5 April 2012

April 2012 at The Front

| johnboy
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From The Front’s Facebook post:

Wednesday 4th April: Truckstop Honeymoon with Doctor Stovepipe, 8.00pm $10 Truckstop Honeymoon are making a welcome return to these shores. For those that know them, you know what you are in for: a show at the Front is the perfect way to see this band in an intimate setting. For those that don’t, let me just say that you are in for a treat Truckstop Honeymoon are a world renowned festival favorite.

Thursday 5th April: Hanging City Show – Gallery Opening 4.00pm Followed by gig.
The paintings from the little book The Hanging City will be on display at the Front Gallery and Cafe at the Lyneham Shops from April 5-10. There will also be other things for kids to look at and play with. The opening reception starts with a children’s afternoon tea.

Thursday 5th April: “Nude Folk” Breaking Hart Benton + The Pirate Brides, 8.00pm $10 Breaking Hart Benton has a uniquely modern indie/folk sound with undeniably strong Celtic/Americana in?uences and an equally strong focus on melodic, lyrically rich songwriting where Australian themes and observations can sit comfortably beside old time murder ballads and traditional tunes. In town for the National Folk Festival they will be appearing at The Front with support from the lively, exciting and delightfully irreverent bluegrass band The Pirate Brides.

Friday 6th April: Ben Salter and Joe McKee (co-headline solo tour), 8.00pm $10
After ten years spent touring around Australia with the aforementioned Gin Club and Giants as well as acts such as The Wilson Pickers and The Young Liberals, Ben Salter released his debut solo album last year. Produced by Gareth Liddiard (The Drones) and Robert F. Cranny (Sarah Blasko, 78 Saab) The Cat’s combination of striking arrangements, unusual instrumentation and classic melodies has slowly but surely won Salter a whole new group of fans.
Joe McKee’s previous outfit, Snowman, were significant. They released two albums out of Perth – 2006’s self titled effort and 2009’s violent masterpiece The Horse, The Rat & The Swan. Praise, wide ranging and effusive, came from all corners of the globe, with the band touring around Australia several times and securing themselves first place in the Mess + Noise readers’ poll in 2008. Joe, always spinning in his own orbit, has landed back in Perth with a collection of songs inspired by this process, by home, by London and by the catharsis involved in returning to a place you’ve tried so long to forget. Now he is set to release his debut solo album, Burning Boy through Dot Dash.

Thursday 12th April: The ’93 Project, 8.00pm $5
Original jazz compositions that combine beautiful melodies and improvisations with at times driving and powerful grooves. The ’93 Project are a group of young improvising musicians put together to play their original music and their favourite tunes. The music tries to paint a picture and make you feel something you usually wouldn’t. Featuring Joe Mcevilly on Alto Sax, Jack Ray on guitar, Max Alduca on Bass and James O’donnell on Drums it’ll be a night of jazz with some modern beats, singable melodies and some great vibes!

Friday 13th April: Xav Ier + The Burley Griffin, 8.00pm $5
Pieces of Xav Ier’s melodies, lyrics and progression connect in a way which strike the listener as bold and honest. Twisted together with his acoustic guitar and striking mandolin the appetite for folk swells. For every gig though he bring something special to the performance. http://www.facebook.com/xavierofficial

Saturday 14th April: On The Edge – East Timor Fundraiser 6.00pm $10
(all proceeds go to ‘Children on the Edge registered charity number 1101441 )
Amazing live music by The Streetlight Parade + Second Avenue + Jack Biilmann + Omis Mo Mo + Hayley Shone + Bruges. The lovely Body Shop girls will be giving massages and lovely hand scrubs for a gold coin donation. Check out this page for more info on where the money we raise will go!http://www.childrenontheedge.org/east-timor-child-and-community-centre.html Join the event on Facebook -http://www.facebook.com/events/237184496368518/

Sunday 15th April: MOTHER JACK (SWE) 7.30pm Entry by donation.
From Sweden to Australia we have travelled. Come with us to a place where simple melodies wind through story-telling narratives, up over pulsating beats and dynamics that surprise, explore and exploit boundaries. We combine the sounds of the double bass and vocals with glockenspiel, a drum, loop pedal, kazoo and more to create original compositions that challenge us and make for an experience. Each song is a journey. Where it takes us is unique and individual to each of us. We are two. We are Mother Jack. Welcome into our imaginations. For more info www.myspace.com/motherjack

Tuesday 17th April: Gallery Opening – Overlooked- by Lym Garratt and Krystal Williams. 6.00pm followed by gig.
A small insight to those places we pass in our everyday life yet the majority of us dont even notice. For those that do is it always in the light for which they were intended? Overlooked is about looking at spaces and seeing them for all the things they are not. http://www.facebook.com/events/344224968958915/

Tuesday 17th April: Wendy Rule, 8.00pm $20/ $15 concession
Renowned for her passionate live performances and unique songs of myth and Magic, Melbourne’s Visionary Songstress Wendy Rule is making a fleeting visit to Canberra for an intimate concert at her favourite local venue before heading off for an epic 7 month tour of the USA. Don’t miss this rare chance to witness one of Australia’s most uniquely gifted and prolific artists. She’ll be joined on stage by her husband Timothy Van Diest. www.wendyrule.com www.myspace.com/wendyrule

Wednesday 18th April: Mick Thomas + Shelley Short (USA) 8.00pm $20
Mick Thomas is mighty proud of his new album ‘Last of The Tourists’. After recording albums as Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing for the last few years, this time around Mick decided to focus on what is really his first ever solo studio album. After much thought and deliberation, Mick decided to head over to the USA to record the album in Portland, Oregon with long time friend and music associate Darren Hanlon at the producers helm. Mick took long time musical compadre; Mark ‘Squeezebox Wally’ Wallace to play on the album with him. The album also features a guest vocal with Portland’s own Shelley Short – a familiar and popular singer- songwriter and oft time visitor to Australian shores.

Thursday 19th April: Marshall OKell + Special guest TBA, 8.00pm $15
Dedicated to a life on the road, Marshall Okell is known for his crowd-rousing and energetic live performances as the front man and creative drive behind then crowd pleasing Marshall & The ‘Fro. A band who have ripped the lips off capacity audiences all over Australia, including festivals such as Byron Bay Bluesfest, Woodford Folk Festival, Peats ridge Festival, Festival of The Sun and the Optus Gympie Muster to name a few.

Friday 20th April: Heidegger + A Shadowy Interlude shadow puppet show and Sara Vancea. 7.30pm $10
Heidegger are a local quirky folk rock pop four piece. Fronted by singer-songwriter Heidi Gill whose dry humoured lyrics are propelled out into the cosmos by the backing of an upbeat keyboard and rhythm section, heidegger tell tales of love lost found and recycled..of sticking it to the man and commenting on the status quo.

Saturday 21st April: Jordan Millar + Lavers 7.30pm $10+BF
Hes won awards, sold thousands of records, toured with some of the worlds best artists, but still maintains that the feeling he gets from a room of people watching in pin drop silence as he sings out his songs, is the most rewarding part of it all. And while the now 25 year old songwriter sits at his desk at his Sydney home humming melodies and working on his upcoming album, its clear that the love of a life filled with music is still there. And with that in mind, hes back on the road… Jordan Millar performs live at The Front Gallery in Canberra on Saturday April 21 and along with Lavers. You will be treated to an incredible night of music and stories. Tickets from – http://www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=55638

Monday 23rd April: Alex Hallahan & The Woodland Hunters, 7.00pm $10/ $8 Conces.
Mixing music genres and the human condition into an intoxicating soundtrack of life, Melbourne singer-songwriter Alex Hallahan ‘triumphs on a record filled with soul’ (Rhythms) on his latest offering Human Veins – the follow up to his much lauded 2008 debut release The Turning Wheel. Backed by his band The Woodland Hunters, who brilliantly create a textured landscape alongside Alex’s songwriting prowess, together they ignite in restless rootsfuelled by folk, country, soul and blues. Capturing the attention of both critics and audience alike with this new album, east coast during April and play The Front on Monday 23rd April.

Tuesday 24th April: ComedyACT open mic, 7.30pm Free

Thursday 26th April: Roesy + James Fahy, 8.00pm $10
Acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter Roesy has moved to Melbourne, bringing with him a canon of instant classics influenced by the age-old Irish guilds of story telling and folk song. Roesy’s record speaks for itself with six albums and ten years of extensive touring throughout the US and Europe under his belt. Refreshingly devoid of pretension or cliché, Roesy’s music is best appreciated in a live setting. Although not long established in Australia, Roesy has already started to make a deep impression upon local listeners.
“Roesy was a standout for me at Woodford. We only gave him three gigs but as it turned out, our audiences would have been much happier had there been six. Solo performers rarely cut it at Woodford, Roesy did…there’s just that bit of magic in his music. It’s to do with that blarney blood; Irish artists reinventing,Roesy is one of those” (Bill Hauritz, Festival Director – Woodford Folk Festival)

Friday 27th April: Poetry Slam, 7.30pm Free

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