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.
Sunbeam Sound Machine
Where? Black Bear Lodge, Level 1/322 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
When? 7:00pm, Friday 9th January
Why? Ah, the first working week of 2015 is finally done and dusted and as the ultimate gift to those in Brisbane, Sunbeam Sound Machine is performing a free, yep that’s right a free show this Friday night. Touted as one of Tone Deaf’s artists set to blow up in 2015, Nick Sowersby, the musical mastermind behind Sunbeam Sound Machine is continuing his national tour in support of f his dreamy mind-altering debut record Wonderer, and trust us when we say, this ain’t a spectacle you’ll get to witness for free again. Supports are local champs, The Good Sports.
Tickets & Info: Free Event, www.facebook.com & www.blackbearlodge.com.au
The Harpoons
Where? Hugs & Kisses, 22 Sutherland St, Melbourne
When? 8:30pm, Saturday 10th January
Why? If you’re not on The Harpoons’ bandwagon now is most certainly the time. The beautiful soul-pop outfit are single-handidly the reason punters at 2014’s Meredith Music Festival were up on their feet Saturday afternoon (after a heavy Friday night), the local outfit revered as one the best performing acts of the entire weekend. This weekend they’re taking to the intimate stage of Hugs & Kisses, performing their gorgeously infectious tracks from last year’s record, Falling For You. Joining the band is Queen Magic and Totally Mild.
Entry & Info: $15.00, www.facebook.com & www.dashtickets.com.au
Plastic Nightclub: The Pinheads, Nuclear Family & Hoon
Where? Oxford Arts Factory, 38-46 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney
When? 8:00pm, Saturday 10th January
Why? Fancy yourself a fan of sunsoaked coastal tunes in the form of surf psychedelica? Boy do we got the show for you this weekend. Local nutcase sextet The Pinheads will be transporting Sydney’s revered Oxford Arts Factory to a wipeout zone from the Californian ’60s with their infectious beach inspired tunes, (dig ‘The Devil Is Gonna Take My Soul‘ as a tester). Joining the guys are Nuclear Family and Hoon.
Tickets & Info: $13.60 www.facebook.com & www.moshtix.com.au
Bored Nothing (Final Shows)
Where? The Landsdowne,2-6 City Road, Chippendale, Sydney
When? 8:00pm, Friday 9th January
Why? Now that we’re getting into 2015, talented singer songwriter Fergus Miller announced the end of the Bored Nothing project. As a farewell, Bored Nothing will play two special shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney-siders will be treated to a line up lo-fi dreams are made of, featuring Deep Space Supergroup and Bare Grillz. It’s all free and it’ll be the last time you can see Bored Nothing, EVER! Get on it.
Entry & Info: FREE, www.facebook.com
Bleep Cuts High-As Tea: Alta, Rhythmik, Johnny Faith & More
Where? The Gasometer Hotel, 484 Smith St, Collingwood, Melbourne
When? 2:00pm, Sunday 11th January
Why? How do you like to spend your Sundays? Don’t think about saying “in bed, hungover” there’s plenty of time for that in winter, instead, make your way northside to Collingwood for one helluva an afternoon of fun in the sun with some cracking live music. Bleep Cuts High-As Tea are throwing a party with a fantastic array of dizzying artists including: Alta, Rhytmik, Johnny Faith, Billy Hoyle & Cazeaux O.S.L.O., Passerine, Biscotti, Benatwork, Shuttersound, Juxtpose and Bleep Cuts Djs. Massive, right? Ain’t no where else you need to be but The Gaso this Sunday.
Tickets & Info: $15.00 + BF, www.facebook.com & http://gasometer.oztix.com.au
Dr. Colossus
Where? Yah Yah’s, 99 Smith Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne
When? 8:00pm, Friday 9th January
Why? Have you ever wondered what doom rock inspired The Simpsons sounds like? Of course you have, and if you’ve not yet heard of the epic Dr. Colossus, please allow us to introduce you to the rockin’ two-piece from Melbourne with their slow headbanging tune ‘Mono‘. The pair are smashing their way into 2015 in the best possible, performing their first ever headline show to celebrate the release of their debut EP, IV. The guys will be joined by psych-hard blues outfit Two Headed Dog, devilish blues rock trio Cotangent and garage-punk-rock duo Six Shooter.
Entry & Info: $13.00, www.facebook.com & http://yahyahs.com.au
Myyth
Where? The Workers Club, 51 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne
When? 7:00pm, Thursday 8th January
Why? Is there a better way to kickstart your 2015 by checking out some talented local musicians? Hell no, and this Thursday night is your perfect chance to dig the melodic-punk outfit Myyth who are stoked to officially release their soaring fresh single, ‘Relics‘. The quartet will see a stellar supporting cast light up the night, including Lunaire, The Underhanded and A Basket of Mammoths.
Entry & Info: $5.00 (Presale), $10.00 (Door) www.facebook.com & http://theworkersclub.com.au
Shit Narnia
Where? The Bird, 181 William Street, Northbridge, Perth
When? 7:00pm, Wednesday 7th January
Why? A blood curtling scream opens punk outfit Shit Narnia’s new track ‘Claremont Boys‘, setting the scene for nearly 2-minutes of ocker-stained vocals and slow stoner head-bangs that’s frightfully Aussie and frightfully endearing. These west coast natives have put together their debut EP Welcome To L.A. and to give the collection of tracks a push, they’re hosting a killer night of live music, which will also so an insane local supporting cast including Hideous Sun Demon, Catbrush, The Pissedcolas, Laurel Fixation, and Mining Tax. The dudes will be selling their EP for $5.00, the same price as entry.
Tickets & Info: $5.00, www.facebook.com & www.williamstreetbird.com
ET and the Alien
Where? The Bearded Lady, 138 Boundary Street, West End, Brisbane
When? 7:00pm, Thursday 8th January
Why? If you don’t know ET and the Alien let us (with utmost excitement) introduce you to the trio sonically with their catchy tune ‘The Fallen Daughter‘. Now that we’ve spiked your intrigue, the three-piece are taking their seamless meld of garage, indie rock, low-fi and harmonious vocals to Brizzy this Thursday night, performing tracks from their debut EP, Fallen Daughter. If that’s not enough, the guys will be supported by Gold Coast psych rockers Electric Zebra.
Entry & Info: $10.00 www.facebook.com
