END GAME
It’s pretty much a given that Aussie rock fans are already excited about the new Living End album, but Hype thought it was worth mentioning that the band played the set of their lives at Come Together in Sydney recently and the new stuff sounds fabulous. The album White Noise is out on Sat Jul 19 and the band has just announced their album launch tour. It stops off in Adelaide on Tue Sep 30. Tickets for the show at HQ go on sale on Thu Jul 10 from Ticketek <ticketek.com.au>, Moshtix <moshtix.com.au> and VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>. The band is taking Children Collide and The Silents around the country with them.

MATCH FIT
Taking a break from making their own clothes and doing artwork for other bands, The Matches are heading back down under. The band has recently released a new album, A Band In Hope, and like their last album, Decomposer,the new one features a range of producers from Rancid’s Tim Armstrong to Goldfinger’s John Feldmann. The band is heading to our shores in September and they’ll play at Fowler’s Live on Sun Sep 14 to an all-ages crowd so get your tickets from Mon Jul 7 through Moshtix <moshtix.com.au>.

TOKYO GHETTO POSSE
Some people are greedy, not happy playing with one successful band, they manage to find a second that also has its share of fans. Ian Kenny has already won over rock fans as the lead singer of intense rockers Karnivool. But Kenny doesn’t like being idle, so instead of sitting on his laurels in Karnivool’s downtime, he spends the time out the front of the almost equally successful Birds Of Tokyo. Though BOT haven’t been around as long, they’re just about to release their second album, Universes, on Sat Jul 5. It looks like it’s going to be a very busy September for shows but make sure you keep free Sat Sep 27 so you can get along to The Gov to see Kenny and his Birds Of Tokyo. Tickets will be available from <birdsoftokyo.com> from Thu Jul 10.

LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE
Australian rock is in a great place at the moment. A lot of experienced bands are bringing out quality new albums while in the last twelve months a load of local bands have released cracking debuts. Horsell Common’s The Rescue was one of those first up albums that signalled their intentions. The band has lost drummer Leigh Pengelly, but they’ve have been testing out new beat-keepers and are preparing for a new tour that kicks off at Jive Bar on Thu Aug 7.

ACID TRIP
Acid Eyeliner are a Sydney band that aren’t just hitting the road for rock‘n’roll this month. The band has seen the affects of Parkinson’s disease and will be heading out on tour to raise money for Parkinson’s Australia. There’s going to be a lot of regional visits on the tour but before the band goes outback they’re playing the Gov on Thu Jul 3 and are asking everyone to help them make a difference.

COUGAR VERSUS CROW
Hype knows it’s been a long time since John Mellencamp first sang his little ditty about Jack And Diane, those two American kids growin’ up in the heartland. The singer songwriter has written a truckload of great material since then but that will always be the song Hype thinks of first whenever the name Mellencamp is mentioned. And what a song it is. If, like Hype, you’ve got your favourite John Mellencamp song then you might want to make sure you’re at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Wed Nov 19 when Mellencamp will perform all his classic hits with Sheryl Crow and Shane Nicholson the high profile supports. Get your tickets from Ticketek <ticketek.com.au> on Mon Jul 7.

DIRT MUSIC
Magic Dirt have been playing this rock‘n’roll game for quite some time now. They’ve even got a new album, Girl, out on Sat Jul 5. They’re certainly no strangers to the rigours of touring, but their latest tour, the scarily named No Sleep Till Christmas tour, so far consists of 35 shows with more to be announced. The group plays Adelaide on Sat Sep 6 at the Gov and the Mt Gambier Hotel on Fri Sep 12. Hopefully that’s before the real ‘confined to a van’ madness sets in.

PORNO RE-RUNS
Unlike many of the other East Coast only Festivals, The Great Escape will hopefully be sharing the love a little bit with us down here in SA. The first side shows from one of the festival’s international bands has just been announced, with Canada’s New Pornographers playing the Governor Hindmarsh on Fri Oct 10. The Pornographers are the acclaimed indie pop project of songwriter AC Newman. The collective also features beautiful Americana songstress Neko Case. Tickets for the tour go on sale on Fri Jul 11 through VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>

LIFE’S RICH PAGEANT
Hype is trying not to scare anyone by saying the C word (NO, not that C word!) but Christmas really isn’t that far away. You’ve only got six months to figure out what colour hankies you should buy Aunty Mavis, and which Bratz figurine nine-year-old niece Sarah doesn’t have. If you want a bit of extra cash to take care of some of your presents, the Credit Union Christmas Pageant is offering uni students the chance to design a children’s game that will be put on the pageant website. There’s $1000 up for grabs. You can work alone or as part of a team but you’ll need to register your interest by Fri Jul 18 by emailing <magic@cupageant.com.au>. There’s a list of guidelines you’ll need to follow and a judging panel will decide on a winner in August who then has a month to complete the game.

FALLS WELL
If we’re already talking about Christmas then it’s only natural the next thing to think about is Falls Festival. It’s always one of the hottest tickets of the year and there’s always a big Adelaide contingent rocking out at Lorne or Marion Bay, Tassie. To make sure you’ve got a shot at getting tickets you have to sign up to the ticket ballot. You’ve got until Wed Aug 27 to sign up and on Wed Aug 13, you’ll find out the first round of bands so start making your New Year’s Eve plans now or you’ll miss out. You can sign up to the ticket ballot at <fallsfestival.com>.

THIS MESS WE’RE IN
Already this year The Mess Hall have won the Australian Music Prize for their second album Devils Elbow, and two St Kilda Film Festival prizes (yes, that’s Film Festival prizes) for their clips Pulse and Keep Walking. Now The Mess Hall bring their award winning selves to Adelaide to stomp and belt their way through a dynamic set of rock‘n’roll tunes at Enigma Bar on Fri Aug 8. Tickets are through VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>.

SHAKIN’ MARTINI
Martin Martini & The Bone Palace Orchestra have traded in their tuba and violin for instruments that rock just a little bit harder and need electricity to run. Of course, this band couldn’t write songs that didn’t have a heavy slice of Gypsy and circus pop about them whatever instruments they’re played on. The band’s new sound can be heard on new album, We’re All Just Monkeys, and seen at the Wheatsheaf Hotel over two nights on Thu Jul 24 and Fri Jul 25.

JUST JOSHING
Need some sweet soul to warm up these chilly winter days? Melbourne’s Josh Owen is coming to bring a bit of heat to the Norwood Hotel on Thu Jul 31 and the Bridgeport in Murray Bridge on Fri Aug 1.

BLOODY CARCASS
Make sure your favourite metal T-shirt is washed and ironed before October. You’ll be needing it to wear when Carcass play HQ on Fri Oct 10. The band, one of metal’s most influential, have been playing shows again in Europe and have signed on the dotted line to head our way. It’s been 12 years since Carcass’ last studio album Swansong. Help them celebrate their return by picking up tickets at VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>.

WE HAVE IGNITION
Cali-punk isn’t called Cali-punk just because one or two bands from that area made a name for themselves over the years. California is a fertile breeding ground for all manner of punk and Orange County has produced its fair share of acclaimed bands from the punk and hardcore genres. One of these bands, Ignite, laces their hardcore with lyrics about social justice, environmental issues and politics. The band’s latest album Our Darkest Days is out now as a Tour Edition with bonus tracks. You can see the band at Enigma Bar on Fri Jul 18. Get your tickets from Resist Records <resistrecords.com>.

THAT GREENE GENTLEMAN
Some singer songwriters are never going to be the next big musical thing and the latest hyped artist, but good ones will always be appreciated by discerning listeners and critics. Paul Greene is such an artist. Underrated, but not by the people who matter (including influential US singer songwriter Patty Griffin and country superstar Adam Brand, who have both taken him out on the road), Greene is making his way through SA at the end of the month. On Wed Jul 30 Greene plays the Grace Emily, on Thu Jul 31 at the North Star Hotel, Melrose, on Fri Aug 1 at the Pier Hotel, Port Lincoln and Sat Aug 2 at Ceduna Sailing Club, Ceduna.

MISSION PERSONS
Having just supported Story Of The Year, Sydney’s Mission In Motion are touring to celebrate the release of their new melodic rock EP A Curse, A Calling. The band will be playing at Fowler’s Live on Sat Jul 12 at an all-ages gig.

DEAN QUEEN
Up in Queensland there’s been a delightful sound echoing out of pubs and clubs the last few years. Emma Dean is now ready to show off her talent to the rest of the country and with the release of her debut album, Real Life Computer Game, Dean will be playing the Crown & Anchor on Thu Aug 7 and The Wheatsheaf on Fri Aug 8.

TORAL! TORAL! TORAL!
There’s electronic music - the kind that occasionally makes it up the charts and consists of a really bad drum machine beat and a bit of programmed instrumentation straight from a demonstration model of a computer, then there’s the electronica that truly pushes boundaries and expands what we think of as music. Rafael Toral is definitely in the later category. The Portuguese musician is bringing his ‘post-free jazz electronic music’ to Jade Monkey on Sat Jul 5.

GOLDEN GUGLIELMINO
It’s an odd little beast, the music made by Edward Guglielmino. Brisbane avant-garde sonic experimentalist. Avant-garde sonic experimentalist may sound like a Doctor Who baddy but Guglielmino makes music that is inspired equally by Warhol, Kerouac and The Velvet Underground. You can witness the madness yourself when Guglielmino makes an appearance at the Grace Emily on Wed Jul 9.

DO NOT DISTURB
After hitting the number one album slot before Coldplay came a-knockin’, Disturbed a hitting Australia on a metal high. With more than 10 million album sales to their name, David Draiman and his Indestructible troops are heading to Australia in support of their smash hit fourth album. Supported by Alter Bridge and Behind Crimson Eyes, Disturbed play an all-ages show at Thebarton Theatre on Sun Aug 31. Tickets available from VenueTix <venuetix.com.au> from Thu Jul 10.

BACK IN BLACK
American hardcore band Blacklisted are in the country to do a fortnight of shows from north to south and east to west. The band is touring new album Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God and are giving hardcore fans of all ages a chance to catch the band when they play with 50 Lions, Bad Blood and Can’t Relate at the Underground on Wed Jul 4.

WEIRD SCIENCE
It may have seemed like Rocket Science went on an Eternal Holiday after they released their third album of the same name, but those demented psych garage rockers are back. With a new album, Different Like You, hitting stores on Sat Jul 26, Rocket Science are dropping into Jive on Thu Aug 28.

DEF EFFECTS
This November one of the biggest bands of the entire metal universe, Def Leppard, are on their way down under for a monster night of rock. Supporting this iconic band is none other than the great Cheap Trick and lucky locals, the young Galvatrons. Def Leppard have a new album Songs From The Sparkle Lounge and will be playing songs off that and classic albums like Hysteria, Pyromania and Euphoria when they hit the Entertainment Centre on Sun Nov 2.

LIFE OF THE PARTY
After making the trip to Adelaide for the first time last year, Parklife is back. One of Sydney’s biggest dance festivals, Parklife is bringing almost the complete line-up to our fair city, with only Goldfrapp not signing on for Adelaide. Instead Soulwax, Peaches, 2manydjs, Dizzee Rascal, Diplo, Does It Offend You, Yeah? and Blackalicious are just some of the names gracing the stage at Botanic Park on Sat Sep 27. Tickets go on sale on Mon Jul 14 from <parklife.com.au>

HIS MASTERS’ VOICE
Jim Keays, an icon of Australian music, has spent the last 12 months battling cancer. But the former Masters Apprentices frontman is fully recovered and wants to get back to doing what he does best: rock! So, with his good buddies and band mates, Darryl Cotton and Russell Morris, Keays will be playing the Cavern Club on Sat Jun 28. Tickets are available from 8231 1965.

A GOODFELLOW CAUSE
Geoff Goodfellow is a well known figure around South Australia. A big fan of literature, Goodfellow has spent a lot of his life introducing people to the magic of poetry. And because poetry can sometimes be a difficult thing to unravel, Goodfellow has gone out of his way to share his poetry with people who don’t always get to appreciate the beauty in life, like people serving time in jail and homeless people. Earlier this year Geoff was diagnosed with cancer. His friends, including Mark Seymour, the Robot Sex Dolls, comedian Mark Rubeo, the Huckleberry Swedes, Geoff’s daughter Grace and many more, will come together on Fri Jul 18 at the Irish Club to read poetry, play music and raise money for Geoff. There’s not a lot of money in being a poet, or in helping others, but medical bills are expensive. Geoff’s given a lot to the local community. It’s only fair we give something back.

PRESET RESET
It’s fairly obvious by now that The Presets didn’t play at HQ on Fri Jun 20. One half of the duo, Julian Hamilton, has been ill so the group has postponed the Adelaide show until Tue Jul 29. The new show will also be at HQ. People that were already holding tickets can just keep them for the new show, but if you need to get a refund you’ve got until Wed Jul 2 to get onto VenueTix or head back to where you bought the tickets.

AUSTRALIA CALLING
The second round of the JD Set - the band competition that’s giving this nation’s up and comers a chance to prove their worth on the nation’s live stages - has announced the winners for round two. This time it’s Melbourne rockers Borne and Calling All Cars (a current favourite of Hype’s. Their song Hey You is quite addictive) and Canberra’s hip hop and soul collective Casual Projects. The three bands will be giving it their all at Fowler’s Live on Thu Jul 24 and the gig is free. So make sure you’re there to see the next big thing.

REMEMBER THE TIM
‘Bounce, like yo ass had the hiccups.’ C’mon, how can a line like that not get you excited? Timbaland may not be the greatest lyricist in modern music, but he’s just about one of the most successful producers going around and he doesn’t just make hits for other people. His own album Shock Value was itself a hit and he’s finally announced an Adelaide show on his Shock Value Tour. Timbaland will be bouncing his ass off and the rest of himself at the Entertainment Centre on Sun Jul 13. Tickets are on sale from Ticketek <ticketek.com.au>

OK COMPUTER
There’s not a lot of bands that make their way over to the mainland from Tasmania. Viva Computer are a thrilling indie/guitar pop band that have been toiling away recording their debut album The Great Bear in Hobart. Check out their MySpace <myspace.com/vivacomputer>. They’re well worth having a listen to. If you like what you hear, the band is playing a couple of shows in Adelaide, starting with a late afternoon instore at Big Star on Wed Jul 2. Following on from that they’re playing the Lizard Lounge on Thu Jul 3 and Fad Bar on Fri Jul 4.

DEEP CUTS
If you haven’t seen New Zealand quartet Cut Off Your Hands, then you obviously didn’t spend much time seeing live music over summer. The band is a festival favourite and has developed quite a nice little fanbase in Australia. Though their debut album You And I isn’t due until October, the band is treating their Australian fans to a sneak preview when they tour here next month. See them at Rocket Bar on Thu Jul 24.

SHAM! BAM! THANK YOU, MA’AM!
For no particular reason except for a love of local music, Onion along with Fringe Benefits and the Ed Castle have decided to throw a party celebrating the dope talent that exists in this town. For five bucks head down to the Ed Castle to hear a diverse array of toonage from disco to house, hip hop and rock. Live acts on the night include the fine-arse improv disco of The Swiss and the house and techno stylings of The Carter Bros. On the DJ front Sham! features the one and only Delta; one of the finest selectors in the biz, Jorge Watts along with the spaced out rock of the Wolf & Cub DJs, as well as the unique Sidwho?. Support local music and head down to the Ed Castle on Sat Jun 28 for $5 or for free if you’re a Fringe Benefits member.

GRAFTON PRIMARY EDUCATION
Considering their name is Grafton Primary, it’s obvious this Sydney three piece are still heavily influenced by their formative years. Before they arrive to play Rocket Bar on Fri Jun 27, we thought we’d try and uncover what made singer Josh Garden’s early years so memorable. And if Josh ever decides music’s not his true calling, Hype has decided he really needs to make a Breakfast Club-style primary school tween-drama.

1) Did you actually go to Grafton Primary?
If we hadn’t, people would question the band name for evermore. As it is, technically no, because there is no school called Grafton Primary, except in the UK. However, we did attend Grafton Public School for a short period in our young lives. Does this make us honorary Graftonians? Will we be awarded the keys to the town now? And do towns have walls, doors and locks for such keys? 

2) Did you have a primary school teacher that was particularly inspirational?
My year three teacher obviously had a few self esteem issues. (We’ll call him Mr X to protect the innocent.) He would award early marks to people who gave him shout-outs, to the effect of, “Mr X, you are the strongest/coolest/smartest man of all time”. One time, he had us measure his biceps with a tape measure while he flexed. I kid you not. I wasn’t comfortable with this regime and was usually one of the last people out of the classroom. It should be obvious why this is inspirational. I did not repeat grade three, having learned some important things about human nature.

3) Favourite subject at primary school?
Definitely Japanese. You got to learn a whole new alphabet, eat delicious food and manipulate paper into amazing shapes - I have never forgotten how to make water bombs in eight easy folds.
Additionally, I got to travel to Japan in grade five and stay with a host family. Their Nintendos were so far ahead of ours it wasn’t funny. And I had 10-year-old crushes on 20-year-old Japanese girls. It didn’t help that they thought my ‘friend’ on tour was much cuter than I.

4) Favourite playground game?
British Bullrush. You line up and run en masse past this kid who tries to tackle one of you. When he does he has a new recruit for his devious schemes. Soon there are three of you trying to run past about 20 others. Deranged madness. There were also these great bows you could make with a government pen shell, a thick rubber band, and a compass, The arrow was the inside part of the pen. And the best part? It was all fun because no one lost an eye.

5) Were you ever responsible for the class being kept in at lunchtime or kept back after school?
Absolutely not, sir. I had nothing to do with it. And yes, I understand no one is leaving here until someone owns up.

6) What's the worst trouble you ever got into at primary school?
Probably the worst thing was getting sent to the vice principal, who wore knee-high socks, short shorts, cream ‘70s short sleeve shirts, and had a big round red face with a bald head. I can’t remember what minor misdemeanour landed us there, but the trouble began when we tried to keep a straight face. I mean, imagine it; his dark old world office he can no longer cane people in, you and two of your best friends, the silence between his stern lectures. You lose it, naturally. And then he’s roaring in his bull voice, “You think it’s funny, boy?!”
Well, what do you reckon?

7) Greatest achievement at primary school?
I won the prize for junior literature. That’s a clean sweep for me in the kindy to grade three category. In mum’s inevitable photo of the event, (in which incidentally my brother Ben, also in the band, won a prize and was wearing a velvet bow tie) I have skinny chicken legs and my shorts are pulled right up with the shirt tucked in. So hot. I also won the shotput competition one year at the sports carnival. I was a runt, but it’s all about technique, you beefcakes.

8) Any romantic dalliances in primary school?
Romance? Primary school? In year four I received a letter from a girl called Leila. It had the words ‘private, confidential’ penciled and sketched in on the outside. She had put some serious work into it. I can’t remember the details, but I think the gist of it was that she liked me, but she liked someone else more, who didn’t like her. From that day forth I was a fan of the love letter, and always liked girls who could write. On a smuttier note, a girl in year three had a huge crush on one of my close friends, and she sat opposite us. During class she would open her legs and flash him the bare kitty. I thought it was pretty fascinating, but he didn’t want anything to do with her. Ah, the pressures of primary school.

THRICE BUBBLES
Californian quartet Thrice may have made their debut as a technically proficient, passionate post-hardcore band but in the last three years, since 2005’s epic and experimental Vheissu, the band have been exploring the boundaries of their sound. Their latest release The Alchemy Index, is a series of four EPs, released over the course of two albums, Vols 1 And 2 and Vols 3 And 4. Each EP corresponds to one of the elements - Air, Earth, Fire and Water - allowing the band to explore their heavy side (fire), a more ambient, electronic sound (water), a really open, spacious vibe (air) and the acoustic and ‘vintage mic’ kind of sound (earth). The band was last in Australia supporting the Deftones. Now they’re back to headline their own show at HQ on Mon Sep 1. Tickets from VenueTix <venuetix.com.au> on Fri Jun 20.

PAINT YOUR WAGONS
If you like your country a little bit alternative, your rock a little bit country and your melodies to sound like they were written driving down a Californian highway in 1968 then rejoice over this Wagons/Leader Cheetah double bill. Wagons are Melbourne’s finest urban country outfit and local Adelaide boys Leader Cheetah sound like they’ve just been on tour with Gram Parsons and Neil Young. Together the bands play the Electric Light Hotel on Fri Jul 25.

CH-CH-CHEQUE IT OUT
Those hip hop heavyweights Hilltop Hoods, (heavens, that’s a lot of aitches), have always supported the hip hop community in the same way Australian hip hop fans have supported them. Applications for this year’s Hilltop Hoods initiative are now open. You’ve got until Fri Aug 15 to get your entries in if you’re a South Australian hip hop artist or group. The initiative provides assistance in getting your debut album out there. There’s a bunch of criteria you have to meet so head on over to <arts.sa.gov.au> to read all about it and find out if you fit the criteria.

NEW AT THE TZU
Speaking of Aussie hip hop, Hype is a big fan of the thick, tasty rhythms and intelligent rhymes of TZU. Excited that the boys are back with a new album Computer Love, Hype is happy to announce the band will be playing around the country to launch the album. Out on Sat Jun 28, the album will be brought to life here on Sat Jul 26 at the Electric Light Hotel.

SUPER COLLIDERS
Most Australian rock fans will know the name Dave Sardy. The producer responsible for the cracking debuts of Jet and Wolfmother, Sardy has recently taken another Australian rock band under his wing. Melbourne three-piece Children Collide have just got back from LA where they were recording their new album. The album isn’t out until October, but before then the first single from it Social Currency is out mid-July and the band are coming over to play Jive Bar just after its release. Get your tickets for the Sat Jul 26 gig from Moshtix <moshtix.com.au>.

PIERS ON
There’s a lot of people in the world who play piano, so when someone is considered to be one of the best in the world, that’s not an idle compliment. Piers Lane has performed all around the world as a classical pianist. On Wed Jun 25 Lane is coming to Elder Hall to show this talent to Adelaide. Book tickets at Bass <bass.net.au>.

DIESEL POWER
Music fans living in Adelaide’s inner east will soon have to travel a whole lot less to see great live bands. The Norwood Hotel has teamed up with the Bridgeport Hotel, Murray Bridge to give artists two quality music venues to play this side of the border. The venues are opening with a special interactive show by Diesel where the audience gets to pick the night’s setlist. Norwood Live opens its doors to Diesel on Thu Jul 3, while Bridgeport Live kicks off the following night on Fri Jul 4. Coming up soon at both venues will be the Black Sorrows, Ross Wilson & The Urban Legends, James Reyne, Brian Cadd & Russell Morris and Mark Seymour.

SNOW BUSINESS
There’s a lot of people who won’t know the name Remi Meum, but for fans of snow sports Meum is the man. Just to explain for people who don’t know their snow sports, Meum is a world champion snowkiter, a cross between snowboarding and kite surfing. Meum is on his way to Australia to demonstrate his considerable skills and before he ventures up some snow covered mountains, he’s dropping into Q-Zone in Glenelg on Tue 8 Jul. He’s keen to meet his fans, so head along to the store from 3pm.

RANDOM THOUGHTS
Don’t let the ‘We come from Torquay’, stickers on the tour van fool you. The Thoughts may live the surfie, beach lifestyle at home, but put the three-piece on a stage and it’s all about the early garage and ‘70s punk sound. Sure, they might be laidback guys, but they make a lot of noise. The trio is heading west, for drummer Mick it’s a homecoming (he grew up in Adelaide). And they’ll be playing the Electric Light Hotel on Thu Jul 10 with The What 4 and Sat Jul 12 at the Exeter.

THE HOLY TRINITY
If you like to see music in a slightly more civilised environment, then the Trinity Sessions at Clarence Park’s Church Of The Trinity is a great way to see music. The acoustics in the church are magnificent and the organisers do a great job of picking the kind of acts whose sound really fills out the church. On Sun Jun 22 the Sessions play host to a Robert Johnson tribute, then on Sun Jun 29, charming roots singer/songwriter Sime Nugent will team up with The Yearlings for a night of sublime tunes. Tickets are available from <dramatix.com.au>.

HIT A NERVE
Raw Nerve is a film making initiative that gives young talent a chance to get a short film up on the big screen. This year the four developed films have been shot around the state and cover themes such as inner beauty, family relationships and true love. The films are screening at the Mercury Cinema on Sun Jun 22.

WATUSSI FANDANGO
You might have caught Watussi, watussing it up at WOMADelaide earlier this year. If not, the only thing you really need to know is that the band’s world rhythms are extremely infectious. Lead singer Oscar Jimenez was born in Colombia and sings in Spanish, English and French in an effort to get his music’s multicultural message across. Ultimately though, the music’s message is ‘get on the dance floor and have a great time’. The band will be setting the rhythm for your feet at Live On Light Square on Fri Jul 25.

GEEK AND YE SHALL FIND
Gamers unite. AVCon, the gaming and anime convention is on again. Held at the University Of Adelaide on Sat Jul 26 and Sun Jul 27, AVCon gives gamers a chance to battle it out in tournaments, dress up as their favourite game character, buy the latest merchandise from the trade stalls and watch sneak previews of the latest games. For all the details on the Con and where to get tickets head to <avcon.org.au>.

DAGGIN’ SAYER
Leo Sayer has made millions of people dance around the world, and not just because he named one of his songs You Make Me Feel Like Dancing. The diminutive pop singer knows how to get toes tapping, lips humming and hips wiggling. For the last couple of years the British born Sayer has called Australia home. Next year he’ll be making it official, taking out citizenship. Before he celebrates this milestone he’s hitting the road to visit some of his favourite places to perform around the country and Adelaide will get the change to spend a night with Sayer at the Entertainment Centre on Sat Nov 22. The venue will be transformed into theatre mode as Sayer will take the stage with a 25-piece band. Get tickets from Ticketek <ticketek.com.au> and take your mum along.

WHOLE NEW CHAPTER
Make sure you get along to Rocket Bar on Fri Jun 20 to see Guy Blackman. The Melbourne singer/songwriter weaves very personal, delicate tales based on his own experiences. But Blackman isn’t your sit-at-home-making-cups-of-tea kind of songwriter. As the face behind indie label Chapter Music, Blackman spends a lot of his time scouring the world for new music to bring back to the label’s dedicated fans at home. All this world travel also gives Blackman a chance to play in some unusual places.

Where's the oddest place you've seen a band that you've signed to the label?
When I was in living Japan in 2003 I saw an amazing show by Maher Shalal Hash Baz, who acted out a musical version of Shakespeare's The Tempest in a university hall. They had a cast of about 30 musicians in weird costumes, some of them just shaking buckets of sand or banging sticks, and a horn section that wove its way wonkily through the crowd. 

Where's your favourite place to play?
In Berlin at a venue called Schokoladen. When I was touring with Sly Hats last year, the owner lived upstairs and cooked us a huge dinner of pasta, salad and bread, and later brought around trays of shots for us to drink after we'd played. She made us feel really welcome and made sure we had a great night. Oh, I miss the Punters Club in Melbourne too.

If you could nominate one of your songs for someone on your label to cover what would the song be and who would be covering it?
I would like to hear Kath Bloom doing one of my songs, she has one of the most beautiful and emotional voices I've ever heard. Most of my songs are very personal and based on real experiences in my life, so it's hard to imagine other people singing them, but I think she could do a great version of Black Eyes or Older.

Were you apprehensive asking any of your guest artists who appear on the album if they'd like to make a musical contribution?
Not really, they're all people I've known for quite a while. I was a little nervous I guess about asking Jens Lekman, ‘cause he's a big star and everything, but he wrote back straight away saying he'd love to do it, so the nerves didn't last long.

As a music journalist, have you ever dropped the name of one of your bands into an interview just to see what the musician you're talking to would say?
Occasionally I've tried to word up a famous musician about someone on my label, like when I told Patty Griffin she should check out Kath Bloom. I always leave that to the end of the interview, though, so they don't think I'm a pushy networker right from the start. And mostly they just say, 'Oh, really?' and then the conversation ends a few seconds later.

Favourite interview subject and the musician you'd most like to interview?
Interviewing Scott Walker was a lifetime highlight for me - I never thought I'd get to talk to someone whose music I love as much as I love his. And I was really disappointed I didn't get to talk to Lee Hazelwood before he died last year. I would have asked him all the juicy questions no one was ever game to, like, ‘Did Frank Sinatra really put a mafia contract out on you?’ or ‘Did you really do it with Nancy Sinatra?’

Is it a far greater feeling of achievement releasing a solo album, than with a band?
The feeling is kinda the same except I wrote all the songs on this album, instead of just a quarter of them, like I used to in my old band Sleepy Township. I invested a lot in making up parts and playing along to my old bandmates' songs, but this record was so long in the making that it's a pretty great feeling now that it's out and breaking hearts all over the world! 

LITTLE RED ROCKING ‘HOOD
Sure, Hype was there when Little Red played their first headline gig in Adelaide at the Grace Emily earlier this year. Hype may be getting cynical in her old age, but there will always be some bands that remind her why she loves music. Little Red are one of those bands. The harmonies are to die for and Taka at the back behind the drum kit wears a smile that would soothe even the world weariest soul. With a sound that melds garage pop and doo-wop soul, the microphone-swapping quintet will be releasing their debut album Listen To Little Red on Sat Jun 28. Their debut headlining tour kicks off mid-August and brings the band to Adelaide on Fri Aug 29 to play Jive Bar.

DISHING THE DIRT
A lot of bands burst out of the blocks with a solid EP or two to mark their musical intentions, but then keep us waiting for their release of their debut long-player. Understandably they want to make sure they get it right, but it leaves us trying to patiently wait, when all we want is new material. Angelas Dish first won fans with a couple of choice EP releases, notably 2005’s Lie, Die. Now the Central Coast quartet has signed off on their debut full-length, War On Time, and are asking music fans to take the time to really listen to the album. We may be living in an age of music being digested as single tracks downloaded free from the internet, but some bands are worth the effort. Angelas Dish will repay the favour for your full attention when they launch the album at Jive on Sat Jul 12. The band will be calling into Big Star the following day for an instore. Hype will bring you more details as they come to hand.

CARP ARTS
It was no mean feat for Carpathian to score a spot on the Soundwave tour this year. The Victorian band can boast of being the only Australian band on a bill of over around 40 international bands. It was a highly coveted spot. But Carpathian deserved the attention such a place granted them. The blistering band have just converged on a studio in Wakefield, Massachusetts, belonging to American producer Jay Maas who recorded the band’s new album Isolation. Bringing the album to the live setting, the band will head out on tour with Break Even and The Broderick and will play Fowler’s Live on Sat Aug 2. Get your tickets from VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>

BUDDHIST GETAWAY
The word funk often sends people screaming from the room, but funk doesn’t have to be a slap bass wank-fest. Funk is the ultimate party genre - get your feet on the floor and dance! Good Buddha most definitely play the good kind of funk. They combine it with hip hop, reggae, African styles and make music that is perfect for getting on down to. Especially once you’ve had a couple of the Crown & Sceptre’s yummy cocktails. Hype recommends something warm and wintry to kickstart your heart when Good Buddha drop in on Thu Jul 10 to play songs off their new album Hit The Sky Running.

PILOT EPISODE
There must have been a twinge of “Why rock music?” thought by Mrs Siva-Rajah, when her son Raj told her he wasn’t going to follow in her classically-trained footsteps. Instead of the Carnatic music Raj was introduced to as part of his Sri Lankan heritage, Siva-Rajah has chosen a life of crunching guitars, pounding drums and rock’n’roll. As frontman of The Sunpilots, Siva-Rajah is bringing the rock to Jive on Fri Aug 8 when the band launches its debut album, Living Receiver. Get tickets from Moshtix <moshtix.com.au>

IN PRIMARY COLOURS
Are you ready to get your electro on? Sydney’s dazzling dance trio Grafton Primary are launching their new single She Knows It, with a quick visit over to Rocket Bar on Fri Jun 27. Stowing away in the van will be indie wunderkind, The ELF (better known to music fans around the country as Darren from Gerling).

SCOPE BROADENED
You know you’ve finally made it as a band when you announce a tour and you’re being supported by one of your musical heroes. It’s got to be a pretty big thrill for Perth rockers Gyroscope then that, even though they’ve already topped the charts with their new album Breed Obsession, they’re now announced a mammoth 36 date regional and capital cities tour with big rock influences, Shihad. The tour is in aid of Gyroscope’s next single Australia and, having seen the band on their last tour, Hype is prepared to go out on a limb and say these four laidback lads are fast becoming one of the best live bands in the country. So don’t miss them when they bring Shihad and fellow Perth rockers Sugar Army to the Pretoria Hotel, Mannum on Sat Sep 6 and HQ on Sun Sep 7. Tickets go on sale from Ticketek <ticketek.com.au> and VenueTix <venuetix.com.au> from Thu Jun 29.

LOVE IN THIS CUB
Local lads Wolf & Cub are a rhythmic machine. Anchored at the back by twin drum kits, Wolf & Cub play a powerful brand of atmospheric rock. The strength of their debut Vessels got them signed to acclaimed British indie label 4AD and now the band are working with Christopher Colonna from the Bumblebeez on their follow-up. The first single One To The Other is almost ready to go so the band is playing the Ed Castle on Sat Jul 5.

THE TIDE IS HIGH
Get ready to have your socks rocked off by Queenslanders Mourning Tide. The heavy rockers are joining forces and car-pooling with young Melburnians House Vs Hurricane, they of the ambient hardcore, to head off around the country. We get our turn on Sun Jul 27 at Fowler’s Live. Get your tickets at the door.

RED SUN MONKEY TIME
It’s been awhile since Adelaidians have been able to get all haunted and wistful listening to the ethereal sounds of theredsunband, but the girls want you to know they’ve missed your smiling faces and appreciation for their fine, fine tunes and they can’t wait to get back to the Jade Monkey on Sat Jul 12.

CHAMBERS ORCHESTRA
Australian queen of country music Kasey Chambers hit the top of the charts again earlier this year, with her latest album, Rattlin’ Bones. This time though, Chambers isn’t doing it on her own. Rattlin’ Bones is a collaboration between Chambers and her husband, Shane Nicholson. While Chambers brings her country sounds to the album, Nicholson is the roots, folk and rock side of the coin and together they’ve got the balance just right. The happy couple is enlisting a band, that includes Kasey’s dad Bill Chambers and the whole tour kicks off in Adelaide on Wed Aug 13. Tickets are available from VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>.

APRA Q&A
These days there seems to be an award for everything, especially in the music industry. Often it’s hard to know which are the important ones and which awards have been decided by some 16-year-old smarmy music blogger and her pet dog, Thom. Let Hype make things easy for you. In the Australian music industry it’s simple. There’s the ARIAs which you’ve seen on telly and then there’s the APRAs. While a broad group of music professionals from critics to record company reps vote for the ARIAs, the APRA Awards are decided by APRA’s 30,000 members who are all songwriters. Winning an APRA award is a pat on the back from your peers. This year’s awards are being held in Sydney on Mon Jun 16, so Hype asked three nominees to uncover the mystery behind the creation of their nominated songs, The Hiptones’ I’ve Been Loving You Too Long for Blues and Roots Work of the Year, Eskimo Joe’s New York and Sally Seltmann (AKA New Buffalo) for 1, 2, 3, 4 (recorded by Canadian artist Feist). Seltmann and Eskimo Joe are both nominated for APRA Song of the Year.

What was the process of writing your APRA nominated song?
Brother T, The Hiptones: We wrote the song when Snooks, Steve Smith and I were doing an intensive session of writing with a debut album in mind. Snooks and I were convinced that we could blend our influences of blues, funk and soul into a sound that was more ‘us’ with a nod to some really important retro influences and create something unique. It was all just feeling it really. Although I came to the session with some grooves that I had been working on, we wrote most of the song in about two hours. Then we just thought about the words a little bit more to bring it all together.
Kav Temperley, Eskimo Joe: The first part of New York that appeared was the line, ‘I should have stayed in bed’. It came while I was lying in bed with the flu in a hotel in Melbourne during the Big Day Out tour. When we got home we started working out some chords for the verse, but still had no melody or words, so we invited around a bunch of friends and set everyone up on different instruments (I was on acoustic, which is always easiest for me while writing on the go). We taught everyone the song structure as it stood so far and started jamming and in moment of frustration after hours of nothing, I just spontaneously started singing the first thing that came into my head which ended up being the story of a disastrous trip to New York the year before.
Sally Seltmann: My friend had just told me that she was leaving her partner. Following this, I literally walked into my house, sat at the piano, and wrote 1, 2, 3, 4 in about 20 minutes. The melody and the lyrics came together at the same time. This happens to me occasionally, and it feels good, because I'm just going with my subconscious, and not over analysing anything that I'm doing. I then gave the song to Feist, wondering whether she might like to use it. She started playing it live, and then recorded it for her album, The Reminder. During this stage she asked is she could change some of the lyrics. I was happy for her to make the changes, and liked the lyrics she added.

In your opinion, what makes a great song?
The Hiptones: When the words and lyrics meld together to make a piece of music powerful enough to completely change your mood, and take you to somewhere that you want to be, or touches you deep. Could be a good groove, a great lyric or a heartfelt lament.
Eskimo Joe: Obviously a good melody and lyric, but what gets me is a sense of mystery. The best songs always work in any style on any instrument.
Sally Seltmann: A memorable, catchy melody and subject matter that nearly everyone can relate to, but with lyrics that are unique and imaginative, without being too clever and wordy. Either that, or a song where the production is completely new and original and the sounds and melody are strong enough to carry themselves with few or no lyrics at all.
Head to <apra.com.au> for more APRA details.

HEY JUDAS
Raise those devil horns to the sky metal heads, the Priest is coming to absolve you of your sins. The original line-up of Judas Priest is Australia-bound. That means Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, KK Downing, Ian Hill and Scott Travis will be playing songs from their iconic albums such as Hell Bent For Leather, British Steel and Stained Class as well as bringing to Australia songs from their brand new album Nostradamus - a metal opera about the prediction guru. The band plays the Entertainment Centre on Sun Sep 14. Tickets for this epic show go on sale on Fri Jun 13 from Ticketek <ticketek.com.au> and if having these metal heroes in the one place at the one time isn’t enough, Judas Priest are being supported on their Australian tour by Cavalera Conspiracy - the project that reunites brothers Max and Igor Cavalera.

A: WE ARE DEVO
Are you ready to Whip It? Whip it good? If you’re not sure how to, Akron, Ohio’s finest synth popsters Devo are coming to show you the way. You’ve all danced along to their version of (I Can’t Get No) Satisfication, Mongoloid and Blockhead. Now you can dance along as the band play the songs live at Thebarton Theatre on Mon Aug 4. Tickets go on sale Thu Jun 12 through VenueTix <venuetix.com.au> and the band will be joined in Adelaide by Regurgitator.

TOTAL RECOIL
Lacuna Coil announced their tour, cancelled their tour and have now said they will be making their way to Australia eventually - we just have to wait until Soundwave next year. Hype is a bit scared, because it feels like we’ve just had Soundwave 2008 and who wants to think about February next year already, but Lacuna Coil fans who have got themselves a refund on their original tickets should put their money aside and save it to use on a Soundwave ticket.

JIVE SNOWBUNNIES
Snowman’s self-titled debut album was an abrasive, dark pleasure to behold. The band have just released a new album The Horse, The Rat And The Swan where guitars swirl, Andy’s violin squeals and the musical landscape is treacherous and edgy. Catch the band when they bring their new songs to life at Jive on Wed Jul 9 with Baseball in support.

THE MOD SQUAD
Modular don’t just know how to find those bands that are destined to make it big. The record label is also pretty good at knowing how to throw a party. The latest Modular circus to hit the road is the Van She Party. Considering the impact Van She made on the live scene last year it’s hard to believe they still haven’t released their debut album, but it’s coming. August is the release date for V and to get you party people good and ready the band is touring in July to play live (expect an introduction to some of the new songs) and also DJ - where you’ll be treated to some tasty dancefloor treats and some of the band’s quality remixes. The band hits town on Sat Jul 26 and will be taking over the Edinburgh Castle. Tickets are available from VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>.

THE FUTURE’S UNWRITTEN
Lovable punk larrikins Unwritten Law have always connected with Australian audiences. Maybe it’s their cheeky sense of humour, their shared sun, surf and sand outlook thanks to their Californian heritage or maybe it’s the raw, blistering pop punk the band play that connects with Australian music fans. Whatever it is, the band is getting ready to release a combined live CD/DVD (it seems that’s what all the cool kids are doing these days). Live And Lawless is out in August, just in time for the band to kick it at HQ on Fri Aug 22. Get your tickets from VenueTix <venuetix.com.au> and <killrockstar.com.au>..

IN BETWEEN DAYS
One half of the songwriting team that put Australian pop on the international map in the ‘80s, Go-Between Robert Forster sadly lost his collaborator Grant McLennan two years ago from a heart attack. The Evangelist is Forster’s first album since his musical partner’s death and includes some of McLennan’s last songwriting efforts. Forster is taking to the road to play the beautiful rich pop off the album. Head along to the Governor Hindmarsh on Wed Aug 6 to see Forster. Tickets are on sale from the venue, and VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>.

NICE N SLEAZY
It’s been a while for them to find the time but the Hell City Glamours have finally signed off on their debut album. The straight-up, sleazy rock of the Sydney quartet will be heard from Sat Jul 5 and they’ll be dropping into Enigma Bar on Sat July 19.

THE GREAT ESCAPE
Australian fans missed out on seeing Las Vegas post-hardcore outfit Escape The Fate last year when they cancelled their spot on the Taste Of Chaos tour. Instead they went into the studio and took all the ups and downs associated with 12 months of being a band and channeled them into a new album. Though the album isn’t out until later in the year, the band is making up for lost time and coming to hang out with their Australian fans at Fowler’s Live on Tue Jul 22. Tickets go on sale on Fri Jun 6 and are available from Moshtix <moshtix.com.au> and VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>.

A HINDMARSH SHADE WINTER
There’s nothing better on a cold winter night than curling up with the heating on, putting on a few tunes and enjoying a nice wine and some winter snacks. One of the cosiest pubs in Adelaide, the Governor Hindmarsh, is starting up a new night for people that love a winter night like Hype’s described but is sick of sitting at home on the couch to do it. Winter Warmers kicks off on Thu Jun 12 and will be a weekly night of cheese platters, wine, warmth and a live band. The first night sees the appropriately named Wintermild weaving a web of delightfully toasty indie pop.

CRASH BOOM BANG
Flamingo Crash are at once both old and new. The band’s indie, electro pop pays homage to bands like XTC and Talking Heads but is made for a generation used to technological overload. Self-aware, substantial and a hell of a lot of fun, Flamingo Crash are celebrating the release of their debut album Triangle Island and are bringing the album to the Edinburgh Castle on Sat Jun 21 with Mad Shapes and DJs PhDJ and Craig. Tickets will be sold at the door on the night.

LAMPLIGHT MY FIRE
Melbourne five-piece Lamplight uses traditional instruments, double bass, violin, flute and piano to make music that is just as much modern indie pop as anything older. Fresh from getting radio spins on French and American radio, Lamplight are packing their instruments into their cases and loading up their van to come over to play Fowler’s Live on Fri Jun 20.

ACUTE ANGELS
Sydney electropunk duo Angelspit have recorded their second album Blood, Death And Ivory. The album is out later this month, and then the band will come to Adelaide to play the Crown & Anchor on Fri Jul 4.

TEN THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T DO AT A GIG
No one needs an instruction manual on how to behave at a concert; find a good spot, clap in between songs, and thoroughly enjoy yourself. But Hype’s been to a lot of gigs over the years and there are an awful lot of people out there who need a reminder of some of the things you probably shouldn’t do.

1) Don’t wear the gig shirt
By all means buy a band tee. You’ll be helping your favourite musicians hold the wolves of hunger at bay a little bit longer, but don’t put it on straight away. There are at least 50 people in the room already wearing the tee and rock‘n’roll should never be about a uniform. The “don’t wear the gig tee” rule lasts for at least the first week after the gig. No exceptions.

2) Don’t talk the whole way through
It’s bad enough if you decide a loud and packed band room is the best place to catch up with the friend you haven’t seen for a month, but talking the entire way through a gig is absolutely unforgivable if the band/artist isn’t playing ear-bleedingly loud tunes. If Hype can hear everything you’re saying about the girl three rows away that used to go out with your best friend’s cousin then go into the front bar. People paid to hear the sound from onstage, not the nattering person standing next to them.

3) Pick a spot and stay there
Hype can appreciate sometimes people need to get a drink or find a friend after the main band has started, that’s fine. Rule Three isn’t directed at you. Rule Three is aimed at that person that waits until 20 minutes into the set before they come and stand right in front of you then spends the entire show leaning over to whisper things in their friend’s ear, cutting off your perfect view of the stage. There are people behind you. Always remember that.

4) Don’t take your top off
Unless you look like Brad Pitt in Troy - though obviously you won’t be wearing a skirt and carrying a shield -  Hype really doesn’t want to see your flabby, pasty beer belly bouncing around in the mosh. Everyone else at the show is hot too, but keep it on.

5) Don’t layer everyone else in your sweat
Even when you’re in a packed crowd there are still personal space rules that definitely apply. Why are the sweatiest guys in the room always the people that need the personal space lessons? It’s bad enough the rest of the room has to put up with the stench of human bodies from the mosh pit, but to end up covered in someone else’s sweat as they push through the crowds is just disgusting.

6) Don’t drink so much before hand you don’t remember the show
Why would anyone spend $60-$100 for a ticket to a show, then spend another $100-$200 to forget everything about the show? Unless it’s the new version of the Smashing Pumpkins and the best thing to do is drink until you’ve erased the entire thing from your memory, save the majority of the drinking until after the show, that way you can have crazy big night with your buddies, still get your money’s worth out of your favourite band and you’re not going to annoy the shit out of everyone around you.

7) Don’t sing every word in someone’s ear
The reason the band is onstage is usually because they’re pretty good at what they do. If you’re really as good as the main act, start a band. Don’t annoy the shit out of your friends by trying to out sing the lead singer.

8) Don’t heckle the support band
It’s a pretty thankless task playing early on the bill. Even the biggest bands in the world had to start somewhere. They’re just doing what they do. If you don’t dig it, go have a beer in the front bar and just let them get on with it.

9) Don’t ask the merch guy/girl how big the medium is?
The merch person is usually getting shit money, has taken a lot of time and care putting up their merch display and has to deal with drunk dickheads all night. They know you want to know about sizes, everyone does. But don’t ask stupid questions. It’s also good merch karma to spare a bit of loose change for the merch tip jar and give your friendly merch retailer a smile. They deserve it.

10) Being a fan is okay, being a stalker isn’t
Bands like meeting their fans but it gets a bit weird if you’re at every show, before soundcheck just waiting for the band to give you that glimpse of recognition. Say hi after the gig, get your photo taken or get something signed if you must, then let the band get back to their friends and the important task of drinking their rider.

MOD-ERN MAN
Without Paul Weller, British rock would make a pretty short chapter in the history of music. From his work out front of original Mod rockers, The Jam (Eton Rifles, A Town Called Malice) to The Style Council (That’s Entertainment) and now solo, Weller’s influence can be felt in almost all that have followed. For Mod fans in Australia the wait to see Weller back in this country performing live has been a long one. It’s been 20 years since Weller’s played here. Now though, the Thebarton Theatre will rock as a Mod haven once more. Be there on Fri Aug 15 when Weller returns. Tickets are available from VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>

SAY GOODBYE
Regular metal not tough enough for you? Psycroptic take metal one step further and make it extreme. With years of international supports and national headlining tours under their belt, the band is doing their last 2008 shows in Australia before they embark on a US roadtrip. You can see them for one last time this year at Enigma on Fri Jun 13 with A Red Dawn and Closed Casket. Get your tickets at the door.

SPARKS FLY
Sydney popsters Sparkadia know better than most that being in the right place at the right time, or more accurately, having your music playing at the right place at the right time, can lead to big things. When a UK music exec was on his way to a wedding in Australia and didn’t like what he heard on the radio, he popped the Sparkadia demo into the CD player. Now the band are proud owners of a debut album recorded by Ben Hillier (Blur, Elbow) in London and are getting ready to play Glastonbury and V Fest during the UK summer. Find out what has caught the attention of London’s tastemakers when the band drops into Jive Bar on Sat Jun 14 with Dirty Secrets and Femme Fatale. Tickets from Moshtix <moshtix.com.au>

DANCING FOR JOY
Hype surely isn’t the only person who’s been won over by the charms of catchy Wombats single, Let’s Dance To Joy Division. It really is the kind of song that sends you spinning around your room using your hairbrush for a microphone. The single propelled the band’s debut album A Guide To Love, Loss And Desperation into the Top 15 of the Hottest 100 and now you can dance around The Gov while the band plays the song live. One of the few bands bothering to include Adelaide in their Splendour side-show plans, show your appreciation at the Gov on Thu Aug 7. Get your tickets at VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>

CHARITY BEGINS AT THE CAVERN CLUB
There are some pretty horrific images being shown on the news every night at the moment. Natural disasters are affecting those least able to cope. A group of local bands are coming together to raise money for the World Vision Myanmar Cyclone Relief. The Cavern Club, who are generously hosting the gig at no cost to the bands, is the place to be on Sat May 31. The bands and solo artists performing are Point Of Difference, Palky, Jupiter Lead, Ben Dring, Monkeybox, Rob McDade, Temple Tigers, The British Robots, Tara and Adam, Interval and masterful magician Nicholas Tweedy. Go along and help your fellow man.

EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE
Melbourne band State Of Flux combine a brooding, alternative rock sound with haunting electronica and the soaring vocals of Roni Shewan. The band is working on its debut EP, but to take some time out from the studio, the four-piece is bringing their new single Surface Tension to Adelaide when they play the Crown & Anchor on Fri May 30 with Day On Fire.

LIFT UP YOUR VOICES
Life really is a celebration when the Soweto Gospel Choir open their mouths and sing. The group is one of the most famous choirs in the world and is often back in Australia to perform its range of jaw-dropping material from traditional African songs to music a lot more modern and familiar - one of the group’s newest additions to their repertoire is Bob Dylan’s Remember You. The group perform over two nights on Sun Jun 22 and Mon Jun 23 at the Festival Theatre. And when the Choir takes around the hat at the end of the show make sure you drop in some loose change. On their travels around the world, the donations they collect go to a charity in South Africa that assists AIDS orphans. So far the choir has raised almost US $1 million.

STARTING A FIRE
Orange County hardcore heroes Ignite have a new album out Our Darkest Days and to get the album’s message across, the band are returning for their second tour of Australia. Playing Enigma Bar on Fri Jul 18, the band will be exploring the political and social themes that they’ve been delving into on all of their highly-charged albums. So get your tickets at VenueTix <venuetix.com.au> and get ready to sing along at the top of your lungs.

THINKING CAPS ON
From the mouths of babes… the world’s young folk are forever getting told “they’re the future”, but are then told to wait for the future to actually do anything of worth in the world. The Institute Of Chartered Accountants in Australia is giving business and accounting university students a chance to step up. They’re running a competition that asks the students to come up with real-life business solutions for non-profit organisations and be in the running for $65,000 worth of prizes. Check out the website <figureditoutyet.com.au>.

HANS SOLO
After a sold out Fringe Festival run, everyone’s favourite accordion playing cabaret crooner Hans is back. Accompanied by musical partner Jonothan Ruse and dancer The Lucky Bitches, Hans is performing his Showpony Tour intimate and live at La Boheme on Sat Jun 7.

CARVING IT UP
Death metal doesn’t get much bigger than in Sweden. Dismember are one of the biggest bands in the genre and this year celebrate 20 years of making quality metal. The band is coming to Enigma on Wed Jul 16 to rock Adelaide to its core. Joining the band will be TzunTzu and Altarrs and you can grab your tickets from VenueTix <venuetix.com.au> or Oz Tix <oztix.com.au>.

WHOLE NEW CHAPTER
Guy Blackman scours the world looking for beautiful music. Blackman runs Chapter Music, a record label for gorgeous, lo-fi indie music. But Blackman doesn’t just give others a chance to get their songs heard. He’s also an accomplished musician himself. A member of now parted Melbourne bands Sleepy Township and Minimum Chips, Blackman has just released his debut solo album, Adult Baby. Playing a similar type of music to what comes out on his label, Blackman will be playing Rocket Bar on Fri Jun 20 with Hit The Jackpot, No Through Road and Shame Spiral. Give 8211 8288 a call to buy tickets.

UNCOILING
Sorry boys and girls, but Italian metallers Lacuna Coil must not love us after all. Though they’d only just announced their tour (which was supposed to take in Fowler’s on Sun Jun 22), they’ve already decided they’d rather lie on a beach in the Mediterranean sun. The tour has been cancelled and you can take your ticket back to the place of purchase to get a refund. And obviously, Hype just made up the bit about them lying on a beach. There’s probably a perfectly good explanation.

NOT SO SPLENDID
Surprise, surprise! Splendour In The Grass tickets have taken just several hours to sell out so if you missed out, you’ll be able to put all the accommodation and air fare or petrol money into hosting a party at your place instead. Let’s face it, the Byron Bay festival may be a lot of fun, but it’s not the cheapest weekend away you can have.

STUFF OF NIGHTMARES
First in Australia with Megadeth on the 2006 Gigantour, German metalcore act Caliban are back are bringing back their new album The Awakening. Recorded with Adam D of Killswitch Engage, the album is full of the band’s trademark dynamism and power and you can expect the band to bring their A-game when they play Fowler’s Live on Sun Aug 17. Melbourne band Her Nightmare will be the hard-hitting support. Tickets go on sale Fri May 30 from VenueTix <venuetix.com.au> and Moshtix <moshtix.com.au>.

HYPE Q&A
Melbourne crew True Live are getting ready to drop in to Flinders Uni with good buddies Bliss N Eso, The Funkoars and The Winnie Coopers. The six-piece mix hip hop, jazz, funk and soul into a smooth, good-time sound that you can find on their latest album The Shape Of It  and the Flinders Uni party is happening on Thu May 29 and Fri May 30. Get your tickets from the Uni. Before True Live make the drive across the border, Hype tried to find out what makes True Live’s Thomas “Tom Tom” Butt tick.

When you're at home do you mostly listen to CDs or vinyl?
CDs don’t even get a look in at home. In fact, the only CD player we have is in my computer. I have an awful lot of records. Last time I moved house there were 18 boxes of vinyl, so we mostly play those.
Are they sorted alphabetically or randomly (or in some other ingenious form or filing?)
Generally they’re sorted by genre at the moment. They used to be alphabetical by genre, but I’ve been a bit lazy, so now it’s a more sorted by memory.
What do you think you'll be listening to when you're 70?
Hopefully not whatever the kids are listening to.  Maybe talkback radio.     
Is there anything you'll never let the others listen to in the van?
I know I studied it and I do still love it, but I can only listen to jazz piano trios for a limited amount of time before it all becomes a blur. That’s when I force Black Sabbath on (again).
On your travels what's the best piece of street art you've seen?
Hmmm, it’s hard to top some of the Melbourne street art around dark dingy lanes in Collingwood, but my new favourite is installations in venue urinals. People store the craziest things in the urinal. I’ve seen gumboots, spiders, blood and money, all just sitting there like someone is coming right back for them.  
Is there a shop, cafe, et cetera that you always make sure you visit on tour?
There is a great Thai restaurant in Sydney called I-San City in Pitt St that serves some of the most authentic no-holds-barred Thai food I’ve ever eaten. We try to get there every time we’re in New South Wales. In Hobart it’s definitely the oyster farm near the airport - $6.50 p/dozen with their lids on!
What's the first thing you do when you arrive home after a tour? 
I tend to go home via the best Vietnamese soup restaurant in Richmond and order a giant steaming bowl of rare sliced beef rice noodle soup. It reminds me that I’m home, and tastes heaps better than airport food. Then I usually fall asleep on the couch pretty quickly.
Before you became a musician (when you were a youngster, say about seven or eight) what was the most fun thing you could possibly imagine doing?
The most fun thing was probably picking scabs with my sister or throwing fruit at passing traffic, but our imaginations ran overtime all the time with dreams of lasers and galaxies far, far away. Also, chocolate was a highly sought after and not readily available, as were birthdays.

DIESEL POWER
There’s no denying the music industry is in the middle of great change. The old business model is no longer working, so while some are clinging desperately to the sinking ship and cursing the iceberg, others are closing their eyes, taking a jump and trusting their ability to swim, and using whatever they can to help them on the way. Diesel U Music is a new way for bands to network and get their name out there. Artists who have been helped by Diesel U Music in the past include We Are Scientists and Mylo. Head to the website <diesel-u-music.com> to discover your new favourite band or get your music heard.

ROSETTA’S TONE
A lot of bands look exactly like the kind music they play. Guys with big bushy beards wearing check shirts should play swampy blues, while a bunch of skinny kids in tiny jeans and blazers are obviously the latest angular rockers. Philadelphian post-rock/metallers Rosetta look exactly like the kind of band that matches brutal riffs with technical mastery and experimentalism. The band has just released new album Wake/Lift and if the words metal, mastery and experimentalism haven’t given you enough of an insight into what the album sounds like, the tour press release cites bands as diverse as Neurosis, Explosions In The Sky and Isis as influences. If you’re still confused maybe the best thing is to get along to the Enigma Bar on Thu Jun 26, when Rosetta will be playing with Robotosaurus and Worms of the Earth.

A WINTER’S TALE
Hype loves it when artists collaborate or team up on stage for something a bit different. It’s so much more fun than just seeing a live show that’s exactly the same as listening to an artist’s album. Two Sydney songbirds are taking off around the country next month and instead of sticking to the usual support act, then headliner rules, Sam Buckingham and Sarah Humphreys are mixing things up a bit. The two will both play solo but will also do a set together where they won’t just be playing their own songs. This unique double act takes over the Grace Emily on Thu Jul 17.

BAILEY’S ENGLISH CREAM
Has there ever been a supporting character on a TV show quite as daft but still so lovely as Manny, the foil to Dylan Moran’s cantankerous book shop owner in Black Books. The man behind Manny and that beard is UK comedian Bill Bailey and before Bailey signed on for the TV comedy Black Books, he had carved out a name for himself as a top shelf stand-up comedian. Going back to his roots, Bailey is returning to Australia to do a national tour in September. See him at Thebarton Theatre on Thu Sep 11.

VANESSA’S REAL WORLD TOUR
Forget what you think you know about Vanessa Amorosi. You’re probably wrong. If the name Vanessa Amorosi conjures up in your mind a young pop starlet, then it’s time you had another listen. Amorosi has a fantastic set of pipes that can really only be fully appreciated when she’s singing rock and soul. Luckily her pop days are a long way behind her and her new album Somewhere In the Real World explores the full potential of her voice. Out on Sat May 24, the album is a precursor to a string of live dates that brings Amorosi to the Governor Hindmarsh on Tue Jul 22. Book at VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>

GASLIGHT RECORDS
Every new band arrives armed with a bio that quotes favourable reviews or mentions in the coolest and hippest music mags. New Jersey’s Gaslight Anthem can go one better. They’re not only being feted by the music press. They’ve already been taken under the wing of Hype’s favourite punk rockers Against Me!, while Thursday lead singer and New Jersey scene leader Geoff Rickly recently had this to say about the band: “They’re so great. Seeing them’s cool but he’s such a great songwriter. Right now it’s just all about how amazing his songs are. He doesn’t write bad songs.” Though the band’s cracker debut Sink Or Swim has sprung from the band’s punk influences, there’s also been much made of the band’s musical connection to fellow New Jersey boy Bruce Springsteen. If you want to be there right at the start, get along to Enigma on Sat Aug 2. Tickets from VenueTix.

ORIGINAL FLYNN
Even people who would never watch Australia Idol used to say to Hype, “You know, the one with the big hair… he’s my favourite.” And no, they didn’t mean Adelaide’s own Guy Sebastian. Instead they were talking about the very unique Bobby Flynn. One of Idol’s biggest flaws is the homogenised view it paints of the music industry, but occasionally a performer that doesn’t fit into that carefully constructed pop model manages to slip through the cracks. Bobby Flynn was such a contestant and not just because of the crazy hair. Flynn will be bringing his unique take on pop music to the Gov on Fri Jun 27.

THIS HEART ATTACK
The elegantly chaotic, I Heart Hiroshima are already making plans to take them through to the end of 2008. Though they’re bound to be back later in the year, you can guarantee when their debut album Tuff Teef comes out in the UK and the US in a couple of months things will get a lot busier. So take advantage of the opportunity to see them when they team up with Brisbane duo An Horse at Jive on Thu Jun 5.

CLEAR AND PRESET DANGER
Just a community service announcement - because Hype is looking out for your best interests, after all. Bad news, Presets fans. The HQ gig in Adelaide on Fri Jun 20 is sold out. And if you forgot to get tickets you’re now in a spot of bother, because the band has sold out the whole tour. Yes, that’s right folks, all nine shows around the country are at capacity, so next time, get in early or don’t get in at all.

PETE ‘N’ AUD
We know we announced the Pete Murray tour a couple of weeks ago, but Hype just wants to add, the Audreys are unplugging for the tour and appearing as an acoustic trio to support ‘The Muz’. Also because Pete knows what you Muz fans are like, he appeared on Bigpond Music’s Monday Night Live recently so you addicts can head to Bigpond music to check out clips from the concert.

TRASH AND TREASURES
Put your hand up if you love a bit of schlocky horror on the big screen? Ever had a go at making one? Trasharama A-Go-Go - a short film festival is all about schlocky horror, bad taste, bad comedies, sci-fi, tack and trash. You can record the film anyway you like pretty much, and it can be as old as the hills. Just head to <trasharama.com.au> for an entry form and the conditions. The national competition is opening until September but if you enter after Thu Aug 14 you will have to pay a late fee.

Lacuna Coil have announced that their Australian Tour which was due to kick off in Perth on Thursday 19 June has been cancelled.

All tickets can be taken back to the point of purchase for a full refund.

www.kmwproductions.com

HERD’S UP
Australian hip hop has thankfully, never conformed to the more formulaic aspects of the genre that we’re fed from the US. The Herd are one group that has been exploring the way hip hop fits into the Australian musical landscape for a long time now. Like Adelaide’s favourite hip hoppers The Hilltop Hoods and Melbourne multicultural combo Curse ov Dialect, The Herd tell stories that are uniquely Australian, even remaking the quintessential Australian track, I Was Only Nineteen with its original writer John Schumann. Head to Fowler’s Live on Sat Sep 6 to catch the group, doin’ what they do. Tickets from Moshtix <moshtix.com.au>.

BLUE BARNES
Jimmy Barnes is a living legend of Australian music and to someone afforded such iconic status there’s no better place to perform in Adelaide than the Thebarton Theatre. The grand old venue will play host to Barnes on his Out In The Blue tour. Out In The Blue is the name of Barnes’ most recent album, recorded in just two weeks with producer Nash Chambers after Barnes had open heart surgery last year. Of course the show will feature all the singer’s biggest hits, but Barnes has also promised a couple of surprises. Barnes’ daughter Mahalia and her band are coming along to provide the support. The concert takes place on Sat Jun 28 at Thebby. Tickets are available from VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>

GET HAPPY
The Happy Endings came together almost by accident. The group went into the studio just to have a bit of fun, had a producer friend record the five songs and suddenly the band was getting played on Triple J. Sometimes what happens to a band’s music is completely out of their hands. Though everything has been happening very quickly for The Happy Endings, the band has now had time to go back into the studio and record a whole album with acclaimed heavy rock producer Forrester Savell (The Butterfly Effect, Birds Of Tokyo). To bring their new songs to the people the band is playing the Electric Light Hotel on Thu May 15, the Exeter Hotel on Fri May 16 and Jive Bar on Sat May 17.

POUR SOME SHUGGAH ON ME
It seems bands in Sweden either make sweet indie pop or punishing, brutal metal. Meshuggah most definitely makes the latter. Regarded around the world for their genre-bending experimentalism, Meshuggah are finally on their way to Australia. Metal fans have been waiting for this for a long time, but now with their latest album ObZen out in stores, Meshuggah play HQ on Tue Oct 14. Get your tickets from Fri May 23 at VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>.

OPETH DAY
Another group of Swedish metal heavyweights are making their way down under very soon to rock Adelaide to its foundations. Like Meshuggah, Opeth have expanded the metal genre to take in elements of folk, prog, classic rock and jazz. The band is about to release a new album, Watershed, on Sat May 31, then in September they’ll be here in the flesh. Opeth play the Thebarton Theatre on Thu Sept 4. Tickets are available from Ticketek on Fri May 16.

ANOTHER QUICK GETAWAY
The coming of age for just about every young Australian band happens on the road, in a van, driving the hundreds of kilometres between shows. The Getaway Plan have been racking up the ks, on their Other Voices, Other Rooms album tour but aren’t ready to settle back in at home yet. Now it’s time for the Where The City Meets The Sea single tour. Well, once they finish the Kisschasy Skins And Bones Tour, that is. You can help alleviate The Getaway Plan’s homesickness by cheering them on at The Gov on Sat Jun 28. Tickets are available from VenueTix <venuetix.com.au>

HOGLAN’S HEROES
Attention all drummers! It’s not often you get to see the world’s best drummers performing on their own. Usually there’s a guitarist, bass player and flashy frontman getting in the way and trying to make themselves heard over the beatkeeper at the back. Gene Hoglan has played with bands like Death, Testament, Opeth and Strapping Young Lad and for a change, he’s coming to play at Allans Music, Gawler Place, by himself. To see Hoglan perform head along on Fri May 23. Tickets are available from Allans Music stores, or online <allansmusic.com.au>.

FOR WHAT IT’S WERTHER
Young Werther is the band surrounding Melbourne singer/songwriter Mick Young. Growing up in a small mining town to a family of butchers and farmers, Young brings a unique perspective to his gentle, subtle folk. Young Werther are bringing the beautiful mini-album Treasure to South Australia in June. Catch them at The Wheatsheaf Hotel on Fri Jun 13, The Grace Emily on Sat Jun 14 and doing an afternoon show at Red Poles in McLaren Vale on Sun Jun 15.

THE WHIT ROOM
A popular fixture around Sydney’s inner-west, The Whitlams’ music transcends the very specific places it’s written about. Adelaide has always embraced The Whitlams and it’s been awhile since they’ve popped into the Gov, so make sure you’re there on Fri Aug 22 to see Tim Freedman and his gang sing all their hits.

SIN EXCESS
Sydney’s Mortal Sin spent the ‘80s and early ‘90s getting very good at what they do, playing internationally renowned metal. The band was the first Australian metal band to sign to a major record label, and after a long break, are back this year with new album An Absence of Faith and a show at Enigma Bar on Fri May 30 with local bands Truth Corroded and Skintilla.

HERE BE KRISTA
Former local lass Krista Polvere is finally able to see her debut album Here Be Dragons on the shelves of record stores this week. The album was recorded when Polvere went over to New York to work on her album and found herself collaborating with Ryan Adams. The alternative folky is delighted to be playing a homecoming gig at the Grace Emily on Wed Jun 18.

CD FAIR AND TRUE
No true record or CD collection is complete without a couple of well-searched for gems found at a record fair. While the advent of the internet has been great for buying those hard-to-find albums, tour posters, T-shirts or memorabilia, it’s not nearly as satisfying waiting for something to arrive in the mail when you can thumb through rack upon rack of music at a record fair. The next Giant Music Sale is on for three days over the June long weekend (Sat Jun 7 to Mon Jun 9) at the Adelaide Showground. Get along and find yourself a bargain.

THE GOLDENTONE DAYS
Many Adelaide music fans will remember Tim Hudspith and his musical project Goldentone from the years he was playing around his hometown. Since then he’s moved, found and lost several musical partners and now teamed up with guitarist Adam Seery. Making their first appearance together in Adelaide, the pair is teaming up with original Goldentone bass player James Bosworth to play the Exeter Hotel on Sat May 17. Tim will perform solo in the Big Star basement on Wed May 14 with We Grow Up.

THE DUDE ABIDES
We’ve all had that one burning question we’ve wanted to ask someone in a band, but not everyone went to school with the guitarist from Powderfinger’s sister, or dated the cousin of that guy that plays in that band - you know the band, they had that song. But like most things, the internet is there to provide and Darkest Hour guitarist Mike Schleibaum has long been answering all the questions his fans have been emailing to the band, so now Schleibaum is going public. He’s made a blog to answer any questions people have about music. Head to www.askthedude.net to get your questions answered, or just to read what strange things other people want to know.

TEN REASONS WHY THE ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL IS FOR EVERYONE AND NOT JUST THE OLDER ARTY SET

As a long suffering cabaret fan, Hype is here to set the record straight about the experimental and musically diverse thing that is cabaret. It’s not always easy being a rock fan that likes cabaret. People always assume the two can’t go hand in hand and that cabaret is only a couple of show tunes removed from an Andre Rieu concert. But there’s a lot more to cabaret than a piano and a bow tie and tails.

1) As an art form cabaret has always given performers an opportunity to experiment.

From its earliest days as political satire, cabaret has been a very fertile breeding ground for expression. In recent years the cabaret festival has given everyone from Dave Graney to Eddie Perfect with his Shane Warne The Musical a chance to step out of the box. This year check out madcap absurdist theatre of The Jinglists and UK award winners Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea.

2) Cheap tickets

There’s countless ways you can enjoy the festival without having to miss a week’s rent. Fringe Benefits is a great way to see some great shows for less than full price and the benefits continue all year, while Wed Jun 11 is bring a friend for free day.

3) Don Walker

The former Cold Chisel singer/songwriter and keyboard player is about as far from cabaret naffness as you can get. Walker has written some of this country’s most anthemic rock songs and continues to explore the craft as a solo writer and performer.

4) It’s all about the song

While some people will never be convinced, the timeless quality of songwriters like Cole Porter, Jacques Brel and Stephen Sondheim isn’t just because they wrote songs everyone could sing along to. They also wrote songs that were heartbreakingly honest and contain some of the great melodies. Even You Am I’s Tim Rogers is happy to declare himself a Sondheim fan.

5) The Festival Club

Who needs an excuse to dance? The Festival Club is free if you have a ticket for any show on that night, but it’s worth the $10 admission price even if you don’t. Big bands, soul bands, lounge bands and blues bands fire up the dance floor.

6) Introduction to your new favourite international artists

Each year Cabaret Festival manages to find the most exciting artists you’ve never heard of and bring them out to Australia. This year Hype’s hot tip to be your new favourite is Paprika Balkanicus, a Gypsy five piece.

7) The Burlesque Hour

Sassy, saucy, thought-provoking and hilarious, The Burlesque Hour is hot, hot, hot. Moira Finucane is a Cabaret Festival regular with her off-the-wall performance pieces and if you’ve never seen her you’re in for one hell of a shock.

8) The cabaret/cabaret shows are the highest quality

Why don’t you give show-tune/piano style cabaret a go. You never know, you might just like it. The performers the Cabaret Festival attracts are the very best. And if there’s one performer this year that Hype is particularly excited about it’s Lorna Luft. The daughter of Judy Garland, Luft has inherited her mother’s voice and innate sense of showmanship, or showwomanship in this case.

9) Kev Carmody

A true treasure of Australian music, Kev Carmody’s work has been rediscovered in recent years thanks to tribute album Cannot Buy My Soul. Carmody’s show at the Festival is a celebration of his songs and the stories that have made him a unique voice in Australian music.

10) You get to see familiar faces doing unfamiliar things

Music journalist Fiona Scott-Norman takes us through her record collection, Lano & Woodley’s Colin Lane sings Henry Mancini and you get the chance to be the star in Sing Your Own Musical.

SEA SHANTIES
We are a land girt by sea and the music made by many of our contemporary folk artists reflect the unique Australian landscape. The Holy Sea’s new album A Beginner’s Guide To The Sea tells stories of love and loss and brings the sounds of the past into the present. The Holy Sea are on the road bringing their new album to their fans and they call into the Grace Emily on Sat Jun 7 with Wintermild.

SCULPTURE CULTURE
We’re giving you plenty of notice so you’ve got no excuse when November comes around and it’s time to get your sculpture entries in for the Brighton Jetty Classic Sculptures By The Sea. The competition runs in conjunction with the Brighton Jetty Classic Swim that takes place in February each year. The Sculpture competition is this year looking to expand its competitor base to include more younger artists, especially artists between the ages of 15 and 19. Younger artists will have their own judging category with a $500 prize. The Brighton Jetty Classic website <brightonjettyclassic.com> has all the information if you’re keen to start sculpting.

STAR LETTS INSTORE
UK punk icon and DIY filmmaker Don Letts is in town next week to present a multimedia show that sees him DJing, screening clips from his influential punk documentry Punk: Attitude, and the various music videos he’s made and reading from his autobiography. Before he takes the stage at Palace Nova, he’s also giving the nod of approval to independent record store Big Star, calling in at 6pm on Fri May 16 for an instore appearance. At Big Star Letts will be reading from his autobiography and conducting a Q&A session.

PRETTY FLAMENCO
The fiery rhythms of one of the world’s great flamenco guitarists Paco Pena, is returning with a company of dancers to set alight the Festival Theatre. Pena first performed at the age of 12 and has become the authority on this passionate and energetic brand of music. A Paco Pena show doesn’t just shine a spotlight on the guitarist’s incredible talent though, the music is just one part of a bright and colourful display that includes breathtaking dancing and costumery. A Compas! To The Rhythm arrives at the Festival Theatre on Sun Jun 1. Book tickets at BASS <bass.net.au>

DUKES NUKE ‘EM
So they can thaw out from the time they spent in freezing Sweden recording their new album Minus, The Dukes Of Windsor are getting their gig on around the country next month. The bands new single It’s A War hits stores on Sat May 17, and the album will follow several months later. The boys recorded it in a former lunatic asylum in Sweden with producers Pelle Henriccsson and Eskil Lovstrom who were behind the controls of iconic Swedish punk album The Refused’s The Shape Of Punk To Come. With their new single in hand, The Dukes Of Windsor come to the Producers Bar on Fri Jun 13. Head to Ticketek <ticketek.com.au>, VenueTix <venuetix.com.au> or Oztix <oxtix.com.au> to get tickets.

MIDNIGHT COIL
Italy may be more renowned for providing the world with expensive handbags and shoes, fast cars and some amazing pieces of architecture but get ready to change your tune about what Italian music is giving to the world. Gothic metallers Lacuna Coil are winning hearts and minds around the globe, not least because of dynamite lead singer Cristina Scabbia who brings a hint of Milanese glamour to the normally male-dominated metal world. Scabbia and her band are coming to Fowler’s Live on Sun Jun 22. Tickets go on sale on Fri May 9. Tickets for the all ages show are available from MoshTix <moshtix.com.au>.

ROCKIN’ BOOTS
Melbourne rockers My Left Boot are a cross between Led Zeppelin, Soundgarden and Queens Of The Stone Age so expect bone-rattling rhythms when the band arrives at the Cavern Club on Thu May 8 and the Crown & Anchor on Fri May 9. Expect an album later this year.

JECK’S ON DECKS
Philip Jeck doesn’t just use records to listen to and make music. He also makes art out of records and record players and he uses a similar approach to create both his art and his music. The avant-garde musician takes turntablism into brave new worlds, stretching standard DJ practices into something far more experimental and challenging. Jeck has a new album, the solo work Sand, and he’ll be playing at Jade Monkey on Sat May 17 with Ezulai, Dane Hirsinger and Headdress Of Neon Flames, who are reforming for the gig.

COLE’S HOME BRAND
Local Adelaide gal Beccy Cole has gone onto to become a star of Australia’s country music scene. The multiple Golden Guitar winner is teaming up with another country music star, Adam Brand to bring their sweet sounds to Mannum, Port Pirie, Mount Gambier and the Governor Hindmarsh. While she’s homeward bound Cole will be the subject of a Behind The Arts luncheon at the Festival Theatre in the Lyrics Lounge. During the luncheon Cole will be talking about growing up in South Australia and all that she has accomplished in music. The luncheon is on Mon May 19. The $70 tickets can be booked by ringing 8216 8707.

TOUR ANTAGONISM
Though it’s just across the ocean, the work of some New Zealand bands can be hard to come across in Oz. Local label, Trial And Error is making available the debut album These Cities by Kiwi hardcore act Antagonist. The band has been over to Oz a couple of times and returns in June to join Parkway Drive, Have Heart and Break Even when they take over Thebarton Theatre on Thu Jun 5 for an all ages show.

DEADLY SINS
A night of rock‘n’roll debauchery can be guaranteed when Melbourne band Sin City launch their brand new single Getaway on Sat May 10 at the Crown & Anchor. After sharing a stage with bands like Jet, Gyroscope, Strung Out and The Misfits, Sin City know how to rock out with a live show that blends a hard edge with infectious pop hooks. While they’re in town the band is teaming up with The Gels and Wylde Throe. Entry is free, so make sure you get along in your best bopping shoes.

IN COLD BLOOD
New Melbourne band Reptiles have just emerged from Sydney’s Bigjesusburger studios where they teamed up with Scott Horscroft to record a three-track single with the thrilling lead song Haunted House. The dirty guitar rock the band plays is heading west to the Edinburgh Castle on Fri May 9. Skye Harbour is coming along for the ride and you can get your $10 tickets at the door.

EPIC SOUNDS
The beautifully cinematic indie pop of Epicure will be back with the new album they’re currently recording. But the Ballarat band knows how impatient you all are so while you’re waiting for the new album you can get excited about the tour the band is doing at the start of June. The tour sees them dropping into Jive on Sat Jun 7.

SLAVE TO THE MUSIC
That bastion of social justice, the Oaktree Foundation is raising awareness of the initiative to End Child Slavery. The passionate young staff at the Oaktree Foundation are reaching their young audience with music. The Global Night Shift is a concert that teams speakers, talking about the international issue, with live music from a range of socially aware and politically active bands like TZU and Poetikool Justice. Other bands taking part include Femme Fatales, The Shiny Brights and The Lost Show. The whole show takes place at the Queens Theatre that’s hidden down Playhouse Lane on Fri May 16.

Hype Top 10
If you’re wondering why your dog or cat, or even pet turtle has been doing extra laps of the backyard for the last couple of weeks, Hype’s here to set the record straight. Your pet is in training. Just like we increase our jogging sessions when a fun run’s coming up, Fido, Whiskers and Speedy are in training for the Million Paws Walk on Sun May 18. Run by the RSPCA, the Walk raises money for animal shelters and animal welfare education programs in the community. You don’t need a pet to take part in the walk, but bring yours along if they love the outdoors and socialising with other animals. As well as the walk, there’ll be a pet party at Elder Park with live music, food stalls, activities and lots of cute animals to get all ooooh and awwww over. Because Hype loves the idea of the Million Paws Walk so much, Hype is dedicating a Top 10 to musical animals that have had a hand in making a song famous.

1) MC Scat Cat - Opposites Attract
Before she lost the plot, Paula Abdul teamed up with the coolest cat in music to record this pop classic. He’s like a minus, she’s like a plus. He’s trying to fight it, but it’s useless, opposites attract.

2) Fat Lip and Sammy The Salmon - The Salmon Dance
If every band made videos like this, Rage would be a lot more exciting. Fat Lip and Sammy are introducing us to “a brand new dance” from the comfort of their fish tank. We’re also going to learn some fun facts about salmon. Fun and educational. And with a Busby Berkeley style seahorse sequence this video just about has it all.

3) Skippy - Skippy The Bush Kangaroo
In relative terms, kangaroos are probably the most famous of all Australian animals. Their only serious challenger is the koala. To think then that apart from the Boxing Kangaroo, Skippy is our most famous bouncing marsupial puts him just on a par with say, someone like wrestling hero The Rock or celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Skippy the show hasn’t been on TV for about 30 years but everybody knows that theme song.

4) Timon, Pumbaa and Simba - Hakuna Matata
There are plenty of songs in The Lion King that became famous after the movie came out. But this is the most fun. Sung by a meerkat, a warthog and Simba the young lion cub, Hakuna Matata means “no worries” and if you ever need a motto for life it should be one provided by a cheeky meerkat and a gregarious warthog. Obviously before then the world’s most famous lion song was The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

5) Kermit - It’s Not Easy Being Green
Hype remembers saying last week that there’d be no more Muppets, but Kermit deserves a place in this list for his lovely song about how hard life can be. Though obviously he can make the list on a technicality because the green singer gave this song its debut on Sesame Street.

6) Mr Ed - The Famous Mr Ed
A horse is a horse of course of course and no one can talk to a horse of course, unless that horse is the famous Mr Ed.

7) Pink Panther - The Pink Panther Theme
One of the most famous movie compositions ever written, Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther Theme is deliciously slinky and has more magical musical moments than just the first 30 seconds.

8) Jaws - Jaws Theme
For a certain generation (children of the ‘70s) even getting into a bath when this is playing is still sure to bring on an attack of the panics. In this state it is all the more scary, because we all know Jaws is actually out there in our South Australian waters.

9) Road Runner - The Road Runner Theme
Wile E Coyote could never catch the pesky Road Runner and this young cartoon watcher could never quite work out just what type of animal the Road Runner was. But that theme, “Road Runner, if he catches you you’re through…” was the one thing that was super catchy.

10) Grizabella - Memory
If you ever needed proof of the musicality of animals, surely a whole musical populated by felines is the winning argument. Grizabella is the once beautiful, now shunned cat who sings this show-stopping number from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record breaking musical. It’s a tear jerker.