Paper Kites

After bursting into the hearts of the nation earlier this year whilst on tour with Josh Pyke, Melbourne folk band The Paper Kites are ready to embark on their first ever East Coast headline tour in February 2012! “The Woodland Tour” will see the band touring through NSW, VIC and QLD, playing songs from their debut EP “Woodland”. Throughout November they will be joining Boy & Bear on the road for an epic 16 date tour, and after selling out The Corner Hotel in Melbourne earlier this year, “The Woodland Tour” will be a unique opportunity to see the band in intimate rooms. The Woodland EP is out now and available for purchase on iTunes and through all good record stores.

Kate Martin

Since the release of her debut album in June last year, Kate Martin has been living outside of her musical comfort zone. After becoming known as a solo folk artist with an acoustic guitar, Kate formed (and re-formed) a band to start playing her own unique brand of experimental pop. The reason for this change was not some life-changing event, although there were more than enough of those. It wasn’t due to a lack of success - quite the opposite - the album received good radio airplay and press coverage, a finalist in a number of songwriting competitions, and was used in TV shows, short films and commercials. The catalyst for the turnaround was the chance discovery of an old Stratocaster in a junk shop in her home town of Townsville. After haggling the price down and falling in love with a new guitar sound, Kate began her transformation. The result of over 18 months writing and recording, Kate’s second album features lush, complex instrumentation and layered harmonies complementing Kate’s harp-like fingerpicking guitar.

Apples is the first single from Kate’s new album, due in February 2012.

Tijuana Cartel

If Carlos Santana had been hanging out in Iraq for the last 10 years then he would have to sound something like the Gold Coast’s own Tijuana Cartel. Their performances are a concoction of multi-layered grooves, splashes of Middle Eastern vocals, lilting Moby-esque soundscapes, Flamenco and slide guitar, trumpet, Electronic world beats and live Latin Cuban Percussion. A fusion of world music and phat electronic beats. Their musical energy & unrestrained delivery is thrilling audiences wherever they perform. Their tunes meander their way across the bumpiest musical terrain, a rhythmic body moved with stately deliberation creating inspiring & infectious rhythms that you just cannot help but dance to. It is a live show not to miss.

“Tijuana were the hit of the festival - no-one knew what to expect and everyone was blown away.” Phoebe Corke Earth Dance Promoter WA

The Break

Three parts Oils, one part Femmes make THE BREAK

It’s been a long time between drinks for Midnight Oil fans. The only gigs in the last eight years have been at the Wave Aid and Sound Relief charity concerts. These exhilarating performances prompted a strong desire in drummer Rob Hirst and guitarists Martin Rotsey and Jim Moginie to start making music together in a new form. With that we introduce you to THE BREAK.

In what might at first seem an unlikely union, the three founding members of Midnight Oil are joined by Brian Ritchie bass player of US band Violent Femmes. The Oils of course have their roots in the surf pubs of Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The Femmes on the other hand hail from Milwaukee Wisconsin. What is not so well known however is that the two bands have shared a history, a friendship and even a tour manager for over a decade, having met when they both played the inaugural ‘Earth Day’ concert at Columbia’s ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’.

When Ritchie recently moved to Hobart Tasmania the stars were aligned and the four got together for a jam in Jim Moginie’s studio. Kicking off with an old Link Wray track ‘Rumble’ (made famous in the movie Pulp Fiction) the sound that emerged took on an energy of its own and the new band was born.

THE BREAK bring a sheer raw vitality and phenomenal force to the surf rock genre. Their powerhouse sound does of course have that unmistakable whiff of Oil but unlike anything the band has done before. THE BREAK explore new horizons and obscure influences whilst tipping the occasional nod to 60’s legends such as Ennio Morricone, Joe Meek, Link Wray and Dick Dale as well as the psychedelic musical meanderings of San Francisco’s Mermen with whom Ritchie has played on numerous occasions.

Although surf music has very traditional boundaries, to quote Brian Ritchie

“We’re not following those parameters. We understood it was a surf theme, but no music is fun if you are too much of a purist about it, or if you set too many constraints. You have to have some freedom.”

The Windy Hills

The internationally renowned, The Windy Hills brings to Bleach* a new surf film experience with live music by The Windy Hills.

Songs from the Ether features projections from two new surf film projects, Andrew Kidman’s Lost in the Ether and Patrick Trefz’s Idiosyncrasies. The Windy Hills will accompany these films with tracks from their eerie yet euphoric new record, Friend from Another Star.

Songs from the Ether promises to be another groundbreaking night in music, film and reverence for the sea. - Duration 100mins

“Last Hope is the most unique live music film experience I’ve ever seen, I had tears in my eyes.” Michael Machemer, co-founder, New York Surf film festival. “Friend From Another Star is indisputably as cosmic as the title suggests. Subtle in its discourse for much of the 41 odd minutes, Kidman and band draw upon their proclivity for constructing a cinematic score charmingly well” Bandcamp

Blue King Brown

Supporting the fight for freedom in West Papua.

Breaking the silence on 50 years of Genocide of the West Papuan people.

“This is not the struggle of West Papuans alone, but for all those who believe in respect for other human beings and reverence for this beautiful planet on which we all depend for life.” John Rumbiak, West Papuan human rights leader.

Hailed by Santana as “The voice of the street and the band of the future!” Blue King Brown, 2011 ARIA nominated artist, is Australia’s premier 8 piece live urban roots crew. Lead by the multi talented, relentless energy of Natalie Pa’apa’a; Powerful vocal & lyrical delivery’s meet a dancehall, roots, rock & afro groove mash-up built on an irrepressible percussive foundation.

Their power packed live show is second to none & now world renowned, they’ve played across the planet, through EUROPE, UK, CANADA, USA, & JAPAN rocking crowds from Tokyo to Texas and everywhere in between, Having shared stage and opened for the likes of SANTANA, DAMIAN MARLEY, JULIEN MARLEY, SPEARHEAD, JOHN BUTLER, THE CAT EMPIRE, LAURYN HILL to name a few.

Once again pushing genre boundaries and breaking new sonic grounds their new album saw them working alongside the Legendary Sly & Robbie, special Guests such as Queen Ifrica & Jah Mason, engineers such as James ‘Bonzai’ Caruso (Gwen Stefani, Nas, Damien Marley, Madonna) Colin ‘Bulby’ York from Kingston, Jamaica (Rihanna, Jimmy Cliff, Britney Spears, Madonna, Michael Franti, UB40) & Chris Macro (Scribe, Katchafire).

Do not miss any opportunity to see this band!

“A Blue King Brown concert hall is a shrine and a church of freedom. Fela Kuti would be proud of this band…” - Billy’s Bunker

“Natalie is a bright light in the world with a vision that extends beyond the stage and together with the rest of the band raise the roof off every show they play. I love em!!!” – Michael Franti (Spearhead)

“They are the voice of the street and the band of the future!” – Carlos Santana

“BKB are one of those unique truth-telling outfits in our business that defy time. Amazing musicians with a powerful message.” Serj Tankian (System of a down)

“…One of the nation’s most refreshing voices. Natalie Pa’apa’a is sounding like a natural successor for Lauryn Hill’s onetime girl-power crown.” - Rolling Stone.

Tabura

Fresh from rocking Port Moresby in front of a crowd 20,000 strong comes new voice of West Papua ‘Tabura’, a group of West Papuans, Papua new Guineans and Australians united in the cause through the power of music to strengthen the civil resistance for West Papua. Hear their cries, speak for their rights, learn from their past and give them a future.

TABURA are a powerful and innovative group of young West Papuan musicians based in Melbourne, who are breaking new ground with unique blend of music crossing traditional and contemporary genres fused in original songs and classic tunes by their forefathers.

Regarded as the next generation of the famous Black Brothers from West Papua, the troupe is elegantly fronted by angelic voices of the Rumwaropen sisters, wicked moves of cassowary dancers and backed by a contented rhythm section of drums, percussion, bass and propelling keys, to guarantee their audience to appreciate roots Island vibes.

TABURA means music-making, literally ‘drum’ and ‘conch’, is very evocative in Melanesian and Oceanic cultures as it often represents a calling together, a rally to arms or a gathering.

The group invigorate music of Papuan legend songman and musicologist Arnold Ap and famous Black Brothers to underline deep commitment of West Papuan legacy and raise awareness of the struggle facing the indigenous people in their country.

IInternational folk-blues master of songcraft, is returning to his Australian fans.

“Bibb possesses a warmly expressive voice and a fine sense of phrasing. He shines, too, as a guitarist with a quiet and confident approach” Downbeat Magazine”

“Eric Bibb’s performance at the three day London Guitar Festival at Queen Elizabeth Hall, was rich in soulful intensity” – Clive Davis, The Times London

“Bibb’s breezy, poetic blues makes for an intimate show, and his smooth laid-back style is enhanced with some neat guitar licks from Staffan Astner” – Guitar and Bass Magazine

  A performance by Eric Bibb is an enriching experience – both musically and spiritually. Purveying a beautifully realised and deftly accomplished, soulful and gospel infused, folk- blues, Eric has no problem melding a traditional rootsy American style with a subtle contemporary sensibility. As one critic wrote “Eric’s singing and versatile guitar playing fuses a variety of genres to become a New World Blues”.