Tag: australia

BLESSED provides the goods with, “Memoirs of the Melancholy”

Posted on by Matthew Wotherspoon


For the past two years, BLESSED has been nurturing his talent as a musician, producer and songwriter to bring forth a style that’s not often seen or heard in Australia’s music scene.

Combining his influences of Kid Cudi, Jimi Hendrix and Kanye West, BLESSED‘s sublime talent has seen him bridge the gap of punk and hip-hop to create a unique and textured sound, full of colourful melodies and grungy layers.

His singles, “Sorrows“, “My World” and “Superfly“ have soared into the realm of online streaming, racking up millions of plays and has led to him to receive nods from Triple J, Pigeons & Planes, NYLON, Noisey, i-D Magazine, and Clash Mag.

Weaving together stories and life experiences with his passion for art and music, BLESSED is an artist that is hard to put your finger on. But as time goes on, his sonic deliverances allow us to step into the world that is BLESSED. And the result is just as commanding as it is enchanting.

With his latest single “Memoirs of the Melancholy”, you get a little more of the picture –

“You built your walls on my back, Then told me I can’t come inside”

Stream “Memoirs of the Melancholy” – HERE.

To learn more about BLESSED, visit his Facebook page here, https://www.facebook.com/blessedtunes/.

Swanny announces debut single, ‘Sweat Baby Sweat’

Posted on by Matthew Wotherspoon


Before Royal Blood electrified the globe with their thunderous, hard rock tunes, they were but an ominous duo rumbling local bars and recording demos along the east coast of Australia and Great Britain.

As they blemished the walls of pubs and clubs with their sonic grit and broadcasted their brash and bluesy tunes, bassist, Mike Kerr and drummer, Matt Swan found themselves thrusted into the musical spotlight, earning comparisons to early Muse and Led Zeppelin.

It was only after the release of their debut single, “Come On Over” (previously “Leaving”), which saw Matt Swan depart the blues rock duo to embark on his own sonic endeavours. Fast forward to July 2019 and Swanny (Matt Swan) has released his debut single – an absolute hip-swinger of a single entitled, “Sweat Baby Sweat”.

Swanny has said, “Sweat Baby Sweat is simply about letting the good times roll live life to the max – life is one big party. It was written after a long hot Summer’s night of no sleep in Byron Bay in 2018. I had just got home in the early hours of the morning after playing drums at one of Byron Bay’s crazy warehouse parties – I picked up the guitar, cracked another beer and the main riff quickly came to me. I then laid down some drums and Sweat Baby Sweat was born.”

Swanny‘s “Sweat Baby Sweat” drips with his signature tribal and thunderous drumming, while his raw vocals provide a sensory experience reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and Kram (Spiderbait). Now that we can grasp what Swanny is like on his lonesome, we can truly hear how he has shaped the sound we know as Royal Blood and how his drumming has effectively helped revive a new era of Rock n Roll.

If you’re a fan of Royal Blood, Kram, Led Zeppelin, Torrential Thrill and everything in between, be sure to get around this tasty jam, it’s definitely worth a listen.

The single saw the light of day on all digital outlets and streaming platforms on Friday July 5th.




Brisbane is getting a brand new summer music festival!

Posted on by Matthew Wotherspoon

The teams who brought Australian audiences Beyond The Valley and Origin Fields have joined forces to deliver a show-stopping one-day festival this December in Brisbane.

Premiering at Brisbane Shows this December 28th, Wildlands will see a plethora of artists converge to bring a showcase of exciting dance, electronic and hip-hop performances to our sun-soaked doorstep.

The prestigious RUFUS DU SOL has already been announced as the first act, which is soon to be followed by a line-up of prolific talents from around the world.

The teams behind Beyond the Valley and Origin Fields have been the forerunners of Australia’s live music scene for a number of years now, bringing international acts like The Kooks, Chance The Rapper, Jamie XX, Stormzy, Mura Masa, Cardi B and more, to stages down under. 

Now, after much preparation and dedication, they are set to push the boundaries of creative line-ups once more, this time with their eyes on the sunshine state.

“Brisbane is such a beautiful city, filled with music lovers of all genres.
Beyond The Valley & Origin host so much amazing talent touring the country over New Years, that often don’t visit Brisbane. Each festival has grown so much over the past years, carving their own unique festival experience & collectively we thought it’s time Brisbane gets their own taste of our flair too. We’re really excited to create something just for Brisbane that will be totally different to anything currently on offer, bringing the best of the East and West Coast together for one very special day.”

– Michael Cristidis, Beyond The Valley

“The thing I love about Brisbane is that it’s so musically and culturally diverse. Being able to curate a broader musical programme with our partners at BTV has been one of the most enjoyable booking experiences I’ve personally have ever had. With the strengths of the two festivals, I feel, that we will be able to create an event that is unique to Brisbane as beyond the valley is unique to Melbourne and Origin is to perth.” 

– Saran Bajaj, Origin Fields


The Maryborough Story Bank and the Value of Heritage

Posted on by Chiara Torelli


Maryborough is a town rich and varied in heritage. Rival to Brisbane for the prestigious status of the new state capital, it was the second most important port on the east coast, a hub for the passage of goods, people and information. This fascinating history also makes Maryborough host to a surprising number of ‘first and oldest’ claims.

Today, this heritage is still visible in the charming streets and the iconic architecture which make up the enchanting City Heart and Portside precincts. Visiting Maryborough is one of the most immersive heritage tourism experiences in Queensland.

The Fraser Coast Regional Council is dedicated to the region’s culture and heritage, prioritising the exploration of its diversity and the furthering of culture initiatives throughout the area. This is where the heritage-listed building which was home to the Australian Joint Stock Bank, comes into the story.

331 Kent Street, formerly the Australian Joint Stock Bank, was also the birthplace of PL Travers. The imaginative and fun-loving creator of Mary Poppins spent a magical childhood living upstairs in the Bank Manager’s quarters and playing in the streets and riverside haunts of Maryborough. Relocating to England at the age of 25, she changed her name from Helen Lyndon Goff to Pamela Lyndon Travers and began writing the first of eight Mary Poppins books.

In 2015, the Council acquired this beautiful and storied building, vowing to restore it to its forming glory, and reuse it as a creative space celebrating its heritage.

Due to open in 2019, the Story Bank will be an innovative, interpretive centre, paying homage to the life and works of PL Travers, Maryborough’s unique social and cultural history, and the stories of the Butchulla people of the Fraser Coast, most significantly through an ode to the Legends of Moorie Jarl. Written by Wilf Reeves and his sister in 1964, this was the first Aboriginal children’s book, commemorating the stories and legends of the Butchulla people. I find it very appropriate to celebrate the first Aboriginal children’s book alongside the local authoress who dedicated her life to honouring childhood.

The Council’s vision is to assemble a bank of stories, a home for storytellers to pass on the cultural heritage of the Fraser Coast communities. The aim is for stories to continue to be deposited well into the future, and withdrawn and perused by locals and visitors alike. The Story Bank will feature interactive displays, artists-in-residence opportunities, workshops, design features, and meeting places for creative pursuits of all kinds.

The Council is seeking expressions of interest from Queensland-based artists for a slew of quirky and mind-bending commissioned pieces, such as interactive bookcases with hidey-holes; a Village of Fairytales carved into the spines of books, replicating Cherry Tree Lane; a Very Little People display in the nooks and crannies of a cabinet of curiosities; and a Staircase of Stories, making use of the interplay of light and shadow to create other-worldly sensations.

To get involved in this weird and wonderful project, or to find out more, have a look at the commission guidelines: http://www.ourfrasercoast.com.au/Portals/0/Story%20Bank%20Art%20Collection%20-%20Guidelines.pdf?ver=2018-10-12-013455-977, and keep an eye on Brisbane Art Guide’s updates, http://bneart.com/story-bank-art-collection/.

It’s Good to be BAD!

Posted on by Chiara Torelli


Brisbane truly is Australia’s new world city!

Awash with events and festivals which resonate on the international stage, it’s a thriving, evolving city where creative boundaries are continually being pushed.

If you doubted this, you have only to look at the 17-day design extravaganza that is the Brisbane Art Design Festival. From the 16th to the 26th of May 2019, over 150 Brisbane creatives will grace 25+ locations around the city with their innovative and dynamic exhibitions, performances, talks, art tours, workshops and open studios.

Here’s the low down on why it’s so good to be BAD.

Celebrating the collective creativity of Brisbane’s art community, this initiative of the Museum of Brisbane champions the emerging talents who are forging their name within the community, and welcomes home the established trailblazers who are shaking things up on an international level.

The Museum itself is the hub of this city-wide event and hosts the signature exhibition which is the heart of the festival every year. From the 10th of May to the 11th of August, Brisbane’s best and brightest will be celebrated on Level 3, where the BAD@MoB exhibition features artists and installations across a wide range of media and practices, from robotics, performance art, video, installation, ceramics, jewellery and painting.

Another highlight has to be the BADtours+CBD. On the 25th of May, from 11.30 -2 pm, public art curator Beth Jackson takes you on a bespoke art, design, and food tour focused on Brisbane’s distinctive character.

The tour leaves from the Museum of Brisbane, and in between art-filled alleys and public art and design sites, you can enjoy a light artisanal lunch and a natural wine tasting at Felix for Goodness, one of Brissy’s culinary heavyweights.

For an inside look into the process of putting together such a behemoth of an exhibition, join curator Miranda Hine on the 24th of May, from 2-2.30pm as she takes you behind the scenes of the curatorial framework of this celebratory showcase.

She’ll also lead you through an intimate tour of the artists on show, giving you the benefit of her sharp curator’s instinct and appreciation for innovative, creative design.

For an honest and loving insight into an artist’s impressions of her home city, check out Maureen Hansen’s exhibition at the Woolloongabba Art Gallery until the 31st of May.

This Brisbanite is captivated by the way light plays with nature and its colours, creating joyful and fresh observations of life in Queensland.

In ‘From Life: Brisbane Light’, Maureen explores feelings of change in Brisbane, interpreting her surroundings in authentic, honest, and endearing paintings.

On the 25th of May, from 11.30-1pm at Griffith University Art Museum, children aged seven and above can learn the basics of drawing cartoon characters and adapt their physical appearance to reflect their personalities or feelings.

Kids will pick up a variety of skills, including making characters move, designing frame and speech bubbles, and outlining story progressions. Drawing materials are provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own journals!

In short, BAD is an artistic whirlwind of talent, vision and creativity, which promises to shake Brisbane to its roots and proves, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that our city owns its place on the world’s design stage.

For a full list of other locations and events, check out the BAD programme here!

Happy viewing!