Coming Events

The Butterfly Effect are still flying high on the success of their third album 'FINAL CONVERSATION OF KINGS'. The album debuted late last year at #3 on the Australian ARIA Album chart and was #1 on the Top 20 Australian Artist's ARIA Album chart!

The band have also confirmed Live Shows for the UK and Europe in May this year, so as a coming home present to the Australian fans they have just announced another National Tour for the Locals!

The Australian tour will kick off in their hometown of Brisbane and make its way around the country finishing up in Darwin.

AN EXPERIENCE IN SIX STRINGS

DOORS 7.00pm SHOW STARTS 8.00pm

The guitar is central to the Brazilian musical experience. From great composers like Villa-Lobos, to folk forms like samba and bossa-nova, the guitar has played a pivotal role in unifying "high" and "low" music. In a country as large as Brazil, with such a rich musical heritage this means a lot. The guitar became popular there even before emerging as a concert instrument in Europe in the 20th century.

João Rabello has been described as a member of Brazil's elite register of musicians; little surprise when he can claim legendary guitar players on both sides of his family going back four generations.

An Experience In Six Strings is João Rabello's tour through the universe of the Brazilian guitar. From the traditional to the vanguard, from the north to the south, this repertoire is for those who wish to hear a small piece of a long history carried in six strings.

Presented by Queensland Music Festival, Brisbane City Council and The Courier-Mail.

MONSIEUR CAMEMBERT, VULGARGRAD and FROCK

DOORS 7.00pm SHOW STARTS 8.00pm

It’s not hard to understand why triple ARIA Award-winning group, Monsieur Camembert have been at the forefront of Australia’s GYPROCK scene for the past eight years. Described as theatrical, irreverent, virtuosic and irrepressibly talented, Monsieur Camembert is truly a force of nature so bring your dancing shoes, this music is irresistible.

“Probably the most entertaining band in the universe. Ever.” - Drum Media

VulgarGrad interprets old songs of the Russian thieves with punk classics of the Perestroika era and a strong dose of contemporary St. Petersburg swearing ska. Legend of stage and screen, Jacek Koman (The Secret Life of Us, Moulin Rouge) is the genial but vengeful front man backed by a gang of Australia's most illustrious ex-cons drawn from bands such as The Ennio Morricone Experience and Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen. It's vodka-fuelled oompah swing ska punk-gulag - style.

"These guys are enough to make you sell your dog to get a ticket." - The Age

Frock’s new album The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost recasts the music of Don Walker, Neil Finn and Nick Cave. Don Walker’s gift for storytelling, Neil Finn's unique and subtle harmonic language and Nick Cave's murky gothic are the perfect vehicles for the orchestral possibilities of a group with three chordal instruments and a virtuosic ability to improvise.

Presented by Queensland Music Festival, Brisbane City Council and The Courier-Mail.

Sat 24 July DOORS 7.00pm SHOW STARTS 8.00pm

Sun 25 July DOORS 8.30pm SHOW STARTS 9.00pm

Dan Hicks is truly an American original. His unique blend of swing, jazz, folk and country music, coupled with his irresistible sense of rhythm, hip lyrical styling, laid-back vocalising, and infamous on-stage wit make his live audiences fans for life. For more than 40 years, most famously with his band The Hot Licks, Dan has been a stalwart of the American music scene.

In this, his first trip to Australia, Dan will collaborate with Gerry Hale and his band The Innocent Bystanders, put together to pay tribute to Dan’s extraordinary legacy.

“So few truly original figures exist in pop music that Dan Hicks should be a national treasure” – San Francisco Chronicle

Presented by the Queensland Music Festival, Brisbane City Council and The Courier-Mail.

DOORS 6.00pm SHOW STARTS 7.00pm

FourPlay String Quartet defies convention and stereotyping. As much a band as a string quartet, they blur the boundaries between styles and genres while maintaining their own original and true sound. FourPlay perform covers by a diverse array of bands; from The Strokes and Radiohead to Charles Mingus, Robert Johnson and many, many more.

They also write their own original compositions inspired by rock, pop, post-rock, neo-classical, jazz, klezmer, swing, folk-tronica, hip hop and more… no musical stone is left unturned.

“More Metallica than Mozart. The first string quartet to have inspired moshing and crowd surfing.” — Sydney Morning Herald

Presented by Queensland Music Festival, Brisbane City Council and The Courier-Mail.

Twenty one years since they provoked with Nothing's Shocking. Seventeen years since Perry Farrell founded the Alternative Nation. Six years since they warped minds and corrupted souls at the Big Day Out. In 2009, Jane's Addiction return to Australia for the first time with the original line-up.

The legendary Libertines of cosmic punk rock led the alternative music vanguard throughout the '90s and their sound is as thrilling today. They willingly leapt on the rock rollercoaster but only a fool could think that Jane's Addiction would ever die. Back in their complete form, the classic line up not seen on these shores since 1991: Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Eric Avery, Stephen Perkins.

Jane's Addiction will work their voodoo across Australia throughout July.

JACK LADDER, TOM COONEY and ROSS MCLENNAN

DOORS 7.00pm SHOW STARTS 8.00pm

AMP stands for Australian Music Prize, an independent not-for-profit award that encourages a level playing field of musical opportunity. The prize is $30,000 given to an Australian artist or group in recognition of the outstanding creativity they exhibited based on an original album released in 2008.

There is a panel of 20 or more judges selected for their knowledge and impartiality. The shortlist this year was impressive in its variety and talent and we have selected three of our favourites to play Loud In The Valley.

Jack Ladder (Sydney): Love is Gone moves effortlessly between the sounds of early R&B, alt-country, folk and blues and subsumes them all into a rich blend topped off with a distinct sense of swagger and a lot of sex. Imagine Leonard Cohen driving through Detroit singing along to Little Richard on the radio. Now imagine Detroit is a vast beach located somewhere north of Sydney.

Ton Cooney (Brisbane): Presque Vu, full of unexpected textures and understated finesse, is much more likely to nudge your arm than tug at your sleeve. Though once it gets your attention, the longer you sit with it the more it will give you.

Ross McLennan and the New World Sympathetique (Melbourne): A dozen finely crafted songs open up labyrinthine worlds of meaning, association and possibilities with every listen. The sophisticated production values and rich orchestration add dark soul textures and grandiose alt-rock flourishes to Ross’s sometimes witty, sometimes melancholic songs. Sneakily spectacular, introspectively epic and inevitably classic, Sympathy For The New World is a must-hear.

Presented by Queensland Music Festival, Brisbane City Council and The Courier-Mail.

KIMMO POHJONEN & IIRO RANTALA NEW TRIO

DOORS 5.00pm SHOW STARTS 6.00pm

Finnish accordion adventurist Kimmo Pohjonen’s singular mission is to expand the capabilities, sound, scope, performance and experience of the accordion to levels never before attempted, seen or heard. Accordion, voice, effects, surround sound and light show combine to make a unique and captivating performance event.

A visionary of boundless energy, Pohjonen’s roots go back 30 years in all forms of accordion music including folk, dance, classical, rock, and experimental, theatre music and more.

"Finland's answer to Bjork... Pohjonen is nothing less than jaw dropping. Utterly brilliant." - New Internationalist

Virtuoso Finnish piano sensation and composer Iiro Rantala is best known as the founder and pianist of Trio Töykeät-Finland's internationally renowned jazz ensemble, which has given over 2,500 performances in nearly 60 countries. He confidently and zanily crosses all musical boundaries, and has performed in small and large ensembles, solo and with symphony orchestras.

With fast new rhythms, startlingly original music and distinctive musical voices, the Iiro Rantala New Trio, with rising guitar star Marzi Nyman and extraordinary beatboxer Felix Zenger, is jazz at its exhilarating and adventurous best – definitely entertaining, zany, witty, beautiful, technically brilliant, unconventional, occasionally wicked but always uncompromising.

“…in-your-face virtuosity, leavened with a delicious sense of humour and a daring eclecticism…” – The Dominion [New Zealand]

Presented by the Queensland Music Festival, Brisbane City Council and The Courier-Mail.

Tickets for the 4th annual Q Song Awards being held at The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley, on August 11 go on sale on Monday, June 29.

Tickets are $20 for Q Music members, student and concession card holders and $30 for non-members. Ticket price includes finger food. There are a very limited number of tickets available to the public so we recommend you get in and buy your tickets early. All finalists will receive a complimentary ticket to the event.

The event is half seating and half standing due to the networking opportunities available on the night. We recommend those who would like to be seated to arrive early to ensure you can get a seat, again it's first in best dressed. Doors open at 6pm for a 7pm start and the event concludes at 10pm.

Guests are welcome to stay on for the after party celebrations at The Tivoli.

This year, we are thrilled to announce special performances from APRA Award winning artist Mark Sholtez, kings of improvisation Misinterprotato, Indigenous roots masters Zennith, alt country crooners Texas Tea, purveyors of indie pop The Boat People, the starving boys from Hungary Kids of Hungary, 2008 Primary School winner Jazz D'arcy and the multi award winning artist James Grehan.

All winners will be announced at this Gala event, with more than $25,000 in cash and prizes presented to winners across 22 categories covering everything from rock and pop to jazz, blues and roots, hip-hop, electronic/dance, alternative, country, ballads, metal, punk, indigenous and world music.

With the release of her massive international smash single I Kissed A Girl mid-last year, Katy Perry topped the charts around the world, along the way earning her a Grammy nomination for “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance”.

For anyone who may have considered Katy Perry a one-hit wonder the vivacious bright-eyed singer songwriter has since completely confounded that misconception as the hits keep coming from her debut album release One Of The Boys.

Now comes hit #5, the irrepressible Waking Up In Vegas that is already a feature on the Australian radio airplay charts.

Waking Up In Vegas is destined to enhance the irresistible juggernaut that is Katy Perry, but with hits such as I Kissed A Girl, Ur So Gay, Hot N Cold and the more recent Thinking of You, Katy Perry is THE pop voice of NOW.

Don’t miss the charismatic, cheeky, sexy, feisty, bright, glamorous, flamboyant - Katy Perry!

The Whitlams will make their first appearance of the year in Brisbane at The Tivoli on Friday 14 August. All these shows will have the band play the album Eternal Nightcap in its entirety, followed by a set of other favourites.

It has been twelve years since the release of their classic breakthrough album "Eternal Nightcap", which was their third album and led them to win Best Group at the 1998 ARIA Awards. Last year in ABC TV's vote for the nation's favourite 100 albums of all time it polled at No. 27.

The Whitlams are one of Australia's favourite bands, whose appeal reaches audiences of all ages and tastes. With lyrics described as having a “charming cynicism” and enhanced by an instinct for poignant melody, they won Best Group at the 1998 ARIA Awards, as well as Song of the Year and Best Independent Release for their 3rd album 'Eternal Nightcap'.

The current lineup has remained unchanged for the last 8 years and 5 albums, and consists Tim Freedman on piano and vocals, Jak Housden on guitar, Warwick Hornby on bass guitar and Terepai Richmond on drums.

Last year saw the release of Truth, Beauty & A Picture of You – Best Of The Whitlams, where it remained in the top 10 of the charts for 6 weeks. It has been described by Tim Freedman as his “ultimate Whitlams mixtape”.

Presented by:Frontier Touring Company

Special Guests:Hoobastank & The Sundance Kids

The Frontier Touring Company is pleased to announce the return of The All-American Rejects to Australia this August.

Shooting to prominence in 2005, The All-American Rejects have fast established themselves as one of music’s most-loved bands. A succession of hit singles including ‘Move Along’, ‘Swing Swing’ and ‘Dirty Little Secret’ saw the band catapult onto the world stage, and they haven’t looked back since.

Hoobastank will make a welcomed return to Australia as special guests at all shows. Already well known for their chart-topping singles ‘The Reason’ and ‘Crawling In The Dark’, Hoobastank are currently climbing the charts with the anthemic ‘The Letter’ - the first single taken from Hoobastank’s forthcoming album For(N)ever (in stores July 3). 2009’s return will see Hoobastank back on our shores for the first time since their highly successful 2007 tour.

Adelaide’s The Sundance Kids have been selected to open the shows in all cities. As single ‘Solutions’ currently rides the airwaves around Australia, The Sundance Kids have been hard at work recording their debut album and touring the nation.. Set to soar high this year, it’s the perfect time to join The Sundance Kids team – it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the country does, too.

Heading to Australia as very special guest on Beyoncé’s BIG selling arena tour, FLO RIDA, one of the most successful rappers America has produced, has agreed to perform at a very limited series of headline shows this September. Riding high on the release of his sophomore album, the ARIA Top 10 success R.O.O.T.S. (Route Of Overcoming The Struggle), Flo Rida brings his electric live show to headline venues for one night only in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

Already Flo Rida’s recent offering R.O.O.T.S. has brought further recognition and success. Sampling Dead Or Alive’s classic You Spin Me Round (Like A Record), the lead single ‘Right Round featuring Ke$ha’ earned the number one spot Stateside and locally. Lodged at the top of the ARIA charts for 5 weeks, the single has exceeded Platinum status. In addition to Right Round breaking the record for the fastest million-selling digital track in history, it shattered the all-time one-week digital single sales record beating the previous record, his own debut Low. Joining Flo Rida for his headlining shows is JESSICA MAUBOY, whose debut single Running Back featured the man himself and hit number 3 in the ARIA singles chart. Lifted from Jessica’s debut Platinum album Been Waiting, the album also features number 1 single Burn, ARIA number 3 single Been Waiting, and the latest track to be taken from the hugely successful debut, Because.

“I’m so excited to be touring with Flo Rida! Having Flo feature on my first single ‘Running Back’ was amazing, so I’m pumped to be able to go on the road with him!” said Jessica. Melbourne hip-hop pioneer J-WESS will also make a return to the live stage. J-Wess – who hit the Top 10 in 2004 with What Chu Want - is about to drop a comeback single Anything For You from a new album The Director’s Cut. Don’t miss your chance to get down with one of the most versatile, genre jumping music mavericks to top the charts this year.

Presented by: Frontier Touring Co.

Special Guest: Wes Carr

Irish rockers The Script will make their highly anticipated return to Australia this September. After a series of intimate performances in late 2008, The Script return in 2009 for a full blown tour. Support at all shows will be Australia’s own Wes Carr.

The last twelve months have seen The Script burst from relative obscurity onto the world’s stage, where they’ve quickly established themselves as one of 2009’s most promising bands. Singles ‘We Cry’ and ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’ have seen The Script begin to carve a name for themselves Down Under, but it wasn’t until the release of ‘Breakeven’ that the boys truly took a hold of the Australian public, peaking at #3 on the ARIA chart and #1 on radio airplay.

The Daily Telegraph were thrilled with the band: “Irish rock trio The Script is expected to explode from the studio to the charts in the same way One Republic put songwriter and producer Ryan Teddy on the map.”

Marie Claire were similarly impressed: “It’s easy to fall in love with The Script after hearing just one song - they’re that good…a sensational debut.”

Don’t miss your chance to see The Script live in Australia this September - tickets are sure to sell out.

FRONTIER MEMBERS PRE-SALE
To purchase during the internet pre-sale, register as a Frontier member on www.frontiertouring.com.au to access the link & password only available to Frontier Members.

Pre-sale starts : Tue 23 Jun, noon AEST
Pre-sale ends* : Wed 24 Jun, noon AEST
General public on sale : Mon 29 Jun, 9am

In a world where bands come and go in the blink of an eye, the enduring success of Steeleye Span is one of the great stories in rock music. 2009 will see them celebrate an incredible forty years together, an achievement made all the more remarkable by the fact that the band has seldom been more active in its career.

The current line-up of Maddy Prior, Peter Knight, Rick Kemp, Liam Genockey and Ken Nicol has in fact become the longest serving of any across the years.

At a period in their career when most bands are happy to settle down to rehashing past glories, Steeleye Span have pushed on with a succession of acclaimed albums, each seeing them re-define their classic sound. Their fortieth anniversary year will be spent in much the same way as every other; they will play live (two UK tours, plus visits to Australia and USA) and make music, releasing a new album that will typically see them buck their own trend and go back to their roots, the interpretation of traditional song. This though, has always been the Steeleye way. Tied not to the past, the present or the future – simply timeless.

Presented by: Triple J and JTV

Supported by El Perro Del Mar

Sarah Blasko brings new album to life on the stage.

Sarah Blasko’s live shows have always been renowned for their unique and at times theatrical elements. Her national tour in October to unveil the new album, "As Day Follows Night" promises to be no different.

Recreating the sounds of her highly anticipated third record with core members of her touring band, Sarah will also be introducing some new textures to the ensemble with strings and percussion to augment the line up.

"As Day Follows Night" was recorded in Sweden with producer Bjorn Yttling and it is fitting that Sarah will be embarking on her national Australian dates off the back of the Aarhus Festival in Denmark. El Perro Del Mar will be joining Sarah as special guest support, playing as an intimate two-piece. This will be the acclaimed Swede’s first Australian tour.

Due out on July 10th, "As Day Follows Night" has already garnered stellar reviews:

"Produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn and John in Stockholm, the irony is that despite the freezing climate it was recorded in, this is as warm as Blasko has ever sounded - immaculate, organic and airy... there’s also a sense of freedom, and a feeling that the listener has been invited in to enjoy Blasko’s brilliance, not just forced to admire it from a distance." - Rolling Stone, July 2009.

The standout event on the Australian Swing Dancing & Burlesque calendar, The Gangsters' Ball is a fully themed night of non-stop entertainment featuring the biggest names in Australian & International Burlesque, Cabaret and Swing Dancing. This year the Gangsters' Ball will big bigger, bolder and better than ever!

The promoters are extremely excited to announce the following stellar line-up for the Show:

Special Guest MC/Performer:
Meow Meow! (New York's world renowned Cabaret Starlet)

Live Band:
The Velvet Set 10-piece Swing Band (Australia's most dynamic swing band)

Burlesque & Cabaret:
Imogen Kelly (Syd)
Lola the Vamp (Bris)
Tasia (Syd)
The Birdmann (Melb)
Frankie Valentine (Melb)
Hi Ball Burlesque (Melb)
Laura la Reyna (Melb)
Swing Dancing Performances:
Swing Patrol Performance Troupe

Every show also features:

DJ's:
The country's best Swing, Rockabilly and 50's Rock & Roll DJ's
The Gambling Den:
FREE Poker, Roulette and Black Jack tables

Dance Competitions:
Swing and 50's Rock & Roll dancing contests with great prizes

Plus:
Cigarette girls & pin-up models, merchandise stalls, cocktail bar, themed photo booth and fantastic prizes for the best dressed, best dancers and lucky door

Dress Code:
Strictly Gangster, Moll, Flapper, Burlesque & Vintage...

Presented by Adrian Bohm in association with Live Nation

Iranian-American stand up comedian Maz Jobrani returns to Australia following his successful 2008 performances in Sydney and Melbourne.

Jobrani's comedy tackles topics of politics, race, religion and other common issues that exist in our daily lives.

He takes pride in breaking down stereotypes about Iranians and the Middle East in general, and at a time when the Middle East and the West are in deep rooted conflicts Jobrani sets out to help bring the two worlds closer together.

His insightful and hilarious routine has challenged and entertained audiences world-wide. Jobrani recently undertook a major international tour, performing in a number of cities across Scandinavia, the UK, Canada and the US.

Maz has performed stand up on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and has had numerous roles in film and television.

Recent film work includes Ice Cube's "Friday, After Next", and TV guest appearances include "Malcolm in the Middle", "Still Standing", "The West Wing", "NYPD Blue", "Without a Trace", "ER", "Law & Order" and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

“Devilishly funny" - LA Weekly.