J-MILLA AND YUNG MILLA TO BRING ‘SAME BLOOD’ TO BIGSOUND 2024
Off the back of their live debut at AMAZON Music’s extraordinary Blak Loud showcase earlier this month, First Nations rap lords, J-MILLA and Yung Milla are now primed to turn BIGSOUND on its head with their SAME BLOOD showcase at Sound Garden on Tuesday 3 September. Undeniably set to be the hip hop party of the year, SAME BLOOD is an explosive live collaboration of rhyme, dance and style between the Marranunggu bruthas who have forged their own unique paths to prominence in the NT and beyond. Following BIGSOUND, the bruthas will take SAME BLOOD to the general public at the LIKE A BOSS MUSIC FESTIVAL on Saturday 7 September, before heading to SXSW Sydney.
Born to the traditional owners of the Litchfield National Park, the Milla brothers grew up rough in the southern suburbs of Darwin, overcoming intergenerational trauma and hardscrabble street life to find powerful voices, explosive stage presence and phenomenal clout as inspiration to a legion of Top End youth.
J-MILLA found his salvation in storytelling as a teen hellbent on redemption, using his passion like a weapon to maintain a healthy mental state for himself and his younger brother, Levi. My People and Unlock the System forged a platform for First Nations justice and social awareness. His latest, Boomerang (watch BOOMERANG), samples the Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir, another intentional step in his deft mix of social comment and bangin’ club vibes.
Speaking about the AMAZON Blak Loud showcase, J-MILLA says, “There’s a dynamic between us bros that’s hard to define, but the crowd that night, they could see it and that’s gangsta. This is what we’ll be bringing to BIGSOUND and more.”
Yung Milla followed his brother’s lead, but not his footsteps. While J found new footing via a private school scholarship in Adelaide, young Levi continued to draw his resolve as an artist from the challenging urban landscape of Palmerston: ripe territory for a hip hop truthteller determined to right wrongs and rise via killer tracks Better Days, Land Down Under, They Don’t Know, and his new anthem of transcendence, Shine (watch SHINE). Yung Milla will also showcase his solo set at the INCUBATED showcase on Wednesday 4.45pm at JBL Live Stage at BIGSOUND.
Yung Milla says, “Not only are we blood brothers, we’re best friends, we’ve come from struggle and gone through a lot of things together that most people never see. Then to be on stage performing to industry VIPs feels pretty good, like a blessing.”
SAME BLOOD brings all this to the party and more: classic cuts remixed, re-energised and spiced with brand new collaborations from their sometimes-troubled crossroads. Stay tuned for the national unveiling of the brothers’ debut track early next year, inspired by the tragic murder of their cousin, and continuing an uncompromising rise from a world of violence and temptation to a righteous pursuit of justice and glory.
In four short years, J-MILLA has amassed a slew of awards, collaborations and media accolades, carving a path for Yung Milla to escalate thephenomenon dubbed in regional NT communities as “Milla-Mania”.
Earlier this month, the brothers showcased their solo sets at Live Nation’s Ones to Watch and now, for only the second time, SAME BLOOD brings them together with a handpicked posse of dancers and road-hardened energy to blow the hip-hop party fuse for 2024.
Happy Mag calls J-MILLA “a dominant force in hip hop”. triple j calls Yung Milla “hot shit”. We’re calling Same Blood the hip hop party of the year.
TUES 3 SEP | SAME BLOOD, SOUNDGARDEN | FORTITUDE VALLEY, BRISBANE, QLD | 10PM
WED 4 SEP | YUNG MILLA, INCUBATED SHOWCASE | JBL LIVE STAGE, BRUNZ MALL | FORTITUDE VALLEY, BRISBANE, QLD | 4.45PM
SAT 7 SEP | SAME BLOOD, LIKE A BOSS MUSIC FESTIVAL, THE STATION | SUNSHINE COAST, QLD
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