Year: 2022

Adelaide hard rock band The Mark of Cain performed at Max Watt’s in Melbourne on Friday 12 August 2022 to kick-off their A Different Kind of Tension national tour that comes on the back of the band’s induction into the South Australian Music Association’s Hall of Fame. After forming in mid-1984, TMOC has released 5 studio albums between 1989 and 2012, along with a slew of singles, EPs, compilations and a live album.

Pioneers of the London Acid Jazz scene, The Brand New Heavies, have been responsible for some of the UK’s biggest R&B and soul tracks of the time. They hit the US top 5 singles chart with their hit ‘Never Stop’ from their self-titled debut album.

Directions in Groove or DIG are an Australian acid jazz band which formed in 1991 by Alexander Hewetson on bass guitar, Warren Trout on drums and percussion, Rick Robertson on saxophone, Tim Rollinson on guitar and Scott Saunders on keyboards.

Mongolian metal band The HU performed the second of their sold-out shows at 170 Russell in Melbourne on Wednesday 3 August 2022, to commence their Black Thunder tour of Australia. Formed in 2016, The HU uses traditional Mongolian instrumentation with Mongolian throat singing, as they win over fans with their style of music dubbed hunnu rock, inspired by the ancient Mongol/Turkic empire Hünnü.

“Garage-rock” and “Retro-rock” are two terms they’re often tagged with, but neither does justice to Shannon & The Clams. With their rich and varied aesthetic, great songs and a colourfully textured sound that takes in classic ‘60s girl-group and doo wop, Shannon & The Clams play souped-up, keyboard and guitar-driven ‘60s-inspired soulful pop rock’n’roll.

Having blown away crowds at other Australia festivals including Meredith and the last ever Big Day Out, brothers-in-rock Jake and Jamin Orrall – aka JEFF The Brotherhood – are firm favourites of Australian gig goers and made something of a surprise return this year.

A six piece from the Geelong/ Surf Coast area, they have evolved their sounds from that of 60’s gems, to writing a duplicitous lush array of songs.

Amyl and The Sniffers return triumphant from sold-out shows across the USA, the UK and Europe in support of their critically-acclaimed sophomore effort Comfort To Me, which debuted at #2 on the ARIA Charts and hit the Top 25 album charts in the UK, Germany, Spain and the US.

Four piece hard rock & roll band Children of Finland Fighting in Norway (C.O.F.F.I.N) to the bill. Hailing from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, C.O.F.F.I.N have gained a passionate following for their unique take on punk and rock music, gathering widespread acclaim for their energetic and addictive live shows combined with their lyrical activism and howling guitars.

National Treasure, Judith Durham, has passed away at 79.