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Category Archives: News
Live Review: Benson Boone
Benson Boone
Festival Hall.
An intro begins, and Benson Boone seats himself at the piano to kick off the show. Every phone in the iconic hall quickly fixates on Benson, as he backflips off the top of the piano.
Working his way through his hits ‘ Coffee Cake’ and ‘ Cry’, Boone is engaging, getting to the crowds level to reach out. As he sings he manages to make people feel like it’s their own private performance, he stops from time to time to ask people their names and to connect with them.
It’s refreshing to see a musician so connected to their audience and it makes a big show somehow feel intimate, and as he paces the stage like a jaguar his energy is intoxicating.
Racing through to ‘ In The Stars’ he makes a speech about friendships and how important they are, making memories with our friends and family.
Boone is some-what of an anomaly, he sings deep and powerful songs, yet backflips off pianos like nothing. While his songs are moving his energy is contagious and he puts on a memorable performance.
In 2021 Boone was set to perform on American Idol, to forge a career from a well oiled machine that tends to take musicians and spit them out. It’s a good thing he walked away, otherwise crowds wouldn’t be able to delight in his electric performance.
Words by Amanda Lee Starkey
News: SEX PISTOLS FEATURING FRANK CARTER: AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR APRIL 2025 – PLAYING NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS IN FULL
SEX PISTOLS (PAUL COOK, STEVE JONES, GLEN MATLOCK) FEATURING FRANK CARTER
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR APRIL 2025
PLAYING NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS IN FULL
General public tickets on sale Thursday, January 23 from 12pm
Access media assets here
MELBOURNE, January 17, 2025: In August 2024, Frank Carter joined Paul Cook, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock of Sex Pistols for one of the most surprising and adored music events of the year. Members of one of the most influential rock bands of all time, plus life-long fan and modern-day punk icon Carter, performed the Sex Pistols’ iconic 1977 album Never Mind The Bollocks in full.
Teaming up to play 3 nights of fund-raising for West London’s iconic Bush Hall, the foursome stunned fans and critics alike, creating a sonic onslaught and mayhem reminiscent of 1976. Carter fitted like a glove, perfectly recreating the songs that changed the world, while resolutely remaining himself.
In exciting news for Australian and New Zealand fans, nearly 30 years since they were last on these shores, Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter have announced an exclusive run of shows, playing Never Mind The Bollocks in its entirety.
Commencing April 2, 2025 at Auckland Town Hall, the tour then heads to Christchurch and across to Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, and concluding at Fremantle Prison on April 11.
A partner presale will take place on Tuesday January 21 from 11am, running until Thursday January 23 at 11am
My Live Nation members can secure tickets during the pre-sale which commences on Wednesday, January 22 at 11am and concluding on Thursday, January 23 at 11am.
General public tickets go on sale Thursday, January 23 at 12pm. All times are local.
For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.com.au and livenation.co.nz
Praise for Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter:
“Rip-roaring punk rock redux” – The Guardian
“The most glorious sight in a beautiful music hall in west London is of a band, at last, regaining its liberty” Kerrang!
“The group performs with the tightness and chemistry of a band that have been playing together for years…. Sex Pistols are fuckin’ back.” CLASH
“Full throttle pure punk” – i
“Delivered with a pile-driving, wall-shaking intensity that threatened to destroy the very venue it was trying to preserve.” Daily Telegraph
“Carter, and three of the original Sex Pistols members led the thronging, sweaty crowd through a night of unadulterated punk rock mayhem at Bush Hall.” Evening Standard
“Sheer joy. They should tour it everywhere. God save their mad parade.” Louder
SEX PISTOLS (PAUL COOK, STEVE JONES, GLEN MATLOCK) FEATURING FRANK CARTER
2025 AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR
TOWN HALL, AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY APRIL 2
TOWN HALL, CHRISTCHURCH THURSDAY APRIL 3
FESTIVAL HALL, MELBOURNE SATURDAY APRIL 5
HINDLEY STREET MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE SUNDAY APRIL 6
HORDERN PAVILION, SYDNEY TUESDAY APRIL 8
FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE WEDNESDAY APRIL 9
FREMANTLE PRISON, FREMANTLE FRIDAY APRIL 11
GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS: ON SALE THURSDAY, JANUARY 23 AT 12PM
Partner Presale: Tue 21 Jan, 11am > Thu 23 Jan, 11am
My Live Nation Presale: Wed 22 Jan, 11am > Thu 23 Jan, 11am
All times are local.
For complete tour and ticket information, visit:livenation.com.au and livenation.co.nz
News: CRAIG DAVID RELEASES NEW SINGLE “SOS” – OUT NOW!
CRAIG DAVID RELEASES NEW SINGLE “SOS” – OUT NOW!
LISTEN HERE
COMMITMENT TOUR STARTS IN THE UK IN FEBRUARY 2025
Craig David kicks of 2025 by releasing his brand-new single ‘SOS’ before his headline UK Commitment tour, which takes place in February 2025.
Reflecting themes of love and relationships, the new single is a classic Craig David hit, laced with his distinctive vocals and R&B soul.
Craig says on the track, ‘There’s a time in life when you come to a point of realisation that all the playing it safe, being cautious & guarded around opening our hearts up to love, doesn’t work. Even if we have been hurt before. SOS is all about that moment of feeling vulnerable, yet ready & open to taking a risk, a leap of faith to let someone know you are finally ready to let love in, however scary it may feel.’
Last year Craig joined Wes Nelson at one of his London shows, played at the Paralympic Homecoming Ceremony, BBC Radio 2 In The Park and did a surprise performance at Kings Cross Station. To prepare ahead of his tour, Craig also sang some classic hits on top of the O2 – see here.
Craig will kick off his Commitment UK arena tour in February 2025, with special guest Lemar. Starting in Leeds’ First Direct Arena on 2nd February, the 11-date tour will see Craig perform his eclectic and much-loved discography to fans across the UK, culminating at London’s iconic The O2 Arena on 20th February.
Since bursting onto the scene with his critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Born To Do It’, a genre-defining record that established Craig David as one of the UK’s most beloved artists, Craig has since remained at the helm of his own unique, authentically British sound. Making waves across the globe as the voice of one of the most pivotal eras in UK music, bringing Garage from the underground and to the forefront of the mainstream, and becoming one of the most successful artists in UK chart history.
Across his career, Craig has collaborated with everyone from Sting to Kano to Diplo to KSI, while also becoming one of the biggest DJs in Ibiza via his TS5 soundsystem. Award-wise Craig has received 14 BRIT Award nominations, two GRAMMY nominations, four MOBO awards, three Ivor Novellos honouring his songwriting, and most recently an MBE for his services to music.
After emerging at the end of 1999 with instant UK garage classic ‘Re-Rewind’, Craig has scored 25 UK Top 40 singles (16 of them Top 10), nine UK Top 40 albums (five in the Top 10) and amassed over 5 billion streams worldwide. In addition to this, Craig has one of Ibiza’s most successful and long-standing residencies playing Ibiza Rocks, coming back this year for its 7th season.
COMMITMENT UK ARENA TOUR 2025
FEBRUARY
SUN 2ND – Leeds, First Direct Arena
TUES 4TH – Glasgow, Armadillo
WEDS 5TH – Newcastle, Utilita Arena
FRI 7TH – Milton Keynes, Marshall Arena
SAT 8TH – Brighton, Brighton Centre
TUES 11TH – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
WEDS 12TH – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
FRI 14TH – Manchester, Coop Live
SAT 15TH – Birmingham, Resorts World Arena
TUES 18TH – Bournemouth, International Centre
THURS 20TH – London, The O2
Tickets available HERE.
News: THE HORRORS RELEASE NEW SINGLE “MORE THAN LIFE” FROM NEW ALBUM NIGHT LIFE OUT 21 MARCH 2025
THE HORRORS
RELEASE NEW SINGLE “MORE THAN LIFE”
FROM NEW ALBUM NIGHT LIFE OUT 21 MARCH 2025
PRE-ORDER / SAVE NIGHT LIFE
English rock band The Horrors today release an anthemic new single “More Than Life”, the fourth track to be taken from their forthcoming sixth studio album Night Life, out 21 March via Fiction Records / Virgin Music Group. The single follows a sold-out run of UK dates to close out 2024, including a blistering show at London’s ICA.
LISTEN TO “MORE THAN LIFE” NOW<https://thehorrors.lnk.to/MoreThanLife>
““More Than Life” has a different type of intensity to our recent singles, it’s more driving and direct. It was written in the middle of Canary Wharf, which looks more like Blade Runner everyday. It’s such a strange place to do anything creative as the surroundings feel particularly stark.” explains the band.
“We still needed a couple more songs for the album before going to LA to record at Yves’ studio, and we were in that insular part of the process where it feels like the outside world doesn’t exist. The song is basically about the question of what matters to you and by that point we were definitely clear on where we were heading.”
As The Horrors approach their 20th anniversary as a band, Night Life sees them shapeshift into a new form, with a new sonic outlook and a new line up centred around the core duo of vocalist Faris Badwan and bassist Rhys Webb, now joined by Amelia Kidd on keys and Telegram’s Jordan Cook on drums, making the new album the band’s first to not feature all 5 original members. While demos began modestly in Webb’s basement flat in North London, with the pair thriving on the immediacy of, as Faris describes, “shortening the distance between having an idea and expressing it”, the record truly took shape in LA under the guidance of producer Yves Rothman (Yves Tumor, Blondshell) before finishing touches were applied back in London along with guitarist Josh Hayward, with Kidd bouncing parts and production ideas remotely from Glasgow.
The resulting album is a record of weight and space, of melancholy and euphoria; a record that has the ability to make bedfellows of seemingly disparate ideas as only The Horrors can. The Night Life here is not the vim and vigour of pubs and clubs. It’s the thoughts that happen under the cover of darkness; the places your mind takes you when the rest of the world is asleep. A record born out of a desire to revive the raw, instinctive spirit of the band’s early work.
After nearly 20 years making music, there are few bands who’ve created a canon as determinedly innovative and consistently critically-acclaimed as The Horrors. Emerging as zeitgeist-shaking garage-goths on their 2007 debut Strange House, before taking a sharp left turn for their Mercury-nominated follow up Primary Colours, since the beginning they’ve roamed freely between genres. 2011’s Skying won the NME Award for Best Album; V was heralded as “a triumph” in a five-star Guardian review, while 2021’s pair of EPs – Lout and Against The Blade – marked a new chapter with their most industrial, uncompromising output yet.
Night Life tracklisting:
1. Ariel
2. Silent Sister
3. The Silence That Remains
4. Trial By Fire
5. The Feeling Is Gone
6. Lotus Eater
7. More Than Life
8. When The Rhythm Breaks
9. LA Runaway
The Horrors Live Dates:
3 April – Sala Capitol, Santiago de Compostela
5 April – Barcelona Psych Fest, Paral-lel 62, Barcelona
6 April – Sala Mon, Madrid
7 April – Sala Moon, Valencia
24/25 May – Dot To Dot Festival (Headline)
News: MAJESTICA Unleash Video For New Single ‘A Story In The Night’ New Album POWER TRAIN Out On February 7th
MAJESTICA Unleash Video For New Single ‘A Story In The Night’ New Album POWER TRAIN Out On February 7th
Swedish power metal championsMAJESTICA invite fans to embark on an electrifying journey with their second single, ‘A Story In The Night,’ from their highly anticipated album, Power Train, set for release on February 7th, 2025.
A blistering showcase of speed, melody, and storytelling, ‘A Story In The Night’ is a power metal anthem that captures the heart-pounding essence of the genre.
The track, clocking in as one ofMAJESTICA’s most dynamic works to date, is accompanied by an epic music video that brings the song’s vivid narrative to life with striking visuals and cinematic flair.
Frontman Tommy Johanssoncomments:
”Fast, extreme, melodic and fast – 4 words that really describes the new single ’A Story In The Night’ perfect. The fastest song on the new album, filled with guitar solos, glorious melodies and epic power metal vocals that tells a tragic story…in the night”
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/dP08ex8nbKE
Listen to the song on all platforms: https://majestica.bfan.link/story-in-the-night
Pre-order/pre-save Power Train here: https://majestica.bfan.link/powertrain-album
POWER TRAIN Tracklisting:
- Power Train
2. No Pain, No Gain
3. Battle Cry
4. Megatrue
5. My Epic Dragon
6. Thunder Power
7. A Story In The Night
8. Go Higher
9. Victorious
10. Alliance Anthem
When it came to the process of recording and putting all the pieces together, the band did not change a lot compared to the last projects. Again the music was written, recorded, and produced by MAJESTICA themselves. “Like our previous albums this one is also produced by ourselves, and we recorded most parts in our new place ”Majestic Studios”. For mixing we went back to Jonas Kjellgren as we have been very happy with the sound of ’A Christmas Carol’ and ’Metal United’ says bassist Chris Davidsson.
Regarding the amazing artwork for Power Train, Chris explains: “For the artwork we teamed up with Jan Yrlund / Darkgrove design. It invites you to join this majepic ride of the Power Train, imagine standing there on the platform eagerly waiting, and you hear ”all aboard”!“.
MAJESTICA is:
Tommy Johansson | guitars, vocals
Petter Hjerpe | guitars
Chris Davidsson | bass
Joel Kollberg | drums
News: LAMBRINI GIRLS SHARE VIDEO FOR ‘CUNTOLOGY 101’ + DEBUT ALBUM, WHO LET THE DOGS OUT, OUT NOW VIA CITY SLANG
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News: Benson Boone: Australia & New Zealand Tour kicks off this week!
BENSON BOONE: AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND TOUR KICKS OFF THIS WEEK!
+ special guest bella amor announced (AU shows)
He’s one of world’s hottest rising stars and a 2025 Grammy nominee for Best New Artist. Get ready fans: Benson Boone kicks off his highly anticipated live return down under this week, with six massive, sold-out arena shows in Australia and New Zealand!
From his acclaimed debut album Fireworks & Rollerblades, Benson’s ‘Beautiful Things’ was the most-streamed song globally in 2024, with over three billion streams and counting. Eight times Platinum in Australia and four times Platinum in New Zealand, it also won Best Alternative Video at MTV’s VMAs.
In 2024, Benson performed 95 concerts across 20 countries, including opening for Taylor Swift on her ERAS Tour at London’s Wembley Stadium. And now it’s our turn!
In a tour update today, joining Benson on the road in Australia is Gold Coast-based artist bella amor! The indie, pop and pop-punk fan is the striking Gen Z voice Australian music has been waiting for. With her innate storytelling and warm onstage vibe, bella’s already supported the likes of Lime Cordiale, conquered Bigsound, collaborated with Matt Corby, and recently covered a Benson classic… watch it online here.
Finally, for NZ fans: a limited amount of final production release tickets for Benson’s Auckland show are on sale now… head to frontiertouring.com/bensonboone to purchase. Get in quick; these will go fast!
Don’t miss the one and only Benson Boone, live on stage this month!
BENSON BOONE (USA)
with special guest bella amor (AU shows)
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
JANUARY 2025
Presented by Frontier Touring
ALL SHOWS LICENSED ALL AGES
Thursday 16 January
SOLD OUT!
Festival Hall | Melbourne, VIC
Friday 17 January
SOLD OUT!
Festival Hall | Melbourne, VIC
Sunday 19 January
SOLD OUT!
Hordern Pavilion | Sydney, NSW
Monday 20 January
SOLD OUT!
Hordern Pavilion | Sydney, NSW
Wednesday 22 January
SOLD OUT!
Riverstage | Brisbane, QLD
Friday 24 January
FINAL TICKETS
Spark Arena | Auckland, NZ
ticketmaster.co.nz
Patrons are advised to purchase tickets only through authorised ticket sellers.
We cannot guarantee any ticket purchase made through any means other than the official ticketing agents listed on the Frontier website.
News: Boy & Bear announced for Live At The Gardens – With special guests Sarah Blasko, Augie March & De Porsal | Fri 14 March – Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
Live at the Gardens
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS MELBOURNE
BOY & BEAR
‘LIVE AT THE GARDENS’
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
SARAH BLASKO, AUGIE MARCH
& DE PORSAL
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS MELBOURNE – FRIDAY 14 MARCH
TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY 20 JANUARY
Prepare for another night of magical music under the stars when beloved indie-folk faves BOY & BEAR headline Live At The Gardens at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne on Friday 14 March.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Melbourne’s iconic gardens in the heart of the city, BOY & BEAR will be joined by very special guests – revered singer-songwriter SARAH BLASKO, legendary Melbourne band AUGIE MARCH and Surf Coast band of brothers DE PORSAL.
Presented by Roundhouse Entertainment, in conjunction with MG Live, this show is the latest addition to the highly anticipated upcoming series of Live At The Gardens, adding to an already incredible lineup across two weekends in March featuring GROOVE ARMADA, RÓISÍN MURPHY,LAKE STREET DIVE and THE CRUEL SEA.
Tickets for BOY & BEAR Live At The Gardens go on sale Monday 20 January from Ticketmaster at 10.00am local time, with Live At The Gardens andRoundhouse presales beginning Friday 17 January at 12.00pm local time.
Adored for their lush harmonies, soulful songwriting and heartfelt live performances, BOY & BEAR are the perfect blend of folk, rock and pop, with hits like Feeding Line, Part Time Believer and Southern Sun striking a beautiful balance between melancholy and magical.
BOY & BEAR were swiftly catapulted onto the world stage when they released their double-platinum debut album Moonfire in 2011, earning them five coveted ARIA Awards. 2013’s Harlequin Dream and 2015’s Limit of Love both charted at number one. From 2019’s Suck On Light to 2023’s self-titled full length, BOY & BEAR have continued to evolve and grow, gaining more and more fans from across the globe. In addition to their five consecutive Top 10 albums and more than 250 million streams, the band’s live show is a uniquely compelling experience and has earned them a glowing reputation as one of Australia’s most outstanding live acts.
BOY & BEAR’s recent tour celebrating the 10th anniversary of Harlequin Dream received rave reviews, with Scenestr stating, “The band’s chemistry onstage was magnetising – each member contributing to a sound that is greater than the sum of its parts.” While The AU Review says they are “a band still at their peak after all these years”.
SARAH BLASKO will captivate audiences with her deeply personal songs, unmistakeable voice and enchanting artistry. Her latest album, I Just Need to Conquer This Mountain, hailed by STACK magazine as one of the “albums of the year”, marks her first release in six years. Over her 20-year career, Sarah has released seven solo albums, including four Platinum releases and six ARIA Top 10s, earning her three ARIA Awards and a J Award for Australian Album of the Year, as well as being shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize three times, cementing her reputation as one of Australia’s most accomplished artists.
AUGIE MARCH, the legendary Melbourne band behind the timeless anthem One Crowded Hour,bring their poetic brilliance and evocative storytelling to the stage. Over 25 years they’ve become one of Australia’s most important bands, seamlessly blending critical acclaim with commercial success, earning six x Top 40 albums, an APRA Award and a number one in triple j’s Hottest 100 (2008). Led by Glenn Richards’ layered lyrics, their songs range from delicate melancholy ballads to impassioned rhythm and blues. Their latest album, Malagrotta, showcases their enduring artistry.
Rising talent DE PORSAL have been making waves across the Surf Coast, Geelong and across the country for the past seven years. The Willingham brothers, all multi-instrumentalists, recorded their latest album Dishlickers over a single day, describing their unique sound as “mutt music – a hybrid of egg punk, jangly pop rock and industrial psych … fast, dumb, manic, scary but very danceable!”
What happens when Melbourne’s most-loved botanic gardens joins forces with one of Australia’s premier outdoor music event organisers? The result is Live At The Gardens – a unique concert series like no other! After captivating audiences during its spectacular November debut, this much-loved event returns for a brand-new series over two unmissable weekends this March.
A collaboration between the iconic Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and Roundhouse Entertainment – the highly experienced and successful team behind a day on the green – Live At The Gardens transforms the stunning Observatory Precinct into an enchanting outdoor concert space – ideally located in the heart of Melbourne.
Sign up HERE and be the first to hear about Melbourne’s newest outdoor music event, Live At The Gardens.
Tickets for Live At The Gardens’ March 2025 series on sale now for GROOVE ARMADA, RÓISÍN MURPHY, LAKE STREET DIVE and THE CRUEL SEA.
All event and ticket details atliveatthegardens.com.au
Don’t miss your chance to experience some of Australia’s finest talent in the heart of Melbourne.
LIVE AT THE GARDENS TOUR DATES
Friday 7 March, 2025
RÓISÍN MURPHY
with special guests to be announced
Saturday 8 March, 2025
THE CRUEL SEA
with special guests Mark Seymour & the Undertow,
Vika & Linda and Loose Content
Sunday 9 March, 2025
GROOVE ARMADA – DJ SET
*Special Guests to be announced
Friday 14 March, 2025
BOY & BEAR JUST ANNOUNCED
with special guests Sarah Blasko, Augie March and De Porsal
Saturday 15 March, 2025
LAKE STREET DIVE
with special guests Playlunch and BATTS
Tickets for BOY & BEAR with special guests SARAH BLASKO, AUGIE MARCH and DE PORSAL on sale on Monday 20 January at 10.00am local time from Ticketmaster.
Live Review: Finneas
Finneas brought charm, talent, and plenty of surprises to his sold-out show at Melbourne’s iconic Forum Theatre on January 13, 2023. Known for his exceptional songwriting and production prowess, the multi-Grammy winner showcased not only his musical genius but also his infectious humour and warmth, making for an unforgettable evening.
Finneas set the tone for a night that blended introspection and fun. The crowd was delighted when he shared that he’d been watching Bluey during his time in Australia, earning a massive cheer.
The energy of the night took a uniquely Aussie turn when a fan tossed a cork hat onto the stage. Finneas graciously accepted it, and in true collaborative spirit, the hat became a star of the show as band members humorously passed it around throughout the performance.
A particularly heartfelt moment came when Finneas spotted a fan holding a birthday sign. He led the audience in singing “Happy Birthday,” turning the intimate venue into a collective celebration. Later, a raucous chant of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, Oi, Oi!” erupted, with Finneas grinning and joining in.
Concluding with the album’s title track, “For Cryin’ Out Loud!,” Finneas opted for a sincere finish without an encore, leaving the audience in appreciative reflection. The concert was a testament to his growth as an artist, offering a blend of timeless sound and contemporary relevance that left a lasting impression on all in attendance.
Words and pictures by Monique Pizzica
