BATTERIE - 'Spring Step'

BATTERIE is the new improvised Glitch Pop Electronica solo project of Jared Underwood. Jared is an award winning Australian musician, composer and producer. 

In 2011 Jared won 'Best Original Score' at TROPFEST for the Film 'A Desperate Deed'. Jared has performed, recorded and collaborated with a myriad of ensembles and bands including Grafton Primary, The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Johns, Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore.

Launching his first single, BATTERIE supported Gang Gang Dance at the Sydney Opera House when they came to visit late last year. 

Now, Jared has teamed up with dancer Lo-arna Evangeline Okan and cinematographer Asher-lily Green to create a spectacular video clip for his first single Spring Step. Marvel at the colourful, beautiful imagery and the striking beats here. 

BIGSOUND 2012 Live Application Deadline Extended

Deadline for BIGSOUND Live 2012 applications extended to Friday May 11. 

With last year's event smashing home a reputation as the Southern Hemisphere's global music gathering,BIGSOUND has launched with its first announcement of speakers and live performers converging on Brisbane's Fortitude Valley Live Music Precinct from September 12 to 14, 2012. 

Artist applications for the BIGSOUND Live program have now been extended by one week, to close Friday May 11. 

BIGSOUND has announced its first three keynote speakers last month, with one of the planet's most perplexing artistsBen Lee, EMI Chairman Mark Poston and award winning artist and activist David Bridie taking to the podium in September. Overseas guests include Jack White's Third Man Records MD Ben Swank (US); Spotify's Rene Chambers (UK); Lisa Hresko (US) editor of CMJ; European promoter Heart of Gold's David Jimenez-Zumalacarregui (Spain); C3 Presents' Aly Ehlinger(Lollapolooza, Austin City Limits) (US); Merlin's Charles Caldas (UK); and Grouplove managers Nicky & Ben Berger (US). 

Local speakers Nick Findlay (triple j), Ian Haug(Powerfinger), Richard Moffat (Way Over There- Falls Festival / Parklife / Groovin the Moo) and Jessica Ducrou (Village Sounds- Splendour in the Grass) round out the speaker announcement. 

Ten artists have also been confirmed for BIGSOUND Livewith Kate Miller-Heidke, Violent Soho, Eagle & the Worm,The Paper Kites, King Cannons, The Cairos, Oliver Tank,Kira Puru & the Bruise, The Trouble with Templeton andThe Preachers all locked in to appear. 90 more will be revealed with artists encouraged to apply now to join the lineup at www.bigsound.org.au. 

"BIGSOUND 2012 already feels like it has the good will and natural momentum to step up again on what we achieved last year. ," said programmer Graham Ashton. "The international interest has gone up another level which is proven by the quality of our first speaker announcement and BIGSOUND has become the one real gathering of the tribe for the Australian music community. Most importantly, the artist applications that are coming in already ensure that Fortitude Valley is the place to be this September." 

Tickets for BIGSOUND are now available at the early bird rate of just $295 for Q Music members and $395 for non-members. This discount price is available to May 17 only and includes entry to all official conference sessions, parties, after-parties and live music events. 

BIGSOUND LIVE ARTIST APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN AT 
www.bigsound.org.au 

TICKETS FOR BIGSOUND ARE ON SALE NOW FROM
www.bigsound.org.au 

Follow BIGSOUND online: 
@bigsoundtweets || www.facebook.com/BIGSOUNDmusic 

Deadline Extended for 2012 Queensland Music Awards

Entries for the 2012 Queensland Music Awards have been extended until May 13. With hundreds of entries pouring in from all over the state, awards organiserQMusic has announced they will be extending entries for both the awards and the Billy Thorpe Scholarship for a further two weeks. "We are thrilled with the response from artists and musicians from all over the state this year," QMusicExecutive Offer Denise Foley said. "We have had a record number of entries in the Urban, Electronic and Heavy categories and that has been really exciting for us. We hope the extension gives more artists the opportunity to get their music heard by the fantastic national judging panel we have on board this year." The awards, which take place at the Old Museum in Brisbane on August 14th, have previously served to highlight and honor the achievements of many talented Queenslanders.  Last year's winners included international buzz band, DZ Deathrays, Emma Louise, Kate Miller-Heidke, Amity Affliction, Ben Salter, The Middle East and many more.  The QMAs and its predecessor QSong have also honoured legends of the Queensland music industry including The Bee Gees, Kev Carmody, Carol Lloyd (Railroad Gin) andBill Hauritz (Woodford Folk Festival) providing a link from the state's rich history to its bright future.  Bands and solo artists are encouraged to apply in a variety of categories- - rock, jazz, urban and everything in between. There's even a new category being introduced for 2012- Children's Songs.  The ceremony itself will once again take place at the Old Museum in Bowen Hills on August 14.  For more details and application information,www.queenslandmusicawards.com.au

Cub Scouts Earn New Video and Tour Badges

Brisbane buzz-band Cub Scouts today announce their first national headline tour as they unleash video to their new single, "Do You Hear".  With radio waves duly conquered with their summer hit "Evie", the band quickly jumped on the road with Pluto Jonze, then Ball Park Music, completing two rounds of the country, completing their whirlwind rise from garage obscurity to national touring powerhouse. With a Brisbane show on May 11 rounding out their tour with Ball Park Music, the band will head around the country once more with shows on the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne andAdelaide.  The new single "Do You Hear" has continued the band's initial radio success, achieving the #1 position in the AIRitcommunity radio charts and support from triple j. The track is from their forthcoming EP produced by John Castle (Washington, Cat Empire).  "Do You Hear" has pricked the ears and piqued the interest of music lovers and partygoers across the country- it's an accomplished track, showing the band's trademark youthful vibe maturing into a unique and exciting imprint.

'DO YOU HEAR' TOUR  Sat 26th May: The Loft, Gold Coast ($10+bf) 18+ or with guardian www.oztix.com.au  Fri 1st June: FBI Social "FBI Winter Prom", Sydney (12+bf) with Olympic Ayers & Shady Lane www.oztix.com.au  Sat 2nd June: Ed Castle 'Plus One', Adelaide ($10+bf) with City Riots, The Leitmotif & Little Two Eyeswww.moshtix.com.au  Sat 9th June: The Grace Darling Hotel, Melbourne ($10+bf) with Dirt Farmer & Griffon Green www.moshtix.com.au

The Maccabees Australian Tour 2012

Having dropped the single Pelican late in 2011, a mighty tune to
rival Love You Better, high on the agenda for *The Maccabees* in
2012 is the release of third album Given to the Wild. The album was
released on the 27th Jan receiving JJJ Feature Album and #5 in the UK
charts.The lads are also making no secret of wanting to pick up where
Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian left off. With NME touting the outfit to
be the best young guitar band in Britain at the absolute peak of
their powers scooping us up with arresting stabs of guitar and a
post-punk muscularity.

*The Maccabees* third album Given To The Wild is the culmination of
two years of writing and recording. Having followed Wall of Arms
2009's critically-lauded second release - with main stage slots at
Reading and Leeds Festivals, and two sell-out shows at Brixton
Academy, the London five piece (singer Orlando Weeks, bassist Rupert
Jarvis, guitarists Felix and Hugo White and drummer Sam Doyle) are
showing that Given To The Wild is a sprawling masterpiece of
distorted pop, psychedelia and soulful guitar wig outs. It is the
band's most adventurous work to date.

The Maccabees are entering the prime of their musical lives - NME

The meticulously evolved sound of a band aiming to bid to breathe
life into British indie - Observer Music Monthly

Maccabees Tour Dates May 2012 

• 09/05/12 THE MACCABEES in BRISBANE at THE HI FI Buy tickets
• 10/05/12 THE MACCABEES in SYDNEY at METRO THEATRE Buy tickets
• 16/05/12 THE MACCABEES in MELBOURNE at THE HI FI Buy tickets
• 18/05/12 THE MACCABEES in Perth at Capitol Buy tickets

Jonathan Boulet New Single - This Song Is Called Ragged

Sydney upstart Jonathan Boulet gives you his new single, This Song Is Called Ragged, from the forthcoming album “We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart” out June 8 on Modular Recordings.

A swirling, percussive uprising of the most positive kind, This Song Is Called Ragged is available now as a free download for 2 weeks only, then as a double A-side 7” b/w Trounce and as digital remix bundle with reworks from Dro Carey and Jonti on May 25.

DOWNLOAD ‘THIS SONG IS CALLED RAGGED’ FOR FREE NOW

On his debut self-titled album, Jonathan Boulet was an accomplished first step for the Sydney native – recorded, played, sung, produced and mixed by a 21 year old in his parent’s garage. On We Keep The Beat... Boulet has again taken the reins, but this time he’s opened the doors to the garage and let the world in, and it shows. 

We Keep The Beat… is a soaring burst of melody and harmony, built on the blocks of primal, incessant rhythm. It features choruses of chanting choirs, speedball drum lines and junkyards of melodic percussion. It’s a dense, cathartic record of unbridled energy and heavy pop.

 “WE KEEP THE BEAT, FOUND THE SOUND, SEE THE NEED, START THE HEART”
OUT JUNE 8 (AUS) / JUNE 11 (EURO) / JUNE 12 (USA) ON MODULAR
www.jonathanboulet.com 

Missy Higgins Announces National Tour June/July 2012

Much loved Aussie songstress Missy Higgins finally returns to music today with both her brand new single -‘Unashamed Desire’ - and the announcement of ‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle Tour’ for June and July. This will be Missy’s first national tour in since 2007. Tickets go on sale to members of Missy’s database on April 30 and to the general public on May 2. ‘Unashamed Desire’ is Missy’s first new release in over five years. It follows her private decision to quit music despite selling over a million copies of her first two albums, ‘The Sound of White’ and ‘On A Clear Night’, loads of critical acclaim, multiple ARIA Awards and gold certification in the U.S. for her song “Where I Stood”. The story of the journey that brought her back to music forms the backbone of her new album ‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle’ which will land on June. The clip for ‘Unashamed Desire’ is also out today, and features Missy suspended in the air by dancers in a powerful combination of music, theatre and art. The video was directed by the ARIA Award winning Natasha Pincus.  Check it out here. Tickets for the ‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle Tour’ go on sale Wednesday May 2. Special guest on all shows will be fellow Aussie singer songwriter Butterfly Boucher who co-produced Missy’s album with the Nashville based Brad Jones. Missy has just been in the U.S. as special guest of Gotye. Last week – on the day his single “Somebody That I Used To Know” topped the U.S. charts – Missy joined Gotye on stage in San Francisco to perform Kimbra’s vocal part (Kimbra being in Europe to promote her album). The pair also teamed up again for a sold out show in Los Angeles the following night. “I was so nervous to have to sing that song,” said Missy. “It was fun though and a real honour. I was already really excited to be playing some new songs for the first time at that show so getting to sing with Wally on that day of all days made a good night even better.” ‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle’ Tour Presented by John Watson Management, The Harbour Agency and Street Press Australia: Fri June 1                 Adelaide, Her Majesty's Theatre  Tickets: www.bass.net.au / 131 246 Sat June 2                Perth, Astor Theatre  Tickets: www.bocsticketing.com.au / 08 9484 1133 / 1800 193 300 Wed June 6              Brisbane, The Tivoli  Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au / 132 849 Fri June 8             Sydney, York Theatre, Seymour Centre Tickets: http://sydney.edu.au/seymour / 02 9351 7940 Mon June 11           Wollongong, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre  Tickets: www.merrigong.com.au / 02 4224 5999 Wed June 13            Newcastle,  Newcastle  City Hall  Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au / 132 849 Thu June 14             Canberra, The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre  Tickets: www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au  / 02 6275 2700 Fri June 15           Geelong, Costa Hall, Geelong Performing Arts Centre  Tickets: www.gpac.org.au / 03 5225 1200 Sat June 16          Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre  Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au / 132 849 Fri July 27             Mackay, Mackay Entertainment Centre  Tickets: www.mackaytix.com.au / 07 4961 9777 Sat July 28            Rockhampton, The Pilbeam Theatre  Tickets: www.pilbeamtheatre.com.au / 07 4927 4111 Sun July 29           Splendour In The Grass, Bryon Bay Tickets: moshtix.com.au / 1300 GET TIX (438 849) from 9am AEST Friday 27 April

The Shins Announce Australian Sideshows!

Handsome Tours are very excited to announce the welcome return of their old friends The Shins to Australia this July. Armed with new material from their acclaimed fourth album Port Of Morrow, the band will perform at Splendour In The Grass, plus headline shows at Festival Hall in Melbourne and the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney.

It’s been a busy start to the year for the Portland based five piece, with the band currently in the midst of an extensive US tour to celebrate the release of Port Of Morrow. The album has been five years in the making, following on from their 2007 LP Wincing The Night Away, and was recorded throughout 2011 with band leader James Mercer handling all songwriting duties, lead vocals and the majority of instrumentation.

The Shins formed in 1996, when Mercer began writing what would eventually become the bands first record. Their first single ‘Nature Bears A Vacuum’ was released with no expectations, however it generated enough attention that at a performance supporting Modest Mouse in 2000, Sub Pop's Jonathan Poneman asked the band to contribute to the label's ‘Single of the Month Club’. This relationship eventually extended to Sub Pop releasing the bands 2001 single ‘New Slang’, and their debut album Oh, Inverted World. It received critical acclaim for its lyrically deft and jangly pop sound, with several songs featuring prominently on the soundtrack for the 2004 film Garden State, exposing the music of The Shins to a much wider audience.

Their sophomore record Chutes Too Narrow was released in the fall of 2003 to much fanfare in indie music circles, exploring new genres, song structures, and levels of production fidelity. The band's third album, Wincing the Night Away, was recorded during 2006 by a largely solo Mercer. It debuted at number 2 in the US, the highest chart position Sub Pop has ever achieved. Port of Morrow was released in March 2012, having so far stemmed the singles ‘Simple Song’ and ‘The Rifle’s Spiral’.

This tour will mark The Shins’ fifth visit to our shores since 2003. In fact, the band are so fond of Australia they named one of their pop gems after our fine country! Very special guests for both the Melbourne and Sydney shows will be the warm, harmony soaked sounds of Melbourne quartet Husky.

“Port of Morrow doesn't sound like it belongs to any particular decade or style, instead hopping around like some fully loaded AM radio dial that cranks out gem after gem.” Pitchfork

Web: www.theshins.com + www.twitter.com/theshins + www.facebook.com/theshins Video: The Rifle’s Spiral + Simple Song + Phantom Limb + Australia + New Slang + Turn On Me

The Shins Australian tour - July 2012 With special guests Husky

Presented by Triple J and FasterLouder Tickets on sale 11.00am AEST Monday the 30th of April.

Monday 23 July - Festival Hall - Melbourne

Tickets: Ticketmaster 136 100 and www.ticketmaster.com.au or Festival Hall Box Office, 288 Rosslyn St, West Melbourne

Wednesday 25 July - Hordern Pavilion - Sydney

Tickets: Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au The Shins will also perform at Splendour In The Grass, details at www.splendourinthegrass.com Port Of Morrow is out now through Sony.

Guards Of May Release New Video "Control"

Guards Of May has released the official music video for their debut single, "Control" with a sneak peak at material found on the upcoming EP release, to be announced soon. The music video was produced by Julian Pennisi (BlackLine Media) and Jake David Brown. Guards Of May is also pleased to announce their first show with DrawCard on the 12th May, 2012 at The Zoo from 8pm. Also supporting are Ninth Of May and Chamberland.   See the Shows page for details or visit Facebook to RSVP to the event (event page).

Bastardfest 2012

Alright you lot, this is the news you’ve all been drooling for. BASTARDFEST is back to brand your souls! 2011 gave every bastard in this country a chance to embrace each other to observe and relish the cream of Australian heavy music talent. Droves of bastards attended the 2011 festivals with almost every event selling out! Based on the huge success of last year, BASTARDFEST is once again a national celebration  with EVERY capital city in the country sporting a guernsey including our rambunctious capital Canberra, who, for the first time, will be staging a BASTARDFEST all of their own. 

Prepare yourselves for the might of BASTARDFEST. You'll fit right in!

October 13^th – Brisbane – The Hifi
October 20^th – Adelaide – Fowler’s Live
October 20^th - Hobart – Brisbane Hotel
October 27^th – Perth – Civic Hotel
November 3^rd – Melbourne – The Espy
November 9^th / 10^th - Canberra – The Basement
November 10^th – Darwin – Browns Mart
November 17^th – Sydney – Sandringham Hotel

Details on line-ups, ticketing and prizes to be announced shortly!

www.bastardfest.com 

www.facebook.com/BASTARDFEST