Renowned Australian singer songwriter, Bob Evans has today announced his new single Concrete Heart, a stunning, sunny track featuring harmonies from Stella Donnelly, out today, February 18. Concrete Heart is also accompanied by a wonderfully Aussie film clip, perfectly suited to the theme of the song. Concrete Heart and previous single Born Yesterday both precede Bob Evans’ sixth studio album Tomorrowland, a triumphant record scheduled for release on April 16, 2021 – available for pre-order now. Bob Evans is the ARIA-winning alter ego of Jebediah frontman Kevin Mitchell who has graced the Australian music scene for more than two decades and has written some of the country’s most beloved songs.

Preorder TOMORROWLAND here.

Produced by Steven Schram (Paul Kelly, Kate Miller-Heidke), Concrete Heart is Bob Evans at his very best; glistening guitar, Beatles-inspired harmony and melody, and a shining arrangement that pulls it all together. Featuring harmonies from WA’s Stella Donnelly, Concrete Heart evokes classic influences of Crowded House and The Go-Betweens, and yet remains perfectly unique to Bob Evans. Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, he says, “The lyrics are inspired a bit by online conversation on social media. I have been accused of being a ‘bleeding heart’ a few times when putting forward my opinion on a political or social issue, which I think is a hilarious put-down, because it’s basically criticising someone for caring too much! What is so wrong with that? So it got me thinking about owning that label, like, “yep, I am a bleeding heart” because what is the alternative? A cold heart made out of concrete? No thanks. That is not me and I don’t ever want it to be. The music to this one is kind of upbeat and fun sounding though, so I tried to come at this whole idea with a bit of tongue in cheek, like I’m poking fun at the whole thing in a way.”

Filmed, directed, produced and edited by long time Bob Evans and Jebediah collaborator, Arlo Cook (Gretta Zilla,The Tommyhawks), the film clip for Concrete Heart is set in a quintessential country Australian pub, and feels like a perfectly accurate visual representation of where you would most want to hear Concrete Heart played live. Speaking on the inspiration behind the clip, Kevin says, “I came up with the idea of my band playing in a front bar of a pub to a virtually empty room and a disinterested audience. I just thought it was a really simple and funny way to address the message of the song. Arlo made the clip for Born Yesterday with me and we wanted to try and carry over some of that same feeling and aesthetic to this clip, which wasn’t really a straightforward thing to do as they are quite different songs; Concrete Heart is quite upbeat. We decided to really lean in to the Australiana vibe and make it look like it could have been filmed any time between now and 30 years ago.”

Fans will be thrilled to know that Bob Evans’ sixth studio album Tomorrowland is due for release on April 16, 2021 and Tomorrowland is set to be a shining addition to his discography. Over five albums, Bob Evans has always been the acoustic melody king, the folk/rock alternative whose songs became favourites, then beloved and finally classics. Now, Kevin says, “I think this is the most electric guitar I’ve played on a Bob record. I pretty much had an electric guitar in my hand for every song.” Tomorrowland was spawned during one of the worst times for anyone, anywhere: the covid-cursed 2020, a period when initial recording was completed one day after all his gigs were cancelled, and two weeks before Kevin and everyone else in Victoria went into an agonisingly long lockdown. But the result is euphoric, sparkling – a luminescent rock record from an unstoppable songsmith.

Stay tuned for an exciting tour announce to come very soon!

Concrete Heart is out now via Dew Process.

Tomorrowland is out April 16, 2021 and is available for pre-order now.

Bob Evans is Kevin Mitchell.

Live Review

Summer Sounds Festival
Mia Wray, Didirri, Something for Kate, Bernard Fanning
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne.

Melbourne’s beloved Music Bowl has been transformed this evening for the Summer Sounds, decks lining the grassed area where blankets and picnic hampers used to sit.  The energy in the air is heavy with anticipation, for most of the audience the hiatus from live music has been a difficult one, and the smiles in the crowd are apparent.

Mia Wray kicked things off for early comers, and the crowd begins to flood in for local performer Didirri. Standing under a huge projection of his name, the enigmatic performer opens with popular hit ‘ Bird sounds‘.  Having made a name for himself on the local Indie scene, Didirri is as equally at home on the large stage and as the full moon rises over Melbourne, the singer treats us to a few new songs from his latest release ‘ Sold for Sale’ an album he released during the height of lock down; ‘ Blue Moon Rising’ the perfect song for the setting this evening.

Something for Kate, having also released an album recently saunter onto the stage- Paul Dempsey about as cool as it gets. The stage veterans have been performing to Melbourne audiences for over twenty years, and like a fine wine only get better over the years. Throwing in a cover of ‘The Whole of the Moon’ a song by The Waterboys Dempsey proving that he has the unique ability to take any song and make it his own, regardless of the genre. Having released ‘Monsters‘ twenty years ago on the album ‘ Echolalia‘ its a song that never feels old as the band perform it to the delighted crowd.

Paul Dempsey is his usual witty charismatic self as he introduces new song Last Resort Town a song that ‘Takes place in New Zealand in the future on an island full of cryogenically suspended beings.”  from the new album ‘ The Modern Medieval’.

The set list has been a mix of old and new music, from songs ‘ Cigarettes and Suitcases‘,  ‘Survival Expert’, Waste of Breath’ and new release ‘ Bluebird’ with Mia Wray. Wrapping up with final song ‘ Dèjà Vu’, Paul demands we all have a ‘ Bloody fantastic evening ( you’re going to, whether you like it or not)’  and the band leave to thunderous applause.

Last up for the night is Bernard Fanning and his band The Black Fins, opening with ‘ Hope and Validation‘ from the 2005 album  Tea & Sympathy followed up with  ‘Reckless’.

Bernard asks ‘ I’m not really sure exactly what the rules are here, are you guys allowed to stand up? No? Kinda changes about every five minuets anyway, so don’t worry about the people behind you, they’re gonna hate your guts-so you can clap and you can sing- are you allowed to sing, yeah surely you’re allowed to sing, OK , who fucken knows these days, yeah we’d very much appreciate it if you’d clap along to this one here’  launching into ‘ Songbird‘ while the cloud sings along, confined to our individual pods, collectively sharing the moment with Salliana Campbell stealing the show during her violin solo.

Looking around the amphitheater its refreshing to see people enjoying each moment, drinking it all in after such a long hiatus, phones are away instead of being raised, and we are all here in the moment. Music has the ability to unite us all, and who better to bring us together than Bernard Fanning- lovable larrakin, consummate performer and all round nice guy. Paul Dempsey was right, we are all having a bloody fantastic evening.

Playing a new song for us all ‘Steady Job’ is a succinct reminder of how dire things have been in the creative industry for us all recently and just how good it is to see things returning to some kind of normalcy.  He quickly follows them up with a few songs from his old band Powderfinger – ‘ Sail the Wildest Stretch’ and ‘ These Days‘, an entrancing piano version of the popular song.

Bernard announces with glee that he has a ‘ Little surprise for you tonight, I’d like to welcome my friend Paul Dempsey to the stage ‘ the crowd erupting into applause as Paul saunters out onto the stage Bernard joking ‘ Honey, I shrunk the guitar‘ as the statuesque Dempsey is handed a guitar that almost looks like a ukulele in his hands ‘ The bigger the song, the smaller the guitar. I bought the smallest guitar I could find’ he quips.

“A few months ago, Paul asked me to join him in singing a tribute to the people of Melbourne, and Victoria and we had the great pleasure of working together on a David Bowie project called Celebrating David Bowie, where .. anyway we’ve sung this song a couple of times – we’ve never done it like this before so, this is a song by Queen and David Bowie and its called Under Pressure’  Bernard explains before the duo launch into the cover, Dempsey expertly playing the iconic riff on acoustic guitar.

Encouraged by Bernard who needs some ‘ clicking and clapping involved’ the crowd is wrapped up in a moment of pure joy, as the notes rise out into the atmosphere- a moment many of us won’t forget.

Not one for the traditional encore, Bernard gets the entire amphitheater on their feet to clap and stamp their approval so they can soak in the energy of the crowd rather than leave the stage. ‘Wish you well‘  followed by ‘ Which Way Home’ wrap up what has been a long awaited return to live music for the fatigued yet now joyful people of Melbourne.

Words by Amanda Lee Starkey

photo credit: Rick Clifford

GORDI
RELEASES OUR TWO SKINS (REMIXED) EP
FEATURING REMIXES FROM HELADO NEGRO, RYAN HEMSWORTH, GEORGIA MAQ & MORE
+ ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL SHOWS ON FORTHCOMING TOUR

Starting 2021 with the same momentum carried throughout much of 2020, Gordi (aka Sophie Payten) today releases the Our Two Skins (Remixed) EP and announces additional shows for her forthcoming Australian tour throughout February and March.

A seven-track offering, the EP features beautifully re-worked tracks from 2020’s Our Two Skins by an impressive collection of Gordi’s friends and affiliates – Helado Negro, Ryan Hemsworth, Georgia Maq (Camp Cope), Loraine James, Lawrence English and Alex Somers.

Of the new release, Gordi shares: “I love hearing how the same song sounds in someone else’s head. Some of my favourite artists have breathed new life into tracks from “Our Two Skins” from the corners of the globe. It’s a really special collection.”

LISTEN: Gordi – ‘Free Association (Helado Negro Remix)’
Released in June last year, Our Two Skins chronicled an intense and impossible time for Payten, as she renegotiated who she was and how she fit into the world. The album was warmly embraced by critics and fans, and debuted into the Top 20 of the ARIA Albums Chart. Our Two Skins was also nominated for an ARIA Award and two J Awards – recognition of the depth, intricacy and beauty of the album.

In addition to releasing her second record last year, Payten also balanced work as a doctor, donning the scrubs (and the PPC) to assist with under-staffed local hospitals in Melbourne during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She performed a debut, globally broadcast show at the Sydney Opera House (to an empty theatre!), launched her very own VR immersive album experience titled Buried City and even managed to sneak in some shows at year’s end for fans in NSW.

The addition of new tour dates to Gordi’s upcoming tour follows a successful show over the weekend as part of Mushroom’s Sounds Better Together concert series with Missy Higgins and Tones and I. Gordi will return to the stage with a full band for the album shows throughout February and March.
GORDI – TOUR DATES 2021
Tickets via gordimusic.com

Friday 5 February 2021 | The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 6 February 2021 | Byron Theatre, Byron Bay, NSW
Saturday 13 February 2021 | Cowra Civic Theatre, Cowra, NSW
Thursday 18 February | The Forum, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 19 February | The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine, VIC
Friday 26 – Saturday 27 February | Wonderland Spiegeltent, Adelaide, SA
Saturday 13 March | Altar, Hobart, TAS | RE-SCHEDULED SHOW

Our Two Skins (Remixed)
Gordi
EP out now through Liberation Records
Available to buy/stream here

Our Two Skins (Remixed) tracklisting:
1. Radiator (Lawrence English Remix)
2. Free Association (Helado Negro Remix)
3. Unready (Loraine James Remix)
4. Extraordinary Life (Georgia Maq Remix)
5. Extraordinary Life (Alex Somers Remix)
6. Unready (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)
7. Radiator (Lawrence English Remix – Eternal Coda)
WARM AND FUZZIES FOR OUR TWO SKINS:

“Our Two Skins specialises in quietly devastating moments that get under your skin.” – triple j

“Payten finds beauty anyway, never ignoring her fears, but remembering why the fear is worth braving at all.” – Pitchfork

“Our Two Skins is an accomplished work that offers an aural solace and it’s an album to cry and reflect to during unprecedented times” – The Australian

“Payten herself is a magnetic presence” – The Guardian

“A majestic-sounding thing, Gordi’s commanding, Fender-thrashing performance was one to make all of us at home feel better about the uncertainties we face.”
– Sydney Morning Herald

“[Our Two Skins] balances fierce intimacy with expansive ambition… The resulting piece feels like an honest, personal reckoning, where both the artist and listener can join each other on the journey and emerge as better versions of themselves on the other side.” – Uproxx

“one of my favorite…singer-songwriters” – Stephen Thompson, NPR Music

“The album’s greatest strength is Gordi’s ability to render intimate details into poetic, evocative lyrics… Gordi stands out from her peers on the strength of her direct, melancholic voice and honest lyricism.” – Exclaim

FINAL AUSTRALIAN TOUR SET FOR

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021!

Promoters One World Entertainment and TEG Live today announced that rock n roll legends KISS will bring their spectacular ‘End Of The Road’ tour to Australia later this year.

In news that will thrill their legions of Aussie fans, the tour will commence in Perth on 14 Novemberbefore playing Adelaide, two Melbourne shows, Sydney, Brisbane and a huge outdoor event in Townsville.

Pre-sale tickets will be available via Telstra Plus™ from 10.00am (local time) Tuesday 2 March. General Public tickets go on sale at 12noon (local time) Friday 5 March.

The ‘End Of The Road’ tour, which began in January 2019, is undoubtedly the biggest and best KISS show ever (and that’s saying something), receiving incredible reviews from both diehard KISS fans and the media at sell-out shows across the globe.

The Australian leg of the world tour, which was originally scheduled for November 2019, was unfortunately cancelled due to illness. With all concerts heavily sold and side-view tickets released to cater for the high demand, the postponement understandably gutted both the band and fans. To say today’s announcement has been eagerly awaited is an understatement!

Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer are now ready to rock’n’roll all nitewith the KISS Army across Australia one last time.

Paul Stanley said: “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel and it’s BLINDING! We are finally coming back. The tour is now official and we will deliver nights that will go beyond all expectations. We are fired up and will count the days.”

Gene Simmons said: “Until we see you stay safe and be ready for us. We’re ready for you!”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers first visited our shores in 1980 during ‘KISSteria’, kick- starting a deep connection between the band and Aussie fans that has continued to thrive for more than four decades.

With countless timeless hits like ‘I Was Made For Loving You’, ‘Detroit Rock City’, ‘Love Gun’, ‘Shout It Out Loud’, ‘Lick It Up’, ‘God Gave Rock’n’Roll To You’ and the knock -em dead anthem that closes every KISS show Rock’n’Roll All Nite’, the KISS legacy has continued to grow, generation after generation.

Along the way the band has sold more than 100 million albums and through relentless touring has proven again and again why they are the most iconic live show in rock n roll.

So, Australia…. this is it.   Come and celebrate the extraordinary career and music of KISS.

“All that we have built and all that we have conquered over the past four decades could never have happened without the millions of people worldwide who’ve filled clubs, arenas and stadiums over those years. This will be the ultimate celebration for those who’ve seen us and a last chance for those who haven’t. KISS Army, we’re saying goodbye on our final tour with our biggest show yet and we’ll go out the same way we came in… Unapologetic and Unstoppable,” said KISS.

“Even if you’ve seen a KISS show before, you’ve never seen a show quite like this one.” Omaha.com.au

“…. a two-hour orgy of sights and sounds and a relentless barrage of classic-rock hits. Spectacular.”  inkansascity.com.au 

 “KISS spare no cost when it comes to putting on one of the greatest rock shows on the planet. It’s flashy, it’s rockin’ and it has the energy and showmanship that made KISS a household name.”  OnMilwaukee

“An explosive thrill-ride.” The Oklahoman

“Unrelenting sound and fury — 20 hits and fan-favourites”.  Los Angeles Times

“The spectacle KISS brings to the live show has never failed. It was an explosive, unapologetic, bombastic KISS concert that shows exactly why the band has lasted this long.”  Dress Reviews

“Whether it’s timeless, hard-hitting rock and roll, an unforgettable visual presentation or that relentless merchandising, KISS breathes fire in every aspect of its being, and, of course, very often literally.” iHeartRadio

KISS FAN CLUB

Friday 26 February, 3pm (local time) – Thursday 4 March, 1pm (local time)

Telstra Gold Presale

Tuesday 2 March, 10am (local time) –Thursday 4 March, 1pm (local time)

Telstra Plus Presale

Tuesday 2 March, 1pm (local time) –Thursday 4 March, 1pm (local time)

General Public On-sale

Friday 5 March, 12noon (local time)

KISS VIP Packages, which may include access to the KISS acoustic set and Q&A, invitation to the KISS Army Captain’s lounge, exclusive merchandise and premium seat locations will be available at all shows. Visit  www.kissonline.comfor details.

 Event goers can take advantage of Ticketek’s world-leading partnership with Afterpay. Available via the Ticketek app or website, Afterpay is the world’s largest buy-now-pay-later service, offering fans greater flexibility to pay for tickets in four equal instalments and secure seats with the first payment.

AUSTRALIAN CONCERT DATES 2021

 Sunday November 14        RAC ARENA, PERTH WA

                                            www.ticketek.com.au& 132 849

                                            Support:  Legs Electric

 Wednesday November 17  ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, SA

                                             www.ticketek.com.au& 132 849

                                             Support:  The Superjesus

Saturday November 20        ROD LAVER ARENA, MELBOURNE VIC

                                             www.ticketek.com.au& 132 849

                                             Support:  Dead City Ruin

Sunday November 21          ROD LAVER ARENA, MELBOURNE VIC

                                             www.ticketek.com.au& 132 849

                                             Support:  Dallas Crane

Friday November 26            QUDOS BANK ARENA, SYDNEY NSW

                                             www.ticketek.com.au& 132 849

                                             Support:  The Poor

Tuesday November 30        BRISBANE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, QLD

                                             www.ticketek.com.au& 132 849

                                             Support:  Wolfmother

Saturday December 4          QUEENSLAND COUNTRY BANK STADIUM (outdoors)

                                             TOWNSVILLE, QLD

                                             www.ticketek.com.au& 132 849

                                             Supports:  Wolfmother, Tumbleweed & local act TBA