MOPE CITY
Alt/Indie Rock
Sydney’s been a bit of a mope city for the past year or so, with hyper-regulation hammering a nail into the coffin of the city’s nightlife and live music culture. Marrickville trio Mope City certainly don’t sound chipper, but their music shows us that unfortunate political decisions needn’t stifle creativity. In fact, it’s the most potent weapon in counteracting them.
Friday February 12 – Grace Darling – Melbourne, VIC
FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP
THE TONGUE
Hip Hop
Aussie hip hop veteran The Tongue re-emerged a few months ago with his fourth LP, Hard Feelings. Known for his spitfire delivery and imaginative lyrics, Hard Feelings finds The Tongue in his element atop creeping, grimey electronic production.
Friday February 12 – Mojos – Perth, WA
FACEBOOK | ELEFANT TRAKS
POST DUSK
Dream Pop
Post dusk is exactly the right time to listen to this Brisbane duo’s glacial dream pop. It’s lights-out stuff – not gloomy, but the beats never quite let rip, as splatterings of tonal intrigue cumulatively submerge the listener.
Friday February 12 – Black Bear Lodge – Brisbane, QLD
FACEBOOK | SOUNDCLOUD
FAMILY JORDAN
Freewheelin’ Psych Rock
There’s a wide open road summoned by the alt-country psych rock of the Family Jordan. The horizon’s up ahead, and your only task is to chase it down. These guys’ tunes are generous, comfortable, and avoid sounding contrived.
Saturday February 13 – Plan B Small Club – Sydney, NSW
BANDCAMP
ERASERS
Rhythmic Electro Drone
With droning, sci-fi invoking synthesisers and subtly busy drum programming, Erasers get inside your head. You don’t notice the redecoration, but after a period of sitting entranced by their music, you’ve entered a new place. Not quite refreshed, but approaching the world with a questioning outlook.
Saturday February 13 – The Bird – Perth, WA
FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP
YOU BEAUTY
Art Punk
Terrible sunglasses and a fixation with rugby league could very well have deterred you from getting to know You Beauty. But never fear, they’re still at it and have moved away from footy-focused material on their second LP Illywhacka. It’s largely speak-sung stuff, with a lo-fi production edge. But it’s also gosh darn agreeable.
Saturday February 13 – The Foundry – Brisbane, QLD
FACEBOOK | SOUNDCLOUD | YOUTUBE
GIDEON BENSEN
Sleaze Pop
Gideon Bensen plays rhythm guitar and sings backing vocals in The Preatures. For the first few years of the band’s existence – essentially up until their 2014 debut LP – he was the co-lead vocalist, trading song for song with Isabella Manfredi. Manfredi’s songs have since taken precedence, so Bensen’s decided to step out on his own, turning up the sleaze on his new after-hours single ‘Talk Talk’.
Saturday February 13 – Newtown Social Club – Sydney, NSW
FACEBOOK | SOUNDCLOUD | WEBSITE
WIREHEADS
Garage Punk
Wireheads make angular garage punk. But angular shouldn’t imply tightly wound precision. These guys are messy as hell. There’s an early Velvet Underground sort of subversion going on within their songs. Familiar enough, but loaded with fucked up sounds that remove all strains of nostalgia.
Saturday February 13 – Hotel Metro – Adelaide, SA
FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP
ARBES
Summer Dreamwave
Arbes make lo-fi dream pop jacked up on the spirit of summer. Rather than all-day lethargy, these guys have energy to burn, using complex rhythms and swirls of contrasting melodies to demonstrate their eagerness to devour the summertime.
Sunday February 14 – Workers Club – Melbourne, VIC
FACEBOOK | UNEARTHED
AMARU TRIBE & THE LALIBELAS FT NHATTY MAN
Ethio-Jazz/Oceanic Cumbia
If one thing’s guaranteed when the Ethio-jazz of The Lalibelas and Nhatty Man is joined by oceanic cumbia of Amaru Tribe, it’s this: you will not be able to stop dancing. These three acts excel in their respective fields, and this merging of spirits and skills is certain to fortify the individual impact of each.
Sunday February 14 – St Kilda Festival – Melbourne, VIC
FACEBOOK | SOUNDCLOUD
