Since we last spoke of our hope to see Brittish Singer, Songwriter, DJ, producer, and Soul man Fink in Australasia he has finally arrived, thanks to Niche Productions, and following some Sydney performances Fink will play 2 shows in Melbourne this week at:

The Corner Hotel in Richmond Thursday 28th Jan

The Hi-Fi with Madeski, Martin & Wood Friday 29th Jan

Fink – This is the Thing

The last post has a good introduction to who Fink is and where he came from for those who haven’t before heard of him. And the music says it all.

If you get the chance… you’ll want to check this guy out.

You can hear more of Fink at:

www.myspace.com/finkmusic

…bs

If you haven’t already heard Dead Prez are here in Australia to play Big Day Out this Australia Day week, and they have announed a side show at The Espy in Melbourne this Monday 25th with Pataphysics on support. With the range of political projects and ventures Stic Man and M1 are involved in it’s sweet to see them still taking the time to reach out to our side of the Globe in the summer circuit.

Dead Prez – Summertime

You might have heard of Big Day Out also? yeah they’re playing there too.

You can check them out at:

www.deadprez.com

…bs

It’s finally time to kick off the Olmecha Supreme VS Pataphysics tour this Thursday December 3rd in Canberra!

So excited were the artists that they went out an bought themselves tickets for the show only to learn that as performers they get in for free! So as not to waste these tickets the bands asked Very Good if there were any people in Australia who might want their double passes to enjoy one of the shows they are playing around Australia?

Olmecha Supreme Live at De La Soul Wellington New Zealand

If you would like to enter the draw to take them up on their offer email your name and city to vg@verygood.com.au with the subject line ‘community’.

TOUR INFORMATION:

ANU Bar Canberra, Dec 3rd w special guests TBA Tickets are at Ticketek

Beach Rd Bondi, Dec 4th w Laneous and the Family Yah and DJ Mike Who

Gaelic Club Sydney, Dec 5th w Budspells and DJ JC – Tickets will be on sale at Moshtix

The National Hotel Geelong, Dec 11th w special guests TBA Tickets at Oztix

First Floor Melbourne, Dec 12th w Kano and Guests – Tickets at Moshtix

Great Northern Hotel Byron, Dec 17th w special guests TBA tickets will be on sale at Oztix

Cooly Hotel Gold Coast, Dec 18th w special guests TBA tickets on sale Oztix

The Hi-Fi Brisbane, Dec 20th w special guests TBA Tickets on sale The Hifi

Ruby’s Belgrave, Dec 16th w special guests TBA  Tickets on sale at Moshtix.

Olmecha Supreme play The Woodford Folk Festival Dec 30th

See you there!

If you’re a regular reader of this site or just had a flick back through some of our old posts, you may have noticed a bit of info on our very good friend (see ‘Artists‘ link above) O.G (A.K.A Oakley Grenell).  A man with many musical/creative talents that always seems to have a few different projects on the go. Recently one of his bands Departure Lounge (a mix of Christchurch musical ‘Allstars’) released  their second album “In Session” and have been doing some touring in New Zealand to celebrate.  So to keep our readers in the loop I thought I’d add this info from a recent press release:

“They are some of Christchurch’s top players, featuring six musicians with a reputation for excellence in search of the good groove.

Departure Lounge will release their second album In Session on November 3, serving up ten crisp musical biscuits of psychedelic groove. “In Session” captures Departure Lounge’s solid reputation for soulful, mood-swinging melodies and a dynamic live performance that is a must-see for fans of progressive music.

It was, after all, a celebrated live performance that initiated the journey of Departure Lounge when Grenell collected some of Christchurch’s best jazz musicians for the 2005 Christchurch International Jazz Festival – a performance that was so electrifying that the recording was released as their first album a year later, Departure Lounge – Live.

The line-up is led by Grenell on guitar, who released his solo album Moving On in 2008 to critical success, and features drummer Nick Gaffaney (Cairo Knife Fight, Golden Horse), bassist Johnny Lawrence (Solaa), Cameron Pearce on trumpet (head of Chch Jazz School), saxophonist Chris Burke, pianist Darren Pickering, and the percussion duo of Sum Suraweera and Kurt  Dyer (Solaa).

Joining the band as guests on the album are vocalists Mara TK (Electric Wire Hustle), soul star in-the-making Mark Vanilau, and new recruit Roslen Langton (LA Mitchell). In Session was mixed by electronica pioneer The Nomad at his Fresh Produce studio in Melbourne, mastered by Grammy winner George Lambert of Massive Masters in the UK, and will be distributed by Border music in NZ. This will be Grenells seventh album released on his independent record label Central Records based in Christchurch.

It all adds up to an album with a damn-good groove from this exceptionally talented group of musicians!

Clip of Oakley playing Live on RDU:

…Yossarian

Since their beginnings in January 2005, Tahuna Breaks have always been a band built upon a simple philosophy- the love of music. With an open mind and an adventurous spirit, unafraid to mix genres and musical stylings- their ‘anything goes’ and sometimes unconventional approach is governed only by two criteria: passion and energy.

In the two years since the release of their last album ‘Reflections’, the laid-back party starters from New Zealand have been busy touring, writing and recording. The 8-piece band are pleased to announce that their new tunes are ready for public ears by way of their new album.

“Black Brown and White” was recorded in December 08 with the infamous Dr Lee Preeble at the Surgery Studio in Wellington and features 13-tracks in true Tahuna Breaks style – a diverse mix of soul, funk, blues, roots & reggae.

The lifeblood of this band is live performance and it is from countless live gigs and tours that they have crafted their own brand of roots reggae, funk, soul and good old fashioned rock and roll!

If you haven’t already seen or heard of these funky cats, give them a listen and look out for them next time they are touring near you!

Links to follow up:

The offical site

Their myspace page

…Yossarian

[Info gathered from press releases]

Over the next 7 weeks, we are lucky enough to be working with some of the greatest crossover artists in Australasia for  a series of one off collaborative performances.

Over the next 7 weeks, Very Good readers are lucky enough to have some free tickets on offer from the bands who have generously offered their community the chance to come along and enjoy the events as their guests.

We are talking of course about Batucada Sound Machine, Olmecha Supreme, Pataphysics, King Tide, LABJACD, and DJ JC. To enter the draw, all you need to do is email vg@verygood.com.au with the subject line saying ‘community’ and your name, city, and preferred concert.

Batucada Sound Machine - He Said She Said

Batucada Sound Machine will play:

Gaelic Club Sydney, Nov 19th with King Tide and DJ JC – Get your tickets From Moshtix

AWME Black Box Melbourne, Nov 20th – Get your tickets to AWME

Ruby’s Lounge Belgrave, Nov 21st with Pataphysics – Get your tickets From Moshtix

East Brunswick Club Melbourne, Nov 26th with LABJACD & Pataphysics – Get your tickets here

Robe Village Fair Robe, Nov 27th and 28th – Get your tickets here

LABJACD Live at Woodford Folk Festival

Olmecha Supreme VS Pataphysics will play:

ANU Bar Canberra, Dec 3rd w special guests TBA

Beach Rd Bondi, Dec 4th w Laneous and the Family Yah and DJ Mike Who

Gaelic Club Sydney, Dec 5th w Budspells and DJ JC

The National Hotel Geelong, Dec 11th w special guests TBA

First Floor Melbourne, Dec 12th w special guests TBA

Ruby’s Belgrave, Dec 16th w special guests

Great Northern Hotel Byron, Dec 17th w special guests TBA

Cooly Hotel Gold Coast, Dec 18th w special guests TBA Get Tickets

The Hi-Fi Brisbane, Dec 20th w special guests TBA Get Tickets

Tickets on sale next week.

Olmecha Supreme – Bebestyle

…bs

Not everyone in the photo made it to Australia for the first time, about 15 years after Wu Tang beat the shit out of the world scene… but some of them did, and from what we’ve heard from the Sydney event last night, it was enough to get the party started.

If you’ve not yet heard of Wu Tang Clan, well I wouldn’t really know where to start… so just go. do it. With some of the world’s most notorious emcee’s, and a big crowd of them at that (well not this time), there’s enough coming out of them to cover it all:

Wutang Clan – Triumph

Rumour has it that the crew was stripped back a little to RZA, GZA, Raekwon, and Inspectah Deck.

Personally – I don’t give a shit who turns up, it’s Wu man.

Mean

Melbourne tomorrow – Festival Hall – You can get your tickets ate Ticketmaster

…bs

Isaac Aesili is heading to Australia this week to play a few shows in support of his new album ‘Eye See’.

Isaac’s debut solo album Eye See is a rich tapestry of sound with R&B at its heart, and lashings of soul, reggae and funk woven within. Experimental and futuristic in some parts, warm and soulful in others, the album, an extension of its author, is a tribute to diversity.

Adopted as a baby and raised in Aotearoa, New Zealand with a cultural and ethnic heritage comprising Guyanese, Pakeha, and Maori. Eye See is an album that celebrates people’s differences and explores the universality of music in an increasingly diverse world. The album features collaborations with a variety of gifted vocalists; Aaradhna, Rosita Vai, Rachel Fraser, Mara TK and Deva Mahal.

Isaac Aesili feat. Aaradhna – With you in my bed

Isaac is a classically trained trumpet player and self-taught producer, vocalist and DJ with a love of R&B, soul, funk, jazz, fusion, world and electronic music. In 2003 Isaac completed a Masters Degree in Political Science From the University of Auckland with a thesis on the topic of Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples and Neo-Colonization. Over the last decade Isaac has been an integral member of: Solaa, Opensouls, Eru Dangerspiel and The Recloose Live Band with whom he has toured Europe, the US, Australia and Japan. Isaac’s debut Eye See is an album of soulful inspired music; in essence it is an investigation of our world from the perspective of the youth looking towards the future.

You can check out Isaac Aesili at:

First Floor – Melbourne Thursday October 29th

Beach Road – Bondi Friday October 30th with the after party at Melt in Kings Cross

and some tunes at:

www.myspace.com/isaacaesili

…bs

Very Good things are happening now that the spring has arrived and everyone’s coming back out to play… 3 tours coming up over the next 3 months are definitely going to make for some great nights out, first up in November it’s Batucada Sound Machine visiting from New Zealand to drop their massive 13ish piece bands sound on your doorstep if your in Sydney, Melbourne, or Robe. BSM are partnering up with some other great live acts along the way, making for some pretty sweet lineups including King Tide,  LABJACD, Pataphysics, and heaps of wicked local and international artists at Melbournes AWME and Robe Festival, (dates and ticket info  at the end of article)

Dec 3rd will see the first friendly battle of Olmecha Supreme VS Pataphysics at Canberras ANU Bar. The tour will hit most cities in Australia before Olmecha Supreme carries on to play the Woodford Folk Festival Dec 30th. These two 5 piece multi genre heavyweights go head to head, as well as being joined along the way by some special appearances including Laneous and The Family Yah, Budspells, DJ JC and DJ Mike Who among others. You can get a feel for what will be going down from

Olmecha Supremes awesome live performance at the De La Soul Concert in Wellington.

As if this wasn’t enough, just confirmed in Sydneys world famous live venue The Basement, a performance from New Zealand’s incredible neo soul duo Oakley Grenell and Mark Vanilau. Stepping aside from their hectic solo and group projects, the duo will start in Sydney on January 14th and work their way around the east coast from there. This will be the first time that the duo have toured Australia together and with them will travel some of Australias finer jazz musicians and special guests.

Oakley Grenell and Mark Vanilau – Moving on live at Red Bull Studio New Zealand

Batucada Sound Machine plays:

Gaelic Club, Sydney – with King Tide Nov 19th – Get your tickets From Moshtix

AWME Black Box Melbourne Nov 20th – Get your tickets to AWME

Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave Nov 21st with Pataphysics – Get your tickets From Moshtix

East Brunswick Club Melbourne with LABJACD & Pataphysics Nov 26th- Get your tickets here

Robe Village Fair Robe Nov 27th and 28th – Get your tickets here

Olmecha Supreme VS Pataphysics plays:

ANU Bar Canberra – Dec 3rd, Beach Rd Bondi – Dec 4th, Gaelic Club Sydney – Dec 5th, The National Hotel Geelong – Dec 11th, First Floor Melbourne – Dec 12th, Hotel Great Northern Byron Bay – Dec 17th, Cooly Hotel Gold Coast – Dec 18th, Hi Fi Bar Brisbane – Dec 20th.

You can check out more from the artists in their artist profiles or at:

www.myspace.com/olmechasupreme Olmecha Supreme

www.myspace.com/brotherpataphysics Pataphysics

www.myspace.com/batucadasoundmachine Batucada Sound Machine

www.myspace.com/kingtidesydney

www.myspace.com/labjacd

……………….  Dear Pete & Perq friends,

For all who have missed it: we are breaking up as a duo to pursue solo careers. It’s been a blast these past six years and we wanna say thanks for all the support you’ve shown us during this great adventure!

From now on you can also follow us individually at: www.twitter.com/PetePhilly and www.perquisite.nl

We’re currently doing a farewell tour in the Dutch theatres with our extended live formation consisting of a string quartet, full horn-section, live drums and of course our DJ, saxophone player, bass player, key player, Perq on cello and Pete on lyrical percussion. It’s definitely the most special and intimate way we’ve ever performed. Half of the upcoming shows is already sold out but for these four shows there are still tickets available

Remember, we won’t tour abroad anymore with Pete Philly & Perquisite so this will be the final opportunity to see us perform live together!

We hope to see you at one of our last shows to celebrate six years of Pete Philly & Perquisite with us!

Peace & Blessings,

Pete & Perq