Festival News

Continuing to stamp their way through the early months of 2020, Sydney’s WAWAWOW present a brand new set of off the rails material in their new album, Pink Elephant. Energetic and charged up, the record is the band at their fiery best. Warping and manipulating sounds and influences from across an array of genres at each turn, the four-piece demonstrates flair and a skill for distilling this broad range of influences into a sound completely their own.

Sitting at 13 tracks strong, the band flexes their creative muscle stronger than ever before, fusing indie and electro with a great dash of psych-craziness (‘Rat Porridge’, ‘Elephant Bird’). Recent single, ‘The Big Cookoff’, was an early example of the madness WAWAWOW executed on record. Yet as Pink Elephant continues to roll out, the listener gets a more defined perspective of the band’s vision.

Over various studio and jam sessions, the album came together organically as the band riffed off each other’s energy and ideas. Capturing the essence of WAWAWOW as naturally as possible remained key to the process. “We wanted to find a way to capture the very first jams that we cut together and use them, rather than try later and fail to get the spark.” WAWAWOW

Applying the same attitude to their visuals, the music video for ‘The Big Cookoff’ brings animation courtesy of Shaun Allen together with band and location footage in Sydney, sizing up brilliantly with the batshit nature of the song itself. “This track is our love/hate letter to Sydney in a lot of ways, so we wanted to get in as much of the city as possible. We then used stop motion animation to create the dark but cartoonish version of the city that matched the ridiculousness of the music.” WAWAWOW

SUPPORT FOR ‘FALLING OUT’

“I feel like I’ve just swallowed a chilli. it’s got heat from start to finish when you think it’s peaked, there’s moments where it escalates hotter than I thought it could go”. – 4/5 stars
– Declan Byrne – triple j (AUS)

“’Falling Out’ is an excellent introduction to the band if you’re yet to get acquainted, opening with distortion and a rough-around-the-edges tease that this isn’t going to be a clean or overly-polished rock song”.
– PIlerats (AUS)

“‘Falling Out’ comes out snarling, going straight for the jugular with the kind of cyclonic energy that can only be captured through the lens of vigorous punk rock”.
– Blunt Magazine (AUS)

Added to Spotify playlist ‘New Punk Tracks’

Frontier Touring today reveals that for his Revelation Tour, international pop sensation MIKA, will be joined by electro-pop dance artist Chela for his Australian East Coast dates and NZ-born, Sydney-residing pop singer Theia in Auckland. In just eight days time MIKA will make his New Zealand live debut followed by his return to Australia for the first time in 11 years. The tour is also in the wake of his fifth album My Name Is Michael Holbrook, described by Billboard as “his boldest record yet”.

MIKA will be joined by Australian/Filipino alternative pop artist Chela in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Chela’s inception into the alternative-pop scene was with her breakout single ‘Romanticise’ which has accrued more than 6.8 million combined streams to date. The Melbourne-based artist is no stranger to the stage, having previously performed for huge audiences at SXSW and Coachella festivals.

In Auckland, the Beirut-born performer will be supported by idiosyncratic pop artist Theia. Born in Christchurch, NZ and now making music in Sydney, Theia broke into the scene with her hit ‘Roam’ which has amassed more than 14 million combined streams to date. No stranger to the limelight, Theia has toured Australia, Asia and the United States and has previously opened for the likes of Tones and I, Sia, Broods, LEON and The Kite String Tangle.

MIKA is one of the defining pop artists of his generation, don’t miss out on tickets to one of his first shows on Australian shores in over 11 years and his first ever New Zealand performance.

MIKA REVELATION TOUR SPECIAL GUESTS CHELA (AUS) & THEIA (NZ) AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND FEBRUARY 2020 Presented by Frontier Touring

GENERAL PUBLIC ON SALE Tickets to all shows on sale now via frontiertouring.com/mika

Auckland Town Hall | Auckland, NZ Licensed All Ages | SELLING FAST! ticketmaster.co.nz | Ph: 0800 111 999

The Tivoli | Brisbane, QLD 18+ | SELLING FAST! ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100

Enmore Theatre | Sydney, NSW Licensed All Ages | SELLING FAST! ticketek.com.au | Ph: 13 38 49

The Forum | Melbourne, VIC 18+ | SELLING FAST! ticketmaster.com.au | Ph: 136 100

February 14, 2020 0 comments

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Ben UFO is an artist adept at making a wide range of genres accessible. Traversing the sounds of techno, drum n bass, garage, and acid, he maintains firm foundations in UK rave. In the club, his sets manage to appear simultaneously thought out, and also spontaneously off the cuff. Not afraid to jump from a distorted broken rhythm into a bass heavy four-to-the-floor groove, his selective prowess and long list of dance floor oddities has earned him sets at Panorama Bar, Fabric, Tokyo’s Air, and a string of notorious international venues.

As the co-founder of Hessle Audio record label alongside Pearson Sound and Pangaea, the Hessle imprint delves into the various sounds that Ben UFO showcases in his sets. Housing works from FJAAK, Ryan Elliott, Radio Slave, Marcel Vogel, Jacques Renault and Cassegrain, Hessle Audio has undoubtedly played a role in Ben UFO’s creative evolution. As a DJ, his contributions to fabric Live mix series, Resident Advisor and BBC Radio 1 with a 2013 Essential Mix exquisitely showcase his talent, and assert his status as one of the industries most beloved DJs. Following a stand-out performance at Pitch Music & Arts 2018 alongside a full-house showcase at Revolver Upstairs, we’re excited to welcome Ben UFO back to the cage.

Novel presents Ben UFO Revolver Upstairs Sunday 15 March 2020 Tickets available now from: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/novel-presents-ben-ufo-tickets-94334582275

Following an extensive world touring schedule with many sold-out live shows and performances at the biggest festivals such as Awakenings, Time Warp, Ultra and Sonar, Dutch techno genius Reinier Zonneveld has announced an exciting new chapter in his explosive career.

On Saturday 29 August, he’ll organise the very first edition of his own festival, Live NOW Festival, at the Hembrugterrein near Amsterdam. This won’t be your usual festival experience though, where your attention is pulled in myriad different directions; there will be just one stage. And there will be only one artist, performing live for an astonishing 11 hours.

After his many sold-out all-night-long live shows in renowned clubs around the world already, Zonneveld is ready for the next step with his Live NOW Festival. Here he will do what he does best; treat the crowd on one of his signature marathon live sets. This time around he will play a staggering 11-hour-straight live set, bringing all his studio gear on stage making for an incredibly innovative festival experience. All of the vibes and atmosphere will be shared among every single attendant, with the incredible music complemented by all the other essentials for a great day out. Expect a live performance with familiar classics and plenty of unreleased material alongside spur-of-the-moment improvisation from the man behind the music. With so much time to play with, you can expect him to take the crowd on a serious journey full of peaks and troughs, all combined with an a-class production on a new festival site.

Live NOW Festival will be one of only three festival dates in the Netherlands for Filth on Acid label head Zonneveld this summer. Don’t miss the launch of this spectacular feat, which is sure to sell out and become a staple on the techno festival calendar.

Ticket sale will start Wednesday, February 26th 6PM CET via Live NOW Festival.
The start of the ticket sale will be accompanied by a special release announcement on Reinier Zonneveld’s socials starting at 6PM CET on February 26… Stay tuned!

CONNECT WITH REINIER ZONNEVELD

US multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer CLAIRO has announced her return to Australia in support of her debut album Immunity. She brings her captivating live show to Fremantle’s Freo.Social on Tuesday 28 April, Melbourne’s Max Watt’s on Thursday 30 April, Brisbane’s The Triffid on Tuesday 5 May, and Sydney’s Metro Theatre on Wednesday 6 May. Clairo will also tour the country as part of Groovin’ The Moo 2020.

Returning after last year’s sold out shows and stand-out Laneway Festival sets, the lo-fi pop prodigy left local audiences raving:

Deeply moved by the Australian bushfire crisis, Clairo has decided to donate all proceeds from her headline dates to bushfire relief charities; Fire Relief Fund For First Nations Communities, Foodbank and Animals Australia.

Clairo’s unique brand of dream-pop sees intimate confessions laid delicately over washed out textures and clean beats. Since first experiencing viral fame with the sardonic smash ‘Pretty Girl’ – that has since amassed 45 million views on YouTube and 96 million streams on Spotify – she has more than proved her skills, with self-produced smashes ‘Flaming Hot Cheetos’ and ‘4EVER’ coming next.

With last year’s stellar debut album Immunity, Clairo took her deeply felt songs from the bedroom to the world stage, cementing herself as a global force of indie-pop. Co-produced by Clairo and Rostam Batmanglij (formerly of Vampire Weekend), the record married her DIY roots with sophisticated production that took in trip-hop, indie-rock and hymns – punctuated by her now-trademark diaristic lyricism.

Clairo’s crystalline voice has been widely sought-after, and she features on the tracks ‘February 2017’ by Charli XCX, ‘Are You Bored Yet’ by Wallows, ‘I Don’t Think I Can Do This Again’ by Mura Masa, ‘Better’ with SG Lewis, and more.

As well as touring with Tyler, The Creator; Khalid and Dua Lipa, Clairo has appeared at Coachella, Lollapalooza and Pitchfork Music Fest, and delivered gob-smacking performances on Ellen and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Audiences in the US will soon be treated to her live set when she supports Tame Impala on their upcoming tour.

Step into Clairo’s intimate universe when she returns to Australia in April and May 2020.

VIDEO: ‘4EVER’ by Clairo

CLAIRO AUSTRALIA APRIL & MAY 2020 Presented by triple j, Penny Drop, Chugg Entertainment and Frontier Touring

CLAIRO FAN CLUB PRE-SALE Runs 24 hours from: Monday 17 February (12noon local time) or ends earlier if pre-sale allocation exhausted PENNY DROP MEMBERS PRE-SALE Runs 24 hours from: Monday 17 February (12noon local time) or ends earlier if pre-sale allocation exhausted CHUGG MEMBERS PRE-SALE via chuggentertainment.com/tours/clairo-2020 Runs 24 hours from: Monday 17 February (12noon local time) or ends earlier if pre-sale allocation exhausted FRONTIER MEMBERS PRE-SALE via frontiertouring.com/clairo Runs 24 hours from: Monday 17 February (12noon local time) or ends earlier if pre-sale allocation exhausted GENERAL PUBLIC ON SALE Begins: Wednesday 19 February (12noon local time)

Freo.Social | Perth, WA 18+ moshtix.com.au | Ph: 1300 438 849

Max Watt’s | Melbourne, VIC 18+ oztix.com.au | Ph: 1300 762 545

The Triffid | Brisbane, QLD All Ages moshtix.com.au | Ph: 1300 438 849

Metro Theatre | Sydney, NSW All Ages ticketek.com.au | Ph: 132 849

February 13, 2020 0 comments

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It is with great excitement that I OH YOU reveal Violent Soho’s fifth studio album, Everything Is A-OK, with scorching second single, ‘Lying On The Floor’. Recorded by Australian producer Greg Wales (You Am I, Sandpit, Youth Group), it will be released into the world on Friday 3 April. In true Soho fashion, the Mansfield boys are celebrating the news by throwing a series of sold out, exclusive shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane this weekend.

Premiered this morning via triple j Breakfast, ‘Lying On The Floor’ is an energetic track packed with slacker attitude and the raw energy that Violent Soho are famous for. Opening line, ‘I don’t want to be a photograph / They’re like handing out brochures that a rapture is close’ burns into your brain like only a Luke Boerdam lyric can, but where we might have come to expect a certain wry suspicion and existential despair from the Brisbane four-piece, we are instead met with a song that suggests a band that is content; ‘Lying on the floor is all I wanna do / So thank you’.

Kicking off tonight in Melbourne, the band are playing a run of intimate shows for fans along the east coast. Tonight, they play at The Tote, before heading to The Lansdowne in Sydney tomorrow and wrapping up at The Zoo in Brisbane on Saturday. Each show sold out in under two hours – no mean feat considering they were announced with nothing but a stack of humble flyers, with only hardcopy tickets available for the lines of ravenous fans that made their way to iconic record stores in each city. There’s no question that this band remains one of the most in-demand live acts in the country. Violent Soho slunk back onto the airwaves in November with their first taste of new music ‘A-OK’, before delivering the wall-of-sound that is ‘Vacation Forever’, a track that set the tone for an album that’s a headlong cannonball-ride into the darkness of suburban abandonment and decay. Oozing with frustration, irony and Soho’s signature wit, ‘Vacation Forever’ instantly struck a chord with Australia, becoming the sixth most played track on triple j over the summer, landing at #69 in the Hottest 100 of 2019, and receiving staunch support from both Spotify and Apple Music. After playing the part of ‘those kids who don’t seem to fit in anywhere’ with their first two records (2008’s We Don’t Belong Here & 2010’s self-titled), Violent Soho finally came crashing into the public consciousness with 2013’s Hungry Ghost. It came in a hail of riffs and ‘HELL F*CK YEAH’s scrawled on arms, desks, and bathroom walls the world over. 2016’s WACO earned the band a #1 ARIA chart debut, two ARIA Awards, an ARIA Gold certification, an AIR Award, and numerous festival headline slots and sold-out tours, but it came amid personal upheaval for drummer Michael Richards, bassist Luke Henery and guitarist James Tidswell. Now, with Everything Is A-OK, Mansfield’s favourite sons have drawn a metaphorical line in the sand. Five albums into their career, equipped with a renewed self-confidence, they know not to follow a rule book written by other people. That’s what Everything Is A-OK is – a declaration that THIS is who Violent Soho are – as a band, as musicians, and as mates. “It’s honest,” explains guitarist/vocalist Luke Boerdam. “It doesn’t claim to be anything it’s not: it’s apolitical, slacker, cynical, and trying to connect with people over a shared experience in pointing out society’s failures and the personal shit that follows.” With the studio where they’d crafted Hungry Ghost and WACO (Brisbane’s The Shed) no more, the band decamped to The Grove Studios in New South Wales — “a great decision,” reflects Henery. “All of us just getting away, hanging out together, focusing specifically on making something we could be super-proud of”. And the result is an album that floats like a smoke ring and stings like a spark in the eye. Everything Is A-OK roars of lessons learned and emotions scalded. Those who braved the early queues and were lucky enough to score a ticket to the shows this weekend, will get a taste of the album to come. For everyone else, Everything Is A-OK is out Friday 3 April and available for pre-order now!

Violent Soho live dates: Thursday 13 February The Tote | Melbourne, VIC  18+ | SOLD OUT Friday 14 February The Lansdowne Hotel | Sydney, NSW 18+ | SOLD OUT Saturday 15 February The Zoo | Brisbane, QLD 18+ | SOLD OUT

Everything Is A-OK Violent Soho Album out Friday 3 April through I OH YOU Available to pre-order here Everything Is A-OK tracklisting: 1. Sleep Year 2. Vacation Forever 3. Pick It Up Again 4. Canada 5. Shelf Life 6. Slow Down Sonic 7. Lying On The Floor 8. Easy 9. Pity Jar 10. A-OK

VIOLENT SOHO

February 13, 2020 0 comments

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With only 3 weeks to go til Hidden 2020 kicks off in Brisbane and Perth, the hip hop and bass music festival has proven again to be in demand as the festival moves into it’s final release tickets. In its fourth year, the 2020 rendition in Perth and Brisbane is lead exclusively by ASAP mob’s A$AP Ferg joining Tesla loving trio Injury Reserve, Beyonce collaborator SAINt JHN who will play his first ever Australian shows and western Sydney’s finest quartet Triple One. Belgian dubstep icon EPTIC heads up the bass contingent, alongside UK drum and bass heavyweights Delta Heavy, bass dream team Alix Perez and EPROM who will join together for the first Australian shows as Shades, UK performer and producer Koven and dubstep dons Barely Alive and Virtual Riot doing an exclusive back to back set. Taking on Brisbane’s Victoria Parklands and Perth’s Gloucester Park, with special Sydney event at the Hordern Pavillion; the 2020 edition is set to be its biggest yet.

Originating as a single event in Perth, the bass and rap formula was first expanded to Brisbane, Perth and Auckland at the start of this year featuring heavyweights Lil Yachty, J.I.D, Troyboi, and Kayzo with previous editions Perth editions pulling sets from Wiley, Shockone. Last year saw attendees discover new food, new artists and flying high at the festival’s own amusement park.

ASAP FERG
INJURY RESERVE
SAINt JHN
TRIPLE ONE
BARELY ALIVE B2B VIRTUAL RIOT*
DELTA HEAVY
EPTIC*
KOVEN
SHADES
* exclusive to Hidden 2020

TICKETS ON SALE 
www.discoverhidden.com

Strictly 18+ Event. Valid ID Required for Entry