Loving live music isn’t just about attending music festivals and seeing an international artist’s massive arena show. Even the biggest of big-name headliners started in the trenches, on the sticky carpets and bandrooms of your local bars and pubs – which is exactly where you should be if you want to discover your new favourite band or venue. Here’s our picks for this week’s best local gigs from Aussie talent – from Perth to the East Coast – and all for the price of a good meal.
Mojo Juju
Where? The Espy, 11 The Esplande, St. Kilda, Melbourne
When? 8:00pm, Friday 1st August
Why? The weekend has arrived and so too has the final month of winter, so you need to be out celebrating, right? Guess what? This bad-boy – wait, bad-girl, is completely free. Mojo Juju, known as the “wise-crackin, sass-mouthin, jump-jivin attitude wrapped up in a zoot suit” is taking her indescribable jazz and blues swag to The Espy this Friday night; we suggest you check ‘Must Be Desire’ as a bit of a taste-taste. To make things even better, Mojo Juju will be supported by Kira Puru, Lachy Doley, Dale Winters and Benjalu.
Tickets & Info: Free show, www.espy.com.au
Smooch Records Release Party: SMILE, Rat & Co and Mouth Tooth
Where? The Toff In Town, 2/252 Swanston St, Melbourne CBD
When? 8:00pm, Thursday 31st July
Why? It being almost the weekend, you’re definitely allowed to let yourself out of the house and have a bev or two at Smooch Records’ launch party at The Toff. (Who really does any work on Fridays anyway?) The event is headlined by the gorgeously melodic slack rockers SMILE, responsible for the psych-laden soother ‘Born Again.’ The buck doesn’t stop there, with “Melbourne’s best kept secret” (alright, it’s no secret anymore) Rat & Co and their ambient electronica arrangements, plus the hypnotic dream-pop Mouth Tooth. It’s rare to see this amount of local talent squeeze into one venue, let alone for a scant $10. Melbournites, there isn’t anywhere else you can afford to be this Thursday night.
Tickets & Info: $10.00, www.facebook.com & http://tickets.thetoffintown.com
The Broken Needles & Willow Darling
Where? The Tote, 67-71 Johnston Street, Collingwood, Melbourne
When? 6:00pm, Sunday 3rd August
Why? Whether you’re a pig in mud when it comes to a Sunday sesh or you just desire an escape from the ‘end of weekend’ depression, this is the perfect remedy. The Broken Needles, hot off the release of their stellar sophomore record Holy Coast, are performing a chilled out set, littered with their alt-country beauties like ‘Bound To Fade.’ Taking the soothing vibes to a whole new level are up and coming folk-meets-psychedelica quintet Willow Darling. Producing an enchanting sound that’s reminiscent of Fleet Foxes, the dual harmonies of Cahill Kelly and Jack McCloskey will make you forget that you’ve got work at 9am Monday morning. Post-rockers I/O and Amadeus Tulip support.
Tickets & Info: $6.00 http://thetotehotel.com
Ryan Downey (Formally Venice Music)
Where? Some Velvet Morning, 123 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill, Melbourne
When? 8:00pm, Saturday 2nd August
Why? Do you love a live performance that leaves you lost for words? Enter Ryan Downey, whom has previously performed under the moniker Venice Music, who’s celebrating a relaunch of sorts due to performing under his own name – playing a free show this Saturday night. Downey is a true treasure of Melbourne, with creations such as ‘The One’, this artists produces a dark twist on alternative folk, his rich, suave baritone combined with gloomy acoustic twangs paints a black beauty aesthetic rather akin to The Prince of Darkness, Nick Cave. The supports are equally as incredible as Downey himself, including Emma Russack, Lehmann B Smith, Prudence Rees-Lee, Jade McInally (Tantrums, Teeth & Tongue), Lucy Roleff (Magic Hands) and New Archer.
Tickets & Info: Free Show, www.facebook.com & www.somevelvetmorning.com.au
Willow Beats
Where? Ginger Nightclub, Level 1, 434 William St, Perth
When? 8.00pm, Friday 1st August
Why? Even if you’ve been living under a rock, there’s simply no way you that wouldn’t have heard of Willow Beats (not Willow or Willow Darling, duh!) The electronica inspired duo are absolutely killing it at the moment, having recently been signed with Pilerat Records. In conjunction with their signing, the pair have released a brand-spanking new single ‘Merewif‘ (which has already clocked over 150,000 plays on Soundcloud already) and have hit the open road in celebration. The uncle-niece pair will be placing the lucky folk of Perth under their spell this Friday and we must warn you, this may be the last time you’ll ever get to experience their sonic wonderland for so cheap.
Tickets & Info: $13.30, www.facebook.com & http://tickets.oztix.com.au
Man The Clouds, The Fire Alive & Fucking Teeth
Where? The Bird, 181 William St, Northbridge, Perth
When? 8:00pm, Friday 1st August
Why? West-Coasters, you’ve got yet another cracking live gig lined up this weekend. Fiery psychedelic soul legends, Man The Clouds, will be performing their final set in Perth before moving to the East and they want you to send them off in style. The two-piece will be supported by local pals Fucking Teeth as well as welcoming Melbourne outfit The Fire Alive, who are more than excited to announce their brand-spanking new single, ‘A/V.’
Tickets & Info: $10.00, www.facebook.com & www.williamstreetbird.com
The Walking Who & Miners
Where? FBi Social Kings Cross Hotel, 248 William Street, Kings Cross
When? 8:00pm, Saturday 2nd August
Why? To say summer is on the mind of the folk at FBi Social would be a gross understatement. Hosting a party entitled ‘Beached Friends,’ the Sydney venue will be rocked by surf-janglers The Walking Who, who produce some of the most sun-stained woozey, chilled out jams that’ll make you believe you’re cruising the coast on a 35 degree day (just dig ‘Roses’ as proof). Joined by the more clanging punk meets guitar-bending shoegaze outfit Miners, responsible for the killer ‘Restless’, sees the FBi social promise of an evening of burning sounds. You couldn’t afford that plane trip to sun yourself in Thailand? Fuck it, shell out a $10 and let these two incredible bands warm you the hell up.
Tickets & Info: $10.00, http://fbisocial.fatsoma.com
Jenny Broke The Window
Where? Beach Road Hotel, 71 Beach Road, Bondi Beach, Sydney
When? 8:00, Wednesday 30th July
Why? We’ve said it once and if SOSUEME/Beach Road Hotel continue to put on these killer free gigs, we’ll say it a million times, we love these Wednesday night parties in Bondi! This week’s instalment is headlined by local outfit Jenny Broke the Window. The indie quintet aren’t your average pop-rock outfit, adding layers of delicious guitar licks and drumbeats that’ll get your feet moving, exemplified best by their breakout tune ‘Rum N’ Cola.’ Supports for this rad freebie are Wish and Luc. If you’re yet to make your way to one of these shindigs, this is the perfect introduction.
Tickets & Info: Free Show www.facebook.com & http://beachroadbondi.com.au
The Moose
Where? Black Bear Lodge, Level 1/322 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
When? 8:00pm, Thursday, 31st July
Why? Live music lovers of Brisbane, we’ve got a public service announcement for you all: your company is required at The Black Bear Lodge this Thursday night. Local three-piece The Moose will be taking to the stage for a gig that they’re pretty darn stoked about. Creating a sonic haze of alt-rock that harkens back to the genre’s glory days of the early 1990’s, this trio add a sheen of DIY low-fi on tracks such as ‘Glacier,’ producing a sound that is entirely their own. To make this evening even better, the band will be joined by The Ultrafantastics and Howling Seas (one of Australia’s best acts under 18.)
Tickets & Info: $8.00 www.facebook.com & www.blackbearlodge.com.au
