The ‘reformed’ Wolfmother have announced another “random performance”, following the vein of their secret comeback show earlier this month.
Unlike the free gig that took place in Byron Bay on 7th November, this new concert is far more high-profile, with the Andrew Stockdale-fronted rockers playing a gig that coincides with the opening night of this year’s ARIA Week performances.
Announced at late notice by the band on their official Facebook page, the concert will be presented by IMC presents (the team behind Homebake festival) and take place at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory on Monday 25th November, with limited tickets on sale now (here and details below) for just $10 a pop.
The ARIA-winning band, who scooped three gongs at the 2006 ceremony off the back of their self-titled debut, are likely to deliver a selection of familiar Wolfmother material, as well as new material from a touted third studio album – the follow-up 2009’s Cosmic Egg which Stockdale recently hinted would drop in March or April next year at the time of their Byron Bay gig earlier this month.
A confusing string of comments from the Wolfmother frontman have meant its been a vexing time for fans as the band’s status has remained in flux in recent times, making Stockdale seem very much like the musical equivalent of the boy who cried wolf.
Late last year, it was telegraphed that the long overdue third album from Wolfmother was complete, before Stockdale declared the album would become his solo debut release, Keep Moving, as reported in March.“I’m putting this record as Andrew Stockdale,” he said at the time. “It’s a different trip now and I need to be true to myself.”
The following month, the frontman confirmed he was retiring Wolfmother in favoru of his solo career, speaking of his regrets at not ditching the band name earlier. “Wolfmother came with a lot of expectations,” he said. “It’s been exciting to get out of that headspace.”
An Australian tour to launch Keep Moving was booked, with Stockdale seemingly positive about leaving Wolfmother behind, and his relocation to Byron Bay to be closer to his family, but by June, he’d cancelled most of the Australian album launch tour; axing the entire 14-date run just one day before it’s kick-off – save for the Sydney Metro Theatre gig on the day of Keep Moving’s release.
“International commitments” were blamed for the cancellation, namely in favour of American tour dates as Stockdale, which then turned out to be booked as Wolfmother shows with Stockdale calling the band’s split “a lie”, just three months on from Wolfmother’s “last ever” shows in April opening for Aerosmith.
In any case, Wolfmother have played a number of last-minute yet high-impact shows recently, including the free secret Byron Bay gig on 7th November, and another free show at Brisbane’s Eatons Hill Hotel the following week on 15th November, where the band – playing as a power trio – aired new material, including a brand new song called ‘Tall Ships’ (as the below fan footage captures).
ARIA Week 2013 Programme
MONDAY 25th NOVEMBER – JUST ANNOUNCED
IMC Presents Wolfmother Live
Oxford Art Factory
Limited tickets at moshtix.com.au
TUESDAY 26 NOVEMBER
Chugg Music & The Music Party
Lime Cordiale, Deep Sea Arcade, Sheppard, Bonjah (Rare Finds)
Upstairs Beresford
Island Records presents An Excuse To Get Loose
Andy Bull, Chance Waters, The Cairos, and special guests
Oxford Art Factory, tickets $20 plus booking fee through moshtix.com.au
WEDNESDAY 27 NOVEMBER
Triple J Unearthed Showcase
Jackie Onassis, SAFIA, Remi
Oxford Art Factory, win tickets through Triple J Unearthed
MGM & The Music Party
Bad//Dreems, Sons Of The East, She-Rex, Bandito Folk, Castlecomer
Upstairs Beresford
I Oh You Live & FasterLouder
DZ Deathrays, Palms, I Oh You DJs
The Standard
Sony Music Australia Showcase
Reece Mastin, Justice Crew, Samantha Jade, Dami Im, Bonnie Anderson
Marquee, tickets $60 plus booking fee through moshtix.com.au
THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER
Nothing Major – An Inertia Party
Glass Towers, The Delta Riggs, Apes, and All The Colours
Oxford Art Factory, tickets $20 plus booking fee through moshtix.com.au
Nova’s Bed Room
Bliss N Eso
The Standard
FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER
EMI Music Australia Presents…
Alison Wonderland & Friends, Leah Mencel
The Standard, tickets $20 plus booking fee through moshtix.com.au
ARIA Masterclass
Bistro 80, The Star, Tickets by invitation
More Tune/Less Auto Masterclass presented by MusicNSW, Studios 301 & ARIA
301 Studios, http://www.musicnsw.com/2013/11/musicnsw-studios-301-and-aria-present-more-tuneless-auto/
MONDAY 2 – WEDNESDAY 4 DECEMBER
ELECTRONIC MUSIC CONFERENCE 2013
Carriageworks, early bird tickets $329
www.electronicmusicconference.com.au
THURSDAY 5 DECEMBER
Música Copa
A 5-on-5 charity football match.
Fraser Park, Marrickville
Check out our Música Copa Mixtape programmed by Modular & Purple Sneakers here
