Puff'n'Stuff

I Heart Hiroshima are playing a show at the Enigma Bar on Thurs 31 August along with special guests Leigh Stardust, Belittle League and Running With Horses, while Tha Alkaholiks are heading our way this month also with a show that's set to take place at the German Club on Fri 1 September, and which will sadly also be the hip-hop trio's last.

Some big news from Adelaide's Truth Corroded camp this month - the band have been added to the line up for the final ever Metal For The Brain and have recently been announced as supports for Swedish titans Dark Tranquility, alongside locals Double Dragon, on Sat 16 September at the Adelaide UniBar. Check them out first on Fri 1 September at The Producers (formerly East End Exchange) with Melbourne thrashers The Omen, as well as locals Guantanamo Bay City Rollers and Deafening Silence.

Three of Adelaide's finest - Mr. Wednesday, Poly And The Statics and lady Strangelove - are joining forces to raise funds for the Red Cross International Middle East Appeal on Fri 1 September at the Governor Hindmarsh. Entry is only $7 and door open at 8 pm with the first band on at 9 pm.

On Sat 2 September there will be a huge licensed, all-ages metal show at Le Rox/Bridgeway Hotel featuring Diatribe and as well as two big CD launches from Adelaide's Officer Down and Melbourne's Sydonia along with guests A Red Dawn and the return of UCD.

One name that Puff has noticed on absolutely everyone's lips of late is King Curley - contemporary Australian songwriting at its finest which has been championed by the likes of Paul Kelly and The Cat Empire as "strinkingly original, musically and lyrically." Why not come along and see some interesting 'garage-cabaret' for yourself when King Curly play at the Jade Monkey on Sat 2 September and discover one of Australian music's best-kept secrets.

Starky have just released their much-anticipated self-titled album and will be coming our way with very special guests, Canada's Pony Up and New Zealand's Shaky Hands at the Rocket Bar on Thurs 7 September.

Little Birdy have also announced not only a September 16 release of their brand new single Come On, Come On from their forthcoming 'Hollywood' album (produced by John King, one half of duo The Dust Brothers), but also a line of touring dates which will see them at Fowler's Live on Fri 8 September.

Brillig's Grace Emily residency starts this week, with the band making an appearance every Friday in September from now on. Each week will feature a different special guest, setlist and theme, from Brillig's trademark electro-pop to country-goth and even a covers and requests week. On Fri 1 September, Brillig will be joined by the fabulous Brunatex, while on Fri 8 September by Taught By Animals. Guests throughout the month include Soursob Bob and Spindickle, Seamus and Melbourne's ethereal-electro-folk-goth duo Dandelion Wine.

Back again for a national headlining tour in September are Melbourne duo Midnight Juggernauts, well-known for their flamboyant, '80s-inspired guitar riffs and infectious disco grooves. Having recently been added to two of Australia's biggest festivals, Parklife and Homebake, the band are playing at Jive on Fri 8 September with special guests Damn Arms and The City Riots.



Indie/pop kids Modular Lounge are bringing their crunchy guitars and catchy hooks to Adelaide for the first time to celebrate the release of their new single Martin Place on Thurs 7 September at the Jade Monkey before playing two support slots for The Whitlams at the Governor Hindmarsh on Fri 8 and Sat 9 September. With their debut album 'Nightwise' just around the corner, the band are eager and ready to rock the Adelaide crowd on their first major run of shows since last year's successful 'Four Songs' EP launches.


What can only be described as a massive show, Fri 8 September will see some local heavyweights rocking out at the Enigma Bar, featuring Splyne, Sector 7G and titans Blistered Palms, with special The 108 Vampire Girls.

Make sure you mark this one in your diary - to celebrate the release of 'Countdown: The Wonder Years' three-CD and 2-DVD set featuring all of the biggest names and hugest hits in Australian music, the Countdown Spectacular is on at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre for a display of iconic Australian music on Sun 10 September.

Transport are hitting the road to celebrate their amazing UK success and to launch their latest single Stone Hearted off the band's debut 'The Inner Chimp' released later on this year. Catch them on Sat 16 September at Jive.

The YHA Annual Peace Festival is taking place on Light Square on Sun 17 September with attendances expected to reach over 8,000 people. Adelaide's West End precinct will be brought to life with a showcase of live music, dance, comedy, visual arts, children's activities, workshops and roving performances. The festivities are serving to raise awareness of Peace One Day and commemorate the United Nations International Day Of Peace the following day. The day kicks off at 12 pm to go until 10 pm.

On Sun 17 September come along and assist GrannyFlat in launching their new EP 'With A Twist Of Lemon' at Jive, along with supports from The Dairy Brothers and Swayback - doors will open at 4 pm and entry will only cost $10 so bring some mates and whatever you do, don't miss it.

Also hailing from Melbourne, the three-piece My Disco are touring nationally in support of their debut album 'Cancer', which will be released on 18 September, and before heading back to the US for a month of shows around the country. You can catch them at the Rocket Bar on Thurs 12 October with Macromantics and Lindsay Low Hand.

Liv Kristine's Leaves Eyes are coming all the way from Norway to show off their own gorgeous, gothic-tinged metal sounds with support from death-metallers Atrocity. Catch the two at Fowler's Live on Tue 19 September along with locals Chalice.

There are also some huge international bands coming our way for which the wait has been excruciating, namely The Dresden Dolls who play an all-ages show at the Adelaide UniBar on Wed 20 September and Madball who play on the same night at Fowler's Live.

Nick Collette is coming to Adelaide to showcase his sweet guitar skills and trademark looped-and-sampled ways with the launch his new album 'Jokes And Trials' at the Prince Albert Hotel on Thurs 21 September with dB's own Lenin Simos, so make sure to head along and check out these two great artists.

After releasing their fourth album 'Reservations' to much critical acclaim and before heading overseas for a few months to release the album in Europe, Melbourne duo Sodastream are playing their final Australian shows for 2006, with the Adelaide show taking place on Sat 23 September at the Jade Monkey with Aviator Lane and Victoria's Oliver Mann as supports. Over the last ten years, Sodastream have toured with the likes of Low, The Mountain Goats, Thalia Zedek and Lamb Chop.

Following a five-week US tour, The Church are coming to Adelaide for a theatre tour that will bring an end to the last two years of 'intimate and acoustic' concerts, which means their brand new album 'Uninvited, Like The Clouds' will finally get its full launch at home. Check out The Church and special guests The Valentinos on Fri 29 September at the Governor Hindmarsh.

The Grates have announced their 'Science Is Golden' tour - their biggest headlining Australian tour yet - and are taking mates Faker along with them on the back of the 'Gravity Won't Get You High' album. You can see them at HQ on Mon 2 October, but considering their tendency to completely sell-out well ahead of time, make sure to get your tickets a.s.a.p. as they'll no doubt be selling like hotcakes.

Described as the 'second coming of Prince or Frank Zappa' Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti is coming to the Rocket Bar on Thurs 5 October and will feature an all-star Australian backing band comprised of Lewis Boyes, Dan Luscombe, Shags and others, while supports will include Clue To Kalo and Lindsay Low Hand. Of his own music, Ariel Pink says "I am the king of bad vibes, I always wanted to make the saddest music that ever was. The pop quality in my music is so sad because it's nostalgic - it's the sound of happiness that's not there anymore."

Easily one of the best rock'n'roll bands Australia has to offer, Dallas Crane have announced a tour in support of their new album 'Factory Girls' which will be available later this month. Supports will be from The Exploders and Devil Rock Four so come and take a bite out of the rock'n'roll apple that is Dallas Crane on Thurs 5 October at the Governor Hindmarsh.

Taking out the 'Patrons Choice' award at the first ever annual Folk Alliance Awards in Canberra recently, in recognition of being the highest-selling artist at all national folk festivals in 2005, songwriter and musician Kate Miller-Heidke will reassemble her own band to hit the road for a final time this year for her Apartment Tour. You can check out this budding Brisbane songbird at Jive on Fri 6 October.

New Arrival are holding a benefit gig at the Governor Hindmarsh on Sun 8 October for Camp Quality, which will also feature Dig Woods, Samantic, Angela, Fiascopade, Poetikool Justice, Blame Jane, Andrew Higgs And The Sand Castle Harem and Lorna The Serpent Queen, as well as a Comedy Duo act. A minimum of 300 punters are expected for a kids-friendly show which kicks off at 2 pm, with tickets going for $15 with $8 concession.

Along with special guests Jen Cloher & The Endless Sea and Princess One Point Five, Sydney's Josh Pyke is heading for the Governor Hindmarsh on Wed 11 October for the launch of his single Memories And Dust and for his last headlining show for the year. Puff is told that Pyke is soon heading over to the UK in support of New York's The Walkmen, so come along and check out the Hatchlings Tour before he jets off.

Jim Beam's Hand Picked Festival is back again this year as well, with an incredible lineup of Australia's (as well as international) best bands such as Butterfingers, Bodyjar, The Hot Lies, The Spazzys, Vandalism, as well as DJs Bexta, Josh, MPK, ATB and Cheeky B. Other acts which have been announced include UK's award-winning H-Goblin, Mike Tramp, Kasavett, Liability Of My Own Bad Day Down, Sector 7G and Third Best. Handpicked is on at the Loxton Oval on Sat 14 October and tickets are now on sale through VenueTix as well as DVD and music centres in Renmark and Berri. For more info you can also visit Riverland Visitor Information Centres or log onto www.handpicked.org.au

Pete Yorn is confirmed for his first ever Australian visit in support of The Dixie Chicks on their national tour on the back of his new album 'Nightcrawler'. Puff hears that tickets for the Sun 15 October show at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre are selling quickly!

Not that they need an introduction, but one of America's longest-running punk bands of merit, Avail, are returning to Australia for the first time in eight years; they're playing at the Enigma Bar on Fri 20 October for an all-ages show.

After making its major debut on the summer circuit last year in Port Macquarie and being touted as 2005's 'crusiest Aussie music festival', Festival Of The Sun is on again this year with the first round lineup of the program announced for Fri 15 and Sat 16 December to include Augie March, The Beautiful Girls, Faker, Mia Dyson, The Fumes, Kind Confucius, Dirty Lucy and much more. Tickets go on sale on 18 September at $95.00 (including two nights camping) and are strictly limited to 3000 capacity. Visit www.fotsun.com for more info on how to get there.

And that's all the gig news from Puff for the next couple of weeks so "do yourself a favour and check out some of the wicked talent coming our way..."

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