THE RETURN OF DREAM THEATER
Prog fans rejoice – the mighty Dream Theater are heading back to Australia! They’re playing only two shows this time around: The Palais, Melbourne on Wednesday October 29, and The Big Top in Sydney on Thursday October 30. An Evening with Dream Theater see the band playing for the entire show. That’s a lot of notes! It’s been five years since Dream Theater’s last visit in 2009, and this will be their first tour here with drummer Mike Mangini, who joined following the departure of Mike Portnoy. Presented by Metropolis Touring and Tombowler. Exclusive pre-sale tickets are on sale now, and general tickets go on sale at 9am on Thursday August 21.
JOE BONAMASSA SUPPORTS JOE BONAMASSA
Joe Bonamassa returns to Australia in September right before the release of his brilliant new album Different Shades of Blue. The tour follows a unique ‘Joe Bonamassa supports Joe Bonamassa’ format: the first set will be all acoustic with one band lineup, and the second will be all electric with a different group of musicians (including former Dream Theater/Black Country Communion keyboard player Derek Sherinian). He’ll be at The Palais in St Kilda on Friday September 19.
GODS OF EDEN DEBUT ON THE WAY
After a well-regarded self-titled EP a few years ago, Sydney-based prog/technical act Gods of Eden are finally releasing their debut full length album, From the End of Heaven, and they’ve released a play-through video of the track Gods Of Eden, which is on the EP and will feature on the album. The video for the forthcoming album’s title track was nominated for Best Visual Effects at the Berlin Music Awards in April too!! You can see that at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P_Lbw_FGx4
METAL AT THE BENDIGO
The Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood continues its invaluable support of the Australian metal scene with some killer gigs this week. Fans of awesomeness and all things heavy should catch Fattura Della Morte – brutal sludge/doom from Sydney – playing a one and only Melbourne show with local supports RORT, The Ruiner and Headless Death. Friday August 22, doors at 8pm, $12 entry.
Then on Sunday August 24, System of Venus will be celebrating the release of their self-titled debut album with a free BBQ! Five Melbourne bands will join in on the shenanigans including the mighty Dreadnaught, Borrachero, Olmeg, MASTER_BETA and Dukes Veda. It kicks off at 3:30pm, 18+, tickets are $15.
THE SWEET APES SAY FAREWELL
Sydney post-hardcore kids The Sweet Apes have decided to follow the old dictum of ‘Leave ‘em wanting more’ by breaking up, but not before releasing a kickass new EP called A Change in the Weather and heading out on one last tour. Inspired by the variation of seasons that we all live throughout the year, the EP flows through four tracks that change from light to dark, reflecting most on the band’s travels together over the last four years. “We are musicians that are so excited to continue on our separate ways and explore the possibilities and our love for music to greater depths, so we have indeed decided to part ways and discontinue The Sweet Apes after four years together,” the band say. They’ll be at Wrangler Studios on Saturday September 27 for an all-ages show. Tickets on sale now via Oztix. A Change in the Weather is available now via BandCamp.
STAR-STUDDED LED ZEPPELIN TRIBUTE
A whole gang of world-class Aussie musicians will celebrate the magnificence that is Led Zeppelin in September – or ‘Zeptember’ as they’ve dubbed it – by performing the mighty Zep’s legendary live album The Song Remains the Same from start to finish. The gang includes Ashley Naylor (Even) on guitar, Danny Leo (King of the North) on drums, Stephen Hadley (Tex Perkins) on bass, Bruce Haymes (Renee Geyer) on keyboards with guest vocalists Vika Bull (Vika & Linda), Pat Carmody (My Dynamite), Chappy (My Left Boot) and Dallas Frasca. It’ll be on Friday Zeptember 12 at The Corner.
WOVENWAR RELEASE DEBUT
Wovenwar have premiered their music video for the single All Rise off the band’s debut self-titled album which just came out last week. Shot in L.A. with director Scott Hansen (Animals as Leaders, We Came as Romans, Darkest Hour, Motionless in White, Whitechapel), you can find the video on YouTube. Wovenwar features Jordan Mancino (Drums), Nick Hipa (Guitar), Phil Sgrosso (Guitar) and Josh Gilbert (bass) of San Diego, California-based metal act As I Lay Dying, and Shane Blay (vocals) of Oh, Sleeper.
