MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCE ‘OUTLAWS AND OFFBEATS TOUR’ TOURING NATIONALLY IN 2024 CELEBRATING THEIR 21ST ANNIVERSARY
A milestone for many, often signifying the transition into adulthood, approaching the 21 year age bracket is always something to be celebrated. And in 2024, the 21st anniversary for the ARIA Award-winning collective Melbourne Ska Orchestra is set to bring the festivities to fans across Australia, with the band today proudly announcing the Outlaws and Offbeats Tour kicking off this August before whipping around the country well into October.
Commencing in Cairns on Friday 16 August, the Outlaws and Offbeats Tour will then head to Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, before making its way through Newcastle, Wollongong, Sydney, Canberra, Castlemaine, Margaret River, Perth and Melbourne, and is set to close out in spectacular style on Saturday 19 October in Adelaide. Tickets for the upcoming Outlaws and Offbeats Tour are available now from melbourneskaorchestra.com.
Forming in the early 2000s and comprising up to 26 members, the sonic juggernaut that is Melbourne Ska Orchestra is one beating at its core with technical brilliance and infectious joy. Bringing their own unique take on the ska genre, Melbourne Ska Orchestra boasts some of Australia’s finest musicians and performances, helmed by the indomitable charisma of Nicky Bomba (John Butler Trio, Bomba, Bustamento). And from the group’s early days in 2003 wowing Melbourne crowds through to seven full-length albums, two ARIA Award wins and several nominations, and millions of streams worldwide, 2024 finds the talented collective now on the cusp of celebrating 21 years in action; and, as Bomba shares, there’s zero sign of Melbourne Ska Orchestra slowing down anytime soon. “It’s been quite an amazing journey so far,” says Bomba. “This whole ramshackle thing we call the orchestra was created from a love of ska and the fun vibes surrounding it all. We had no idea it would translate so well with everyone, and it still feels like we have a lot more to create.”
Energetic, bombastic and bustling with hilarious and finely-honed mayhem, a Melbourne Ska Orchestra live show is eternally one for the ages, with performances in their wake including multiple major festival appearances, three international tours as well as countless Australia appearances along the way. And it’s in 2024 that the group are sharing the love with hometown fans across the country once more, with the Outlaws and Offbeats Tour set to showcase not just the infamously infectious Melbourne Ska Orchestra live show, but also the marvel that accompanies witnessing so many talented musicians in the one room when MSO roll through town. “As always the MSO show is a bit of a spectacular time with great tunes, upvibes, energising grooves and a real connection with the crowd,” shares Bomba of what fans can expect on the upcoming tour. “We believe a strong interaction with the audience is vital to great experience.”
“It’s always a military operation getting this band on the road,” Bomba continues, “much like a soccer team playing in the national competition. So, when all the planets align and we’re actually on the plane and in the bus and doing soundchecks it’s really a ready-made family party. We always have fun. We usually go out with a touring party of 20+. That’s a lot of rooms, airfares and a hefty catering expense. I feel sorry for our tour manager sometimes but thankfully he has a happy disposition!”
Consistently creating and releasing new music over the years, from their self-titled 2013 debut album through to 2016’s Sierra Kilo Alpha, 2016’s Saturn Return, 2018’s Ska Classics, 2018’s TV & Movie Themes and Read All About It!, and 2019’s Transmission Friday’s, Melbourne Ska Orchestra also unleashed a live album in 2020, as well as two compilation albums, including the ARIA-winning One Year Of Ska in 2019 and, most recently 2023’s 20 Years Young. Embracing influences spanning classic OG Jamaican Ska from The Skatalites, Toots and The Maytals and early Bob Marley, Melbourne Ska Orchestra’s fresh-faced take on the ska realms also draws nods from the Two-Tone UK wave, including The Specials, Madness along with a cocktail of grooves from around the world including Funk, Reggae, Cumbia, Dancehall, Salsa, Samba and healthy seasoning of Jazz. Self-described by Bomba as a “ramshackle Ska Train hanging loose on the rails”, the Melbourne Ska Orchestra experience routinely transcends its jubilant sonic roots, connecting fans with boundless passion and sharp delivery with each new release and live show; and it’s this very fact that has permeated the group’s entire 21 years of existence. “I feel pretty lucky to perform music that I love with an amazing array of musical outlaws!” Bomba says. “This mighty big band really is a spectacle to behold and the energy that I feel on stage inspires me to connect with our audiences on the highest level possible. Outlaws and Offbeats indeed!
Viva La Melbourne Ska Orchestra!”
And as to what fans can expect from the upcoming Outlaws and Offbeats Tour? “We’ll be adding some new things to the show to give our fans a different twist,” Bomba concludes, “and we’re working on some tour specific fun.”
Tickets for the upcoming Outlaws and Offbeats Tour are available now from https://www.melbourneskaorchestra.com/shows/
MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA – OUTLAWS AND OFFBEATS TOUR DATES:
Tickets available at https://www.melbourneskaorchestra.com/shows/
FRI 16 AUG I TANKS ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS QLD | supported by El Moth
FRI 23 AUG I THE BRIGHTSIDE OUTDOORS, BRISBANE QLD I 18+ | supported by The Seven of Ska & Chutney
Tickets available from oztix.com.au
SAT 24 AUG I THE STATION, SUNSHINE COAST QLD I ALL AGES | supported by The Seven of Ska & Chutney
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SUN 25 AUG I SOUNDLOUNGE, GOLD COAST QLD I 18+ | supported by Chutney
Tickets available from oztix.com.au
THU 29 AUG I KING STREET BANDROOM, NEWCASTLE NSW I 18+ | supported by Chutney
Tickets available from oztix.com.au
FRI 30 AUG I WAVES, TOWRADGI NSW I 18+ | supported by Chutney
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 31 AUG I METRO THEATRE, SYDNEY NSW | supported by Chutney & PlayLunch
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets
SUN 01 SEP I THE BASEMENT, CANBERRA ACT | supported by Chutney
Tickets available from oztix.com.au
SAT 14 SEP I THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE VIC | supported by PlayLunch
Tickets available from oztix.com.au
FRI 20 SEP I THE RIVER, MARGARET RIVER WA
Tickets available from theriver.oztix.com.au/
SAT 21 SEP I FREO.SOCIAL, FREMANTLE WA I 18+ | supported by ModSquad
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
FRI 04 OCT I 170 RUSSELL, MELBOURNE VIC I 18+ | supported by PlayLunch
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
SAT 19 OCT I HINDLEY STREET MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE SA I 18+ | supported by PlayLunch
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
DALLAS FRASCA ANNOUNCES NEW SOLO ALBUM ‘FORCE OF NATURE’ OUT JULY 19 + SHARES NEW LYRIC VIDEO ‘ELECTRIC DAYS’ + HUGE NATIONAL TOUR AUG-NOV
A fierce and authentic collection of songs from the dazzling mind of Melbourne roots rock icon Dallas Frasca, the upcoming new solo album Force of Nature is set to truly be a genuine sonic force to be reckoned with, journeying between towering highs and glossy reprieves with unbridled power and passion. Officially set for release on Friday July 19, pre-orders for Force of Nature are now live, with each pre-order automatically securing a free ticket to an upcoming Dallas Frasca secret listening party, with pre-orders also offering the chance to win a prize pack from D’Addario and a Cole Clark guitar. And if the confirmation of a solo Dallas Frasca album today isn’t enough, a brand new lyric video has also unveiled, with some fittingly electrifying visuals out now to accompany Dallas Frasca’s recent single Electric Days, as well as a horde of live shows to come, starting this August.
The third offering from the upcoming Force of Nature full-length, Dallas Frasca’s recent single Electric Days follows on from Stand on My Shoulders (#1 AMRAP Charts) and River Queen (#2 AMRAP Charts), with Electric Days erupting with fuzz, guitar-fuelled hooks and explosive 60s Motown-driven percussion. Stemming from Dallas Frasca’s songwriting exercises undertaken during her involvement with the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the explosive track takes on new life with real-world performance vision driving the track’s accompanying lyric video alongside a firm and empowered DIY ethic behind the scenes, as Dallas reveals, “A fan sent me a video of me performing Electric Days for the first time I played it at Blues on Broadbeach in May this year. My music business is a fiercely run and very proud one-stop ‘independent music shop’. I edited the video myself and my friend Raymond J Evans put the lyrics on for me. I think too many young artists get deluded by a ‘fantasy’ of a music career. I feel like the music industry model has crumbled and has a long way to go before it finds its way again. Until then I’ll be still connecting with real fans that love the experience of going to shows and supporting artists by buying their merch. My philosophy is that you build your music business one person at a time, however, this is not just my business, this is my/our community. There are opportunities to have a sustainable living from a music career, and what we want our versions of success to look like varies from artist to artist. I have a clear idea of what I want my success story to look like and I feel fortunate to be able to be living my dream. I’m building my little empire and along with that comes hard work and learning the many facets of your own business (and a shit tonne of work, editing videos, designing merch, content creation). I love it. I’d much rather be doing this than a 9-5.”
Self-described as “like a cheer squad from the sideline hyping up against the naysayers, a self-manifestation and that feeling when you eventually achieve the things you set out to do despite all the noise, it’s the moment”, Electric Days is a stellar step forward into a brand-new creative chapter for Dallas Frasca as she approaches the release of Force of Nature. Spanning influences from Lisa Kekaula of Basement Jaxx through to Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Larkin Poe, and Led Zeppelin alongside the gravitational pull from blues-influenced music that has so adamantly punctuated her prior releases, Force of Nature is Dallas Frasca at her most potent and engaging self to date; a fact made even more impressive by her ongoing legacy since first emerging onto the Australian music scene back in the mid 2000s. An album four years in the making and inspired greatly by time spent in nature as well as finding her own true self along the way, the result is a spellbinding journey deep into the soul of one of Australia’s genuine songwriting greats. “A couple of years ago I had an enormous epiphany where I was overcome with an overwhelming feeling that it was the right time to put a solo record out, barebones, ME as an artist, with no other influences,” shares Dallas. “It was kind of like a moment, I truly found my own voice, and the fire was lit. It grew as I obsessively picked up the guitar every day and began to write. Recording Force of Nature was an intense and deeply personal process, I recorded it across six different studios in Melbourne including the piano for The Wind Blows in my loungeroom aka ‘Lady Luck Studios’, and you can hear the birds chirping outside throughout the recording. Real and raw. It’s the third record I’ve made with my dear friend and collaborator, L.A Based, Andy Baldwin. It was tricky figuring out how to record the album when it was only me, and Andy’s playful and adventurous spirit brought a touch of genius to the plate every day. He pushed me far beyond what I thought I was capable of. I could not have achieved this without him. He is such a generous collaborator, when I heard the mix for the opening track on the record, I cried. I couldn’t believe what we had accomplished together. The album’s quieter moments hint at a new, more compelling frontier for me, maybe suggesting an evolution in my sound and songwriting. You’ll hear the combinations of my love for traditional blues elements with modern influences.”
Opening with driving stomp and swagger via Pray, Force of Nature journeys between the simmering might of Let It Rain, coated in raw vocals, modern gospel hues and a magnetic vocal delivery, through to uplifting and bold waves of acoustic guitars and glimmering harmonies (You Are Glorious (Unborn Unicorn) and River Queen), poignant ballads draped in warmth (The Wind Blows and May The Bridges We’ve Burned Light The Way), stomping gems laden with country charm and blues (I’ll Be Here When You Wake), and modern rock (Electric Days), with all tracks powerfully helmed and woven together throughout by Dallas Frasca herself. “Force of Nature is a musical homecoming of sorts and in retrospect was a time of healing and growth for me,” Dallas reveals. “My producer Andy and my vision was to treat each song like its own universe to make a multi-dimensional piece of art. It’s massive, gutsy and raw. I think the element I’m most proud of, is it doesn’t sound like anyone else but me.”
Garnering praise with a career spanning close to two decades, Dallas Frasca has been named everything from “the most powerful female voice in Australian rock” (RockPit) through to “one of the best frontwomen in the business” (Upside Down News) and scored the seal of approval from Guns N’ Roses’ very own Slash along the way. Renowned for her electrifying onstage presence and guitar slinging prowess, the new era for Dallas Frasca as a solo artist has only heightened her sonic might, now also arming her with both electric and acoustic guitars, a live loop pedal and staggering vulnerability and authenticity that flows throughout her brand of roots/rock. Whether placing in the top three of the International Songwriting Competition, snagging a theme song and worldwide sync on the popular TV series Bondi Ink, collaborating with Ugly Kid Joe or charting internationally, Dallas Frasca has also enamoured onstage at the likes of Bluesfest, Falls Festival, Woodford, was invited to fill in the shoes of Peter Garrett and fronted Midnight Oil for an Amnesty International event and also wowed at the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in front of 1.5 billion viewers in 2018. And while critical and fan acclaim has followed Dallas Frasca throughout her career, it’s in 2024 that this talented creative has leant into the unknown and emerged triumphant, armed with the aptly titled Force of Nature. “Growing my wings as a solo artist has been the most challenging, vulnerable, raw, and empowering endeavour I have embarked on to date,” shares Dallas. “Hats off to all the solo artists out there. It’s given me an unwavering purpose and direction. This new body of work is by far the proudest achievement of my life thus far, I’m so excited to share it with everyone. There is so much to come, and I look forward to revealing a showcase of my growth as an artist and songwriter.”
Fans can catch Dallas Frasca on the road later this year following the release of Force of Nature, kicking off on Friday August 2 in Scarborough, Western Australia, with tour dates spanning across the country well into November.
Electric Days is out now.
Force of Nature is due out on Friday July 19.
DALLAS FRASCA – FORCE OF NATURE NATIONAL TOUR:
Tickets available from dallasfrasca.com
FRI 02 AUG | INDI BAR, SCARBOROUGH WA
DUO w/ Abbe May
SAT 03 AUG | THE RIVER, MARGARET RIVER WA
DUO w/ Abbe May
SUN 04 AUG | MOJO’S, FREMANTLE WA
DUO w/ Abbe May
SAT 17 AUG | MILTON THEATRE, MILTON NSW
DUO w/ James Van Cooper
SUN 18 AUG | LONGSTOCKING BREWERY, PAMBULA NSW
DUO w/ TBC
23 AUGUST | HABA, RYE VIC
BAND w/ Queenie
24 AUGUST | NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, MELBOURNE VIC
BAND w/ Georgia Rodgers
25 AUGUST |WHEATSHEAF, ADELAIDE SA
DUO w/ Fazz and Mannix
20 SEPTEMBER | MOYHU HOTEL, MOYHU VIC
DUO w/ Jo Jo Smith
21 SEPTEMBER | SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE, CANBERRA ACT
DUO w/ James Southwell
17 OCTOBER | BRUNSWICK PICTURE HOUSE, BRUNSWICK HEADS NSW
TRIO w/ CC The Cat
18 OCTOBER | WOLVI STOMP FESTIVAL, WOLVI QLD
TRIO w/ Line-Up: Frank Sultana, Owen Campbell, Jesse Redwing & more.
19 OCTOBER | MO’S DESERT CLUBHOUSE, GOLD COAST QLD
TRIO w/ CC The Cat
20 OCTOBER | IT’S STILL A SECRET, BRISBANE QLD
TRIO w/ Blues Arcadia
02 NOVEMBER | TANK ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS QLD
DUO w/ Lady Valiant + Stu Harcourt + Mas Minimals
15 NOVEMBER |CAMELOT LOUNGE, SYDNEY NSW
DUO w/ Roshani
16 NOVEMBER | CHIEFEST FESTIVAL, NEWCASTLE NSW
DUO w/ Line-Up: The Urban Chiefs + Good Corn Liquor + Piper Butcher + L.R. Marsh & more.
17 NOVEMBER | FLOW BAR, OLD BAR NSW
DUO w/ Felicity Dowd
29 NOVEMBER | REPUBLIC BAR, HOBART TAS
DUO w/ The Bad Dad Orchestra
30 NOVEMBER | ISLAND STATE BREWING – THE PIER, ULVERSTON TAS
DUO w/ The Bad Dad Orchestra
THE DREGGS SHARE LUMINOUS NEW SINGLE ‘PEEPS WITH THE GOODS’ DEBUT ALBUM ‘CAUGHT IN A REVERIE’ SET FOR RELEASE APRIL 26 + AUS AND NZ ALBUM HEADLINE TOUR KICKS OFF IN JUNE + APPEARING AT SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS IN JULY
Disarming, charming and sonically warm as a summer breeze, the new single Peeps With The Goods from beloved indie-folk The Dreggs draws on the pair’s trademark vivacity, while also unfurling a fresh new direction as the band sit poised on the release of their debut album Caught In A Reverie, due out on Friday April 26. With The Dreggs set to celebrate their first-ever full length via a national Australian tour this June and July, fans can also catch some extra Dreggs infamous live magic rounding out the Aussie run with an appearance on the main stage on Saturday July 20 as part of the stacked lineup for Splendour In The Grass.
An effervescent addition to their ever-expanding repertoire, Peeps With The Goods finds The Dreggs, aka Paddy Macrae and Zane Harris, exploring new terrain, injecting elements of airy soul and gospel alongside a treatise on life as an independent artist in the modern music industry. With inspiration from fellow Aussie indie legend Matt Corby, Peeps With The Goods was fittingly conjured with the man himself, as The Dreggs’ own Paddy Macrae explains, “Matt Corby was a huge influence for this track. We were given the opportunity to write and record with Corby and this song is the result of that collaboration. The song is about the push and pull a lot of independent artists have to confront within the music industry. It’s an anthem to those who have experienced equal parts joy and frustration with their career, but also a reminder that persevering is the only way to push through and find that ‘happy place’, whatever that might mean for them.”
Working alongside Alex Henriksson as well as Corby in the studio to bring Peeps With The Goods to life, with mastering courtesy of Paul Blakey, the latest single from The Dreggs joins recent drops Take A Little Time and Places, setting the scene for a universe of magic lying in wait on the duo’s long-awaited debut album due out this April. Building on the sturdy foundations set out by their 2018 debut EP Seas Embrace, Caught In A Reverie is The Dreggs taking full, shimmering flight, with 12 songs set to delight, calm and charm. Opening with the breezy warmth of Peeps With The Goods, Caught In A Reverie sonically transports you into a daydream of acoustic percolating beauty (Train Left The Station), stirring indie folk (Places), airy stomping yarns (I’m A Little Older) and bluesy bliss (Berlin), with each passing track glowing with The Dreggs’ intuitive storytelling and vibrant instrumentation. An equally intimate and engaging journey, Caught In A Reverie unfurls its poignant core themes in the seamless hands of Macrae and Harris, with the end result emerging as one of wonder and catharsis as well as showcasing the pair’s compelling growth and shift as songwriters. “We are so beyond stoked to finally be releasing our debut album,” shares Macrae. “It’s been a long time coming and we are confident that people are going to take something from it. I would be lying if I said we weren’t nervous, however, as this is an introduction into a slightly different scope of our songwriting and where it will eventually take us. Some of the tracks may surprise some of our listeners but, alas, this is a journey for us as much as it is for our fans and it wouldn’t much of an exciting one if we kept using the same equation. The album has a lot of themes of grief spread throughout. That of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then eventually acceptance. This album is very much a personal diary, showcasing some extremely personal thoughts, feelings, and emotions with the goal to provide listeners with an individual and very raw perspective of grief without judgement. Hopefully people will listen to this album and understand a little more of how important it is that we all experience grief as individuals, and that in itself is a good thing.”
A genuine force to be reckoned with in a live setting, as anyone who attended their respective mass-singalong sets at Spilt Milk and NYE On The Hill will attest to, The Dreggs will hit the road this June and July to launch Caught In A Reverie nationally, before rounding out their Aussie run with an appearance on the iconic Splendour In The Grass lineup. A band who can hold giant crowds in the palm of their hands with their irresistible wit and vulnerability, there will also be a few surprises in store for fans later this year onstage, as Macrae reveals, “It wouldn’t be a Dreggs show without a singalong and we’ve made sure there are plenty of magical moments throughout the set. One of the goals we have been working on is incorporating lot of moments where we can involve the crowd. On top of that, we are excited to be bringing the energy onstage with the addition of other band members. Don’t worry, it’ll still be Paddy and Zane, the folk duo, that we started out as, but just with some friends with us to turn it from a ‘performance’ to a ‘show’! We are also ecstatic to be a part of one of Australia’s largest and most well-known contemporary music festivals in Australia’s music history. It’s been a dream of ours for so long, and to be given the opportunity is absolutely wild. There’s no better way to finish up our major Aus tour than to top it off with Splendour!! We’ll see you guys there!”
Kicking off 2024 as triple j Unearthed’s first feature artist for the year, The Dreggs are only just getting started as they approach the release of their debut album. But 2024 isn’t the first year of highs for the Sunshine Coast band, with the pair catapulting from the release of their debut single Give Myself To You back in 2017 into one of Australia’s most in-demand live acts, alongside having their debut track certified Gold in Australia in 2023. Also selling over 15,000 tickets in Australia alone last year with their largest ever headline and regional tours, and mesmerising crowds of around 10,000 with their sets at Spilt Milk Festival, The Dreggs are undeniably the hottest ticket in town, with their recently announced album release week shows selling out in 48 hours – purely off the back of an Instagram post. And it’s not just at home that The Dreggs love runs deep, with the duo also continuing to turn heads overseas, with their return to the UK and Europe this May set to deliver their biggest headline shows to date.
Peeps With The Goods is out today, Friday March 22.
Caught In A Reverie is due out Friday April 26.
Streaming link: PEEPS WITH THE GOODS
THE DREGGS – UPCOMING ALBUM LAUNCH PARTIES
FRI 26 APRIL | MIAMI MARKETTA, GOLD COAST | SOLD OUT
SAT 27 APRIL | KINGS BEACH TAVERN, SUNSHINE COAST | SOLD OUT
SUN 28 APRIL | THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE | SOLD OUT
WED 1 MAY | TORQUAY HOTEL, VIC | SOLD OUT
THURS 2 MAY | NORTHCOTE SC, MELBOURNE | SOLD OUT
THE DREGGS – ALBUM TOUR – AUSTRALIA/NZ
FRI 14 JUN | HINDLEY STREET MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE SA | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SAT 15 JUN | METRO CITY, PERTH WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
FRI 21 JUN | FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
FRI 28 JUN | ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SAT 29 JUN | FORUM, MELBOURNE | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SAT 20 JUL | NGARINDJIN NORTH BYRON PARKLANDS, BYRON BAY | ALL AGES
Tickets available from https://splendourinthegrass.com/tickets/
FRI 26 JUL | THE CHURCH, CHRISTCHURCH, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SAT 27 JUL | U BAR, DUNEDIN, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SUN 28 JUL | YONDER, QUEENSTOWN, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
THU 1 AUG | SAN FRAN, WELLINGTON, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
FRI 2 AUG | TUNING FORK, AUCKLAND, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com