CHRIS LAKE ANNOUNCES OUT 2 LUNCH FESTIVAL SIDESHOWS FOR MAY
GRAMMY®-nominated producer, DJ and label head, Chris Lake has today announced OUT 2 LUNCH Festival sideshows, set to ignite stages in Melbourne (PICA) on Friday 9 May, and Sydney (Hordern Pavilion) on Saturday 10 May. In huge news for Aussie fans, Lake will be bringing along a whole new production and brand-new music.
Fans can register for presale tickets (Melbourne & Sydney sign up) with a 24 hour presale kicking off on Tuesday March 4 at 12pm AEDT. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday March 5 at 12pm AEDT through Ticketek.
Hyped to be hitting Aus for OUT 2 LUNCH and extending his trip to Melbourne and Sydney, Lake enthuses, “Australia holds a special place in my heart, with some of my favorite shows and memories having happened there. Coming out for OUT 2 LUNCH, Sydney and Melbourne is an early highlight of my year, and I’m buzzing to share some new music with fans down under. Looking forward to making this trip a truly special one!”
Expertly occupying the middle ground between dance music’s underground and commercial realms, the British producer’s finely-tuned ear for club-forward basslines and catchy vocals plays a large role in his success, all connected by his ability to make big moments both onstage and in his music.
Since breaking through with a string of No. 1 singles in the late 2000s, English-born Lake relocated to Los Angeles as dance music began bubbling up in America and has since helped redefine America’s house music scene in the post-EDM age. His music is a regular fixture on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, including recent hits Summertime Blues, Beggin’, and More Baby. He has headlined EDC Las Vegas and Coachella stages, shut down Hollywood Boulevard for over 12,000 fans, and spread the dance floor gospel through his Under Construction events with FISHER.
One of house music’s most compelling figures, Lake founded Black Book Records in 2017, dropping releases from heavyweights like Green Velvet, Armand Van Helden, and Kevin Saunderson, proving its status as a coveted label for producers, also utilising the label as a developmental platform to share wisdom, experience and contacts to help launch new acts.
Tickets to Chris Lake side shows go on sale on Wednesday March 5 at 12pm AEDT from Ticketek.
Tickets to OUT 2 LUNCH Festival with Vodafone are on sale now from out2lunchfestival.com.
CHARLES MAIMAROSIA UNVEILS CAPTIVATING NEW ALBUM HOTE’ HOTE’ – OUT NOW
An immersive fusion of tradition and contemporary artistry, celebrating cultural heritage and global connection, acclaimed Solomon Islands-born, Melbourne-based artist Charles Maimarosia today releases his highly anticipated sophomore album, Hote’ Hote’, via Wantok Musik.
At the heart of *Hote’ Hote’* lies Maimarosia’s unwavering commitment to honoring and sharing the musical traditions of his Are’ Are’ heritage. Featuring 12 meticulously crafted tracks, the album invites listeners on a profound sonic journey, from the rumbling percussion of opener “Parani O’o” to the ethereal panpipes of “Manu Ki” and the raw emotion of “Nanaratana Tetemanu”. Each composition is steeped in heritage, yet brimming with modern energy, ensuring its resonance across cultures and generations.
Charles shares, “(the album) celebrates the beauty of the Pacific, the strength of community, and the stories of my ancestors. It’s also a call for unity and respect across all cultures and generations. And it reflects my own journey—from my small village of Pi Pi Su in Malaita, Solomon Islands, to Australia, to touring the world, following and sharing my culture and music since the age of 17.”
Produced and arranged in collaboration with Andrew Robinson, Hote’ Hote’ is a masterclass in balancing authenticity with innovation. The album was shaped by immersive creative experiences, including Maimarosia’s physical journeys to remote villages to find inspiration and his deep connection to the landscapes and sounds of his homeland.
Hote’ Hote’ allows Charles to offer his most compelling work yet—one that not only preserves history but actively shapes the future of Pacific music.
Alongside the album release, Maimarosia will soon bring his electrifying live show to audiences, fusing Are’ Are’ drums, panpipes, and rhythms with contemporary instrumentation for an unmissable musical experience.
“Fans can expect an immersive journey—one that transports them to the Solomon Islands, celebrates the power of storytelling, and unites people through the joy of music.”
CHARLES MAIMAROSIA – UPCOMING SHOWS:
SAT 8 FEB | ODESSA AT LEAVER’S HOTEL, CRESWICK VIC
Tickets available from: https://events.humanitix.com/charles-maimarosia-hote-hote-album-launch
SAT 15 FEB | GEORGE LANE, ST KILDA VIC
with special guest Pirritu
Tickets available from: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1301782
FRI 21 FEB | WAUCHOPE ARTS HALL, WAUCHOPE NSW
Tickets available in January 2025 from: https://wauchopearts.org.au/
SAT 22 FEB | RED RATTLER, MARRICKVILLE NSW
with special guest Zippy Anu
Tickets available from: https://events.humanitix.com/charles-maimarosia-hote-hote-album-launch-with-special-guests
SUN 23 FEB | SMITH’S ALTERNATIVE, CANBERRA ACT
with special guests Dean Abbott Band
Tickets available from: https://www.smithsalternative.com/events/charles-maimarosia-88669
JACK PANTHER CAPTURES STIRRING EUPHORIA VIA NEW SINGLE JUST A DOG NEW EP WHEN I’M FEELING BETTER WE COULD DREAM TOGETHER DUE OUT MARCH 14
Rapidly approaching the release of his hotly-anticipated third EP, when i’m feeling better we could dream together due out next month, New Zealand-born, London-based queer alt pop alchemist Jack Panther returns today with a heart-rending yet soaring new single, Just a Dog, ahead of his debut Australian performance also locked in for May.
With stylistic nods to Mitski and Lana Del Rey, Just a Dog also brushes with influences from Portishead, Caroline Polachek, Ryan Beatty, Mk.geeand Dijon, with its lush textural climax also recalling the powerful serenity of Coldplaymerged with Jack Panther’s inescapable charm. “This single I view as a part two to Why Won’t We, the sophomore single from the EP, which featured a video directed by David J East (Foals, The Japanese House),” shares Jack of Just a Dog. “Just a Dog is a little more metaphorical and harrowing in its approach to its lyrics and melodies. I wrote it during my first winter here in London, it was cold, the sun was setting so early and I feel that you can really hear the longing in my vocals and the sound.”
“It’s about falling in love with a friend and instead of telling him how I felt, I wrote this song,” Jack adds. “A lot of songs I write about things left unsaid, and this might be the most intimate one of mine yet.”
Written and produced by Jack Panther himself, along with UK pop-producer and writer duo Rhys Fletcher and Lucan Mills (Gia Lily, Matt Terry), Just a Dog and the broader when i’m feeling better we could dream together EP also features additional production from Will McGillivray, who co-produced every track on the project, with mixing courtesy of the Grammy Award-nominated Andrew Maury (Kacy Musgraves, Shawn Mendes, Lizzo), and mastering by the Grammy Award-nominated Emily Lazar (Jacob Collier, Lady Gaga, Coldplay). And across four tracks, Jack paints a vivid sonic portrait of empowerment and introspection, with each song on when i’m feeling better we could dream together reflecting real-world emotions and/or moments in Jack’s life over the past three and a half years in exceedingly relatable fashion.
A moving, vulnerable and blissful journey throughout, when i’m feeling better we could dream together opens with Changes; an uplifting and airy alt-pop outing that balances tranquil instrumentation, flowing melodics and Jack’s hypnotic vocals as he muses on the trepidation and also hope that accompanies life’s many changes. And fluctuating between acoustic tenderness and oscillating euphoria (Just A Dog), through to melancholia threaded with dreamy reverb and tranquil pulsations (Why Won’t We) and, ultimately, swaggering and modern ambience (closing track Breathe), when i’m feeling better we could dream together also balances raw intimacy with stylistic diversity that retains a powerful and cohesive thread from start to finish. “I feel as though my artist voice is the strongest it’s been,” shares Jack of the upcoming EP. “Even if a track is sad in its theme, there is still an ‘outburst’; a big emphasis in the project was to create a journey. I want the audience to feel like each song encompasses its own emotion and journey. In a way, it’s a celebration of feeling that emotion. And I think a lot of the tracks within the EP still cling to a lot of hope. I started writing the project during COVID lockdown, and I wanted to write about things with a more positive or hopeful outlook.”
Hailing from New Zealand and now based in London, Jack Panther has seamlessly cultivated a reputation for his raw, emotional storytelling, and his unique blend of indie, alt and pop since first announcing himself to the world in 2020 with his debut single This Dream. From there, Jack has gone on to release two EPs, most recently showcasing his insatiable creative flair with his 2022 sophomore EP, why don’t you come over?, which saw Rolling Stone Australia declare its lead single, SKI LIFT 001, to be “one of the most hard-hitting tracks you’ll hear all year”. Securing chart success in New Zealand and international airplay, 2022 also saw Jack generate 250,000 streams, sell out a homecoming show in Auckland, and catch the attention of Tone Deaf, with the latter featuring Jack to their Class of 2022 roundup. In 2024, Jack’s vibrant music video for the single WEEKEND AT BERNIES won Best Directing (NZ) at the Clipped Music Video Festival, with last year also finding Jack signing a distribution deal with Mahogany Songs, unveiling new material, and selling out his first ever international headline show in London.
“New Zealand is such a supporting scene for independent artists, but London is great,” Jack shares of his current locale in the UK. “It’s such an incredible place to grow as an artist and discover new scenes. London is a very up and down city, the highs are amazing and the lows can be tough. In the UK you need to be able to prove yourself a little more. I think I forgot that when you move to the other side of the world you need to reintroduce yourself to fans. I’m very lucky to have such supportive friends and partner. The support of new types of music and art is amazing. I love how each artist supports one another and we all just want to grow and share out skillsets.”
In 2025, the sky is barely the limit for Jack Panther, with his sublime third EP due out on March 14, as well as an international tour that will see Jackhead to London, Auckland and also tick off a career first in Melbourne imminently, set to perform his first ever show on Australian soil at The Evelyn Hotel on May 3. “I’m HUGELY excited to play my first Australian show in Melbourne,” Jack enthuses. “I’m a massive fan of the Melbourne music scene and I just love the venue The Evelyn Hotel, it’s been a goal of mine to play there for years! Previously selling out headline shows in both London and Auckland, this marks my second headline in London which is so exciting, and marks my homecoming show in Auckland. I’m very excited to play some of these songs LIVE for the very first time and to play a special cover my band and I have been working on!”
Just a Dog is out today.
when i’m feeling better we could dream together is due out, Friday March 14.
JACK PANTHER – UPCOMING SHOWS:
Tickets available from jackpanthermusic.com
SAT 3 MAY | THE EVELYN HOTEL, MELBOURNE VIC