One of the Hunter Valley’s most cherished cultural escapes, The Gum Ball, returns in 2021 for three days of musical discovery over the school holidays, 16-18th April 2021.

Held amongst idyllic bushland of the Hunter Valley, the family friendly cultural jamboree has survived many hurdles over the years. Whilst a pandemic is a new assault, organisers are confident that despite a reduced capacity in 2021, the festival will be a positive return to days of old.

In 2021, the festival continues to connect community and culture, with distinct homage to the traditional owners of the land, the Wonnarua, featured through a one-off artwork by local Indigenous artist Debbie Becker.

The Gum Ball brings a selection of the best musical acts from around Australia and showcases them in an intimate setting one by one, alongside comedy, pro skateboarding, markets, workshops, camping and more.

Dashville are pleased to reveal The Gum Ball’s musical program for 2021:

HARTS PLAYS HENDRIX + THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS + CASH SAVAGE AND THE LAST DRINKS + iOTA + EMMA DONOVAN & THE PUTBACKS + EVEN + MELODY POOL + LOST RAGAS + CODA CHROMA + TORI FORSYTH +  KING STINGRAY + COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD + MURRAY COOK’S SOUL MOVERS + EAGLE EYE JONES + DAVE WELLS + LACHLAN X. MORRIS + BUDDY DINGO + JONES THE CAT + PALOMINO + THE BARREN SPINSTER + THE STAINED DAISIES + BURGER JOINT + JOHNSTON CITY + DARREN ‘D.C.’ CROSS + LOSTY AND BIG RED CAP + DASHVILLE PROGRESS SOCIETY + YOUNG GUMS BAND

HARTS PLAYS HENDRIX guitar virtuoso Harts and his band channel the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The classic roots reggae vibes of THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS. no-holds-barred rockers CASH SAVAGE AND THE LAST DRINKS, powerful soul of EMMA DONOVAN AND THE PUTBACKS, legendary rock trio EVEN, the beautiful return of songstress MELODY POOL, psychedelic alt-country soundscapes of LOST RAGAS, the innovative and atmospheric synth-pop of COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD, the hugely talented iOTA, indigenous surf rock vibes of KING STINGRAY, who feature siblings of Yothu Yindi, the dreamy cinematic melodies of CODA CHROMA,, female pop-rock powerhouse TORI FORSYTH, the smooth funk of Murray Cook’s SOUL MOVERS, Newcastle-based psych rocker LACHLAN X. MORRIS, pop-punk upstarts JONES THE CAT, rockin’ Port Macquarie trio PALOMINO, Australiana folk icon BUDDY DINGO, psychedelic funk rockers EAGLE EYE JONES, feel good boogie tunes by Canberra based THE BARREN SPINSTER, eclectic alt-rock gang THE STAINED DAISIES, local singer-songwriter DAVE WELLS funked up duo BURGER JOINT, local legends JOHNSTON CITY, folk neu artist DARREN ‘D.C.’ CROSS and hip-hop conglomerate of LOSTY AND BIG RED CAP.

The Gum Ball runs from 2pm Friday, April 16 to Sunday midday, April 18.

Limited tickets are on sale now through Humanitix, with booking fees going to help Nutrition for Aussie School Kids.

For media inquiries contact Jo Corbett at jocorbettpublicity@gmail.com.

 www.dashville.com.au

GUM BALL 2021 ARTISTS IN FOCUS

KING STINGRAY

King Stingray are a four piece from Yirrkala, North-East Arnhem Land. Formed by Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu (nephew of the late Dr M Yunupiŋu – Yothu Yindi frontman) and Roy Kellaway (son of Stu Kellaway – Yothu Yindi founding member and bass player), King Stingray blend ancient indigenous melodies with surf, indie and funk influences to create a genre of their own, Yolŋu surf-rock.

HARTS

Harts’ star rose when the none other than Prince discovered him and invited him to jam. “”He reminds me of how I was at that age,” Prince said at the time. Harts, real name Darren Hart, was born to athlete parents in Chennai, India. Their speciality was track and field. He moves to Australia at the age of two, and appeared on the musical landscape with his first release in August 2010. Harts is known for his Hendrix-like guitar ability and his solo work has spanned funk, soul, rock, blues, psycho-rock and post-disco.

iOTA

iOTA performed the very first Gum Ball in 2005. Aside from releasing seven critically-acclaimed albums as a singer/songwriter, iOTA has also become a critically acclaimed stage and screen actor, writer, painter, composer and voice-over artist. Notable film credits include roles in The Great Gatsby and Coma the Doof Warrior in Mad Max: Fury Road. He’s recently played to packed houses in the 2019 Sydney Festival sensation, Pigalle. He wrote and starred in Slap and Tickle and The Average Joe, and his show Young, Hard & Solo. He co-created and starred in Sydney Festival’s Smoke & Mirrors and musical rock-odyssey B-Girl. Other credits include: Hedwig and the Angry Inch; Frank ‘n Furter in The Rocky Horror Show; Graeme Murphy’s Berlin; Gale Edwards’ The Turquoise Elephant, and the touring Bowie tribute David Bowie.

His extraordinary talents have been recognised with an ARIA Award nomination for Best Album and four Helpmann Awards and Green Room and Sydney Theatre Critics’ Awards.

MELODY POOL

In 2021, Melody Pool will announce her awaited return with new music penning its way into her sets, exploring a new and re-birthed brilliance hinting at subjects of empowerment, resurgence and uprising. Dashville has heard some of these new recordings and they are absolutely amazing.

EMMA DONOVAN & THE PUTBACKS

The Putbacks are stone cold pros, grizzled veterans of all the tours and all the studios. As individuals, they’re the players behind so many bands it’s difficult to list, but let’s start with Hiatus Kaiyote, The Bombay Royale, D.D Dumbo, Swooping Duck and The Meltdown. When they come together, they’re one of the tightest, sharpest, slickest, most dynamic musical units ever to exist. Their collaboration with Emma elevates their music and Emma’s songs to another level. Emma Donovan & The Putbacks released Crossover in November 2020.

EVEN
Even are a legendary three-piece indie pop rock band from Melbourne, fronted by acclaimed singer-songwriter-guitarist, Ashley Naylor with Matthew Cotter on drums and Wally Kempton on bass guitar and backing vocals. They formed in March 1994 and were a big part of the 90’s rock explosion, playing regularly at festivals, touring nationally and internationally many times. They have released seven studio albums, Less Is More (10 June 1996), Come Again (28 September 1998), A Different High (14 May 2001), Free Kicks (6 June 2004), Even (29 March 2008), In Another Time (9 December 2011), and Satin Returns (16 May 2018).

Listen to RF Radio with Skream now: http://bit.ly/38ed8LT

Riverside Festival is excited to announce that Skream will be joining this year’s lineup. With 6 months to go until Scotland’s premiere electronic music, he is also the first guest on the festival’s new fortnightly RF Radio. The new online series will give fans the opportunity to stay connected to the RF community with the music they love. 

RF Radio will drop every second Friday on the festival’s official SoundCloud and will feature some of the biggest names from Riverside’s past and present as well as plenty of fresh and local talent. Skream is no stranger to Glasgow, or the festival. A stalwart of the Scottish club scene, Skream is a regular on Glasgow’s dancefloors, hailing the Sub Club on Twitter as, “genuinely the best club in the world.” 

As one of the UK’s best-loved selectors Skream has enjoyed the kind of consistency most DJs and producers can only dream of. His passion for collecting and playing music is unrelenting and runs deep to his core; disco, house, techno and everything in between. Only in his early thirties, Skream has achieved more in the last 15 years than most artists do in a lifetime, yet his hunger and enthusiasm is akin to that of someone who is only just getting started.

Skream will be joining RF21 headliners Amelie Lens, Disclosure & Jamie xx on the banks of the Clyde this September. This year will see a huge return for the festival, armed with an additional day and a formidable line-up. 

While live music was paused and the world’s dancefloors were laid empty, organisers were working hard behind the scenes to ensure that when Glasgow could dance together again, it will be the biggest and best celebration of music – and of life – RF has ever thrown. 

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Today marks the release of The Smith Street Band’s latest album, Unplugged in Wombat State Forest. Ten tracks reworked and recorded live at the band’s Bush House Studio, released on the band’s Pool House Records.

This week the band showcase the album with full band, stripped back, semi acoustic, Covid safe, seated shows over three sold out nights at Melbourne’s iconic Forum Theatre before heading to Sydney to play at the Enmore next week.

The band have also recently announced two very special shows in Brisbane with The Brisbane Symphony Orchestra at The Fortitude Music Hall on May 21 and 22.

The new album follows on from a huge year of releases last year. In April they landed their first #1 on the ARIA Album chart with their fifth studio album Don’t Waste Your Anger. They also released two digital only live albums, Live At The Triffid and Viva La Rev which charted at #4 and #30 respectively. Frontman Wil Wagner also released Spiralling – his first solo album in eight years and his first top 10 solo recording, charting at #8 on the ARIA Album charts.

POOL HOUSE RECORDS PRESENTS THE SMITH STREET BAND UNPLUGGED TOUR DATES Thursday March 4th – The Forum, Melbourne – SOLD OUT Friday March 5th – The Forum, Melbourne – SOLD OUT Saturday March 6th – The Forum, Melbourne – SOLD OUT Friday March 12th – Enmore Theatre, Sydney Saturday April 17th – Yours + Owls Festival, Wollongong Thursday May 20 – w/ Brisbane Symphony Orchestra at The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane Friday May 21 – w/ Brisbane Symphony Orchestra at The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane

Unplugged in Wombat State Forest Out Now on Pool House Records / Remote Control Listen here

CONNECT WITH THE SMITH STREET BAND:

March 5, 2021 0 comments

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To cap off a strong run of music releases arcing all the way back to 2018, Ben Wright Smith presents Echo Lodge, the final instalment of what’s become a definitive trilogy of material.

Ten songs encompass the eras of previous EPs Psychotropical (2018), Volcano God Head Explodes (2020), plus three new tracks, the Echo Lodge project is a career touchstone for the singer-songwriter, who has been thriving as an artist on a national scale with each release.

The process of bringing this music together has been an organic one for Ben, who has always written from the heart with pure emotional intent driving each song. The way in which his previous EP’s rolled out lined up with his approach of expressing creatively, and his desire to be in constant communication and connection with the music community he is part of.

“I wanted to start releasing the music as we were recording it. I didn’t want to record stuff and have it just sitting there. I like the idea of finishing music and putting it out in the world as you’re doing it.” 
Ben Wright Smith

The music video for recent single ‘New Breeze’ (out now), is a hectic romp featuring actors Rhys Mitchell (Upper Middle Bogan, Glitch) and Maria Angelou (Sisters, Bad Jews). Filmed at Ben’s house, directed by frequent collaborator Josh Dawson, the clip brings Ben’s track into a fun imaginative space.

“When we first came up with the idea we couldn’t stop laughing at how dumb it was. Basically we trashed my place with leaf blowers and tried to imagine a floating head chasing everyone around.”
Ben Wright Smith

PRAISE FOR BEN WRIGHT SMITH

“…this track sounds like a bloody ray of sunshine! So warm and radiant. Great to hear from you again.”
Triple J, Bridget Hustwaite (‘Storm Boy’)

“Ben Wright Smith is an artist you need to name as one of your favourites immediately.”
Tone Deaf

“…a hazy jam filled with euphoric vibes that would perfectly soundtrack a road trip to the beach.”
The Music (‘Tomorrow Never Comes’)

“The result is a diverse collection of indie-folk jams that flirt with the poppier side of the occasion, that serves as a fantastic body of work.”
Pilerats (The Great Divorce)

ECHO LODGE TRACKLISTING

Storm Boy
Sleeping’s For Dreamers
Rancho Luna
Homesick
Tomorrow Never Comes
The Wire
Volcano God Head Explodes
New Breeze
Seedpods
Psychotropical Brainstorm

The full 2021 program for Parrtjima – A Festival in Light is out and features an impressive host of high-calibre acts to perform at the iconic free event in Alice Springs next month.

Joining previously announced acts Electric Fields and Casey Donovan on the music program this year is an all-star line up of Australian artists including Miiesha, MusicNT’s Divas, Jimblah, Bow and Arrow, Dobby, OKA, Ziggy Ramo and Shellie Morris.

Shaping up to be bigger and better than ever, Parrtjima 2021 will see an exciting new show for the MacDonnell Ranges, large-scale light installations, artworks, performances, interactive workshops, music, films and talks woven into the program as part of the 2021 theme ‘Future Kultcha’.

2021 Parrtjima Curator Rhoda Roberts AO said this year’s theme ‘Future Kultcha’ is all about ensuring forward thinking of the philosophers, the artists and the dreamers.

“Enabling young guest curators such as Electric Fields and Rhyan Clapham, aka Dobby, to play a part in this year’s program gives a distinct voice of the next generation and their connection to the ancient footprints of their ancestors,” she said.

“When you combine the masters with the emerging, you see a sense of a holistic culture and knowledge that is relevant to everyone in the 21^st century.”

Event attendees can also hear from a range of critically-acclaimed speakers as part of the talks program. They include award-winning writer Bruce Pascoe, artists Jungala Kriss and Raymond Walters Japanangka, and Professor Marcia Langton AM to name a few.

Northern Territory Major Events Company CEO Tim Watsford said this year’s five-star program was guaranteed to attract crowds from all over Australia.

“The 2021 program signifies a coming-of-age for the event as it enters its sixth year,” he said.

“We are thrilled with the program’s offerings, including everything from impressive new large-scale light installations and musical performances to workshops, talks, films, and of course, our unmissable light show against the MacDonnell Ranges at Alice Springs Desert Park.

“Parrtjima is a must-do for any traveller’s bucket list and I look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to the heart of Australia for this iconic festival in light.”

Other 2021 program highlights include a fabric and textiles workshop hosted by National Indigenous Fashion Awards Director Nina Fitzgerald, bushfood tastings, a wooden carvings masterclass, painting workshops, metal sculpture workshops and more.

Parrtjima has expanded over three event precincts this year, with the Araluen Arts Centre hosting parts of the 2021 program along with Alice Springs Desert Park and Todd Mall.

Children’s activities and live music provided by local DJs will feature on the nightly program, and the Araluen Arts Centre will host a film program and Araluen curator tours. Films include 1950s classic Jedda, coming-of-age comedy Bran Nue Dae featuring Jessica Mauboy and Aboriginal Rules, a documentary on the role Aussie Rules plays in a remote Territory community.

Parrtjima is the only authentic light Aboriginal festival of its kind, showcasing the oldest continuous culture on earth through the newest technology. The packed program runs alongside nightly light shows on the 300-million-year-old natural canvas of the MacDonnell Ranges.

Parrtjima is delivered by the Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) and produced by creative directors AGB Events.

Parrtjima takes place from 9-18 April 2021 in the cultural heart of Australia, Alice Springs.

To find out more or register for the Desert Park festival site and Araluen Arts Centre program elements, go to www.parrtjima.com.au.

“This is our chance to be the band that we’ve always wanted to be”
~ Shaun Diviney, Short Stack

UNFD is thrilled to announce Australian rock trio Short Stack as its latest signing, alongside the reveal of the band’s new single + video ‘Burn You Down‘ today. To celebrate the release, Short Stack will play one night in Sydney on Thursday with special guests Redhook. Full details below.

It comes after the trio caused a stir with the announce of their comeback national tour in early 2020 which saw multiple cities sold out in a matter of hours. The now rescheduled run is set to hit capital cities across April, with limited tickets still available HERE.

On reforming and creating new music together, Short Stack vocalist Shaun Diviney shares:

“Everything about how we approached this was different… where we used to find a lot of pressure to deliver something specific, we approached this with the thought that this is our chance to be the band we’ve always wanted to be.”

On the signing, UNFD General Manager Luke Logemann shares that the label has long-admired Short Stack for the intense fan culture they’ve built around their band.

“I’ve always admired Short Stack for their ability to build such a loyal and enthusiastic fanbase, and for how unapologetic they were in doing so. That’s always been the ethos of UNFD as a label and our bands, to care about the music and the fans first and approval last,” he says, adding:

“I saw them play Festival Hall over ten years ago, and I remember being overwhelmed by how passionately the fans sang every word back at them. They wrote huge bangers that you could never get out of your head, even if some people didn’t want to admit it. The best thing is, all of that still rings true – they still have crazy fans, they still sell out venues and they still write huge bangers. Based on how good the new material is, I reckon they’ll be doing this long into the future as well.”

On ‘Burn You Down’, Diviney explains that the track is part a reflection on the breakdown and rebuilding of the band and part observation on the world around them. “‘Burn You Down’ is about the duality of being young and feeling both indestructible and fragile at the same time,” he says. “I don’t think the world needs another happy pop song at the moment, because I don’t think the world is a happy place at the moment. This song comes from a place of anger and destruction, about wanting to tear something down and begin again.”  Describing this comeback as even more significant than the first (see the 5 year gap and a few Short Stack kids now born), he adds that this time recording found the band paring everything back to their roots. “I think a lot of bands at the time when we first broke out were put together by labels and a lot of people threw us in that basket, but we were just a bunch of dudes that went to high school together and played Blink covers and it snowballed from there,” he says. “To go back to our roots now and really just strip things back and play together in a room was really important to us. The reason we broke up was that it just wasn’t fun… it’s been a fair chunk of time now, so coming back finds us in a different stage of life with a different idea about what we want out of music.” From beginnings in a Budgewoi garage at 16 to their explosive debut album ‘Stack Is The New Black’ at just 20, Short Stack quickly made a playground of the Australian landscape and were one of the biggest names in the country by the late ’10s. Beyond ascending to #1 on the ARIA Album chart with their debut record, the band claim credits including Channel V’s Oz Artist Of The Year (twice), a coveted Rolling Stone Magazine cover, two certified Platinum records and tens of thousands of tickets sold throughout their career. Speaking on how the band now approach music with another decade behind them, Diviney concludes that the goal posts have shifted. “At one point we were one of the biggest bands in the country, you know we’ve done so many things that you can’t really top, so our goal is really just to do something that we believe in and have fun doing it.” SHORT STACK IS: Shaun Diviney (guitar/vocals) Andy Clemmensen (bass/vocals) Bradie Webb (drums)

Stream the new single ‘Burn You Down’ now: http://unfd.lnk.to/BurnYouDown

 

SHORT STACK 2021 AUSTRALIAN HEADLINE TOUR w/ special guests Between You & MeLIMITED TICKETS ON SALE NOW Thursday April 1 – Fiction Club, Canberra (18+) Saturday April 3 – The Cambridge, Newcastle (18+) Thursday April 8 – The Gov, Adelaide (Lic, AA) SOLD OUT Saturday April 10 – Astor Theatre, Perth (Lic, AA) Wednesday April 14 – The Triffid, Brisbane (18+) SOLD OUT Thursday April 15 – The Triffid, Brisbane (Lic, AA) SOLD OUT Friday April 16 – Metro Theatre, Sydney (18+) SOLD OUT Saturday April 17 – Metro Theatre, Sydney (Lic, AA) SOLD OUT Friday April 23 – 170 Russell, Melbourne (18+) SOLD OUT Saturday April 24 – The Croxton, Melbourne (18+) SOLD OUT

CONNECT WITH SHORT STACK:

 

March 3, 2021 0 comments

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Breaking – Today the highly-coveted SoundMerch Australian Music Prize has been awarded to The Avalanches for their acclaimed album We Will Always Love You for the most outstanding creative Australian record of the last year. Not only do they take out the prestigious award but land $20,000 in prize money thanks to SoundMerch.

Rising above 88 album nominations that were then carefully narrowed down to a shortlist of eight other amazing Australian albums, The Avalanches’ We Will Always Love You was chosen by the panel of 48 judges to be the most important album release of the year.

Melbourne’s own The Avalanches ambitious third album We Will Always Love You overflows with ideas, samples, and guests across their unique blend of blissed-out disco, soul, and psychedelia featuring the voices and sounds of artists such as Blood Orange, Jamie xx, Weezer, Denzel Curry, and more. Continuing to evolve and push the boundaries of their sound across each record, the group remains as forward-thinking and intriguing as they began.

The Avalanches share, “We’re so thrilled to be the winners of the prestigious AMP Award and be amongst the esteemed winners of the past. We’d love to thank everyone involved in making this award happen especially Sound Merch, also to the many people who helped us put this record together. A truly special day for us and we’re so grateful.“

2020 was another impressive year for Australian music, particularly within an industry that experienced unprecedented struggles and challenges. The art that has been produced throughout and as a result of these times has demonstrated the resilience and power in the craft, and those artists behind it including new and familiar voices bleeding out from all corners of the country, including Miiiesha’s debut record Nyaaringu, Gordan Koang’s Unity, Alice Ivy’s Don’t Sleep, and more.

The AMP has and continues to rise above genre, popularity, politics or sales, and focuses entirely on artistic merit. Discerned by a panel of over 40 judges comprised of artists, journalists, programmers and presenters, retailers, and more, the group compiles a long-list before heavily debating the AMP shortlist, and eventually finalists.

The Australian Music Prize founder Scott Murphy shares, “Winning The AMP this time is a ‘mean feat’ as there were plenty of great contenders so I congratulate The Avalanches on winning the 16th AMP, you deserve it. I’d like to thank all our judges and partners for pulling off our 16th prize during difficult times.”

As always, the AMP wishes to thank the industry support from long term champions of the coveted prize, including APRA AMCOS and Mushroom Group, the prize continues to exist not just to celebrate the album as a respected format, but to recognise and celebrate our thriving nation of musicians and their original work.

THE SOUNDMERCH AUSTRALIAN MUSIC PRIZE FINALISTS
Alice Ivy – Don’t Sleep
The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You
Blake Scott – Niscitam
Emma Donovan and The Putbacks – Crossover
Fanny Lumsden – Fallow
Gordon Koang – Unity
Miiesha – Nyaaringu
Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
Ziggy Ramo – Black Thoughts

THE AMP WINNERS
2020 – The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You
2019 – Sampa the Great – The Return
2018 – Gurrumul – Djarimirri
2017 – Sampa the Great, Birds and the BEE9
2016 – A.B. Original – Reclaim Australia
2015 – Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
2014 – REMI – Raw X Infinity
2013 – Big Scary, Not Art
2012 – Hermitude, HyperParadise
2011 – The Jezabels, Prisoner
2010 – Cloud Control, Bliss Release
2009 – Lisa Mitchel, Wonder
2008 – Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Primary Colours
2007 – The Mess Hall, Devils Elbow
2006 – Augie March, Moo, You Bloody Choir
2005 – The Drones, Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By