:: BIG DAY OUT 2013 ::

Damn good news for a Monday morning am i right kids??!!!  Now to buy a Kombi shaped tent, start planning our outfits and listen to every band below continuously until Jan 18th.

Hold on to your helmets Sydney-Siders, here’s your BDO line up…

Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Killers, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Vampire Weekend, Band Of Horses, The Bloody Beetroots, Kaskade, Animal Collective, B.o.B, Sleigh Bells, Foals, Alabama Shakes, 360, Crystal Castles, Pretty Lights,  OFF!, Grinspoon, Against Me!, Gary Clark Jr, Nicky Romero, Morgan page, Logo, Every Time I Die, Delta Spirit, Childish Gambino, ME, Hunting Grounds, Jeff the Brotherhood, Death Grips, Adventure Club, Jagwar Ma, HOUSE VS HURRICANE, AVALANCHE CITY, Helena, Nina Las Vegas, Sampology.

Not to mention our favourite bandies TOUCAN will be playing there too!!!! We could not be more excited!

Make your own line up roster here  http://sydney.bigdayout.com/ and share with your mates so you can make plans to meet by the Red Bull tent but never actually make it there. Good intentions though right? Happy Monday!

r&h

xx

Select Music’s 7th Birthday

Sydney-based Select Music is a multi-functional music company.  Even if the name doesn’t ring a bell, you’re bound to have had plenty of contact with them if you enjoy Aussie music. Their reach covers artist management, touring, venue consultancy and event promotion. With a seemingly never-ending roster (including Boy and Bear, Midnight Juggernauts, Tim Finn and Bluejuice), they are proud to have helped to unearth some of Australia’s top talent in recent years.

Having commenced proceedings back in 2005, they’re turning seven this year. To celebrate their birthday, they’re throwing a rather large party on Thursday 21^st June. A charity fundraiser for beyondblue, the shindig will be held at four of the Oxford St precinct’s hottest venues, with a tantalising smorgasbord of Australia’s best musicians showing their wares over the evening.

Featuring Select Music artists playing across UPSTAIRS BERESFORD, THE STANDARD, OXFORD ART FACTORY (Main Room + Gallery) & PHOENIX BAR

Andy Bull, Argentina, Ball Park Music, Bluejuice, Bob Evans, Elizabeth Rose, Emma Louise, Hungry Kids of Hungary, The John Steel Singers, Josh Pyke, The Jungle Giants,  Lior, Midnight Juggernauts DJs, Millions, The Mission In Motion, Nantes, The Paper Scissors DJs, Pluto Jonze, The Preachers, Purple Sneakers DJs, RÜFÜS, Spit Syndicate, Step-Panther, Strangers, Tokyo Denmark Sweden, Toucan, The Walking Who

Tickets can be purchased here for just $20!

Who is Hughster? Check out his and other r&h guest bloggers profiles here.

Hughster’s June Gig Guide

Thursday 7^th June: Winter People – Oxford Art Factory – $12 + bf

After the cancellations of the Playground Weekender and Secret Garden Festivals, fans will finally get a chance to see Winter People live. They have a run of East Coast tour dates in support of the release of their debut EP “Gallons”.

Thursday 14^th June: Oliver Tank – Oxford Art Factory – $12+ bf

 Currently completing a tour of the UK including a stop at the Great Escape Festival, this will be Oliver Tank’s home-coming. After last year’s incredible “Dreams” EP won him rave reviews, he’s completed new music recently in anticipation of his next EP.

Friday 15^th June: Founds/Fire!Santa Rosa, Fire! – The Standard – $12 + bf

Two of the best unsigned bands floating around at the moment, they’re teaming up to show off their considerable talents. Both bands are slightly left of centre in their music and performance, so this should be a considerably special occasion.

Thursday 21^st June: Select Music’s 7^th Birthday – Various – $20

Rain&Hale favourites Toucan will be joining an all-star cast to celebrate Select Music’s 7^th Birthday. The likes of Bluejuice, Ball Park Music, the Preachers, the John Steel Singers and Hungry Kids of Hungry will be lending their talents during the evening – to be held at four Darlinghurst/Surry Hills venues. Huge.

Friday 22^nd June: Deep Sea Arcade – Beach Road Hotel – Free

 Listing the Beatles and Doors as some of their influences, you can get a feel of what Deep Sea Arcade’s music is like. Their debut album “Outlands” was Triple J’s feature album back in April, so we’re obviously not the only ones in love with their psychedelic-pop stylings.

Saturday 23^rd June: Mosman Alder – FBi Social (King’s X Hotel) – $10

 Brisbane’s Mosman Alder will be playing at this year’s Splendour in the Grass Festival, but you can catch them for a fraction of the cost a month earlier. Their East Coast tour is in line with the release of their debut EP “Burn Bright”, a gorgeous piece of brooding exquisiteness.

Who is Hughster? Check out his and other r&h guest bloggers profiles here.

Hughster’s April Playlist

Stuck at home while the girls take their show on the road, Hughster has put together a playlist of his favourite tracks from up-and-coming Australian musicians. This playlist spans a number of genres – dance, indie, pop and rock – there’s something for everyone!

(click the song name to play!)

Toucan : “Brave New World“

Gung Ho : “Twin Rays“

Jubilants : “Spain“

The Preachers : “Take a Card“

Lancelot : “Spoken Word“

Tourism : “Horses back“

Oliver Tank : “Last Night I Heard Everything In Slow Motion“

Made in Japan : “Sights and Sounds“

SURES : “Poseidon“

Kill City Creeps : “I Got a Letter“

~:Toucan:~

What can we say about these kids? So much. Too much! Lead singer/r&h cover-gal Jess Pollard has been rockin’ our gear via Toucan gigs all around Sydney supporting crazy good bands such as Sneaky Sound System and Last Dinosaurs at awesome cool places like Jurassic lounge and FBI (See awesomeness below….)

Upcoming Shows include:

Sat, May 05 – Major Raiser 1st Birthday Party at Beach Rd, Bondi (yes, we will of course be attending)

Thu, Jun 31 – Moonshine at the Steyne Hotel, Manly

Treat your ears to this…

Toucan :: Brave New World mp3 download

 & a cool Toucan tour snippets vid:

Enjoy!

r&h

xx

Kirribilli Markets

Kirribilli Markets were amaze-zing on the weekend. Dreamy weather, mini pancakes and a beautiful abundance of colourful stalls!

Special r&h love goes out to some of our visitors: Jess Pollard (from the amazing – awesome – spectacular band Toucan) and Matt Gallagher (not from a band) but just as lovely.

And luckily for us, we had on board our Hughster who was ‘officially’ helpful.

We heart Hugh!

r&h

xx

Hughster’s Gig Guide

Wednesday 16^th November: Tin Sparrow – Spectrum – $10+bf

Tin Sparrow are one of the most likeable bands going around. There’s something beautiful about watching a group of people making music with such energy, love and enjoyment. After recently supporting their indie-folk brothers Husky on their Album tour, Tin Sparrow will be launching the release of their new single, “Hector Myola” at Spectrum on Oxford Street. Expect an evening full of grin-inducing folk, reminiscent of fellow Macquarie Uni grads Boy and Bear. Joining them on the evening will be a sumptuous support line-up of Sydneysiders Emma Davis and March of the Real Fly.

Thursday 17^th November: Step Panther – Goodgod Small Club – $12

“Step-Panther is a band that wishes it were the Incredible Hulk, but it is just a band”. Whatever that means, I like it. The Lo-Fi locals will be launching their highly anticipated self-titled album at GoodGod on Thursday. Their catchy riffs and rawness are a highlight, Step-Panther are definitely a band on the rise. Reverb will be in full effect, with Brisbane’s Dune Rats also supporting, along with the deliciously poppy Pear Shape.

Saturday 19^th November: Souseme’s Silly Season Launch Party – Oxford Art Factory – $18.40

Souseme sure knows how to throw a party of epic proportions. To help bring in the start of the Silly Season, the Oxford Art Factory will play host to a plethora of up fresh and exciting talent. From poppy World’s End Press, to the psychedelic Richard in Your Mind and the ridiculously funky Mitzi, this night has it all. Rain&Hale favourites Toucan and Tim Fitz have also been added to the bill, making it a night you cannot possibly miss. If you had second thoughts, they’ll have a popcorn machine there. Yep.

For the diary:

Friday 2^nd March 2012: Neon Indian – The Standard – TBA

I only fist-pump on very special occasions. But, I sat at my desk fist-pumping when I heard that Neon Indian would be touring next year. The brain-child of Texan Alan Palomo, Neon Indian are one of the best experimental electro acts going around. After the 2009 release of Psychic Chasms, Palomo was tagged to play at a number of massive festivals, as well as scoring support gigs for bands of the calibre of the Flaming Lips,Phoenixand Massive Attack. Their sound is a revelation, lauded by many as helping to create new genres (hypnagogic pop, glo-fi, chillwave). Please do yourself a favour and get along to this one, you can join us up the back fist-pumping…

Hughster’s Gig Guide

Wednesday 26th October: Ball Park Music – Beach Road Hotel Bondi – Free 

Brisbane’s Ball Park Music create tunes to make you smile. You just can’t but help liking the six cheerful, indie kids who have been on the cusp of blowing up. They have played alongside the likes of Cloud Control, Boy and Bear and Hungry Kids of Hungary, as well as appearing at the Big Day Out, Falls and Good Vibes festivals. There time has now arrived with the recent release of their debut LP “Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs”. As part of their album tour, they will be dropping in on the Beach Road Hotel in Bondi this Wednesday to set the fun-dial to 10 (whatever that means). A nice support line-up includes Northeast Party House and The Jungle Giants.

Thursday 27th October: Pluto Jonze – Oxford Art Factory – $10 

Pluto Jonze has developed his own, unique brand of pop music which he’s been showcasing since he won the 2009 Tropfest Music Award at just 22. Since then, he’s been busy writing and producing which culminated in the release of his debut EP in May this year. He’ll be joined by his 3-piece backing band in line with the release of his single “Plastic Bag in a Hurricane”. Speaking of up and coming performers, his supports Toucan and Tim Fitz are both dynamic acts in their own right, both flying the flag for the future of pop music. They both have fresh EPs in the pipeline, so expect a night full of brand spanking new tunes.

Saturday 29th October: Jamie Hutchings/Wintercoats/Oliver Tank – The Gate Presents (secret location in Pymble) – Donation

The Gate is a concept designed to bring great music to the suburbs of Sydney (where so much talent is hidden away). Aside from their regular events at Pablo & Rusty’s in Epping, they also put on pop-up gigs in various suburband backyards. This particular event will showcase the considerable talents of three talented troubadours. Sydney song-writer veteran Jamie Hutchings, Melbourne’s dream-pop wiz Wintercoats, and recent winner of the FBi Northern Lights competition, Oliver Tank, will be providing a smorgasbord of experimental music bound to delight.

For the diary:

Thursday 24th November: Matt Corby – Oxford Art Factory – $15.30 

Don’t do what I did and judge Matt Corby just because he was on Australian Idol. He’s better than that. Much better. A friend of mine made me listen to some of his stuff a little while ago and I was instantly hooked. Matt could be Australia’s answer to Jeff Buckley, so strong are his vocals. Get along to the OAF next month, you might be able tell people “I told you so”.

Who is Hughster? Check out his and other r&h guest bloggers profiles at our ‘Fair Weather Friends’ page.

Hughsters Gig Guide

Wednesday 26th September: Guineafowl – Beach Road Hotel Bondi – Free

http://music.beachroadbondi.com.au/

Singer/Songwriter Guineafowl is an artist on the rise. After a standout performance Splendour in the Grass following the release of his debut EP, Guineafowl and his tremendous band will be taking to the stage at Bondi’s Beach Road Hotel. Expect an evening of fun and (fingers crossed) bass drum jumps. Supporting them will be exciting local pop duo Toucan.

Guineafowl “Little Fingers”

Thursday 27th September: Ernest Ellis & The Panamas – Gaelic Theatre – $15.70

http://www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=50205&caller=CAL&noadd=true&skin=

Ernest Ellis and his band, the Panamas, are commencing a national tour to celebrate the release of their latest album, King’s Canyon (recently recognised as FBi’s album of the week). If their debut album, Hunting, is anything to go by, this will be one of the best releases of the second half of the year. Supporting them will be Sydney’s Nantes, another Triple J Unearthed favourite.

Friday 28th September: GoodGod Birthday nights 2011 –  GoodGod Small Club – $15-20

http://www.goodgodgoodgod.com/

Rain&Hale favourite GoodGod Small Club is celebrating its first birthday. Over the long weekend, this great live music venue will be toasted by the likes of Oscar + Martin, Guerre, Fishing and Belles Will Ring. What more could you ask for to help you make the most of your extra night or frivolity?

Sunday 2nd October: Parklife – Kippax Lake, Moore Park – $145

http://www.parklife.com.au/

Despite another stellar line-up, the fact that Parklife is yet to sell-out this year gives some strength to the theory that musical festival popularity is diminishing. That said, why would you turn down a chance to see Digitalism, MSTRKRFT, Little Dragon, Lykke Li, and the recently re-formed Death from Above 1979. Fingers crossed for some more brilliant Sydney weather over the long weekend.

For the diary:

Friday 11th November: Gold Fields – Oxford Arts Factory – $14.80

http://admin.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=50125&caller=CAL&noadd=true&skin=

It’s been a large year for the Ballarat boys. Constant touring has swollen their following, and after their Parklife spell they’ll be setting off on a national tour to launch their EP. Make sure to stock up on the energy drinks for this one, as their high energy performances are bound to get the crowd involved.