Page 3 - August Billy News Today

Review: Geraldine Hickey’s ‘What a Surprise’ is a triumph of low stakes, high reward comedy Words By August Billy ★★★★★ During her allotted five minutes at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, Geraldine Hickey said the word “agapanthus” approximately 25 times. The bit –­ which centred on digging out some obstinate agapanthus and installing a “lesbian pit” in her backyard – was a perfect snapshot of Hickey’s easy-going, sensually tickling com...

An Afro-funk powerhouse, Cool Out Sun have their own formula for success Words by August Billy We chat to N’fa Jones, the Melbourne supergroup’s lead vocalist. Cool Out Sun will headline Prahran’s Chapel Off Chapel on Friday March 26. The gig is part of Chapel Summer Sessions, an event series running until the end of March. It’s also Cool Out Sun’s first full band performance since before the pandemic. The cross-cultural supergroup comprising vocalist N’fa Jones, percussionist Nui M...

After a year devoid of live music, Simona Castricum is bringing it harder than ever Photo by Alex Dubois Words by August Billy In what sounds like the synopsis for a neon-branded sci-fi flick, she’ll appear alongside hordes of synthesisers at Sidney Myer Music Bowl this month. The rapturing event is all thanks to the Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio – better known as MESS – who’ve curated a dazzling lineup of homegrown electronic music goodness.  In add...

The record will be released on vinyl for the first time ever this April. The Badloves’ debut album, Get On Board, was released via Mushroom Records in July 1993. Nearly three decades on, the album is being released on vinyl for the very first time, hitting shelves this April courtesy of Warner Music.  To celebrate, […]

Ben Folds was a virtuoso, comedian and educator in one when he came to Melbourne 1 / 3 Pics by Bandanna Photography We went along to Ben Folds’ Melbourne show on Monday and this is what went down. It’s funny how familiar the prospect of seeing Ben Folds perform with a symphony orchestra has become. This is the guy from North Carolina who grew up “on sugar cereal and TV” and rose to fame playing a frequently tongue-in-cheek brand of alternative rock that he call...

Constant Mongrel Catching up with Anti Fade’s Billy Gardner. Primo!, Constant Mongrel, EXEK and Alien Nosejob will descend on Max Watt’s this February for back-to-back gigs courtesy of Anti Fade Records. It’s the second lineup the label’s curated as part of the ongoing Melbourne Music Week – Extended. The Max Watt’s gigs are also a return to auspicious surrounds for Anti Fade founder Billy Gardner, who ran a gig there as part of MMW 2019. Given the circumstances, however,...

Exploring Melbourne Museum’s Summer Plaza Series: three weekends of music adventure Jordan Dennis Words by August Billy Across three weekends in January, Melbourne Museum will come to life with parties and live music. The new year is here, but Melbourne Music Week – Extended is far from over. Thankfully, the event program largely comprises artists from or based in Melbourne and surrounds, meaning it’s full steam ahead with the final two months of gigs. As is typical of Melbourn...

21.12.2020 Beat’s Writer’s Wrap-up 2020: Our inquisitive music critics tell us their favourite releases of the year From left to right - Phoebe Bridgers, Perfume Genius and Tame Impala We spotlight the best releases of the year through the eyes of our writers. 2020… what a disaster. Thank fuck we can say goodbye to the absolute slime ball that’s been the last 12 months and look towards 2021 through a positive lens. Fingers crossed ol’ mate COVID decides to take a b...

Ritt Momney reflects on 2020, that viral cover and why pop music gets a bad rap Words by August Billy 2020 has been the worst year ever, right? But what if that hasn’t been your experience of it? What if this was the year that all of your dreams came true? That’s more or less how it’s felt for 21-year-old songwriter Jack Rutter, who releases music as Ritt Momney. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Rutter formed Ritt Momney a few years ago. It was initially an in...

Albums of the year: How ten Australian artists created their 2020 releases Words by August Billy With our liberties curtailed, our listening choices took on extra weight in 2020. Not only did we turn to music for entertainment and intrigue, but we also wanted it to transport us and provide much-needed company. For musicians, it was an often uncomfortable and disorienting year. Live performance was prohibited and live streams could very easily become an alienating experience – it’s difficult...