Held in honour of the thirty-one year recording career of Australian garage legends the Hoodoo Gurus, Dig It Up! highlights the iconic bands finely honed musical taste and inspiration by way of multi-band / multi-venue appearances in both Sydney and Melbourne and single stage events in other capital cities.
The April 2012 Dig It Up! featured a debut Australian appearance from sixties garage-legends The Sonics, power-pop deities Redd Kross, NYC garage-pop combo The Fleshtones, paisley-underground pioneer Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate), Japan’s trashy but fun The 5,6,7,8’s and a stellar list of Australian underground rock royalty (old and new) in Died Pretty, Tek & Younger (ex-Radio Birdman), Hard-Ons, Royal Headache, The Frowning Clouds, The Straight Arrows and of course, Hoodoo Gurus.
For the 2012 Dig It Up! Hoodoo Gurus performed Stoneage Romeos their much loved debut album in its entirety. For the 2013 edition of Dig it Up! Hoodoo Gurus will again perform a full work, their equally as impressive second album Mars Needs Guitars (a feature listing in 2010 book: 100 Best Australian albums) and home to singles Like Wow, Wipeout! Death Defying and the classic Bittersweet.
It’s another first in a series of firsts for Dig It Up! 2013 where once again the Hoodoo Gurus have put together an ultimate (live) mix-tape for fans of real rock ‘n’ roll.
First up are San Francisco’s Flamin’ Groovies – featuring core members Cyril Jordan (guitar/vocals), Chris Wilson (vocals/guitar) and George Alexander (bass/vocals) – who produced some of the decade’s most vital recordings, including the classic singles Shake Some Action and Slow Death. The band’s 1976 masterpiece album (also titled Shake Some Action) combined the early pop and R&B leanings of both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones with the focused energy of the emerging US and UK alternative rock scenes, landing the band god-head-status for a new generation of music fans looking for the sort of kicks not heard of since the high of the mid-sixties.
Joining the Hoodoo Gurus and Flamin’ Groovies are the ultimate ‘cult’ band, Blue Oyster Cult, who are revered by punks, metal heads, sci-fi geeks and horror movie fans alike, carving out a 40-year career via a string of complex hard rock albums and killer live shows. This will be the first-ever Australian tour for Blue Oyster Cult and it’s all thanks to Hoodoo Gurus.
UK punk pioneers Buzzcocks however are no strangers to Australian shores and it’s not hard to see why. Their trademark mix of hi-energy guitars and pop smarts resulted in some of the greatest songs of the punk-era: Ever Fallen in Love, What Do I Get, Love You More, timeless tracks that resonate over and over with younger generations.
Love The Beatles?
Get the latest The Beatles news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more
A key influence on Australian acts as disparate as Hoodoo Gurus, Hard-Ons and The Mark Of Cain, their trademark sound has also provided the blueprint for every wanna be punk band since 1976 and their live show is always top shelf. Original ‘Cocks Shelley & Diggle will lead their band of merry pranksters through Dig it Up! Sydney and Melbourne and for headline appearances in most capital cities.
Rounding out the lineup are underground garage icons and Hoodoo Gurus heir apparent The Stems, and Peter Case who made a name for himself in the late seventies via power-pop pioneers The Nerves, a band only ever released one EP in their time but it featured the original version of the Blondie hit, Hanging On the Telephone.
But wait, there’s more! In addition to the above nominated acts Hoodoo Gurus will select an all-star all quality support cast to assist in bringing the streets and venues of Sydney and Melbourne alive with the Dig It Up! sound. Stay tuned for those choice cuts.
Dig it Up! The Hoodoo Gurus Invitational 2013 Lineup
The Hoodoo Gurus performing Mars Needs Guitars
Flamin’ Groovies
Blue Oyster Cult
Buzzcocks
Peter Case
The Stems
+ more to be announced
DIG IT UP! Hoodoo Gurus Invitational 2013 Dates & Tickets
Tickets on sale Friday February 8th 2013
Thur April 18th, The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD
Featuring Hoodoo Gurus, Blue Oyster Cult, & Flamin’ Groovies.
Tickets: ticketek.com.au, feelpresents.com, oztix.com.au, phone 132 849 or in person at all Ticketek and Oztix outlets.
Doors Open 7.00pm.
Fri April 19th, Twin Towns, Gold Coast, QLD
Featuring Hoodoo Gurus, and Blue Oyster Cult.
Tickets: www.twintowns.com.au or phone 1800 014 014.
Doors Open 8.00pm
Sun April 21st, Enmore Theatre & surrounds, Sydney, NSW
Four Venues / Four Stages: The Enmore Theatre, Mojo (formerly Notes), The Sly Fox and The Green Room
Featuring Hoodoo Gurus, Blue Oyster Cult, Flamin’ Groovies, Buzzcocks, Peter Case Band, The Stems and loads more. Four venues, 20+ artists all within 1-3 minutes walk of each other. Take advantage of all day pass outs, a street full of quality food and restricted capacity. All events held indoors.
Tickets: ticketek.com.au, feelpresents.com, or in person at the Venue Box Office and Ticketek.
Doors open 12pm
Thur April 25th, The Palace Theatre & surrounds, MELBOURNE, VIC
Three Venues / Four Stages: Palace Theatre (main room and The Attic), TBC and Spleen Bar.
Featuring Hoodoo Gurus, Blue Oyster Cult, Flamin’ Groovies, Buzzcocks, Peter Case Band, The Stems and loads more. Three venues all within less than 5 min walk from each other in central city Melbourne. Take advantage of all days pass outs, a street full of quality food and restricted capacity.
Tickets: ticketek.com.au, feelpresents.com, oztix.com.au, phone 132 849 or in person at Ticketek and Oztix outlets (including Greville & Polyester Records)
Doors open 1pm
Fri April 26th, HQ, ADELAIDE, SA
Featuring Hoodoo Gurus, Flamin’ Groovies, & Peter Case Band.
Tickets: venuetix.com.au, feelpresents.com, oztix.com.au, phone (08) 8225 8888 or in person at any VenueTix or Oztix outlet.
Doors open 8.00pm
Sun April 28th, Astor Theatre, PERTH, WA
Featuring Hoodoo Gurus, Flamin’ Groovies, & Peter Case Band.
Tickets: www.showticketing.com.au, feelpresents.com, oztix.com.au, phone (08) 9370 5888 or in person at the Venue Box Office.
Doors open 6.00pm
