WILLIE J & THE BAD BOOKS SHARE NEW SINGLE + VIDEO BACKDOOR MAN
Come and surrender your soul to the blues and grooving magic of the debut single from Willie J & The Bad Books, with Backdoor Man officially out in the world today. An energetic and passionate tune revelling in blues rock with an Australian flavour, Backdoor Man is accompanied by a black-and-white clip shot in a tram and showcasing the entire band doing what they do best. With the band set to imminently head into the studio to record their debut album, Backdoor Man is a sweltering introduction to the Melbourne amalgamation of Motorhead, Jimi Hendrix and Robert Johnson if they hung out in an Aussie pub. Having recently busted out onstage alongside Dallas Frasca in Fitzroy, the band also have a series of shows lined up in December and January, including an official single launch for Backdoor Man locked and loaded for Friday January 6 at the Northcote Social Club.
An energy-fuelled tune paying loving homage to the blues, Backdoor Man flexes its blues and psychedelic grooves alongside raw riffs and nods to the likes of Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Marcus King, Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Recorded and produced at guitarist Rick Steward’s home studio, Backdoor Man also lends its authentic charm to the track ultimately being captured in one take, as Rick himself explains, “I didn’t want it to sound too polished, so I set limitation to the amount of microphones used on the drums, I used old mics on vocals, old instruments and old amps, it was hit in one take with minimal overdubbing. I think it’s important to set limits, most of The Beatles records were done with a 4 track, people forget that. I had my old friend and amazing engineer George Carpenter mix it in Queensland and Joe Carra at Crystal Mastering did the master”. And while the energetic new single showcases the band’s modern take on the blues world, Backdoor Man also directly claims its namesake from an old blues term, as lead vocalist and guitarist Willie J Maxwell reveals, “Back Door Man is an old blues term, true to form, when your lover betrays your trust and sneaks in the milkman when you’re spending the day at work.”
The music video for Backdoor Man brings the boogie-inducing musical stylings of Willie J & The Bad Books perfectly to life, with the energetic clip providing a visual introduction for many to the band via their debut outing, while also capturing the high octane performance on offer from the quintet in a live setting. “Dorothy Yow & Jake Halfhyde came up with concept,” shares Rick of the accompanying music video for Backdoor Man. “We jumped on board the tram at Bighouse Arts in Coburg North and had a fun day shooting it. Will and I had to climb on the roof with our guitars for one shot which was a tad sketchy, I think we both lived out our dreams of an 80’s style guitar solo section on a roof!”. Will shares, “We wanted our first release to be an introduction to the band. It’s about showcasing our energetic selves tearing it up. We hope that the audience can feel the passion and enjoy watching the video clip as much as we enjoyed filming it.”
For all members of Willie J & The Bad Books, music has been an integral and essential part of life. Springing to life during the pandemic, Will first met future Bad Books drummer Fru Parsons while playing on Brunswick Street. Bassist Matt Forge entered the fray following a conversation with Will over starting a blues and rock band. Matt worked with Rick and resident Bad Books boogie-queen, vocalist and organist Eileen Hodgkins – and the rest, as they say, is history. Bolstered by a shared adoration for classic tunes and the organic creative process between the quintet, the official debut single from Willie J & The Bad Books has been a long time coming; but with plenty of shows on the local live circuit up their sleeves, as well as some live clips already out in the world, Willie J & The Bad Books are firing on all cylinders going into the last months of 2022 and firmly into 2023. “We’re all old souls, we want to make music reminiscent of what we love,” shares Rick of the Willie J & The Bad Books ultimate ethos. “We don’t care what genre is popular, we just want to play music that’s true to us. It feels like it’s been a long time coming and it’s super exciting to finally be releasing this single!”.
And if you’re in the mood for some bewitching grooves and searing rock, Willie J & The Bad Books have a special single launch show lined up for Friday January 6 at Nortchote Social Club, and a show ready to roll on Saturday January 28 at The Blues Train in Queenscliff, Victoria. As to what we can expect from the upcoming shows? “A lot of boogying, toe-tapping, hips-swinging, hard hitting tunes,” Will concludes. “We bring the rock, you do the roll.”
Backdoor Man is out today, Wednesday November 16.
WILLIE J & THE BAD BOOKS – UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
FRI 6 JAN | NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, NORTHCOTE VIC (Single Launch)
Tickets Available From https://tickets.northcotesocialclub.com/outlet/event/ed883fd6-8f40-4778-9235-c3d7a63390bf
SAT 28 JAN | THE BLUES TRAIN, QUEENSCLIFF VIC
Tickets Available From www.thebluestrain.com.au
RÜFÜS DU SOL NOMINATED FOR x7 ARIA AWARDS + GLOBAL ‘SURRENDER’ TOUR SET TO HIT AUS
Armed with a Grammy, seven ARIA nominations, and over 500,000 tickets sold across their North America, UK and Europe Surrender tour, there is no doubt the world has been experiencing the rise and rise of RÜFÜS DU SOL this year. And Australia is up next, with the band’s Surrender tour set to touch down in Aus later this month, kicking off at Brisbane Showgrounds on November 26, before taking in Sydney’s The Domain on December 2 and 3, Adelaide’s Ellis Park on December 10 and Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse on December 15 and 16, before finishing up at Perth’s Langley Park on December 17.
Shaping up to be one of the biggest headline tours of the year, the Aussie Surrender tour will see the band take over festival-sized green sites to present their brand new live show and ARIA #1 album, Surrender, offering the only opportunity for fans to witness the phenomenon that is RÜFÜS DU SOL live in Australia in 2022.
“It’s been three years since we’ve played in Australia, so it feels perfect for these to be the last shows of our world tour this year. We’re really excited to be coming home and performing this new show to our Australian fans, friends and family at the biggest outdoor venues we’ve ever headlined.” Tyrone Lindqvist
And this tour on home turf will be the perfect way to cap off what has been a truly memorable and mammoth year, having scooped a coveted Grammy for Best Dance Recording, leading the ARIA nominations charge with seven noms for Best Video, Best Pop Release, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Dance/Electronic Release, Producer/Best Produced Album and Best Group, and playing sold out shows at some of the most iconic venues around the world, including The Gorge Amphitheatre (Washington), Hollywood Bowl (LA) and multiple shows at Red Rocks (Colorado) and Forest Hills Stadium (NYC).
RÜFÜS DU SOL have also today announced their partnership with AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience) across the Australian tour through their VIKP ‘Very Important Kind Person’ campaign, giving away 5 double passes to some Very Important Kind People. To find out more and to submit your kindness pledge to go in the running to win, visit https://aimementoring.com/rufusdusol
Additionally, fans attending the shows will also have the opportunity to buy a limited edition T-Shirt with all profits going directly towards AIME.
Equipped with a well-refined, immersive live experience, Australia is in for a guaranteed treat when RÜFÜS DU SOL are finally able to bring their Surrender tour down under in 2022, offering fans a unique opportunity to accompany the band into their world. RÜFÜS DU SOL will be supported nationally by England’s Grammy and Mercury Prize nominated, classicly trained electronic artist, Jon Hopkins, and the band’s Rose Avenue label artists Luke Alessi as additional support in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, and RONA. in Brisbane and Adelaide.
Tickets are on sale now via Moshtix.
Surrender is out now on Rose Avenue and Reprise / Warner Records STREAM / PURCHASE SURRENDER
NATIONAL SURRENDER TOUR
Presented by triple j
SAT 26 NOV | BRISBANE SHOWGROUNDS, BRISBANE, QLD | 18+
FRI 2 DEC | THE DOMAIN, SYDNEY, NSW | 18+
SAT 3 DEC | THE DOMAIN, SYDNEY, NSW | 18+
SAT 10 DEC | ELLIS PARK / TAMPAWARDLI, ADELAIDE, SA | 18+
THU 15 DEC | FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE, MELBOURNE, VIC | 18+
FRI 16 DEC | FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE, MELBOURNE, VIC | 18+
SAT 17 DEC | LANGLEY PARK, PERTH, WA | 18+
NO.3 ANNOUNCES 2023 DATES & LINEUP FEATURING NEW SETLIST + NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE & THANDI PHOENIX AS GUEST VOCALIST ADDITIONS
Following back to back sold out events across Australia and New Zealand, including last fortnight’s synchronised events at Sydney’s spectacular Cockatoo Island and Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay Float, SYNTHONY is thrilled to announce its return to Australia this summer with a brand new show: SYNTHONY No.3. Boasting a star studded line up with Natalie Bassingthwaighte (Rogue Traders), Thandi Phoenix, Ilan Kidron (The Potbelleez) et.al, the lavish celebration of dance music continues with a fresh setlist of massive dance tracks performed with a mix of live orchestra, vocalists, instrumentalists, and DJs in what is set to be its biggest and most dynamic lineup to date.
The tour will start outdoors on Friday 17 February at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl, as part of the Live at the Bowl summer event series, followed by Perth, returning to RAC Arena on Friday 17 March, before heading back to Brisbane’s Riverstage Amphitheatre on Saturday 25 March, and finishing up at Sydney’s Aware Super Theatre, ICC on Saturday 22 April.
Tickets to SYNTHONY go on sale via www.synthony.com from 10am local time (MEL, BNE, SYD), 11am local time (PER) on Wednesday 16 November, with a SYNTHONY presale live at 9am local time on Tuesday 15 November.
Featuring new music from Disclosure, Eric Prydz, Flume, Calvin Harris, Wilkinson and many more, this is undoubtedly the biggest orchestrated dance party in Australia.
With superstar of the screen and stage, Natalie Bassingthwaighte (Rogue Traders) and emerging soul powerhouse Thandi Phoenix joining the show, SYNTHONY No.3 is also proud to welcome back fan favourite SYNTHONY alumni; Ilan Kidron (The Potbelleez), Cassie McIvor, Greg Gould, Matty O, Mobin Master, and event host, Aroha, with more acts to be announced. And bringing the newest iteration of SYNTHONY to life will be master conductor Sarah-Grace Williams who has established a well-earned reputation as one of the best conductors in the Southern Hemisphere.
“This show is SYNTHONY all grown up, like a coming of age! SYNTHONY no.1 is a bit of a nostalgic trip down memory lane, celebrating 30 years of global dance anthems, SYNTHONY no.2 is a little edgier, we still have a show packed with classics but introduce some more new music as well, and Synthony no.3 takes that one step further – the best of EVERYTHING! I am so incredibly excited to be unleashing Synthony no.3 onto Australian audiences, they are going to love this show!” enthuses conductor Sarah-Grace Williams, who has been with the brand since its Australian inception. “For those who have already seen SYNTHONY 1 & 2, you ain’t seen nothing yet! And for those who have never seen a show – now is the time!”
Excited to join the SYNTHONY family, Natalie Bassingthwaighte says, “It is incredible to be performing again, and in such an amazing format after the Covid Hiatus. There’s nothing better than performing with a live orchestra, especially with the fusion of dance music, electronics and amazing visuals.”
Following a sold-out tour of SYNTHONY No.3 in New Zealand in 2022, a critically acclaimed debut of SYNTHONY and showcase of SYNTHONY No.2 shows across Australia, and a recent blockbuster debut into South East Asia on the revered Marina Bay Float, Singapore – Duco Events is proud to continue the success story of SYNTHONY in Australia, and to deliver fans the hottest orchestrated dance party of 2023.
Offering insight into the event’s impressive trajectory and revealing a little more of what’s to come this year, Duco Events Group General Manager, Randall Nolan says, “SYNTHONY’s global compatibility and dynamic nature allows it to perform anywhere and speak any language through its music, and 2023 is set to be the biggest year yet. On top of the Australian run of shows, SYNTHONY will dive in on festival headline performances (Electric Avenue – Christchurch), launch its very own festival ‘SYNTHONY in THE DOMAIN’ (April 1, 2023), continue its expansion into South East Asia and make appearances at globally recognised sporting events.”
SYNTHONY No.3 will get your heart racing and feed your soul with joy, as it triggers dance memories with reimagined iconic club anthems and future classics.
For more information and to sign up for the SYNTHONY presale, head to www.synthony.com
Check out some footage from the recent 2022 shows.
SYNTHONY NO.3 AUSTRALIAN SHOWS
FRI 17 FEB | SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL, MELBOURNE| 18+
Feat. The SYNTHONY Orchestra, conducted by Sarah-Grace Williams
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au
FRI 17 MAR | RAC ARENA, PERTH| 18+
Feat. Perth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sarah-Grace Williams
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au
SAT 25 MAR | RIVERSTAGE, BRISBANE| 18+
Feat. Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Sarah-Grace Williams
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au
SAT 22 APR | AWARE SUPER THEATRE, ICC, SYDNEY| 18+
Feat. The Metropolitan Orchestra, conducted by Sarah-Grace Williams
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au