backseat downunder
Live Review: Bluesfest, Byron Bay (14-18 April, 2022)- Despite Covid-19 Cancellations and Devastating Floods – Still Australia’s Best Festival Experience
Following cancellations in both 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 and the devastating floods in Northern New South Wales in March 2022, Bluesfest came back in its’ 33rd iteration, bigger and better than ever. A large contingent of Australian artists were named in the initial artist announcements, with Bluesfest committing to getting the music industry …
News: Brisbane trio The Goon Sax announce expanded digital version of their album ‘Mirror II’ complete with an exquisite cover of Len’s classic ‘Steal My Sunshine’, as well as tour news.
Today, Brisbane trio The Goon Sax have released a deluxe digital edition of their third album ‘Mirror II’ released through Chapter Music and Matador Records. ‘Mirror II’ is a garment of perfectly formed pop songs with a ragged edge and blemishes – but with a golden thread of celestial choruses that binds everything together. The …
Premiere: We get a sneaky early listen to Nik Brinkman’s ‘Unplugged’ EP – three magnificently raw gems from last year’s epic ‘Secret Stairs’ album.
Last year’s ‘Secret Stairs’ album from New Zealand’s Nik Brinkman was a highlight of the year – in our 9.1/10 review we said it was a stunning debut: a collection of sparkling jewels that glitter with a melancholic sheen, while featuring glorious pop vignettes delivering melody and an ethereal grace. We are very honoured to …
News: UK rap phenomenon Stormzy announces rescheduled Australian/New Zealand ‘Heavy Is The Head’ tour.
UK rap phenomenon, Stormzy, has has announced that he will bring his ‘Heavy Is The Head’ (H.I.T.H) World Tour to Australia and New Zealand in November/December 2022, through Handsome Tours, Astral People, and triple j. Kicking off this November, Stormzy will perform his biggest Australian shows to date in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide, …
News: Hobart’s magnificent EWAH & The Vision of Paradise announce a showing of ‘Finding Paradise’ – a film based on their stunning album ‘The Warning Birds’
EWAH and the Vision of Paradise (EVoP) released a magnificent album ‘The Warning Birds’ earlier this year (see my 9.2/10 review here) – an album that I described as being a palimpsest for beauty and decay, wild and turbulent landscapes with the intrusion of modernity and the threats and ugliness this can entail. It is …
Track: Hobart’s Caelo releases debut single ‘Tides’: a jaunty rollercoaster of a track that sparkle and shines.
Caelo is essentially the nom de plume of Hobart’s Abe Parsons, and he has just released his debut single ‘Tides’: a whimsical and jaunty track imbued with an air of seaside sunshine mixed with a touch of melancholy and yearning. Horns atmospherically frame the track, with a jingle jangle pop sparkle that recalls George Harrison, …
Track: Melbourne trio J4 exude bright rays of sunshine from their exuberant debut single ‘Try to be Cool’.
Do you remember that fantastic single ‘Steal My Sunshine‘ by Len? An utterly brilliant and joyous track that brought – and still brings – a smile to the dial. The debut single ‘Try To Be Cool’ from Melbourne trio J4 imports that same carefree joie de vivre: it’s a catchy uplifting and jaunty tune that …
News: Melbourne quintet Surprise Chef sign to Big Crown Records + make triumphant European debut with funk fuelled ‘Velodrome’: UK tour dates on sale now
Brand new to the Big Crown family but already proving to be a perfect fit, Melbourne’s self-proclaimed ‘cinematic soul journeymen’ Surprise Chef are serving up a special blend of jazz, soul and hip-hop, with a generous side of psyche, soundtrack and folk folded in. The delicious result is the pure groove of instrumental debut Velodrome. …
News: Chris Bailey from the legendary Brisbane band The Saints has died.
We at Backseat Mafia are thoroughly saddened to hear of the passing of the iconic and enigmatic Chris Bailey, singer from Brisbane’s legendary The Saints. The Saints 2 hours ago announced: It is with great pain in our hearts that we have to inform you about the passing of Chris Bailey, singer and songwriter of …
Track: Introducing Sophie May’s debut single and video for the charmingly nostalgic ‘With the Band’
Despite not having officially released any music previously, 23-year-old rising star Sophie May’s online reputation most certainly precedes her. Already amassing a huge TikTok following, with megastars like Billie Eilish commenting on her videos and Celeste reaching out to suggest a collab, Sophie’s dedicated fans can now take a breath, as she drops her very …