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New Weird Australia

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Isle Adore – ‘Keep A Lid On’ (mp3)

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Underlapper – ‘Elephant Shoe’ (mp3)

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I’ve written about New Weird Australia before, the super rad blog/podcast/radio show that features the best and latest in experimental/electronic Australian music. They’ve just put out the sixth and latest in their series of  free compilation albums,  and they announced that this volume (number six) will be the last of its kind. Future compilations will take on a themed/artist-curated format, but Volume Six is a great way to send off their old approach – it’s the strongest of their compilations series so far.

The above tracks by Underlapper and Isle Adore stood out as worth drawing attention to. The former, because I’m a blogger and thus like anything that sounds like Animal Collective; the latter because I’m a blogger and thus like anything that sounds like chillwave. I’m kidding (not really, send me all your Aus chillwave). What these songs show is the diverse territory that NWA cover, from the almost-pop of Isle Adore to the laptop beat of Underlapper, through to the opening doom/drone track by Ambrose Chapel. Volume Six is a wonderful compilation, and the above songs are a great place to start but not the end of your relationship with NWA Vol. Six.

LUV U NWA. Get the compilation HERE.

newweirdaustralia.com

Ironhide, Abraxis, Shock Values @ Burst City

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Burst City is one of many “underground” venues springing up across Brisbane, possible in response to the Valley becoming overrun by football jocks and their sluzzas. It’s an RSL located directly across from the Museum in South Brisbane and pretty damn cool.
I was granted overnight leave after two weeks in hospital and was keen to check the place out. I piked before the headliners, but got some ok shots of Ironhide, Shock Values and Abraxis.

For more, see my Flickr page.

The Holidays play the John Curtain in Melbourne

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The Holidays – ‘Golden Sky’ (mp3)

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The Holidays have been kicking about for a couple of years and I really liked an old self titled ep of theirs. Lately we have had a couple of singles released in anticipation of their debut LP, due in September. I was curious how the sound would translate live and I am glad to say they did a good job. It was a fairly packed John Curtain and there was a good energy in the crowd, despite the set consisting mostly of new and unheard material. Take a look through more pictures after the continue reading jump.

Keep an eye on these guys here – http://www.myspace.com/theholidays

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Loon Lake – ‘Easy Chairs’

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Loon Lake – ‘Easy Chairs’ (mp3)

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Here’s a sweet new jam from Melbourne newcomers Loon Lake, who wowed me with their track ‘Into The Office’ earlier this year. Thankfully these bros still sound like they’re just kicking around in their garage, keeping shit loose and direct. Even though it’s actually pretty melodic with crisscrossing guitars, it’s all sounds so effortless thanks to the way singer “Sam” (couldn’t find a last name on Myspace so I gave up) talk-sings (in a slight Julian Casablancas drawl) his way through the verses and half strains for bigger notes in the chorus. It’s great.

So I haven’t seen these guys live and I’ve still only really heard a handful of tracks from them, but Loon Lake are one of the most promising bands I’ve caught wind of in 2k10. I hope they keep the rawness of their demos in subsequent work because they wear it well. I’ll defs be keeping my eye out for more.

www.myspace.com/weareloonlake

Funding Opportunities for NSW artists

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I’ve always thought musicians in NSW lack the support that Victorians and Western Australians receive from their music government bodies. But recently MusicNSW has started some initiatives that might just turn things around. In their most recent newsletter they have a summary of available funding opportunities for NSW based artists. Below is an excerpt:

Various funding opportunities are available to industry and artists in NSW. If you’re interested in applying for any of the below please read through the guidelines carefully to make sure you’re eligible. If you’ve done that and still can’t skip through the bureacratic speak get in touch with us!

AUSTRALIA COUNCIL: New Work New Work grants support one-off projects that involve the creation or development of music, new musical material or media arts projects. Closing Date 15 June 2010

AUSTRALIA COUNCIL: Presentation and Promotion Presentation and Promotion grants support one-off projects that present, publish, distribute or market quality music of any style. Closing Date 15 June 2010

BRITISH COUNCIL: Realise Your Dream The British Council Realise Your Dream Awards celebrate excellence in the arts and creative industries, offering talented Australians the chance to further their careers in the UK. Closing Date 18 June 2010

ARTS NSW: Arts Funding Program These programs aim to encourage high artistic merit, innovation, building existing and new audiences, support professional and sector development and increase access to the arts for all. Closing Dates vary – Project Funding closes June 28 2010.

The Scare announce split

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After months of speculation of an impending split, The Scare today announced they will no longer be making music.

In a statement made today, frontman Kiss Reid said  “It was a fun ride, it was a wild ride, at times it was a shit ride, at times you wanted it to never end type of ride. But alas all good things must come to an end, and now it’s our turn.”

Forming on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in 2003, the Scare have garnered quite a reputation over the years for their brash live shows. Spitting out a gritty onslaught of edgy garage punk with every punch of prose, the band have never failed to impress me live, and it’s quite disappointing to see them disband after the solid effort of 2009’s Oozevoodoo.

The band have announced a run of dates for their last shows. The lads will be bowing out in true Scare flavour, so make sure you catch a show.

The Scare Farewell Tour dates:

Friday 9th of July – Sussex Inlet Tavern, Sussex Inlet

Saturday 10th July – Rats at Colonial Hotel, Melbourne

Friday 16th July – Night Eats Day at Grand Hotel, Wollongong

Saturday 17th July – Annandale Hotel, Sydney