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Emily Barker – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds. 26.01.25 – Backseat Mafia
If you wanted the perfect chilled out Sunday night, you could have done a lot worse than heading to Brudenell Social Club last weekend. The place already has such a relaxed vibe, but throw in Australian singer-songwriter Emily Barker and her particular brand of Americana tinged folk songs, and it’s the perfect wind-down. Kicking things off though was compatriot Liz Stringer. The London-based artist hails from Melbourne originally and her stories are beautifully crafted, drawing the audience in to her battles, but with a delicious undercurrent of Aussie humour. Go and give The Metrologist a listen to start with, but Stringer has new music out tomorrow (on all the familiar…
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The Rockaway Beach Festival – Bognor Regis 03.01.2025 to 05.01.2025 – Backseat Mafia
Never underestimate the power of chaos theory. Okay, so a butterfly never fluttered it’s wings – in this weather, are you kidding?! No, the universe turned when, minutes after Rockaway Beach 2025 opened, a random bloke called Doug bought Backseat Mafia a couple of beers. It’s the…barfly effect. On such random acts of kindness, festivals are built. This winter warmer brings the love to a chilly Butlins every January. So, New Year fireworks or a damp squib? Just how was Rockaway Beach 2025? Friday After ten glorious years, Rockaway has sussed the admin, and the pass collection process is seamlessly smooth. This Butlin’s bash can feel like a New Year…
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Joni Void’s leftfield collective take a looping, twitchy, journey of despair and beauty – Backseat Mafia
Album Review: Être Ensemble – ‘Sans Toi’: Joni Void’s leftfield collective take a looping, twitchy, journey of despair and beauty – Backseat Mafia More Stories #Joni #Voids #leftfield #collective #looping #twitchy #journey #despair #beauty #Backseat #Mafia
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Bromheads Jacket burst back into life with new single ‘The Grind’ – Backseat Mafia
Older and wiser maybe, but Bromheads Jacket have returned, and they’ve done so with all the bite and swagger of their early days. The Grind opens with filthy, snarling guitar riffs that push and recede like a restless tide, driving the track forward with an unrelenting urgency. This is Bromheads mark 2: driving, melodic indie rock with a punk edge. But it’ s the storytelling that really pulls you in. Tim Hampton’s sharply observed lyrics paint a vivid, relatable picture of modern disillusionment, with killer lines aplenty like: I feel like I’m sixty but I’m only twenty-eight – a line that captures the tension between youthful ambition and the exhaustion…
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My Morning Jacket herald new album with beautiful new single ‘Time Waited’ – Backseat Mafia
My Morning Jacket’s new single, Time Waited, is a masterclass in classic songwriting that feels both timeless and fresh. The track opens with an almost lounge feeling that luxuriates in its own melody, setting a dreamy tone and subtly introducing its clever twist on the old adage, ‘waits for no man’ – the twist being….well, time waited. Sprinkled with chiming piano and warm chords, it’s rather lovely. As the chorus arrives, the track bursts to life, grabbing your attention with soaring guitar lines and riff-driven urgency. It’a beautifully emotive piece, stirring and introspective yet infused with the kind of warmth that leaves a smile on your face. Produced by Brendan…
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TOTO and Christopher Cross Set to Bring Vibes to Sydney and Melbourne in 2025 – Backseat Mafia
Hot off the back of last year’s acclaimed Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary, two icons of the smooth-sailing sound, TOTO and Christopher Cross, have announced Australian dates for April 2025. The acts will hit Sydney and Melbourne for what promises to be a nostalgia-packed celebration of polished grooves and breezy melodies. Fans heading to Bluesfest this year will also get a chance to see TOTO and Cross live in action. TOTO, the architects of yacht rock staples like ‘Africa’, ‘Hold The Line’, and ‘Rosanna’ (a silky ode to Rosanna Arquette), are legends of their genre. Steve Lukather, the band’s original lead guitarist and all-around virtuoso, has been the backbone of TOTO’s…
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Wardruna Brings Nordic Folk Mysticism to Enmore Theatre – 25.01.25, Gadigal Land, Sydney – Backseat Mafia
A few months ago, experimental ritualists Heilung played the Enmore Theatre while I sat at home, consumed by a perilous FOMO for Norse gods, goat horns, and giant Viking drums trimmed with fur. The regret was real, so when the opportunity arose to catch the alluring Wardruna, I didn’t hesitate. War paint on, I was ready to soak in every ounce of Nothern European Viking lore I could get my hands on. Wardruna is a Norwegian music collective formed over 20 years ago by Einar Selvik, alongside Lindy-Fay Hella. They’re described as “Nordic ambient dark folk,” which sounds intriguing enough. But as I walked into the Enmore, greeted by one…
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Yama Rama (with Charlie Clark) makes a spectacular return with the shimmering new single ‘Sweat Equity’ and national tour. – Backseat Mafia
We are inordinately honoured to bring you a premiere of the new track ‘Sweat Equity’ from Scottish band Yama Rama. 2023 saw the return of the highly talented musician (and a favourite of ours here at Backseat Mafia) Charlie Clark with a new project called Yama Rama. This followed a turbulent few years leading to his return to his native Scotland and the release of his fantastic solo album ‘Late Night Drinking’ (see my review here), and then more trials and tribulations following its release with the death of his parents, marital separation and a disastrous music festival that bankrupted him. If there’s one thing about Clark aside from his boundless musical creativity, it’s…
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Duo Cari Cari sign to Australian label Civilians and announce album ‘One More Trip Around The Sun’ with the ethereal title track unveiled as a taster. – Backseat Mafia
The new single ‘One More Trip Around The Sun’ from Australian duo Cari Cari is an ethereal, hypnotic sonic kaleidoscope that floats in the ether like a delicate silken veil. There is a clattering percussive bed over which dreamy vocals and instruments create a psychedelic hue that is mesmerising and luscious. The song deals with themes of family, connection, and enduring values – a heartfelt love letter to close friends and a reminder to remain anchored in authenticity amidst life’s demands. There are elements of Screamadelica-era Primal Scream, a touch of The Kills and a slight shoegaze tinge that permeates the track. Out today and available here, ‘One More Day…
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Sad tidings as HOLY HOLY announce hiatus and expansive Australian hiatus tour. – Backseat Mafia
In very sad news the highly talented duo HOLY HOLY today have announced they are going on a hiatus, with an extended guest-filled Australian tour as a farewell. After more than a decade, five albums, and countless shows across Australia and beyond, the duo — comprising producer and composer Oscar Dawson and songwriter and lyricist Timothy Carroll—have decided to take a rest. Carroll says of the decision: Being in HOLY HOLY has been one of the greatest honours of my life. The memories we made and the songs we wrote will stay with me forever. I’m so grateful to our team, our collaborators and most of all our audience for how…