– We reached out to the Timber and Steel community to get them to pick their top albums of the year. The results are wonderful with well over 100 artists contributing. Details here
Gretta Ziller and Andrew Swift kick off their summer holiday tour of caravan parks around the nation. Will they stumble across your holiday park?
Wednesday 27th December – Discovery Parks Lake Hume, Ebden, VIC
Thursday 28th December – Porepunkah Bridge Holiday Park, Porepunkah, VIC
Friday 29th December – Omeo Caravan Park, Omeo, VIC
Gigs Next Week
A Celtic Christmas feat. Damien Leith, Claymore Saturday 23rd December – The Palms at Crown, Melbourne, VIC
A Country Christmas Revue feat. Raised By Eagles, Lost Ragas, The Ahern Brothers, Sarah Carroll Friday 22nd December – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC
A Very Country Christmas feat. James Ellis, Cold Heart, Roz Girvan, Bakersfield Glee Club Saturday 23rd December – The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne, VIC
A Xmas Happening Love In! feat. Zoùkeys, Hippy Trippy Trio, Jewels’ Blues Explosion Friday 22nd December – The Bank, Melbourne, VIC
Alex The Astronaut Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st December – Lost Paradise, Glenworth Valley, NSW
Andrew Swift Saturday 23rd December – King Island Club, Currie, TAS
Wednesday 27th December – Discovery Parks Lake Hume, Ebden, VIC
Thursday 28th December – Porepunkah Bridge Holiday Park, Porepunkah, VIC
Friday 29th December – Omeo Caravan Park, Omeo, VIC
Andy Baylor Friday 22nd December – Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW
Benjamin Roberts w/ Daniel J. Townsend Thursday 27th December – Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide, SA
Breaking Trad Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD
Cat Canteri and Justin Bernasconi Saturday 23rd December – The Bridge, Castlemaine, VIC
Craig Woodward Sunday 24th December – Loretta’s, Melbourne, VIC
Dane Blacklock, Velvajayne Saturday 23rd December – LazyBones Lounge, Sydney, NSW
Darren Hanlon Friday 22nd December –
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 23rd December – The Old Museum
, Brisbane, QLD
Edgelarks Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD
Eleanor McEvoy Friday 29th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD
Falls Festival Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st December – Lorne, VIC
Friday 29th to Sunday 31st December – Marion Bay, TAS
Fleet Foxes Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st December – Falls Festival, Lorne, VIC
Friday 29th to Sunday 31st December – Falls Festival, Marion Bay, TAS
Get Folked Punk Xmas Blowout feat. Vetty Vials & The Sandpit Turtles, Whispering Jackie, Jonno Read, Billy Demos, Billy Puntton, Uke-paley, Jethro Morris, Ess-em, Sooze Friday 22nd December – LazyBones Lounge, Sydney, NSW
Good Option Friday 22nd December – Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne, VIC
Gretta Ziller and Andrew Swift Wednesday 27th December – Discovery Parks Lake Hume, Ebden, VIC
Thursday 28th December – Porepunkah Bridge Holiday Park, Porepunkah, VIC
Friday 29th December – Omeo Caravan Park, Omeo, VIC
Handsome Young Strangers, Steph Miller and Jim Mongrel’s Anti-Christmas Bash Saturday 23rd December – MoshPit, Sydney, NSW
Helen Townsend Friday 22nd December – Amble Inn, Corindi, NSW
Saturday 23rd December – The Naked Bean, South Grafton, NSW
Honey Monday 25th December – Parklands Resort, Mudgee, NSW
James Bennett Friday 22nd December – Avoca Beach Hotel & Resort, Avoca Beach, NSW
Saturday 23rd December – The Lounge Room, Port Macquarie, NSW
Sunday 24th December – Town Green Inn Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie, NSW
Friday 29th December – Sacred Tree Markets, Nelson Bay, NSW
Jess Locke Saturday 23rd December – Reverence Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
John Butler Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD
Julia Jacklin Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st December – Falls Festival, Lorne, VIC
Friday 29th to Sunday 31st December – Falls Festival, Marion Bay, TAS
Justin Bernasconi Friday 22nd December – The Guildford Family Hotel, Guildford, VIC
Saturday 23rd December – The Bridge, Castlemaine, VIC
Kallidad Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st December – Falls Festival, Lorne, VIC
Lost Paradise Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st December – Glenworth Valley, NSW
Mick Thomas & The Roving Commission Friday 22nd December – Spotted Mallard, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 23rd December – Caravan Club, Melbourne, VIC
Sunday 24th December – Caravan Club, Melbourne, VIC
Microwave Jenny Sunday 24th December – Bombini, Avoca Beach, NSW
Molsky’s Mountain Drifters Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD
One Hot Night feat. Busby Marou, Amy Shark, Timberwolf, Pandamic Friday 29th December – Rockhampton Showgrounds, Rockhampton, QLD
Pam Hata Sunday 24th December – The Duck on Clarence, Port Macquarie, NSW
Thursday 28th December – Oasis by the River, North Haven, NSW
Pierce Brothers Friday 29th December – Lorne Hotel, Lorne, VIC
Rita B Saturday 23rd December – Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW
Sleepy Dreamers, Arbes, Sean Watson Friday 22nd December – The Workers Club, Melbourne, VIC
That Red Head Saturday 23rd December – Wayward Brewing Company, Sydney, NSW
Friday 29th December – LazyBones Lounge, Sydney, NSW
The Beautiful Girls Thursday 28th December – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD
The Bluegrass Playgirls with GlenyRae & JennyShimmin, Robbie Long & Smithy Saturday 23rd December – Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW
The Demon Drink Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD
The Drunken Poachers Saturday 23rd December – Labour in Vain, Melbourne, VIC
The East Pointers Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD
The Heggarties and Matt J Ward Friday 22nd December – Exeter Hotel, Adelaide, SA
The Railsplitters Friday 29th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD
The Teskey Brothers Friday 29th to Sunday 31st December – Falls Festival, Marion Bay, TAS
This Way North Saturday 23rd December – Aireys Pub, Aireys Inlet, VIC
Friday 29th December – Tanswells Hotel, Beechworth, VIC
Woodford Folk Festival Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January – Woodford, QLDFriday Folk Flashback
The final of our traditional end of year lists sees Timber and Steel Editor-in-Chief Gareth Hugh Evans sifts through all of the amazing music that was produced this year and pick his top 25 tracks. As always he’s tried to only pick one track per artist, although as you’ll see there’s some exceptions with different artists collaborating on different projects through 2017.
But enough of our jabbering – it’s time to get to the music. Without further ado we present Gareth Hugh Evans’ Top 25 Tracks of 2017.
1. Emma Davis – “Danger in Me” Emma Davis just has a way of writing a song which draws you in and never lets go. With just a finger picked guitar, understated rhythm section, muted organ and reverbed vocals, Davis has created a piece of music that I genuinely put on repeat. The fact that there’s a very relevant social message underpinning “Danger in Me” just adds a depth to my appreciation of it. Thank you Emma Davis for producing one of the most beautiful three and a half minutes of 2017.
2. The East Pointers – “82 Fires”
For a band I almost exclusively associated with fiddle tunes, The East Pointers have delivered one of the best songs of the year with “82 Fires”. Co-written with our very own Liz Stringer about fires in Tasmania, “82 Fires” may be the most Australian song written by a trio of Canadians. There’s an epic feel to the song that shouldn’t be possible from three guys playing (mostly) acoustic instruments – but I’ve seen this song live and they get pretty close to reproducing the recording on stage. Try to listen to “82 Fires” on not have it stir something inside.
3. Willie Watson – “Gallows Pole”
No one interprets traditional American music quite like Willie Watson. Here he’s managed to take the Leadbelly classic “Gallows Pole” and turn it into a thoroughly modern, haunting piece of music which is a definite standout on his latest album, Folksinger Vol. 2.
4. The Morrisons feat. Georgia Mooney – “Long Time Travelling”
It seems odd to choose an a cappella song from a band that features some of the best bluegrass musicians in the country. But I just can’t get passed how delightful it is hear James Morrison singing over the combined voices of The Morrisons plus Georgia Mooney (All Our Exes Live In Texas). The harmonies, the dynamic variations, the passion – “Long Time Travelling” is pure joy.
5. Offa Rex – “Sheepcrook and Black Dog”
As you probably know by now we have A LOT of love for the 2017 Offa Rex album The Queen of Hearts. The collaboration between The Decemberists and Olivia Chaney is full of highlights and to be honest songs like “The Old Churchyard”, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Willie o’ Winsbury” are more likely to hit this year’s best of lists. But for me “Sheepcrook and Black Dog” captures the nostalgia of the late-60s/early-70s British folk revival better than any other track on The Queen of Hearts with its Steeleye Span style arrangement, crunchy Black Sabbath style guitars and Sandy Denny style vocal performance. “Sheepcrook and Black Dog” is vintage folk-rock for the modern era.
6. Laura Marling – “Next Time” Laura Marling goes full Nick Drake on “Next Time”. The orchestral arrangement over the top of Marling’s inventive guitar tunings and finger-picking, along with her hushed but powerful vocal performance is so reminiscent of the late English singer-songwriter it can’t not have been inspired by his work. This is definitely the highlight of Semper Femina for me and it even comes with a video directed by Laura Marling herself.
7. The Young’uns – “Be the Man”
“Be The Man” was inspired by the story of Matthew Ogston, founder of the Naz and Matt Foundation which tackles religious and cultural homophobia, following the tragic death of his fiancé (you can read the full story here). The Young’uns have written a song which is not only powerful in its message, and deeply respectful to its subject matter, but also a wonderful compliment to the rest of their harmony-driven catalogue. Check out the video featuring Matthew Ogston himself.
8. Billy Bragg – “Why We Build the Wall”
When Anaïs Mitchell wrote “Why We Build the Wall” for her 2010 folk-opera Hadestown I doubt she knew how precient it was considering the build-the-wall platform Donald Trump ran on during his 2016 presidential campaign. Billy Bragg has been singing “Why We Build the Wall” for a few years now but it’s taken until this year for him to officially release it as a single. The political singer-songwriter has purposefully politicised the track and filled it with a jarring, electric guitar to great effect. Could this be the folk anthem for the Trump era?
9. David Rawlings – “Cumberland Gap”
The genius of David Rawlings and Gillian Welch is their ability to write songs that sound like they’ve existed forever and then produce those songs in such a way that makes it sound like they’re being “modernised”. “Cumberland Gap” is the perfect example of this – the track sounds so timeless yet so fresh at exactly the same time. That’s probably why it’s been getting so many comparisons to Neil Young.
10. Stu Larsen – “Chicago Song”
“Chicago Song” is exactly the kind of song you want from a singer-songwriter like Stu Larsen. Simple, catchy and foot-tappingly joyful, “Chicago Song” captures a little piece of magic.
12. Charlie Fink – “Firecracker”
I’m sure I’ve printed this elsewhere on Timber and Steel but for the reader’s benefit: Noah and The Whale’s 2009 album The First Days of Spring is one of my favourite albums of all time. So when ex-Noah and The Whale lead singer Charlie Fink releases a single like “Firecracker” that sounds like it’s been ripped directly from The First Days of Spring there’s no way this song wasn’t going to make my best of 2017 list.
13. All Our Exes Live in Texas – “Boundary Road”
“What if I want to be the one to fall apart once in a while?” has somehow become one of my favourite chorus lines of 2017. All Our Exes Live in Texas have taken on the lyrical challenge of the line, as well as the fight songwriter Katie Wighton had with her mum that inspired the line, and crafted one of the best songs from one of the best albums of the year. There is All Our Exes Live in Texas magic all over this song – with a simple “ooh” and “ahh” the quartet can elevate every song they touch. Lovely stuff.
14. Nick Mulvey – “Mountain To Move”
I’m going to make a prediction: “Mountain To Move” is the song most likely to appear on the soundtrack of sweet and quirky rom coms over the 12 months. Nick Mulvey continues to impress me with the way he crafts a song over a repeating melody line or guitar rhythm, building the simplicity into something more.
15. Julia Johnson – “Melissa”
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the new direction that Julia Johnson has taken with her songwriting in 2017. Moving beyond her work with Julia and The Deep Sea Sirens and working with producer Sarah Belkner, Johnson is producing some of the most interesting music of her career. I have a feeling “Melissa” is only the tip of the iceberg for what’s coming next from Julia Johnson and I can’t wait.
16. The Northern Folk – “Get On”
Despite the wealth of shows they’ve done this year I only managed to catch Melbourne folk 10 piece The Northern Folk live for the first time really recently. They manage to combine the indie folk sound of bands like The Middle East with the distinct groove that comes with having a saxophone heavy horn section. “Get On” epitomises The Northern Folk’s unique sound for me and was one of those songs that made me hit the repeat button again and again the first time I heard it.
17. Fanny Lumsden – “Roll On”
Want to know what it’s like to be an Australian artist on an endless tour of our country? Listen to the lyrics of “Roll On”. What I love about this track is its authenticity. This isn’t the Americanised version of the Australian outback full of dust kicking cowboys and pickup trucks. And this isn’t the romanticised nostalgic version of Australia either with its drovers and men-of-the-land. Instead “Roll On” is a song about about what its like to hit the road in 2017 complete with speeding fines, Gaytimes, roadtrains and small town bowlos. Keep writing songs like this Fanny Lumsden.
18. Paul Kelly – “Firewood and Candles”
After a few years of genre and experimental albums Paul Kelly announced his return to the classic Paul Kelly with the killer track “Firewood and Candles”. That rocking riff with Kelly’s vocals (ably supported by Vikka and Linda Bull) is just so damn catchy. If you wonder why everyone’s making such a fuss over Paul Kelly at the moment, why he’s winning awards and being praised at every turn, just listen to the songs on his 2017 album Life Is Fine, starting with “Firewood and Candles”.
19. Gretta Ziller – “Slaughterhouse Blues”
If someone asks you for the best voice in Australian Americana music then just show them Gretta Ziller. There may be some artists earlier in this list who you could squeeze into the genre, but as far as pure Americana music goes you can’t get much better than Ziller’s “Slaughterhouse Blues”. This is a modern track with its feet firmly in roots music. And that production! Perfection! More of this please Gretta Ziller.
20. I’m With Her – “Little Lies”
Before the release of “Little Lies” the American super-goup I’m With Her were really known for interpreting traditional music or covers of contemporary songs. But then this track comes along and solidifies the (probabaly assumed) fact that I’m With Her are a band to watch. Aoife O’Donovan has one of the best voices in Americana music, and it’s all the sweeter combined with the voices of Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz. And Watkins’ fiddle playing on this track is some of my favourite instrumental work in 2017.
21. BATTS – “Little White Lies”
I’ve been a fan of Tanya Batt’s music for some time, but it’s been her transformation into BATTS and the lo-fi, shoe-gaze, lyric driven songwriting that has come with it that has really caught my attention in 2017. “Little White Lies” is the second single released under the BATTS moniker and it’s by far my favourite, with its etherial production and confessional lyrics. I have a feeling we’re going to be hearing a lot more from BATTS in the coming months and I can’t wait.
22. Taryn La Fauci – “Winter”
When her EP Cycling came out I messaged Taryn La Fauci and told her “Just wanted to tell you that I’m in love with your track “Winter”.” Above every other song on the EP “Winter” struck me, most likely because this year I lost my cat as well and the lyrics just resonated. This song was on repeat for a lot of this year – thank you for sharing it with me Taryn La Fauci.
23. Diamond Duck – “Marry Me By The Sea”
Another collaboration (this time between The Morrisons’ Jimmy Daley and Canadian-Australian singer-songwriter Brian Campeau) that evokes the close harmony singing of The Everly Brothers and Simon and Garfunkel, Diamond Duck have made quite an impression with their first single “Marry Me By The Sea”. What makes this stand out for me is the way the Diamond Duck boys explore unusual, almost twisted chords in their accompaniment while maintaining a sweetness in their vocal delivery. Listen to the piano “solo” in the middle of the song and you’ll see what I mean – there’s something a little off kilter in the track and it’s absolutely delicious.
24. Stella Donnelly – “Boys Will Be Boys”
In the wake of the #metoo movement and everything that’s been coming out in the media over the last few months I think Australia needed a song like “Boys Will Be Boys”. Stella Donnelly has made quite a splash this year and with her amazing voice and lyrical chops I can imagine there’s big things on the horizon for the singer-songwriter.
25. Johnny Flynn – “Wandering Aengus”
The return of Johnny Flynn to music this year was heralded by this really quirky track and promised much from his new album Sillion. All the elements of what makes a classic Johnny Flynn song are here – his amazing voice, jangly guitar and subtle horn accompaniment – but there’s also something a little twisted about the structure of this track that I really really like. Definitely up there with my favourite Johnny Flynn songs.
It’s difficult to find an overriding theme in our picks for this year’s top albums. There’s a bit of trad in there, a lot of singer-songwriter and a decent amount Americana and country music. Overall 2017 has been another amazing year for folk music and we couldn’t be happier.
As always we have more “best of” lists coming this week so please stay tuned for them. But in the meantime check out Timber and Steel’s top albums of
1. Offa Rex – The Queen of Hearts
When you get nostalgia right the result can be pure gold. As someone who was brought up on late-60s/early-70s English folk-rock (think Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Pentangle, etc) The Queen of Hearts feels like home and, as my friends and family can attest, the album has truly been on constant rotation since its release in July.
Offa Rex is the coming together of Portland nu-folk heroes The Decemberists and English folk-singer Olivia Chaney, inspired by the second-wave folk revival of the British isles. Somehow they’ve managed to capture this very distinct period of music, staying true to the instrumentation, production values and aesthetic of the time without descending into kitsch or parody (as many of the bands from the time ended up doing themselves in the 70s and 80s). Rigid rock rhythm sections over murder ballads, harpsichords and reverb-heavy electric guitars, ethereal vocals – The Queen of Hearts feels more like a rediscovered gem than an album recorded and released in 2017.
And let’s make one thing clear – it’s Olivia Chaney who makes this record. While The Decemberists are obviously the driving force behind The Queen of Hearts it is Chaney’s vocals that pull you right back into the early 70s. She somehow channels the likes of Maddy Prior, Sandy Denny, Anne Briggs, et al, while still bringing her own unique sound to the vocals. The tracks where Colin Meloy takes the lead (such as “Black Leg Minor”) or the instrumental “Constant Billy (Oddington) / I’ll Go Enlist (Sherborne)”, while still amazing in their own right, just don’t have the same impact as “The Queen of Hearts”, “Flash Company”, “The Old Churchyard” or any of the other amazing songs with Olivia Chaney front and centre.
Picking favourite songs from an album of standouts is very very hard. I love the nods to early Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath on “Sheepcrook and Black Dog”, probably the most epic of all the songs on the album. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is a beautiful tribute to Anne Briggs, with Chaney’s voice just resonating over the drone of a harmonium. And Offa Rex’s version of “Willie o’ Winsbury” may be my favourite of all time.
Even if you only have a passing interest in British folk music, in the second wave folk revival or in The Decemberists’ ongoing evolution as one of the most interesting folk bands in the world, give The Queen of Hearts a listen and see exactly why this is our album of the year for 2017.
2. The East Pointers – What We Leave Behind
Canadian trio The East Pointers up the production ante with their new album What We Leave Behind, expanding their sound with new instrumentation, increasing their song-to-tune ratio and generally producing one of the most interesting folk albums of the year. And the best part about it is there’s still a focus on ensuring that every bit of the album can be reproduced live with just the three of them – something I can confirm is the case having caught them in Melbourne recently. What We Leave Behind sees The East Pointers grow as a band, deftly straddling the worlds of traditional and modern fold music.
3. The Ahern Brothers – The Ahern Brothers Josh Rennie-Hynes and Steve Grady are two voices that seem destined to be together. The Ahern Brothers are the latest in collection of modern artists taking inspiration from close harmony singing in the vein of The Everly Brothers and Simon & Garfunkel and the result is really something special. Their self-titled debut album is a pure delight and elevates everything we’ve heard from Rennie-Hynes and Grady individually to date. There’s a reason these guys are selling out shows and taking the country by storm.
4. Fanny Lumsden – Real Class Act Fanny Lumsden continues her domination of Australian country music with the 2017 release of Real Class Act. The album is very strongly informed by Lumsden’s decision to live her life on the road with husband Dan Stanley Freeman rather than opting for the relative comfort of a major Australian city (where, let’s be honest, the vast majority of Australia’s country music is produced), and you can really hear the expanse of our wide brown land all over the album. With each release Fanny Lumsden’s songwriting just gets better and better, adding a modern sensibility to a genre that all to often falls into cliche or nostalgia. Real Class Act is what Australian country music should be about.
5. The Morrisons – The Morrisons
Australia’s premiere bluegrass and alt-country band The Morrisons released their long-awaited and highly anticipated debut album this year and it has fast become one of my favourite album’s of ever. No one quite takes such a quintessentially American genre like bluegrass and passes it through the Australian lens in the way The Morrisons do. And it doesn’t hurt that individually each of The Morrisons is a master of their respective instrument making the album as technically brilliant as it is artistically brilliant.
6. Willie Watson – Folksinger Vol. 2 Willie Watson’s exploration of America’s rich vein of traditional folk music continues with the second volume in his Folksinger series. Somehow he finds a way to take traditional and vintage folk and blues songs and modernise them without losing what makes them great songs to begin with. Watson treats this material with respect and reverance, almost taking a step back and letting each song speak for itself. When Willie Watson left Old Crow Medicine Show he expressed a desire to find a softer side of the folk genre, and that’s something he’s truly captured with Folksinger Vol. 2.
7. All Our Exes Live In Texas – When We Fall
Taking out this year’s ARIA for Best Blues and Roots Album was just the icing on the cake for what has been a massive year for All Our Exes Live In Texas. When We Fall is an album of fine songwriting, pitch perfect production and a true celebration of the four part harmony. Elana Stone, Katie Wighton, Hannah Crofts and Georgia Mooney each bring a unique set of influences and musical styles to All Our Exes Live In Texas which somehow all blend together into something sublime. With the momentum on When We Fall expect All Our Exes Live In Texas to continue crushing it into 2018 and beyond
8. Laura Marling – Semper Femina Laura Marling goes deep on her exploration of the feminine and what it means to be a female artist. It’s amazing to watch Marling grow with every album she releases while never really losing track of what drew us all to her in the first place – beautifully written songs and masterful guitar work. Laura Marling truly is one of the greatest artists of our generation.
9. Charlie Fink – Cover My Tracks
My love for Cover My Tracks one hundred per cent stems from my nostalgia for Noah and The Whale’s 2009 concept album The First Days of Spring. Charlie Fink revisits the style and feeling from The First Days of Spring throughout his 2017 solo outing and it’s a welcome return to form for a songwriter that had definitely strayed a little far from his strengths towards the end of Noah and The Whale’s time, prefering a Springsteen-light pop sound to substantial, heart-on-his-sleeve songwriting. The album is raw, emotional, beautiful and heartbreaking – everything I want from a Charlie Fink record.
10. Packwood – Vertumnus
The culmination four seasonally focused EPs from the last couple of years, Vertumnus is a beautiful opus to the natural world. Packwood’s unique brand of chamber folk has reached its pinnacle with this record, filled with lush compositions and stunning musicianship. Bayden Hyne, along with his arrangers Tilman Robinson (orchestral) and Miriam Crellin (choral) have pefectly crafted each track on Vertumnus making the most of choirs, strings, pianos, finger-picked guitars and banjos and more to compliment Packwood’s trademark fragile vocal style. Taking this work out of the studio and onto the stage is an expensive undertaking but I still hold out hope that we’ll see Vertumnus live before too long.
11. Kasey Chambers – Dragonfly Kasey Chambers mixes things up on her latest double album working with two different producers – Paul Kelly and Nash Chambers – and collaborating with a diverse range of artists from multiple genres, resulting in one of her most interesting releases in recent years.
12. David Rawlings – Poor David’s Almanack David Rawlings and Gillian Welch find a way to write original Americana songs that sound like traditional songs that have been re-discovered and updated for a modern audience – and why can’t I get “Money is the Meat in the Coconut” out of my head?
13. Billy Bragg – Bridges Not Walls Billy Bragg returns to his activist roots on this EP with his electric guitar turned up and his wit as sharp as ever.
15. Timothy James Bowen – Bloom Bloom bookends a couple of years of massive upheaval in Timothy James Bowen’s life, while capturing an artist at the peak of his powers as a singer and songwriter.
16. Husky – Punchbuzz Husky continue to push the boundaries of their indie-folk sound with an album that borrows as much from eighties pop as it does from lyric-driven singer-songwriter music.
17. BATTS – 62 Moons
Moving away from her electro-folk roots toward a stripped back sound has proven a success for BATTS who’s delivered an EP of really stunning songs.
18. Gretta Ziller – Queen of Boomtown Gretta Ziller has delivered one of the best Americana albums of the year that deserves all the nominations, awards and accolades it will no doubt continue to receive over the coming months
19. Paul Kelly – Life Is Fine
After a couple of genre projects Paul Kelly returns with his most Paul Kelly album in recent memory, further cementing him as Australia’s greatest living songwriter.
20. Nick Mulvey – Wake Up Now
The English singer-songwriter continues to produce interesting, acoustic driven indie music full of weird guitar tunings, multi-tracked vocals and songs just waiting to hit a Hollywood soundtrack.
21. Emily Barker – Sweet Kind of Blue Emily Barker deftly combines country, blues and folk styles, harkening back to a tradition while still producing a sound that is fresh and engaging.
22. Stu Larsen – Resolute
Australia’s favourite troubadour produces another album of straight up singer-songwriter gems documenting his travels around the world.
23. Lankum – Between The Earth & Sky Lankum, the band formally known as Lynched, are producing some of the most raw traditional Irish music going around, complete with the thickest Dublin accent you’re likely to hear this year.
25. Johnny Flynn – Sillion
An absolute gem of an album that sees Johnny Flynn’s distinctive voice and resonator front and centre, but a willingness to play with production a bit more than previous releases, adding more texture and nuance to each of the tracks.
– NZ folk duo Great North released their new video “Better Days”. Details here
– We premiered the new live video from American folk-singer Rachel Baiman, “Something to Lose” ahead of her Australian tour with One Up, Two Down this January. Details here
– Melbourne alt-country band The Stetson Family released their new single “Brother”. Details here
Áine Tyrrell Friday 27th October – The Founders Room Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart, TAS
Saturday 28th October – Red Velvet Lounge, Cygnet, TAS
Sunday 29th October – The Jetty House, Southport, TAS
Alex The Astronaut Friday 27th October – Uni Bar, Wollongong, NSW
Saturday 28th October – Howler, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 3rd November – Jack Rabbit Slim’s, Perth, WA
Americana Music Association of Australia Birthday Bash feat. Anne Kirkpatrick, Gretta Ziller, Small Town Romance, The Ahern Brothers, Andrew Swift, Georgia State Line, Hana and Jessie-Lee, The April Family Friday 3rd November – Cronulla, NSW
Americana Music Association Conference Wednesday 1st November – Sydney, NSW
Andrew Swift, Peasant Moon Sunday 29th October – Old Bar, Melbourne, VIC
Angie McMahon Thursday 2nd November – The Workers Club, Melbourne, VIC
Anna Cordell Thursday 2nd November – Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Argyle Sun-Sets at Fred’s feat. Rebecca Hatch, Billsbry, Dom Diaz Sunday 29th October – Fred’s, Camden, NSW
Ashlea Reale Friday 27th October – Ravenswood Hotel, Ravenswood, WA
Australian Music Week Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd November – Sydney, NSW
Belle Harvey Friday 27th October – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River, WA
Saturday 28th October – Nannup Hotel, Nannup, WA
Sunday 29th October – The Indi Bar, Scarborough, WA
Ben Salter Friday 27th October – Marrickville Bowls Club, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 28th October – Gooloogong Log Cabin Hall, Gooloogong, NSW
Sunday 29th October – The Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland, NSW
Thursday 2nd November – The Eastern, Ballarat, VIC
Friday 3rd November – The Tote, Melbourne, VIC
Benny Walker Saturday 28th October – Bendigo Bank Theatre at The Capital, Bendigo, VIC
Bernard Fanning Friday 27th October – The Croxton, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 28th October – The Factory, Sydney, NSW
Sunday 29th October – The Factory, Sydney, NSW
Wednesday 1st November – The Cambridge, Newcastle, NSW
Blackwood Festival of Music and Culture Friday 3rd to Monday 6th November – Blackwood, VIC
Bob Evans Saturday 28th October – House Concert, Melbourne, VIC
Brad Butcher Friday 27th October – Oodies Cafe, Bundaberg North, QLD
Thursday 2nd November – The City Sider Motel, Tamworth, NSW
Busby Marou Friday 27th October – The Burvale Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 28th October – Lorne Hotel, Lorne, VIC
Sunday 29th October – Riverlinks Westside, Shepparton, VIC
Friday 3rd November – Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin, NT
C.W. Stoneking Friday 27th October – Howler, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 28th October – Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Sunday 29th October – Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Candice McLeod Friday 3rd November – House Concert, Wakerie, SA
Cass Eager Friday 27th October – The Stag and Hunter Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
Chris Jagger Thursday 2nd November – Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW
Friday 3rd November – Heritage Hotel, Bulli, NSW
Claire Anne Taylor Friday 27th October – Illume at Killynaught, Boat Harbour, TAS
Clarence Town River Country Hoedown Saturday 28th October – Clarence Town Footy Oval, Clarence Town, NSW
Claude Hay Friday 3rd November – Family Hotel, Katoomba, NSW
Craig Woodward Sunday 29th October – Loretta’s, Melbourne, VIC
Clio Thursday 2nd November – Yarra Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Colin Lillie Friday 3rd November – El Sol, Cronulla, NSW
Friday 3rd November – St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Cronulla, NSW
Dashville Does the Monkey feat. William Crighton, Terra Lightfoot, Melody Pool, Magpie Diaries and Dave Wells Thursday 2nd November – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW
Devil Goat Family String Band Saturday 28th October – Bar Open, Melbourne, VIC
Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October – Dorrigo, NSW
Diana Anaid Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd November – Australian Music Week, Cronulla, NSW
Eden Whale Festival Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th November – Eden, NSW
Elbury Friday 27th October – The Brat Cave, Brisbane, QLD
Ella Belfanti, The Vectors Tuesday 31st October – LazyBones Lounge, Sydney, NSW
Emma Russack Saturday 28th October – The Tote, Melbourne, VIC
Tuesday 31st October – The Tote, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 3rd November – Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney, NSW
Fanny Lumsden Friday 3rd November – Giant Dwarf, Sydney, NSW
Fleurieu Folk Festival Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October – Willunga, SA
Foghorn Stringband Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October – Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Dorrigo, NSW
Monday 30th October – Pitts House Concert, Barkers Vale, NSW
Tuesday 31st October – Boo Radley’s Hall, Glenreagh, NSW
Wednesday 1st November – Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney, NSW
Thursday 2nd November – The Home Tavern, Wagga Wagga, NSW
Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th November – Blackwood Festival of Music and Culture, Blackwood, VIC
Folk Alliance Australia Conference Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd November – Cronulla, NSW
FolkSwagon feat. Mr Collins, Hollie Matthew, Alice Terry Wednesday 1st November – Cafe Lounge, Sydney, NSW
Four In The Morning Thursday 2nd November – The Drunken Poet, Melbourne, VIC
Garrett Kato Friday 3rd November – NightQuarter, Gold Coast, QLD
Gretta Ziller Saturday 28th October – Welcome to Morrisonville, Brisbane, QLD
Sunday 29th October – Rochester Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Tuesday 31st October – Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues, Geelong, VIC
Grizlee Train Friday 27th October – Long Jetty Hotel, Long Jetty, NSW
Harry Hookey Friday 27th October – House Concert, Clare Valley, SA
Hat Fitz & Cara Friday 3rd November – Upper Lansdowne Hall, Upper Lansdowne, NSW
Hermitage Green Wednesday 1st November – Prince Ballroom, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 2nd November – Finn McCools, Brisbane, QLD
High Tea feat. Snail Thursday 2nd November – House Concert, Sydney, NSW
Holly Throsby Friday 27th October – Heritage Hotel, Bulli, NSW
Saturday 28th October – Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW
Friday 3rd November – The Basement, Sydney, NSW
Inland Sea of Sound Festival Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th November – Mount Panorama, Bathurst, NSW
J M S Harrison & Cabin Inn, Sam Shinazzi, Key Out Sunday 29th October – Union Hotel, Sydney, NSW
James Kenyon Friday 27th October – Tanswells Commercial Hotel, Beechworth, VIC
Saturday 28th October – Mita Pub, Mita Mita, VIC
Sunday 29th October – Wandi Hotel, Wandilagong, VIC
Friday 3rd November – The Old Church on the Hill, Bendigo, VIC
Jason Walker Saturday 28th October – Golden Barley Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Jed Rowe Friday 3rd November – Skylark Lounge, Upwey, VIC
Jess Ribeiro w/ Akubra, Jade Imagine Tuesday 31st October – The Tote Front Bar, Melbourne, VIC
Jo Jo Smith w/ Lucie Thorne & Hamish Stuart Sunday 29th October – Grainstore, Nathalia, VIC
John Butler Trio
Friday 3rd November – Corxton Bandroom, Melbourne, VIC
Joseph Tawadros Trio Saturday 28th October – Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Casula, NSW
Sunday 29th October – The Regent Cinema, Murwillumbah, NSW
Josh Pyke w/ Harrison Storm Friday 3rd November – Byron Bay Brewery, Byron Bay, NSW
Justin Townes Earle w/ Joshua Hedley, Ruby Boots Friday 27th October – Fremantle Town Hall, Fremantle, WA
Kasey Chambers Sunday 29th October – Gladstone Entertainment Centre, Gladstone, QLD
Tuesday 31st October – Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton, QLD
Wednesday 1st November – Farview Tavern, MacKay, QLD
Thursday 2nd November – Townsville Entertainment Centre, Townsville, QLD
Friday 3rd November – Tank Arts Centre, Cairns, QLD
Kaurna Cronin Friday 27th to Monday 30th October – Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Dorrigo, NSW
Ken Nicol Friday 27th October – House Concert, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 28th to Sunday 29th October – Fleurieu Folk Festival, SA
Kim Churchill Friday 27th October – Soundlounge, Gold Coast, QLD
Saturday 28th October – The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
Kristina Olsen Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October – Fleurieu Folk Festival, SA
Liam Gerner Friday 27th October – Royal Theatre, Castlemaine, VIC
Sunday 29th October – The Dogs Bar, Melbourne, VIC
Lizzie Flynn Friday 27th October – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC
Sunday 29th October – Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh, VIC
Lloyd Spiegel Friday 27th October – The Camelot Lounge, Marrickville, NSW
Saturday 28th October – Sounds Delicious, Jervis Bay, NSW
Sunday 29th October – The Heritage Hotel, Bulli, NSW
Lyall Moloney Friday 27th October – The Chippo Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Thursday 2nd November – Transit Bar, Canberra, ACT
Friday 3rd November – The Workers Club, Melbourne, VIC
Maldon Folk Festival Friday 3rd to Monday 6th November – Maldon, VIC
Mama Kin Spender Thursday 2nd November – Australian Music Week, Cronulla, NSW
Friday 3rd November – Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW
Medusa’s Wake, Fleur Wiber, Kellie Lloyd, Manners Park, Married Man Sunday 29th October – Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW
Mia Dyson Friday 3rd November – Inland Sea of Sound Festival, Bathurst, NSW
Mihka Chee w/ Martha Chess-Phelps, Black Iguana Friday 27th October – The Newsagency, Sydney, NSW
Mile Twelve Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October – Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Dorrigo, NSW
Tuesday 31st October – 63 First Avenue, Sawtell, NSW
Wednesday 1st November – Wauchope Arts Council, Wauchope, NSW
Thursday 2nd November – Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney, NSW
Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th November – Maldon Folk Festival, Maldon, NSW
Monique Clare Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October, Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Dorrigo, NSW
Tuesday 31st October – The Newsagency, Sydney, NSW
Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd November – Australian Music Week, Sydney, NSW
Moonee Valley Drifters Saturday 28th October – Memo Music Hall, St Kilda, VIC
Mr Alford Country Friday 27th October – The Drunken Poet, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 2nd November – Newport Bowls Club, Newport, VIC
My Nightingale Friday 27th October – Illume at Killynaught, Boat Harbour, TAS
Nick Cunningham and Luke Morris Saturday 28th October – Port Lincoln Hotel, Port Lincoln, SA
Out of Abingdon Friday 27th October – Northern Illawarra Neighbour Aid Inc, Helensburgh, NSW
Saturday 28th October – Mechanics Institute, Lawson, NSW
Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th November – Eden Whale Festival, Eden, NSW
Paddy McHugh Friday 27th October – The Old Museum, Brisbane, QLD
Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd November – Australian Music Week, Cronulla, NSW
Paper Mouse Saturday 28th October – Ballarat Mechanics Institute, Ballarat, VIC
Paul Kelly Friday 3rd November – Entertainment Centre, Darwin, NT
Peasant Moon Friday 27th October – Blue Bean, Daylesford, VIC
Saturday 28th October – Kangaroo Hotel, Maldon, VIC
Sunday 29th October – Old Bar, Melbourne, VIC
Wednesday 1st November – Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW
Thursday 2nd November – Australian Music Week, Cronulla, NSW
Friday 3rd November – Orient, Newcastle, NSW
Ralway Bell Friday 27th October – Harvey Dickson’s Rodeo, Boyup Brook, WA
Rowena Wise Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October – Fleurieu Folk Festival, Willunga, SA
Tuesday 31st October – Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Sásta Friday 3rd November – Mick O’Malley’s, Brisbane, QLD
Save The Reef Tote Show feat. Zoë Fox and the Rocket Clocks, FERLA, Sugar Fed Leopards, Hollow Everdaze, Leah Senior, Forever Son, Davey Lane, Emma Russack, 19th Century Strongmen, If You See Her, Say Hello Saturday 28th October – The Tote, Melbourne, VIC
Shaky Stills Saturday 28th October – Rainbow Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Shane Nicholson Friday 27th October – Lonestar Tavern, Gold Coast, QLD
Saturday 28th October – Welcome to Morrisonville, Brisbane, QLD
Shelley’s Murder Boys Thursday 2nd November – The Temperance Society, Sydney, NSW
Simon Imre Sunday 29th October – Bar Open, Melbourne, VIC
Songbird – A Musical Tribute to Eva Cassidy Thursday 2nd October – Chapel off Chapel, Melbourne, VIC
Stella Donnelly Friday 27th October – Fremantle Festival, St John’s Church, Fremantle, WA
Friday 3rd November – Code Red Festival, Murdoch, WA
Stockley Friday 3rd November – The Newsagency, Sydney, NSW
Tablelands Folk Festival Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October – Yungaburra, QLD
Tesse, Post Paint, CCXO Tuesday 31st October – Cobra Club, Sydney, NSW
Tex Perkins – The Man In Black, The Songs of Johnny Cash Wednesday 1st November – Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 2nd November – Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 3rd November – Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne, VIC
The Austracana Travelling Revue feat. Carpenter Caswell, Smith & Jones, The April Family Friday 27th October – Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill, NSW
The Black Sorrows Saturday 28th October – Harley Days, North Wollongong, NSW
Friday 3rd November – The Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay, NSW
The Bushwackers Friday 27th October – Gumbramorra Hall, Sydney, NSW
The Crooked Fiddle Band w/ The Mouldy Lovers Friday 3rd November – LazyBones Lounge, Sydney, NSW
The Excellent Smithers Saturday 28th October – The Drunken Poet, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 2nd November – Boilermaker House, Melbourne, VIC
The Gasoline Pony Forth Birthday Celebration Saturday 28th October – The Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW
The Gypsyjazz Project Tuesday 31st October – ANU, Canberra, ACT
The Harts Saturday 28th October – House Concert, Carrum Downs, VIC
The Loaded Dog Folk Club feat. Solidarity Choir, The Fossickers Saturday 28th October – Annandale Neighbourhood Centre, Sydney, NSW
The Northern Folk Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October – Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Dorrigo, NSW
The Nukes Friday 3rd November – The Stag and Hunter Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
The Snowdroppers Saturday 28th October – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
The Stetson Family Monday 30th October – The Retreat Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
The Teskey Brothers Thursday 2nd November – St John’s Anglican Church, Fremantle Arts Festival, Fremantle, WA
Friday 3rd November – Ravenswood Tavern, Mandurah, WA
The Village Festival Friday 27th to Sunday 29th – Edinburgh Gardens, Melbourne, VIC
Timberwolf Friday 3rd November – Secret Location, Adelaide, SA
TinPan Orange Friday 3rd November – Darwin Railway Club, Darwin, NT
Tom Dockray w/ Mitch Power Wednesday 1st November – The Paragon Theatre, Queenstown, TAS
Thursday 2nd November – House Concert, Hobart, TAS
Friday 3rd November – Red Velvet Lounge, Cygnet, TAS
Tom West Friday 3rd November – Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide, SA
Tori Forsyth Friday 27th October – Johnny Ringos, Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 28th October – Johnny Ringos, Brisbane. QLD
Tristen Bird Friday 27th October – The Taproom – Shedshaker Brewing, Castlemaine, VIC
Saturday 28th October – The Newsagency, Sydney, NSW
Sunday 29th October – Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD
Monday 30th October – Streets Of Harlem, Noosa Heads, QLD
Tuesday 31st October – The Rails, Byron Bay, NSW
Wednesday 1st November – National Theatre, Braidwood, NSW
Thursday 2nd November – Oh Jean Records, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 3rd November – Willie Smith’s Organic Cider, Grove, TAS
Tullara Friday 27th October – Cambridge Hotel, Parkes, NSW
Saturday 28th October – Wambuul Macquarie Riverfest, Dubbo, NSW
Saturday 28th October – Tullamore Hotel, Tullamore, NSW
Sunday 29th October – Thomas Blamey Tavern, Wagga Wagga, NSW
Twin Peaks Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October – Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Dorrigo, NSW
Vanishing Shapes Friday 27th October – House Concert, Sawtell, NSW
Saturday 28th October – Phoenix Rising Cafe, Nimbin, NSW
Sunday 29th October – Pacific Hotel, Yeppoon, QLD
Wambuul Macquarie Riverfest Saturday 28th October – Dubbo, NSW
Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th November – Wangaratta, VIC
Welcome To Morrisonville feat. Shane Nicholson, Henry Wagons & The Only Children, Tracy McNeil & The Good Life, Gretta Ziller, Jen Mize Saturday 28th October – Morrison Hotel, Brisbane, QLD
William Crighton and Terra Lightfoot Thursday 2nd November – Australian Music Week, Cronulla, NSW
Friday 3rd November – Central Bar, Newcastle, NSW
Z-Stay Delta Friday 27th October – Sound Feast @ The J, Noosa Heads, QLD
Thursday 2nd November – The Spa Bar, Daylesford, VIC
Friday 3rd November – Baha, Rye, VIC
Renowned activist and songwriter Billy Bragg has just released his brand new single “Saffiyah Smiles”.
The track is inspired by the viral photo of Saffiyah Khan who smiled benignly in the face of the incensed leader of the far-right group the English Defence League at an anti-immigrant demonstration in Birmingham (UK) in April ’17.
“Following the shocking scenes of white supremacists marching through the streets of Charlottesville this past summer, my mind went back to an image of a young woman facing down a ranting fascist with nothing but a serene smile,” Bragg explained.
Take a listen to the country shuffle of “Saffiyah Smiles” below:
“Saffiyah Smiles” will be part of Billy Bragg’s newly announced mini album Bridges Not Walls, due for release on the 3rd November. The full track listing is here:
1. The Sleep Of Reason
2. King Tide And The Sunny Day Flood
3. Why We Build The Wall
4. Saffiyah Smiles
5. Not Everything That Counts Can Be Counted
6. Full English Brexit
Saturday 16th September – York Castle Hotel, York, WA
Thursday 21st September – The Stag and Hunter Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
Gigs Next Week
19-Twenty Friday 15th to Monday 18th September – Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Festival, Kandanga, QLD
A Medieval Affayre feat. The Crooked Fiddle Band Sunday 17th September – Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney, NSW
Áine Tyrrell Thursday 21st September – The Milk Factory, Brisbane, QLD
Alanna and Alicia Friday 15th September – Smiths Alternative, Canberra, ACT
Friday 15th to Saturday 17th September – Turning Wave Festival, Yass, NSW
Alice Terry Friday 15th September – Secret Show, Sydney, NSW
Americana Music Association of Australia Newcastle Launch feat. Eagle & The Wolf, Magpie Diaries, Lou Bradley, Nicholas Connors, Dearly Departed, Dan Southward Thursday 21st September – The Stag and Hunter Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
Americana Music Association of Australia WA Launch feat. Wayward Johnson, Helen Shanahan, The Jaycos, The Justin Walshe Folk Machine, Tom Fisher and the Layabouts Saturday 16th September – York Castle Hotel, York, WA
Americana Sunday Sessions feat. Karin Page Sunday 17th September – The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
Angus & Julia Stone w/ Ruel Thursday 21st September – Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD
Anna Smyrk Friday 15th to Sunday 17th September – Nimbin Roots Festival, Nimbin, NSW
Tuesday 19th September – Queen St Mall, Brisbane, QLD
Wednesday 20th September – The Bearded Lady, Brisbane, QLD
Friday 22nd September – Byron Bay Brewery, Byron Bay, NSW
Ashlea Reale Friday 15th September – The Bank Gallery Space, Carnamah, WA
Wednesday 20th September – Indi Bar, Perth, WA
Friday 22nd September – Dôme Waikiki, Waikiki, WA
BANFF Friday 15th September – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 16th September – Workers Club, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 21st September -The Lansdowne, Sydney, NSW
Ben Ely Thursday 21st September – Record Crate, Sydney, NSW
Friday 22nd September – Grace Darling, Melbourne, VIC
Best Music Girls feat. Merpire, Christine Jane, Hannah Robinson Thursday 21st September – Best Music Warehouse, Sydney, NSW
Bluegrass @ Yulli’s feat. Golden Whistler Wednesday 20th September – Yulli’s, Sydney, NSW
Canyon Friday 15th September – Caravan Music Club, Melbourne, VIC
Captain Apples Friday 15th September – The Wesley Anne, Melbourne, VIC
Clare Bowditch Friday 15th September – The Sound Doctor Presents, Anglesea, VIC
Co-cheòl Friday 15th September – St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, VIC
Sunday 17th September – Yarrunga Community Centre, Croydon Hills, VIC
Coast Acoustics Music Festival Saturday 16th September – Gold Coast, QLD
Cyclo Timik, The Old Married Couple, Jemma Nicole Friday 15th September – Open Studio, Melbourne, VIC
Damien Dempsey Friday 15th September – Prince Bandroom, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 16th September – Manning Bar, Sydney, NSW
Sunday 17th September – Badlands Bar, Perth, WA
Dan Sultan Friday 15th September – HQ, Adelaide, SA
Saturday 16th September – Metro City, Perth, WA
Thursday 21st September – The Northern, Byron Bay, NSW
Friday 22nd September – Max Watt’s, Brisbane, QLD
Dan Tuffy Thursday 21st September – The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne, VIC
Emma Russack Saturday 16th September – The Fitzroy Pinnacle, Melbourne, VIC
Fanny Lumsden Friday 22nd September – School of Arts Hall, Burren Junction, NSW
Folk By The Sea Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th September – Kiama, NSW
FolkSwagon feat. John Mason, Hannah Matysek, Paul Mason Wednesday 20th September – Cafe Lounge, Sydney, NSW
Gallie Thursday 21st September – Star Hotel, Yackandandah, VIC
Garrett Kato Thursday 21st September – Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury, NSW
Gold Coast Acoustics Music Festival Saturday 16th September – Gold Coast, QLD
Grant Arthur and the Jazz Musicians Sunday 17th September – The Fitzroy Pinnacle, Melbourne, VIC
Great Aunt Friday 15th to Sunday 17th September – Nimbin Roots Festival, Nimbin, NSW
Thursday 21st September – The Bellingen Brewery & Co., Bellingen, NSW
Guildford Banjo Jamboree Friday 15th to Sunday 17th September – Guildford, VIC
Hannah Matysek Wednesday 20th September – FolksWagon, Cafe Lounge, Sydney, NSW
Friday 22nd September – Newtown Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Harry Hookey Thursday 21st September – Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD
Hooting & Howling feat. Julia Johnson Wednesday 20th September – The Butterfly Club, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 21st September – The Butterfly Club, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 22nd September – The Butterfly Club, Melbourne, VIC
Irish Rebel Night Saturday 16th September – The Quiet Man, Melbourne, VIC
James Bennett Friday 15th September – Latin Loafer, Port Macquarie, NSW
Sunday 17th September – Leadbelly Newtown, Sydney, NSW
Jed Rowe Friday 15th September – The Chapel, Burnie, TAS
Saturday 16th September – Mountain Mumma, Sheffield, TAS
Jen Mize and Mitch Power Friday 15th to Sunday 17th September – Nimbin Roots Festival, Nimbin, NSW
Friday 22nd September – Two Goats, Armidale, NSW
Joe Mungovan and Greta Stanley Friday 15th September – Penny Black, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 22nd September – Anitas Theatre, Thirroul, NSW
Jordan Merrick Saturday 16th September – Kilcoy BBQ and Beer Festival, Kilcoy, QLD
Justin Bernasconi & Cookie Baker Saturday 16th September – Bayview Country Art Club, Bittern, VIC
Karl S Williams Friday 15th September – Soundlounge, Gold Coast, QLD
Saturday 16th September – The Northern, Byron Bay, NSW
Friday 22nd September – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
Kate Wadey & George Washingmachine Wednesday 20th September – The Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW
Kelly Brouhaha Saturday 16th September – The Muswellbrook Hotel, Muswellbrook, NSW
Sunday 17th September – Lass O’Gowrie Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
Friday 22nd September – Flow Bar, Old Bar, NSW
Kilcoy BBQ and Beer Festival Saturday 16th September – Kilcoy, QLD
Kim Churchill Friday 15th September – Unibar, Wollongong, NSW
Saturday 16th September – Street Theatre, Canberra, ACT
Thursday 21st September – The Jack, Cairns, QLD
Friday 22nd September – The Office, Townsville, QLD
Kimberley Wheeler & Roz Girvan Sunday 17th September – Open Studio, Melbourne, VIC
Lazy Colts Sunday 17th September – Labour In Vain, Melbourne, VIC
Lily & King Saturday 16th September – Bar Open, Melbourne, VIC
Lizzie Flynn Friday 15th September – Coast Acoustics Festival Fringe, Nerang, QLD
Saturday 16th September – House Concert, Rathdownie, QLD
Sunday 17th September – Irons & Craig Cafe, Yamba, NSW
Tuesday 19th September – Queen St. Hall, Wingham, NSW
Wednesday 20th September – Upper Lansdowne Hall, Taree, NSW
Thursday 21st September – Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney, NSW
Friday 22nd to Saturday 23rd September – Folk By The Sea, Kiama, NSW
Madison Violet Friday 15th September – Trinity Sessions, Adelaide, SA
Saturday 16th September – Courthouse Auburn, Clare Valley, SA
Wednesday 20th September – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
Thursday 21st September – Sussex Inlet Surf Club, Sussex Inlet, NSW
Friday 22nd September – The Dungeon, Newcastle, NSW
Mark Olson Friday 22nd September – 5 Church Street, Bellingen, NSW
Mark Wilkinson Saturday 16th September – House Concert, Kew, VIC
Sunday 17th September – House Concert, Doncaster East, VIC
Thursday 21st September – House Concert, Belmont, VIC
Friday 22nd September – House Concert, Wyndham Vale, VIC
Mat Black Sunday 17th September – The Retreat Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Melody Moko Sunday 17th September – The Black Sheep, Corryong, VIC
Friday 22nd September – Marrickville Bowling Club, Sydney, NSW
Mem Davis Saturday 16th September – The Yo-Yo Bar, Wollongong, NSW
Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Fest Friday 15th to Monday 18th September – Upper Kandanga, Mary Valley, QLD
Montgomery Church Friday 15th September – Blackheath Community Hall, Blackheath, NSW
Nimbin Roots Festival Friday 15th to Sunday 17th September – Nimbin, NSW
Oscar Lush Saturday 16th September – The Diggers Store, Castlemaine, VIC
Out of Abingdon Friday 15th September – Brisbane Jazz Club, Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 16th September – Gold Coast Acoustic Music Festival, Gold Coast, QLD
Sunday 17th September – Iron and Craig Café, Yamba, NSW
Papa Pilko and The Binrats w/ Hemmingway Thursday 21st September – Hotel Steyne, Manly, NSW
Patrick James Friday 15th September – Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW
Pierce Brothers Friday 15th September – 170 Russell, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 16th September – Westernport Hotel, San Remo, VIC
Thursday 21st September – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW
Friday 22nd September – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
Raised By Eagles Saturday 16th September – Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh, VIC
Sunday 17th September – Torquay Bowls Club, Torquay, VIC
Roadhouses Sunday 17th September – Grace Darling Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Rockabilly Night of Mayhem feat. Voodoo Rhythm Shakers, Fire Down Below, That Red Head Saturday 16th September – LazyBones Lounge, Sydney, NSW
Skyscraper Stan w/ Georgia State Line, The Weeping Willows Sunday 17th September – Bella Union, Melbourne, VIC
Tempus Sun, Obscura Hail, High Society Friday 15th September – Ding Dong Lounge, Sydney, NSW
Tex, Don & Charlie Friday 15th September – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns, QLD
Saturday 16th September – Brisbane Festival, Brisbane, QLD
Tuesday 19th September – The Old Museum, Brisbane, QLD
Wednesday 20th September – Badlands Bar, Perth, WA
Friday 22nd September – The Prince Of Wales Hotel, Bunbury, WA
The Blues Tram feat. Geoffrey Williams, DIGG Saturday 16th September – The Blues Tram, Bendigo, VIC
The Button Collective Friday 15th to Sunday 17th September – Nimbin Roots Festival, Nimbin, NSW
Thursday 21st September – Temperance Society, Sydney, NSW
The Cope Street Parade Saturday 16th September – The Rooks Return, Melbourne, VIC
The Demon Drink Sunday 17th September – Limes Hotel, Brisbane, QLD
The Gadflys Friday 22nd September – The Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW
The Johnny Can’t Dance Cajun Band w/ Craig Woodward & Jeremy Marcotte Sunday 17th September – Open Studio, Melbourne, VIC
The Maladies Friday 22nd September – The Botany View, Sydney, NSW
The Roamin’ Jasmine Sunday 17th September – Hardy’s Bay Club, Hardys Bay, NSW
Wednesday 20th September – Gin Lane, Belgrave, VIC
Thursday 21st September – The Retreat Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 22nd September – Private Show, Reservoir, VIC
The Teskey Brothers Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th September – Wave Rock Weekender, Hyden, WA
The Weeping Willows Sunday 17th September – Bella Union, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 22nd September – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
Tim Guy Friday 15th September – The Taproom Shedshaker Brewing, Castlemaine, VIC
Timothy James Bowen Thursday 21st September – Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW
Tobias Friday 15th to Sunday 17th September – Nimbin Roots Festival, Nimbin, NSW
Tori Forsyth Saturday 16th September – Cobar Golf Club, Cobar, NSW
Triffid Acoustics feat. Byron Short Wednesday 20th September – The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
Turning Wave Festival Friday 15th to Saturday 17th September – Yass, NSW
Twilight in Tulsa Friday 15th September – Oscar’s Alehouse, Belgrave, VIC
Ukes of Hazard Saturday 16th September – The Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW
Vanishing Shapes, Ungus Ungus Ungus, Deepsea Lights Friday 22nd September – The Townie, Sydney, NSW
Vardos Friday 22nd September – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
Wave Rock Festival Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th September – Hyden, WA
Wilson & White Friday 15th September – The Drunken Poet, Melbourne, VIC
Sunday 17th September – Yarra Valley Grand Hotel, Yarra Glen, VIC
Z-Stay Delta Friday 15th to Sunday 17th September – Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Fest, QLD
Thursday 21st September – Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD
Friday 22nd September – Miami Marketta, Miami, QLD
Friday Folk Flashback
“Aragon Mill” – Transatlantic Sessions feat. Karen Matheson, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Tim O’Brien
The Anaïs Mitchell song “Why We Build the Wall”, despite being part of her 2010 ancient greek folk-opera Hadestown has turned out to be surprisingly prescient in today’s global political climate.
So it’s probably no surprise that social activist and folk singer Billy Bragg has chosen to cover “Why We Build the Wall”, taking it out of its operatic context and turning it into something more. The cover has a brand new lyric video – take a listen below:
– Canadian duo Madison Violet announced plans to tour Australia this Spring. Details here
– Kim Churchill announced his new album Weight_Falls as well as releasing the video for “Second Hand Car” and revealing a huge Spring tour. Details here
– Iron & Wine released the gorgeous new video “Thomas County Law”. Details here
– Melbourne based alt-country singer Gretta Ziller has announced album launch dates in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Tamworth. Details here
– David Rawlings released his new single “Cumberland Gap” ahead of his album release. Details here
– Brisbane indie-folk four piece Elbury have announced plans for an east coast tour kicking off this week. Details here
– The legendary Paul Kelly released his new video “Firewood And Candles”. Details here
– Irish singer-songwriter Declan O’Rourke has announced plans to head to Australia for a tour this Spring. Details here
– Valerie June released her new video “Got Soul” ahead of her upcoming Australian tour. Details here
Sydney’s favourite intimate venue officially reopens in its new Camperdown space with a show from Sarah Belkner and Alison Avron
Wednesday 16th August – The Newsagency, Sydney, NSW
Gigs Next Week
Asha Jefferies Friday 18th August – The Flying Cock, Brisbane, QLD
Bangalow BBQ & Bluegrass Festival Friday 11th and Saturday 12th August – Bangalow Showground, Bangalow, NSW
BATTS Thursday 17th August – The Workers Club, Melbourne, VIC
Bek Sarkoezy and Sam Newton Saturday 12th August – The Joshua Tree, Sydney, NSW
Ben Salter Wednesday 16th August – Golden Barley Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Bill Chambers Friday 11th August – Sunset Studio, Mayfield, NSW
Saturday 12th August – Diggers, The Entrance, NSW
Bill Jackson and Pete Fidler Friday 11th August – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
Saturday 12th August – Fairlight Folk, Sydney, NSW
Bluegrass Pub Pick feat. Whoa Mule Sunday 13th August – George Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Central Coast Country Music Festival Friday 11th to Sunday 13th August – Memorial Park, The Entrance, NSW
Daggy Man Friday 11th August – Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 12th August – Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW
Darwin Festival Thursday 10th to Sunday 27th August – Darwin, NT
Echo Deer w/ Holza & Pez Sunday 13th August – Miss Peaches, Sydney, NSW
Elbury Wednesday 16th August – Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle, NSW
Thursday 17th August – OxJam House Concert, Wollongong, NSW
Friday 18th August – Oscar’s Alehouse, Belgrave, VIC
Emily Davis Band w/ Sam Reiher, Kate Alexander, Hana Brenecki Sunday 13th August – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide, SA
Emma Davis Thursday 17th August – Golden Age Cinema & Bar, Sydney, NSW
Fairlight Folk feat. Bill Jackson, Pete Fidler, Strangelove, Melanie Horsnell Saturday 12th August – Fairlight Folk, Sydney, NSW
Fallon Cush Sunday 13th August – The Union Hotel, Sydney, NSW
FolkSwagon feat. Daniel Cherote, Alana Wilkinson, MoSoul Wednesday 16th August – Cafe Lounge, Sydney, NSW
For Folk Sake feat. Alice Terry, Christine Jane, Stephanie Cherote Friday 11th August – 107 Projects, Sydney, NSW
Forever Son Friday 11th August – Jive, Adelaide, SA
Georgia Fields and Phia Friday 11th August – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide, SA
Saturday 12th August – Glen Helen Homestead Lodge, Alice Springs, NT
Georgia State Line Friday 11th August – Saints + Sailors, Portarlington, VIC
Saturday 12th August – The Loft, Warrnambool, VIC
Sunday 13th August – Martians Cafe, Deans Marsh, VIC
Handasyd Williams w/ Levi Burr, Nik Philpott Sunday 13th August – Staves Brewery, Sydney, NSW
High Tea feat. Adam Miller Thursday 17th August – House Concert, Sydney, NSW
Hinterlandt Friday 11th August – Bomaderry Presbyterian Church, Bomaderry, NSW
Hollie Matthew Saturday 12th August – The Bearded Tit, Sydney, NSW
Horns of Leroy’s Jukebox feat. The Collingwood Casanovas Wednesday 16th August – Belleville, Melbourne, VIC
Husky Friday 11th August – 48 Watt St, Newcastle, NSW
Saturday 12th August – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW
Friday 18th August – Jive Bar, Adelaide, SA
Illawarra Folk Club feat. Shellie Morris, Troy Jungaji Brady Friday 18th August – City Diggers, Wollongong, NSW
James Ellis and the Jealous Guys Friday 18th August – Lulie St Tavern, Melbourne, VIC
Jason Roweth Friday 11th August – Addison Rd Community Centre, Sydney, NSW
Jen Cloher Friday 11th August – Readings Carlton, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday 12th August – Rocksteady Records, Melbourne, VIC
Jep and Dep Friday 11th August – The Gaelic Club, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 12th August – Halcyon Daze Records, Sydney, NSW
Friday 18th August – The Basement Discs, Melbourne, VIC
Josh Pyke w/ Kyle Lionhart Friday 11th August – The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 12th August – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba, QLD
Thursday 17th August – The Gov, Adelaide, SA
Friday 18th August – Prince of Wales, Bunbury, WA
Kelly Brouhaha Sunday 13th August – The Westernport Hotel, San Remo, VIC
Tuesday 15th August – Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues, Geelong, VIC
Thursday 17th August – The Lomond Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 18th August – Billyroy’s Blues Bar, Bendigo, VIC
Kelly Country Pick Friday 18th to Sunday 20th August – Beechworth, VIC
Liam Gale & The Ponytails Friday 11th August – Kingsway Bar, Launceston, TAS
Melanie Horsnell Saturday 12th August – Fairlight Folk, Sydney, NSW
Friday 18th August – The Log Cabin Hall, Gooloogong, NSW
Mic Conway’s National Junk Band Thursday 17th August – Camelot Lounge, Sydney, NSW
My Friend The Chocolate Cake Friday 11th August – Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub, Springwood, NSW
Saturday 12th August – Street Theatre, Canberra, ACT
Friday 18th August – Theatre Royal Castlemaine, Castlemaine, VIC
Nathan Seeckts and Great Aunt Saturday 12th August – Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne, VIC
Nuet & Nic Cassey Thursday 17th August – Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW
O’Shea Saturday 12th August – Mount Isa Rodeo, Mount Isa, QLD
Open Folk’n Friday 11th August – The Old Church on the Hill, Bendigo, VIC
Packwood Friday 18th August – Plant By Packwood, Melbourne, VIC
Paul Hayward & The Sidekicks Saturday 12th August – Gasoline Pony, Sydney, NSW
Paul Kelly Friday 11th August – Red Eye Records, Sydney, NSW
Monday 14th August – Readings Carlton, Melbourne, VIC
Pete Murray Friday 11th August – Wrest Point Showroom, Hobart, TAS
Saturday 12th August – Launceston Country Club, Launceston, TAS
Thursday 17th August – Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, Batemans Bay, NSW
Friday 18th August – Waves, Wollongong, NSW
Raised By Eagles Friday 11th August – Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 12th August – The Junkyard, Maitland, NSW
Friday 18th August – The Workers Club, Geelong, VIC
Reuben Stone w/ Dan Vogl Wednesday 16th August – The Gasometer Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Rick Hart’s Bare Bones w/ Ben Leece Friday 11th August – The Drunken Poet, Melbourne, VIC
Scarlet’s Revenge Thursday 17th August – The Record Crate, Sydney, NSW
Shane Nicholson Friday 11th August – Anita’s Theatre, Thiroul, NSW
Saturday 12th August – Harmonie German Club, Canberra, ACT
Friday 18th August – Music Lounge, Brookvale, NSW
Shelley’s Murder Boys Sunday 13th August – Golden Barley Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Shellie Morris, Wityana Marika and Dhapanbal Yunupingu Tuesday 15th August – Darwin Festival, The Lighthouse, Darwin, NT
Sofar Sounds Gold Coast Friday 18th August – House Concert, Mermaid Beach, QLD
Someday June w/ Zac Saber Friday 11th August – Analogue Academy, Geelong, VIC
Saturday 12th August – The Basement Bar, Bendigo, VIC
South Coast Folk Club Hall of Famers Thursday 17th August – South Coast Folk Club, Port Noarlunga, SA
Tami Nelson Thursday 17th August – Darwin Festival, The Lighthouse, Darwin, NT
Friday 18th August – The Flamin’ Galah, Brisbane, QLD
Taryn La Fauci Friday 11th August – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW
The Co-Ground Folk Show feat. Amistat, Ariela Jacobs, Mia Wray Friday 18th August – Wesley Anne, Melbourne, VIC
The Cope Street Parade Saturday 12th August – Rooks Return, Melbourne, VIC
The Demon Drink Saturday 12th August – Jubilee Hotel, Brisbane, QLD
Friday 18th August – Yandina Hotel, Yandina, QLD
The Newsagency Sessions feat. Sarah Belkner, Alison Avron Wednesday 16th August – The Newsagency, Sydney, NSW
The Round Up feat. Nigel Wearne and Ayleen O’Hanlon Wednesday 16th August – Bella Union, Melbourne, VIC
The Settlement Saturday 12th August – Commercial Hotel, Hamilton, VIC
The Slipdixies Sunday 13th August – Bar Open, Melbourne, VIC
The Slowdowns Friday 18th August – The Unicorn Hotel, Sydney, NSW
The Teskey Brothers Friday 11th August – Mojo Record Bar, Sydney, NSW
Friday 11th August – The Lansdowne, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 12th August – Ed Castle, Adelaide, SA
The Twoks Friday 11th August – House Concert, Adelaide, SA
The Willie Wagtails Saturday 12th August – Bar Open, Melbourne, VIC
Timothy James Bowen Friday 11th August – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW
Saturday 12th August – The Bluebee Room, Adelaide, SA
Tobias Friday 11th August – Irish Club, Emerald, QLD
Saturday 12th August – Irish McGanns, Eoma, QLD
Tori Forsyth Friday 18th August – The Music Lounge, Brookvale, NSW
Sister duo Charm of Finches celebrate the one year anniversary of their debut album Staring at the Starry Ceiling with a home town show supported by Loren Kate
Friday 28th July – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne, VIC
Gigs Next Week
245T, Rick Hart’s Bare Bones, Michael Plater, Tom Redwood Sunday 30th July – Open Studio, Melbourne, VIC
America Friday 28th July – International Convention Centre, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 29th July – The Events Centre, Caloundra, QLD
Sunday 30th July – Broadbeach Country Festival, Broadbeach, QLD
Wednesday 2nd August – WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, NSW
Thursday 3rd August – Royal Theatre, Canberra, ACT
Arygle Sun-Sets feat. Ackers, Dale Ostridge, Dande & The Lion Sunday 30th July – Upstairs at Fred’s, Camden, NSW
BEMAC presents World Music Cafe: MZAZA & Vardos Friday 4th July – Queensland Multicultural Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Bluestone Junction Friday 28th July – Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo, VIC
Saturday 29th July – The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne, VIC
Broadbeach Country Music Festival Friday 28th to Sunday 30th July – Broadbeach, QLD
Cake and Cordial Sessions feat. Fanny Lumsden, Kelly Cork, Megan Cooper, Paddy McHugh Friday 28th July – Ashgrove Bowls Club, Brisbane, QLD
Charm of Finches w/ Loren Kate Friday 28th July – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne, VIC
Claire Patti w/ Mandy Connell, Kelly Auty Wednesday 2nd August – The Lomond Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Echuca Winter Blues Festival Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th July – Echuca, VIC
Fanny Lumsden Friday 28th July – Cake and Cordial Sessions, Ashgrove Bowls Club, Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 29th to Sunday 30th July – Broadbeach Country Music Festival, Broadbeach, QLD
FolkSwagon feat. Liam Gale, The Burley Griffin, Julia Johnson Wednesday 2nd July – Cafe Lounge, Sydney, NSW
Forever Son Friday 4th August – Quicksilver Bar 61, Torquay, VIC
Georgia Fields and Phia Friday 28th July – The Unorthodox Church of Groove, Newcastle, NSW
Sunday 30th July – Point Lonsdale, VIC
Thursday 3rd August – The Toff In Town, Melbourne, VIC
Grigoryan Brothers Wednesday 2nd August – Orbost Exhibition Centre, Orbost, VIC
Thursday 3rd August – Twyford Hall Merimbula, Canberra, ACT
Friday 4th August – St Peter’s Anglican College, Canberra, ACT
Heath Cullen Saturday 29th July – Majors Creek, NSW
High Tea feat. Brett Winterford Thursday 3rd August – House Concert, Sydney, NSW
Jeff Lang Saturday 29th July – Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh, VIC
Jim Lawrie Friday 28th July – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
Josh Pyke w/ Kyle Lionhart Friday 28th July – Enmore Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 29th July – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
Friday 4th August – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Julia Johnson Wednesday 2nd August – FolkSwagon, Cafe Lounge, Sydney, NSW
Kelly Brouhaha Friday 28th July – The Austral Hotel, Adelaide, SA
Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes Friday 28th to Sunday 30th July – Broadbeach Country Music Festival, Broadbeach, QLD
Loren Kate Friday 28th July – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne, VIC
Monday 31st July – Rosanna Fire Station Community House, Melbourne, VIC
Lucy Wise Friday 28th July – St Margaret’s Anglican Church, Eltham, VIC
Mick Flanagan Sunday 30th July – The Last Jar, Melbourne, VIC
Miles and Simone Saturday 29th July – Balmoral, NSW
Friday 4th August – Major Toms, Kyneton, VIC
Nigel Wearne Friday 4th August – Saint Monday, Yackandandah, VIC
Not Good With Horses w/ Jason Walker Sunday 30th July – Union Hotel, Sydney, NSW
O’Shea Friday 28th July – Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 29th July – Centro CBD, Wollongong, NSW
Sunday 30th July – Lizotte’s Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW
Thursday 3rd August – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, QLD
Paul Reid Sunday 30th July – Fox Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Pete Murray Friday 28th July – The Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay, NSW
Saturday 29th July – Enmore Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Thursday 3rd August – Nautilus Theatre, Port Lincoln, SA
Friday 4th August – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide, SA
Ramblin’ Nights feat. James Thomson & The Strange Pilgrims, The Sweet Jelly Rolls, Swamp Fat Jangles Thursday 3rd August – Leadbelly, Sydney, NSW
Rich Davies & The Low Road w/ The Jaycos, Belle Harvey Sunday 30th July – Four5Nine, Perth, WA
Shane Nicholson Friday 28th to Sunday 30th July – Broadbeach Country Music Festival, QLD
Wednesday 2nd August – Ararat Live, Ararat, VIC
Thursday 3rd August – Spotted Mallard, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 4th August – Caravan Club, Oakleigh, VIC
Sofar Sounds Melbourne Saturday 29th July – Melbourne, VIC
Songwriters in the Round feat. Amber Lawrence, Steve Passfield, Katie Brianna Sunday 30th July – Wenty Leagues, Wentworthville, NSW
Steve Smyth Wednesday 2nd August – The Street Theatre, Canberra, ACT
Friday 4th August – The Workers Club, Melbourne, VIC
Stray Hens Friday 4th July – Selby Folk Club, Selby, VIC
The Ahern Brothers Friday 28th July – Green Door Wines, Ferguson Valley, WA
Saturday 29th July – The Church, Donnybrook, WA
Sunday 30th July – The Pottery-Restaurant, Bridgetown, WA
Thursday 3rd August – Secret Show, Mandurah, WA
Friday 4th August – Wild Vinegar, Bunbury, WA
The Bean Project Friday 28th July – No. 5 Church Street, Bellingen, NSW
Saturday 29th July – Sun Bistro, Byron Bay, NSW
Tuesday 1st August – The B.U.G, Brisbane, QLD
Wednesday 2nd August – Cambus Wallace, Gold Coast, QLD
Friday 4th August – Pacific Hotel, Yamba, NSW
The Collingwood Casanovas Friday 28th July – The Lomond Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
The Demon Drink Saturday 29th July – Club Hotel Motel, Lowood, QLD
The Morrisons Friday 4th August – The Basement, Sydney, NSW
The Royal High Jinx Friday 4th July – Open Studio, Melbourne, VIC
The Settlement Saturday 29th July – The Toff In Town, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 3rd August – Brooklyn Standard, Brisbane, QLD
Friday 4th August – Nightquarter, Gold Coast, QLD
The Teskey Brothers Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th July – Echuca Winter Blues Festival, Echuca, VIC
Friday 4th August – Music on the Hill, Red Hill, VIC
The Water Runners, The Lurkers Friday 4th July – The Yo-Yo Bar, Wollongong, NSW
Tim Guy Saturday 29th July – Rainbow Fitzroy, Melbourne, VIC
Tobias Saturday 29th July – The Old Gregory Hotel, Winton, QLD
Friday 4th August – The Grand Hotel, Clermont, QLD
Tori Forsyth Friday 28th to Sunday 31st July – Broadbeach Country Music Festival, Broadbeach, QLD
Vinod Prasanna, John Flanagan Trio Sunday 30th July – St Paul’s Anglican Church, Clunes, VIC
Waterloo Sunset Sessions feat. The Fibro Cowboys Sunday 30th July – George Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Renowned protest singer Billy Bragg has just released his brand new single “The Sleep of Reason”. Inspired by a visit to The Prado gallery in Madrid where he saw Goya’s etching The Sleep Of Reason Produces Monsters the track is a noise laden piece of Billy Bragg goodness.
“Life comes at you real fast these days. What’s a singer-songwriter to do when events keep challenging the way that we see the world?” Billy Bragg says. “Before we’ve had a chance to digest one startling development, along comes another to throw us off balance again. I’ve been grubbing up songs for the past 12 months, but without the time to get an album together due to other projects, so I’ve decided to start dropping tracks as they become ready. As always, they’re my way of trying to make some sense of what’s going on.”
Check out the lyric video for “The Sleep of Reason” below:
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