LIL OL OPRY
Spreading The Seed presents the Lil Ol’ Opry a night of Folk, Americana and Alt-Country Stylings with the Alt-Country Stylist herself Gretta Ziller, having just launched her debut EP Hells Half Acre and with wide spread radio airplay across stations both in Australia and New Zealand this young artist deserves be taken notice of. Joining Ziller is Melbourne’s Folk/Country award winning Nashville recording artist Bill Jackson along with the Sweethearts of Americana, The Weeping Willows, one of their last shows before returning to Nashville for the Americana Music Festival in Tennessee in the Unites States this September.
Lil Ol Opry featuring Gretta Ziller/Bill Jackson/The Weeping Willows play The Dancing Dog, 42 Albert St, Footscray on Friday Sept 5 Doors 7pm Fully Grow’d $8, Student Concession $5. More info at www.spreadingtheseed.com.
COME ONE, COME ALL TO FORESTER’S HALL
Forester’s Music and Beer Hall – Melbourne’s newest live music venue offers a unique combination of the biggest range of craft beer on tap in Australia, late hours, great entertainment. excellent customer service, all housed in a historic venue in one of the most vibrant precincts in Melbourne Smith Street, Collingwood. The venues elevated, antique shell-shaped stage has been graced by music, comedy and circus acts over the decades. Forester’s Hall continues this tradition, with free live performances, two to four nights a week; initially with bands every Friday and Saturday from 9.30pm to 11.30pm followed by a DJ until late. Eventually a second, late shift band may be introduced on weekends, alongside Thursday and Sunday bands. Forester’s Hall is open until 4am on weekends and 2am on weeknights, serving gourmet pizzas to complement the beer on offer and live music.
The Rechords play the FMH Launch Party at Forester’s Music Hall, 64 Smith Street Collingwood, on Thursday September 11. Doors 9:30pm. More info at www.forestershall.com.au.
QUIFFING IT UP
Hank’s Jalopy Demons are hitting up the new stage at Collingwood’s newest live music venue Forester’s Music Hall next month. The latest line-up has been particularly active in seedy late night bars, where they have assailed unsuspecting victims with their well practiced and expert renditions of unadulterated Rock-a-billy music sometimes cut with illicit substances such as late-50s garage Rock‘n’Roll and Hillbilly. After the successful production and launch of Hank’s Jalopy Demons’ CD Going Straight – to the Electric Chair in Melbourne, Hank relocated to Berlin in 2008, where a version of the JDs played some gigs, before returning to Melbourne in 2009. Since then, we’ve played some sporadic gigs – like wows-ville man! There is still a very limited supply of CDs if you’re interested, too. The lads have regrouped and are brylcreaming their quiffs and fuelling up the rods and coming at you!
Hank’s Jelopy Demons play Forester’s Music and Beer Hall, 64 Smith Street Collingwood. Musical Doors 8pm. More info at www.hanksjelopydemons.com.au.
THE BONES OF US
Fresh off the back of her support shows with SAFIA & Hayden Calnin, Eliza Hull & band are excited to be showcasing new songs, including her new single Caught for the first time from her upcoming debut album The Bones Of Us. Eliza’s recent EP The Ghosts You Never Catch which included lead track Christopher was met with critical acclaim upon release in late 2013, with songs being added to MTV’S US TV show Awkward, and a European and American tour to support its release. Eliza has spent the past few months writing and recording the intricate songs that are to make up her album. Having collaborated with writers such as UK artist Tim Gordine (Matt Corby), Gossling and Ainslie Wills, with production from Hayden Calnin and mixing from Jono Steer, Eliza’s new music promises to bring that same heartfelt electro-dreaminess back paired with some fresh upbeat synth driven indie-pop melodies to tap your toes to.
Eliza Hull w/- Texture Like Sun & Lanks play the Toff In Town, Swanston St, City, on Saturday September 20. Doors 8pm, with tickets $15. More info at www.elizahull.com.
DEAD LOVE
Twenty one year old Melbournian Singer/Songwriter Daniel Vogl, also known as EEO (pronounced E-O) has been producing a unique blend of indie/folk since early 2010. His signature sound spans the dynamics of fast percussive songwriting to slower, smoother and more open melodic numbers. In 2012, with no budget, a DIY attitude and a give anything a go approach EEO wrote, recorded and produced a 9-track album entitled Villain In Me that was well received. From this experience EEO refined his craft of connecting to audiences through bold soulful lyrics, catchy chord progressions and sing along harmonies. EEO’s storyteller style is a reflection of his influences of Bob Dylan, Paul Kelly and Mumford and Sons. EEO will launching his latest offering Dead Love at radio now.
EEO’s Single Launch Show w/- The Winter Suns takes place at Northcote Social Club, High Street in Northcote on Sunday September 7 at 2pm (Matinee Show). Tickets are $12. More info at www.officialeeo.com.
YOUR WORDS
Mercians are a 5 piece band based in Melbourne. They play a fusion of post-rock, uplifting grooves blended with husky yet soulful vocals. A journey unfolds in each song from dark and moody to uplifting soundscapes. Starting out several years ago as a quartet, four became five in 2012 as Jerome Green took over lead vocals which spurred an overhaul of the band’s sound. Earnest groups like The Maccabees, The Neighbourhood, Radiohead and Foals would become chief influences and song structures became more complex. It means that Mercians feels like a fresh ambition while still sounding like a gang of friends that have been playing together forever. Mercians are keeping busy sharing their new single Your Words which is also the title track for their debut EP released in June.
Mercians, w/- Residual/JP Klipspringer/I Know The Chief, play The Workers Club, Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, on Saturday September 13. More info at www.facebook.com/MerciansMusic.
FUGITIVE
As one of the hottest acts currently 5 piece Castlecomer, hot on the heels of their success with Lone Survivor, the second EP from the Sydney band are hitting up the east coast and Melbourne it’s your turn. Incorporating 5 piece harmonies into their songs and with lyrics that stay with you all day from the first play, these lads have the perfect recipe for success. They’ve played over 500 shows – and destroyed two Taragos in the process. They all sing, they’re related, and they write great songs. Lead single Fugitive is about not being able to be with the people you love, for whatever reason. “I wrote it after watching the Harrison Ford film thinking about how difficult it would be to live a life on the run – which is sort of what we’re going for with the whole touring band thing”, explains Bede.
Castlecomer play Shebeen, Manchester Lane in Melbourne, on Saturday September 20. Doors 8:30pm, with tickets $15. More info at www.castlecomermusic.com.
EXITS
Steve Smyth is a Singer/Songwriter who originally hails from the South Coast of New South Wales, but is best described these days as a world citizen. His live performances have to be experienced to be believed. Every performance is an event, every song a statement. He has a habit of putting a smile on every face in in the room, and encouraging previously unplanned whooping to erupt en masse. Having toured nationally and internationally with the likes of The Killers, Angus and Julia and Lanie Lane, from the smallest hole in the wall to the grandest theatre, Steve Smyth IS the show. With the successfully received Release LP which was of my most played albums of 2011/2012 and with influences from Waits to Sam Cooke and Dylan to the influence that seeps through of his love for gospel, the new album Exits and his launch show will be nothing short of spectacular.
Steve Smyth plays Shebeen, Manchester Lane in Melbourne, on Saturday October 11. Doors 8:30pm, with tickets $13. More info at www.stevesmyth.com.au.
FORRISTER JENOT