Naomi Frost

All Ages

On Friday November 25, the Axis Youth Centre in Queanbeyan will be hosting a FREE event, open to all over the age of 12 and under the age of 25. The line-up will feature local acts When Giants Sleep, Immersion, Martha Moxley, Der Riese and Ameliah Brown. Doors open at 6pm and the show will run late into the night. So come take advantage of a free night of entertainment to welcome the summer.

Cherished rising local act Drawing North are set to put on a spectacular Christmas show to raise money for a tour of New Zealand in January! So please come and show your support for a talented young Canberra band who time and time again have entertained us free of charge. The action will take place at Alliance Youth in Calwell on Saturday December 10, kicking off at 6.30pm. But that’s not all! The show will feature a mind-blowing line-up of local talent including Martha Moxley, The London Town Fire, Ameliah Brown and Flynn. Tickets cost $10 (+ bf) online or $15 at the door of the venue on the night. There will be prizes for the best Christmas themed costumes, so get festive!

Don’t forget to reserve your tickets to the best New Year’s Eve party on offer! The end of the year is closing in fast and before you know it you will be partying hard at Mission To Launch which will feature an unforgettable line-up of both local and international artists to usher you into 2012. The line-up will feature The Living End, Sneaky Sound System, Ian Carey, Cloud Control, The Beautiful Girls, The Herd, The Potbelleez, British India, Yacht Club DJs, Bag Raiders, Grafton Primary, Andy Murphy, The Novacaines, Naysayer & Gilsun and Softwar, along with more local acts who are yet to be announced. Meanwhile, with a spectacular soundtrack, you can enjoy the beautiful views of Lake Burley Griffin from Weston Park. There will be a free bus service to and from the event from the city. The event is officially open at 3pm on Saturday December 31. Tickets cost $130 (+ bf) through Moshtix. Unfortunately this is a 16+ event.

On the eve of Thursday January 12, the Alliance Youth Hall will play host to one extremely unique act. The Red Paintings are known for their creatively eerie ‘Orchestral Art Rock’ and you will have the chance to experience it all on their Black Paintings tour. Their performance will take you on an unforgettable journey. Tickets cost only $22 (+ bf) through any Moshtix outlet. The magic starts at 5pm. Hope to see you there!

I am also proud to announce the outcome of the CIT School Stars Band Competition that took place on Thursday November 10, which was once again in 2011 an extremely fun and successful event for bands and their audiences alike. The Crowd Pleaser award, as voted by the audience was The String Theory, representing Canberra High School. The Best Individual Performance award was presented to Nicola Hall from Lyneham High School and the Best Performance award went to Mango Jam from Canberra Boys Grammar. Congratulations to the winning artists but also to all amazing participants in the competition!

All Ages

The finalists of the Liftoff Festival will be decided at the heats on Friday-Saturday October 28-29 at the Woden Youth Centre. On Sunday November 5 the Liftoff Festival finalists will battle it out to be named 2011’s winner. Headlining the night will be special guests Confession, one of the country’s most prized hardcore acts. The action will all take place on the main stage at Eddison Park, a spectacular close to the increasingly successful Woden Valley Festival taking place over the weekend. This is a free event, starting at 4pm and going late into the night. But if you feel like coming earlier in the day you can enjoy a performance by April Maze along with local acts The Bridge Between and Minh Ha. You can also enjoy cultural performances and activities, circus acts, delightful food, rides and loads more.

On Thursday November 10 the fifth annual CIT School Stars Band Competition is on, showcasing over ten bands with members between years 7 and 12 battling for prizes and bragging rights. Each band will play a 10 minute set, the first starting at 6pm, and will be judged against three categories; Best Performance, Best Individual Performance and Crowd Pleaser. The action will take place at the Music Industry Centre’s Main Concert Hall at CIT’s Southside Campus in Phillip. So come along and show your support for Canberra’s budding musicians. For more info jump onto www.facebook.com/CIT.School.Stars.Band.Competition .

New Empire’s highly anticipated Symmetry tour will hit the capital on Friday October 28 to shake down the walls of the Woden Basketball Stadium. The pop-punk Sydney boys will be joined by Melbourne band For Our Hero and Canberra’s own Drawing North, Love and Satellites and London Town Fire. Tix from Moshtix, Landspeed Records or The Co-op Bookshop for just $20 + bf.

Coming to The National Film and Sound Archive on Tuesday November 29 will be the Radical Reels Film Festival. A must see for the mass of adrenaline seekers scattered across the capital. The 35th annual Bannif Mountain Film Festival is bound to get your heart pumping and your stomach dropping, as well as potentially inspire your next adventure by showing a number of mountain sport films. Tickets cost $30 + bf from Moshtix or from the venue. The show starts at 7pm.

The full line-up for the New Year’s Eve party that everybody is talking about has finally been released. Mission To Launch will feature a mind-blowing line-up to usher you into 2012, including The Living End, Sneaky Sound System, Cloud Control, The Beautiful Girls, The Herd, The Potbelleez, British India, Yacht Club DJs, Bag Raiders, Grafton Primary and more. This is a 16+ event. Tickets cost $130 + bf through Moshtix or Ticketek.

On Friday November 25 the Emmaus Christian School is holding what they have called the Family Fundraiser Concert. This surprising event will feature 2009 Australian Idol runner up Hayley Warner, local talent Amber Nichols and hip-hop act BRB. Tickets cost $35 + bf or $100 + bf for a family pass. Funds will go towards supporting the Emmaus Christian School Secondary Outreach trips to Japan and China. Show starts at 6pm.

NAOMI FROST - allagescolumn@gmail.com

LOOK MA, NO HANDS!

Locally made six-piece HANDS LIKE HOUSES are undoubtedly one of Canberra’s most beloved alternative/experimental rock acts. The boys have recently returned from a long, yet extremely rewarding recording process in the US, and are currently preparing for the release of their debut studio album, a huge tour covering the west and east coasts of Australia, as well as an extensive tour of Europe and the UK. Yes indeed, these Canberra boys are making quite the name for themselves.

Good-humoured guitarist, Cooper, shares with us a little bit about the band, their record and the highlights of the band’s musical career thus far.

Fans are on the edge of their seats, anticipating the release of Hands Like Houses’ debut studio album Ground Dweller, which was recorded in Florida with producer Cameron Mizell. In an act of fate, this is where they happened to meet Melbourne band Dream On, Dreamer, whom they are touring with in the coming months. “We had a bit of a crossover at the studio, as they were finishing up their album we were starting ours,” Cooper says.

As it turns out, the making of Ground Dweller was not the only activity they participated in during their time abroad. “While we were over in Florida, it was pretty much monsoon-ing outside, so we thought that gave us the excuse to get starkers and run out in street,” Cooper reveals. “There may or may not have been some windmilling of our junk.” According to Cooper this was one of the more G-rated experiences by comparison. “We like to show our mothers everything that gets printed about us so they get heaps proud and give us sweet kisses on the cheek and stuff, so we won’t dig very deep into the dirt.”

Refusing to share anything more explicit, Cooper explains, “Our experiences are either a little too inappropriate to put into writing, or super boring.”

The boys are sure to face very little boredom when they embark on an exciting tour of Europe and the UK in September this year. “Getting to see some new countries and experience our first international tour is something we've wanted since the beginning,” claims Cooper.

Although he also explains that much has changed from the band’s beginnings as the common high school band, which Cooper describes as “horrid”. “After some trade-ins and upgrades with band members, we arrived a couple of years ago at the line-up we are at now. Throw in some homo-eroticism, which brings us to where we are today,” Cooper laughs.

When asked what the best thing about being a part of Hands Like Houses is, Cooper does not think of inappropriate open-air free-balling in foreign countries, or proud kisses from Mummy. Instead Cooper says that “being able to create something with your best friends and share it” is the best part of what he does.

Hands Like Houses will be playing the Tuggeranong Youth Centre on Wednesday August 24. Tickets are through oztix.com.au for $18.40 pre-sale.

All Ages

It seems that finally something is being done to make the Canberra winter that little bit more bearable with Skate in the City. For the entire duration of July, the city will transform into a fun-filled winter wonderland with a 360m² open air ice skating rink in Garema Place, the heart of the city. General skate sessions, which give you 90 minutes of skating and are open to the public every day of July cost just $12 concession and $25 full price, including skate hire. Those under the age of five skate free. You can also enjoy a number of different skate shows and show-and-skate deals. Only adding to the festivities, Garema Place will be lined with snacks, buskers, street performers, kids craft activities and exciting stalls selling hand made goods and clothing. Unfortunately the urbanIce late night dance parties are strictly for those over 18, but there is plenty for us underagers to enjoy. For more information on shows, fees and goings on, visit inthecitycanberra.com.au/skate. Booking in advance is advised. Canberra has done well this year!

Skipping Girl Vinegar, the increasingly popular folk/indie-rock five-piece comprised of siblings and childhood friends are on the road in celebration of the release of their second studio album Keep Calm Carry the Monkey. They’ll be at The Street Theatre for one show only on Friday July 8, so that we may experience live music in the form that has gained Skipping Girl Vinegar their exciting reputation. Doors open to the public at 7.30pm. Tickets cost $25 full price, or $19 for students. You also have the opportunity to take up a special offer that includes both your ticket and a copy of Keep Calm Carry the Monkey for just $47. Tickets can be purchased through the venue. Believe me - you are in for a treat!

On Friday July 15 the Lanyon Youth Centre will play host to an exciting local post-hardcore line-up, featuring six-piece When Giants Sleep and supporting acts Flight or Fall and Sharptooth. Come along and show some support for what has been called Lanyon’s “opening gig for 2011”, which implies that there is more to come from this venue. It is always wonderful when a youth centre pops back into the scene. Tickets cost only $5 at the door. This is a strictly drug and alcohol free event, as usual. Doors open at 6pm.

Central Coast trio Short Stack, as part of the This Is Bat Country tour, will be stopping for a performance at The Royal Theatre (or National Convention centre) on Saturday July 23. Touring alongside the boys with the hair will be special Sydney guest acts Heroes for Hire and Because They Can. Tickets cost $60 (+bf) from any Ticketek outlet.

The Woden Youth Centre have always stuck by the all ages music scene, and thus we should always stick by the Woden Youth Centre. Rising local metal acts Na Maza, Ameliah Brown, Friend or Enemy, Frostbite and Immersion are collaborating to provide us with our fix of moshing, sweat, bumps and bruises. The action takes place on Friday July 29. Tickets cost just $5 at the door. Show starts at 6pm.

It seems we have plenty to look forward to over the next few weeks. So get out there and show your appreciation. Make the most of these events!

All Ages

Thanks to The Woden Youth Centre, on Friday June 17 you can be a part of Shockwave, which features an exciting line-up of rising local acts including Drawing North, Transience Invalid and Flight or Fall. Brisbane based alternative-rock four-piece For This Cause will be headlining the event as part of their own debut tour, Journeys. There are more acts to be announced closer to the date. Tickets cost $10 at the door, opening at 5pm.

Fete de la Musique, featuring a spectacular folk/jazz/pop/funk line-up that is bound to get everybody up and grooving, includes locally based acts Scatterpuss, Clever Sunday, Fire on the Hill, Sally Greenway, Bress’ere, Nichaud Munday, Stephanie Jones, Bradley Kunda and The Rueben Lewis Jazz Quartet. This is a free event open to all members of the public, so come along and dance and perhaps even warm your freezing toes. Doors open at 5.30 pm on Friday June 17 at the Alliance Francaise de Canberra in Turner. It is near impossible to refuse a free and funky-fresh event like this.

On Friday July 8 you have a unique chance to see Melbourne folk/indie rock five-piece Skipping Girl Vinegar, a band who has gained themselves a grand reputation for their exhilarating live performances. The group comprised of friends and siblings are touring in support of their most recent and most successful studio album, Keep Calm Carry the Monkey, and are stopping to provide us with an unforgettable night at The Street Theatre. Tickets cost $19 for students, and $25 full price. You also have the chance to snatch up an excellent offer: your ticket and a copy of Keep Calm Carry the Monkey for just $47. Tickets can be bought from The Street Theatre’s website or box office. This gig is one worth paying for, trust me. See you there!

Spawning from the Central Coast of New South Wales, pop rock trio Short Stack, otherwise recognised as the three boys with the hair and the jeans, are to be making their way through the capital. This time on the road for the This Is Bat Country tour, the band have already sold out shows in some major cities. This being of course the only reason that I am making mention of this so far ahead of the date of the event, which is to be on Saturday July 23. They will be performing with popular supporting acts Heroes for Hire and Because They Can at The Royal Theatre (otherwise known as the National Convention Centre), for one night only. Tickets cost $60 (+bf) from any Ticketek outlet. These tickets, for some reason, have proven to sell extremely fast, so I’d act fast if you are interested.

On Friday July 29, the wonderful people at The Woden Youth Centre are providing us with a thrash-happy line-up that includes local metal/metalcore/deathcore acts Na Maza, Ameliah Brown, Friend or Enemy, Frostbite and Immersion, as well as even more to possibly be announced closer to the date. Tickets cost a stupidly cheap $5 at the door. Of course, there will be more reminders of this gig as well as more information on it, as the date draws closer. Doors open to the hungry public at 6pm. This is a strictly drug and alcohol free event.

All Ages

Increasingly popular Sydney based powerpop band The Never Ever are setting out on their Hey KT tour, celebrating the successful release of their single and debut music video. The girls and boys can be caught in Canberra on Saturday May 14, when they hit the stage at the Woden Youth Centre with a spectacular line-up of special guests, including Daylight Hours and Dan Sweeto from Melbourne, Canberra’s very own Beyond December (Formerly known as The Blaqk Year), Sydney based Wake The Giants and local act Psychic Asylum. Tickets cost $12 at the door and $12 (+bf) from any Moshtix outlet.

On Friday May 20 the Woden Youth Centre will host Band Aid, a band comp that gives local bands the opportunity to kick start their musical careers with prizes including a photo shoot, a music video, website design and management advice. There will also be a number of guitars up for auction at the event. So far the line-up will feature local bands Black Squire, Makeshift, Dramatic Effect, Little Saturn, West of the Sun, Immersion, No Assumption and Soheyla. But Band Aid does not only aid bands, tickets cost $5 at the door and all proceeds will go to the Magic Medicine Program, which provides those in hospitals and nursing homes access to music and free entertainment, which many medical institutions unfortunately do not supply. Doors open at 5pm and the action won’t stop until late in the night. So come on! Be part of a great cause for a great price. Make the most of a luxury that many have not the pleasure of.

Deathcore five-piece Emmure, all the way from Queens, New York, after the release of their fourth full-length studio album Speaker of the Dead are embarking on a jam-packed nine-day tour of Australia. They’ll be making a brief stop in Canberra to shatter the walls of the Tuggeranong Youth Centre with special guests from Sydney, Shinto Katana, on Wednesday June 15. Tickets cost $27 (+bf) from any Moshtix outlet, doors open to hungry fans at 6pm. Tickets to this gig are already seeming to sell fast, so I would recommend buying your tickets in advance and securing a spot.

We all know the name, and whether we acknowledge it or not, we all know a song or two. The multi-award winning and ever so delightful Brit, James Blunt is o nce again to bring his unique brand of indie/pop-rock into venues all over the country, and of course selling out most of them. Melbourne band The Verses will accompany Blunt for the entirety of the Some Kind of Trouble Australian tour. On Wednesday May 18 you have your chance to see both acclaimed acts at The Royal Theatre. Tickets cost between $89.45 and $99.10 depending on seating from any Ticketek outlet. Snatch those tickets up quick!

It is good to see that we still have a lot to look forward to on the music front for the time being, so make the most of it! The Canberran winter is already living up to its icy reputation, in Autumn, as a matter of fact! So enjoy the warmth of a crowd, the sweat on your brow from the warm stage lights and just the simple pleasure of having something fun to do indoors!

All Ages

On Friday April 29, New York ambiet/alternative/indie quartet As Tall As Lions will swing through the capital as part of The Sound of Animals Touring. Joining them on stage at the Tuggeranong Alliance Church in Calwell will be unique Central Coast based folk-western/indie band Elliot the Bull. Tickets cost a stupidly cheap $23.50 through Oztix.com, so snatch them up quickly!

Finally, Groovin’ The Moo is right around the corner. This is your final chance to purchase your tickets for just $99.90 (+bf) from Moshtix or www.gtm.net.au. The line-up for 2011 will feature all the best from home and abroad, including AC Slater (USA), Art Vs Science, Architecture In Helsinki, The Aston Shuffle, Birds of Tokyo, Bliss n Eso, Crash the Curb, Cut Copy, Darwin Deez (USA), Datarock (NOR), Drapht, Dr. Don Don, The Drums, The Ellis Collective Band, Fun Machine, Gotye, The Go! Team (UK), Gyroscope, The Holidays, Horrorshow, House of Pain (USA), The Jezabels, Nina Las Vegas, Raw City Rukus, Sampology, UNKLE – live (UK), Washington and The Wombats (UK). All the action will take place at the UC Meadows on Sunday May 8 beginning at 10.30am and rocking late into the night.

You are in for a treat Canberra, with a unique opportunity to hear the upbeat, melodic stylings of Ben Folds. In celebration of his seventh solo record, Folds is coming all the way from the USA to embark on the Lonely Avenue Australian tour with special guest Kate Miller-Heidke from Brisbane. The pair will be stopping in Canberra for a one night only show at The Royal Theatre on Wednesday May 11. Tickets cost $96.05 (+bf) through Ticketek outlets, and this show is worth every cent of it! Shows have already sold out in Brisbane and Sydney, and Canberra isn’t far behind.

Looking for a cheap laugh? On Friday May 13 you have a chance to get them when Akmal (the bald Egyptian) steps up on stage at the Canberra Theatre Centre for The Life of Akmal. You’ve seen him on TV at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and almost every popular Australian game-show and comedic talk show on air, but now you can see him in person. Tickets cost just $34.90 for concession and $39.90 full price from Canberra Ticketing. Doors open at 8pm.

British indie/pop-rock boy James Blunt is to our delight touring the country once again, this time in support of his latest album Some Kind of Trouble. On Wednesday May 18 the Some Kind of Trouble Australian Tour will bring Blunt with his special guest act, Melbourne’s The Verses, to The Royal Theatre for a once in a life-time performance. Tickets cost between $89.45 and $99.10 depending on seating from any Ticketek outlet.

Metal five-piece Emmure from Queens, New York are touring the Australian coasts to share with the masses the glory of their latest album on the Speaker of the Dead Australian tour. On Wednesday June 15 the boys will hit the stage the Tuggeranong Youth Centre with Sydney’s Shinto Katana, who always work up a good crowd on their visits to the Capital. I would recommend buying tickets in advance for this one, they cost only $27 (+bf) from any Moshtix outlet. Doors open at 6pm, so go get your mosh on!

NAOMI FROST

All Ages

Despite the fact the winds are getting icier and the luscious summer trees are shedding their plumage, we still have much to look forward to before our winter hibernation.

All the way from Seattle, USA, five-piece alternative/rock band The Classic Crime are hitting the road with Sydney’s Chemical Transport, who are staying loyal to their mass of Canberra fans on The Vagabonds tour. Joining them on the stage at the Tuggeranong Alliance Church in Calwell will be rising local acts Drawing North and Transience Invalid. Tickets to witness this tremendous line-up shake down the church walls cost just $15 at the door or you can be prepared and pre-order online at www.oztix.com.au for just $18.40. Doors open to the public at 5pm on the eve of Sunday April 17.

The sixth annual Regrowth Festival is right around the corner, so now is the time to get your tickets. There is no better opportunity to escape from daily routine than this: four days and three nights camping out on a property nearby the charming town of Braidwood. You can spend the entire Easter/Anzac long weekend dancing off any traces of regularity that you may have brought with you. R.E.G.E.N and SOS, have catered for all tastes, presenting you with local and international artists producing only the best of the best, “psychedelic and progressive trance, dub step, techno, minimal, glitch hop, breaks, wobbly beats, chill, dub reggae, folk, gypsy and the undefinable!”. With more than 50 DJs/artists/groups playing, among them some ‘doof’ legendaries, such as Ace Ventura, Mr. Squatch, Mr. Bill, Sun in Aquarius, Black Samurai and Wax Rabbit, just to name a few. You also have the chance to enjoy the on-site healing/lifestyle area, unique market village and a number of workshops, including the re-vegetation project that gave the festival its name, which has so far planted 55,000 trees at R.E.G.E.N events alone. The festival begins at 5pm on Friday April 22 and stretches all the way through until Monday April 25. Tickets currently cost only $85 from www.regen.org.au or you can purchase tickets at the ‘door’ for $110. Plant some trees and spend a long weekend a world way away from all normalities of life, at one of the best bush-doofs that the country has to offer.

The Tuggeranong Alliance Church in Calwell, a venue proving themselves to be quite the reliable staple in Canberra’s all ages scene at the moment, is presenting us all with a line-up rather different than what we have become accustomed to. New Yorker ambient/indie/soul quad As Tall As Lions, are collaborating with Central Coast folk/indie/western act Elliot The Bull to bring to the hungry masses The Sound of Animals Touring. Tickets can be purchased in advance from www.oztix.com.au for the stupidly low price of $23.50, and I strongly recommend that you do act fast for this one. Doors open at 6pm on Friday April 29.

Canberra’s beloved alternative/rock five-piece Atlantis Awaits are currently on a three month long tour of Australia and New Zealand, but excitement is already brewing about their return home. On Saturday May 14 you can see Atlantis Awaits, as well as Sydney’s power pop/rock group The Never Ever, Melbourne’s Daylight Hours, Wake the Giants from Sydney and local act Psychic Asylum. Ticket prices have not yet been released, so stay tuned for more information.

NAOMI FROST

allagescolumn@gmail.com

All Ages

This fortnight brings us a jolly great big mix bag of events. Not quite in the mood for a gig? That’s fine. Feel like attending a more family friendly, social event? Well, I’ve got just what you’re looking for…

On Saturday March 19 is Canberra’s 104.7 Skyfire , one of our city’s biggest annual community events. You can enjoy an array of entertainment including aerial displays over the lake, a free performance by Jessica Mauboy at the Regatta Point stage, delightful little food stalls and so much more. But let us not forget the grand finale, when the main basin of our iconic Lake Burley Griffin is lit up by the biggest and most expensive fireworks display in the history of Skyfire. This is a free community event, and having just celebrated our city’s 98 ^th birthday there is no better time for it than this. So, get a picnic rug, gather all of your friends and family, pack some nibblies and sit back, relax and enjoy one of the biggest events of the year. But be sure to arrive early, so as to pick a prime viewing spot. This event is a great opportunity to take advantage of the warmer autumn weather, for soon the Canberra cold will be upon us all.

There is no denying that everybody needs a little bit of comedic entertainment every once in a while. Charles Ross, who brought to the world the hilarious hit One Man Star Wars Trilogy, will bring to The Canberra Theatre his new follow up act, One Man Lord of the Rings. The show has gained nothing but excellent reviews and is bound to leave you with aching cheekbones and laughter-induced muscular aches. Adult tickets cost $57 (+ bf) and concession costs $48 (+ bf) through Canberra Ticketing. With no props and no costumes, Ross will re-enact the entire Tolkien trilogy. He is playing two shows on Saturday March 19, one at 3pm and one at 7.30pm.

On Friday March 25, It’s a Box Social marks the end of an era for local pop-mosh/alternative five-piece Steady the Fall. This will be the final show played by guitarist Alex as well as the band’s final show as Steady the Fall. The show at the Woden Youth Centre will also feature Canberran supporting acts West of the Sun, Little Saturn, Dr. Johnson and Psychic Asylum. Tickets can be bought at the doors from 6pm for only $5. This is your final chance to see the boys up on stage before they re-emerge as an entirely new band. We are promised a new sound under a new name. So get out there and support a successful transition to a band that have been ever so loyal to the all ages scene.

On the afternoon of Sunday April 3 nomadic Perth quad Miles Away will hit the nation’s capital with Brisbane’s Fires of Waco and Defeater all the way from Boston, USA on their Australia and New Zealand tour. You can be a part of this spectacular night of pop-punk at Axis Youth Centre in Queanbeyan. Doors open at 2pm where tickets can be bought. Specific prices have yet to be announced, although the Axis Youth Centre are anything but money grubbing. To experience these three great acts together is an opportunity that may never come around again, so take it!

All Ages

It is excellent to see the Canberra all ages scene thriving and maintaining its success for more than a week. Yes, we are now enjoying a bombardment of events on a weekly basis. It is the way it should have always been.

Atlantis Awaits and Drawing North have gained the approval of Canberra’s public over the last couple of years and are now the Capital’s two favourite rising pop-punk acts. They are joining forces once again, and are playing their final shows in their hometown before embarking on a three month long tour of Australia and New Zealand together. Remaining loyal, as they always have, to their underage fans, you will have a chance to witness the two acts at the Woden Youth Centre on Saturday March 5 with their special guest act The Dream The Chase, all the way from Brisbane. Doors open at 6pm, from there you can purchase your tickets to this spectacular event for just $10.

Rock/metal/hardcore spectacular Youtunes #3 is now to be held at the Palmerston Community Centre, as opposed to the Kaleen Community Centre. Proving a big success in recent years, this show will feature a massive line-up of home grown talent to suit all moshing tastes including Venom Eyes, Reigner, Killing Birds, Imperial, Scattered, Prospects, Mushmellow, Psychic Asylum and Asylum. Tickets cost $10 at the doors of the venue on Saturday March 19.

On Saturday March 12 the fine folk at GigNinja, who last year brought to you Indie-Cent Exposure, are this year presenting you with the ever so anticipated funkfest that they have dubbed Nightshift. Featuring groovy local acts Pleased to Jive You, Astrochem, Paqman, The Heroines, Doctor Johnson, Makeshift and Pete Akhurst, this line-up is bound to leave you with aching, throbbing limbs. You can catch all of this action live at the ever so loyal Woden Youth Centre for a more than reasonable $10 at the door, which opens to the public at 4.30pm. Get ready to dance your hearts out at this one!

On the fine eve of Sunday March 13 you will have a chance to see Sydney mosh/hardcore five-piece Hand of Mercy and One Vital Word as they stop through Canberra on the Fallout Tour. The event, which was to be held at the Axis Youth Centre, has been relocated to the Tuggeranong Youth Centre, with the date remaining the same. This is a great relief to see that so many events are taking place at this venue, considering the recent rumours that made their way through the masses, suggesting that the Tuggeranong Youth Centre is no longer going to host live music events again in 2011. Pheww *wipes sweat from brow* – they’re back again!

One of the biggest festivals for 2011, Groovin’ the Moo, is right around the corner. This year’s line-up on Sunday May 8 will feature big names such as Architecture in Helsinki, Birds of Tokyo, Bliss n Eso, Cut Copy, Drapht, The GO! Team, Gyroscope, The Holidays, Horrorshow, House of Pain, The Jezabels, Washington and The Wombats, along with many more Australian and international acts. Tickets are on sale now for just $99.90 (+ bf) through Moshtix or www.gtm.net.au. The Meadows at the University of Canberra is the place to be. The first act starts at 11am!

All Ages

Finally somebody has acknowledged that not everybody can go to Soundwave, and that not everybody even wants to go to Soundwave, for that matter. Screw Soundwave cannot possibly make its aim and message more obvious. The event will see a huge local line-up including Knives To The Throne, Prospects, Asylum, CarpeDiem, Psychic Asylum, InDistrict, They Killed Everyone and more. The protest/cheaper alternative, if you will, takes place on Saturday February 26 at Woden Youth Centre. Entry costs a stupidly cheap $5. This is a strictly drug and alcohol free event and “Moshing is Mandatory!”.

Two of Canberra’s most rapidly accelerating bands, Drawing North and Atlantis Awaits, are readying themselves for their last Canberra gig before embarking on a three month tour of Australia and New Zealand. Their farewell performance at the Woden Youth Centre will also feature special guests all the way from Brisbane, The Dream The Chase. You can witness it all on Saturday March 5. Doors open at 6pm and entry is $10 at the door.

The Woden Youth Centre on Saturday March 12 will proudly present Nightshift 2011, an entire night dedicated completely to funky, funky, funk. Hitting the stage this year is the Melbourne-based funk electro duo known to the world as Paqman, as well as energising local acts Pleased to Jive You, Astrochem, Doctor Johnson and Peter Akhurst. Doors open to you, the public, at 4.30pm. Tickets are sold at the door for the miniscule price of $10.

Mosh/hardcore Sydney boys Hand of Mercy will be shaking down the walls of the Axis Youth Centre on The Fallout tour. Joining them on tour will be Newcastle-based hardcore five-piece One Vital Word. Hand of Mercy have gained quite a reputation for their live performance, supporting big names such as The Amity Affliction, Enter Shikari, Shai Hulud, As I Lay Dying, Confession and One Vital Word. You can be part of this spectacular double header line-up on Sunday March 13. Ticket prices have not been specified but can be purchased at the door.

On Saturday March 19 you can find yourself a part of Youtunes #3, a hardcore/rock/metal extravaganza featuring local acts Venom Eyes, Reiner, Killing Birds, Imperial, Scattered, Prospects, Mushmellow, Psychic Asylum and Asylum. It kicks off at 6pm and tickets can be bought at the door of the Kaleen Community Hall for $10. The organisers of the event have promised it to be “a night full of bruises”. The Kaleen Community Hall has just emerged from the depths of nowhere, so be there to encourage them to keep doing what they are.

2011 has proved itself a prosperous year already after only a month and a half and Canberra’s all ages scene is no exception. Yes indeed, there was light at the end of the tunnel that was last year’s horrible downturn for the all ages scene. Now we are swimming in it!

NAOMI FROST
allagescolumn@gmail.com

Phantoms

WANT YOUR BAD ROMANCE

In just one short year since their formation Sydney-based slayer/hardcore five-piecePHANTOMS have left their mark on the Australian hardcore scene. In such a miniscule amount of time they’ve accumulated a colossal fan base and have supported reputable names like Evergreen Terrace, Carpathian, Her Nightmare and Shai Hulud. They have also in this time produced an 11 track album called As Above So Belowand now they’re embarking on a tour with Canberra’s very own I Exist, with whom they recorded a spectacular split 7” record, Bad Romance.

Caed Francis, vocalist of Phantoms, claims that the new record has a sound slightly different from the hardcore influenced As Above So Below, giving the new record what Francis calls an “old school metal and late ‘90s New York hardcore” influence. “This time around the band collectively listened to more bands like Slayer and Metallica and we’ve just put that into the new record,” he explains.

It appears that Bad Romance couldn’t possibly have taken off to a better start. Phantoms and I Exist, being the charitable people they are, placed a demo copy of their not yet released split 7” on eBay with the intention that whatever money was made by the record would be donated to assist the flood relief efforts in Queensland. But just to make things that little bit sweeter, Francis shares joyously that it was someone from Canberra who had placed the highest bid. “To whoever it was,” he then announces, “thank you very much for bidding $250 on something that would usually cost $10.”

To celebrate the launch of Bad Romance Phantoms and I Exist are hitting the road together. Francis shared some of the band’s great memories and experiences that they’ve gathered playing in Canberra, and expressed to those who have not yet had the pleasure of seeing them live, that they are in for a great night of entertainment. “We like to bounce,” he claims. “We’re a very bouncy band. We have a lot of energy. Kelly is the old guy in the band,” he chuckles, “so he does some wacky dance moves, whatever his generation did.”

Expecting my chat with Francis to be a mass of technical chitter chatter about the production of Bad Romance, it was a pleasant surprise when we were sidetracked deeply into the issue of vegan cuisine. Clearly it was the most off topic conversation that I had found myself in during an interview, but it was entertaining nonetheless.

Sharing his plans to visit vegan restaurant Au Lac, which strangely enough seems an attraction to many hardcore bands that pass through Canberra, we found ourselves on the puzzling concept of mock bacon. “I’m a sucker for mock meat and stuff like that,” he shares. “I’ve heard they have mock bacon at that place. I don’t understand it, it boggles my mind,” he laughs. “So I’m going to try it out.”

Catch Phantoms and I Exist live at the Axis Youth Centre in Queanbeyan on Sunday February 13. The show is all ages and tickets will be available on the door.

All Ages

Saturday February 6 – Shinto Katana featuring Reiner, All for Eternity, Deceiver, Venom Eyes and I Saw the Eagle at the Axis Youth Centre in Queanbeyan.

Finally the ever so anticipated LiquidFest is right around the corner. On Saturday February 5 not only are you granted a delightful evening swim in the midst of this scorching heat, but also all the energising live entertainment that you could ask for. The Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre is playing host to a cavalcade of local and interstate acts including punk/ska six-piece Los Capitanes, Corporate Takedown, No Assumption, Steady the Fall, Escapade,The Whole Shebang, the Urban Prophetz Recordz crew,Battleship, YBD and In District. In 2010 LiquidFest saw over 350 eager spectators, and they are expecting no less in 2011. The action commences at 6pm, so as to be the perfect time of day for a refreshing dip, and does not slow down until late in the night. Entry costs a mere $10 at the door.

On Saturday February 6, Sydney mosh metal five-piece Shinto Katana are going to make the floors of the Axis Youth Centre shatter. Local actsReiner, All for Eternity, Deceiver, Venom Eyes and I Saw the Eagle will also find their way up on stage to make your evening just that bit more satisfying. Tickets can be bought at the door when they crack open at 5pm for just $15.

Rising Canberra band I Exist and Sydney-based hardcore/slayer five-piece Phantomsare setting out on tour in celebration of their new split 7 track record Bad Romance. On Sunday February 13 you have a chance to witness both bands live at the Axis Youth Centrein Queanbeyan. These bands each have a great live reputation, and you can experience double the energy for just $12 at the door at 6pm.

Sydney metal legendsResist the Thought and Burried in Verona have joined forces for a spectacular combined tour that they have dubbed the I Wanna Give It tour. Being the first gig hosted by the Tuggeranong Youth Centre in a disturbingly long time, this one on Friday February 18 deserves a good turn out. Need me to sweeten the deal for you? Okay. Local pride Knives to the Throne, Hands Like Houses and Prospects will be hitting the stage for all your moshing needs. Tickets can be bought from Moshtix for the presale price of just $12 and $15 at the doors of the venue at 6.30pm. Hope to see you there!

Austrian hardcore quadBloodshed Remains, after touring the Philippines, will be hitting our steamy shores on the Australian east coast tour with punk/hardcore band Mark My Words from the Central Coast. With more acts still to be announced, this is a rare opportunity to see what quality of hardcore Austria has in store for us fanatics. You can catch the action at the Axis Youth Centre on Friday February 25.

Finally it feels that we’re being compensated for months of boredom and frustration. But remember, we don’t want it ending any time soon. So get out there and be a part of the scene! Show these bands and venues that are finally giving us a chance exactly how many of us appreciate it and more importantly, how much we all appreciate it. So get in there! These bands want to see the energy that Canberra’s all ages scene is famous for. So show them.

Drawing North

DRAWING NORTH are one of Canberra’s fastest growing pop rock bands. Since abandoning their old sound as Retraspec, the boys have accumulated a loyal and ever expanding fan base. I had the delight of a face to face interview with drummer and founding member of the band Drew, bassist Jake and guitarists Chad and Ethan. Unfortunately vocalist Michael was absent on this humid and rainy morning.

What with their quickly approaching debut EP launch, spirits were high in the prac room that has seen the boys through the past two years, leading them to this exciting and crucial moment in their musical careers. “It’s going to be the most fun gig that we’ve played in a very long time,” Jake tells me excitedly. The time, effort, money and practice that they have poured into their EP launch showed me exactly how committed these five boys are to making Drawing North exactly what they want it to be. “Our EP launch is like our little baby,” Jake claims. “We’re trying not to drop it out a window,” Chad jests.

They recorded their EP Vision in Valour in Sydney with producer Rohan Kumar. “We call him Splinter, because he’s like Splinter from Nina Turtles,” Jake laughs. “He just lives in a cave with a giant beard and just sits there and writes music. He’s a guru.” The boys even say that they want to take him to the US to help on their next record. “We’re very lucky and thankful to have had him on the project,” Chad compliments. “As a collective it was an experience to do it together and we’ve learned a lot from it,” he concludes.

All very satisfied with the changes made to the band, they easily admit to what they feel were their faults as Retraspec. “We didn’t know really how to start out, we just wanted to play music and get a fan base,” claims Drew. “When I came on board,” adds Chad, “we kinda went ‘what do we want to achieve? And what are we going to do to make it happen?’ After talking about it for so long, Drawing North just had such a positive spin on it and so many different aspects of the band; pushing further forward, always aspiring to be better than we were and pushing towards positive goals, and the name Drawing North just seems to embody that.”

The boys cannot stress enough the importance of commitment in a band and having common goals and aspirations. “We all have the same vision, and we all have the same drive to get there,” says Drew. Ethan then continues, “we want to go as far as we can, putting all our efforts and resources into the band.”

Jumping at the opportunity to say some final words, Chad wants to encourage everyone to go to the launch by promising that “we won’t disappoint.”

Catch Drawing North, along with supports Atlantis Awaits, Built On Secrets and Hands Like Houses, live at Albert Hall on Saturday January 22. Doors open at 6.30pm and tickets are $10 + bf via Moshtix or $10 on the door.

All Ages

Happy New Year! The last few seconds of each year, counting down from ten, anticipating the clean slate that awaits us all, is a universally unifying moment. It is the moment where everything stops and the masses unite for at least a booming “Three, two, one, Happy New Year!” Yes, New Year’s Eve is always a memorable night! Even those who cannot remember the adventures they embarked on will still remember waking up at some point, looking at the calendar and thinking ‘wow, when did that zero become a one?”

But what crazy adventures did I embark on? I arrived sober in the city at 11pm with a migraine so paralysing that it can only be described using one reference: the head drilling scene in The Loved Ones. Half an hour was spent finding and drinking a bottle of water and waiting desperately in the line for the porta-loos. Still with a sharp toothed woodland critter viciously attacking my brain to the tick-tocking intro of Warp 1.9 by The Bloody Beetroots, the countdown finally happened! And not ten minutes later I was driving home to immediately fall asleep. Yup, I’ve got a ballsy New Year’s story under my belt this year *concentrated sarcasm*.

Now, what you all want to hear, what is lined up for you this January. On Saturday January 22 our favourite rising local act Drawing North are finally, after months of anticipation, readying themselves for the launch of Vision in Valour, their anxiously awaited debut album. With a spectacular line-up of our city’s finest playing in support of this momentous occasion, you’ll have a chance to see Atlantis Awaits, Built on Secrets and Hands like Houses. Tickets can be bought for just $10 at the door of Albert Hall when it opens to the masses at 6.30pm.

Alternative four-piece Astrochem will be playing a free Australia Day gig on Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park, where you can also see local alternative indie rockers Rubycon and Fun Machine. With a lengthy one hour set each, you’ve got all the time you need to get your groove on. The music starts at 3pm. Sick of pushing your way through the masses at the usual Commonwealth Place celebrations? Spend Wednesday January 26 differently this year!

On Saturday January 29, The Maram will be a Licensed AA venue for Capital City Punk Fest 2…Tales from the Crypt. Lead by psychobilly punk rock band Casino Rumblers, you are in for a spectacular night featuring Australia’s finest punk rock acts, including The VeeBees, Rumjacks, 4Dead, Spoil, Australian Kingswood Factory, RUST and Topnovil. Tickets can be bought from Moshtix for only $10 (+bf). Doors open at 1.30pm.

We have yet another gig at Commonwealth Park to get us out and into the fresh summer air. Queensland-based quad Marathon are headlining a show with local metal boys Vera, hardcore punk band Eye Gouge and punk rockers Jerkstore. This hardcore/punk/metal spectacular will be presented to you from the Amphitheatre in Commonwealth Park on Saturday January 22. Tickets can be purchased upon entry between 6pm and 9pm for a mere $5.

But don’t fret; this is not it for the summer. I’ve got plenty more lined up for your entertainment in February.

Naomi Frost's Top 10 Albums of 2010

10. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach [Parlophone]

We’ve all heard it and we all love it. Plastic Beach is the newest record from the musical prodigies that we all know as Gorillaz; this time with a fresh, relaxing charm.

9. Boy & Bear – With Emperor Antarctica [Island]

These Sydney boys produce the feel-good music that inspires you to hit the road with nothing but friends, petrol money and a guitar. triple j has played this album constantly, but nothing can take the joy out of it.

8. Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History [Glassnote]

Tourist History has proved to the word that the Irish have more to offer than beer and limericks. These musical geniuses have crafted ten tracks each as breathtaking and playful as the next.

7. Agoria – Balance 016 [EQ Recordings]

This is the album you play on repeat in the car, until it dies of old age. French DJ Agoria, in the newest of the popular series of Balance compilation albums, has created a unique and relaxing two disc set that you will be happy to have as the soundtrack to your life.

6. The Amity Affliction – Youngbloods [Boomtown]

Brisbane band The Amity Affliction, with their new and brilliantly produced album Youngbloods, continue after eight years to add light to their unique breed of melodic post-hardcore.

5. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles (II) [Fiction]

The duo’s second self-titled album, while being a far cry from the first, still upholds the rebellious reputation that we know them by. Steering away from the clean electronic sound that occupied most of their first album, the second is full of the harsh, deep and distorted bass of ‘Alice Practice.’

4. Little Red – Midnight Remember [Liberation]

They have caught the attention of the masses with Rock It, which, let’s face it, is the song you have to play five times in a row to get your fix. Each and every track on Midnight Remember has the same energising effect.

3. Rout – Spirit of Humanity [Independent]

We can always count on Britain to produce great dubstep, and Enter Shikari front man Rou’s dubstep project is no exception, mixing gentle, relaxing electronics and absurd dialogue with the dense and powerful dubstep that we all love.

2. Yeasayer – Odd Blood [Secretly Canadian]

Two words: uplifting and enchanting. Yeasayer have merged genres to craft an indescribable sound that will pick you up and make you appreciate everything around you.

1. The Books – The Way Out [Temporary Residence Limited]

This is one of the most mesmerising albums I have ever heard. The Way Out can only be described as a masterpiece, a journey, whisking you away with The Books’ quirky and almost meditative concoction of sound effects and dialogue.

All Ages

Well, this is it – the final issue for the year. It was to my relief that some events ended up popping up at the very last minute, and thus I did not have to leave you running on empty for the summer. The only unfortunate element of the events I am about to announce is that there are a couple of dates that seemingly were more appealing than the rest to touring artists and venues alike, and thus some overlapped, leaving you with some serious decisions to make concerning your summer entertainment.

On Saturday December 11 you can be part of the Woden Youth Centre’s final gig of 2010. Break Out! will feature an exciting lineup of local acts including No Assumption, hard rock band The Unnamed, funk rock quad La Vida as well as country boys Resistance from Wagga Wagga. Tickets are sold at the door for just $5 on entry. Be there for the venue that has always been there for us. The Woden Youth Centre will recommence hosting live shows early in February next year.

The Axis Youth Centre in Queanbeyan is yet another venue that has become extremely supportive of the ‘Canberra’ all ages music scene. On Saturday December 11 they will play will host a free gig for your enjoyment. The evening will feature local acts Corporate Takedown and Steady the Fall. Doors open at 1pm.

You also have a chance to witness a spectacular lineup of local and Sydney-based acts such as Phantoms, hardcore four-piece Reigner, Sydney’s Endless Heights, our own Vera and Legions on Thursday December 16. Tickets cost $12 and will be sold at the doors of the Axis Youth Centre when they open at 6pm.

I sincerely believe that there is not a soul in western society who has not at least heard of Linkin Park. This six-piece American rock band have obtained such a point of fame that they require little to no introduction. So why on earth would they be coming to Canberra? I have not a clue. But none the less they ARE, and they will be in Canberra on Thursday December 16 at the AIS Arena as part of the A Thousand Suns world tour, of course in celebration of their fourth studio album A Thousand Suns. Tickets can be purchased from Ticketek – it costs $102 for silver tickets and $132 for gold. Doors will open at 8pm and tickets for this one will sell fast. Opening acts are yet to be announced.

Blondie and The Pretenders, one of the most popular bills of the year, are coming to the capital on Tuesday December 14. These two timeless acts will hit the National Convention Centre for a spectacular night of rock and nostalgia. Tickets are selling through Ticketek for $115 (+ bf). Doors open at 7pm. You can’t miss out on this one, folks, and ticket sales are booming, so I’d get them fast.

For any gigs I have failed to mention, I’m afraid you’ll have to keep yourself informed until Saturday January 22, and I hope that you find all your musical needs fulfilled. Of course, until next year I bid you all adieu, and of course I wish you all a magnificent summer, Christmas and all my best wishes for the New Year.

All Ages

There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that the all ages scene is buzzing to the point I have to squeeze the information onto the page, in a struggle similar only to that of packing away a sleeping bag.

But unfortunately, this is not one of those columns. This, which you are about to read, is no more than a perfect demonstration of exactly how pathetic our city’s all ages music scene is becoming. In this half page section, dedicated exclusively to Canberra’s youth, I would usually expect to have mentioned a good five events, at the very least. But this fortnight, I believe we have hit rock bottom with a total of TWO gigs. That’s right, two.

Having made some visits of late to both the Belconnen and Woden Community festivals, I have met some rather admirable individuals who are so fed up with the lack of entertainment set up for those under the legal age that they have begun to take action. For the love of god people, speak up! And to all bands and venues out there: you are the ones with the power to make things right. Of course, things need to get better. I would like to thank all the venues, event management teams, bands and even individuals who have still, through all of this, remained loyal to Canberra’s youth.

Despite the fact that technically, this venue is not even within the borders of the ACT, this is one gig I am truly grateful for. On Tuesday November 30 melodic hardcore Californian band Stick to Your Guns will be up on stage at the Axis Youth Centre in Queanbeyan as part of the Hopebringers tour. The boys have collected a cavalcade of supporting acts including San Francisco-based First Blood, Brisbane boys Wish For Wings, Third Strike from the Gold Coast and Canberra’s very own Venom Eyes, as fresh as you can get, having formed just this year. Tickets cost only $22 (+ bf) and doors open at 6pm. So get yourself out to Queanbeyan for this. But remember, never walk the streets alone after dark.

The Woden Youth Centre still remains one of the musical staples of Canberra’s youth. What this city would be like without them, I do not know, nor do I wish to ever find out. On Saturday December 4 they will be hosting Digbyfest 2010. After three exceedingly successful years, Digbyfest is back for its fourth and most successful yet. This year featuring triumphant Melbourne experimental electronica duo Paqman, local one-piece act Love, Sage, as well as Astrochem, West of the Sun, Pleased to Jive You and Turbulence. To be a part of this spectacular event costs only $10 at the door, as it swings open at 6pm. Once again I’ll advise that you get your groove on whilst you can. You never know how far away your next chance may be. I’ll be there with bells on, as should you.

It is a horrible and unsatisfactory feeling ending the column with such little information announced. But for now it will have to do. Bands, venues and audiences, get out there and do something! We, the juvenile delinquents of Canberra, can only be bored shitless for so long before we get out of control and start loitering in ‘no loitering’ areas!

All Ages

Well, finally, things are beginning to pick up. So let’s just dive straight into all the stuff you want to hear, shall we?

The 14^th annual Japanese Film Festival is set once again to take place at the National Film and Sound Archive. The festival begins on Wednesday November 10 and will take place over 12 days ending on Sunday November 21. You can browse a detailed list of all 11 exciting films to be screening in Canberra, as well as a full schedule for the films on http://14th.japanesefilmfestival.net/filmlist.html. Tickets can be bought from the NFSA, tickets cost only $11 or $9 for concession per film. You can also check out the ‘Max’ pass, which seats you in ten screenings for only $80. With films ranging from live action to animation, both of which Japanese film makers do with great prestige, the Japanese Film Festival promises a unique opportunity to see this talent on the big screen.

Circo Belco and the Future Footprints Sideshow presented by the Belconnen Community Festival not only offers a beautiful carnival environment for the whole community to enjoy free of charge, but a massive lineup of local entertainment. The festival will be energised by Los Capitanes, Drum Assault, The Fuelers, Atlantis Awaits, Beth n’ Ben, Rafe Morris, Kulture Break, Servants of Sound, Rubycon, Astrochem and much more live entertainment. This event at Margaret Timpson Park in Belconnen is of course a free event open to the entire Canberra community from 10am until 5pm on Saturday November 13.

This much anticipated festival, after having been postponed from mid October, is now right around the corner and gnawing away at us all. Electric Lake, in its second year, is to be held at the Commonwealth Park Amphitheatre on Saturday November 13. It is also to be the coming summer’s first massive outdoor all ages festival in Canberra. The festival will present us with exhilarating acts such as The Fighting League, Cat Cat, Crash the Curb, Waterford, Danger Beach, Voss, Killing Birds, Mornings, From the South, Jerkstore, Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens, The Warm Jets, Heute Und and with more to possibly be announced. The music begins at 12pm and will shake our city late into the night. It is a free, BYO event, of course with food and non-alcoholic drink stalls. But bring some of your friends, bring your family, bring a picnic basket and bring all your best grooving attire.

Just as we begin to lose faith in our city’s all ages scene, BAM! Word on the street is that The Maram in Erindale has announced The Capital Rock Music Festival, a licensed all ages gig. On Saturday November 20, you can be part of an impressively extensive lineup including some of the finest musical talent that our city has ever seen. That’s right, Canberra will play host to a number of bands, some living right across the road and some jetting all the way from as far away as New Zealand. For just $25 (+bf) you can be a part of this unforgettable lineup featuring Aussie names Sydonia, Jericco, Point of View, Atlantis Awaits, Spoil, Breaking Orbit, Zero Degrees, Bellusira, Escape Syndrome, The Blaqk Year, Steady the Fall, Frozen Alice and These Four Walls. Doors open at 12pm, tickets can be purchased from any Moshtix outlet.

All Ages

The truth is that it is all rather coincidental that this column is filled with a tremendous sense of community. But nonetheless, the ‘chosen theme’ brings you good tidings of priceless fun!

What better way to brighten up our city’s dreary all ages scene than to be there in the flesh to support some of Canberra’s newest emerging talent? The Liftoff Festival is just one of the many exciting events and festivities to be had at the Woden Valley Festival on Saturday November 6 at Eddison Park in Woden. Liftoff will present to you hungry young gig-goers, D'Opus and Roshambo, Paqman and Turbulence. The Liftoff band competition will see local bands Dramatic Effect and No Assumption compete in the Liftoff Finals after winning the first round heat. The event also features swing dancers, circus acts, dance groups, amusement rides and a tasty selection of food. You can be part of all the wonders that the festival has to offer between 10am and 5pm. For more information visit www.wodenvalley.com.au and follow the links to the festival site.

At Margaret Timpson Park on Saturday November 13 you can take part in the Circo Belco and the Future Footprints Sideshow, theme of the 2010 Belconnen Community Festival. It is of course a free event that promises its audience a magical carnival environment. Unfortunately many festivities have not yet been confirmed, so hop on the Belconnen Community Festival website for more details closer to the date.

On Friday November 26 begins the 22^nd annual Tuggeranong Community Festival. On Cowlishaw Street in Tuggeranong between 6pm and 10pm you have a number of festivities laid out before you at your disposal. Main performers include The Choir Boys and supporting act Velvette. Rollin’ 2 Summer, a BMX competition at the Tuggeranong Skate Park, will expose some of Canberra’s finest and will feature live artists Raw City Rukus and Still Cool. The Streetlight Soirée street party will bring to you live entertainment in many shapes and forms, as well as amusement rides, sideshow games and multicultural food. You can also catch a public screening of young finalists for the Leonid Film Awards at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre. A spectacular projector lighting display, Street of Lights, and the best part of this is that it is a 100% free event. Just jump on the Tuggeranong Community Festival website for a detailed schedule of the events.

All good news must unfortunately come to an end. The gig that has caused so much confusion, Despised Icon’s final Australian tour at The Holy Grail in Civic on Friday November 12 with Thy Art is Murder, The Red Shore and more will unfortunately not be an all ages event due to renewed liquor licensing laws.

And so as to not finish the column on a completely negative note, Electric Lake, which was originally to be held on Saturday October 16 has been postponed to Saturday November 13, due to weather understandably unsuitable for an outdoor event. In its second year the festival will feature Jonny Telafone, Hoodlum Shouts, Kasha, Horse Macgyver, Waterford, The Warm Jets, Killing Birds, Ellis Collective, Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens and many more. This is a free event to be held at the amphitheatre in Commonwealth Park. The action starts at midday. See you there with your grooving boots on!

All Ages

The second annual Electric Lake festival will once again break the still waters of our beautiful and iconic Lake Burley Griffin on Saturday October 16. At the amphitheatre in Commonwealth Park you have a chance to dance yourselves silly to the thrilling and mesmerising sounds of Jonny Telafone, Hoodlum Shouts, Kasha, Horse Macgyver, Heute-Und, Waterford, The Warm Jets, Jerkstore, Killing Birds, Ellis Collective, Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens, From The South, Voss and Cat Cat. This is a free event that is open to people of all ages who love a good ol’ groove. The show starts at midday and will continue late into the spring night. So get your picnic basket out and fill it with all things delectable! Or simply tie up your boot laces and brace yourself for a tiring night of solid dance. Get your step on, folks. How you enjoy this festival is completely up to you. Have the time of your freaking life!

Experimental/ambient/acoustic trio I Dream in Transit will be celebrating their self-titled debut full length album on their duo launch tour of the East Coast with A Dead Forrest Index from Melbourne, who will be launching their new EP Antique. They’ll be striking Canberra with all they’ve got on stage at The Front Café and Gallery in Lyneham with the assistance of special guests, Canberra’s own Karoshi. Tickets cost a mere $5 at the door when they open at 8.30pm on Friday October 22.

The annual Woden Valley Festival will once again provide you with a fun-filled family day in the scenic Edison Park in Woden. In 2010 the festival will include breathtaking performances from indigenous live performance group Wiradjuri Echo, Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens, roots/folk band The Wedded Bliss, hip hop/funk duo D’Opus and Roshambo, spectacular experimental electronica pair Paqman, the Woden Youth Centre’s Lift Off Band Competition and many more exciting live entertainers. There will also be circus performers, activities for all and delicious ethnic foods to tantalise the tastebuds. Tickets are unnecessary, of course. The free festivities will take place between 10am and 5pm on Saturday November 6. See the Woden Valley Festival website for more details and a full schedule for the event.

At the time of writing there is still some confusion surrounding Despised Icon’s last ever Canberra show, which is scheduled for Friday November 12 at The Holy Grail in Civic. What is certain is that Thy Art is Murder and The Red Shore are coming along for the ride, but it is unclear whether the show will be all ages. I’m on the case however, and will be sure to present the facts in my next column, so stay tuned.

So, you’ve got a lovely couple of free events at your disposal, my friends. But I promise you, there are many more to come in the nest issue. Soon it seems all of Canberra’s main districts shall be celebrating their existence as a community, as has the Woden Valley. On top of these literally priceless pleasures, you have the wonders of spring time settling in on what was once our winter wonderland. Go enjoy the great outdoors!

Sydonia

Having received massive commendations from members of Slipknot and Stone Sour, and soon to be touring with Korn, Melbourne based alternative/metal/rock quartet SYDONIA are well and truly on their way to being regarded one of the finest in their field. They have recently released single Ocean of Storms, mixed by one of the most renowned producers specialising in the metal/alternative genre, Colin Richardson. The ever-so-modest Dana Roskvist, guitarist and lead vocalist of Sydonia, happily told me all I needed to know about the band, their sound, and the highlights of their 13 year history as they head into their most successful year to date.

Roskvist expressed that one of the key elements to Sydonia’s sound is the uniquely designed and perfectly executed use of percussion. “We have two percussion set ups on stage, as well as our normal drummer, so that our bass player and guitarist can put down their instruments and play drums. So sometimes there are three drummers,” he rather proudly announces. “People have commented that it makes our performance a little bit more theatrical. But I don’t really think about it like that; we just do our thing on stage. There are no conscious or deliberate theatrics or anything.

“A lot of bands say they have got their own sound and I guess we really do have our own sound,” Roskvist continues. “It is very melodic and it is very pretty and ambient. But it also gets very heavy and very tribal.”

As I was not extremely familiar with the band or their music, he assisted me further by taking the technical terms down a notch, with an excerpt from what should be titled Sydonia for Dummies: “The best way to describe it is to cross reference two bands that do not really belong together. I would say it’s Radiohead meets Sepultura.”

In 2007, Sydonia played three shows with Stone Sour, through which Roskvist and Sydonia’s bassist Adam Murray received praise from Jim Root and Corey Taylor, two celebrated names within their genre. “Corey came running in after we had played and said ‘Whose dick do I have to suck to get a CD?’.” Three months after sharing Australian stages with Stone Sour, they found themselves venturing down the east coast of America with them, building Sydonia a massive US fan base whilst still managing to find time to live large with legendary figures in the world of metal. “Jim Root had us stay at his house in Florida and Corey had us stay at his house in Iowa; they are just really nice guys,” Roskvist shared excitedly.

After extensive and successful touring, the band intends on crafting their second full-length studio album, with the assistance once again of Colin Richardson, for the enjoyment and musical pleasure of Sydonia’s ever expanding Australian fan base.

But why wait until then when you can catch them as part of the Capital Rock Music Festival alongside Jericco, Tonk, Breaking Orbit, Spoil and many more. It happens at The Maram on Saturday November 20. Tix are $25 presold from Moshtix, $30 at the door, or $35 for both Friday and Saturday.

All Ages

Having five-minutes ago taken a heart-breaking gander at photographs of Canberra’s beloved McGregor Hall being torn to pieces, I’ve got myself feeling rather down on the Canberra music scene as a whole. A venue that has provided artists and audiences alike with good memory upon good memory is now levelled; gutted from the inside out. Take a look at the image yourself on http://the-riotact.com/?p=28230. It makes your stomach sink. Ex-attendees of the venue, you may even recognise the items of furniture discarded from the ‘building’, if you can even call it that anymore.

I am sorry to announce that the date of Digbyfest 4 has changed to Saturday December 4, rather than the Saturday September 25 date originally advertised. So, if you just so happened to waltz up to the Woden Youth Centre to find a baron landscape with nary a sound to be heard, you must be mighty pissed off and for that I am very sorry. Regardless you have a chance now to re-enter the funk-fest into your schedule and have ample time to do your pre-groove stretches. Digbyfest 4 will feature Melbourne’s Paqman, plus local bands Astrochem, West of the Sun, Pleased to Jive You and Turbulance. The time, venue and prices have not changed; tickets cost $10 at the door of the Woden Youth Centre and it all kicks off at 5pm. Once again I am extremely sorry for any inconvenience that this may have caused you.

At the Alliance Youth Centre in Calwell on Saturday October 2 you have a chance to see Sydney powerpop/rock five-piece Chemical Transport, and Canberra bands Drawing North (formerly known as Retraspec), Hands Like Houses and Transience Invalid. The action starts at 6pm and goes ‘til late, tickets cost $10 at the door.

Even after Floriade has closed its gates, you social spring-time butterflies can still enjoy the beauty of Commonwealth Park. The second and hopefully not final Electric Lake festival is a spectacular day and night of good music, good weather and good people, continuing what Canberra does best; outdoor festivals. The night shall be made all the more magnificent by electronica/trance/dance deities Hoodlum Shouts, Voss, Cat Cat, Jonny Telafone, Kasha, Waterford, From The South, Killing Birds and Hors. This is a free feel-good event that cannot afford to be missed by anybody with blood still pumping harshly through their veins. The musical magic begins at midday on Saturday October 16. I trust that I will see you all there dancing your hearts out and kicking up the grass and dirt until your mouth is full of it. Everything tastes better when it’s free!

As part of a combined launch tour, down-tempo Sydney based experimental trio I Dream in Transit and Melbourne alternative duo A Dead Forest Index will be in the capital on Friday October 22. The Front Café and Gallery will accommodate and celebrate the launch of I Dream in Transit’s self-titled debut full length album as well as A Dead Forest Index’s brand new EP Antiques. With local support Karoshi and an entry price of $5 at the door, you can’t possibly go wrong. Door’s open at 8.30pm, welcoming you to a night of spectacular musical diversity.

Miles Away

Perth bred hardcore punk five-piece MILES AWAY are maintaining their reputation as one of Australia’s idealistically nomadic acts by once again going on the road (were they ever truly off?) this time bringing to their nationwide fan base something very special. The band’s recently released full-length album Endless Roads has hit the shelves, been devoured by fans, and summoned glowing critique from fans and journalists alike. Vocalist and spokesman in this case, Nick Horsnell, talked to me on behalf of Miles Away, a band that he describes honestly and modestly as being no more than “five nerds who like swimming, ball sports, Lost and beer.”

Horsnell generously shared with me details of their most recent recording experiences in New York, the impact it had on the record, as well as the ideas behind the songs that the band have undisputedly considered to be “the strongest we’ve ever written.”

Miles Away recorded Endless Roads with US producer Dean Baltulonis, an expert in his field, working almost exclusively within the hardcore/punk/alternative genre. “Working with Dean was a real pleasure. He has a wealth of experience and ideas when it comes to recording and producing,” Horsnell says. “We’re still the same melodic hardcore band we’ve always been. Of course after being a band for so long we don’t want to just keep putting out the same record, so there are some songs where we’ve tried something different.

Just as one loves to hear in an album, Endless Roads carries an inspirational, uplifting and rather relevant tone and message within each song which some genre-monkeys may not care about, but should. Questioning the pressure to conform and live life to the stereotypical structure (go to school, get a job, get married, start a family, retire) is one of many themes that can be detected within the record, and something everyone can relate to.

As the primary songwriter among the five, Horsnell wrote lyrics based around his personal perspectives and feelings on the structure and occurrences of everyday life. “There are a lot of people stuck in the mindset that we have to follow the guidelines that are drilled into us from a young age,” he preached. “What I’m getting at is, if you have a dream or want to break that mould, anything is possible. You may not be rich by society’s standards but you will be happy. That’s one meaning of the title of this record.” These ideals are well reflected by the path the boys decided to take as a band. Proud of their accomplishments and where they stand in society as individuals, Horsnell added that “the artwork is filled with photographs we have taken on our journeys thus far.”

Miles Away hit the Axis Youth Centre in Queanbeyan on Tuesday September 28. They will be joined by Hopeless, Vera and Reigner. Doors 6pm, $12. Endless Roads is out now through Shock Records.

Parkway Drive

From Byron Bay to the USA, small town boys PARKWAY DRIVE have made a name for themselves as the pinnacle of the metalcore genre. Having just wrapped up two months in the US on the internationally known and loved Van’s Warped Tour, they are now back in the country from which they blossomed to embark on their most extensive headlining tour yet to celebrate and promote their third, and many say most exciting, full-length album Deep Blue. Who could give a better insight to Parkway’s great success than frontman Winston McCall himself? I was granted access to the details, both bad and good, that defined the victorious advancements of a band whose name now resides among the greats.

The band, seeking a new sound and a new approach to recording, turned to the raw and sought-after skills of sound engineer Joe Barresi. The change to Barresi from the renowned and loyal producer of previous records Killing With a Smile and Horizons, Adam Dutkiewicz (also guitarist of metalcore masterminds Killswitch Engage) caused confusion and controversy amongst fans.

“This time around we wanted to create something that focused more on the feel and flow of things and less on the precision, and we figured that’s where Joe would come in,” McCall professed.

The sound the boys desired to achieve through their disputed production changes have been achieved in Deep Blue, giving Parkway Drive a more heavy, intense and overall raw sound. “Working with Joe was definitely a bit of a chance for us. But that was kind of the idea, to challenge ourselves and maybe create something that stood on its own musically as opposed to stood in the genre. It was really awesome working with him. It was insane, the amount of knowledge he possessed,” he complimented.

Since its release Deep Blue has collected masses of exceptional reviews, ratings and even debuted at #2 on the Australian ARIA chart. McCall shared that these achievements could not have been met without the help of the vision they originally had, with Barresi there to turn the ideals into reality. “His touch on the album definitely made it exactly what we wanted it to be,” McCall joyously shares. “It actually came out exactly how we wanted it, and it’s weird because it’s the only record that we’ve ever had a goal for; we had a set sound and vision in mind for it.”    

Touring abroad a majority of the time of the album’s creation, including jaunts around Europe, the United Kingdom and America, the boys have gained an acute understanding of audience expectation. But aside from the musical wisdom obtained, the Parkway boys have also seen foreign chaos far beyond the wildest Australian dream. “We’ve almost been hit by two tornadoes. Maybe two years ago, five twisters dropped down around the city that we were playing in.” In a tone of disbelief he continued, “there were sirens going off and we were the only people in the streets of this whole city and we ran up the top of this car park to try to see the twisters at night. When we drove back the next morning to the place we were parked, it was completely flattened. So we got real lucky on that one.”

But the chaos does not stop there – McCall expressed that one of the most barbaric touring experiences in the band’s eight year history was in fact a product of die-hard Australian fans at a DVD launch in Perth. “As soon as we started the set, the barrier completely collapsed, like broke in half… snap! There were six men trying to hold the weight of 1500 people. It was absolutely insane and it got to the point where we had to stop halfway through the first song and lift these security guards out.” Expecting it would be the night that somebody would die at a Parkway gig, McCall shared with me that, “you realise how much power is behind an audience when you see a barrier get broken like it was a twig, when it’s actually made out of solid steel.”

Winston McCall, being one of the biggest names in the metalcore world is also one of the most humble and down to earth artists that I could ever have hoped to speak to. “It’s strange to consider myself as famous,” he admitted. “Consider how rare it is that a band from Byron Bay, making this type of music, even becomes famous in the first place. That’s the thing that gets us. We realise how crazy it is.”

Despite barely being capable of taking on board exactly how far he has come since playing gigs at youth centres in Byron Bay and how fast the band is progressing at present, McCall spoke honestly about the ups and downs of stardom and life on the road, away from friends, family and home. “This does come with some amazing highs and there’s always got to be a point in time when you come down from that,” he said in a more disheartened manner. “It’s definitely not without its pitfalls but at the same time it’s one of those things where you’ll find yourself whinging about this little thing in your mind and you’ll have to say ‘shut the fuck up, look what you’re doing!’”

And you can see what they’re doing at the Royal Theatre on Saturday September 25, where they will be joined by The Devil Wears Prada, The Ghost Inside and 50 Lions. Deep Blue is out now through Resist Records.

All Ages

On Saturday September 25 the fourth annual Digbyfest will hit the stage at the Woden Youth Centre. I know what you’re thinking: ‘What is a Digby?’ Well, Digby is a man with hair like glistening flames, few know where he came from, or where he is going. One thing we do know is that he has extraordinary capabilities of hosting a tremendous night of funky-fresh tunes for the public’s enjoyment. Accompanying your moves on the dance floor will be spectacular Canberra-via-Melbourne experimental electronica duo Paqman, as well as local bands Turbulence, West of the Sun, Pleased to Jive You and Astrochem with more yet to be announced. Tickets cost $10 at the door.

It’s quite nice when the odd venue pops out of the midst with a night of good music, good people and good energy. It gives an incredible sense of faith in the all ages scene. Drawing North, formerly known as Retraspec, are headlining an extensive local line-up at the Alliance Youth Centre in Calwell, hopefully a soon-to-be regular all ages venue swinging to our salvation. Supporting acts include Sydney’s Chemical Transport, and Canberra’s very own Hands Like Houses and Transience Invalid. You can be there to witness it all on Saturday October 2 for just $10 at the door.

The Tuggeranong and Weston Creek Youth Centres in conjunction with Scope Youth Services present to you, the youth of this fair city, Little Day Out. The name itself should be enough to spark your interest, but if not, I have more up my sleeve. This FREE event is yet another pleasant Garema Place evening outing, this year for your entertainment starring local bands Steady the Fall, Perpetual End, Dr. Johnson and more to be announced. Still not pleasing enough? All compulsory features of any Garema Place mini-festival – such as a sausage sizzle, airbrush tattoos, youth services information (plus free promotional goodies that you’ll never use) and of course circus performers – can all be enjoyed in the city between 4pm and 8pm on Friday September 24!

Perth based hardcore crusaders Miles Away, in support of their newest full length album, will hit the region once more with all they’ve got, this time as part of the Endless Roads tour. Joining the pilgrimage will be Melbourne hardcore five-piece Hopeless and special guests, plus local bands Reigner and Vera. For just $12 at the door you can be part of this spectacular line-up at the Axis Youth Centre in Queanbeyan. Doors open at 6pm on Tuesday September 28.

Of course, almost impulsively I find myself having to mention Floriade, Australia’s biggest flower festival. This annual fest acts as a yearly antidote to our disgusting and dead winter months, ushering us into spring, the season Canberra is famous for. Floriade provides for us every form of entertainment we could wish for – music, film, shopping, rides, games, food and of course nature; entertainment in its purest of form. The massive list of festivities that take place at Commonwealth Park over the course of an entire month would be difficult to fit into the remainder of this column, so just jump on to www.floriadeaustralia.com for more information. Entry to the festival is free, with the exclusion of Floriade Nightfest. Gates are open to the public until Sunday October 10. Hope to see you there!

Pierce The Veil

On his first day of rest and recovery after seven weeks on the road as part of the Van’s Warped Tour, I thoroughly prepared myself to speak to an artist most likely cranky, stressed and deprived of sleep beyond all belief, and not quite ready to make a long distance call to Australia from Sacramento, California. To my surprise, I found Vic Fuentes, the majestic vocalist of four-piece PIERCE THE VEIL, cheerful, awake and an absolute pleasure to talk to.

The born and bred San Diego band willingly throw themselves under the genre of progressive post-hardcore, which quite frankly does not do them justice. Pierce the Veil possess a sound that should account for a genre in itself, what with their uniquely textured vocals acting as their signature, and their literally indescribable musical concoction produced simply by bass, drums, guitar, screams and clean vocals.

Their newest 14 track album, Selfish Machines, was released in June of this year, and acts as the culmination of four years of progression and self discovery for the band. According to Fuentes, “[the album is] a good representation of how far we’ve gotten.”

The foursome recorded the album in Los Angeles with sound engineer Mike Green, whose extensive experience helped craft what is now the band’s most spectacular record yet. “I’ve never worked with anyone like him before. I could kind of describe him as being everything I’m not.” Fuentes goes on, “he’s very smart about music and he knows a lot about musical theory, all the hard shit; the maths and all the weird shit that I don’t know anything about. I do everything by ear and by feeling and the soul in the music. Everything else I don’t really know much about, so he was cool to have around for all those moments where I needed somebody like that.”

It seems that since its recent release, the album has produced nothing but praise from critics and fans alike, and to my enjoyment, it sounds as though there are many more musical successes to come from the band. “I definitely want to keep progressing with each record, I want it to get better and better,” Fuentes assures. “I’m a big fan of bands that are always progressing and trying new things and staying excited about what they do. I feel sorry for the band that can only scream or play breakdowns or something because I just feel like there’s not a whole lot of places you can go after that.”

To accompany the album’s great success the boys are making their first ever visit to Australia to take part in the 16th annual Take Action Tour. “Australia’s going to be like a vacation for us.” Fuentes says excitedly. “We just want to keep taking the steps and keep expanding and going to new places. I’d love to keep coming to Australia and build a real following there.”

The Take Action Tour will be stopping into Canberra on Tuesday September 14 at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. It’s all ages and tickets are available through Moshtix, Landspeed and The Music Shop.

All Ages

I have kept my promise dear reader. Here, for your reading pleasure, is chunk after chuck of exciting gigs that can finally give you a good reason to get out of your warm cosy bed and get into a night on the town! I’ve got plenty to mention for once, so let’s dive straight in to it we shall?

New South Wales’ biggest Underage Dance Party is hitting Canberra! On Friday

September 10 at The Holy Grail – Civic from 7pm, you’ll have your chance to “cut a rug”, “get down and get funky”, “get your groove on” or however you wish to say have a good dance (“strangling the ropey chicken” is what we used to call it in my day – Bossman). The show has been made exclusive to those between the age of 14 and 17. If you fit this selective criterion and are ready to dance the night away, you can purchase presale tickets for just $25 (+bf) from Landspeed Records.

The highly anticipated 16th Annual Sub City Take Action Tour, raising funds and

awareness for Reachout.com, is this year being headlined by the unforgettable

metalcore act that is Attack Attack! all the way from Ohio, USA! Supporting the cause at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre on Tuesday September 14 will be Santiago four-piece Pierce the Veil, Melbourne’s Dream on Dreamer as well as recently announced local support Steady the Fall. Tickets cost just $33 (+bf) from Moshtix or Landspeed Records, doors open at 6pm.

Now, for a name that needs no introduction, the John Butler Trio will soon be

sweeping through our fair city on the extensive April Uprising tour. Supporting

the triumvirate’s expedition across the country will be ten-piece – that’s right TEN-

PIECE – afrobeat roots-reggae sensation Blue King Brown. It’s a perfectly harmonious pair for a night of good vibes, which will be happening at the Royal Theatre on Wednesday September 15. You can purchase tickets for the indisputably spectacular performance for just $70.50 (+bf), and the show shall commence at 7pm. Enjoy!

Also at the Royal Theatre but with a completely different flavour, you have a chance to see Australian metalcore legends Parkway Drive, touring in support of their new and highly acclaimed album Deep Blue. With supporting acts The Devil Wears Prada (yet another Ohio band), LA’s The Ghost Inside and Byron Bay boys 50 Lions, this is set to be a night of severe perspiration, bruises, bumps and adrenalin that shouldn’t be missed by any self-respecting thrasher. For just $40.70 (+bf) from Ticketek you can be a part of all the action. Saturday September 25 is the date to circle, doors open at 8pm.

Oh and one more thing – each Thursday from now through to October 7 you can

be a spectator or even a competitor in the Battle of the Backyard Bands! The

Canberra Music Workshop has joined forces with the RSPCA to give solo artists, duos and bands the chance to perform and be part of a great cause. All profits go directly to the RSPCA. For more information or registration forms visit www.rspca-act.org.au and search Battle of the Backyard Bands.

Well, I hope that is good enough for this issue. Phew! It’s exciting to have something decent to talk about, eh? Just when I thought we would never see another all ages gig, just like herpes, KABOOM, there it is, in your face, more powerful and inflamed than ever before. (I, umm… Wow – Bossman)

All Ages

I am almost certain, at this point in time, that all the forces of the universe are collaborating; with no priority higher than making August the mightiest bore that us underage Canberrans have endured in years. On top of the lack of in the past few weeks, we have also copped the potent additive that is the weather; we can’t even go outside anymore! Yes, now in the dead of winter now, we have hit the point at which your heater becomes your best friend, your highest desire of a day is to return to your newly found lifestyle as a lonely bed-bound hermit and your only company is the rustling sound of the fluffy doona that engulfs you.

Despite the odd god-send of a gig, you can expect that this routine will proceed until September, when at least the music scene is expected to kick off once again. But for the next few weeks, it is just you, your blanky and a perfect excuse to go into hibernation for a while.

The only information that I have to offer for the remainder of August (unfortunately the month in which I would usually intend on celebrating by birth with a good gig or two), is concerning the East Coast Blazin’ Tour. Melbourne progressive post-hardcore kings House vs. Hurricane and pop punk Sydney quartet Heroes for Hire, have had a change of plans. They have relocated to the Tuggeranong Youth Centre, rather than the Weston Creek Community Centre as has been advertised. The date on the other hand remains Saturday August 21, giving you no need to rethink your schedule. Not to mention, the local support acts for this event have finally be announced! Sharing the stage with House vs. Hurricane and Heroes for Hire will be Atlantis Awaits, this being their first gig since the successful launch of their debut EP, as well as punk hardcore five-piece Something Must Break. Tickets can be purchased from Moshtix for only $15 (+bf) and are sold at the doors upon opening at 2pm.

Who better to create the spark that will turn the all ages music scene back into the raging fire that it should be, than sky rocketing duo Angus and Julia Stone coming to town on Wednesday September 1. The Sydney pair have given Australian folk/ alternative music a new name among the public. They will be passing through Canberra to do a performance at Llewellyn Hall as part of their September Australian tour. The popular siblings have already sold out shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Townsville, Newcastle, Meeniyan and Canberra too will soon be on that list. You can get your tickets quickly from Ticketek for $56.20 (+bf), but they won’t last long.

I apologise for the lack of information I was able to provide in this issue. But I can assure you that the next issue, out Thursday September 2, will be jam packed full of events to make up for the last few weeks. Until then, take any given opportunity to step out of your house and enjoy a moment of sunshine (that is if the sun can grow some nads and step out from behind the clouds). But if not, I’m afraid all we can do is sit tight, explore every inch of our warm houses and play a damn board game or something!

Atlantis Awaits / Hands Like Houses / Retraspec Holy Grail – Civic Sat Jul 24

Readying myself for the launch of Atlantis Awaits’ new EP I found myself startled, almost frightened in fact, by the unusual commotion at entry to the Holy Grail. Friends were being dramatically parted in scenes reminiscent of a WWII film, time and time again one underage hand being violently torn from their 18 year old friend, lover, brother or sister. Like a cow heading to the slaughter, all people “of age” were escorted upstairs while their frightened and confused young were held on the lower level to cower, alone. What was most absurd was that those upstairs could not come down. Before the first act of the night had even stepped up on stage, security had already had quite the busy night, what with a large amount of their 18+ audience trying to jump the fence of the smoking area to get onto the lower level of the venue, and underage individuals trying to sneak past and climb the stairs to social salvation.

Once the management got a mouthful from both the crowd and performers, they realised the error of their ways, and from that point on the evening became far more enjoyable. Friends were tearfully reunited upon the decision that those above 18 could indeed venture about the venue as they please.

Soon enough Retraspec stepped up on stage, and considering that they were the very first band to come on, the initial turn out was far more than could be expected. Having heard a very limited amount of their music prior to this night I was pleasantly surprised by their live sound. With the help of the sharp acoustics at this particular venue, they sounded excellent and opened the night with a spectacular set.

After Retraspec came a short interval of mingling, smoking and more mingling, before the crowd began to flock inside for the next band, Hands Like Houses. So in I went to park in a nice spot not too far out of the crowd and not too far in, but within no less than a minute of them playing I found myself being thrown about in the middle of the pit. So out I briskly went. Once again I was not familiar with this band or their music, and to be honest, I think I was one of only a handful of people at the gig who didn’t know the words to every song. Too weak to join my peers in the slaughter, I happily sat and enjoyed the music, subconsciously giving the odd bob of the head before realising I look like a complete arse. The length of each set was satisfying, each band performing for what would usually equate to two or three acts.

But nothing compared to the moment when Atlantis Awaits stepped up on stage; the screams were piercing and from the excellent view that I scored for myself, I could see the audience go absolutely nuts with excitement. When vocalist Alice opened her mouth and began to sing, I could feel goosebumps run up my arm. The performance was captivating in every way that live music can be, beautiful lighting, excellent PA work, indescribable skill as musicians and stage presence capable of making the crowd turn barbaric. I perched upon the bar, at perfect level with the heads of those being hacked to pieces by other people’s body parts. Even from my relatively secure vantage point, I had the feet of crowd surfers flying directly at my face more times than I wish to count. But of course these kind of occurrences are what make a night truly memorable.

All Ages

Who would have thought that this wonderful streak of youngling-friendly gigs would stretch so far? What an excellent way to ease into the depths of winter.

On Sunday August 8 you have a chance to catch hardcore Melbourne band Samsara, accompanied by Newcastle’s Dropsaw at the Axis Youth Centre in Queanbeyan. They’re hitting the road together in support of each other’s brand-spanking new albums, Samsara’s Instinct Over Influence and Dropsaw’s Hard Justice. And thus the tour is referred to as the Instinct Over Influence/Hard Justice tour. Quite simple really. You can purchase your tickets from Moshtix and doors open at 8pm.

Then on Saturday August 21 you have a chance to witness what is quickly becoming one of the most beloved hardcore acts in the country live at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. That’s right, House vs. Hurricane are here once again! Running riot with them on the East Coast Blazin’ tour will be renowned and, above all, well travelled Sydney band Heroes for Hire. You can grab your tickets for only $15 (+bf) from Moshtix or Landspeed Records. The action starts at 2pm, folks.

As I am aware, many of you are already well and truly itching to see Attack Attack! even though the gig is still months away. The five Ohio boys will be headlining the 16^th annual Take Action tour to raise money and awareness benefiting Reach Out, a web-based charity targeted at 14-25 year olds in Australia. Assisting Attack Attack! and the Reach Out organisation in making the world a better place will be Californian post-hardcore spectacular Pierce the Veil and Melbourne’s Dream On Dreamer. Tickets cost just $33 (+bf) from any Moshtix outlet and 10% of every ticket sold goes directly to Reach Out. So, I hope to see you all at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre on Tuesday September 14!

Also, just a reminder to snatch up your tickets for some big dates. The first being at the Royal Theatre on Saturday September 25, which many of you would be aware is the date of Parkway Drive, the biggest post-hardcore/metalcore band to ever spawn from this continent. For just $40.70 (+bf) from Ticketek you can also see supporting acts The Devil Wears Prada, The Ghost Inside as well as 50 Lions live at the Royal Theatre (also known as the National Convention Centre). This is going to be an unforgettable night for anyone who loves the energy of a sweaty, crowded, and destructive pit.

Another is a name that anybody in western culture will recognise. Powderfinger, after having been one of the most famous Australian bands for the last 21 years, have now finally called it quits. Fortunately, they are embarking on just one final round of the country from which they originally bloomed, and are calling it Sunsets: The Farewell tour. You can see the legends in the flesh at the University of Canberra on Tuesday October 12. But that’s not all, supporting them will be Paul Dempsey and a Melbourne band we are all familiar with, Jet. At time of writing, the show may be sold out, but check to see if presale tickets at $93.70 from Ticketek or Landspeed Records are still available.

Well, I’d say we’re definitely getting quite a good fill of all ages gigs at present, but lap it up at every opportunity, my friends. You never know when the next famine will hit this fair, or rather unfair, city.

NAOMI FROST

All Ages

Just as would be the case with many of you underage hooligans, my holidays are almost over and just as you all should, I’m in the process of squeezing just about as many gigs into the next week as humanly possible. We have and by the looks of it will remain to embrace and cherish any sweaty, claustrophobia triggering pits that we can get in the midst of during these ever dropping climates.

Only to add to the tremendous string of hardcore acts passing through our city of ice of late, Wollongong-bred band Mary Jane Kelly will be at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre on Wednesday July 21. Embarking on the Like There’s No Tomorrow tour with MJK will be Melbourne band Built On Secrets and our city’s very own Dead Kings. Tickets can be purchased at any Moshtix outlet for just $15.50.

On Saturday July 24 you have your chance to see and support one of Canberra’s most rapidly rising hardcore/alternative acts. Local five-piece Atlantis Awaits, after months of recording, are now anticipating the launch of their soon to be adored self-titled EP. Opening for the band will be local act Hands Like Houses and Retraspec, both of whom are expecting the launch of their own debut EPs within the next few months. You can be a part of this spectacular night at The Holy Grail for just $10 – you can purchase your tickets at the door or from any Moshtix outlet.

And wow, looks like EPs are going to be flying at you left, right and centre on Saturday July 24 with yet another freaking launch. Pleased to Jive You are going to be launching their brand new EP as well! Supporting them at the Woden Youth Centre will be Melbourne’s Paqman and Canberra bands Slovac and Goatfish. For just $13 you are granted entry and a copy of the new EP.

Then on Saturday August 21, yet another great gig awaits you. You can catch beloved Melbourne post-hardcore band House vs. Hurricane while they’re in town once again, this time with Sydney’s Heroes for Hire on the East Coast Blazin’ tour. Although there has been no talk of ticket prices as yet, I assure you that the Weston Creek Community Centre are relatively generous to loyal gig attendees such as yourselves.

Now, I’d like to encourage the purchasing of these tickets well in advance. On Saturday October 30, Stonefest is back, this year presenting to you Pendulum, Bliss n Eso, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Spiderbait, Airbourne, Operator Please, Bluejuice, Clare Bowditch & the New Slang, The Panics, Cloud Control, Boy & Bear, Last Dinosaurs, Purple Sneakers DJs and Funktrust Collective. All this will cost you only $94.40 (+ bf) from any Ticketek outlet. I will spare you my regular obsessive spiel about outdoor events in spring (until closer to the date, that is).

And of course, there is nothing better than a good gig with a great cause. Although this gig does not commence until Tuesday September 14, it’s already proving very popular. Attack Attack!, Pierce the Veil and Dream on Dreamer will join forces at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre as part of the Take Action tour, raising money and awareness for ReachOut.com, a fantastic Australian charity organisation. You can get tickets from Landspeed, The Music Shop or Moshtix. See you there!

Tijuana Cartel

As just one adoring fan among the masses, completely pumped for their upcoming gig at McGregor Hall, boy was I twitching from excitement at the thought of an interview with Paul George – vocalist, flamenco and slide guitarist and sitar player of TIJUANA CARTEL. By that I am not referring to the relentless Mexican drug trafficking organisation, but rather the extraordinary internationally influenced musical concoction of electronics, trumpet, guitar, drums and god knows how many different instruments from various corners of the earth.

What makes Tijuana Cartel so unique is their ability to so beautifully combine elements of so many different musical origins into one track. “We have different backgrounds and that all gets reflected in our music.” Aside from the varied musical preferences of the band members, George explains that their travels also have a tremendous impact on their music. “We went to India for six months and we recorded a few musicians there that we used on the album, and we’ve been through Spain, we did some recording in France as well as China,” he says. “We sort of travel to travel but we’ve also kept the music in mind as well.”

Just as was the case with timeless legends like The Beatles, it was during George’s time in India that he picked up the sitar for the first time and began to learn it. “I can’t seem to master that one, it’s a hard instrument,” he admits. “I could never quite feel it the way they felt it. They’ve got a certain way of doing it over there.”

A crucial question for any good live performer: does size matter? According to Tijuana Cartel, not quite as much as you would think. “The biggest we’ve had is probably about 5,000 and that was amazing,” says George. Although to the band, apparently it is the energy of a crowd that truly matters. Those of you who were lucky enough may have had the pleasure of seeing the band last time they were in Canberra – a gig that Tijuana Cartel still speak highly of to this day. “We did a gig at The Hippo Bar; that was tiny, but everyone was dancing on tables and chairs by the end of it,” he reflects. “That was a great gig and I don’t think there were more than 100 people.”

Of course, a question that must always be asked, will there be a new album any time soon? Hell freaking yeah! Tijuana Cartel’s new album is expected to be released on Wednesday September 1 of this year. “My favourite song is Persian. That song has really pushed us in a direction that we like,” shares George. But he admits that live performances will always rule over their recorded material, in his opinion. “There’s something about live that we haven’t quite captured on recording. We don’t really approach it with a concept, we just do it.”

See Tijuana Cartel and special guests Good Foot Sound System live at McGregor Hall on Saturday July 10. Tickets available on the door.

All Ages

Well, McGregor Hall will soon be gone, although they have given us a few final chances to joyously scuff up their floors before the whole place comes a tumbling down. On Friday July 9 you have a chance to see folkie feel good five-piece Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens. The next evening for just $17 you will find yourself mesmerised, sweaty and incapable of stopping yourself from moving and grooving along with the heart-pumping rhythms that could only be produced by Tijuana Cartel. Rest assured that with supporting act Good Foot Sound System you have a promising Saturday night awaiting you at the end of your tedious week. These acts will pound the life back into you.

FREE GIG! Who can avert their eyes from such a sweet arrangement of letters? The Axis Youth Centre in Queanbeyan are granting us the pleasure of an event dubbed One Year Older, One Year On, celebrating the first birthday of Canberra band Final Lies. An impressive lineup of local and NSW bands including No Assumption, Lost in Verona, Friend or Enemy and Steady the Fall will come together on Saturday July 17 in support of the anniversary, and you should be there to support it too. Doors open at 2pm and tickets don’t exist!

On Wednesday July 21 you can look forward to seeing rising Wollongong hardcore band Mary Jane Kelly on the Canberra leg of the Like There’s No Tomorrow tour, in support of their popular new debut full length album. Touring nationally with Mary Jane Kelly will be Canberra’s very own Dead Kings and Melbourne band Built on Secrets. They can be seen at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre at 6pm, ticketing details have not yet been specified.

As you are probably aware, we’ve got some pretty big names coming our way before the end of the year, which unfortunately requires some cash, which is why you may need some early notice. On Saturday September 25 we’ve got an irresistible lineup at the Royal Theatre – of course you know I’m referring to Parkway Drive, supported by The Devil Wears Prada, The Ghost Inside and 50 Lions. This has to be one of the most anticipated AA gigs of the year, and you can be a part of it for just $27 (+bf).

American metalcore sensations Attack Attack! are awaiting the launch of the Take Action tour which will bring them, along with spectacular Californian post-hardcore band Pierce the Veil and Dream On Dreamer, directly to Canberra. You can see them live at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre on Tuesday September 14. Although ticket prices have not been mentioned, you should definitely stash some cash under your mattress for this one. See you there!

And of course who could possibly forget about John Butler Trio? Not me, obviously! You’ll begin the evening by dancing your hearts out with root reggae TEN-freaking-piece spectacular Blue King Brown, which means that by the time John Butler steps onstage you’ll be more than ready to kick back and do nothing but feel the good vibes run right through your veins. You can experience the unforgettable energy at The Royal Theatre on Wednesday September 15, tickets cost $70 from any Ticketek outlet and I would suggest you make your purchase soon.

So many marvellous gigs to put those freezing, numb limbs back into action. Enjoy!

Deez Nuts

Having only just sunken his feet back into Australian soil for the first time in a month and a half, JJ Peters, frontman and founder of Melbourne’s rapcore pride DEEZ NUTS, was enduring day one of jet lag recovery when I had the pleasure of speaking to him.

The band have just wrapped up a long and overwhelmingly successful tour of Europe and the UK and upon their arrival home are already preparing for the This One’s For You tour, celebrating the release of their new immensely successful studio album This One’s For You. The album was written and composed entirely by JJ Peters. “It was a lot of fun but it was very stressful,” he says. “I wrote the whole album in about two weeks prior to recording. I locked myself in the house pretty much and didn’t leave other than to buy groceries and booze. I just tracked day in day out and a lot of that time I wasn’t actually writing anything good.”

Rather than formally sifting through only the regular nitty gritty details of preparation and production, Peters tells a few of the somewhat more absurd tales in his archive. “It was the first time we went to Europe. Us and the members of Bring Me the Horizon and other guys that were on the tour managed to somehow land in the middle of a fight with a bunch of Russian gang members outside of a show in Germany,” he laughs, “and there was a bunch of them trying to get on the bus and it resulted in dudes from our bus hitting them with bottles, skateboards and I hit a guy with a kettle. It was shiny, it was metal, it was reachable so I grabbed it and hit a Russian with it.”

Then back onto the general issue of touring Europe, Peters expresses his strong desire to see Europe properly in his own time. “It’s one of those catch 22 things where you kind of get pissed off cause you feel like shows are getting in the way of you being able to see shit, but at the same time you wouldn’t get to see any of it at all if it wasn’t for the shows.” He also shared his lesser discussed lingering urges to take his music over to Japan and again to the US sometime in the future.

Just to lift the mood even more so than his rich and absorbing tale already did, Peters reveals the truth of the circulating rumours concerning his previous band, the kings of Australian metalcore, I Killed The Prom Queen. There is hope of a reunion! “Me and Jona and the other boys have talked about it to some length and we’d like to get together again at some stage and maybe do a tour, maybe do a studio album.” He cheerfully says, “but it’s just a matter of if and when.”

Catch Deez Nuts live at the Weston Creek Community Centre from 7.30pm on Friday June 18. Tickets through Oztix.

The Amity Affliction

If you’ve seen this band before, you are obviously no stranger to blood, sweat, claustrophobia and, most of all, ringing ears to accompany the aching muscles beneath your bruised flesh. Stereotypically, these are all unpleasant things, right? Brisbane post-hardcore six-piece THE AMITY AFFLICTION have an extraordinary ability to release so much adrenalin in an individual that each of these things seem an absolute privilege to encounter. Amity’s highly acclaimed second studio album, Youngbloods, according to frontman Joel Birch, “shits on all the other albums.” The album will hit shelves on Friday June 18, and will send the band on the extensive and highly anticipated Youngbloods tour.

The band jetted to New York to work with Grammy nominated producer Machine, who became known for his production work with bands like Four Years Strong, Lamb of God and Every Time I Die. Birch claims that Youngbloods is a big step up from their previous album Severed Ties. “It’s just what we should have always been doing.”

Joel explains that the infamous Machine, whose Christian name is Eugene, and his hands on techniques and recording methods are what made the album so outstanding compared to the last. “He’d sit there and go through the lyrics with me and ask me what I was talking about,” he says in a more reflective manner, “and I’ve never had that before. It really worked out for the best because it threw out so much more emotion when I was screaming. With Severed Ties I just wrote the lyrics and they just became words on paper that I had to translate into the microphone.”

The monstrous Youngbloods tour will begin in Adelaide and after jolting all the way up the east coast in just 11 days Amity will share the tour’s final performance with the city of Brisbane. Joining Amity on tour will be Melbourne’s own Confession, Misery Signals of the US and Flood of Red all the way from the UK. “Our mates Flood of Red are Scottish and they’re hilarious; they play this crazy beautiful post-rock music and they’re all just like wasted arseholes, it’s amazing.” He enviously spits, “the singer went on stage a couple of times in the UK and he could barely talk, then he’d just belt out this amazing shit. I was like ‘fuck you, man!’”

After I coughed and spluttered into the phone for half a minute, we obviously found ourselves on the issue of Canberra’s brutally cold winters, particularly from Birch’s point of view as a resident of the Sunshine Coast. “We were as cold in Canberra as we were in England,” he bursts. “We were getting around in sleeping bags! And it can’t even fucking snow there, that’s the biggest gyp.” But regardless, Birch expresses the band’s excitement in returning to see their “crazy” and loyal fan base in Canberra, even if in the dead of winter.

Catch The Amity Affliction with Misery Signals, Confession and Flood of Red live at the Woden Basketball Stadium on Thursday July 8. Tickets available from Landspeed Records, The Music Shop and Moshtix.

All Ages

Now, this is the news that I’m sure many of you are awaiting. On Saturday September 25 the prodigious Parkway Drive will throw at our city once more their first class and elemental brew of metalcore. Deep Blue: the Australian tour is all in support of their new album Deep Blue, product of esteemed producer Joe Barresi. The album, rumoured to be unlike anything Parkway has ever done before, will be released on Friday June 25. Embarking with Parkway on this mammoth tour is the most dominating metalcore act to ever come from the USA, of course The Devil Wears Prada. But the lineup still gets better – Californian band The Ghost Inside and 50 Lions will also be accompanying Parkway along Australian highways. Tickets cost $27 (+BF) from Ticketek and are on sale now. But I’d act fast – from my knowledge many people had purchased tickets within 20 minutes of them being available. All the excitement of this unparalleled lineup can be had at The Royal Theatre (otherwise known as The National Convention Centre) when doors fly open at 7pm.

On Friday June 18 you can catch thriving Australian rapcore band Deez Nuts on the This One’s For You tour, obviously in support of their new album, This One’s For You. They’ll be playing their new material for us to enjoy live for the first time at the Weston Creek Community Centre with ‘special guests’ that STILL appear to be anonymous! But rest assured that the gig will be an outstanding one regardless. Tickets cost $21.50 from Oztix or Landspeed Records.

The Axis Youth Centre in Queanbeyan will be playing host to Sydney’s Vegas in Ruins, Queensland hardcore band Time Has Come, Melbourne’s Trainwreck and our very own Reigner and Knives to the Throne. Tickets to this one cost just $12 at the door at 2pm on Sunday June 20. Also at the Axis, a week later on Sunday June 27 you can see Melbourne five-piece Carpathian on what they have called the Wanderlust tour. With an absolutely massive lineup of supporting acts, including Melbourne/Byron Bay boys 50 Lions, BLKOUT, Ghost Town, Persist and Something Must Break, this will be one spectacular night that you cannot afford to miss. This one costs $15 and as usual starts at 2pm. The Axis Youth Centre is on a freaking roll at the moment!

Don’t forget that tickets for the John Butler Trio at the Royal Theatre are on sale NOW! I’m sure that most of you would have at least a rough idea of how fast these tickets will sell and for those who have not a clue… these tickets will sell out fast. The spine-tingling root reggae sensations Blue King Brown will have you up, dancing and sweating all over each other before the John Butler Trio even step out on stage. The magic won’t commence until Wednesday September 15, but you can and should get your tickets now – they cost just $70 from any Ticketek outlet.

And finally, on Thursday July 8, if you manage to quickly grab tickets, you can see The Amity Affliction live at the Woden Basketball Stadium on the highly anticipated Youngbloods tour. US band Misery Signals, Melbourne’s Confession and Flood of Red from the UK are all going along for the ride in support of Amity’s brand new album Youngbloods. Tickets cost $33.50 from Moshtix.

Sara Black

What do you do?
Contemporary dancer.

When did you get into it?
I started dancing when I was 14 at the Canberra Dance Development Centre. I didn’t know it was something I wanted to make a career out of until I was around 18.

Who or what influences you as an artist?
My Aunt Narelle Benjamin was a huge influence on me and still is as a dancer. I also learn a lot from my peers and think Michael Jackson was a genius.

What’s your biggest achievement so far?
Forming my own company with a group of my peers from VCA called Rogue. We will be going on our second international tour, this time to Korea in a few weeks. Getting something like that off the ground is a lot of work and we are really proud of what we have created.

What are your plans for the future?
At the moment to keep on working with the amazing choreographers I have had the opportunity to work with in the past and continue with Rogue. Perhaps move to Europe in a few years to truly experience the culture and eat the chips and mayonnaise.

What makes you laugh? My friends! Always at the worst moments…
What’s your opinion of the local scene?

Local being Australia? It’s amazing! There is so much outstanding and unique work out there in both established and independent companies. Imagine what they could do if they actually had the funds to create their true vision! Local as in Canberra? It is a breeding ground for absolutely phenomenal artists in many different fields. They keep trying to find a way to boost tourism in the capital. Hello? Time for a contemporary arts festival? Everyone else has one!

What are your upcoming performances?
Chunky Move’s GLOW is coming to The Street Theatre in Canberra from May 26 - 29 and then touring to Venice. Throughout the rest of the year I will be performing for different projects in Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong, Beijing and Taipei.

Contact info: www.chunkymove.com, www.roguedance.com.

All Ages

It has only just become apparent to me that almost every fortnight I open the column by absentmindedly bitching or discussing the weather as if to say I am trying to ‘break the ice’ with small talk. Therefore just this once, seeing as there is a lot of gigs to mention, I am NOT going to have a nice long rant about the disgusting presence of winter. I am NOT going to deliver a chunky 100 words about the warmth of the heater I am sitting in front of as I write this and I am NOT going to admit that I just secretly blabbered on about it just now! I’m just going to let it slide this issue.

Possibly the most widely know Australian band over the last two decades, Powderfinger, before they all go their separate ways, are doing just one final round of the country in which they originally bloomed. But what a run they had together! Tickets are already on sale for The Farewell Tour that they are calling Sunsets, claiming to be the band’s most extensive tour in their celebrated 21 year history. The legends themselves will come to the capital on Tuesday October 12 to play their final gig in Canberra at the University of Canberra. For your last chance to see the triumphant five-piece live, grab your tickets from Ticketek or Lanspeed Records for just $93.70.

On Friday June 18 as part of the This One’s For You Tour, thriving Melbourne hardcore kings Deez Nuts will be climbing on stage at the Weston Creek Youth Centre in support of their newest album, This One’s For You. There has been no mention as yet about any supporting acts, and if none come along then I guess you’re all in for a few solid hours of Deez Nuts, which I doubt anyone will complain about. Doors open at 7.30, where I am sure tickets will be sold.

Perth hardcore/punk bands Miles Away and Break Even will soon be hitting the road with Melbourne bands Hopeless and The Broderick on the I’d Rather Be Giggin’ Tour. You’ll have your chance to see them all on Tuesday June 22 at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. Tickets are sold at the door folks, this one deserves a looksee!

Then, on Sunday June 27 you can witness the spectacular hardcore stylings of rising Byron Bay boys 50 Lions, Perth’s Blkout and Sydney band Persist. You can catch it all at The Jam Factory at 2pm, tickets are sold at the door. This will make for a lovely Sunday outing.

It is really quite necessary that you snatch up your tickets for this one soon, because the excitement of the Youngbloods Tour is already setting in. That’s right! The Amity Affliction are back on tour! Featuring Misery Signals all the way from the US, Melbourne’s own Confession and Flood of Red from all the way up in the UK, this is a spectacular lineup at the Woden Basketball Stadium on Thursday July 8 that will blow you right out of the f**king water. This is all happening in support of Amity’s new album Youngbloods, which is to be released on Friday June 18. So, as I said, grab your tickets fast from any Moshtix outlet for only $33.50. Doors open at 7pm.

Naomi Frost

All Ages

Well, our extended summer had a pretty good run this year as far as I’m concerned. Global warming finally did something remotely positive for us all. But now back to normality, another desolate Canberran winter is slowly closing in on us. So back into hibernation we all shall march, with the warmth of a powerful heater or a poofy doona to comfort us at any given chance. Although conveniently enough the Canberra music scene is responding to the cold in exactly the same way as we are – slowly moving off the grass, out of the chilling fresh air and back into their default warm indoor environments.

What is the one venue that we can always count on for a great last minute gig? The Woden Youth Centre of course! Just a couple for you this time. On Saturday May 15 Steady the Fall will be headlining a gig with Astrochem and No Assumption. Tickets are sold at the door on the night! A fortnight later on Friday May 28 also at the Woden Youth Centre, local funk-masters Pleased to Jive You will host yet another gig with their supporting acts soon to be announced. Ticket prices are not specified although I can reassure you that the generous people at the Woden Youth Centre are well aware of the average ‘income’ or lack thereof that many underagers receive.

I hope that a few of you have your tickets all ready to go! For those of you who have no idea as yet, on Tuesday May 18 is a lineup not to be missed. Hailing from Florida, USA, hardcore five-piece Evergreen Terrace are back again for yet another tour. This time featuring Casey Jones (USA) and Newcastle hardcore band Dropsaw, touring for the first time since the recording of their new soon to be released album Hard Justice. There is also some word that MORE acts are still to be announced! You can catch all the action at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre for just $36.30 (+bf). You can grab your tickets from Moshtix or Landspeed Records, and I suggest you do it fast.

The following night at The Jam Factory you can experience a no less than earth shattering performance by New York City’s hardcore pride Shai Hulud, finally touring Australian shores again, still in support of their 2008 album Misanthropy Pure. Supporting them on this step of their national tour is Sydney’s Shinto Katana and Canberra’s very own I Exist. Tickets will cost you $20 (+bf) from any Moshtix outlet. Doors open at 4pm on Wednesday May 19.

On Friday June 18, Deez Nuts will headline a gig at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. The rest of the lineup is soon to be announced, tickets sold at the door.

This is especially for those of you who would rather be giggin’. On Tuesday June 22, Perth hardcore/punk bands Miles Away and Break Even will be passing through Canberra on the I’d Rather be Giggin’ tour (Yeah! You think it, they say it!). Supporting the Perth pair are Melbourne bands Hopeless and The Broderick at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. Tickets are sold at the door my friends. Nothing better to warm you up than cutting loose in a moshpit, right?

Now… home I go to my beloved heater!

The Beards

I am almost certain that this entire interview can be summed up in just one word – BEARDS! There is no escaping it! If those six letters don’t quite catch your fancy, these four men’s lives revolve solely around beards. They grow beards, they sing about beards, and even fall in love with beards. I myself, not being the most knowledgeable person concerning the issue, found it quite interesting and in fact rather intimidating chatting to Facey McStubblington, guitarist of THE BEARDS and undoubtedly one of the worlds most dedicated and revolutionary beard enthusiasts.

Just last year The Beards performed at the opening of the World Beard and Moustache Championships. “It was easily the best gig we’ve had. We played in front of nearly 1500 people, most of which had beards, all of which loved beards.” Being the very first time Australia competed in the event’s long 20 year history, McStubblington felt it important to mention “I myself entered into the Verdi category, which is a full beard, capped at about ten cm with a big moustache twirled upwards.”

Having flown all the way over to Alaska for both the performance and for the competition itself, there was of course a little bit more to the trip than just competing. “It was brilliant,” McStubblington enthusiastically adds. “Gorgeous weather, everyone was really nice. The air was like mother’s milk, it was beautiful and we saw moose and bison. It was like a big bloody bull thing, but a vicious kind; they have hooves and beards hanging down from their chins.”

As would be expected in such a conversation as this one, somehow we wound up on the delicate yet entertaining issue of lady-beards. “I say the more hair the better,” proclaims McStubblington. “The next Beard and Moustache Championships is actually in Norway next year; I might just take myself a wife while I’m there. We are all for the lady-beard. In fact,” he loudly adds, “when we come to Canberra, I, Facey McStubblington, will be looking to take the most beautiful hairy woman back to my accommodation.” (Just throwing that into the equation as a heads up for all you hairy women out there.)

When asked about their greatest inspirations (excluding beards) it truly does become evident that when it comes to a conversation with Facey McStubblington, there really is no escaping the matter. Drifting directly back to a solid discussion of the message that they are trying to convey, he responds with “the desire to live in a world, a perfect world, where everyone has facial hair. The music is really secondary to trying to impose our ideas on to people and getting them to realise the wrongdoings of major corporations like Gillette,” he preaches. “Shaving is playing god. This is not our job in the world. It’s just evolution. Beardism will succeed.”

Catch The Beards at Transit Bar on Thursday May 13. Entry is free!

All Ages

Well, we’ve got quite the bunch of great lineups to bask in before we endure what may be a tremendous dry spell on the AA hardcore front. Now, there is a lot to mention in this issue, so we’re just going to dive straight on into it.

On Saturday May 1 you’ll have a chance to see Sydney’s Chemical Transport live at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. Supporting them on this plank of their national tour is Sydney band Worst Case Scenario along with local bands Atlantis Awaits and Retraspec. Prices are yet to be announced for this one, folks.

The very next day on Sunday May 2, Melbourne hardcore band Confession are stopping through the capital on their ever so anticipated Mistake tour. They’ll be up on stage at The Jam Factory (formerly known as The Warehouse) with Lover’s Grave (also hailing from the great city of Melbourne), Sydney’s Thy Art Is Murder and Wish For Wings coming to us all the way from Brisbane. You can grab your tickets from any Moshtix outlet.

Acclaimed US hardcore legends Evergreen Terrace are touring the country yet again. They’ll be jetting all the way from Florida with their support Casey Jones for a national tour with Newcastle band Dropsaw. Finally, a gig with confirmed ticket prices! You can watch all the action go down at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre on Tuesday May 18 for just $25 (+bf) from Moshtix.

Only just finishing up epic tours in Japan and many countries in Southeast Asia, thriving American metal band Shai Hulud are almost ready to commence their tour of Australian shores. They will be making a brief stop in Canberra on Wednesday May 19 to shake down the walls of The Jam Factory with Shinto Katana from Sydney and Canberra’s very own spawn I Exist.

Now, just to notify you all in advance of a few gigs that are already proving quite popular. On Tuesday June 22 you can catch Perth bands Miles Away and Break Even at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre with Melbourne hardcore five-piece Hopeless as well as The Broderick. Then on Sunday June 27 you have a chance to see Aussie hardcore wonders 50 Lions play at The Jam Factory with Perth band Blkout and Persist from Sydney. I am well aware that these dates are rather far off, therefore unfortunately ticket prices and the like have not been specified as yet. But, keep these dates fresh in your minds, my friends. Believe me.

Colossal Australian hardcore six-piece The Amity Affliction are awaiting their next and possibly most anticipated tour on record. In celebration of Amity’s new album Youngbloods, the Youngbloods tour will feature America’s Misery Signals, Melbourne’s own Confession and Flood of Red from all the way in the UK. Embargoed Media have claimed that “this is no normal tour.” This is a mind blowing lineup that no good Canberran gig-goer should be missing. This hardcore blowout will be at the Woden Basketball Stadium on Thursday July 8. I am unsure of ticket prices but for more information you can go to moshtix.com.au, Landspeed Records or The Music Shop. Trust me, no matter what you pay, this lineup will be worth every cent.

Enjoy, younglings!

All Ages

I have some very important news to deliver to all you happy-go-lucky under-aged scamps! Our newest and very much appreciated all ages venue, The Warehouse, has changed its name! From now on it shall be known as The Jam Factory. You will no longer be put through the frustrating ordeal of Googling ‘The Warehouse, Fyshwick’ and being directed straight to DFO, Sportman’s freaking Warehouse or Onya Bike! DAMN IT! It angers me! But it can hurt and anger no more, all has been made right.

Melbourne hardcore five-piece bands Confession and Lover’s Grave will be passing through Canberra on The Mistake Tour with Sydney’s Thy Art is Murder and Wish for Wings from Brisbane. After the release of Confession’s new full-length Cancer fans are anxiously awaiting a chance to hear the tunes live in action. I am proud to say that you can catch this spectacular lineup at… The Jam Factory, formerly known as The Warehouse, on Sunday May 2. Prices at this point have not been specified, but regardless, it’s a gig worth attending.

The Tuggeranong Youth Centre is taking a leap out of its comfort zone for a couple of weeks, bringing to us delinquents some lighter and slightly more ‘catchy’ tunes than the regular hardcore lineups can bring. US pop/punk band Fireworks have come all the way over from Detroit to be joined by ‘well-travelled’ Sydney band Heroes for Hire on a tour of Australia. They will be at the Tuggeranong Youthie on Wednesday April 21, you can grab your tickets for just $15 (+BF) from any Moshtix outlet. Then on Saturday May 1 you’ll have a chance to see Sydney powerpop/alternative sensation, Chemical Transport, accompanied by local bands Retraspec, Atlantis Awaits and more that will be announced closer to the date. Ticket prices are at this point unknown, but they will be sold at the door from 6pm on the evening of the gig.

But on Tuesday May 18 the Tuggeranong Youth Centre will return to upholding its prized reputation as one of the city’s prime AA hardcore venues. Adding yet another name to the long list of American acts to be touring the country, hardcore pioneers Evergreen Terrace along with Casey Jones, both from Florida, USA, will be joining forces for a national tour with rising Newcastle hardcore band Dropsaw. This is a lineup that quite simply won’t reoccur, at least not any time soon. Tickets cost only $36.30 (+BF) from Moshtix outlets.

Finally, it’s almost time for Groovin’ the Moo! Grab yourself a ticket quickly, and on Sunday May 9 you’ll find yourself kickin’ it back in the meadows of the UC, being entertained by Vampire Weekend (USA), Tegan & Sara (Canada), Spoon (USA), Silverchair, Grinspoon, Empire Of The Sun, British India, Lisa Mitchell, Kisschasy, Miami Horror, Bag Raiders and so many more. If you can manage to snatch up one of the very few remaining tickets, you can count yourself a part of the last big feel-good festival of the summer for just $95.90 (+ bf). Soon enough you’ll be missing the summer, dreading that first step out of the door in the morning and wishing that you had enjoyed it when you had the chance. Quickly, get yourself a nice heart-warming memory of the summer to tuck away in your winter coat.

House vs. Hurricane

Having quickly risen to be one of our country’s most prestigious hardcore acts, Adelaide’s HOUSE VS. HURRICANE have taken yet another leap into the skies. Recently they’ve taken part in the Boys of Summer Tour with US hardcore legends Every Time I Die, they’ve travelled abroad for recording, have been signed by Shock Entertainment and have released their first full-length and soon they’ll be back on the road, doing what they do best. I had the pleasure of chatting with high-spirited vocalist Chris Dicker.

House vs. Hurricane jetted halfway across the world to the US to record their unique and breathtaking debut full-length album Perspectives. In Baltimore the boys met celebrated producer Brian McTernan, who would craft their masterpieces into one of the most anticipated hardcore albums of 2010. “Brian personally is such a sweet dude,” says Dicker. “His experience is blatant. It shines through as soon as you talk to him about music.” McTernan has worked with impressive big names like From Autumn to Ashes, The Sleeping, Darkest Hour, Thrice, Emarosa and so many more. “Baltimore itself was a really fucked up place,” Dicker shares. “It was pretty intense, but ultimately I think the record is better for it. We came back a lot closer after that trip. We spent so much time together and shared such an experience.”

Dicker eagerly shares that “lyrically, it’s quite a personal record. It’s myself and Ryan’s perspectives on a lot of things in our own lives and a lot of situations in the world around us that we all know shouldn’t be the way that it is.” Maintaining the raw, post-hardcore sound that the has won House vs. Hurricane the massive and devoted fanbase they have at present, Perspectives brings to the world a new sound that many musicians have strived for but have failed to achieve. By combining the use of brutal screams, harmonic clean vocals and their uniquely organic instrumentals with atmospheric and ambient sub-tones, House vs. Hurricane have in fact perfected their sound.

Overwhelmed by the distribution deal landed with Shock Entertainment, Dicker expresses his extreme gratitude towards the label. “Everything they said they’d deliver, they have and I have nothing but good things to say about that label,” he says. “We know what kind of a band we are, we know how we want to do it, so it’s really excellent to find a label that will give us that freedom.”

The excitement caused by the album is leading House vs. Hurricane on the anxiously awaited Perspectives Tour. Accompanying them across the country will be New Zealand’s Antagonist AD and surging Australian hardcore band Mary Jane Kelly along with Gold Coast pop punk band Skyway. Anticipating what will be their most significant headline tour yet, Dicker says “let’s just have fun. That’s all we want to do on this tour, at every show just party!”

Catch House vs. Hurricane and the other bands mentioned above live at an all ages show at The Warehouse in Fyshwick on Saturday April 3. Tickets through Moshtix.

All Ages

First of all, I feel that I should correct some mistakes I made in the last issue about two gigs. Queanfest 2 at the Queanbeyan Youth Centre on Saturday April 17 with bands Heartbreak Club, Super Best Friends, Steady the Fall, Final Lies and more to be announced, will unfortunately not be featuring Atlantis Awaits. But on a brighter note it’s a FREE event. Also, Steady the Fall’s gig with AstroChem and No Assumption at the Woden Youth Centre will actually take place on Saturday May 15 rather than Thursday April 15 as posted in the last issue. Tickets cost $5 and are sold at the door. Sorry about all the confusion, guys.

Well, thanks to the National event that is Youth Week, the kind souls at Woden Youth Centre (god bless them) are hosting a FREE gig in honor of the annual celebrations. You will have a chance to catch rising local bands Final Lies, Steady the Fall and Friend or Enemy free of charge. Doors open at 6pm on Friday April 9, and as for tickets, you don’t even need one!

Then, on Sunday April 11 will be the first ‘non-hardcore’ gig to be hosted by our newest venue, The Warehouse in Fyshwick. Headlining is Sydney five-piece punk/ska band Chris Duke and the Royals and featuring punk band The Decline all the way from Perth, as well as local bands Steady the Fall, Humanimals and Short Fuse. This will be a spectacular feel-good gig that simply should not be missed by anybody who likes their heart pumping. At this point ticket prices are unknown, but doors open at 3pm. Go get your skanking boots on.

Finally the highly anticipated Fireworks tour is approaching. Sensational pop punk band Fireworks have jetted all the way from Detroit to headline a tour of Australia with Sydney pop punk band Heroes for Hire, who I am sure we are all somewhat familiar with. The spectacular lineup will be hitting Canberra on Wednesday April 21 for a gig at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. The gig starts at 6pm and for this gig you’ll most likely have to buy your tickets in advance, they cost only $15 (+BF) from any Moshtix outlet.

Now, I am aware that usually there is not much mention of things like this in the column, but the god honest truth is that everybody loves and needs a little bit of stand-up every now and again. For just $39-$49.90 you could catch a show by the legendary and obscure Tom Green (far more widely known as ‘that guy from Freddy Got Fingered). THAT’S RIGHT, ‘Freddy’ will be in Canberra for one night only and this is one funny bastard that you simply can’t afford to miss. The show begins at 7.30 at The Canberra Theatre on Saturday April 10. This guy has been known to take things to extreme, frightening and absurd levels for the sole purpose of your entertainment.

Just to notify you all long in advance of this particular event, Evergreen Terrace from Florida, USA will be in Canberra on Tuesday May 18 at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. Accompanying them on their tour of the country will be another Florida band Casey Jones and Newcastle band Dropsaw. Tickets are on sale now! Once again, purchase them in advance; they cost $36.30 (+BF) from Moshtix.

Busy yourselves!

Birds of Tokyo - Broken Strings [MGM]

To perfectly demonstrate the influence of first impressions, by far the biggest let down on this live 18 track, two disc set, is the first track Overture. With messy string work, it immediately sets doubts in one’s mind concerning the band’s ability to compose orchestrated versions of their most highly acclaimed songs.  Although, upon listening to the second track, it becomes clear that the first was really just a bad choice of track ordering. Here, the breathtaking and flawless vocals of Ian Kenny set themselves into the equation, singing the songs that are so widely known and loved, this time enhanced with delightful and flowing string work strewn throughout.

Throughout the first disc there are obvious flaws in the string additions, although if one is able to step over these cracks in the floor, the second disc will make up for everything. From the very first song on the second disc one can see that Birds of Tokyo had an idea, a crazy and dangerous idea, which miraculously they managed to achieve. Upon hearing Train Wrecks, the third track on the disc, all of your earlier assumptions are blown completely out of the water. From this point on you can feel the music swimming through your veins. With the help of great production and spectacularly skilled string musicians, Birds of Tokyo have managed in this album to improve songs that we had already thought to be perfect.

All Ages

The prime rib of Australian hardcore, House vs. Hurricane are once again on tour, this time in support of their debut full length album, Perspectives. At The Warehouse in Fyshwick on Saturday April 3, you can witness what will so far be the best hardcore lineup that our city has seen in 2010, featuring Mary Jane Kelly, Skyway and New Zealand’s Antagonist AD. Tickets cost only $17 (+bf) from Moshtix. The Perspectives tour is House vs. Hurricane’s most anticipated tour yet. If you’re keen I’d hurry up, tickets are on sale now and they will sell fast. Doors open at 5pm, enjoy!

Once again National Youth Week is around the corner! Although the festival takes place nation wide from Saturday-Sunday April 10-18, it is Friday April 9 that acts as Canberra’s ‘opening night.’ It is undeniable that almost every human being loves free shit. This event is undisputedly one of the biggest annual free shit extravaganzas in Canberra. Stationery, stickers, glowing things, lollies, stress balls, condoms, you name it! It’s all jolly good fun until you get home and realise that you have a whole bag of pens that don’t work and assorted items that you’ll never use. But one thing you are bound to enjoy on this evening is a free performance from Canberran funky four-piece band AstroChem, live on the Garema Place Stage at 3pm. Everything is free, free, FREE!

Also on Friday April 9, courtesy of the good people at the Woden Youth Centre is a gig in celebration of National Youth Week. Featuring a lineup of rising local bands including Final Lies, Steady the Fall and Fight the Fall. It seems as though the Woden Youth Centre is currently acting as a big fat staple, holding our city’s all ages scene together. Tickets are sold at the door.

If you can’t make it to see AstroChem at the National Youth Week Festival, you have another chance. Yet again thanks to our big fat staple they’ll be playing a gig on Thursday April 15 at the Woden Youth Centre with local bands Steady The Fall and No Assumption. Tickets are sold for $5-$10 when the doors open at around 6pm on the night.

Now, here is a venue that we don’t hear much about. On Saturday April 17 the Queanbeyan Youth Centre is hosting Queanfest 2. The lineup includes local bands Super Best Friends, Heartbreak Club, Steady The Fall, Atlantis Awaits and apparently there is more to still be announced. Starting at 12.30pm, it sounds like this is going to be a long gig. Ticket prices have not been specified yet, however, I can tell you that they are sold at the door. Ahh… don’t worry my lovelies, you haven’t heard the last of these Youth Centre gigs.

If you want to go to Groovin’ The Moo, I’m not joking, you really do have to get your tickets NOW. “Nahh, I’ll just get it next week.” Just isn’t an option at this point, folks. If you love the atmosphere of outdoor gigs, this phenomenal lineup at the Meadows of the UC is the ultimate. Featuring big names like Vampire Weekend, Silverchair, Empire of the Sun, Grinspoon, Tegan and Sara, Spoon, Lisa Mitchell, British India, Miami Horror, Kisschasy and so many more. Tickets cost 95.90 (+bf). You don’t want to miss this.

All Ages

David Finig or blind

All Ages

All Ages

All Ages

All Ages

Mourning Tide

They’ve undoubtedly dubbed 2009 the band’s most productive year yet. Halloween saw the release of their energetic, powerful and sharply produced new self-titled album and finally this December the Gold Coast’s prestigious and tireless band MOURNING TIDE are embarking on the highly anticipated Schools Out for Summer Tour. Dynamic lead guitarist Vin Steel, who originally from a young age aspired to be a drummer, shares with us some insight to the band’s most significant year on record.

Mourning Tide’s new self-titled album was mixed by esteemed US producer Steve Evettes, who has worked with big-name metal/alternative bands like Every Time I Die, Story of the Year and even The Cure. “It was killer! He was our number one choice to mix, so when he said he’d do it we were all stoked,” Steel remembers excitedly. “So two of us flew over, myself and Dale, we got to work with Steve a few weeks mixing. Then we flew across to New York to work with Alan Douches. So yeah, that trip was killer.” He continues, saying “it was great being there, seeing how A-game guys work.”

The album was mastered by well-noted engineer Alan Douches, who has mastered for bands including Mastodon and the Misfits. It turned out an energising and aggressive album, with razor-sharp production that is still able to bring out the band’s original raw and intense sound. “I’m pretty stoked, I don’t think you’ll ever get it exactly how you all envisioned it, but it’s pretty close to how we all wanted it.”

Spectacularly mixed and produced, Steel feels that their new self-titled has taken a major leap up from their previous album Trash ‘n’ Burn, which claimed a spot in Blunt Magazine’s Top 100 Albums of 2006. “Trash ‘n’ Burn was much more of a composition of hardcore and metal, a bit more of a mish-mash, whereas this one is more unified. It’s more streamline and I think it’s more us. The other one was sort of testing. We were trying things, testing the water with certain sounds,” he claims. “I really feel like with our new self-titled, we’ve really kicked into our sound.”

Mourning Tide’s upcoming gig at the Weston Creek Community Centre will bring Canberran fans their first opportunity to hear the band’s spectacular new material live. The band will be touring nationally this month with Deez Nuts, Ghost Inside and Mark My Words on the 2009 Schools Out for Summer Tour, giving us a brutal close to this year’s Canberra metal/hardcore scene. This being Mourning Tide’s first gig in Canberra since Myfest all the way back in 2008, Steel assures “we’ve definitely stepped it up since the last time. I think you’ll see us in good form and rocking some new material.” He announces, “so we hope to see you all there and ready to rock.”

You can catch Mourning Tide at the Weston Creek Community Centre on Saturday December 19. Tickets through Moshtix.

All Ages

All Ages

Good day to you, my friends. The only thing better than a good month stuffed to the brim with all ages gigs is a month stuffed to the brim with all ages gigs just as our tragic Canberra winter weather gets shoved violently away by the stinking heat, which is kindly presenting us with perfect evening gig-going temperatures. Get the hell out there! Love it! Let's go in order, shall we?

I believe that I can say with complete confidence that everybody at some point or another has come across an artist or band that is capable of shooting feel-good vibes from your head to your toe from the very first song. Well, Jeff Lang undoubtedly wins the part of the 'feel good musician' for this fortnight. Give something new a try folks, you won't regret it. He'll be at The Street Theatre on Saturday November 14 celebrating the launch of his uniquely brilliant new album Chimeradour, along with his special guest from Sydney, Leroy Lee, who specialises in what I dare say is some of the loveliest indie acoustic music you may ever hear. Student tickets are $25 otherwise the standard fee is $35 - to book tickets you can call 6247 1223. This gig is more than worth rocking up to The Street Theatre at 8pm, a perfect night out for a warm summer's evening.

This is the very last chance that I'll have to remind you all of Trackside Festival, the gates will open at 11am on Saturday November 28, so you'd better snatch up those tickets fast. Consider this weather folks! God, I get far too enthusiastic over nice weather. For just $85 per ticket plus a small booking fee, you can buy yourself a spectacular summer's day with Hilltop Hoods, Parkway Drive, Tame Impala, Cassette Kids, Midnight Juggernauts and so many more. One couldn't ask for better company. You can grab tickets from Moshtix, Ticketek or OzTix outlets.

Canberran four-piece alternative/psychedelic/funk band AstroChem have gathered together quite the lineup for the launch of their brand spanking new EP on Saturday November 28. At the Woden Youth Centre for just $12 you'll not only receive a free EP at the door, but you'll be in the crowd to watch Canberran bands The Sodapops, Goatfish and West of the Sun. Doors open at 6pm, my dears. This is one alternative, psychedelic, jazzy-fresh, bloody boppin' gig. These bands will make you dance without the need of a shotgun pointed at your feet.

To grab your tickets for Boys of Summer early would very much be a wise move. The headlining band Every Time I Die all the way from the USA is enough to make tickets sell, but next year on Tuesday January 19 you can also see notorious Australian bands such as 50 Lions, Trap Them and Mary Jane Kelly. The 2010 Boys of Summer Tour will undoubtedly be Canberra's finest metal/rock/hardcore lineup of the year, and all they're asking for is $25 + booking fee. I'm sure you are capable of scrounging it up in five and ten cent pieces. Come on, head on down to Landspeed Records, The Music Shop or grab your tickets from Moshtix, and don't forget to thank the kind souls down at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre, they're being quite the good hosts to you.

I tip my hat to you, kind folks!

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

A play about a wealthy Mississippi family in the fifties wouldn't seem to have anything to do with Australia in the noughties. But, say the play's director Jordan Best and star Jenna Roberts, the themes of Tennessee Williams's classic, Pulitzer-winning Cat On A Hot Tin Roof - opening at the Courtyard Studio on October 28 - are uncomfortably close to home.

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof tells the story of Maggie Pollitt, caged by her rapturous, passionate love for her alcoholic ex-football star husband Brick. The couple are childless, a fact mercilessly hooked upon by Maggie's brother-in-law Gooper and his wife, Mae, rivals for the affections - and inheritance - of the brothers' sick pater, Big Daddy.

"It's a hexagonal boxing ring, with each character in their corner," says Roberts, who plays the titular cat on a hot tin roof, Maggie. Buffeted by forces stronger than her, Maggie's victory lies in her ability to simply stay on the damn roof.

"Out of all of them she's the one prepared to sacrifice the most to get what she wants, which is Brick," says Roberts. "She plays the perfect wife, or the friend, or the carer, or the seductress [...] the worst part of it is, he's not disgusted by her, he's indifferent."

Maggie's desperate desire to win Brick back is arguably the play's most memorable aspect but, argues Roberts, there is "so much more to it."

"This is a really complex play, there are so many layers,"

"The dilemmas the characters face are timeless," says Best. "The kind of familial conflict portrayed in the play is something I think everyone has experienced to some degree."

Underscording the play's story of family dysfunctionality are still more bitter and more universal themes, of repressed homosexuality, thwarted desire, and "the powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity" that corrupts each of Williams's characters.

 "I think, as Australians, we like to think of the attitudes of the southern states of America as being backward and very far removed from our own, far more liberal and open minded attitudes," argues Best. "When I started to look at it, especially if we're talking about the 1950s, the differences between the southern states of America and, for example, Queensland, are not all that great. Misogyny, racism, sexism, homophobia were rampant in both cultures, and, scarily enough, I think little has changed."

The parallels were so great that Best initially considered setting the play in Queensland before deciding on a more traditional, Southern incarnation.

"It was written for Deep South, it has to be," says Roberts. "The humour and the language and the interactions, the nuances [...] the way that the women relate to each other, that 'gush and simper', it was only relatable to that society.  The language is just magic. It's humid and hot, and Tennessee Williams has this magical ability [...] to imbue the text with this hot, pulsing rhythm."

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, presented by Free Rain Productions, opens Friday October 30 at the Courtyard Studio CTC and runs til November 14. Tickets through Canberra Ticketing on 6275 2700.

All Ages

Hey there folks! Frustratingly enough, a few of the gigs that I'll be addressing this fortnight will be simply reminders and repeats from previous weeks, indeed once again due to the terrifying and multiplying number of 18+ gigs in our not so fair nation. Although, I can say happily and with clarity this fortnight that a few loving bands have managed to remain loyal to us underage fans. I'm sure that one day I'll come to terms with the fact that both musicians and audiences love their bars. But until that fateful day, I think I'll continue to rave and rant.

But what could brighten up my mood any better than announcing the finalised lineup for the Boys of Summer 2010 tour? Not much I believe, for this year the good people of the Tuggeranong Youth Centre will be playing host to Australian bands 50 Lions, Trap Them, Mary Jane Kelly and notorious headlining band Every Time I Die, coming all the way from the US to top off what will be one of the greatest metal/rock/hardcore lineups of 2010. The fifth annual Boys of Summer tour will be held on Tuesday January 19 of next year. Tickets cost $25 plus a small $3.20 booking fee. Tickets began selling on Friday October 23, so for all you fans out there, snatch them up early from Moshtix, Landspeed Records or The Music Shop.

Just a simple reminder to quickly grab your tickets for Trackside 2009. Whether it involves a short trip to your local Automatic Teller Machine or whether its more a case of lifting every cushion in the house in hope of striking gold, $85 + a small booking fee will get you into the most superb and ear stimulating event of 2009. Once you have obtained the legitimate amount of coinage, you can trade them for tickets at Landspeed Records, Moshtix, Ticketek or Oztix. Once you have reached one of the four checkpoints, you wait. Then on Saturday November 21 you are off to the Trackside Festival, this year featuring such brilliant bands as Hilltop Hoods, Karnivool, Parkway Drive, Midnight Juggernauts, Tame Impala and many more for your ears' pleasure. Lovely scenery for your eyes, stalls for your impulses, food for your food hole and spectacular music for your anxious ears. What more could you possibly want from a beautiful summer day at Thoroughbred Park?

Native Byron Bay five-piece band 50 Lions have over time fiercely carved their name into the Australian hardcore music scene and by this point in time they are undoubtedly one of the most predominant Australian hardcore bands. Lionised particularly for their unceasingly mind-blowing stage presence, they've decided to hit the road once again. 50 Lions will be playing at the ever increasingly reliable Tuggeranong Youth Centre with Trapped Under Ice, all the way from Baltimore, USA. They've recently released their third album Secrets of the World and they're just about ready to give their Aussie fans their first taste of the music live. These hardcore bands are coming from two separate sides of the globe to bring you a once in a lifetime lineup and a more than thrilling evening. Want to thrash your little heart out? Tickets are available from Moshtix for just $25.50.

Until next time,
Adios amigos!

NAOMI FROST
allagescolumn@gmail.com

All Ages

My fellow underage Canberrans, being my first time writing the All Ages Column, this is the first time that I've realised what a lack of all-ages gigs there really is in Canberra and I'm sure you've realised too. It seems as though most bands have conformed, shuffling stealthily away from all the venues that allow you entry over to venues like Transit and the ANU Bar and personally, it shits me. Therefore I shall feed the gig-hungry children and adolescents all that I possibly can and always remember - I feel your pain.

Any reader of BMA would already be well aware that once again the triumphant Trackside Festival is now fast approaching. On Saturday November 21 Trackside will bring you its petit and pleasant little stalls, food that'll make you drool all over your lovely new shirt and rides designed to make fully grown men cry with glee and clap their hands together like an excited five year old. But as you know, these simple pleasures are not by any means the primary affair of the event at the scenic Thoroughbred Park, but are merely the cherry on the cake at what will be one of the most fun and undoubtedly epic musical events of 2009. This year will bring you the ever so notorious Hilltop Hoods as well as Karnivool, Midnight Juggernauts, Parkway Drive, After The Fall, Tame Impala, Purple Sneakers DJs and oh so many more! Also performing will be the 2009 triple j Unearthed winner. Tickets are on sale for $85 from Moshtix or Ticketek. But don't fret; I'll be sure to remind you in upcoming columns that you cannot miss Trackside this year.

All the way from Perth, Break Even are coming to the Tuggeranong Youth Centre on their The Bright Side Tour after the release of their debut album, titled The Bright Side, which came in at number seven on the national AIR chart. This punk/hardcore band is already taking Australia by storm and for $12 you can see them live on Thursday October 5. You can get your tickets at the door. Just to make the deal that much sweeter Break Even are being supported by homegrown bands I Exist, Vera and Final Lies.

On Thursday October 29 the hardcore party boys known as The Amity Affliction will give you fans your absolute last chance to experience the heat and thrill live before they jet their way across the globe to tour the UK. They will be doing so with London band We Are The Ocean, who have hurtled south of the equator to accompany Amity on their Australian tour, before both bands are off to England. We Are The Ocean are a five-piece post-hardcore band, whose spine-tingling mixture of angelically melodic vocals and heart-wrenching screams blew last years Taste of Chaos away. They also sold out most of the 24 shows on their headlining tour in January. On top of these two obviously unforgettable performances will be another supporting band Hopeless, who are the final piece to this spectacular and ever so anticipated trio of hardcore bands. Tickets cost only $17 from Moshtix, otherwise it will cost a heftier $25 at the door of the Tuggeranong Youth Centre. Race on down, grab tickets and I will see you there.

Keep those pearly whites a-shinin'!

The Vaine

"Explosive, energetic, sexy and original." Prestigious and ever aspiring Sydney band THE VAINE could not have described themselves any better. I personally haven't had much faith in females as hardcore musicians for a rather long time, although one evening as I was approaching the good old reliable Jamison Inn a friend came out of the building just to say "come inside, you have to see this!" As we walked on in, I became so completely and utterly energised by brutal screams, harmonic voices and crushing double-kicks. My friend and I shuffled forward to the front of the crowd and for a few seconds I could hardly come to terms with what I saw as I looked up at the stage. More than half the band were girls; never had I heard such brutal screams or heard such perfected live music. The energy and excitement that the band poured off that stage and into the air, within a few songs had attracted all the smokers from the front steps and all the drinkers from the bar.

These passionate and gifted musicians have already managed to put together a 14 track album, titled It's a Disease, and ironically enough, it is as contagious as the swine flu paranoia and as addictive as crystal meth. "It turned out better than planned; we wrote the whole thing in about eight days so when recording the album we were still putting the songs together," explains the group's guitarist and vocalist, Clik. "(Bee)n Stalking Jaque was written on a tin dingy in Lake Macquarie. I was hanging out with a mate drinking and whatnot and I came up with the song out of nowhere. It's honestly about having a quick screw," laughs Clik.

This perfectly selected five-piece band have decided to hit the road once again with a few recent changes; this time without their previous screamer Shelly but with two new brilliant additions, bassist and vocalist Russell and drummer Gavin. "All that people need to know is that The Vaine and Shelley are now on good terms. Everything happens for a reason - you don't make a decision to worsen the career of the band. We still stand by our decision and it has been for the better. We have met two amazing musicians who have only strengthened our friendships and music," the band claims.

Steph, Clik, Bee, Russell and Gavin are going to be visiting the capital come late September, hoping not to relive any of their previous touring difficulties on their journey here. "Our trailer tyre popped just past the border of Victoria and we were stranded. Some random dude helped us out after three hours of waiting in the bush getting attacked by bull ants," the band reflects. Seeking a different kind of adventure during their time in the capital, The Vaine have one final message for the Canberra music scene: "get fucking ready."

You heard 'em! Catch The Vaine at the ANU Bar on Saturday September 26.

Behind Crimson Eyes

On a fine Thursday afternoon I spoke to Josh Stuart, vocalist of the ever-rising Melbourne band BEHIND CRIMSON EYES, just as he was preparing to wind down from a long day's work. Surely planning to conserve his valuable energy for their upcoming tour, which is to be their first since the loss of two band members, who left during the making of their brand new and extremely different, self-titled album Behind Crimson Eyes. Seeking a different experience on their upcoming tour, unfortunately for some fans the band has finally chosen to make the big switch from all-ages gigs to what will be mainly 18+ events.

The unfortunate and sudden loss of guitarist Kevin Orr and drummer Cameron Gilmour occurred during the writing process of the band's new album. As the first album involving the entire band as writers, their 'creative differences' all collided. "In the writing process, we all compromised to try and make everyone happy, but in the end just left two people unhappy and some of us partly happy," admits Stuart. "I think it was a bit of a compromised process, and I think next time it won't be. The process left two people not knowing what they wanted to do, not enjoying being in the band and that's why the two guys left." Stuart seems surprisingly optimistic and even excited about touring without Kevin and Cameron for the first time "We are excited," he claims. "It is the first tour without them and that's cool, man. They have moved on and so have we."

Despite the thousands of underage fans that Behind Crimson Eyes have accumulated over the years, they are confident and determined to extend their fanbase to an entirely new level. "The purpose of this tour is to play to an older crowd and gain more overage fans," says Stuart. "There was a time when Behind Crimson Eyes was strictly an underage band, but things have definitely changed and these days we appeal to an older audience." Although luckily for the many underage Behind Crimson Eyes fans out there, Stuart reassures that later in the year the band will be touring once again, giving underage fans a chance to experience the magic of their new album.

"On the road, I enjoy some peace and quiet. I guess when I'm on tour all I have to worry about is performing each night, which is easy enough considering its what I love most," says Stuart. Keen to tour and have some drinks with their overage fans, Behind Crimson Eyes will be performing at the ANU Bar on Thursday July 23. "Canberra has always been a great place to play," Stuart assures. "I think it'll just be a fun rock show and somewhere to just hang out and drink and listen to fun music."

Catch Behind Crimson Eyes at the ANU Bar on Thursday July 23. Tickets through Ticketek.

Wolf and Cub

After only just having been introduced to WOLF AND CUB’s enchanting and electrifying music, I gained the pleasure of conducting an interview with frontman Joel Byrne. To my surprise I found myself speaking to a rather realistic, humble and level-headed artist. Wolf and Cub’s recently released album Science and Sorcery was a hit, they’re about to begin the first tour that they can call their own and all over the country their fans are anxiously anticipating the presence of the group. To any band this seems a brilliant success and that it is, but Byrne shares with me the unfortunate truth that the road to this success was anything but a breeze for both himself and for Wolf and Cub.

During the making of Science and Sorcery it was clear to the band that they were looking for a different kind of sound. Although unfortunately this step out of the ordinary seemed to take its toll on Byrne. “It was causing me to have a lot of doubts about what was happening and doubting myself and doubting the band,” he confesses. “It was kind of a tricky thing to do. There was a lot of conflict with the making of this record. Obviously this tour will make or break. With Wolf and Cub you have to be prepared for the unexpected all the time.” With a quick transition to optimism he assures me that “in retrospect it did turn out exactly how I wanted it to.”

One topic I felt the urge to explore was the rarity that Wolf and Cub possess – that divine rarity of possessing a second percussionist. Once having listened to Science and Sorcery, I found it was in fact the drums and percussion that gave the music its transcendent vibe. “It would be much more practical and much easier to have one drummer,” Byrne admits. “But I think that two drums... it makes sense to me. For us it’s such an intrinsic part of what we do. It’s not as if we do it because it’s easy – it’s not, it’s hard. It’s a nothing ventured/nothing gained, no pain/no gain kind of thing.” As a new asset, it is clear that the new percussionist Martin plays a tremendous part in the unique new sound of Wolf and Cub alongside JC. Byrne elaborates on this, “they compliment each other; they’re both good at what their style is.”

Seeking closure concerning the Canberra gig on Wolf and Cub’s upcoming tour, I asked Byrne how he was feeling about it and I was almost startled by the loud, excitable outburst that followed. “Yeah! I’m excited! Heaps Excited!” Simple words, but none the less effective enough to make me excited too! Not to mention that this simple outburst gave me all the closure I needed. I was assured now that the humble and level-headed Byrne also beholds all the enthusiasm and energy needed to give Canberra a no less than spectacular performance. Wolf and Cub are coming to town, so from the mouth of the man himself be prepared for the unexpected.

Be sure to catch Wolf and Cub, The Scare and Cabins at the ANU Bar on Sunday June 21. Tickets through Ticketek and Moshtix.