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Photo by: Vinca Petersen
Singer songwriter Matt Maltese today releases his sixth studio album Hers via The Orchard. Hers arrives as Maltese’s most insular and intimate project to date, and his first fully self-produced effort since his second album Krystal.
Maltese has long drawn from the tried and tested artistic wellspring of romance and heartbreak, but the songs that make up Hers find him reflecting upon a serious long-term relationship and the more grown-up complexities of love through the rearview, with the quiet artfulness for which he has become so beloved. Hers exists in a twilight world, pairing heartfelt songwriting and dry witticism with the gentle quiver of strings, a flourish of woodwind or the sound of a creaking old piano.
“I’ve written a lot of music that comes from a place of infatuation, but this record was written on reflection of a much longer-term love. The complications and wonderful roads that that goes through and the more informed heartaches that come out of it. I got to really reflect and slave over it… It’s a bit like having a year to write a really important email,” he says.
“I’m British enough to feel a slight shame of writing so many love songs in the past,” he adds. “Maybe the more interesting thing on paper would have been to go to the other side of the world and write a concept album about prehistoric creatures or something, but at the end of the day, we’re all human, and love and people are things we’re all continually affected by. It’s my job as a songwriter to excavate the things in my life, and that’s what I was going through.” MATT MALTESE
Today he also highlights the record’s latest single ‘Happy Birthday’, a mediation on all the feelings that can be held in such a simple exchange between two people. Maltese explains: “I grew up when writing ‘happy birthday’ 108 times a year peoples Facebook pages without any punctuation was socially acceptable behaviour, and I’ve always thought how interesting it is looking back.. such a plain message but always so much unsaid between senders and recipients in those two words. The socially conventional shell for a million other feelings. And I think in break ups, the ‘happy birthday’ text is the last thing to go. Sometimes it goes on years longer than anything else, and that’s fascinating, I think. Reflecting on this, it started to really interest me to get that into a song. A light title, but all the anguish underneath the surface. Maybe someday, people all over the world will joyfully chant ‘I’d break my legs in half..’ when the cake comes out. Or not.”
This week Matt embarks on a tour of intimate record store in-store shows in support of Hers, with events taking place in London, Liverpool, Nottingham, Oxford and Brighton over the coming week. Later this year Maltese embarks on his Tour For You My Whole Life run, playing the biggest venues of his career across North America, UK and Europe from September through to December. The 46-date tour commences in Nashville, stopping by major venues including Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre and London’s Roundhouse, before concluding his European run in Barcelona in mid-December. Full list of dates below, tickets are on sale now and available via matt-maltese.com.
HERS TRACKLIST
Arthouse Cinema
Happy Birthday
Cure For Emptiness
Holiday From Yourself
Eternal Darkness Of The Spotless Mind
Tangled
Everybody’s Just As Crazy As Me
Having first established himself as a songwriter with a knack for dry one-liners and a keen eye for self-deprecation, Maltese released debut album Bad Contestant back in 2018. The three albums that followed over the next five years cemented his position as one of the UK’s finest young songwriters. Critics were unanimous; Matt Maltese’s piano harmonies, playful approach and quintessentially British wit saw ‘the mundane transformed into fantasy’.
Since the release of 2023’s Driving Just To Drive, Maltese has been busy in multiple behind the scenes roles, lending his songwriting abilities to a number of fellow artists, and establishing indie label Last Recordings On Earth. Taking a slightly different approach to his own craft, last year saw Matt share covers album Songs That Aren’t Mine, a collection of some of his favourite songs, recorded at home with guest features by friends including Dora Jar and Liana Flores. Elsewhere, he made his theatre songwriting debut, composing all original music and lyrics for The Royal Shakespeare Company’s winter production of Twelfth Night, described by The Observer as “inspired… perfectly balances Shakespeare’s dramatic polarities”.
Late 2024 also saw Maltese embark on a headline tour of Asia, Australia and New Zealand, following live runs through the US, Europe and the UK, including his biggest show to date at the Wiltern, Los Angeles, and a sold-out show at London’s Brixton Electric. His global appeal as an artist is undeniable, with sold-out shows from Sydney to Sao Paolo, and Jakarta to Tokyo to his name.
MATT MALTESE 2025 TOUR DATES
16 September – Marathon Music Works, Nashville
17 September – Tabernacle, Atlanta
19 September – Underground, Charlotte
20 September – Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh
20 September – The Fillmore Silver Spring, Washington
23 September – Roxian Theatre, Pittsburgh
25 September – HISTORY, Toronto
26 September – Beanfield Theatre, Montreal
28 September – Citizens House Of Blues, Boston
30 September – Toad’s Place, New Haven
2 October – The Fillmore, Philadelphia
4 October – Paramount, Brooklyn
6 October – Newport Music Hall, Columbus
7 October – Bogart’s, Cincinnati
9 October – Deluxe at Old National Centre, Indianapolis
10 October – The Fillmore, Detroit
11 October – Riviera Theatre, Chicago
13 October – The Fillmore, Minneapolis
25 October – Summit, Denver
16 October – The Depot, Salt Lake City
18 October – Vogue Theatre, Vancouver
19 October – Moore Theatre, Seattle
21 October – Fox Theatre, Oakland
23 October – House Of Blues, San Diego
24 October – The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles
26 October – The Van Buren, Phoenix
29 October – House Of Blues, Dallas
30 October – Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheatre, Austin
1 November – House Of Blues, Houston
2 November – House Of Blues, New Orleans
4 November – The Ritz Ybor, Tampa
20 November – Project House, Leeds
21 November – O2 Institute, Birmingham
22 November – O2 Academy, Bristol
24 November – The National Stadium, Dublin
26 November – SWG3, Glasgow
27 November – O2 Ritz Manchester
28 November – Roundhouse, London
1 December – La Cigale, Paris
3 December – Ancienne Belgique, Brussels
4 December – Tivoli Vrendenburg, Utrecht
6 December – Kantine, Cologne
7 December – Metropol, Berlin
9 December – WUK, Vienna
11 December – Legend Club, Milan
13 December – Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona
PRAISE
“An undeniably safe pair of hands… even the most quotidian of details becomes filmic. ‘Hers’ is testament to how much Matt has grown since his 2018 debut”
DIY MAGAZINE
“New album ‘Hers’ could be a defining statement… a beautiful glimpse of his creative essence.”
CLASH
Hers is out Now
Matt Maltese: Website | Instagram | TikTok | X | Facebook | Spotify | Apple Music
Photography: Hieu Nguyen – Words: Ken Magno
My first memory of Montell Fish was the same way I discover most artists that have become quite constant staples in my recent most-played lists. A chance encounter with a song that comes on in my recommended tracks, just to scroll back through hours of music and find that one specific song that stuck in my head. The song of question? “Fall in Love with You.” A song with a simple yet powerful message that seemed to strike a chord during the late hours of the night. That song would go on to become a mainstay in my daily rotation, during late night dnm’s over the phone, long drives up and down the highway and during any time my friends and I would go band for band in what our ultimate ‘yearning’ track is.
Jump forward a couple years, on a cold and windy night in May, and Montell Fish was set to play the final few of his internationally sold out “the Dream Deer Tour”, following the release of his 2024 album “Charlotte”. Driving into the venue, the sun was setting over an overcast Sydney as the dimly lit lights of the Enmore Theatre battled with the violent blues and greys of the sunset; a night that matched the energy of the enigmatic singer perfectly. Setting the scene for Fish was DJ / producer Exxy, a young up and coming artist who set a scene of intimacy rather than the usual upbeats of most opening acts at shows. His set complimented Fish’s music perfectly, a feeling of ambience in his sound that most would recognise as the feeling of listening in on the party music playing through the walls of the bathroom you’ve found yourself in – a melancholic feeling of euphoria as you sit back and rethink the decisions that led you to the moment you’ve found yourself in.
As Montell made his highly anticipated entrance, his silhouette was only highlighted by a mix of strobe lighting and a dimly lit back curtain, adding to the mystery and complexity of his character. Flashes of lights and quick glimpses of the Pittsburgh-based singer-songwriter, the pain and anguish in his voice and words hitting at the heart as if they’re lingering memories of past mistakes that you can’t quite let go of. Montell Fish had created a haunting scene over the historic venue, something more reminiscent of a painting from the romantic period filled with emotion and longing, his words being his paintbrush that carefully curates the artwork of emotion that was on display at his show.
Songs like “Every Night” and “Same Sh*t” had lit a fire in the audience, the chorus of the Every Night feeling more like a hypnotic chant as the audience relentlessly screamed “The drugs, the sex the lights / I think I want it all, like every night” with the heavy drums and distorted guitar adding a layer of harshness that contrasts his usual soft, alternative-pop style.
Though throughout the set, Montell’s duality behind his songwriting really shone as he led the crowd through a more personal story. Taking a trip back to his early release of “Jamie”, Fish walked us through a story that may seem like another soft RNB ballad about the hopelessness of falling in love with someone just out of your reach, though actually paints a story of a man struggling with is relationship with God. Montell’s early days having freshly moved to New York as a young artist looking to find community while trying to uphold his Christian roots sparkled through a beautiful play through of his hit song “Talk2Me”, his guitar acting as an extension of his voice rather than an accompaniment.
After dancing around the keys of his piano to “What ‘s it Take to be a Star”, Montell Fish made his goodbye’s by playing his infamous ballad “Fall in Love with You.” (giving the younger me chills) before bowing out to a thunderous rendition of “Hotel” and “Bathroom” back-to-back, adding a heavily distorted guitar solo to the end of “Hotel” that seemed to transcend the space between the audience and the artist and elevate the night to a whole other level.
Montell Fish creates music for the dreamers, for the lost, for the lovers – he creates music that is real and relatable, leaving a piece of his heart on the stage with every soul piercing note, creating a show that was nothing short of a night to remember for decades. The Dream Deer Tour ends with the final show of the international tour at the Enmore Theatre on Wednesday the 14th of March, followed by an afterparty at the Lansdowne Hotel in Sydney hosted by Montell Fish’s alter ego DJ Gummy Bear.
Unveiling a new rock n roll number, The Grogans are releasing ‘Social Cue’, the latest single from their forthcoming LP Stagger, out Friday 23 May. Capturing their live energy that their fans love best, the single is joined by a live video recorded at Sing Sing Studios, Melbourne. After returning from a 16-date US headline tour, the trio are making a quick stopover in WA for shows in Margaret River and Esperance as they gear up to release their fifth and favourite album later this month and a return to the US this June.
Out Thursday 8 May, ‘Social Cue’ is packed with heavy guitars and drums, reminiscent of an early Grogans sound that fans first fell in love with. The track embodies the story of feeling disrespected and all the frustration that comes with it. “Dig in and turn it up to eleven” – The Grogans.
PLAY/LISTEN
Exploring another side of The Grogans’ music, Stagger is a patchwork of different sounds and sonic inspirations that all come together in the one album, “it came from this idea that it was a jagged and stylistically different album track to track“, explain The Grogans. Capturing the magnetic energy of their live shows, the album also touches on themes of mental health, taking care of yourself and your loved ones, the occasional love song, and more. As the catchy chorus first single and album opener ‘Oh Boy’ leads into sonic powerhouse of a tune ‘Come Up (Goes Down)’, ‘In My Heart’ slows it down to a new easy listening direction, followed by ‘Have a Little Dream’ – as dreamy as the title suggests – and the big open echoed instrumentation of ‘Once In A While’. Adding new textural effects in ‘Roll Back’ and last single ‘Roundabout’, ‘Happier Man’ dips into a heavier psych realm with a reminder that “striving to be a better and happier person should be a goal for everyone.” ‘Worry About Everything’ is an upbeat tune sure to have you worrying about nothing, and feel good album closer ‘All My Days’ ends on a more serious note that outlines the beauty and the beast of live music and the personal struggles that come with the lifestyle and touring.
Included in Rolling Stone’s Future of Music 2025 and described by triple j as ‘one of the most consistently hardworking live acts in the country’, The Grogans commitment to making incredibly varied, distinct music, sharing good experiences at their live show and genuine elation on playing together is clear to see and explains why they are one of Australia’s brightest bands. In recent years, they have delighted their international fans with a headline 2024 tour across Europe, Ireland, and the UK, a stop at the Netherlands’ Misty Fields Festival, joining Ocean Alley on their US Summer Tour, and more. Never ones for slowing down, 2024 was filled with local shows, sharing the stage with Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers for their ‘Fix It With Salt’ tour, and a 5th anniversary tour of their LP ‘Just What You Want. ’
Filled with catchy chorus’ for fans to sing along to, get ready for the new 11 track LP from The Grogans.
‘Social Cue’ is out via CW Records
Stagger out Friday 23 May CW Records
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Photography: Josh Ma
Words: Ken Magno
There’s something different about dance concerts. Most bands and artists I’ve seen live recently, it’s a race to the front of the barricade to try gain the attention of whoever has the stage, though there’s something magic about the hypnotic trance of an electronic gig. The pounding bass echoing through the venue, the syncopation of frat flicks and red bull vodka induced “Woo’s” of eager many eager fans, there’s no better way to battle the oncoming cold weather than by burning up on the dance floor.
Enter Chris Lake; British electronic DJ and producer phenomenon who first took the world by storm back in 2006, turning the Hordern into a dance party not even some of the Sydney city’s most well-known dance clubs could compete with on a chilly Saturday night. His signature tech house sound accompanied by simple visuals (an LED screen hooked up to a livestream of the DJ alongside a light show that perfectly elevated the atmosphere) had the audience moving in a way that looked the Hordern had its own living heartbeat.
Having just come off a fresh back-to-back set with Australia’s very own techno powerhouse FISHER, many eager eyes scouted around the room to see if the Under Construction (the moniker that the duo of Chris Lake and FISHER perform under) marathon continued – a speculation that would pay off as the night went on. Playing through some of his more popular tracks, including recent hits such as ‘Summertime Blues’, ‘In the Yuma’ and chart topper ‘Beggin’ as well as his 2024 remix of Gotye’s hit single ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ simply titled ‘Somebody’, the party raged on with FISHER acting as a hype man throughout the remainder of their time on stage (while also playing some FISHER classics in true b2b style.
Chris Lake’s Disclosure collab ‘In2Minds’ signified the final moments of the night, closing out an insane season of shows and festivals for the dance mastermind. The show never ended even after the sound was cut off, with Lake taking to the stage once more to give the crowd one more chant, showing his love and appreciation for the people of Sydney one more time and bowing out to a thunderous applause of Sydney’s ever growing EDM community.
Photography & Words: Darren Chan
Melbourne got to experience two of rock’s most iconic artists at Margaret Court Arena. The autumn chill has kicked into Melbourne, but George Thorogood heated up the atmosphere with his long-time band, The Destroyers, consisting of drummer Jeff Simon, Bill Blough on bass, Jim Suhler on guitar, and Buddy Leach on saxophone.
From the get-go, it was rock ’n’ roll boogie with the opener “Rock Party.” Aussie blues-rock artist Hamish Anderson joined the band on percussion for Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love,” as George jokingly put it, “to be the lady magnet.”
Buddy added to the performance with some tasty saxophone licks and solos, intertwined with George’s percussive guitar rhythm playing. George had his moments to shine with an intense slide solo in “Gear Jammer.” Jim seamlessly carried both rhythm and lead guitar duties. They effortlessly ripped through crowd favourites including “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” “Gloria,” and “Get a Haircut” with sass and attitude.
The slide intro of “Bad to the Bone” had the crowd up and cheering, finishing with the classic “Born to Be Bad.” With George and The Destroyers, what you see is what you get—raw, in-your-face, blues-infused rock ’n’ roll boogie.
ZZ Top have been around for 51 years, and the show was an opportunity to experience the legends that have shaped rock and blues for decades. They strutted onstage to enthusiastic applause, kicking off with “Got Me Under Pressure” from the Eliminator album. The setlist spanned their entire career, seamlessly blending the past and present, including their hits “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Legs,” and deeper cuts like “Brown Sugar” from their debut album, the riff-laden “Just Got Paid,” and “Tube Snake Boogie.” They even threw in covers of Sam & Dave’s “I Thank You” and Merle Travis’ “Sixteen Tons,” previously performed with the late Jeff Beck, but done in their signature gritty Texas blues sound.
Billy Gibbons is a guitarist and music icon. Tonight, he cemented his status as the Texas blues statesman. His guitar playing was in the pocket and full of attitude, complementing his growly, gritty blues vocal. He seamlessly shifted from his instantly recognisable and iconic riffs in “Gimme All Your Lovin’” to bluesy licks and solos. There were plenty of moments to showcase his guitar chops—improvising before launching into “Head in Mississippi,” a solo in “Sixteen Tons,” swampy slide licks in “Just Got Paid,” and a one-handed solo in “Sharp Dressed Man.”
A former guitar tech for the late bassist Dusty Hill, Elwood Francis did an exemplary job as the bassist, keeping the spirit of ZZ Top alive on stage, performing the characteristic sways and moves with Billy. He held down the rhythmic backbone with drummer John Douglas, also a tech with the band, filling in for Frank Beard who could not perform on this tour.
Their stage presence is always larger-than-life, with Billy occasionally engaging directly with fans. The stage was stripped back but with a bit of glitz—Billy and Elwood wearing glittering jackets and pants, a gold tiki-adorned drum kit, and a wall of multicoloured Magnatone amps. Their regular guitar changes added a novelty factor, with Elwood starting the night with a monstrous 17-string bass, plush-covered guitars in “Legs,” and guitars with screen visuals in the encore.
As the band started riffing into the finale “La Grange,” the crowd were on their feet dancing. ZZ Top delivered a high-energy show of Texan blues and nostalgia. They are a testament to an enduring blues-rock legacy, and everyone was there to enjoy being part of their journey.
BEONIX, Cyprus’s premier electronic music festival, will take place on the sun-soaked shores of Limassol from September 19 to 21, 2025, bringing together a genre-spanning lineup of legendary names and rising talents. Held once again at the ETKO venue, the three-day celebration promises an unforgettable sonic journey across four immersive stages: Main Stage, Hangar Stage, Organic Stage, and Garden Stage.
Headlining the 2025 edition are some of the most influential names in the global electronic scene, including Adriatique, Armin van Buuren, Boris Brejcha, Dubfire, Len Faki, Maceo Plex, and Roger Sanchez. From progressive and melodic techno to house, trance, and live electronica, BEONIX curates a multifaceted musical experience for both dedicated ravers and curious newcomers.
The full lineup for BEONIX 2025 features over 50 international and regional artists:
Adriatique, Anfisa Letyago, Armin van Buuren, Boris Brejcha, Dubfire, Kevin Saunderson, Len Faki, Maceo Plex, Roger Sanchez, Shimza, ANII b2b Olympe, AS IDE, AVALAN ROCKSTON, AVANT b2b Solique, Avision, Axel Haube b2b Ross Quinn, BADBOX, Carlo Lio, Casey Spillman b2b Seb Zito, David Moreno, Deepesh Sharma b2b Romeo Ji, Henri Bergmann b2b Kadosh, Highjacks, Human Rias, James Zabiela, Jordan Masters b2b Smythy, Julian Prince b2b Kosta Kritikos, Juliet Fox, Just Jam b2b Wodda, Kole Audro, Lehar, LNTX, Markus Klee, Marlie, Octave One (live), Saraga, Spartaque, Tania Vulcano, The Advocate, The Element, Wax Material, Xavi Emparan, Yulia Niko, Zakes Bantwini.
Each of BEONIX’s four stages will offer its own soundscape and atmosphere, carefully curated to blend cutting-edge music with immersive art and lighting design. Every year, BEONIX invests heavily in the production of the Main Stage, ensuring audiences enjoy world-class sound quality and breathtaking visual experiences.
The festival takes place at ETKO, a historic former winery in Cyprus that has been carefully restored. The venue is home to art installations and murals created by talented artists, highlighting that BEONIX is not only about music, but also about celebrating art in all its forms.
Since its debut, BEONIX has established itself not just as a festival, but as a cultural movement celebrating creativity, diversity, and high-end production values in Cyprus. With its 2025 edition, BEONIX continues to push boundaries, turning the island into a global hub for electronic music enthusiasts.
Tickets are now available via the official BEONIX website: https://beonix.art/tickets
Photography: Abby Waisler
Words: Josh Ma
For most in the crowd at Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday night, it was a girls’ night out — clusters of best friends, mothers and daughters, and young women singing every lyric with the fervor of someone who’d been healing to these songs in their bedrooms for years. But for me as a boyfriend, we’ve only known her through the playlists of our girlfriends who has been blasting her for the last few weeks.
And now, l get it.
Gracie Abrams, the 24-year-old singer-songwriter hailed by some as “the next Taylor Swift,” didn’t need grand theatrics or elaborate choreography to hold the room.
Where her father once told stories of galaxies far, far away, Gracie uses the smaller universe of heartbreak, healing, and coming-of-age to wage an emotional war — one waged with just a piano, a diary’s worth of lyrics, and the collective ache of 20,000 hearts.
Her Sydney return was no small feat. From two show at Hordern Pavilion last year to three sold-out nights at Qudos Bank Arena, her swift ascent in Australia is a testament to the intimacy she creates in her music — and remarkably, still sustains in person, even under arena lights.
Opening the night was LA-based artist Ashe, whose emotionally grounded set prepared the crowd with ease. Highlights included tracks from her new album Wilson — particularly Pull the Plug and Running Out of Time — and, of course, Moral of the Story, the 2019 hit that rocketed her to fame. As a fan of Ashe it was a special night watching her perform after her long break from music to focus on her mental health, we were unsure of whether she would return to perform anytime soon. Seeing her back on the stage filled me with joy and she truly shined so bright.
Grscie Abrams took the stage with Felt Good About You, setting the tone with dreamy lighting and soft vocals that highlight the vulnerability of her lyrics. Her setlist spanned fan favourites and deeper cuts, with standout moments including Risk, Blowing Smoke , and 21, which saw fans waving for her attention.
She greeted the crowd warmly: “Sydney, Australia — my name is Gracie Abrams and this is The Secret of Us Tour… We missed you so much. I’m so deeply obsessed with this crowd.” The sentiment felt sincere, particularly when she spoke about how much the new album meant to her and mentioned one of her best friends Audrey Hobert who helped create the album and has recently taken a step into the music industry with her upcoming song ‘Sue Me’ releasing this
May. As well as the one and only Taylor Swift, who collaborated on the project with the hit song ‘Us’ who has introduced new fans to Abram’s discography following her Era’s tour which Abram’s supported her on.
The sea of white bows sang every word of the soft pop ballads. The thought that fans put into their outfits was unmatched with people cutting fabrics and spelling out their favourite lyrics of songs on their shirts. Of course there were many girls wearing long white skirts, a staple for pop girl concerts.
The emotional core of the show came when she left the main stage and disappeared into the b stage — a quiet, dimly lit stage that mimicked her childhood bedroom where she started to do Zoom concerts whilst she was beginning her career. Amid these tender moments, she paused to connect directly with fans — snapping polaroids of the crowd, laughing at signs that referenced old tattoos and then accepting a fan-made scrapbook passed from the front row. She flipped through the pages with wide eyes, visibly touched by the thoughtfulness of her fans.
Phones went up as she covered a song from her 2023 album Good Riddance: ‘This is where the drugs are for,’ her surprise song for Sydney Night 2 which is a soft ballad about getting through a breakup. Following this she sang ‘Cool’ where she introduced the song by telling fans that she wrote this song when she felt angry. Ending her time in her bedroom she sung the song ‘I Miss You, I’m Sorry’ coming full circle with her music video being filmed in her bedroom back in 2020.
Back on the main stage, the energy gradually swelled again. The final stretch of the show felt like an emotional release — cinematic and cathartic. Gracie turned the audience into her choir for Us and Free Now, lifting the track into something sacred, before she closed and encored with That’s So True, and Close to You — a fitting end to a night that started in heartbreak and ended in something close to healing. Seeing all the fans jumping and dancing in circles on the floor was a perfect end to the night with strangers now connecting with strangers becoming friends.
It was the true epitome of girlhood.
Toronto punk heroes PUP— comprised of Stefan Babcock, Nestor Chumak, Zack Mykula, and Steve Sladkowski— will release their highly anticipated forthcoming album Who Will Look After The Dogs? this Friday, May 2nd via Little Dipper / Rise Records. Today they share one final album teaser with “Olive Garden”, a caustic track written from the perspective of Babcock’s past youthful naivete that started as an acoustic demo and turned into one of the heaviest songs on the record. The band is also sharing a video as goofy as the song, created by the band’s own Nestor. Listen and watch now HERE.
“This is a very stupid, but also wonderful song. The band get all the credit for turning it into something really special. Zack (who plays drums) heard my cute little acoustic guitar demo and decided we should try and make it as heavy as possible. Which is objectively, a very annoying thing to suggest. But you know what, I’m glad I kept my stupid mouth shut, because it works. There’s a real magic in the way these sweet vocal melodies are bludgeoned by a wall of disgusting, grinding, detuned guitars. The whole song is kinda upsetting and uncomfortable but also, catchy and fun. And I don’t care what anyone says, ‘Olive Garden’ rhymes with ‘Grandma in a coffin’ – listen to this crap and tell me I’m wrong.”
FUN FACT: the nearest Olive Garden to Toronto is on the U.S. side of Niagra Falls. In fact, there are only nine locations in all of Canada, and I’m only somewhat confident that they are still up and running. On May 1, PUP will make that 10! That’s right, PUP are bringing Olive Garden back to Toronto, baby. Before album release this Friday, lucky Torontonians will be treated to a very special and very committed-to-the-bit album launch party. The event will feature an album playback, short live set from PUP, Olive Garden-inspired music, decor, and food from Matty Matheson’s beloved Rizzo’s House of Parm, and more surprises to come.
Reminder to call your dogsitter, because PUP will bring Who Will Look After The Dogs? on the road all year, touring the UK/EU, Australia and of course North America. Tickets on sale now via puptheband.com
PRE-ORDER WHO WILL LOOK AFTER THE DOGS? NOW
Who Will Look After The Dogs?, PUP’s pummeling and cathartic fifth LP, is their most immediate, no-frills, and hard-hitting full-length yet. It was made in Los Angeles with producer John Congleton over the course of three weeks, and it’s the culmination of PUP’s past decade of constant touring and their palpable, livewire chemistry. The album evokes the lightning-in-a-bottle intensity of their self-titled debut (except they are much better at their instruments now), and finds our self-deprecating frontman Stefan Babcock at his most reflective, vulnerable and prolific. Over 12 tracks, Babcock excavates his life’s relationships—romantic, with his bandmates, and most ruthlessly, his relationship to himself. There’s plenty of growth, but also plenty of unpredictable mayhem in the arrangements and an acerbic bite in the writing. And while PUP historically are at one another’s throats during the album process, this time they scrapped their tedious perfectionism and rediscovered the joy of making loud music together.
“Within days of announcing our last album, coincidentally titled The Unraveling of PUPTHEBAND, my life unexpectedly imploded. I wrote the lyrics for ‘Hallways’ while all that was going on. It was a weird fucking week,” says Babcock. “The title of our new record, Who Will Look After The Dogs?, is what I wrote at the top of the page, the very first thing written for this album. I think it’s devastating, but in a ‘holy shit this is overdramatic’ kinda way. At least in context of the line that comes before it. That’s what makes it funny to us. That overblown stuff we all say in our dark moments can be hilarious once you’ve cooled off a bit. I don’t know if anyone else thinks it’s funny, but sometimes you gotta laugh at yourself. It’s the only way out of the abyss. Trust me.”
PRAISE FOR PUP
“The Toronto band Pup has long made frenetic punk-pop with neat verse-chorus-bridge structures underlying Stefan Babcock’s raucously overwrought and fully self-aware lead vocals.” – New York Times
“PUP’s fourth album, ‘The Unraveling of PUPTheBand,’ finds the quartet completely removing any of the limits left on their music, pushing things as far as possible” – The New Yorker
“Hearts on their sleeves, the group captures the rage and frustration of human fallibility with crashing drums and infectious irreverence” – NPR Music
“The new songs are boisterous, catchy, and meta while also earnestly wading through the nuances of depression in a manner often reserved for “confessional” indie rock…an instant mood-booster.” – Pitchfork
“transmuting life’s frustrations into unhinged visceral joy” – Stereogum (Album of the Week)
“‘The Unraveling of PUPTHEBAND’…reinforces the message that it’s okay to be yourself, no matter who you are.” – Vulture
“PUP’s winning recipe is 49% snark, 51% heart” – Bandcamp (Album of the Day)
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PUP
NEW ZEALAND + AUSTRALIA DO IT
2025 TOUR
Tickets on-sale now via puptheband.com
Tuesday August 5
Tuning Fork, Auckland
Wednesday August 6
San Fran, Wellington
Friday August 8
Princess Theatre, Brisbane
Saturday August 9
Metro Theatre, Sydney
Sunday August 10
Northcote Theatre, Melbourne
Tuesday August 12
Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide
Thursday August 14
Magnet House, Perth
PLAYING STILL NOT GETTING ANY… LIVE IN FULL FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER
TOURING NATIONALLY WITH THE OFFSPRING THIS MAY
Photo Credit: Mahe Carpentier
In 2025, SIMPLE PLAN history will be made in Australia, with the revered Canadian rockers today announcing a surprise special headline show in Sydney at the Liberty Hall on Saturday 10th May playing their 2004 sophomore album Still Not Getting Any… in full in its entirety for the first time ever. Tickets go on sale Tuesday 29 April at 12pm AEST time.
“Still Not Getting Any…” is one of our favourite albums we’ve made and last fall it celebrated its twentieth anniversary! We haven’t had the chance to properly celebrate the milestone and because we are not big fans of just sitting around, we thought we would take advantage of the few days off we have in Australia and do something really special….something we’ve never done before anywhere else in the world! We found a small, intimate venue and we’re gonna play the album in its entirety for our fans in Sydney! We’re not sure when or even if we’ll ever do this again, so you know this is gonna be a very special show. We hope to see you all at Liberty Hall on May 10th” – Chuck Comeau, Simple Plan
Introducing the world to smash hits like Welcome to My Life, Untitled (How Could This Happen to Me?) and Shut Up! over two decades ago, Still Not Getting Any… cemented SIMPLE PLAN‘s legacy as bona fide pop punk legends with the album’s moments of perky pop fused with timeless teenage angst and sharpened rock undertones offering the ultimate soundtrack for the mid-2000s; and one that still firmly permeates to this day.
Reaching #6 on the ARIA Charts and boasting hundreds of millions of streams, including 300+ million individual streams for Welcome to My Life on Spotify alone, Still Not Getting Any… went on to become certified triple Platinum in Australia and quadruple Platinum in the band’s motherland, and was praised by Rolling Stone upon release, declaring “there’s hardly a track in the bunch that doesn’t sound like a hit”. Marking the album’s 20th anniversary last year, SIMPLE PLAN commemorated the milestone by releasing a special 20th Anniversary Edition of Still Not Getting Any… featuring the B-side track Crash And Burn and an acoustic edition of Welcome To My Life available to stream for the first time ever.
Between selling over 10 million albums worldwide, taking out multiple awards, dominating MTV in its golden era and spawning their own TikTok viral challenge, multi-platinum Canadian rockers SIMPLE PLAN have remained an indelible part of pop culture for over two decades. Forming in Montreal in 1999, SIMPLE PLAN have retained a rare artist-audience dynamic that has only strengthened over time, with the band also actively releasing new music throughout their 20+ years in existence.
From their debut 2002 full-length, No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls through to their most recent record, the self-released 2022 album Harder Than It Looks, SIMPLE PLAN‘s legacy continues to affirm as does their show-stopping live performances which has seen them tick of festival sets across the globe, tours with Blink-182, Green Day and Avril Lavigne, and, most recently down under, an entirely sold out eight show run in 2024 that squarely brought the house down night after night with endless energy and good vibes.
Alongside their upcoming standalone headline show on Saturday 10th May, SIMPLE PLAN will also join The Offspring nationally this May for the final shows of the SUPERCHARGED Worldwide in ’25 Australian tour. Offering a jam-packed arena spectacular from two of the greats, with both The Offspring and SIMPLE PLAN set to unleash a mountain of hits from across their storied catalogues, tickets for the Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane shows are entirely sold out, with tickets selling fast for the second and final shows in Melbourne on Thursday 8 May and Brisbane on Thursday 15 May.
As part of these upcoming shows, SIMPLE PLAN will donate $1 from each ticket sold on this tour to the Simple Plan Foundation. Established in 2005, the Simple Plan Foundation focuses on helping young people in need and showcasing the power of music as a tool to find purpose and direction in life. Since its inception the Simple Plan Foundation has donated over $2M to various charitable causes in Canada and has been awarded many prestigious distinctions for its philanthropic work.
Early bird pre-sale tickets on sale: Monday 28 April @ 12pm AEST time
To Gain Early Ticket Access Register Here -> https://daltours.cc/SPSYD_
General tickets on sale: Tuesday 29 April @ 12pm AEST time
Tickets from destroyalllines.com
SIMPLE PLAN
HEADLINE AUSTRALIAN SHOW 2025
PLAYING STILL NOT GETTING ANY… IN FULL
SATURDAY 10 MAY – LIBERTY HALL, SYDNEY
General Tickets On Sale Tuesday 29 April @ 12pm AEST time
Tickets from destroyalllines.com
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Multi-platinum selling, GRAMMY and Golden Globe nominated recording artist, Wiz Khalifa has released his highly anticipated new album, Kush + Orange Juice 2. LISTEN HERE.
Kush + Orange Juice 2 makes its mark as Wiz’s eighth studio album and is the official follow-up to his 2010 breakout mixtape Kush & Orange Juice on the heels of its 15th anniversary. The new album features production from Kush & Orange Juice producers Cardo, ID Labs, and Sledgren, as well as producers Mike WiLL Made-It, Juicy J, Jason Martin, Dominique Sanders, DJ Quik, Crazy Mike, TM88, Crash Dummy, Lex Luger, DJ Fresh, and Kenneth Wright. Featured collaborations on the album include OT Genasis, Ty Dolla $ign, JasonMartin, Luh Tyler, Michael Prince, LaRussell, Terrace Martin, Curren$y, Max B, Juicy J, DJ Quik, Larry June, Chevy Woods, rmr, Don Toliver, and Smoke DZA.
Reflecting on the album, Wiz shares that “For me, it’s the energy that goes into it. I’ve been working on this album for a year. I wanted to get it all the way right and everyone to be excited about it. I know my fans will understand it, and I want it to be another timeless classic. It takes time to get the vision fully there. This album is the same vibe as the first Kush & Orange Juice mixtape, but we took it to a new level with some new producers, new features, and new visuals while continuing the sound with lots of the original producers. It’s perfect for smoking, chilling, riding around with the homies, and hanging with the ladies, It’s a great album, it’s musical, it’s definitely 100% for my day one fans. It comes out on Friday April 18th just in time to celebrate 420.”
Kush + Orange Juice 2 follows the previous releases of singles ‘Hit It Once‘, ‘Bring Your Lungs (ft. Smoke DZA)‘, ‘Hide It (ft. Don Toliver)‘, ‘Khalifa’s Home‘, and ‘5 Star (ft. Gunna)‘. With a strong 18-track core and 5 bonus tracks, the album’s 23-song lineup blends Wiz’s signature Kush & Orange Juice sound 15 years later with his evolved artistry and the album’s collaborators to create a fresh new listening experience for fans – just in time for 4/20. Wiz will also be performing a special 4/20 show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO with Larry June, Ab-Soul, Chevy Woods and DJ Bonics.
In support of the album, Wiz is set to kick off his new tour, Wiz Khalifa – Taylor Gang the World, next month on May 20 in Nashville. The 18-date tour will see Wiz performing in intimate venues so fans can have a more personal experience and hit cities including Minneapolis, Sacramento, Kansas City, and more. Chevy Woods, Fedd the God, and DJ Bonics will support on all dates.
Stay connected with Wiz Khalifa:
23 Profile | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | X | Soundcloud
| This summer, Solomun +1 returns to Pacha Ibiza with a fresh perspective and a meticulously curated lineup that cements its status as one of electronic music’s most consistently forward-facing residencies. A tradition that began as a simple concept—one artist, one guest—has grown into a cultural cornerstone, setting the standard on The White Isle with its unexpected pairings, undeniable selections, and unforgettable nights on the dancefloor.
Brimming with memorable moments, the 2025 season will feature Solomun playing all night for four pivotal dates – the opening, June, July, and closing shows – offering fans the fully immersive sets that his legend is built on. Fresh from a showstopping audiovisual performance at The Sphere in Las Vegas, and with his latest remix of Empire of the Sun’s “Television” teasing a colorful, indie-leaning summer sound, Solomun arrives in Ibiza with momentum, clarity, and an appetite to surprise. |
| The 2025 lineup is a blend of friends, legends, and leftfield thinkers. Jamie xx, Four Tet, Âme, DJ Gigola, Denis Sulta, Chloé Caillet, Steve Angello, and Job Jobse all return—each bringing their own distinct flavor to the +1 experience. First-time appearances this year include Caribou, making his long-awaited +1 debut with a rare DJ set, Carlita, who brings her global, kaleidoscope of sound to the party and Anyma, whose first-ever +1 performance will bring his signature melodic style to the island. Peggy Gou returns to +1 after a multi-season break, while The Dare—rising out of New York’s fashion, art, and nightlife scenes—adds a dose of edge to an already stacked lineup. |
| This year’s Solomun +1 schedule also breaks new ground with a landmark artist-swap, welcoming fellow Ibiza heavyweight Marco Carola to the +1 booth, while Solomun makes a guest appearance at Carola’s Music On residency. With more unexpected performances still to be announced, it’s clear that Solomun +1’s 2025 season is not only looking to open new doors, but dance through them. |
| Still, at the heart of +1 is the creative fire that drives Solomun himself. After more than two decades at the forefront of global dance culture, he continues to reframe what a residency can be. Supplemented with a lineup that balances trusted collaborators and head turning curveballs, this season reflects Solomun’s instinct for keeping things fresh without ever losing the plot. The 2025 season runs weekly throughout the summer. Don’t forget your +1. |
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| CONNECT W/ SOLOMUN INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | SPOTIFY |
GRAMMY®-nominated producer, DJ and label head, Chris Lake has today announced OUT 2 LUNCH Festival sideshows, set to ignite stages in Melbourne (PICA) on Friday 9 May, and Sydney (Hordern Pavilion) on Saturday 10 May. In huge news for Aussie fans, Lake will be bringing along a whole new production and brand-new music.
Fans can register for presale tickets (Melbourne & Sydney sign up) with a 24 hour presale kicking off on Tuesday March 4 at 12pm AEDT. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday March 5 at 12pm AEDT through Ticketek.
Hyped to be hitting Aus for OUT 2 LUNCH and extending his trip to Melbourne and Sydney, Lake enthuses, “Australia holds a special place in my heart, with some of my favorite shows and memories having happened there. Coming out for OUT 2 LUNCH, Sydney and Melbourne is an early highlight of my year, and I’m buzzing to share some new music with fans down under. Looking forward to making this trip a truly special one!”
Expertly occupying the middle ground between dance music’s underground and commercial realms, the British producer’s finely-tuned ear for club-forward basslines and catchy vocals plays a large role in his success, all connected by his ability to make big moments both onstage and in his music.
Since breaking through with a string of No. 1 singles in the late 2000s, English-born Lake relocated to Los Angeles as dance music began bubbling up in America and has since helped redefine America’s house music scene in the post-EDM age. His music is a regular fixture on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, including recent hits Summertime Blues, Beggin’, and More Baby. He has headlined EDC Las Vegas and Coachella stages, shut down Hollywood Boulevard for over 12,000 fans, and spread the dance floor gospel through his Under Construction events with FISHER.
One of house music’s most compelling figures, Lake founded Black Book Records in 2017, dropping releases from heavyweights like Green Velvet, Armand Van Helden, and Kevin Saunderson, proving its status as a coveted label for producers, also utilising the label as a developmental platform to share wisdom, experience and contacts to help launch new acts.
Tickets to Chris Lake side shows go on sale on Wednesday March 5 at 12pm AEDT from Ticketek.
Tickets to OUT 2 LUNCH Festival with Vodafone are on sale now from out2lunchfestival.com.
Find Chris Lake online: Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify
Indie rock favourites Ball Park Music are set to join the Oasis Live ‘25 Australian Tour, supporting the UK legends on the most anticipated tour of the year.
The Oasis Live ’25 world tour will arrive in Australia on Friday 31 October, following 31 sold-out shows across the UK, Canada, the USA, Mexico, South Korea and Japan. In response to phenomenal demand, Oasis will play three massive nights at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, followed by two unmissable shows at Sydney’s Accor Stadium while down under.
Over 15 years into their brilliant career, Ball Park Music are no strangers to commanding arenas – and now, they’ll bring their signature mix of euphoric anthems, emotional depth, and electric live energy to Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and Accor Stadium in Sydney, when Oasis Live ’25 hits Australia this October/November.
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Few clubs are able to make a name for themselves on the international stage, but Boothaus is one of them. Ranking in DJ Mag’s Top 10 Worldwide for the second year in a row, this time in 7th place, the Cologne club blends a storied legacy with unrivaled production, prestigious bookings and coveted high-energy crowds.
Born out of an industrial warehouse with a hundred-year history in Germany, Boothaus turned a small underground techno venue into a pioneering club that has evolved year on year since 2004. Having upgraded the Funktion One systems to a custom-built L-Acoustics sound system, the pulse of the beat is felt in every corner of the club, from the intense energy of the main room to the raw intimacy of the Dreheri room.
Production is where Boothaus excels, with five distinct rooms of varying sizes, brought to life by custom lighting design that reflects each space’s unique atmosphere, from indulgent to intimate. Boothaus takes it a step further, creating custom-designed lighting for special events, reinforcing the venue’s reputation as a one-of-a-kind experience.
Boothaus continues to foster a community of music-first clubbers, bringing in world-class DJs with global appeal, including Amelie Lens, DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal), Hardwell, Headhunterz, I Hate Models, James Hype, KSHMR, Oliver Heldens, David Guetta, Steve Aoki, Tiësto, and Vini Vici. The venue’s finger-to-the-pulse attitude towards booking has cemented its status as a key player on the global stage.
As Boothaus continues to push boundaries, it remains a beacon for club culture not just in Germany, but worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to innovation, a fiercely loyal community, and an ever-growing roster of international talent, Boothaus proves that the spirit of the underground can thrive on the global stage — and its reign shows no signs of slowing down.
Upcoming Shows
20.04.25
Bootshaus Sommerfest Opening
25.04.25
Oliver Heldens pres. by Bootshaus
30.04.25
Loonyland pres. Luca-Dante Spadafora, Ely Oaks & many more
09.05.25
Bootshaus pres. Die Gebrüder Brett
16.05.25
Euphoria pres. Miss Bashfull x DBBD, Shoki287
23.05.25
Chrome pres. Jazzy, Omaks, Secret Guest & more
24.05.25
Bootshaus Sommerfest
28.05.25
Frances Mercier & MoBlack
06.06.25
Rheinaudio pres. Zapravka
13.06.25
Will Sparks
21.06.25
Levi
27.06.25
DJ Snake