Frontier Touring are ecstatic to announce that legendary British singer Lily Allen will touch down in Australia and New Zealand in February 2019 for a series of electric shows. Fresh from the June release of her brilliant fourth record No Shame, the pop star will perform huge sets for fans in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Auckland. These will be her first Australian shows in four years, and her first show in New Zealand since 2010!

No Shame marks a kind of rebirth for Lily, who went back to the drawing board after several tumultuous years, eventually producing a beautifully raw and truthful set of classic pop songs that take her right back to the DIY spirit of her first two albums Alright, Still(2006) and It’s Not Me, It’s You (2011).
“On album one and two, I had finally found an outlet in which to express who I was, and who I thought I was,” Lily explains. “And then I had children and I got married, and I didn’t know any more.”
In the confusing period that followed the release of her third album Sheezus in 2014, Lily jokes that she had her midlife crisis:
“When people say I grew up too quickly, I definitely did. Life begins at 40 – but at 32, for me.”
For No Shame, she knew it was time to take it back to basics. Made across LA and London, Lily hit the reset button, giving herself time and space to take the pressure off and get emotionally honest with herself:
“I can write half a great song then finish it off with some bullshit,” she laughs, “and I’ve done that, a lot of times. But I’ve been able to sit here and get the bullshit away and make it as truthful as possible. That was my goal.”
Featuring Giggs on ‘Trigger Bang’, Nigerian dancehall star Burna Boy on ‘No Choice’, and London MC Lady Chann on ‘Waste’, No Shame is a frank and confessional album filled with songs that address the end of her marriage, her feelings about being a mother, stories of partying too hard, making friends, losing friends, and, crucially, ultimately, a sense of catharsis, that she’s coming out on the other side.
“There’s no shame in anything I’m saying,” she explains, of the candour that led to the title. “When I started writing the record I was in a sad, dark place, and this record could almost be starting at midnight, and getting through to the end of the day. It’s been cathartic for me. There’s no two ways about it. It starts in a dark place, for a reason, then ends up in a more optimistic place, for a reason.”
Lily first shot to fame with her debut record Alright, Still and its smash hit single, ‘Smile’which earned her Grammy, VMA, and Brit Award nominations. Her second album, It’s Not Me, It’s You, debuted at #1 in Australia and the UK, with singles ‘The Fear’ and ‘F**k You’landing her the Brit Award for Best Female Solo Artist in 2010. After a brief hiatus and the founding of her own record label, she released another UK #1 album in Sheezus. 2018’sNo Shame reaffirms her as one of the biggest and brightest pop stars of her generation.

Lily Allen is an icon for a reason, and now she’s armed with a new outlook on life and a newfound sense of purpose. These shows will be absolutely electric, so don’t miss your chance to nab tickets that are sure to disappear very quickly.

LILY ALLEN
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND TOUR
FEBRUARY 2019
Presented by Frontier Touring, [V] (AUS) & The Hits (NZ)

Named #8 in Ultimate-Guitar’s top 12 guitarists of 2015 and listed among “MusicRadar’s #1 prog guitar player in the world right now” for 2017, Sydney’s independent instrumental progressive rising star, PLINI released his new EP, Sunhead on July 27 this year.

Traversing through a soundscape that ranges from the more mellow and progressing to elements that are more heavy, taking you back again the EP is a veritable delight of sound that is at all times engaging and enjoyable listening. 

Adding in a touch of piano for third ‘ track’ Flâneur’ there is a slight classical feel, still managing to progress through heavier elements, throwing in a little saxophone for a touch of jazz seasoning the track is a sound landscape of sorts and stunning to listen to. 

Whether you’re a hard core prog lover or just a casual listener of the genre the EP is a brilliant display of music.  Its a journey through both brilliant technique and superb composition. 

SUNHEAD TRACK LISTING:

01. Kind
02. Salt + Charcoal
03. Flâneur
04. Sunhead

Words by Amanda Lee Starkey

Finishing off the EP is Tim Miller’s guitar solo which can be heard on Sunhead. “My live guitarist, Jake, showed me Tim Miller a few years ago. When his “Trio Vol. 3” album came out, he instantly became one of the biggest influences on my playing and tone, in years. I happened to meet him at the beginning of this year, and found out that he had already heard of me, having taught some of my material to his students at Berklee College of Music – that was a trip! A few months later, I had one guitar solo left to record in “Sunhead”, and a flight to the start of a tour the next day. Nothing I was playing felt right, and I noticed I was mostly just trying to emulate Tim’s playing. So, I took a tactical retreat, and simply asked him to play the solo instead, which, thankfully, he was up for!” PLINI explains.

The EP announcement follows PLINI’s triumphant performance at Download Festival, where the band were the first instrumental guitar band to ever play the fest; Be Prog! My Friend (Barcelona), and a highly successful European tour with Arch Echo and Mestis. PLINI will next embark on a second European tour which includes dates at Arctangent (UK), Brutal Assault (CZ) and a headline show at London’s Islington Assembly that’s on track to sell-out before returning to Australia in September 2018 to embark his first full Australian headlining tour in more than two years.

The tour is supported by fellow progressive music luminariesMESTIS(USA), the solo project of world-renowned guitaristJavier Reyes from Animals As Leaders and DAVID MAXIM MICIC (Serbia) who has made a name from himself via a number of EPs under the project-nameBilo, as well as his band Destiny Potato.

Before each show, you can also attend a one-hour long Masterclass and Q&A session with Plini, Javier and David, tailored to the interests of the group and covering anything from composition & guitar techniques to touring & building a career as an independent musician.

NEW WORLD ARTISTS + EVOLUTION TOURING PRESENT
PLINI 
“SUNHEAD” AUSTRALIAN TOURWITH SPECIAL GUESTS
MESTIS (USA)
DAVID MAXIM MICIC (SERBIA)FRIDAY 7 SEPTEMBER – THE ZOO, BRISBANE
SATURDAY 8 SEPTEMBER – MANNING BAR, SYDNEY
THURSDAY 13 SEPTEMBER – BADLANDS, PERTH
FRIDAY 14 SEPTEMBER – JIVE, ADELAIDE
SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER – CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNETICKETS ON SALE NOW AT HTTP://WWW.PLINI.CO/AUS

Exuding a bold, sassy and fierce persona Nardean returns to the forefront with stunning visuals for her single ‘Disconnected’.
“Disconnected’ is very special for Nardean as it was the first song she ever wrote from top to bottom.
On the song, Nardean says, “It’s a special piece of art to me, there have been so many full circle moments with this song. The guy it was written about was also a rapper, he was the one who persuaded me to pursue music. It was a beautiful relationship but also very toxic,”

“He wrote a song about us, and after our relationship I took the lyrics, flipped them and made them about him. I admit, it was super spiteful, but also extremely satisfying (we’re all good with each other now in case anyone is wondering),”

The video depicts the struggles you go through alone when you’re in a relationship. There are parts of you that are screaming and know it isn’t working anymore, but sometimes it is convenient to ignore them.
‘Disconnected’ follows a sequence of successful single releases for Nardean which is found in her recent EP release ‘Creatress’.
Amplifying a wave of hip hop, spoken word and soul, Nardean has honed in on her craft and began funnelling her distinguished sound and inimitable style into her own music, as a solo artist.

The artist has been leading the way, garnering further support with taste makers such as Triple J, Double J, Red Bull Australia, Purple Sneakers, The Music, FBi Radio to name a few. Her single ‘Nothing Matters’ was added to Apple Music’s ‘Best of the Week’ and Spotify’s “Fresh Finds” playlist.
Adding to her seasoned repertoire, Nardean has just finished her EP tour and is ready to showcase her music at Big Sound.

Queens of the Stone Age, Riverstage Brisbane 

The Queen has returned to Riverstage! That is of course the rock gods Queens of the Stone Age. As the crowds begun to collect it was clear Brisbane was ready for some face melting rock.

As the night kicked off our very own C.W. Stoneking hit the stage. It’s no surprise QOTSA chose CW as their support. Chris was only bound by his own strings after snapping a string in the first song.  A fantastic mix of blues, was exactly what was needed to get the night under way.

Darkness filled the stage as front man Josh, the timeless rock super star, made it very clear he was out ready to show everyone a good time. Dressed in black from head to tie, paired with cowboy boots, it was certain we had to hold on tight. He was about to give us the ride of our lives. 

‘If I Had a Tail’ filled the air. The build up from voice and guitar, to full band in the song was perfectly executed seamlessly. Every member on the stage was throwing their spice into mix to create the masterpiece. QOTSA have certainly mastered the art of mesmerisation. Next was ‘In My Head’. The energy from there continued to climb. A slew of head banging was everywhere to be seen, not a single person was standing still. Whether you were young, old, or somewhere in between the rock had taken over. ‘No One Knows’ started, by this point the smell of beer and sweat had very clearly taken over The River stage.

QOTSA bassist Michael Shuman brought enough energy for himself and the crowd. Spellbinding bass lines, and silky smooth tones had the who crowd going.  As everyone attempted to sing happy birthday to Michael, Josh made it very clear we didn’t have any business singing.

Sick, Sick, Sick, strung into action as the mosh pit really took a turn for max energy. There was no stopping the sweaty drunk mania. Pushing and shoving was now a normal way of greeting the person next to you. QOTSA finished with ‘Go with the Flow’, but the crowd was hungry for more.

‘You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, but I Feel Like a Millionaire’ erupted for the encore, followed by ‘A Song for The Dead’. The last song made it feel as though we were stuck in time. The mosh was at full intensity, and there was carnage everywhere. 

Words and images  by Zac Montgomery 

Lakyn’s music explores the duality of his personality, the curious, creative persona with colorful visuals and his comical Instagram presence set against the story of inner turmoil and emotional growth. While he tackles some difficult issues in his music, he also has a mischievous streak.

My Top 5 Sweet Pop Song’s by Lakyn

Psycho – Post Malone  I like Psycho because it has a chill slow paced vibe and boasts some super catchy melodies it reminds me a bit of White Iverson which was the first song I heard by Post Malone back in 2015. From what I can see Posty has a genuine personality, even now he has made it to the top tier of pop artists he’s still seems down to earth and that deserves praise in this day and age.

Slide – Calvin Harris  Slide simply has good feels that tells us that sometimes we just need to listen to music that makes us feel like we’re on a beach sippin’ Sangrias, playing volley ball and waking up at 2pm…  

Emotionless – Drake  I rate this track very highly on Drake’s latest album. He talks about what I agree are some serious issues we have regarding social media and how people give false impressions only posting pictures to impress everybody at home. Before social media, once people were gone they were gone and I imagine they would have learned a lot more life lessons than we do these days.  I also have a weak spot for samples ever since Kanye used Chaka Kahn on Through The Wire. I definitely feel like Drake’s heavy sample use is inspired by early Kanye.  

Ghost Town – Kanye  there’s no hiding that Ye and Cudi have mental health problems and on this song it sounds like they’re feeling kinda free (there’s a lyrical relevant pun there) , this song was made on the same day the album was released and you can hear that carefree vibe coming through. 

Like It Like That – Cardi B  I don’t know too much about Cardi but I know that listening to this song I can imagine myself buying hot tamale’s on the streets of Mexico and getting into taxi’s that have an overflowing amount of gold plated plastic ornaments all over the dashboard while we drive to my first Salsa dancing class

Newcomers Sleep Talk are already a force to be reckoned with in the Australian music scene. Managed by 5/4 Entertainment (Tkay Maidza, Japanese Wallpaper) and booked by Harbour Agency, the band are set to unleash their take on alternative-rock through to post-hardcore with the release of their debut album in 2018.

Q: What advice would you give yourself when you first started?

A: Work real hard, play as many shows as you can and be friendly! Everyone is there to support each other and creating a positive supportive community around you and within your scene is so important.  

Q: What things have you learned and wish someone had told you?

A: That things you think you can do in your head don’t always come out your mouth the same way aha. Know your limits and abilities and play to them.

Q: What are your goals in music?

A: To tour!!! To see the world with my best friends and make some amazing memories.  

Q: Where do you see your music fitting in on the Australian music scene?

A: I think our music is quite accessible and taps into sounds not commonly heard in most “heavy” music. We aspire to play to people of all walks of the music world.

Q: Who inspires you in music?

A: My friends and family all doing amazing things. They inspire me to do better and keep working hard towards where we want to get this band.

Latest Single: New Tradition 

Performances

Tue 4th Sep

9:40PM – 10:10PM

Thu 6th Sep

10:30PM – 11:00PM

2018 has seen Bugs open Falls Festival for triple j Unearthed, the release of ‘Glue’, premiering on triple j’s Good Nights with back-to-back play on Home & Hosed. In April Bugs released their EP ‘Social Slump’ with a national tour, winning them sold out shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Wollongong.

Q: What advice would you give yourself when you first started?

A: Practice & play. You can never do it enough, and there will always be someone out there willing to work harder than you if you don’t. The music industry is great but it doesn’t owe you anything. Take care of your band mates + make sure you are having fun!

Q: What things have you learned and wish someone had told you?

A: I don’t think I would do anything over to be honest / ask for different advice. I’m a firm believer in the whole ‘you make mistakes to learn from them’ ethos and feel like every adversity and issue our music has overcome taught us a valuable lesson. Everyone makes mistakes.

Q: What are your goals in music?

A: Have fun, get better and make a positive difference / impact on the world by doing it. Pretty simple really.

Q: Where do you see your music fitting in on the Australian music scene?

A: I don’t really feel like it fits in anywhere at the moment, we have always been pretty independant and therefore have slowly grown a really nice organic following who are on board with what we are doing but somewhat outside of popular circles. So I guess I see us hanging out with them for the next few years because they’re like family.

Q: Who inspires you in music?

A: Too many people in the Brisbane community to name. Probably our manager Ruby the most to be honest. She is the most passionate, committed, hard working & beautiful person I have ever met and to work with / learn from her (& Dom) is a pretty huge honour. Love em like family, and even though they don’t play in bands they can relate to a lot of the struggles we go through because we are like minded people working in a sometimes tough industry. But yeah doing it with them motivates me to keep going so they are actually the biggest influence on me personally.

Performances

Tue 4th Sep

10:00PM – 10:30PM

Levi’s® Showcase

Wed 5th Sep

5:00PM – 8:00PM

Wed 5th Sep

10:40PM – 11:10PM