Perth Music

Kav Temperley from Eskimo Joe will be playing some rare acoustic shows around WA showcasing a mixture of brand new songs never before heard live. He’ll be offering a sneak peek into new material which Eskimo Joe have been working on, while also playing some golden favourites.

Dates:
Fri 23 May - Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
Wed 28 May - Foundry Bar & Grill, Cannington
Sat 31 May - Rocket Room, Northbridge

Kav will be supported by Steve Parkin who will also be performing acoustically and showcasing tunes that will feature on his upcoming solo album. Steve is the first signing to the Eskimo Joe’s Dirt Diamond Productions label. There will also be a couple of surprise guests appearing at these shows so get your tickets from the venues listed above.

It was day 2 of The West Coast Blues ‘N’ Roots Festival and just like day 1 the weather was perfect for a day of outdoor fun. A bit of cloud cover threatened rain for most of the day but it also kept temperatures down to allow fans to enjoy another great day of music. The Esplanade Reserve was so clean that you could not tell a musical festival had occurred there just hours earlier, but given the environmental theme of Blues ‘N’ Roots you would expect nothing less.

An early start was good and bad for Abbe May & The Rockin’ Pneumonia as they started to play on The Big Top Stage. The bad was that there were only a handful of people watching the local band when they played their first song, the good was that the crowd grew and grew and grew and the Big Top area was not the sauna that it would turn into later in the day. A group of 4 or 5 girls decided to get into the mood of the day early and danced around the front of the stage as if they were at Woodstock and it was quite a sight. Abbe May is Perth’s best front woman and the band played a set full of rock and folk music that will see them much higher on the bill in the very near future.

The Audreys have had a pretty meteoric rise in the past 2 years and as they started playing on The Crossroads Stage crowds still entering the reserve stopped to watch as much as die hard fans were pushing to the front barrier. A band that all wear formal dress and consist of a various band members playing the violin, melodica, banjo, double-bass and ukelele would usually come across as gimmicky but The Audreys pull it off with professionalism and a lot of musical talent. Guitarist, Tristan Goodall even managed to change guitars mid-song to a huge cheer from the audience as he only just got the second guitar tuned in time for the chorus.

Next up on The Harbour Stage were The Beautiful Girls and they had a very healthy crowd eager for them to play their radio friendly tunes. Not having ever seen them live before, I’ve always thought of The Beautiful Girls as a rocking/roots based live band but what I saw at the start of their set was quite different. Acoustically sounding almost exactly like Jack Johnson, the band played the perfect chill out start to their set before turning up the volume and rocking out to the excited crowd. Triple J favourites Under A Southern Sky and In Love were clear highlights of their set as the clouds cleared and the Fremantle sun shone down on the dancing crowd.

Kasey Chambers walked on to The Harbour Stage as happy as could be and that joy was also obvious in the songs that she played. It was certainly a family affair for Chambers as she explained that her father was on her right playing guitar, her husband Shane Nicholson was playing guitar on her left and her brother was doing the sound mix. With a new album due out next month Chambers played a few new songs but also delighted the crowd with a whole bunch of hits from her previous three albums.

Playing at the same time on The Big Top Stage was Cat Power who had the same sound issues on that stage that many others had the day before. After a small delay she was ready to get the crowd pumping as she played a set full of hits. Wearing one glove and constantly grabbing her crotch, Cat Power could have been mistaken for a white, female Michael Jackson and with a strut in her step as she sang, she could have also been mistaken for a female Mick Jagger. Not many artists could have pulled this off without looking ridiculous but with her husky voice and sexy looks Cat Power pleased everybody present.

Back in their home town, it was time for Eskimo Joe to take The Harbour Stage by storm. Just as John Butler had done the year before, the Eskimo boys announced how good it was to be playing in their home of Fremantle and that this would be their last show before they start writing and recording their next album. The set started out like a normal Eskimo Joe gig with guitars, bass and drums turned up loud but then had a 6 piece string section join them half way through for some acoustic tunes and then rocking again along with the string section. A range of songs were played including From The Sea, London Bombs, Life Is Better With You (which turned into Crowded House’s Weather With You), New York, Forever Young, Sarah and Black Fingernails, Red Wine.

The highlight for almost everybody in attendance and the real headliner of the festival was former Creedance Clearwater Revival front man John Fogerty. Legal disputes had prevented Fogerty from playing CCR songs for a long time but luckily this was resolved a couple of years ago and the Blues ‘N’ Roots crowd were allowed to witness a true legend of music at his best. Even at 62 Fogerty is a fantastic musician as well as a fantastic showman. Tales were told about playing at Woodstock, jokes were made with the crowd and of course great music was played. Legendary hits such as Bad Moon Rising, Rollin On The River, Lookin’ Out My Backdoor, Down On The Corner (with great appreciation by the 5 girls behind me who started singing it in between every single song), and Proud Mary were all played and the cheers from the crowd was deafening. With that the ultimate two day music festival was over for another year and as the crowd walked out most would have been thinking already about attending again in 2009.

More photos can be found here thanks to Noodlez

Eskimo Joe have become one of the most recognized and successful bands in Australian music history…but you have never seen them like this!

In what will be the group’s last shows in Australia before they bunker down to craft the next exciting phase of their remarkable career, Eskimo Joe have been rehearsing for what will be their most challenging and exciting live set of their career for the West Coast Blues ’n’ Roots Festival and their partner festivals on the east coast.

The band’s special performance has been labeled a synopsis of their career to date, and will be broken up into three parts. First up you’ll see the rock’n’roll 5-piece as you know it – melodic, raw and loud. For their second set the band will strip it back to a very special acoustic performance, backed a dazzling six-piece string section. And then Eskimo Joe’s final set will the see the full electric rock band reunite…accompanied by the string section.

What better way to experience Eskimo Joe for the last time, before they take a hiatus from the live circuit?

For more info and tickets visit www.sunsetevents.com.au

New additions to the ultimate music lover’s weekend include:
Kasey Chambers
Hayley Sales
The Angry Tradesmen
Common Ground
Will Stoker & The Embers
Matt Gresham
The Shinkickers
The Funkalleros
Sneaky Weasel Gang
Wordfly

Aussie alt-country songstress, Kasey Chambers, will make her very first West Coast Blues ’n’ Roots Festival appearance. Back with a new album, Chambers will come to WA for what will be a rare show in 2008/09 as she dedicates her time and energies to motherhood.

At only 20 years of age Hayley Sales is a mature songstress that has spent the last 12 months serenading music critics and fans across North America. And now she finally comes to Australia for what will prove her mighty debut.

You may recognize the pedigree…two parts Midnight Oil, one part Backsliders and a whole lotta gravel. And now be ready for the Blues ’n’ Roots debut of The Angry Tradesmen, featuring the very mighty Rob Hirst, Dom Turner and Martin Rotsey. It’s lightening, it’s thunder…it’s the blues like you’ve never heard it before.

WEST COAST BLUES ’N’ ROOTS FESTIVAL 2008
Fremantle Esplanade Reserve

SATURDAY, MARCH 15
Buddy Guy, Ray Davies, Sinéad O’Connor, Don McLean, Maceo Parker, Gotye, Ian Brown, Keb’ Mo’, KT Tunstall, Xavier Rudd, The Cruel Sea, Jeff Martin, The Bellrays, Clare Bowditch And The Feeding Set, Angus & Julia Stone, Jason Mraz, Hayley Sales, O.A.R., Lior, Damien Dempsey, The Basics, Common Ground, The Shinkickers, Will Stoker & The Embers and Sneaky Weasel Gang

SUNDAY, MARCH 16
John Fogerty, Eskimo Joe, Kasey Chambers, Cat Power, Jools Holland & His Rhythm And Blues Orchestra, Vusi Mahlasela, Ozomatli, Lee Ritenour, Patty Griffin, London Community Gospel Choir, G. Love & Special Sauce, The Beautiful Girls, Galactic, Salmonella Dub, Mia Dyson, Jeff Lang, Seasick Steve, The Audreys, The Angry Tradesmen, Sugarland, Ivan Zar, Worldfly, Matt Gresham and Funkalleros

For more info and tickets visit www.sunsetevents.com.au

Fremantle Esplanade Reserve

SATURDAY, MARCH 15
Buddy Guy, Sinéad O’Connor, Don McLean, Maceo Parker, Gotye, Ian Brown, Keb’Mo’, KT Tunstall, Xavier Rudd, G. Love & Special Sauce, The Bellrays, Ozomatli, Clare Bowditch And The Feeding Set, Angus & Julia Stone, Seasick Steve, Brandi Carlile, Damien Dempsey, The Basics and more to be announced

SUNDAY, MARCH 16
John Fogerty, Eskimo Joe, Jools Holland & His Rhythm And Blues Orchestra, VusiMahlasela, Lee Ritenour, Patty Griffin, London Community Gospel Choir, The Beautiful Girls, Galactic, Salmonella Dub, Jeff Martin, Mia Dyson, The Audreys, Sugarland, Lior and more to be announced

As with the last festival, Early Bird pre-sale tickets are available for alimited period from 9am Monday, December 10 to Thursday, December 13, exclusively through the Sunset Events website and Ticketek.

After 2007’s sold out festival get in quick and save $5 on a weekend ticket or $10 on individual day tickets and secure your pass!

Public tickets go on sale Friday, December 14, at 9am. Standard weekend tickets are $195 + booking fee and individual day tickets are also available for $125 + booking fee per day and available from www.sunsetevents.com.au or Ticketek on 132 849 or at www.ticketek.com.au(.)

We encourage you to pay the Optional Green Fee for an extra $2, which will be used to offset your carbon emissions to and from the festival. Or head to Live Clothing Stores, 78 Records, Mills, Beat Music, Planet Video, Trax Music(Mandurah), Blue 62 (Busselton), Session Surf Shop (Margaret River), Collins Music(Bunbury), Kalgoorlie Sounds, Geraldton CD Centre and Vibes (Albany).

Given current touring ticket prices this is excellent value for money, whether you purchase a day or a weekend ticket. VIP tickets are also available. Head to the website for more information.

The West Coast Blues ’n’ Roots Festival is a licensed event and all patrons must be 18+ unless accompanied by a parent.

Sonic Sessions presented by Fremantle Arts Centre is an unprecedented opportunity to join host, Lucky Oceans and WA superstar musicians in a mix of conversation, intimate concert and old-fashioned jam in the magical Inner Courtyard.

Over three sessions, slide blues guitar legend, Dave Hole, The Waifs’ Josh Cunningham and Eskimo Joe’s Kav Temperley will share their stories and ideas, and perform with Lucky Oceans and friends. Lucky will also perform and share his own fascinating story in session 3 when Fremantle musician, Pete Stone, fills the interviewer’s chair.

Sonic Sessions offers rare, up-close insights into these huge stars of the WA music scene.

Dave Hole - 8pm Thurs 25 October
In 1991 Dave Hole’s international career took off when US Guitar Player magazine described his modestly self-produced album as “Magnificent, staggering …almost beyond belief.”

Josh Cunningham joined by Ben Franz, bass (The Waifs) - 8pm Thurs 8 November
Josh Cunningham is songwriter and member of The Waifs, co-founder of their own label, Jarrah Records, and is recognised as a top acoustic guitarist.

Lucky Oceans hosted by Pete Stone - 8pm Thurs 22 Novemeber
Lucky Oceans, a pivotal figure of the WA music scene, is master of the pedal steel guitar, host of ABC Radio’s “The Planet” and winner of two Grammy Awards. Since moving to WA in 1979 and removed from his deep US musical roots, Lucky’s evolution as a musician changed course.

Kav Temperley (Eskimo Joe) - 8pm Thurs 6 December
Eskimo Joe have sold hundreds of thousands of record world wide, won numerous ARIA’s and are growing in the US market. Kav Temperley cut his musical teeth in local Freo pubs to become one of Australia’s most successful songwriters with Eskimo Joe lauded the world over.

All tickets $20 - General Admission. Book on 9432 9555 or in person at Fremantle Arts Centre. All shows starts 8pm - Gates open 7pm. Bar open - No BYO - Café open for light snacks. Fremantle Arts Centre located at 1 Finnerty Street Fremantle. Visit http://www.fac.org.au

Eskimo Joe - London Bombs

Further dates have been added on the ESKIMO JOE ‘BEATING LIKE A DRUM NATIONAL TOUR’ and tickets go on sale today.

For Perth fans, your patience has been rewarded with the announcement of dates in your city.

Perth has the opportunity to see their hometown heroes, Eskimo Joe and Little Birdy perform on the newly announced date on Thursday May 29 at Metro City, Perth.

In further exciting news for fans, Eskimo Joe will be releasing a special edition of their triple platinum album, ‘Black Fingernails Red Wine’ on Saturday May 5. The bonus disc titled ‘Beating The Drum’ features SIX of the original tracks on the album remixed by the likes of Dexter ‘Beating Like A Drum’, Sneaky Sound System ‘London Bombs’, Teenager ‘New York’, P-Money ‘Comfort You’, Bumblebeez ‘Sarah’ and an incredible mash-up of ‘Black Fingernails Red Wine’ and ‘From The Sea’ from Nick Launay titled ‘Black Nails From The Red Sea’.

The ‘BEATING LIKE A DRUM TOUR’ tickets are on sale now from www.eskimojoe.net and the usual outlets.

I arrived at the Hyde Park Hotel just as Matt Irvin started to play and the crowd in the room was already starting to build up. Matt is from the now defunct roots outfit Dusk and has just released his debut EP “Now A Lover” after doing some East Coast touring with Simon London. Matt played some great acoustic songs that were enjoyed by the crowd and even used a state of the art loop pedal on one song to allow his guitar to loop while he played trumpet at the same time. It was quite an interesting way of playing a solo gig and many people were quite perplexed.

A young lady known as Seven Weapons was on next and right from the first song she seemed sweet, fun and talented. Her voice and song structure reminded me of the LA band Rilo Kiley and she seemed surprised the crowd were really liking her songs, even the one based on a hand written note she found in King’s Park only a couple days before.

Next up was Rick Bryant who as he told me 10 minutes before going on was unusually nervous. He told me how the crowd was much bigger than he expected and if anyone has been to The Hyde Park Hotel for a Solo night the crowd are extremely close to the stage, so the musician can hear just about every conversation in the room. Ignoring his nerves Rick grabbed his scotch and water and headed on stage, playing some great songs that was appreciated by the crowd.

The person everyone was waiting to see was on next: Kav from Eskimo Joe. Up on stage he explained to the crowd that he hadn’t made a set list for tonight and was just going to play songs as they came to him and that he remembered how to play. Considering Kav plays bass guitar in Eskimo Joe, anything he played on acoustic guitar is not an everyday thing. Apart from the odd sound issue on stage Kav’s set of new songs, Eskimo Joe songs and a Beach Boys Cover sounded great and Kav’s voice has grown older into a fascinating, matured voice.

The full setlist was New Song, Suicide Girl, New York, This Is Pressure, Setting Sun, Sarah, Car Crash, Older Than You, New Song #2, Hang Onto Your Ego (Beach Boys Cover).

Hang Onto Your Ego (Beach Boys Cover)

New York

In awesome news, the Rock-It team has captured a world class selection of artists to end the summer….an exciting combination of firm favourites, international superstars and hot new talent ready to rock your socks off on Easter Thursday 5th April.

The usual home of Rock-It, Arena Joondalup, is unable to host the Thursday night blockbuster because construction on the Arena Joondalup events train platform isn’t finished, one of the access roads is closed and the parking facilities are unavailable due to late night shopping.

The good news is that the kind folk at CLAREMONT SHOWGROUNDS have offered to host the event and allow the fantastic line up to play WA and under the name Blackjack!

So it’s official! Blackjack 2007 at Claremont Showgrounds will put the greatest icing on the cake of another excellent WA summer and Rock-It will be back with a MASSIVE bill later in the year (with a new special event train station at the front door and other improvements to make your enjoyment and comfort a priority).

Blackjack 2007 featuring
The Pixies : The Living End : Eskimo Joe : Gnarls Barkley : The Vines : Birds Of Tokyo : Children Collide
Easter Thursday, 5th April 2007
Claremont Showgrounds
2-11pm
All Ages with 18+ Areas

The Pixies
For the first time ever in Australia and one of the coolest bands in the history of the universe FINALLY confirm an exclusive Perth play!!! A top ten artist on any accurate “best albums of all time” list…the timeless, seminal and sensational

The Living End
With multiple multi-platinum albums behind them, one of the most electrifying and reliable acts in the country roll out for their trademark guaranteed high-energy, kick-arse, air-punching, sing-along rock and roll show.

Eskimo Joe
WA’s hometown heroes…or should we say superstars! Having sold nearly a quarter of a million copies of their latest album “Black Fingernails, Red Wine” 2007 is the year of the Joe and they are flying the WA flag loud and proud

Gnarls Barkley
For the first time in Australia and injecting the beats and party into our Easter Thursday event playing all the monster tracks from their platinum debut “St Elsewhere”
Crazy!

The Vines
After a global smash album and building a reputation for a wild, unpredictable and self abusive live show. The Vines simply put write and play some of the greatest rebel guitar rock music there is. After being turned inside out by global success and only a couple of early visits to WA under their belts they have come out of live hibernation in 2007 with a raw and electric buzz-saw live show which confirms just how good the music of the Vines is……..let’s Get Free!!!!!

Birds Of Tokyo
They shut the door on the Robinson Pavilion at the Big Day Out because 6000 people had crammed in to see ‘The Birds’. The week their debut album ‘Day One’ came out their distributor had hair loss as fans and stores screamed for more stock than was available. These quiet achievers are the DIY rising stars of and WA and indeed Australian music. Birds of Tokyo are selling out shows all over the country and their live show is not to be missed.

Children Collide
First on but by no means least this Melbourne band is a huge tip for 2007/2008. One of the few acts where all the right media from NME to Rolling Stone and back again are in a froth but for ALL the right reasons. Raw, radical and rambunctious; they are everything you want in a band. Don’t miss it.

**INTERNET PRESALE TICKETS **
Available from this FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16th at www.heatseeker.com.au

**GENERAL TICKET SALES**
Available from next FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23rd at Live Clothing Stores, Star Perth, Beat Karrinyup, Planet Mt Lawley, Mills Fremantle, Prince of Wales Bunbury, Star Mandurah, 3 Bears Dunsborough and www.heatseeker.com.au