Splendour in the Grass 2011 saw the unfortunate break-up of one of the most promising musical collectives to grace the ears of Australian hearers – The Middle East. They first kicked around the northern reaches of Queensland, releasing a split EP with Sleeping In Trains in 2006 before eventually gaining huuuuuge airplay for their hit...

Almost every band ever has had to start somewhere embarrassingly bad. Significant others, family etc. hear new songs; grit their teeth and squeeze out encouraging words, sullenly hoping that their dad/brother/sister/uncle/boyfriend/girlfriend/pal’s new musical project will either implode in the garage where it started or explode in a big-bang of unforeseen talent and songwriting prowess. Not...

By Adam Rogan   Who the #@!$ is Bonnie “Prince” Billy? I’m sure that was on the mind of at least a handful of the hundred or so folks who were lucky enough to be at his recent secret show at Music Farmers on the 6/3/12. Despite being considered one of the finest singer-songwriters of...

Once residents of Melbourne, now London; The Temper Trap have truly made waves in the international music scene. Their debut album Conditions (released in 2009) garnered much popular acclaim, with lead single Sweet Disposition hitting up charts and being featured on-screen (most notably in 500 Days of Summer). Their long awaited self-titled follow-up is due...

The Shins are one of those bands that you feel might deserve more popular acclaim – yet you’re kinda glad that they don’t. Although they have been featured on mainstream sitcoms (Scrubs) and films with indie-cult status (Zach Braff’s Garden State), you still feel that you’re the one discovering the songs for the first time....

It seems that every folksy band wants to shoot a music video in the forest these days. Whatever, trees are hip. Orchestral group The Tree Ring have gone a little further – they hosted a hike-in show in a forest somewhere off Big Laguna Trail. Yes, you could only get there by foot. Have a look-see…...

Bon Iver - an ever-evolving folksy sort centred around American singer/songwriter Justin Vernon – caused a small amount of hijinks at the recent 2012 Grammys. Having taken out Best New Artist and Best New Alternative Music Album for the 2011 sophomore effort Bon Iver, Bon Iver, the collective triggered a plethora of outraged and outrageous tweets from fans...

“Moonfire is a collection of sing-alongs, crowd favourites and anthemic pop moments. At a time when Powderfinger has called it a day and Silverchair is on ice, the top of the podium is bare… Boy & Bear is the closest thing to it.” – Dom Alessio, Triple J Magazine     To say the past year...