BACKSLIDING LIVE ALL OVER

Following rocking gigs at the Byron Bay Blues Festival, and a trailblazing tour of the Kimberly region of Western Australia (June), Backsliders are to hit the road again as part of the new Live album promotion tour. Returning to favourite haunts in Victoria and NSW, this leg of the tour will feature the innovative talents of two very special guest harmonica virtuosos.

Having blown up a hot desert storm with Backsliders in the Kimberly, award-winning harmonica genius Ian Collard (Collard Greens & Gravy) joins Dom Turner and Rob Hirst for their gigs in his home state of Victoria.

For the NSW sector of the tour, the legendary Brod Smith (The Dingoes, Broderick Smith’s Big Combo) will add his explosive harp and vocal mastery to the Backslider’s fury. All in all it promises to be a furious ride – with Dom and Rob setting the grooves and taking no prisoners, and Ian and Bros firing-up the amps to fuel the maelstrom.

STOP PRESS: The Live tour will also feature a swampy downhome ‘all-acoustic unplugged’ set, spawned on the banks of the Kunnanurra River during a chill-out session while on the recent Kimberley tour.

Dates:
August
Friday 11: Meeniyan Hall, Victoria
Saturday 12: The Cornish Arms, Victoria
Sunday 13: Williamstown RSL, Victoria
September
Friday 8: The Vanguard, Newtown NSW
Saturday 9: The Heritage, Bulli NSW
Sunday 10: Clarendon, Blue Mountains NSW
Friday 29: Great Southern Blues & Rockabilly Festival, Narooma, NSW

THROSBY HIDES AWAY

Do you hear that gentle sound? It must be time to breathe again — Holly Throsby is back among us, with 37 minutes of stellar new tunes. She’s called it Under The Town, and dotted it with characters dark and mysterious.

The songs of Under The Town are intimate gestures, drawing the listener closer as the album progresses. The strumming and chiming of guitars is the heartbeat of this record, with other textures insinuating themselves over time. Pianos and cellos come and go. But mostly there’s space, lots of space.

Under The Town will be celebrated with 10 shows across the US with David Pajo from Slint and Tortoise. Then 17 shows across Australia where the band will be undertaking many regional centres for the first time.

Holly will be releasing a CD single “The Shoulders & Bends” for the tour. It is an aptly titled single, when you are about to spend six weeks driving around the country, so much really does depend on the shoulders and bends.

Until then play Under The Town to everybody you know and 50% of those that you barely recognise.

Dates:
September
Thursday 7: Plantation Hotel, Coffs Harbour
Friday 8: Globe Theatre, Brisbane
Saturday 9: Byron Bay Community Centre, Byron Bay
Thursday 14: Northern Star, Newcastle
Friday 15: The Basement, Sydney
Saturday 16: Tilley’s, Canberra
Sunday 17: Clarendon Guest House
Wednesday 20: Ruby’s, Belgrave
Thursday 21: Karova Lounge, Ballarat
Friday 22: Jade Monkey, Adelaide
Saturday 23: Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Sunday 24: East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
Thursday 28: Republic Bar, Hobart
Friday 29: Hyde Park, Perth (with Sodastream and Gersey)
Saturday 30: Wave Rock Festival, WA
October
Sunday 1: Mojo’s, Fremantle (with Sodastream and Gersey)
Thursday 5: Brass Monkey, Cronulla
Sunday 8: Heritage Hotel, Bulli