IT’S “LIKE THIS”
Simply watching Al Parkinson perform, you immediately feel like she is an old friend. Her relaxed presence and hilarious on stage banter is the perfect complement to her soulful voice and wonderfully constructed songs of love and loss. Parkinson has shared the stage with some of Australia’s most highly regarded acts including Matt Corby (Communion Melbourne), Liz Stringer, Bonjah and Jordie Lane. She has also secured international supports with David Ryan Harris (USA) and Ryan Keen (UK), to name a few. Like This is the first release from her long awaited Debut album which will have a special launch May 17. It’s about those moments when someone makes your day go “from like this, to like this”. We all know about that – right?
Al Parkinson plays The Aviary Creative Hub (Johnston St, Abbotsford) on May 17. For details or launch tickets, visit www.facebook.com/alparkinsonmusicpage
UK BOUND
BONJAH have been a band since 2006 when armed with nothing but guitars and backpacks, the high school friends booked a one-way ticket from New Zealand to Melbourne. Struggling to find a gig the band set up and played on the streets, selling albums and living off weet-bix and canned peaches. Bonjah soon had shows booked, toured extensively and built a loyal following earning a reputation as being a hard working and explosive live act. Eight years on and Bonjah have sold over 25,000 records independently, sold out shows around the world, played many major festivals & enjoyed multiple award nominations. Their third studio album Beautiful Wild was released in April and see the lads head straight for a tour of the UK.
Bonjah perform with Special Guests at The Corner Hotel, Richmond, on May 9. Doors open 8:30pm, with tickets $20.00. For more details, head to www.bonjahmusic.com
FREE OF FEAR
Put it on the company card. Too much is never enough. Think nothing. Feel everything. Pleasure is good. Fantasy is truth. Experience Australia’s Client Liaison. Given their shared appreciation for story telling and dignified belief in the Australian identity, Harvey Miller and Monte Morgan naturally found themselves writing music together. From the studio to the top end of town, Client Liaison’s sound plays out like a long lunch followed by a round of cocktails. Client Liason are described as International in flavour, cosmopolitan in style. Free Of Fear 12″ Vinyl avaliable for Pre order. Including That’s Desire as well as Remixes by Com Truise & Knightlife.
Client Liason perform with Sleep D on Saturday May 10 at the Northcote Social Club, Northcote. Doors open 8:30pm, with tickets $20.00. For more info, visit www.clientliason.com
THE POWER OF LOVE
Gabriell Aplin’s rise on the International music scene has been a journey in the making. From first coming across Aplin on YouTube singing covers in her bedroom to having seen her grace the stage alongside Ed Sheeran on his first Australian tour in 2013. After a signing with Parlophone and the recording of her Debut Album, English Rain is set to make her a household name. Having received her first Australian radio airplay on Southern FM, Melbourne to now being played across Commercial Radio stations everywhere, this talented young Singer/Songwriter from the UK is headed back down under for a select number of dates…Do you have your tickets?
Gabrielle Aplin plays The Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD, with Special Guest ‘D At Sea’ on Saturday May 31. Doors open 8:30pm, with tickets $33.00. For more info, go to www.gabrielleaplin.co.uk
TIDES IN…
The latest offering from Melbourne outfit Second Hand Heart is organic and otherwordly. Written late at night, Damnesia is layered with piano musings, floating guitars and echoed percussion. The single Damnesia pulls to a shadowed obscurity before it opens to light ethereal spaces. SHH have garnered themselves critical acclaim with their recent releases a favourite Community Radio Presenters Australia wide. Having coveted a performance at 2013’s Melbourne Music Week with support from the string section of the MSO. SHH’s debut album TIDES is definitely one of the most anticipated of the year.
Second Hand Heart perform with special guests at Shebeen, Manchester Lane in Melbourne. Doors open 8pm, with tickets $10.00. More info at www.secondhandheartband.com.au
BOLD AND BLUE
The highly anticipated release of Nobody’s Somebody sees Susy Blue traverse the musical landscape from the circus cabaret folk of previous releases, and venture towards a grittier and heavier sound. Diverse and ever evolving, Producer Shane O’Mara (The Audreys) replaced banjo with electric guitars and added eclectic instrumentation from smashing glasses, indian drums, Balinese gamelan to baritone sax, creating a fresh new and bold Susy Blue sound. Susy will be playing East Coast tour dates through May to showcase her new album. Susy’s sound is vintage vocals, honeyed harmonies and charming tales. Baby I’m Bored is the first single to drop and is getting widespread radio airplay.
Susy Blue, alongside The Twoks, play The Toff In Town, Swanston St in Melbourne, on Sunday May 18. Doors open 3pm. For further details, head to www.susyblue.net
INDIE/POP’S NEW VOICE
Whilst recording with Producer Josh Barber in bedrooms across Melbourne throughout 2013, Yuko Nishiyama aimed to keep as much of the raw spirit of her music as she could. After recording at home, Yuko took her music to Nashville in the USA to be mixed by Rob Feaster (Whitney Houston, George Harrison). Returning to Melbourne, she mastered the album with Lachlan Carrick (Gotye). Nishiyama’s debut single Heart Of Daisies combines lashes of strings and driving rythms, hypnotic layers of instrumentation and harmony and the purest vocals. The song itself is her response to a close friends struggle to find love, Heart Of Daisies is a glimpse of what is yet to come from a strong new voice for the Australian Indie/Pop scene.
Yuko Nishiyama perform with Little Dreamer & Lanks at The Toff in Town, Swanston St in Melbourne, on May 8. Doors open 8pm, with tickets $15.00. For more, visit www.facebook.com/YBNISHIYAMA
FORRISTER JENOT