MITCH POWER & WILL WOOD (NZ)

Melbourne singer/songwriter and guitarist Mitch Power has spent the last decade as an in-demand player with Deep Street Soul, Kylie Auldist and many more, playing shows nationally, in New York, Europe and at the iconic Glastonbury Music Festival in the UK. 

Now Mitch’s focus is on his promising solo career which has quickly gained momentum since playing at the Northern Beaches Music Festival, Jamgrass Music Festival, being a finalist in the Australian Songwriters Awards and having his debut EP No One’s Waiting Anymore recorded and produced by three time ARIA winner Jeff Lang. 

Mitch writes songs in the rich and emotive storytelling style of Americana music. Residing at the alt-country end of the genre, he dials into a world greatly influenced by Dylan, The Band and Neil Young and currently populated by artists such as Ryan Adams, Jason Isbell and Ryan Bingham. 

Surrounding himself with a stellar collection of some of Melbourne’s finest alt-country players in Ben Franz, Cat Canteri, Craig Kelly, Jeff Lang and Alison Ferrier, Mitch has recorded an EP that serves as a calling card for his songwriting talent and solidifies his reputation as an important and accomplished songwriter on the local and national scene.

Since the release of his debut LP 'Broken Man' Will Wood has kept up a constant busy touring schedule playing across New Zealand, Australia and Europe and has also recorded a sophomore LP to be released in early 2016. His songwriting is noted for its country/folk aspect that draws from a wide timeline of influences who exuded the same forthright attitudes and story-telling songs, ranging from the original folk troubadour/activist Woody Guthrie through to early Johnny Cash and onwards through Townes Van Zandt and Gram Parsons and more recent influences like Billy Bragg and Justin Townes Earle.

FRANK SULTANA plus guest LUCAS ROAD

Sunday March 20th 3pm free

Sydney bluesman, Frank Sultana is back with a new solo single, ‘Six Foot in the Ground’, taken from his fifth release, and forthcoming EP ‘Abstract in Blue Volume 1’. A murder ballad of sorts, ‘Six Foot in the Ground’ is the latest instalment in what is becoming an impressive catalogue of modern urban blues which has its roots firmly planted in the pre WW2 Mississippi delta sound. ‘Six Foot in the Ground’ is set for release at the end of Feb and the EP ‘Abstract in Blue Volume 1’ will be out mid-March. Coinciding with this, Frank is set to hit the road for an extensive run of solo shows. Special guest support for the tour will be Sydney’s Lucas Road. The ‘Abstract in Blue Tour’ kicks off in February in Sydney, taking in all east coast capital cities as well as regional and coastal centres, and includes 5 shows with iconic Australian guitarist Diesel…….

THE STIFFYS

Sat 5th March 8:30pm $15 tickets http://www.trybooking.com/KLRT

‘The Stiffys Go Driving’ tour sees Melbourne’s Art Rock pioneers back on the road after a massive year - which included 50 shows across the country, the release of widely acclaimed ART ROCK ONE and the addition of a guitarist. The band will venture beyond its usual capital city fan base thanks to new guitarist Dev owning a car, explains bassist Jason Leigh. “IT’S REALLY GREAT NOW THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE IN THE BAND WHO IS CAPABLE OF DRIVING BECAUSE ADAM AND I ARE BOTH QUITE FOCUSSED ON ENJOYING THE ROCK AND ROLL LIFESTYLE.” “IT’S BEEN A LOT EASIER FOR US TO TOUR REGIONAL AUSTRALIA SINCE WE TRANSITIONED FROM SAILORS TO ASTRONAUTS AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE BECOMING LESS CONFUSED BY US.” ‘The Stiffys Go Driving’ tour will see the band visit Belgrave, Moruya (NSW) and Kyneton for the first time while returning to Ballarat, Canberra, Fitzroy, Warrnambool and Wollongong.

THE ONCE

Sun 28th Feb 3pm free

The Newfoundland-based trio THE ONCE have been on a whirlwind ride the last couple of years, touring the globe with Passenger as well as featuring on his most recent album, earning Juno & Canadian Folk Music Awards and nominations, and selling out headline shows all across the world off the back of their most recent album, ‘Departures’. They are very pleased to announce their return to Australian in February & March 2016 after selling out a string of shows in early 2015, and are excited to grace the stages of both WOMADelaide and the Blue Mountains Folk Festival on their travels. 

http://www.theonce.ca/

TIM EASTON (USA) & DAVEY CRADDOCK

Feb 26th, 8:30pm    tickets http://www.trybooking.com/KLNF

Davey Craddock and The Spectacles and Nashville’s Tim Easton are teaming up for a co – headline tour of the East Coast of Australia.

They were put in touch through a mutual friend, Americana Songstress Ruby Boots knowing that their music would compliment each other perfectly.

WA's wide-open landscapes, crane-dotted skyline and boomtown growing pains are the backdrop to award-winning Perth artist Davey Craddock’s songwriting and like the city he’s based in Craddock’s profile has grown rapidly in the past 18 months. Described last month by TheMusic.com.au as an ‘Australicana’ songwriter, Craddock’s recent single ‘Better Alone’, the first from his debut album ‘City East’ released on 5th Feb was added to rotation on Double J. In the lead up to its release Craddock was nominated for three WAMi Awards (Folk Song Of the Year, Country Song of the Year and Best Country Act), won Best Group at the WA Country Music Awards, was added to the bill of the West Coast Blues and Roots Festival and named in Americana blogs Sun 209 (Nashville) and Post To Wire’s (Sydney) yearly best of lists. In between his own national touring, in the past year Craddock has been invited to play shows supporting The Waifs, Marlon Williams, The Basics, The Peep Temple and Don Walker.

“Fantastic stuff, Davey comes with quite the reputation”  Myf Warhurst, Double J

 American songwriter Tim Easton was raised in Akron, Ohio.  Traveling early and often, he learned the ways of the road and rails and spent 7 years as a bonafide troubadour, making his way around Europe, playing the streets and clubs, and living in Paris, London, Prague, Dublin, or wherever he laid his hat.  It was this period of time when he developed his songwriting style-folk based storytelling and personal traveling tales, often peppered with bold confessions or “tell it as it is” reality.  Rolling Stone Magazine praised him as “having a novelist’s sense of humanity.”  

   Returning to his roots in North America, New West Records released five solo albums starting with 2001’s “The Truth About Us,” which featured three fourths of WILCO as the backing band.  Invitations from Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, and Steve Earle to be a support act followed, and he recorded another album for THIRTY TIGERS (“NOT COOL” 2013) in Nashville, which accented the stripped down Memphis & Sun Studios sound of the Tennessee Three.  His newest record “AMERICAN FORK,”-a grand departure from his previous efforts, featuring a fully flushed out backing band of Nashville studio musicians and elaborate songs arrangements, will be released first on CAMPFIRE PROPAGANDA, Easton’s own independent songwriter collective and label, founded amidst the exploding art and music scene of East Nashville.

SKYSCRAPER STAN & THE COMMISSION FLATS

tickets http://www.trybooking.com/KFBM

 Throughout early 2016 Skyscraper Stan is taking his band the Commission Flats back out on the road. Having spent the majority of 2015 travelling the country as a solo troubadour Stan has reassembled the Flats for a run of 18 shows around the country taking in much of the East Coast and throwing in several festival appearances to boot. Using previous SSATCF tours as a reference we can expect dynamite performances, semi-coherent banter, cases of VB and late night calls from regional police stations asking for someone to come and collect the backing singer.

DAN KELLY

Feb 6th, 2016

tickets http://www.trybooking.com/KEVK

Dan Kelly has released three lauded CDs and two EPs over the last ten years. Both solo and with his bands Dan Kelly and The Alpha Males and Dan Kelly Dream Band.

 He has received Seven Aria nominations, is J Award and AMP Award nominated and won The Age Award for Best Male Artist in 2010 and Inpress Magazine Album of the Year for 'Drowning in the Fountain of Youth'.

 He has played on 4 albums with Paul Kelly, touring as his guitarist as well as playing and sometimes recording with Augie March,  Neil Finn, Spencer Jones, Bic Runga and Kasey Chambers.

 His song "Drunk on Election Night' is the unofficial election night anthem of Australia. Dan was rated 23rd best guitar player in Australian History ever in Guitar Player magazine last year. tours solo often and is known to tell lots of funny stories as well as shred his guitar while being wrapped in rope lights and over using his smoke machine at times.

His six piece Dan Kelly Dream Band is a widescreen psychedelic party with ultra narrative lyrics, dancing and gravity defying hair styles. Featuring members of Augie March, Ground Components, CW Stonekings touring band  and the Magic Mountain Band

Dan's duet on Rock Wiz with Martha Wainwright singing 'Slave to Love' is considered by many to be the sexiest moment ever in Australian Variety TV history.

He has been named by Australian songwriter Courtney Barnett as an influence.

Dan Kelly's  new album 'Leisure Panic!' was released in Oct to critical acclaim. 

MIGHTIEST OF GUNS

Jan 31st arvo 3-5pm free

MIGHTIEST OF GUNS are a dark, slacker country quartet born in a dirty warehouse in Abbotsford, Melbourne in 2011. Featuring members of Cash Savage And The Last Drinks, and The Baudelaires; their gritty, raucous songs are inspired by desperation, drunkenness and cruelty.

TIM WHEATLEY plus ANNA CORDELL

Fri Jan 29th 8:30pm

After a successful month long tour of Australia playing packed out venues, Tim Wheatley is now heading back to LA to launch his debut solo record in his current hometown on the other side of the world.  The Melbourne indie alt folk troubadour’s hard work has paid off, scoring the ultimate recognition from the industry, impressing fans and critics alike with his album, Cast Of Yesterday, with the album charting at number 9 on the weekend’s ARIA country music chart and number 18 on the Australian artists chart. 

“Full of nostalgia, melodies and magic that shows Wheatley has finally arrived” Herald Sun

Anna Cordell plays delicate yet deceptively complex folk music. Her voice is rich and tender yet lyrically her music is filled with angst and conflict, an emotional impact that is heightened by her penchant for the minor key.

“Some of the most moving and enthralling folk tunes we’ve heard all year.” TONEDEAF

www.timwheatley.net

www.annacordellmusic.com