"the people taking pictures"

Words: Domenico Frascino

Brace yourselves, music aficionados, for an adventure to discover one of the most spectacular and under-the-radar festivals of the year. Butik Festival, known for its underground lineup, outstanding location, and unique atmosphere, is ready to ignite the vibrant heart of the European electronic music scene for its 4th edition  from July 13th to 16th.

Nestled in the picturesque Tolmin in the Slovenian gem of the Soca River Valley, Butik Festival finds its home in one of Europe’s most breathtaking natural landscapes. Surrounded by the majestic Slovenian Alps and Soca river’s crystal-clear turquoise waters marking the border between Slovenia and Italy, this idyllic setting sets the stage for an unparalleled sensory experience. 

Butik Festival is more than just a music event; it is an immersive journey that transcends the boundaries of sound. Step into a world where innovation and creativity collide, where music becomes a living, breathing entity. The festival crew has meticulously handpicked a lineup of electronic music’s finest, blending established international artist such as Job Jobse (NL), Jennifer Cardini (FR) b2b Paolo Bozzi (FR), Ryan Elliot (US) b2b Ogazon (LX), Freddy K (IT), Marie Montexier (DE) among others, with a mix of local balkan legends and rising stars, like the slovenian underground wonders Mayell and Eliaz, AR:TE and the Ljubljana’s finest SOLVD label, the Adriatic Coasting’s crew captain Jogarde (HR) and many more. This ensures an eclectic mix that appeals to all tastes.

Butik Festival isn’t just about the music, it’s especially about the people. Join a vibrant community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for electronic music. Make lifelong connections as you dance, laugh, and revel in the collective energy that binds everyone together. Butik Festival creates an inclusive space where diversity and unity thrive, reminding us all of the power of music to bring people together.

Mark your calendars, electronic music lovers, because the Butik Festival is a not-to-be-missed event that will captivate your senses and ignite your soul. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of pulsating beats, mind-bending visuals, and unforgettable memories.

For more information visit the official Butik Festival website and follow the updates on the main social media.

Website: butikfestival.com

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/butikfestival

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butik_emf/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/butikfestival

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@butikfestival

Get your tickets on-sale now

The Bluesfest 2021 Fourth Artist Announcement adds an eclectic, diverse list of names to what is already a legendary line up of Australian artists confirmed to perform next Easter on April 1^st  – 5^th at the beautiful green Byron Events Farm located in Tyagarah 10 minutes north of Byron Bay.

The line-up is programmed with the intention to appeal to a broad audience featuring artists across all genres for all members of the family to enjoy. With the light at the end of the  tunnel in sight, Bluesfest is confidently positioned to be one of the first major festivals back on the circuit for the many music loving patrons aching to come out and soak in some highly anticipated festive vibes.

Back in April this year, many called Bluesfest’s intention to proceed with an event in 2021 as a “brave and bold move”. Proceed it did nonetheless and fortunately the festival is well-poised for a successful event with tickets currently hitting the 60% mark of sell-out in sales, with the bigger nights [Fri-Sat-Sun] selling consistently and rising.

Commenting on the announcement Festival Director, Peter Noble OAM says “Time will tell, but It is being said that the 2021 Bluesfest line up is the greatest assembly of Australian artists to ever perform at one event.  Ticket sales are showing that the Australian public is ready to celebrate safely and we are on target for a sell-out at our expected capacity. My focus right now is on bringing this festival home in 2021.“

Leading the already diverse announcement is Northern Beaches of Sydney natives and ARIA award winners Ocean Alley. Their platinum-selling single ‘Confidence’ won the #1` spot on triple j’s Hottest 100 in 2018 and since that time the band have gone on with sell-out shows right across Australia winning hearts along the way.

Considering Australian music icon John Williamson will celebrate his 51^st anniversary in 2021 you can bet this show will be one for the history books. John’s “The Winding Back” tour will celebrate his 51 years in the entertainment industry and foresee closing the book on his regular touring.  The last time John performed at Bluesfest in 2014, so captivated was the crowd that you could hear a pin drop. This great man’s storytelling talents through song and banter is outstanding. He has sold over five million albums and is regarded in the Top Five best-selling Australian artists joining Slim Dusty who sits at No. 1. Considering this is one of the last chances to catch John Williamson live this show should be marked up as “do not miss” in any festival planner.

When Tex Perkins struts up on stage to embody the role of “The Man In Black” for a special Bluesfest only performance you just know you are in for one hell of a good time. Imbued with the best of Johnny Cash hits, Tex Perkins’ reverence for Cash’s career is evident in the way he approaches every song and it is little wonder why “The Man In Black” has been lauded by critics and fans alike, and won Tex and his crew a Helpmann Award for Best Contemporary Australian Concert.

Get ready for an assault of the senses with the Jon Stevens | The Noiseworks & INXS Collection show.  The former lead singer of Noiseworks and INXS stacks this show with nothing but relentless hits. Jon’s visceral charge of emotion is guaranteed to transport you back in time including the INXS songs that were such a huge part of the soundtrack of our lives.

This has got to be the coolest collaboration announced this year; Josh Teskey and Ash Grunwald will take to the stage together and perform songs from a forthcoming album titled “Push The Blues Away”.  The album released on 13^th November is born out of a mutual love for the Blues and a genuine appreciation for each other’s talents.

An Australian lineup of this size would not be complete without Vika & Linda. They are Australia’s most revered singing sisters, known for their rich vocal harmonies and stylistic breadth. These ARIA chart toppers bring an added touch of class to the program.

Originally from Canada, Byron Bay local singer-songwriter Garrett Kato went from busking and living out of a backpack to tallying over 45 million worldwide streams and performing sold-out shows alongside Damien Rice and Ziggy Alberts. Immensely talented this young and rapidly rising star will be a musical gem for many to discover at Bluesfest.

Mia Dyson is always welcomed to Bluesfest by her many fans. A Blues pocket-rocket of a performer Mia has won multiple ARIA & APRA awards, toured with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Chris Isaak, Stevie Nicks and Eric Clapton. Now based in LA, this little lady is one big Blues star and is always welcomed back onto the bill. This will be Mia’s 6^th time at Bluesfest.

SNAPSHOT ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

OCEAN ALLEY

Northern Beaches of Sydney natives Ocean Alley released their critically acclaimed third LP ‘Lonely Diamond’ in June, debuting at #3 on the ARIA Album Chart and garnering four-star reviews from NME and Rolling Stone Australia who praised “a rich, expansive universe brimming with a kind of electricity that’ll make for huge on-stage moments” and “they’ve managed to set a new standard for what their music can be” respectively. It follows the success of their second full-length ‘Chiaroscuro’ in 2018 which propelled the band into national prominence and saw them sell 25,000 tickets over 15 sold out shows that year in Australia along – culminating with their ARIA nominated, double platinum-selling single ‘Confidence’ taking out #1 in triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2018. Their breakthrough year was backed-up with 30 sold out shows around the world in 2019, plus major festival appearances at ‘Reading & Leeds Festival’[UK], ‘Splendour in the Grass’, ‘Sziget’ [HU], ‘BottleRock’ [US] and more, with the band amassing more than 315 million cumulative streams to date.

JOHN WILLIAMSON

In 2021 Australian music icon John Williamson will celebrate his 51^st anniversary in the entertainment industry and embark on “The Winding Back” tour which will foresee him closing the book on his regular touring. When John Williamson wandered into Richmond’s GTV9 studios in 1970 with a guitar under his arm, little did the Mallee farmer realise he’d make a 50+-year career out of singing and performing. His performance of ‘Old Man Emu’, the first song John had ever written, on Channel Nine’s popular New Faces program resulted in a number one single and a record deal. It also marked the appearance of a striking new talent: an unofficial custodian of Australian stories. Half a century on, John Williamson has made an art of expertly capturing Australia in song. Painting lyrical pictures of our unique fauna and flora, landscapes and people, John has encapsulated the beauty, wonder and, sometimes, heartbreak of life Down Under. From boabs to billabongs and snowy mountains to sandy beaches, the Mallee-born songwriter’s 52 albums–including 20 original studio albums–have traversed Australia like a dust-covered road train, deftly moving between larrikin humour and touching pathos and have placed him in the Top Five best-selling Australian artists joining Slim Dusty who sits at No. 1. ’The Winding Back’ tour takes in more than 40 dates across Australia through to the end of 2021. With his honours including the ARIA Hall of Fame, an Order of Australia, 28 Golden Guitar Awards, Australian Roll of Renown induction, not to mention over 5 million albums sold and thousands of shows performed, it’s hard to begrudge the 75-year-old a less hectic schedule. First though, there’s a 51st^h anniversary to celebrate and what better place than Bluesfest to experience it with Mr True Blue himself.

TEX PERKINS – THE MAN IN BLACK 

There are few artists within Australia who can translate the work of ‘The Man in Black’ and bring it to modern day like Tex Perkins. His reverence for Johnny Cash’s career is evident in the way he approaches every song. Johnny Cash made an indelible impact on the international music scene. He passed away in 2003 but is still considered one of the most influential musicians of all time, as his sales of over 50 million records will attest. Tex Perkins needs no introduction to Australian audiences; he is a legend within the Aussie music industry and is revered as one of the country’s rock n’ roll outlaws. It is said his affinity with Johnny Cash started in his earliest band and is an enthusiasm he hasn’t relinquished. After fronting The Cruel Sea, Beasts of Bourbon and touring with Tex, Don and Charlie and The Dark Horses, Tex Perkins has had an incredible and varied music career. Now Perkins returns to his love of singing the songs of Johnny Cash with a special Bluesfest-only

performance. Tex Perkins – The Man In Black at Bluesfest will be more intensely music driven, less talking and more of the music of Johnny Cash.  ‘The Man In Black’ has been lauded by critics and fans alike and won Tex and his crew a Helpmann Award for Best Contemporary Australian Concert.

JON STEVENS

In 2018 a co-founding member of INXS, Andrew Farriss, surprised Jon Stevens by entering the band room after not seeing each other in 15 years to tell Jon he should add more INXS songs to the set list. Jon was on The Best of Jon Stevens Tour reflecting on his 40-year career, performing songs from Noiseworks, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Dead Daisies and his solo collection with just a couple of INXS classics. This reunion with his old friend with whom he’d shared the stage with around the world fronting INXS from 2000-2005 formed the idea for his new tour – ‘Jon Stevens | The Noiseworks and INXS Collection’ Tour. After a sell-out tour in 2019 the former lead singer of Noiseworks and INXS is back tributing the legendary bands that catapulted him into Aussie Rock Royalty! Jon Stevens l The Noiseworks & INXS Collection Tour brings hits “Take Me Back”, “New Sensation”, “Don’t Change”, “Hot Chilli Woman”, “Never Tear Us Apart, “No Lies” and more. This show is an assault of the senses, with nothing but relentless hits.  Miss it and you’re MAD!

JOSH TESKEY & ASH GRUNWALD

Two local powerhouses Josh Teskey [lead singer The Teskey Bros] and Ash Grunwald have teamed up for ‘Push The Blues Away’ (out Friday 13 November) – an album born out of a mutual love for the blues and a genuine appreciation for each other’s talents. This special show will no doubt bring the best out of both artists and is a definite for the “My Planner” section of your Bluesfest App. On ‘Push The Blues Away’, Josh and Ash cast off the weight of expectation and revel in music’s most simple pleasures. Recorded entirely live and straight to tape, with their only percussion consisting of gospel-inspired hand claps and stomps, the pair laid down seven original tunes, some penned by Josh, some by Ash, along with two classic Blues covers, Son House’s ‘Preachin’ Blues’ and the song that kickstarted the whole project, ‘The Sky Is Crying.’ To help them achieve this vision, they enlisted the help of Josh’s brother, Teskey Brothers’ guitarist, vocalist and Grammy-nominated engineer, Sam Teskey on production duty. Both artists have had an extremely busy 12 months; renowned as one of Australia’s finest live performers, Ash Grunwald released his critically acclaimed new album ‘MOJO’ along with his first book, “Surf By Day, Jam By Night” whilst The Teskey Brothers followed up their ARIA Award-winning and Grammy-nominated second album ‘Run Home Slow’ with the 2020 release of ‘Live At Forum’, earning them their first ARIA chart #1.

VIKA & LINDA

They’re Australia’s most revered singing sisters, known for their rich vocal harmonies and stylistic breadth. After three classic albums with The Black Sorrows, Vika & Linda have released six studio albums, two live albums and a chart-topping anthology. They have also sung on number one albums by Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers and John Farnham, done gigs for the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and the King of Tonga, and been nominated for four ARIA Awards. Recently, whilst still celebrating the recent release of their first ever best-of collection (and first ARIA #1) ‘Akilotoa (Anthology 1996-2004)’, Vika & Linda have wasted no time in following up with an inspired album of gospel songs titled ‘Sunday’(The Gospel According To Iso),’ out now (ARIA #2). The album was borne out of their Sunday Sing Song livestreams on social media during lockdown, and pays tribute to gospel pioneers including Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Mahalia Jackson. These are songs about survival, compassion and redemption.

GARRETT KATO

Originally from Canada, Byron Bay local singer-songwriter & producer Garrett Kato went from busking and living out of a backpack to tallying over 45 million worldwide streams and performing sold-out shows alongside Damien Rice and Ziggy Alberts. He landed a sync in Hollywood blockbuster ‘Bad Moms’ and his single ‘Take It Slowly’ has surpassed 13 million Spotify streams. His 2019 EP, ‘Distant Land’, earned the endorsement of triple j and Beatroute Magazine as the title track eclipsed 2.7 million Spotify streams. At the same time, he cemented himself as an in-demand, platinum-award winning producer. He worked with Ziggy Alberts on his 2016 EP ‘Four Feet in the Forest’ (certified Platinum) and his 2018 album ‘Laps Around the Sun’ (certified Platinum) and has also worked with Pete Murray, Kyle Lionheart, Riley Pearce, Pierce Brothers, Jack Botts and more.

MIA DYSON

Mia Dyson is an award-winning guitarist and singer/songwriter who has toured the country with the likes of Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Chris Isaak and many more. A multiple ARIA & APRA award-winning artist, Dyson has been named one of Australia’s top 25 guitarists of all time. Growing up in the Australian bush and in the sleepy beach town of Torquay, Mia Dyson was raised listening to American music as her dad was a big Blues fan and her mother a big Bob Dylan fan. It was at an early age Mia became fascinated by the mythology of American rock & roll. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2010, Dyson’s triumphs have included opening for Stevie Nicks at the Santa Barbara Bowl, in addition to self-releasing ‘Idyllwild’, ‘The Moment’ and ‘If I Only Said So Far I Take It Back’ to critical acclaim.

All ticket types and Add-Ons are on-sale now.

For further information on the line-up or artists please see here.

Bluesfest 2021 is being held from 1 – 5 April 2021. Tickets are on sale now via Moshtix.

Keep in touch via Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

FOJAM PRESENTS LADIES WHO SING LEONARD  
A LEONARD COHEN TRIBUTE EVENT
SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER, 8.30PM – 10PM (ONLINE)
Presented by Triple R

“It’s been 20 years since I fell hard for the words of Leonard Cohen and the pictures he painted. It’s also been 20 years since I wanted to make my life about music, art and poetry. This project is inspired by my (sometimes confused) Jewish heritage, the spirit of my homeland and all the sex, love and death that falls in between. Leonard Cohen taught me that art can change the lives of the people around you.”
– Anita Lester, FOJAM Curator

Immersive contemporary cultural festival, Festival of Jewish Arts and Music (FOJAM) returns in 2020, showcasing an immense spread of local and international artists through the lens of Jewish culture and identity. Following the success of its inaugural event of last year, this year’s live festival has had to adapt to the current global COVID-19 restrictions and has translocated from the streets to the clouds, with its 2020 Homeward Bound online series. Continuing the celebrations of Jewish music, performance, dance, talks, storytelling and creativity, the virtual series seeks to spark discussion, empathy and curiosity through thought provoking panel discussions, live streamed performances and bespoke online events. A nod to the famed Jewish duo Simon and Garfunkel, the monthly series has been taking place over the past six months and is ready to reach its season finale with the unmissable Ladies Who Sing Leonard concert.

Coinciding with the four-year anniversary of his passing, the Leonard Cohen tribute concert will feature Ninet Tayeb (ISRAEL), Kate Ceberano, Katie Noonan, Deborah Conway, Kylie Auldist, Emily Lubitz, Gabriella Cohen, Emma Donovan, Kee’ahn, Loretta Miller (Jazz Party), Melody Pool, Imogen Clark, Alma & Hettie Zygier, Tamara Reichman (Tamara & the Dreams), Sophia Tuv and an in-conversation with Anita Lester. The impressive lineup of dynamic artists will weave Leonard’s words around their own unique narratives in an immersive and transcendental tribute like no other.

“We are absolutely thrilled to present this divine tribute show on the anniversary of Leonard Cohen’s death. His work has had, and continues to have, such a deep impact on so many artists and people around the world. It’s particularly poignant that we will work to connect through his music at a time that has left so many feeling isolated and disconnected.” – Lior Albeck-Ripka, Artistic Director

“I have always seen the woman beneath his stories and it was important to me, when putting a tribute together, to truly embody his work, not simply focused on who can sing the songs the best.” – Anita Lester, Curator

“We really want this to be an immersive experience despite the digital limitations and are hoping we can create a feeling of connection between audiences and artists.” – Lior Albeck-Ripka, Artistic Director

FOJAM launched their Homeward Bound series back in June with the hugely successful online event Unorthodox: Stories of Escape, which brought together Unorthodox author, Deborah Feldman, trans-activist and author of Becoming Eve, Abby Stein and local activist and soon to be published author Dassi Erlich, in a live panel discussion to dissect the series and their own personal journeys of exodus. Since then, the FOJAM series has clocked over 6000 online attendees on a ‘pay what you can’ basis, to create access for those, not in a position to pay for their tickets. In the series’ next online experience, Ladies Who Sing Leonard will take place on Saturday 7 November via Zoom in honour of an exceptional Jewish figure and creative whose legacy has left its mark far and wide.

“We know there are many in the community who want to support the arts. By choosing to purchase a ticket at a level they are comfortable with, audiences can continue to show their support for the festival and the artists. FOJAM will continue its commitment to delivering high quality events and always paying artists.” – Jesse Lubitz, Festival Producer

Ladies Who Sing Leonard – A Leonard Cohen Tribute
Presented by FOJAM and Triple R
Saturday 7 November
Ninet Tayeb (ISRAEL), Kate Ceberano, Katie Noonan, Deborah Conway, Kylie Auldist, Emily Lubitz, Anita Lester, Gabriella Cohen, Emma Donovon, Kee’ahn, Loretta Miller (Jazz Party), Melody Pool, Imogen Clark, Alma & Hettie Zygier, Tamara Reichman (Tamara & the Dreams), and Sophia Tuv
Time: 8.30pm – 10pm ADST
Where: Globally via Zoom
Tickets: Pay as you can
Registrations essential via Eventbrite
More information at the Facebook Event / FOJAM website

About FOJAM
Founded five years ago as Shir Madness in Melbourne by ARIA award winning legend Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier, the Jewish music and arts festival reinvented itself in 2019 under the direction of Lior Albeck-Ripka and Jesse Lubitz, founders of Melbourne independent events and artist management agency, Hear Them Holler. The festival saw 1,500 people enjoy a dynamic swathe of music concerts, contemporary dance, drag performances, storytelling and talk series at Melbourne Recital Centre over 12 hours, in September last year. In May 2020, FOJAM announced they would be presenting a series of online events called Homeward Bound. They have had between 1,000 – 3,000 people register for each of their major online events. This is their fourth major online event.

FOJAM Website FOJAM Facebook FOJAM Instagram FOJAM Twitter FOJAM YouTube

Asia’s supreme Music & Art Festival returns to the paradise beach of Phú Quốc 

The pioneering EPIZODE festival is coming back to bring its first-rate music selection, along with the breathtaking artistic setting and the electric atmosphere in Vietnam’s paradise Phú Quốc island. This fifth edition of the festival combines Music & Art into one unique concept entitled EPIZODE5: EPILOGUE. It will be held from December 29th 2020 to January 10th 2021, on the picturesque Sunset Sanato beach.

This edition will be extended in comparison to previous events, bringing 12 days and nights of non-stop music, magical sunsets, relaxing daytime activities and other unforgettable experiences. With the vision to unite people from around the globe, the festival will bring the best electronic music acts who will be performing at mind-blowing stages placed among the art installations on the beach. 

Located in Vietnam’s paradise Phú Quốc island, famed for its mix of vibrancy and beauty, it is a truly memorable and unique place to be. From lush white beaches to the boutique accommodation and stunning sunsets, the natural charm of the region is matched only by the magical musical spirit that’s helped create such a distinctive festival offering.

Helping drive the Asian music scene forward, EPIZODE has, in only four years, made an impressive mark internationally, becoming an unmissable NYE getaway for music and art lovers, global adventurers and professionals from the music industry.  Previous EPIZODE editions set the standard by curating some of the most respected artists on the global dance scene, including [A:RPIA:R], FERRY CORSTEN, GOLDIE, LOCO DICE, NINA KRAVIZ, MOODYMANN, PEGGY GOU, RICARDO VILLALOBOS, SETH TROXLER, SONJA MOONEAR and ZIP. Along with the international talent, there is also a focus on the prolific local talents, including DISKONNECTED, HIBIYA LINE, KERRY WALLACE, MARCUS L, OUISSAM, SUNJU HARGUN, ZIG ZACH and many others. Global and internationally recognized club brands like ANTS, Arma, Half Baked and Mdrnty have also made their way onto the festival’s programme.  

The first tier of 12 day Early Bird Multi-Passes will be available from June 11th at €158. Tickets can be purchased online via Epizode website: www.epizode.asia

Epizode Website 

Epizode Facebook 

Epizode Instagram 

“Festivalgoers can dance from dusk until dawn, journey through immersive environments, take a dip in the serene lake, indulge in delicious eats from craft vendors, or hit reset with a meditative sound bath or expert-led yoga class.” said Brett Herman Co-Founder and Managing Director at BangOn!NYC. “Over the past four years we’ve delivered big surprises and created unforgettable, transformative memories for our festival family, and 2020 won’t disappoint.”