Music
Premiere: Soar through the sparkling ‘Universe’ with The Valery Trails, ahead of album release and launch date.
Threaded through with a delicious melancholy and guitars that sparkle like diamonds in the sun, we are honoured to premiere the new single from Meanjin/Brisbane band The Valery Trails. It’s the third sonic missile off their forthcoming album ‘Winter Palace’ which promises to be a jingle jangle pop delight and is out on 29 August. …
Premiere: The Maggie Pills’ Video for “Swords and Knives” lands ahead of album release
The Maggie Pills’ new video “Swords and Knives” captures love’s raw edge and inevitable loss, setting the tone for their second album.
Album Review: Fantuzzi – ‘An Open Heart’ : Re-issue of the Woodstock visionary’s absorbing seventies debut.
Following on from the exquisite folk-rock curio ‘Stargazer’ by Shelagh McDonald, DJ and selector Oz Adams’ Different Strokes For Different Folks label brings more crate diggers’ grail with ‘An Open Heart’ by hippy-dom’s mystical Fantuzzi. Born in Spanish Harlem in the Fifties, of Puerto Rican descent, Fantuzzi’s bio is shaped by movement, music and performance. …
News: bar italia announce new album Some Like It Hot
Over 160 live shows since 2023 have reshaped bar italia into a powerful five-piece on stage.
Live Review: Smashing Pumpkins / White Lies / Rocket – Piece Hall, Halifax 12.08.2025
Words: Jim F / Pictures: Huw Williams It was a brilliant, almost life-affirming night in Halifax as The Smashing Pumpkins rolled into town to play to a sold-out Piece Hall crowd of 6,000 last Tuesday. The warmth of the summer evening matched the warmth the audience showed all three acts, turning this historic courtyard into …
Track: ‘When Will We Lose Hope?’ Romanie seeks answers in a beautifully delivered track ahead of live dates.
We here at the antipodean outpost of Backseat Mafia have avidly followed the burgeoning career of Belgian/Australian artist Romanie, and her new single ‘When Will We Lose Hope?’ further develops and advances her immersive musical universe. Merging a folk style with something more muscular and left-field with unexpected distortion towards the end, it is a …
EP Review: Radio Free Alice unveil their sonically iridescent third EP ‘Empty Words’ as they continue breaking records on their European and US tour
We have been closely following the rapid ascent of Radio Free Alice ever since premiering their video for ‘I (Gotta Fall In Love)’ back in 2023. This was followed by their signing to the massive and highly prestigious WME Agency for worldwide representation after their signing locally to the illustrious Double Drummer label. This is band that has been garnering world wide attention …
Premiere: The charismatic A. Swayze, resting his ghosts, exclusively unveils stunning debut solo single ‘A Prayer’.
A. Swayze & the Ghosts are undoubtedly one of the most underrated bands coming out of the antipodean music scene, while in my humble opinion being one of the most exciting and creative outfits around. Their last album ‘Let’s Live A Life Better Than This’ received a rare 9.5/10 from Backseat Mafia (see the review …
News: The High Kings bring folk tradition to Australia this September
The High Kings’ Step It Out World Tour begins this September, with shows already selling out in Melbourne and Perth.
News: Fire Records announce release of Chris Bailey’s The Saints last recordings in the album ‘Long March Through The Jazz Age’, with anthemic lead single ‘Empires (Sometimes We Fall)’ unveiled.
Close to what would have been the late legendary Chris Bailey’s 69th birthday in November, Fire Records today announce the release of ‘Long March Through The Jazz Age’, essentially Chris Bailey’s The Saints last ever release. Available 28 November 2025 and recorded in late 2018 at Church Street Studios in Sydney, Bailey and longtime Saints …