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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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Melbourne Ska Orchestra Bring The Beat To Metro Theatre! Eora/Sydney, 31.08.24 – Backseat Mafia
The Metro Theatre was alive this weekend as the Melbourne Ska Orchestra rolled into town for The Outlaws and Offbeats tour, and they certainly didn’t disappoint. A crowd eager for dance and rhythm filled the room, setting the stage for a night where standing still simply wasn’t an option. Opening the night was Chutney, an Eora/Sydney-based klezmer fusion band that has recently dropped their debut album, ‘Ajar.’ They brought a refreshing blend of sounds that felt like a world tour in a single set, effortlessly marrying klezmer with contemporary beats. Following was Naarm/Melbourne’s Playlunch, who describe themselves as “bogan funk”. Their set was a nostalgia trip for anyone who lived…
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The Prodigy Announce 2025 Australian Tour with Major Stops in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne – Backseat Mafia
The Prodigy have formally announced their return to Australia in February 2025. This tour is presented by Astral People, Handsome Tours, and Double J. The Prodigy will be performing at three prestigious venues: Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, Brisbane’s Riverstage, and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena. Pre-sale tickets will be available from Tuesday, 27 August, at 11:00 AM local time, with general ticket sales commencing on Friday, 30 August, at 11:00 AM local time. Returning to Australia five years after the devastating loss of Keith Flint, The Prodigy’s imminent tour feels like both a battle cry and a requiem. Flint’s death cast a shadow over the band’s legacy, coming just weeks after their…
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HYUKOH 혁오 & Sunset Rollercoaster 落日飛車 announce Sydney and Melbourne AAA Tour dates – Backseat Mafia
South Korean indie outfit HYUKOH 혁오 and Taipei-based jazz-influenced synth-pop band Sunset Rollercoaster 落日飛車 have announced they are bringing their collaborative album AAA to Australia with two stops along the East Coast starting at the ICC Sydney Theatre on Monday 18 November, followed by John Cain Arena, Melbourne on Wednesday 20 November. AAA is an 8-track album, the result of a series of monthly recording sessions involving both bands, which commenced in May 2023 across various locations in South Korea, including Gapyeong, Seoul, and Jeju Island. This release marks the first album for both HYUKOH and Sunset Rollercoaster in four years. Launched in July 2024, the album represents a harmonious…
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Underground Lovers with Youth Group, Corner Hotel, Melbourne, 27.07.2024 – Backseat Mafia
It is a rare and wondrous experience to see two of Australia’s most exciting and iconic bands (Underground Lovers and Youth Group) together at the legendary Corner Hotel on a bitter cold Melbourne night. It was one of those special nights that capture something unique. Of course it was made extra special by it being the Underground Lovers home turf which added a certain frisson (and a lot of banter) to the evening, and it was also the chance to see Youth Group after a little absence. Youth Group had just released new single ‘Siberia’ the day before which heralded a whole new chapter – a more innovative, motorik beat…
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Melbourne dream pop jangle giants Quivers announce signing to Merge Records, new album ‘Oyster Cuts’ and lead off with single ‘Apparition’. – Backseat Mafia
It’s a big day today for one of Australia’s premiere indie pop merchants Quivers who have announced their signing to the prestigious US label Merge Records as well as the launch on 9 August 2024 of a new album entitled ‘Oyster Cuts’. And if that wasn’t enough (and it never is), a new single ‘Apparitions’ has been released to whet our appetites. And what a delight it is. Slightly fuzzy guitars heralds a thumping percussive entry before the vocals soar through the speakers delivering a scaling melody and a joyous, carefree chorus that is anthemic and catchy. The dual vocals add a lustre to the layered sound – there is…
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The Ronson Hangup, George Lane, Melbourne 19.04.2024 – Backseat Mafia
Melbourne psych-pop supergroup The Ronson Hangup – featuring members of The Anyones, Dallas Crane, The Church, Even, Paul Kelly’s band and Courtney Barnett’s band, launched their most recent single ‘SSDD (Same Shit Different Day)’ at the very Bohemian George Lane venue in the equally Bohemian St Kilda suburb of Melbourne. The venue was intimate enough but the relaxed attitude and sheer joy of the band in action made you feel like you were ensconced in one of their lounge rooms with a glass of something cheeky in hand and having a convivial discussion with the band and their closest friends. Except the discourse included a set of extremely immersive and shimmering tracks…
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Pandemonium Rocks Festival, Caribbean Gardens, Melbourne 20.04.2024 – Backseat Mafia
It’s been a tough year for Festivals over last few years and after some rather turbulent times leading up to today’s date, the Pandemonium Rocks Festival reached the finishing line, somewhat starved and slimmed down but just as determined to entertain. Original headliners Deep Purple, Placebo and Gang of Four fell by the wayside and the stage was reduced from two to just one and, reportedly, it was due to the sheer will of Alice Cooper and Blondie who worked together to rescue what was left. And what was left was an eclectic but highly entertaining mix: the heavy shredding of Wolfmother, the indefinable Wheatus, the statuesque The Psychedelic Furs,…
