to Screamadelica. Our goal was to bring that into our own music,” said Brown.
Get groovy with ‘Walking at a Downtown Pace’ below.
The War On Drugs – I Don’t Live Here Anymore
It’s been five years since The War On Drugs’ last album, A Deeper Understanding, but at long last they’re back with I Don’t Live Here Anymore.
It’s got everything you’d want and expect from a The War On Drugs album; warm, shimmering riffs, lyrics drenched in longing nostalgia, and Adam Granduciel’s raspy crooning.
Listen to ‘I Don’t Live Here Anymore’ below.
Amyl and the Sniffers, King Giz, Baker Boy headline huge Bowl concert this month
Victorian artists are set to take centre stage for close to 4,000 gig-goers as the joy of live music returns to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl as part of the Victorian Government’s vaccinated economy trial.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Baker Boy, Amyl and the Sniffers, Grace Cummings and Vika and Linda Bull will play at the Play On Victoria concert.
The concert will be delivered in line with the venue’s COVIDSafe plan and trial “safe settings” on Victoria’s reopening roadmap, which is the first step towards reopening live music in the state, a process that has garnered considerable criticism for so far excluding a full reopening roadmap for indoor venues.
What you need to know
- Play On Victoria will be held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on October 30
- The concert will be a trial of COVIDSafe live music events
- Tickets will cost $30 and go on sale from 3pm this Friday, October 22
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
“We’re thrilled to be supporting our live music scene through this trial, which will see thousands of music lovers celebrate local artists in COVIDSafe settings. It’s a big step on the way to getting live music up and running again,” Victorian creative industries minister Danny Pearson says.
“Vaccination is our ticket out of this pandemic and it’s our only way to get back to enjoying the things we love, like our cultural and creative events.
“We’re making sure we have the best technology in place to get our great local events up and running again and make them run as smoothly as possible.”
Tickets cost $29.90 and will be made available via Ticketek from 3:00pm Friday for those who live in metropolitan Melbourne. Attendees must be fully vaccinated to attend. They will be spread across the venue in allocated seats and picnic areas and they will be required to wear masks.
Food and beverages will be available at the concert and crowd members will be allowed to remove their masks while eating and drinking.
Music lovers attending the concert will be asked to show they’re fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 digital certificate displayed through the Service Victoria app, Medicare app, or equivalent smartphone wallet.
Victorians can add their COVID-19 digital certificate to the Service Victoria app through MyGov or the Express Medicare Plus App. Check out our full guide to getting one here.
Proof of vaccination can also be shown through the Medicare app, or equivalent smartphone wallet. They can also present a printed version of their certificate or immunisation history statement or provide evidence of a valid exemption.
There will also be a series of live music trials at regional sites across the state, bringing music back to the stages of venues in Gippsland, South West and Central Victoria. More detail on regional trials will be announced in coming days.
For more information or to book tickets for Play On Victoria, visit the Ticketek website.
Full ARIA Award nominations list: Amy Shark, Genesis Owusu nab six each
The countdown to the 2021 ARIA Awards is on, with just five weeks to go. The ARIA Awards nominations event saw the nominees in all categories revealed today via YouTube.
The winners will be announced on Wednesday 24th November 2021, to be broadcast from Sydney, Australia and the world on YouTube.
8x ARIA Award winner Amy Shark is closing a huge year with six nominations, including Album of the Year, Best Artist, Best Pop Release, Song of the Year and more. Amy’s sophomore album Cry Forever, debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts, following in the footsteps of Shark’s debut/breakthrough 2018 ARIA Album of the Year, LOVE MONSTER.
Genesis Owusu also has six nominations, including Album of the Year, Best Artist, Best Independent Release, Best Hip Hop Release and Best Cover Art. Genesis Owusu’s debut album Smiling With No Teeth peaked at #27 on the ARIA charts.
R&B wunderkind Budjerah also received five nominations, including Best Artist, Best Soul/R&B Release and Breakthrough Artist. The 19-year-old breakout artist released his self-titled debut Budjerah this year, co-written and produced by Matt Corby.
Internationally acclaimed Australian rapper Masked Wolf has secured five nominations this year, including Breakthrough Artist, Best Artist, Best Hip Hop Release, Song of the Year and Best Video. In 2021 Masked Wolf re-released his 2019 single “Astronaut in the Ocean,” and it immediately caught fire, igniting 17.5 million-plus TikTok videos.
Midnight Oil and First Nations Collaborators have landed five nominations this year, including Best Group, Best Australian Live Act and Best Video. The rock icons have also scored nominations for Album of the Year and Best Rock Album for this year’s mini-album The Makarrata Project, the band’s first new body of work in nearly 20 years.
The Avalanches, Tones And I and Vance Joy all also score five nominations, while Ngaiire and The Kid LAROI nab four.
“Today, a huge congratulations are in order for every recording musician across Australia. After another immensely challenging year for creatives, it has been truly phenomenal to see such amazing, diverse and celebrated work continue to pour out from all over the country,” ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd said.
“In the face of such adversity, we can all be proud to say Australia’s creative heart is still alive and beating. That is exactly what the 2021 ARIA Awards, in partnership with YouTube Music, plan to celebrate. To all of this year’s amazing nominees, thank you for continuing to share your stories and brighten the lives of music fans across the globe, thank you to all the teams who have worked so hard behind the scenes, and thank you to the fans for continuing to show their love and support for this amazing and dedicated industry. Let’s party (safely).”
The full list of the 2021 ARIA nominated artists
Album Of The Year
Amy Shark – Cry Forever (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)
Midnight Oil and First Nations Collaborators – The Makarrata Project (Sony Music)
The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You (Modular / EMI Music Australia)
Tones And I – Welcome to the Madhouse (Bad Batch Records / Sony Music)
Best Artist
Amy Shark – Cry Forever (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Budjerah – Budjerah (EP) (Warner Music Australia)
Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)
Keith Urban – The Speed Of Now Part 1 (CAPITOL – NASHVILLE / EMI Music Australia)
Kylie Minogue – Disco (Liberator Music/Mushroom)
Masked Wolf – Astronaut In The Ocean (Teamwrk Records/ADA/Warner Music)
Ngaiire – 3 (Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control Records)
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – Stay (Columbia/Sony Music)
Tones And I – Welcome to the Madhouse Bad Batch Records / Sony Music)
Vance Joy – Missing Piece (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)
Best Dance Release
Cosmo’s Midnight – Yesteryear (Nite High/Sony Music)
Dom Dolla – Pump The Brakes (Sweat It Out/Warner)
Jolyon Petch – Dreams (TMRW Music)
KLP & Stace Cadet – People Happy (Medium Rare Recordings / Sony Music)
RÜFÜS DU SOL – Alive (Rose Avenue Records/Reprise/Warner Music)
Best Group
AC/DC – Power Up (Leidseplein Presse / Sony Music)
Gang Of Youths – The Angel of 8th Ave. (Mosy Recordings / Sony Music)
Midnight Oil and First Nations Collaborators – The Makarrata Project (Sony Music)
RÜFÜS DU SOL – Alive (Rose Avenue Records/Reprise/Warner Music)
The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You (Modular / EMI Music Australia)
Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist
Budjerah – Budjerah (EP) (Warner Music Australia)
Gretta Ray – Begin To Look Around (EMI Music Australia)
Masked Wolf – Astronaut In The Ocean (Teamwrk Records/ADA/Warner Music)
MAY-A -Don’t Kiss Ur Friends (Arcadia Music / Sony Music)
Ngaiire – 3 (Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control Records)
Best Pop Release
Amy Shark – Cry Forever (Wonderlick Recording Company)
The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You (Modular / EMI Music Australia)
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – Stay (Columbia/Sony Music)
Tones And I – Fly Away (Bad Batch Records / Sony Music)
Vance Joy – Missing Piece (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)
Best Hip Hop Release
B Wise – jamie (Semi Pro Sound)
Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)
Masked Wolf – Astronaut In The Ocean (Teamwrk Records/ADA/Warner Music)
The Kid LAROI – WITHOUT YOU (Columbia/Sony Music)
Youngn Lipz – Area Baby (Biordi Music/Virgin Music)
Best Soul/R&B Release
Budjerah – Budjerah (EP) (Warner Music Australia)
Hiatus Kaiyote – Mood Valiant (Brainfeeder/Ninja Tune)
Ngaiire – 3 (Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control Records)
Tash Sultana – Terra Firma (Lonely Lands Records/Sony Music
Tkay Maidza – Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3 (Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)
Best Independent Release
Archie Roach – The Songs Of Charcoal Lane (Bloodlines/Mushroom)
Ball Park Music – Ball Park Music (Prawn Records/ Inertia Music)
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks – Crossover (Hopestreet Recordings/The Planet Company)
Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL)
Vance Joy – Missing Piece (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)
Best Rock Album
AC/DC – Power Up (Leidseplein Presse / Sony Music)
Ball Park Music – Ball Park Music (Prawn Records/ Inertia Music)
Holy Holy – Hello My Beautiful World (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Middle Kids – Today We’re The Greatest (EMI Music Australia)
Midnight Oil and First Nations Collaborators – The Makarrata Project (Sony Music)
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Big Scary – Daisy (Pieater/Inertia)
Crowded House – Dreamers Are Waiting (EMI Music Australia)
Kylie Minogue- Disco (Liberator Music/Mushroom)
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – Carnage (Goliath / AWAL)
Odette – Herald (EMI Music Australia)
Best Country Album
Brad Cox – My Mind’s Projection (Sony Music)
Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham – The Song Club (ABC Music)
Shane Nicholson – Living In Colour (Lost Highway Australia/Universal Music Australia)
The Wolfe Brothers – Kids On Cassette (BMG/WMG)
Troy Cassar-Daley – The World Today (Tarampa Music / Sony Music)
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
Alpha Wolf – A Quiet Place To Die (Greyscale Records / Cooking Vinyl Australia)
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – SHYGA! The Sunlight Mound What Reality? (TFS Records/Virgin Music)
Tropical F**k Storm – Deep States (TFS Records/Virgin Music)
Yours Truly – Self Care (UNFD/The Orchard)
A. Swayze & the Ghosts – Paid Salvation (IVY LEAGUE/MUSHROOM)
Best Blues & Roots Album
Archie Roach – The Songs Of Charcoal Lane (Bloodlines/Mushroom)
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks – Crossover (Hopestreet Recordings/The Planet Company)
Josh Teskey & Ash Grunwald – Push The Blues Away(Ivy League/Mushroom)
Martha Marlow – Medicine Man (Independent/The Planet Company)
Ziggy Alberts – Searching For Freedom (Commonfolk Records / The Orchard)
Best Children’s Album
Amber Lawrence – The Kid’s Gone Country 2 (Fun For All The Family ABC Music)
Bluey The Album – Bluey (Ludo Studios / Demon Music Group / BBC Studios / Rocket)
Diver City – Dance Silly (ABC Music / Universal)
The Wiggles – Lullabies With Love (ABC Music)
Various Artists – The Moon, The Mouse & The Frog: Lullabies from Northern Australia (ABC Music)
Public Voted Awards
Best Video
24k – Tkay Maidza, Nicholas Muecke (Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)
Astronaut In The Ocean – Masked Wolf, Daniele Cernera (Teamwrk Records/ADA/Warner Music)
could cry just thinkin about you (Full Version) – Troye Sivan & Jesse Gohier-Fleet (EMI Music Australia)
Dance – Julia Stone, Jessie Hill (BMG/WMG)
First Nation – Midnight Oil, Robert Hambling (Sony Music)
Higher – Budjerah, Mick Soiza (Warner Music Australia)
Love Songs Ain’t for Us – Amy Shark, James Chappell (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Missing Piece – Vance Joy, Annelise Hickey (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)
The Divine Chord – The Avalanches, Jonathan Zawada (Modular / EMI Music Australia)
Won’t Sleep – Tones and I, Nick Kozakis, Liam Kelly (Bad Batch Records / Sony Music)
Best Australian Live Act
Amy Shark – Cry Forever Tour 2021 (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Ball Park Music – The Residency (Prawn Records/ Inertia Music)
Budjerah – Budjerah 2021 Aus Tour (Warner Music Australia)
Genesis Owusu – Smiling With No Teeth Album Tour (OURNESS / AWAL)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Micro Tour (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard/Virgin Music)
Lime Cordiale – Relapse Tour (Chugg Music Pty Ltd)
Midnight Oil and First Nations Collaborators – Makarrata Live (Sony Music)
The Avalanches – The Avalanches Live (Modular / EMI Music Australia)
The Teskey Brothers – The Teskey Brothers (Headline Shows + Festivals) (IVY LEAGUE/MUSHROOM)
Thelma Plum – Homecoming Queen Tour (Warner Music Australia)
Song of the Year
Amy Shark Feat. Keith Urban – Love Songs Ain’t For Us (Wonderlick Recording Company)
Dean Lewis – Falling Up (Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia)
Hooligan Hefs – Send It! (db Music / Warner Music Australia)
Keith Urban & Pink – One Too Many (CAPITOL – NASHVILLE / EMI Music Australia)
Masked Wolf – Astronaut In The Ocean (Teamwrk Records/ADA/Warner Music)
Sam Fischer & Demi Lovato – What Other People Say (Sony Music)
Spacey Jane – Booster Seat (AWAL Recordings)
The Kid LAROI with Miley Cyrus – Without You (Columbia/Sony Music)
Tones and I – Fly Away (Bad Batch Records / Sony Music)
Vance Joy – Missing Piece (Liberation Records/Mushroom Group)
Most Popular International
Ariana Grande – Positions (Universal Records USA / Universal Music Australia)
Doja Cat – Planet Her (RCA Records / Sony Music)
Justin Bieber – Justice (Def Jam / Universal Music Australia)
Kanye West – Donda (Def Jam / Universal Music Australia)
Luke Combs – What You See Ain’t Always What You Get (Columbia Nashville / Sony Music)
Machine Gun Kelly – Tickets To My Downfall (Interscope / Universal Music Australia)
Miley Cyrus – Plastic Hearts (RCA Records / Sony Music)
Olivia Rodrigo – Sour (Geffen / Universal Music Australia)
Pop Smoke – Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon (Universal Records USA / Universal Music Australia)
Taylor Swift – Evermore (Universal Music Australia)
ARIA Music Teacher Award
Aaron Silver – Wodonga Primary School, Regional VIC
Ashley Baxter – Pimlico State High School, Townsville QLD
Daniel Wilson – Star Struck, Newcastle NSW
Zoë Barry – Sacred Heart School, Melbourne VIC
Artisan Awards
Best Cover Art
Ngaiire Joseph & Dan Segal for Ngaiire – 3 (Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control Records)
Eben Ejdne for Odette – Herald (EMI Music Australia)
Kofi Anash & Bailey Howard for Genesis Owusu – Smiling with No Teeth (OURNESS / AWAL) Jonathan Zawada for TheAvalanches – We Will Always Love You (Modular / EMI Music Australia)
Giulia Giannini McGauran & Mitchell Eaton for Tones and I – Welcome to the Madhouse (Bad Batch Records / Sony Music)
Engineer Of The Year
Chris Collins
Eric J Dubowsky
Konstantin Kersting
Matt Corby
Tony Espie
Producer Of The Year
Andrew Klippel, Dave Hammer
Konstantin Kersting
M-Phazes
Matt Corby
Robert Chater
FINE ARTS AWARDS
Best Classical Album
Christian Li – Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (Decca Records Australia/Universal Music Australia
Emily Sun & Andrea Lam – Nocturnes (ABC Classic)
Genevieve Lacey and Marshall McGuire – Bower (ABC Classic / Universal)
Grigoryan Brothers – This is Us: A Musical Reflection of Australia (ABC Classic / Universal)
Nat Bartsch – Hope (ABC Classic / Universal)
Best Jazz Album
Australian Art Orchestra, Reuben Lewis, Tariro Mavondo & Peter Knight – Closed Beginnings (AAO Recordings/The Planet Company)
Kristen Beradi, Sean Foran & Rafael Karlen – Haven (Earshift Music / The Planet Company) Mildlife – Automatic (Inertia Music / [PIAS])
Petra Haden & The Nick Haywood Quintet – Songs from my Father (ABC Jazz / Universal)
Vazesh – The Sacred Key (Earshift Music / The Planet Company)
Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album
Angus & Julia Stone – Life Is Strange (BMG/WMG)
Antony Partos – Rams (Original Motion Picture Score) (ABC Music)
Caitlin Yeo, Maria Alfonsine, Damian de Boos-Smith – Wakefield Season One Official Soundtrack (MADBS Composing Palace)
Sia – Music Songs From And Inspired By The Motion Picture (Atlantic Records / Warner Music
Yve Blake – Fangirls (ADA/Warner Music)
Best World Music Album
Bob Weatherall & Halfway, with William Barton – Restless Dream (ABC Music)
Bukhu – Bukhchuluun Ganburged – The Journey (Bukhu/Distrokid)
Eishan Ensemble – Project Masnavi (Earshift Music / The Planet Company)
Joseph Tawadros – Hope In An Empty City (Independent / The Planet Company)
Kuya James – ISA (Settle Down Records / MGM Distribution)
For more info, check out the ARIA Awards website here.
DZ Deathrays release new game coded by their drummer
DZ Deathrays are launching the retro-pixel action game, titled Dive Bar Superstars, next Friday 29 October, with the game following the journey of a DZ fan trying to become a rockstar.
The crossover between the music and gaming worlds is certainly not a new phenomenon. The past two decades have seen musical artists collaborate with gaming companies with music syncs to avatar skins to live streamed performances in virtual worlds.
DZ Deathrays have previously had tracks feature in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and NHL 22. However, they’ve gone one step further than most by creating and building their own game from scratch. They told us about their most iconic Tony Hawk tracks last year.
What you need to know
- DZ Deathrays’ drummer Simon Ridley has coded his own mobile game
- Called Dive Bar Superstars, it follows a fan’s journey to become a rockstar
- Players unlock tracks from DZ Deathrays’ musical catalogue as they progress
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Dive Bar Superstars sees the player enter DZ’s world through the band’s eyes, to get a glimpse of what it takes to work your way up from house parties to the main stage. The game also comes with a twist, players won’t just be able to earn upgrades and unlocks, they’ll be unlocking tracks from DZ Deathrays’ musical catalogue to hype up their digital crowds.
“I think ultimately we’re always just looking for new and fun ways for us to bring our music to people,” Ridley says.
“The game gives us the opportunity to share a simplified perspective of what it sometimes feels like trying to ‘make it’ in a band. For example: saving up to blow all your money on pyro for a gig is one of the greatest joys of being in a rock band so it’s cool to be able to share that feeling a little with our fans.”
To celebrate the release of Dive Bar Superstars, DZ Deathrays have announced a livestreamed launch party on Friday 29 October on Twitch, where they will go up against fellow musician Jamie Timony (These New South Whales/MOSSY).
For more info keep an eye on: https://linktr.ee/dzdeathrays. They’re also playing live in Melbourne on Friday April 8, at 170 Russell.
Silverchair’s Daniel Johns is podcasting his life story: ‘I don’t want to perform on stage’
With each episode introduced by actor Guy Pearce, Who is Daniel Johns? promises to be a deep dive into the life and times of one of the more successful and mysterious Australian artists of the past 30 years.
As someone who doesn’t give many interviews, and has been embroiled in numerous tabloid controversies over the past decade, the five part documentary podcast gives the former Silverchair frontman a chance to tell his story as he “addresses the tough questions” that have surrounded his 27 year career.
What you need to know
- Yours, Georgina is a new Melbourne folk artist
- She’s just released her debut single ‘Bout of Heartbreak’
- It’s for fans of early Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift, among others
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The weekly series also includes a soundtrack of original, yet to be released Daniel Johns music.
“I’m happy to do it because I think it’s a good vessel to release art,” Johns says.
“Above all things, I just want to make art, and I would really love for people to hear it. And the only way to get people to hear my art is through vessels like this because I don’t want to perform on stage.”
Following the first five episodes, the season will end with a series of bonus episodes where Daniel has 1:1 conversations with the key figures in his life, including Natalie Imbruglia, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala and Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins.
“My brother had Frogstomp and he’d just crank it out of his bedroom. Something blasting out of your older brother’s bedroom from behind a closed door, it’s always gonna sound awesome because you’re like ‘Wow, what is that?’ you know? Yeah so that was my first Silverchair experience,” Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker notes.
“Straight up it was Silverchair. It was like ‘Man you don’t have to be American. You don’t have to be mid-twenties. It gave me belief that I could be a teenage rockstar… I remember being about 13 and thinking that I had two years left.”
In the first episode, listeners will experience the personal story of Daniel’s life, capturing key figures, important locations, and the formative events that have led him on his journey. Daniel discusses the impact of fame on his personal life and how it affected his ability as an artist.
“I can see [Johns] at 15-16 years old singing on stage singing in the Australian sun many summers ago,” Corgan says. “If you’d asked me ‘You think this kid’s got a feature?’ I would have said ’No chance in hell’.”
Check Daniel Johns’ podcast out here.
Flight Facilities announce first Australian tour in four years
The mammoth tour includes shows in some of the country’s best outdoor venues with dates at Perth’s Red Hill Auditorium, Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Brisbane’s Riverstage, Hobart City Hall, Bonython Park in Adelaide, Darwin Amphitheatre and a personally curated event ‘Airfields’ in Sydney’s Victoria Park on Saturday 19 March.
Described by the duo as a chronicle of where they’ve been, where they are and where they’re going, FOREVER is the culminating result of a playground coloured by experimentation, set for release on 12 November.
Flight Facilities’ first Australian tour since 2018 has dates spanning the country and a bunch of the duo’s favourite artists joining them, with Cosmo’s Midnight, Jayda G, CC:DISCO! and Sycco all joining the duo’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl show on March 26.
“It will have been over two years since we last set foot on an Australian live stage, and it has felt like an eternity,” the boys said.
“Returning with an event in Sydney, where we first started, felt like the best way to reignite the flame for a live music culture that, while wounded, is alive and deeply important to us. Some of our favourite music memories have been within the crowds of Australian acts, and we wanted to showcase similar experiences, to plant the seed for the next generation of local artists.”
“With support from Cosmo’s Midnight, Jayda G, CC:DISCO!, Sycco and merci, mercy, we figured the only way to celebrate, after years of being cooped up in a studio, is outdoors in the sun. It seems only fitting that Australian artists should be the ones throwing the first and biggest party of 2022.”
Flight Facilities ‘Forever Tour’ dates and venues
MELBOURNE
Sat 26 Mar – Sidney Myer Music Bowl
With Cosmo’s Midnight + Jayda G + CC:DISCO! + Sycco + special guests
PERTH
Sat 12 Mar – Red Hill Auditorium
With Sycco + merci, mercy
AIRFIELDS SYDNEY
Sat 19 Mar – Victoria Park
With Cosmo’s Midnight + Jayda G + CC:DISCO! + Sycco + merci, mercy + special guests
BRISBANE
Sat 2 Apr – Riverstage
With Cosmo’s Midnight + Sycco + special guests
HOBART
Thu 7 Apr – Hobart City Hall
With Sycco + merci, mercy
ADELAIDE
Sat 9 Apr – Bonython Park
With Cosmo’s Midnight + Young Franco + Sycco + special guests
DARWIN
Sat 23 Apr – Darwin Amphitheatre
With Cosmo’s Midnight + special guests
Presale available from 9am local Monday 25 October – 8am local Tuesday 26 October. General onsale 9am local Tuesday 26 October.
Brunswick Street’s Bimbo has a new name and owner, and they’re giving away 250 pizzas
The Kewpie name comes from the giant doll on the bar’s exterior, which now takes on a whole new relevance as the venue prepares for a grand reopening on November 8. Check out our running list of the pubs and bars reopening in Melbourne here.
Bimbo had been closed since the beginning of the pandemic, but has sold to a new hospitality group that are taking it in a different direction.
“Oh hey friends! Welcome to Kewpie – your one-stop shop for cheap eats, dope drinks and good times,” the venue’s new website reads.
“All the things you’ve loved over the years about this Brunny Street fave are still kickin’… $5 pizzas running all day, every day with heaps of vegan options for our plant-based pals. There’s plenty of drinks to keep you well hydrated no matter your poison. And on any given night of the week you’ll find some of Melb’s finest DJs, drag queens and disco fiends. So stop by and say hey – we’ve missed ya!”
Check out Beat Eats for the latest Melbourne food and booze news.
Its new owners, Australian Venue Co, also own Harlow in Richmond and Perseverance on Brunswick Street, among others.
They’ll be giving away 250 free pizzas from November 8 til November 12 to celebrate the new era, with pizzas to be $5 after that. The new owners say they’re going to respect the brunt of the venue’s legacy.
“We love this bar and have so much respect for its legacy in this neighbourhood,” the group’s chief marketing officer, Kylie Moncur, said in a statement.
“We’re updating the name to Kewpie, which we feel is a better fit for the venue and the local community. It’s a Fitzroy institution, we’re so excited to throw open the doors and start the next chapter.”
Head to their website here for all the info.
A running list of the pubs and bars reopening in Melbourne
Who’s thirsty? Let’s try this again, Melburnians. Melbourne’s pubs and bars are planning their grand reopenings for the final bloody time, so this is the last time we’ll have to change this bloody article. Anyway…
We’ve worked so hard to be where we are today and our diligence and perseverance has been repaid. Finally, the prospect of sauntering down to your local for a pint is becoming a reality. Finally, we’ll be able to actually enjoy a pub meal and a good ol’ yarn with our mates in a social establishment.
To celebrate the venues who have worked so hard to get themselves to where they are this week, here’s a running list of the beloved pubs and bars reopening their doors in your neighbourhood. Dive in!
Check out Beat Eats for the latest Melbourne food and booze news.
Kewpie (formerly Bimbo)
Brunswick Street, Fitzroy icon Bimbo has been closed since the beginning of the first lockdown but will reopen with a brand new name, Kewpie, on November 8. The $5 pizzas will not only remain, but they’ll be giving away 50 free pizzas every day from November 8 to November 12.
The Gem
Texas BBQ, live music, craft beer, Collingwood, what more could you want? This absolute gem of a bar is reopening at 3pm this Friday (October 22), bringing the Americana vibes back! With 4 dining rooms and an upstairs bar, they can cater for a cheeky bar-top snack or dining bookings of up to 30 people.
The Curtin
One of Melbourne’s oldest pubs across the way from Trades Hall, The Curtin is reopening with the Gem at 3pm this Friday (October 22) and they’ll be bringing their renowned live music back as soon as possible after that.
Northcote Social Club
High Street’s pride and joy, the Northcote Social Club, will be reopening October 26 and will be offering their scrumptious lunch and dinner service for all you hungry folks out there. Better get in fast though because the NOSO will be hugely popular.
Read the menu and make a booking via the Northcote Social Club’s website.
Sooki Lounge
The voice of live music in the east, Sooki Lounge, has reopened and the people of Belgrave and beyond can rejoice. Sooki is a classic for great music and good food, attracting international artist after international artist when things were normal. Now punters will be able to return and indulge themselves in a place steeped with history and significance.
Book a table at the Sooki website or by giving them a bell on (03) 9754 7567.
The Birmingham
Things are kickstarting at The Birmy again on October 22. Known for having one of Melbourne’s best parmas, The Birmy sits right in the middle of Fitzroy on the corner of Smith Street and Johnston Street. It’s an ideal setting for weekend drinks and is iconic for a few pre-drinks on a night out.
Find out more about the venue here.
Bodriggy Brewing Co
The rumours are true Bodriggy, which means these legends should be open October 23. A beloved Abbotsford eatery and bar, Bodriggy, has reopened its doors for food and drinks. The menu here is sick, offering classic Latin American cuisine and plenty of tasty craft beers to boot.
Head to the Bodriggy website to find availabilities and make a booking.
Edinburgh Castle
The Eddy is reopening with bookings available now and we’ve never been more ready to sink a pint perched up at a bar stool as we witness the Brunswick watering hole abuzz with activity.
The meals here are fantastic if you’re after the pub classics and I wouldn’t wait any longer to book because they’re gonna fill up quick fast.
Hit up their website to make a booking.
The Corner
It’s still October 26 according to The Corner Hotel’s Instagram, with bookings available now.
Read the menu and make a booking via The Corner website.
The Brunswick Green
The Brunny Green will reopen on October 26 and Sydney Road lovers can rejoice. Cosy and intimate, this spot has a killer beer garden for all the social adventurers out there.
Email them at info@thebrunswickgreen.com to make a booking.
The Empress
Here we go again. Bookings are now open from Friday the 22nd of October onwards and The Empress say “we can’t wait to have you back.”
You haven’t properly wined and dined along Nicholson Street without visiting Fitzroy North local, The Empress Hotel. Now, the watering hole has reopened and will be firing at all cylinders, with their scrumptious menu spanning all your pub favourites. Check in for a feed or perch up for a some arvo froths, The Empress has got all your social cravings covered.
Book a table at The Empress here.
View this post on Instagram
Howler
“Fuck year, Howler’s back open,” we overhead someone say as we walked along the Sydney Road sidewalk at the end of the last lockdown. They weren’t wrong either – the Brunswick favourite is the perfect encapsulation of Melbourne with it’s art deco setup and quirky wonderland vibe.
Book a table via the Howler website.
FAD Gallery
Part gallery, part bar, part live music venue and part absolute Melbourne institution, FAD Gallery will reopen October 22 and there’s never been a better time to venture into the CBD to grab a beer.
Give them a buzz on (03) 9639 2700 or DM them on Instagram or Facebook to make a booking.
The Espy
Keen to wander down to the beach? You’ve been cooped up forever so wouldn’t blame ya. As you feel the sand between your toes stop by a St Kilda institution while you’re there. The Hotel Esplanade, or The Espy as we like to call it, will reopen October 26. She’ll be awfully popular so make sure you make a booking in advance via the venue website.
Read the menu and make a booking via The Espy website.
The Carringbush
Reopening October 26!
A hotspot for vegan and vegetarians, The Carringbush is back in business and has become an adored favourite for Abbotsfordians. Hidden in the backstreets on Langridge Street you could easily miss it, but you wouldn’t want to with its scrumptious menu of delectable vegetarian fare. Think buffalo cauliflower, Moroccan tofu or a halloumi and mushroom burger.
Sessions at The Carringbush book out so call ahead on (03) 9191 0149 to reserve your spot.
The Standard
Reopening October 22!
Fitzroy wouldn’t be Fitzroy without The Standard, a hidden gem just off Brunswick Street. The pub known to facilitate many a boozy weekend has returned and is back serving you tasty pub grub seven days a week. Ahhhh the thought of a Standard Burger replete with bacon, fried egg, beetroot chutney, aioli, tomato chutney, cheese, confit onion, lettuce, tomato and chips has me hungry already.
Sort yourself a table via The Standard’s website.
Dr Morse
Wander down the steps from Victoria Park train station and popular watering hole Dr Morse looks you right in the eye. You would’ve spent many a late night at the Abbotsford bar dancing away in their beer garden and from now, they’re reopening from October 23.
Times vary so head to the Dr Morse website to explore availabilities and make a booking.
Wesley Anne
Reservations now open!
An adventure through Northcote should not be completed without dropping into the iconic Wesley Anne. The perfect spot for a mulled wine, The Wes is also a grand choice for a meal that’s strewn with European inspiration.
Make a booking at The Wes here.
The Retreat
With a massive event planned already to celebrate their birthday, Sydney Road’s adored ranch, The Retreat, will reopen. Their live music is also off and firing while their menu is a ripper, filled with all your fave pub grub items, along with a Western touch.
Give ’em a bell on (03) 9380 4090 to make a booking.
Post Office Hotel
Breakfast beers? Coburg’s Post Office Hotel is back in the game and starting early for that matter. Offering live music on most nights, The Post Office has become one of Melbourne’s most trusted pub/live music hybrids and you’d be stupid not to check it out.
Give ’em a bell at (03) 9386 5300 to make a booking.
The Old Bar
You little ripper! The Old Bar will reopen October 26 and thank fuck for that. The venue don’t take bookings so you just have to turn up and get lucky.
Check out their website here.
Charles Weston Hotel
Sitting just behind Brunswick’s Barkly Square, The Charles Weston Hotel is the definition of a homely pub to retreat to on a cold weekday night for a scrumptious pub meal. Did I just spell out the dictionary definition of a ‘pub’? Anyway, this humble abode will swing its doors back open and you’ll definitely have to make a booking because this place is popular.
Hit up their website to make a booking.
The Bergy Seltzer
Open on Friday!
Things are looking up on Sydney Road because The Bergy Seltzer is coming back! The venue has quickly earned a reputation around the traps for its live music and killer menu – these guys used to run another beloved venue The Brunswick Hotel, so they know what they’re doing. So why not head in and say hello?
Email The Bergy at thebergyseltzer@gmail.com or hit them up via Facebook Messenger to book a table.
Great Northern
Reopening but already fully booked until November 7, ha.
At the top of Rathdowne Street sits the aptly-titled Great Northern, a perfect spot to spend your afternoon sinking a few beers. Now, the pub is reopening and you can start to reimagine all those weekend hangs in the beer garden. With a parma to die for, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get involved I say.
Make a booking via the Great Northern’s website.
Cherry Bar
The beloved Cherry Bar is reopening this weekend and they’re back to doing what they do best – filling up their bandroom with gigs across the weekend.
Book a table at Cherry here.
For the latest news on regional Victorian venues reopening, head here.
Listen: Flow Music’s debut release from Melbourne’s Elliot Creed
The Aussie DJ / Producer is a global traveller whose CV boasts sets from Bloom to Burning Man, but right now he’s focusing his melodic house on a homegrown electronic label.
It’s a combination of thumping percussion and entrancing melodies that takes you on an ultimately uplifting journey.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
It’s another important step from the rising producer, who’s previously worked with Upon Access, Duenia and UGENIUS Music, among other labels.
“Drawing on an observation of emotions, ‘Silence Of A Full Room’ revolves around the forced isolation of people and how the unexpected journey of self-discovery can lead to an awareness that did not previously exist,” Creed says.
“Its delicate intricacies reflect the fragile nature of the human mind and how important it is to remember that one is never alone.”
The release comes with a stripped-back remix from Berlin heavyweight Madmotormiquel, who’s previously released on Katermukke, Bar 25 Music, Sol Selectas and Einmusika.
Flow Music’s debut release comes as the family behind the Flow Music blog and Flow Sessions Soundcloud channel expands into releasing Australian electronic music.
They’ve previously notably supported the Aussie dance scene with their 333 and Flow Sessions mix series’, which have paid countless young Aussie DJs for sets throughout the pandemic. They recently celebrated 100 mixes, you can read our feature on them here.
You can listen to their label’s first release here, and access their website here.