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Arliston Shares ‘What Did I Think Would Happen’ From Upcoming Album – Backseat Mafia
Rising Indie-Folk duo Arliston share their latest the sad beauty ‘What Did I Think Would Happen’, the opening track from the upcoming album Disappointment Machine. With a repertoire of beautifully restrained tracks which bring piano, subtle electronics and intimate, emotionally driven, often falsetto vocals, the duo have built a big listenership for their gentle, chilled and heartfelt soundscapes. The new single is no exception, bringing more of the warming melancholy that stylises their sound. Rich with glitching electronics, muted piano tones and dual high and low octave vocal melodies, the track is instantly reminiscent of Bon Iver with it’s sonic approach and heartfelt, poetic lyricism. Like much of their catalogue is…
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SLIPKNOT Leads the Charge for a Sonic Storm Across Australia – Backseat Mafia
KNOTFEST isn’t just a festival—it’s an altar where metalheads gather, a high-voltage ritual where noise and catharsis collide. Curated by SLIPKNOT, it’s the kind of cultural phenomenon that doesn’t just roll into town; it storms through, leaving a trail of broken strings, shredded throats, and exorcised demons in its wake. And in 2025, Australia is bracing for impact once again. This is no one-stop tour. It’s a full-on pilgrimage, hitting Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse on Friday, February 28th, before unleashing chaos at the Brisbane Showgrounds on Sunday, March 2nd, and finally detonating at Sydney’s Centennial Park on Saturday, March 8th. The East Coast won’t know what hit it. At the heart…
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Confirmed PJ Harvey to tour Australia in 2025 – Backseat Mafia
PJ Harvey is making her long-awaited return to Australia in 2025, ending nearly a decade of absence from stages that have long needed her presence. Her Australian tour will include headlining performances at Golden Plains Festival and WOMADelaide, two stages perfectly suited to the sprawling scope of her work, where folk, blues, punk, and experimental art collide. But that’s just the beginning. She’s also hitting major cities—Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane—bringing her unique blend of poetry, noise, and beauty to audiences across the country. Harvey’s career has been a masterclass in reinvention. From the visceral urgency of Dry and Rid of Me to the poetic ambition of Let England Shake…
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Belfast’s The All Clear Release Debut Album ‘Harbour Songs’ – Backseat Mafia
Belfast risers The All Clear release of their musically rich and warming debut album Harbour Songs. Formed in 2023, the band is led by Joe O’Sullivan, a seasoned musician whose dual identity as both a frontman and consultant oncologist brings a unique depth to their music. The debut album displays some wonderful indie musicality comparable to the likes of The National, The Temper Trap and Doves with its intricate guitar work, melancholic moods and infectious melodies. From the tight , delay drenched picked guitars of the albums opener ‘Northern Souls’, to the Americana tinged ‘Simplest Things’, to the sawing synths and high energy arrangement of ‘Show Me Your Love’, the…
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Irish Lights Share Haunting & Ambient New Single ‘Haulbowline’ – Backseat Mafia
Irish Lights share the haunting and elegant new single ‘Haulbowline’. A striking blend of off kilter, acoustic guitars, synth and piano, the instrumental acts as an image conjuring soundtrack, aimed at capturing the aura of the mystical Irish coastline. The project of US duo Benjamin Fox and Gordon Cooper, the pair draw inspiration from the rugged beauty and remote lighthouses of Ireland. Now known for creating ambient, electronic, and acoustic into atmospheric explorations of isolation and nature, the new single ‘Haulbowline’ continues this tradition, offering an expansive soundscape that blends electronic and acoustic instruments but ultimately creates a soundscape that is arming and organic. ‘Haulbowline’, is named after the 200-year-old…
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Moonchild Sanelly Turns Lawns into Dance Floors on a Magical Day 3 of SXSW – Backseat Mafia
Day 3 of SXSW Sydney, and the sky is brooding, but inside the Lord Gladstone Juice Webster’s indie-pop is already filling the pub with a warmth that no weather could dim. She’s got a vibe—Stevie Nicks’ ethereal cool but with Chrissie Hynde’s raw edge. The crowd is drawn in, sipping beers, swaying slowly, and then giving in entirely as her set unfurls with grace and grit. Next up, Loose Content hit the stage. They’ve got the energy of a band that’s been playing together since high school because, well, they have. They open with angular, new-wave riffs that quickly evolve into a wall of sound—guitars snarling, feedback swirling until it…
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Skunk Anansie Announce 2025 UK Headline Tour – Backseat Mafia
British rock icons Skunk Anansie roar back into action next year with a huge UK headline tour in Spring 2025. Promising an entirely brand new production, the tour will usher in an exciting new era in the history of this legendary band, with new music also on the horizon. Formed in London in 1994, Skunk Anansie instantly caught attention with their unique blend of alternative, rock, and punk influences, coupled with a dub sensibility which showcased their multi-cultural background. Their outspoken lyrics tackling social and political issues, alongside vocalist Skin’s unapologetic queer sexuality and high-fashion aesthetic, meant that they became one of the most talked about and important bands of their generation…
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The Darling Hearts make a stunning debut with the mellifluous and atmospheric track ‘Jerk Face’. – Backseat Mafia
We are very honoured to premiere the debut single from duo The Darling Hearts with the amusingly titled ‘Jerk Face’. The Darling Hearts are a meeting of two musicians from the creative hub of the inner west of Sydney, with a track record: Maia Jelavic (Maia Marsh, Motion Sickness, Good Side) and Jordan Wilson (Georgia Fair). They have combined their significant expertise in this new project to great effect. ‘Jerk Face’ has a jingle jangle sparkle with a cinematic breadth that is more expansive than the blue skies over Australia, and with a shimmering antipodean flavour. There is undeniably a thread of alt country twang in the delivery but the…
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And We’re Off! SXSW Sydney’s Opening Party at The Underground – Backseat Mafia
The SXSW Music Festival Opening Party at The Underground had a buzz that only a place like SXSW can conjure. Nestled in the intimate, electric atmosphere of the Underground, a series of talented artists all took the stage to kick off the festival with a dynamic blend of sounds that spanned genres and geographies. 2touch opened the night with a signature style that effortlessly meshed the chilled-out beats and electronic vibes that the duo has become known for. There was a natural fluidity to their set, the kind that makes you feel like you’re witnessing something both spontaneous and incredibly polished – all whilst clearly having a fantastic time. Next…
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How SXSW Sydney Day 2 Crushed Expectations – Backseat Mafia
SXSW Sydney’s second day kicked off with a damp reminder of spring, the kind of grey drizzle that keeps people indoors. But once the music hit, the rain didn’t stand a chance. Tumbalong Park became a stage for fire, and the crowd warmed to it fast. Nao Yoshioka, stepping out with the kind of soulful confidence that feels earned, not taught, lit up the stage. Japan-born, New York-seasoned, her neo-soul felt like a baptism—Aretha Franklin’s spirit glimmering between each note, commanding the crowd to lean in, sway closer. Yoshioka’s voice was more than performance; it was a communion. Then, like a switch flip, New Zealand’s Rei took over, and the…
