Geoff Turnbull & Asa Broomhall & Jerram Gabriel

Geoff’s lap steel slide, acoustic tapping slide and mind rattling rhythm based acoustic has him titled as a captivator of audiences (Townsville Bulletin) with a unique gift for music (Lismore Uni).

His variation in styles, rhythm and attack provides a show that never fails to intrigue. Soothing melodies captivate the audience, raw but directed outbursts chill spines and eccentric rhythms inspire trancelike dance sessions. Layering via multiple pickups allows eclectic effects to be layered over sensual acoustic sounds. Soulful vocals complement the music and top this unique performer’s act.

If you fancy a mix of Rock, Folk, Blues and Bluegrass with a dose of mischief, make sure you’re here for this show.

With the release of his 3rd independent and self produced album, the momentum keeps building for this talented Guitarist/Songwriter. Asa's powerhouse guitar playing and soaring voice with some tasty blues harp thrown in and a thumping stomp box continues to enchant audiences everywhere.

Asa's unique brand of Rock/Roots music has taken him from local venues and festivals to touring with national and international artists (including Evermore, Diesel, Pete Murray, Ash Grunwald to name a few). And with 3 self funded, independent and self produced releases under his belt, Asa's dedication to his music and his live show is obvious.

From very humble beginnings in an equally humble place called Dongdingalong, Jerram Gabriel found his inner Gypsy and followed the bright star in the sky all the way to the big smoke.

City life offered Jerram better prospects for making his brand of blues-folk-reggae-rock and many more opportunities to observe humanity doing what they do. His songs reflect his wanderings and wonderings and he gives his music the space it needs to tell the story people need to hear.

My Dog
Geoff Turnbull

Wait On
Geoff Turnbull

A Travel Tune
Asa Broomhall

Today Blues
Asa Broomhall

The Audreys

Following the critically acclaimed release of their debut long-player “Between Last Night & Us”, ARIA award winning band The Audreys release their much anticipated sophomore album, "When The Flood Comes". It is an album of lyrical and sonic beautythat
expands their musical template beyond the alt-country-tinged instrumentation and smoky pop of their gorgeous debut, as heard in the striking first single Paradise City.

Hailing from South Australia, The Audreys feature smoky-voiced front woman Taasha Coates and her four dapper suited sidekicks. They have a history of sell out shows and stand out performances, and this tour should be no exception.


Special guest support on all shows will be J Walker (Machine Translations).

Head So Heavy
The Audreys

Paradise
The Audreys

Sara Storer

At the 2004 Tamworth country music festival Sara Storer took home a record seven Golden Guitars for her second album ;Beautiful Circle’. The album was a hit with fans, industry insiders and critics and the easy thing would have been for the Victoria born and bred but Central Coast based Storer to reduce that success down to a formula and then repeat. You don’t need to look very far to see many successful careers built on that principle.

The trouble with that sensible approach is that Storer came to prominence in the first place, not because she was doing what was expected, but rather because she was following her heart to make music that mattered most to her. And to all who heard her, there was little doubt that here was a unique talent. It was music that was proudly of and about this country, but crucially there was a sense that it was rooted firmly in the present.

Her fourth album ;Silver Skies’ is the first to be made without the steady hand of producer Garth Porter on her shoulder. It is filled with tales of lives and loves of those on the land but there is a much broader musical palette that shows her to be a contemporary of Missy Higgins and The Waifs as much as her country comrades. Most impressively Sara has moved forward without leaving anything behind.

Land Cries Out
Sara Storer

Long Live The Girls
Sara Storer

Kate Miller-Heidke & Speed of Purple (support)

Nearly a year since the release of her ARIA Nominated debut album 'Little Eve', Kate Miller-Heidke is one of the most talked about performers in Australian music. Heralded as one of the ultimate acts to catch live, rarely has an artist left fans and reviewers alike so consistently awestruck. Kate is currently selling out national tours, and supporting the likes of Cyndi Lauper and Evermore, as well as being a major festival drawcard (East Coast Blues and Roots, Apollo Bay, Port Fairy, Woodford).

Traversing a wide landscape of styles, Kate has truly found her feet as a performer. She has a potent presence on stage. The combination of her virtuosic voice, theatrical artistry and the chemistry with her band are devastating.

“Miller-Heidke's punishing vocal prowess is the impetus of the gustiest show in Australian music at the moment. There is nothing contrived here; just a cathartic release of punk opera - stunning, fine and porcelain-fragile meets pummeling, bruising rock & roll.” (Adelaide Fringe Festival Live Review 28/2/08)

Speed of Purple is the newest musical project for ex-Tulipan member Sallie Campbell, showcasing her original songs and instrumentals.

The music is a fusion of folk, gypsy and pop styles, featuring intricate piano textures and melodies. The music of Speed of Purple is driven by piano and violin, accompanied by percussion and vocals from Velvet Pesu and Cello from Danielle Bentley.

Words
Kate Miller-Heidke

Dog Trumpet

Dog Trumpet began in the 1990s as a side project for brothers Reg Mombassa and Peter O’Doherty from their main band Mental As Anything. Reg and Peter are both highly acclaimed artists as well as musicians and Reg has been the artist behind the distinctive image for clothing line Mambo. Dog Trumpet have recently released their fourth album ‘Antisocial Tendencies’ which has great detail in song writing and includes some anti-establishment lyrics striking a chord for fringe dwellers and artists of all stripes.

The line up has Reg and Pete on guitars and vocals, Bernie Hayes on bass and backing vocals, and Jess Ciampa on drums. Bernie a respected singer songwriter in his own right also sings lead and plays 12 string acoustic guitar. Enjoy inventive songs with poetic lyrics, some sad others romantic and often bizarre, as Dog Trumpet meld their trade mark acoustic, electric and slide guitars with percussion and vocal harmonies.

Anitsocial Tendencies
Dog Trumpet

Shadows
Dog Trumpet

The Millionaire$ & Gentle Ben and His Sensitive Side (support)

THE MILLIONAIRE$ are an Australian indie supergroup featuring David McCormack (Custard), Jim Elliott (Cruel Sea) and Brendan Gallagher & Michael Galeazzi both of Karma County. Between them they have won ten ARIAs and played every major venue and festival in the country over the last fifteen years. These long time music buddies have been playing together since April 2007, hog tying their favourite songs from every music era from Merle Haggard to Depeche Mode, The Fab Four to Steve Miller, Bob Dylan to Britney Spears and corralling them into long distance, sweaty Grateful Dead-like live shows.

Their debut album Sentimental Horses sees them making their own 21st century, country music take on songs from Doris Day, George Michael, Marianne Faithfull and some new original compositions. Sentimental Horses drips with life and fun capturing these four great musicians performing at the top of their game.

“To the lost souls of 21st century with false memories of Waylon Jennings in his thirsty days looking out over the Nashville Skyline when Sunday morning was comin' down... this one's for you.”

It was a triumphant year for Gentle Ben and His Sensitive Side. In 2004 they released their debut album 'The Beginning of the End' (featuring the JJJ hit of the same name plus got heaps of airplay on channel 7's Last Man Standing and Rage), toured this wide, brown land several times and supported the likes of 'Rocket Science', 'The Handsome Family' and 'Calexico', as well as their own shows. By contrast, the band has been relatively quiet on the live front during 2005. They haven't been idle during this time, however, choosing instead to spend their days in the seclusion of Melbourne's Atlantis Studios. Within this seething den of iniquity they have spent their time inhaling stale cigarette smoke, drinking whiskey and beer, whilst chiselling away at their soon to be released sophomore effort under the evil gaze of producer Loki Lockwood.

Faith
The Millionaire$

Sentimental Journey
The Millionaire$

Chris Ernst & Liz Stringer

With songs like ‘Surfers Paradise’ and ‘Love and Life’ you don’t have to listen long to realise Chris Ernst’s music is a slice of his life. The rhythm is pulsing with a heartbeat, and while hearts are the epicentre of joy, they are also the capital of anguish – the loss of his father at age 17 being the catalyst and the reason he picked up a guitar and opened his mouth.

Chris’ voice has been likened to Tracy Chapman and the songs capture the essence of life in South East Queensland - it’s never predictable, but it’s always engaging.

A feature on the Australian folk festival circuit, Liz Stringer is attracting considerable attention as a talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, following recent supports for Mia Dyson, Diesel and That 1 Guy. Born of a musical family, Liz has developed a style that combines folk, blues, funk, bluegrass and alternative rock, bringing these influences together in a distinct and powerful way.

Recently returned from years spent honing her craft overseas, Liz released a self-titled six track EP in 2004 and we eagerly await her debut album. “There’s no bulls**t. This is just damn good music.” (Someone, Somewhere, 2005) Gather your friends and join us for what will be a truly memorable show!

Friendships Grow Old
Chris Ernst

Love's a Tough Game
Chris Ernst

Ain't No Healer
Liz Stringer

One More Time
Liz Stringer

Stephen Cummings

Stephen Cummings first achived success in Australia as lead singer with ‘The Sports’, a pop band that had a number of hits in the late 70’s including the classic ‘Who Listens to Radio?” Never completely comfortable with the rigours of touring with the band, it was not surprising for him to embark on a solo career.

17 albums later, consisting of 13 studio albums, two ‘best of compilations’, a live disc and an album of accoustic re-workings of his songs and he is still going strong. His fourth album ‘A New Kind of Blue’ won an ARIA award and his eighth album ‘Falling Swinger’ was included in Australian Rolling Ston’es list of “100 essential Australian albums”.

Little Girl on a Sofa
Stephen Cummings

Straight to My Arms
Stephen Cummings

Jeff Lang - Album Launch & Kara Grainger - Album Launch (support)

‘Half Seas Over’ by acclaimed Australian guitarist, singer and songwriter Jeff Lang is an album resonant with story and song.

With his eloquent guitar, sweet voice and plainspoken yet sensitive approach to the original and traditional source material, Jeff Lang is expanding the boundaries of traditional folk, country and blues to create a new brand of non-traditional music which is undeniably and deeply steeped in tradition, yet with its imagination set on future horizons. This powerful and hypnotic recording draws deeply on folk sources – the old, unsettling gothic tales that have passed from musician to musician from century to century – and the simple but compelling sound of acoustic guitar with minimal accompaniment to express the deeper resonances beneath the stories.

In Lang's hands, the ordinary becomes an enchanted space; everyday and domestic tales reveal themselves with heroic dimensions and tragic consequences. And his song writing mastery can be seen in the smallest details -- from the wiry whiskers on an old lady's chin to a dress clinging to a barmaid’s body in the small town heat. Don’t miss this album launch at The SoundLounge.

“Seeing Jeff Lang live was like going to church.” (John Butler)

Imagine this artist: classic songwriting skills, smooth sultry vocals, and the ability to whip up a storm with a fiery slide guitar. Very few can boast this set of trump cards, but it just happens to be the hand dealt to Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist Kara Grainger, who exhibits an effortlessly seductive and modern take on roots, blues and soul music.

After nearly 2 years in the United States, Kara Grainger is returning to Australia to release her debut album ‘Grand And Green River’. The album, which was recorded in Los Angeles with producer David Kalish (Rickie Lee Jones, Ben Harper) and Barrie Maguire (Amos Lee) at the helm, showcases a stunning line up of some of America’s most celebrated musicians – including Eric Johnson, Reggie McBride and Jeff Young to name a few.

"There's a whole lot of Bonnie Raitt in songs on Grand and Green River... Grainger's alternately throaty and honeyed voice floats over a slickly produced bed of bluesy accompaniment." (The Tennessean)

Southern Highlands Daughter
Jeff Lang

Dreamed I Was The Devil
Kara Grainger

Endorphin

Endorphin (aka Eric Chapus) has had a prodigious career to date. Since arriving in Australia in 1984 from France he has had several musical incarnations. Coming into the spotlight after being unearthed by JJJ in 1996 and delivering an impressive debut album ‘Embrace, he has been dazzling his audiences with a live electronic show that weaves together an eclectic array of visual imagery and music to create a live production that explodes with an energy that seduces all the senses. It is theatre for the dance floor and art for the ears.

With finally time off the road, Endorphin started collaborating with singer/songwriters to produce his latest and greatest Album so far called ‘Shake It’. Producing an impressive mixture of Middle Eastern sounds, break beats, retro pop, seasoned by soaring female vocals and strong and driving male vocals. The result being a very tasteful and spicy dish.


Support for this show is yet to be advised.

Over and Over
Endorphin

Free World
Endorphin

Clare Bowditch

Touring across the country with a brand new rollicking solo show throughout June and July, the 'Winter Secrets Tour' by Clare Bowditch promises intimate evenings of songs, stories and special guests (many of whom she is yet to meet; please see “Competition” below!). Armed with an array of guitars, loop pedals and an array of the world’s oddest instruments, these shows are a one off solo experiment that will see Clare performing far and wide across the country.

After an incredible summer of touring with John Butler and festival highlights including Blues and Falls festival with her wonderful band, the Feeding Set; these will be stripped back, straight from the heart, confronting and cheeky shows which will be remembered for marking a brilliant change in direction for Bowditch.

These will be Clare's last shows for some time in Australia before she relocates to Berlin to pursue exciting European opportunities including intensive touring and an imminent album release. This tour will do more than keep you warm this winter.

Bowditch is thrilled to have a stripped-back version of her favorite young act, Hot Little Hands (featuring Tim Harvey of Feeding Set fame!) with her on the road, bringing their fun filled rock and roll sound to the country, playing tracks from their exciting new album, "Dynamite in B&W" which will be released this July.

COMPETITION!
Clare Bowditch is encouraging all upcoming, experienced or inexperienced musicians of any instrument, background or genre to perform with her as part of her ‘Winter Secrets Tour’. To be in the running, go to www.clarebowditch.com/competition and send Clare your take on her latest single, ‘Your Other Hand’, from album ‘The Moon Looked On’ (instore now).