Big Merino Release Single ‘Long Time’

November 16, 2024

Composed in the aftermath of the rejection of the Voice Referendum, the song reflects on the dispossession of Australia’s indigenous people. The vote seems an attempt to deny the truth, the theft of land and resources. Alex “To me, the referendum was a gentle request for respect and inclusion. The fact that it failed demonstrates how far we have to travel as a nation and asks the question, how long will that process will take? Going on past experience, I would say it’s going to take a long time.”

Alex worked doing photos on APY lands some years ago. The cover image, taken during those sessions, is of a church in Indulkana. The hometown of the famous portraitist, Vincent Namatjira: Archibald Prize Winner and Gina Rinehart’s least favourite artist. In the recording the band tried to get a sense of space using acoustic instruments to reflect the feeling of the vastness of those places.

About

Formed in 2017, Big Merino play original music that blurs the lines between country, blues, roots, rock and pop. Despite an obvious passion for what’s often called ‘Americana’ their songs somehow manage to be very personal and quintessentially Australian – the words and sound shaped by the landscape and their own stories.

Their live sound is a classic combination of acoustic and electric guitars, vocals, bass and drums. Their recordings are fleshed out with multiple guitar layers, gospel style harmonies, Hammond organ, piano, horns and percussion.

In 2018 the band released their debut album ‘Suburban Wildlife’, made two cinematic film clips with director Alan Harca, and performed all around Sydney. The band has done numerous Interviews & live-to-air performances including ABC 702 & RN, 2SER Dirt Music, Radio Skid Row, Eastside Radio, Aussie Music Weekly and 2BBB. The single ‘Black Cockatoos’ was top 10 on AMRAP Metro and Regional playlists.

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Bob Pigott Releases EP ‘Still Moving’

October 3, 2024

‘Still Moving’ is Bob Pigott’s 9th studio release and was recorded at Damien Gerard and Ears That Hear Studios on the picturesque Central Coast of NSW. The songs were written on an old stand-up piano while Bob took some time out to raise his young son.

The songs reflect light and shade with tracks ‘Like It’s Summer’ and ‘Pop Song’ pushing the beat while reflective moments come with ‘Glasgow’ and ‘Moving Day’. The toe tapping ‘Arlo’ is a note from a father to a son, and ‘Tired of Thinking About You’ goes straight to the heart strings. ‘Still Moving’ is another welcome offering from a singer- songwriter who just won’t stop moving…still.

Critically acclaimed and multi award winning singer/songwriter Bob Pigott bridges folk, pop and country with rich vocals and a gift for storytelling. His original blend of smooth acoustic rhythms and poetic lyrics has broad appeal that transcends genres.

Bob’s intimate style and ability to craft songs that are artful as well as commercial has seen Bob secure a raft of ABC Music Awards and gave him the opportunity to record at the famous Abbey Road studios in London.

Bob’s ability to discover the heart of a song and produce lyrics that sound like words we could hear ourselves speaking, continues to attract the discerning listener worldwide.

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CB Ghost Releases Single ‘Beautiful Middle Finger’

September 26, 2024

UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS!!

CB Ghost & Pinky Ring Live

@ The Baso Canberra

Thursday 24th October 7pm

CB Ghost & Pinky Ring Live

@ The Vault Port Kembla

Friday 25th October 6pm

CB Ghost & Gene Gibson Live

@ Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville

Friday 6th December 7pm

CB Ghost & Special Guest

@ The Baroque Room, Katoomba

Saturday 7th December 7pm

Que catchy guitar riff, add harmonica, then a swinging beat, leads us to CB Ghost’s signature and original vocal style and we are away with Beautiful Middle Finger.

From the first line, images and themes are subconsciously drip fed into your mind and the folk-rock rhythm and country-like sway moves your hips. While the chorus is simply an elevated version of the same guitar riff it certainly lifts you and adds that needed meat to the musical bones.

Beautiful Middle Finger is a good time song, with a silly title from a serious song writer who obviously loves to have fun and not take things too seriously while putting his heart and soul out there.

CB Ghost, a songwriter with an honest simple folk-rock style that captures the essence of a complicated existence with singalong tunes and poetic lyrics and sometimes a banger beat. He has emerged from a close-nit coastal surfing village in Australia. His background provides him with a deep connection to toe tapping Celtic, country and straight-ahead heartfelt rock music mixed with salt water from the ocean.

A former pro surfer, CB Ghost is driven, bold and dedicated to his evolving sound and a deep love of blue-collar folk stories and sensibility – and most importantly playing live to crowds who love to drink, dance, sing and have fun.

Having recently toured Northern NSW and Queensland with Sydney band Pinky Ring, The Ghost is finding his feet live and now incorporating a full band at most shows (his solo shows are still a must see for that intimate intensity). His first single ‘Hollywood Hills’ was followed by ‘Hold Down Hymn’ and gives a strong idea of what is to come later this year.

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Big Merino Releases Single ‘Ain’t No Shame’

August 13, 2024

Alex: ‘I’ve always been fascinated by people who are able to move through life and experience unguarded joy, it’s something that I’ve learned but it doesn’t come naturally to me and I like that idea of learning to let go of something that you love’.

During the recording process the band tried to recapture the spirit of the legendary Sun Studio recordings. Working with Phil Punch provided the perfect opportunity to try that approach especially as he had built equipment for the iconic recording space.

Formed in 2017, Big Merino play original music that blurs the lines between country, blues, roots, rock and pop. Despite an obvious passion for what’s often called ‘Americana’, their songs somehow manage to be very personal and quintessentially Australian – the words and sound shaped by the landscape and their own stories.

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Big Merino Release Single ‘Second Hand Smoke’

March 22, 2024

The first 2024 release for Sydney’s Big Merino

The song ‘Second Hand Smoke’ came about after the 2019 bushfires in NSW and Covid. It’s a bit of a lateral take on a story that a lot of people can relate to and it suggests why, in spite of everything, we get up the next day and give things another crack.

Recorded and mixed by Studio Legend Phil Punch, this is a great beginning for a range of singles the guys will be following with this year.

Song Description

Acoustic southern vibes abound in this new single from Big Merino. Bass, drums, guitars and a driving snare beat keeps this bluesy track afloat with plenty of sing-a-long moments, even handclaps. Up-tempo, happy and feel good, a great first of the year for these Sydney locals.

The band will be performing it and a whole bunch of new songs on

Sat April 13 @ The Gasoline Pony

It’s Big Merino‘s first gig for quite some time … come and join us to celebrate the release!

@ The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville
Saturday 13th April, from 7pm.
Book : trybooking.com/CQCRM

Out March 22 Foghorn/MGM

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Daxton Releases New Album ‘Fahrenheit’

March 22, 2024

The new album from NSW Central Coast troubadour already garnering airplay and reviews around the world following from the Single ‘Kiss The Girls’ earlier this year.

Daxton’s new album ‘Fahrenheit’ features tracks inspired by personal experiences, relationships, and journeys, encapsulating a wide range of emotions from love and heartbreak to resilience and empowerment. The title track was inspired by a studio groove that embodied the intense emotional heat and passion that defined the production and recording of the songs. The album brings a fresh twist to the classic blues genre, infusing it with psychedelic elements and experimental sounds, creating a sonic landscape that is Daxton’s Psychedelic Blues Sound.

Song Descriptions for 2 Key Tracks

Fahrenheit

The title track to Daxton’s new album features bass, drums, dobro, slide guitar, Hammond organ and his signature vocals. A chilled out blues rock with a mid-tempo feel, this would be a great song to sit back on the porch with a beer and admire the grass.

Ocean Size

Great surf blues ‘a la’ Jack Johnson here. Slides and dobros, acoustics and electrics, sweet guitar and vocal tones throughout underpinned by drums and bass.

Out March 22 on Foghorn/MGM

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Foghorn Christmas Releases

December 6, 2023

Get Into The Christmas Spirit With Gareth Koch’s Instrumental Album & Daxton’s Homegrown Blues/Jazz Album

‘Exquisite & ancient music reimagined with a shimmer of jangle. An audiophile recording.’

Imagine timeless European Christmas music played instrumentally, as if upon a choir of lutes. Ancient & exquisite songs, deep within the human psyche, are now newly arranged by ARIA Award winning guitarist Gareth Koch. The interpretations reveal his signature blend of contemporary flair laced with medieval sensibilities.

The arrangements are both elegant & appealing, sidestepping any notion of commercialised Christmas clichés. Re-imagined as troubadour-like ballads or tender Austrian folk songs, each carol receives a unique treatment. The listener is invited into an array of soundworlds, ranging from the early medieval to English folk-revival.

The music of this album leads us away from the bustle of many modern realities. Instead, we are drawn into a gentler universe, filled with subtlety & nuance. In any year, at any time, this album presents a Christmas message we all need to hear.

Song Descriptions
Little Drummer Boy
This timeless mid-tempo classic Christmas carol is dealt with not just using multiple classical guitar parts but with hand percussion and rice shakers.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
A very old piece, dated to the 16th century and referred to in Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’. Gareth recreates the vocal melody perfectly and becomes a terrific hum along piece. Bass guitar rounds out the arrangement featuring multiple guitars: acoustic, nylon string and electric creating a lush sonic tapestry.

About Gareth Koch
Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded a diverse repertory across multiple albums spanning works for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects & song writing.
Gareth is involved with many cross genre projects. Over recent years he has released two collaborative albums with ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church).

All DSP’s and CD’s from official store below

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Daxton ‘On The Eve Of Christmas’

There is a good chance in any Christmas album you will hear the well known traditional songs about mistletoe, stockings and large jolly gentlemen in red suits. Many artists have been there but not all write their own songs. Daxton Monaghan has just released his own unique jazz style Xmas album for 2023.

After deciding last Christmas that there wasn’t an album of Christmas songs that suited him, Daxton has spent the past year slowly crafting a tasty array of melodic songs for his own special Christmas album. Entitled ‘On The Eve Of Christmas’, the nine tracks include some well-known and Daxton family favourites: White Christmas, Little Drummer Boy and of course, Jingle Bells. The rest of the album is made up of Daxton’s own songs. These compositions have been inspired by Daxton’s family Christmas gatherings. Bouncy rhythms, heart warming lyrics, sing along harmonies, strings, brass and Daxton’s familiar vocals all feature.

Song Descriptions
Let The Carols Sing
A classic sing along Xmas tune from bluesman Daxton. Some fine holiday vibes from the sax, beach boys style ‘ooh aah’ backing vocals and keys.

Little Drummer Boy
This timeless tune gets fine reworking by Daxton. Programmed drums and keys give the song a modern edge with Luke Gallen’s sax the icing on the cake.

About Daxton
Daxton has appeared at major festivals including the Sydney Blues & Roots and Tamworth Country Music Festival where he supported artists such as Kasey Chambers and Beccy Cole. He also has had one of his tracks ‘Moody Liz’ featured in the popular American TV series Doll House.

Based on the Central Coast, Daxton is best described as a blues/rock artist with a twist of pop and rock. He plays slide guitar rock/blues songs with a fresh and innovative sound. His last album, ‘Electric Satellite’ was released in 2022 and featured his signature heavy and rustic blues rock sound.

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Kaijin Solo Releases Single ‘Lightning Hit The City’

September 15, 2023

First written in the late 1980’s sometime after Black Friday ’87, finally released in 2023, the song is a snapshot of various random events that seemed to be hitting the headlines with monotonous regularity at the time and has a curious resonance even today….

A rocking tune from the Central Coast’s Kaijin Solo. This one comes right out with full band in this up-tempo guitar based rock song, plenty of guitar riffs and solos as well as a catchy chorus and good vibes all around.

Kaijin Solo is a contemporary singer/songwriter based on the NSW Central Coast with a blues rock influence.

He has been working and honing his craft for many years with various band line-ups and the plentiful bread and butter busking jobs and pub/club gigs around the Coast (most recently at Link & Pin in Woy Woy). With the advent of Covid, Kaijin spent the downtime working on new material which resulted in the recording and release of a number of tracks last year.

Kaijin has begun to work live again as Kaijin Solo and The Backbeats featuring Ash Fedder on Drums and Rhys Myer on Keys.

They are currently planning for a late Spring/early Summer Tour.

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Reviews for Jack Nolan’s Album ‘Jindabyne’

August 27, 2023

Jack Nolan Released and Launched his New Album ‘Jindabyne’ earlier this month and
now the Reviews are in – here are a selection of some standouts and the links.
Recorded to tape in Nashville and with players like this theres no wonder folks are raving about it.
Producer guitarist Justin Weaver (The Chicks/Wynonna Judd), drummer Jimmy Paxson (Lindsey Buckingham/The Chicks/Ben Harper) and bassist Chris Autry (Josh Turner/Lee Anne Womack).

“As I’m listening through Jindabyne, I’m taken aback. It’s such a solid, mature, full-bodied album of unflinchingly well-written songs. He’s not fucking around.”
Coyote Music

“Perhaps the delay worked in Jindabyne’s favor as it’s rare to hear such a coherent and complete collection. It’s Jack Nolan’s finest moment yet.”
Curious For Music

[About the last track ‘All The Ships In The Ocean’
“This one is also reflective of the recent pandemic…At one point he asks the question, “What’s a nation?/Does anyone know?” When the world gets all weird, some of the questions that, at one time would have had easy answers, start to get overly complicated.”
Skope Magazine

““Jindabyne” has a quiet grandeur, with Jack Nolan’s robust and assured voice telling tales from lives lived most fully.”
Beach Sloth

“As a true purveyor of Americana, Jack stays true to the staples of roots music while also taking the genre to a fresher perspective with his Aussie twist. Named after the New South Wales town of the same name, “JINDABYNE” feels familiar, yet nostalgic, as it truly bridges two distant sides of the world, as if there was no ocean between them!”
Ghost Echoes

The Album
Jack Nolan’s JINDABYNE, released August 4

The same band assembled again to record, with no backing tracks, all but live to tape – and why wouldn’t you

The album’s title is lifted from the ever so sweet ‘Solo Sailor’ that lets us in on a journey. Other highlights include, the up-tempo ‘She Knew’ where nothing’s perfect, but she knew he loved her, and her knowing that will have to do for now, and the timeless finger picker, ‘All The Ships In The Ocean’.

Two years of stolen liberties has only hardened Jack’s resolve, to remain forever suspicious of rule makers and even more dedicated to his ongoing contribution to art, to song writing. JINDABYNE is a record for this year, where we are all staggering on after two years of madness, and we have all arrived back to that place we had drifted too far from, the simple things, love and reality, family, and community.

Based in Sydney, Australia, singer songwriter Jack Nolan has been performing and releasing music and albums since the mid 1990’s. Along with a six-album solo catalogue Jack also fronted The Kelly Gang, with Rick Grossman, bassist for The Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus along with Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and guitar player Martin Rotsey. Their 2004 album Looking for the Sun is still considered a hidden gem, with an incredible line-up of musicians that delivered passionate and energetic live shows of the time.

Within Nolan’s music, mysterious and shimmering chords unite his sound. Once quaintly described as ‘Darlinghurst Country’ his sound unites elements of folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and ambient atmospheres fusing Nolan’s passion for intensely charged electric guitar and finger-picked acoustic guitar.

Of recent years, the critically acclaimed 2018 album ‘Our Waverley Star’ was followed by the equally impressive 2020 outing ‘Gabriel’. It was these two outings that cemented Nolan’s love of recording in Nashville, with guitarist/producer Justin Weaver (Dixie Chicks/Wynonna Judd). What started with a one-off phone call, developed into an alliance that Nolan describes as “arriving in town, in the northern winter, when everyone’s off the road, with my swag of songs to greet all the boys again to collaborate”.

Performing in & around the traps Jack’s Australian band includes Travis New (Andrew Farris/Imogen Clark) on guitar, Tim Samson (Christine Anu/Andrew Farris) on bass and long time drummer & Hamish Stuart (Don Walker/Ian Moss et al).

Jindabyne album is OUT NOW
Quay Records

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The Sheyana Band Release Single ‘Remarkable Man’

August 19, 2023

The new uptempo cracking’ single Remarkable Man lifted from The Sheyana Bands EP Ricochet.

The band went into the studio to record a Johnny Cash style country & western ditty, but sound engineer, Russell Pilling, suggested changing the original Americana feel to a tougher AC/DC – Aussie Rock feel. Bingo!! It was like a brand new song and the track fitted like a glove into their new EP ‘Ricochet’.

Sheyana explains: “When I close my eyes, this is how the imagery of the song plays in my mind; show yourself friend or foe! Remarkable Man lines up with both barrels, bullets of pleasure and pain – shining bright, cutting deep, demanding to be loved and loathed. Cover your trusting heart! Do you have the superpowers to survive the impact?”

The track has become a band and fan favourite.

A full throttle country rock number from Sheyana, a very worthy single to follow up to Big Hearts. The song begins with the full band straight in, its up-tempo, catchy and full of riffs and hooks from the very competent guitar section, foot tapping all the way to the end.

The Sheyana Band’s recent EP, ‘Ricochet’, came together during covid lockdown in Tasmania. Making the best of a bad situation and with time for reflection, Sheyana and the band focused on songwriting, and the music emerged out of conflicting times.

Influenced by the classics and drawing inspiration from their deep Tassie roots, The Sheyana Band are like a fine wine. A ripe fruity musical banquet, fusing stylistic flavours from Australian Rhythm & Soul, American Funk & Blues, English Pop/Rock & Punk with a dash of Southern Country/Folk.

London born, Tasmanian based singer, songwriter and guitarist, Sheyana, has been hooked on music since early childhood. The soulful Celtic/Sri Lankan storyteller brings flavour to the table with her stellar band, featuring Wayne Rand on lead guitars/vocals, Dan Jeffrey on bass & Leigh Hill on drums/vocals.

Following the release earlier this year of their EP, the band embarked on a series of sold out single & album launches across Tasmania. The EP is getting national airplay, charting on Australian Blues and Roots Chart, and received some great national and international album reviews.

The first single & music clip Big Hearts was premiered by Australian music group Scenstr. Internationally, YESFM Sri Lanka recently premiered the track and came in Top 20 on the Yes Home Grown Charts. The band are releasing a second single from the EP, ‘Remarkable Man’ and planning to tour East Coast Australia in 2024, along with some live shows in Sri Lanka.

The Sheyana Band had a top ten hit in Sri Lanka in 2015 with their single ‘Keep the Change’. Sheyana scored a blues award with the OzSong International Song Writing Competition in 2011 for her song ‘Two Birds’, which also made it to the finals in the Fresh Air ABC National Song writing Competition. The Sheyana Band are a favourite act at major Tassie events: Skyfields, Forth Valley Blues Festival, Party In The Paddock, Fruits of the Roots, Festival of King Island, Junction Arts Festival and Riverbend Blues.

The band have supported Deborah Conway, Hoodoo Gurus, Neil Finn, Meg Mac, Mojo Juju, Gang of Youths, Diesel, The Angels, Kevin Borich, Ian Moss, Bill Chambers and Fanny Lumsden. Nationally they won “The Chris Wilson Award” for Emerging Act of Year” with their album Big Love in 2018.

Stream/Download Remarkable Man (Foghorn/MGM) August 18

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Tag: blues

Big Merino Release Single ‘Long Time’

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Bob Pigott Releases EP ‘Still Moving’

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CB Ghost Releases Single ‘Beautiful Middle Finger’

UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS!!

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Big Merino Releases Single ‘Ain’t No Shame’

Stream the Single

Connect with Big Merino

Big Merino Release Single ‘Second Hand Smoke’

Daxton Releases New Album ‘Fahrenheit’

Foghorn Christmas Releases

Get Into The Christmas Spirit With Gareth Koch’s Instrumental Album & Daxton’s Homegrown Blues/Jazz Album

Kaijin Solo Releases Single ‘Lightning Hit The City’

Reviews for Jack Nolan’s Album ‘Jindabyne’

The Sheyana Band Release Single ‘Remarkable Man’

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