TICKETS TO MOTOR ACE A FIVE STAR REUNION TOUR SELLING FAST
After announcing their highly anticipated return to the stage in 2018, much loved Aussie band Motor Ace are just weeks away from their massive reunion tour. Celebrating 20 years since the release of their hit album Five Star Laundry, the group will kick off the epic run of shows in Adelaide at The Gov on March 29, then moving through Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and finishing up in Melbourne at the renowned venue 170 Russell with a sold out show on April 12 and a second show on April 14 – which is also close to selling out. As a special treat for fans, exclusive Motor Ace content including demos from the Five Star Laundry session archives are expected to drop on Spotify Friday March 8.
Within one month of being on sale, Five Star Laundry went gold in Australia. After that massive feat, it was months upon months of touring, performing, and making music for Motor Ace, with massive supports slots alongside Foo Fighters, Oasis and Blink-182. You couldn’t turn on a radio without coming across Motor Ace; and as sold out shows became the norm, their tracks became a mainstay on the ARIA charts. Their timely sophomore album Shoot This was released in 2002 to abundant critical acclaim. It spawned lead single Carry On that held the coveted #1 most played song on Australian airwaves for 8 weeks in a row, and Shoot This, debuting at #1 on the charts and achieving gold sales on release.
The band are thrilled to be back together to play hits and album faves from Five Star Laundry, and later albums Shoot This and Animal, for fans all across the country, as lead singer Pat Robertson says, “The tour’s shaping up well and we all left our first rehearsal in 14 years pretty surprised and excited. The tour will be heavy with tracks from the early days and first record, Five Star Laundry, so hopefully that’s good news for the punters.”
With a few rehearsals under their belt, the band are feeling confident and ready to blow fans away, as Damo enthuses, “It’s great to be in a room with my brothers. We’ve been busy working on crafting the tunes into shape and honestly now, with a bit of age and ability, we’ve come out really happy with the results. Fans will be in for a massive surprise – we played Criminal Past for the first time in 14 years and it ripped the paint off the walls! We are putting everything into this. It’s gonna be a load of fun, can’t wait to get out there and celebrate with a sense of nostalgia and share the moment with everyone.”
Motor Ace are stoked to announce that some very special, never-before-heard demos from sessions spanning the band’s entire discography coming direct to fans, too, as the band have been delving deep into the archives to find some recordings that are sure to stir up those nostaligic vibes. The 10 track collection of demos from all three of Motor Ace’s albums will drop on Spotify on March 8 “It’s really cool to listen to the initial demos and to see where they ended up on the record after it had been produced,” says Damo. “I’ve found loads of footage from ages ago from touring, as well. We are going to release some unreleased demos that we did before the records were recorded, including Shoot This demos some of which sounds better than the official recording.”
Since disbanding all those years ago, the Motor Ace boys have been up to all those regular ‘life’ things – families, kids and jobs. But for what’s set to be an amazing few weeks of shows, the band are back together just like the good old days. Fans had better get in quick, though – these tickets are moving fast.
Motor Ace is Patrick Robertson (vocals, guitar), Dave Ong (guitar), Damo Costin (drums) and Matt Balfe (bass).
Tickets to Motor Ace 20th Anniversary – A Five Star Reunion tour are on sale now.
MOTOR ACE 20th ANNIVERSARY – A FIVE STAR REUNION NATIONAL TOUR
FRI MARCH 29 | THE GOV, ADELAIDE SA | 18+
Tickets available from http://tickets.oztix.com.au/?Event=92178
SAT MARCH 30 | CAPITOL, PERTH WA | 18+
Tickets available from http://tickets.oztix.com.au/?Event=92186
FRI APRIL 5 | FACTORY THEATRE, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
Tickets available from http://bit.ly/FAC19_MOTOR_ACE
SAT APRIL 6 | THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE QLD | 18+
Tickets available from http://tickets.oztix.com.au/?Event=92188
FRI APRIL 12 | 170 RUSSELL, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+ | SOLD OUT
Tickets available from https://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/motor-ace/106229?skin=747
SUN APRIL 14 | 170 RUSSELL, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+ SECOND SHOW – SELLING FAST
Tickets available from https://www.moshtix.com.au
BOB EVANS ANNOUNCES REGIONAL TOUR FOR MARCH 2019
After a massive 2018, which saw one of Australia’s most loved troubadours Bob Evans receiving the Best Of treatment via new album Full Circle alongside a hugely successful national tour to boot, the distinguished artist has today announced an intimate run of regional shows for March 2019. Kicking off at Narrabeen RSL in Narrabeen on March 14, the tour will head through Newcastle, Bulli, Mornington, Belgrave, and wrap up in Ballarat at Karova Lounge on March 30. On support duties will be Madeline Leman in Victoria, and Caitlin Harnett in New South Wales.
With five solo studio albums down the track, Bob Evans’ Full Circle – which also features new single Drowning – is not the traditional ‘greatest hits’ or ‘best of’, as Kevin Mitchell explains, “I like the idea of it being presented more like an introduction to my work if you had never heard of me. This would be the record for that person. So I didn’t want to just bundle the singles together or present the songs in the order they were released. Some singles didn’t make the cut, in favour of album tracks that have grown legs of their own and found some kind of special place of significance without ever necessarily being on the radio or anything… I’m proud of what I’ve managed to create.”
Fans of Bob Evans are in for a real treat with the upcoming regional shows, as Kevin enthuses, “It was always my intention to do some regional shows to celebrate the release of Full Circle. The capital city shows I played in 2018 were such a joy, but these shows are going to be a little bit different. I will be performing solo, which allows me to change the set list up a bit each night and play longer and more spontaneous sets. One thing that will carry over from the last tour however will be the song raffle, whereby everyone who enters the room will receive a raffle ticket and if your number is called out you get to request any Bob Evans song ever recorded and I will do my darndest to remember how to play it! This part of the show was pretty fun last time so I’m looking forward to finding out what happens this time around. I also can’t wait to get behind the wheel and do some long drives, listen to a bunch of music and spend time in some quality country pubs. It’s one of life’s great pleasures!”
Victoria support artist Madeline Leman has been tearing through Melbourne’s Americana scene for a number of years, singing about not only the every day experience of being a women, but also the absurdity of the gendered experience of being a woman in the music industry. NSW support Caitlin Harnett’s songs evoke Laurel Canyon of the early 70s. Combined with her guitar, banjo and harmonica, her music has the lilt of folk, a touch of pop and the honesty of Americana.
Mitchell was already under the Australian music spotlight as singer/guitarist for indie-rock-darlings Jebediah when in 1998 he found a t-shirt in a Perth op-shop with the number 15 on the back, and the name ‘Bob Evans’ printed on the front. Coincidentally at this time he was embarking on his first solo shows in Perth and a random name on someone’s discarded basketball shirt took hold. He may have grown out of the t-shirt, but the name fit and has stayed for an impressive solo career.
“This Bob Evans guy has been hitching a ride in my life for 20 years,” Mitchell laughs. “It’s an unusual relationship to have with something that isn’t real.”
BOB EVANS NATIONAL ‘FULL CIRCLE’ TOUR
THU 14 MAR | NARRABEEN RSL, NARRABEEN NSW | 18+ * WITH CAITLIN HARNETT
Tickets available from www.bobevans.com.au or www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
FRI 15 MAR | 48 WATT ST, NEWCASTLE NSW | 18+ * WITH CAITLIN HARNETT
Tickets available from www.bobevans.com.au or www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlet
FRI 16 MAR | HERITAGE HOTEL, BULLI NSW | 18+ * WITH CAITLIN HARNETT
Tickets available from www.bobevans.com.au or www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
THU 28 MAR | THE PUBLICAN, MORNINGTON VIC | 18+ * WITH MADELINE LEMAN
Tickets available from www.bobevans.com.au or www.eventbrite.com.au
FRI 29 MAR | SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE VIC | 18+ * WITH MADELINE LEMAN
Tickets available from www.bobevans.com.au or www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
SAT 30 MAR | KAROVA LOUNGE, BALLARAT VIC | 18+ * WITH MADELIN LEMAN
Tickets available from www.bobevans.com.au or www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets
THOMAS KEATING ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO TODAY I’M STAYING HOME + PETE MURRAY NSW SUPPORT
Troubadour Thomas Keating has today announced his introverted new single Today I’m Staying Home, a comforting ode to self-care during times of stress and uncertainty, out February 1 Thomas has also announced a lovely clip to accompany the track, filmed during the recording process of the single, offering rare insight into the private world of an artist in the studio. Thomas will be celebrating the release of the single with launch gigs in Sydney at The Newsagency on February 8, and Melbourne at Red Betty on February 9. To cap it off, Thomas has also been announced as the main support act on a very special run of NSW shows with one of Australia’s most loved songwriters, Pete Murray, kicking off at Bateman’s Bay Soldier’s Club on January 16, then moving though Merimbula, Narrabeen, Newcastle, Miranda, and wrapping up in Wollongong at Waves on February 2.
As vulnerable and open as a diary entry, Today I’m Staying Home is musically reminiscent of Matt Corby’s acoustic textures, or even Vance Joy’s vivid lyrical imagery – yet Thomas still manages to craft a world that’s completely his own. Gentle guitar pulses atop a bed of driving percussion, as Thomas’ one-of-a-kind vocals take centrestage. Thrilled to be releasing this special track, Thomas explains the inspiration behind the track, “Today I’m Staying Home is inspired by one of those mornings where you wake up with the ‘f*ck its’, and you decide instead of leaving your bed or home to face your life and all the responsibilities that come with being an adult in this world, you just stay in. I’ve always struggled with bouts of depression and anxiety around the uncertainties and pressures of everyday life, and I guess at the time I wrote the song I was going through such a phase. I think it’s important to remember that at times it’s okay just to feel like shit – it’s okay to put your hand up and say ‘I’m not dealing with this very well. I need help’. Mental health is extremely self-alienating, and I’d like to think that we are moving past the stigma of shame that has hung around such ailments for far too long.”
The clip for Today I’m Staying Home feels like a private performance, straight from the artist to the listener. The studio is warm, and there’s something refreshing about seeing Thomas is his element, skillfully and candidly playing guitar, singing the track and listening back to his work. Describing the reason for the studio-centric clip, Thomas explains, “I’ve always struggled with being comfortable shooting typical music videos, you know, pretending to sing into the camera as the song plays, for example. So we just decided to bring the cameras and lighting into the recording sessions, and my friend Kieran Gilfeather shot and directed it for us over a couple of days. He followed the band and myself around the studio as we put the song together, so the clip is real – what you are seeing is actual takes of us putting the song down. It was such a comfortable way to make a video.”
In light of the new single, Thomas is set to wow audiences with two very special, very intimate headline shows in February, and an exclusive run of solo shows alongside Pete Murray in NSW. “I’ve worked really hard on the live show this year and I’m really happy with where it’s at,” enthuses Thomas. “From a young age I was really inspired by the type of guitar playing made popular by Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel and Mark Knopfler…I like to do solo sets and also playing with the band. Both have their challenges. A lot of time and effort goes into creating even just one song, so having the opportunity to share your efforts with others is really something special. It feels fantastic to be releasing new music.”
Today I’m Staying Home is out February 1.
THOMAS KEATING SHOWS JAN/FEB 2019
WED JANUARY 16 | BATEMANS BAY SOLDIERS CLUB, BATEMANS BAY, NSW | 18+ *WITH PETE MURRAY
Tickets available from https://www.petemurray.com/
THURS JANUARY 17 | CLUB SAPPHIRE, MERIMBULA, NSW | 18+ *WITH PETE MURRAY
Tickets available from https://www.petemurray.com/
WED JANUARY 30 | NARRABEEN RSL, NARRABEEN, NSW | 18+ *WITH PETE MURRAY
Tickets available from https://www.petemurray.com/
THURS JANUARY 31 | HONEYSUCKLE HOTEL, NEWCASTLE, NSW | 18+ *WITH PETE MURRAY
Tickets available from https://www.petemurray.com/
FRI FEBRUARY 1 | MIRANDA HOTEL, MIRANDA, NSW | 18+ *WITH PETE MURRAY
Tickets available from https://www.petemurray.com/
SAT FEBRUARY 2 | WAVES, WOLLONGONG, NSW | 18+ *WITH PETE MURRAY
Tickets available from https://www.petemurray.com/
FRI FEBRUARY 8 | THE NEWSAGENCY, SYDNEY | 18+
Tickets available from https://www.stickytickets.com.au/79159/thomas_keating.aspx
SAT FEBRUARY 9 | RED BETTY, MELBOURNE | 18+
Tickets available from https://www.stickytickets.com.au/79155/thomas_keating.aspx