Puff 'n Stuff

Puff says, party time! Yep, bring out the balloons, streamers and birthday candles (does that mean there's cake, too?) 'cos Boomtown Records is turning 5! In celebration of this the 2007 Boomtown Showdown tour is set to be bigger than ever! What began in 2005 as a one-time show in Melbourne has now become an annual event, which fans across Australia look forward to each year. Headlining the tour this year is Melbourne's pop-screamos The Getaway Plan, which quite frankly Puff is stoked about. Kickin' off the all ages celebration (although Puff thinks celebrations have started already?!) is local rock lads In Fiction, with Brisbane hardcore act Amity Affliction and Perth rockers Elora Danan getting their showdown debut. Check it out on Thurs 1 November at the Gov. Here's Matthew from The Getaway Plan, Joel from The Amity Affliction and George from Elora Danan getting ready to party!

Speaking of The Amity Affliction, they have certainly been the surprise act of the Australian Hardcore scene in 2007. And in more news, they've recently signed to Boomtown for their debut album to be released in mid 2008. The band will be touring with the Boomtown Showdown (all deets above), and is currently traveling with Deez Nuts and The Daylight Curse on the Drunk & Disorderly Tour - this all ages show will be at The Underground on Thurs 4 Oct. By the look of this picture, they are going to put on a good show!

In news sure to electrify hip-hop fans and music lovers Australia-wide, Puff is thrilled to announce that Talib Kweli and Scribe will be hitting our shores in October to co-headline. This amazing rap hip-hop pair will be performing material from their respective new albums on Oct 11 at HQ. Straight out of San Francisco in support will be experimental hip-hop duo DJ Zeph & Azeem.

Byron Bay's masters of metalcore, Parkway Drive will release their new album, 'Horizons', on October 6 and to coincide with the release will be hitting the road for the 'Horizons Tour', their first national tour since November 2006. These tickets will sell out quick, so take Puff's advice and get them while you can. Parkway Drive play The Gov on Thurs 18 October with The Warriors (USA), Her Nightmare and No Apologies.

In more touring news, Californian ska rockers Reel Big Fish and Florida's pop punkers Less Than Jake are teaming up for one hell of a show! Both are set to play a licensed all ages show at HQ on Tues 11 December. Joining them in support are those likeable lads, Streetlight Manifesto.

There's hype about Welsh indie rockers Dopamine around town at the moment, just coming off the circuit with Funeral For A Friend. Catch their infectious melodies and crunching guitars at their all ages headlining show on Friday 28 September at Jive alongside Newtonheath, Cuthero and Taught By Animals.

Now listen up because these babies will sell out quick... Horsell Common are on the verge of releasing their debut album 'The Rescue' and are about to hit the road with good mates Gyroscope in support of this. Catch them at Fowlers Live on Sunday 4 November. And as if there wasn't enough excitement in the Horsell Common camp they then hit the road with Kisschasy and The Hot Lies, playing at The Night Train on Sunday 25 November.

After spending the last year touring the US with some of the biggest bands in the world, Boys Night Out are set to bring their intense live show to Australia for the very first time this November as they do the rounds in support of their brand new self-titled album. Catch the Canadian punk rock outfit at their all ages show at Fowlers Live on Sunday 25 November.

A regular visitor to our shores in the past, this is the first time Bill Callahan (SMOG) has had a band backing him in Australia for 10 years. Can you imagine how beautiful the experience will be? Bill Callahan backed with strings! Catch one of the world's best songwriters at the Jade Monkey on Saturday 10 November.

The Foo Fighters are set to release their highly anticipated album soon. Titled 'Echoes, Silence, Patience And Grace', it's slated for a 22 Sept release. Puff's had a listen and it's not bad, not bad at all. Bring on the tour, Puff says!

Superman Is Dead. No, not really, but Superman Is Dead, punk rockers from Kuta Bali, are coming to Australia for the first time. Since forming in 1996 they've become one of the biggest bands to ever come out of Indonesia. They've released three independent albums and three on major label Sony BMG, and you can catch them on Thurs 4 October at the Crown & Anchor Hotel.

Sydney-based The Mess Hall joins the Ivy League - Ivy League Records that is. They've recently been signed to the label to release new album 'Devil's Elbow' on 27 October. They'll be launching it in Adelaide at Jive on Friday 26 October, so all you fans can get a copy before it officially hits stores!

San Francisco's temple of rock music, Kid Confucius will bring their soul music to traditional rock stomping grounds around Australia - the second tour in support of their sophomore album 'Stripes' released earlier this year. They'll be at The Gov on Fri 12 October. Bringing the show to street corners across the country, look out for impromptu jams on footpaths and public streets, at selected destinations, on the afternoon of the gig - details of these jams will be revealed on Kidconfucius.com on the day of the performance. Puff is keen to check this one out!

De Jah Groove bring their new single 'Mellow Stages' to the Crown & Sceptre Hotel on 6 Oct... South Korea born, West Australian bred conscious roots songstress saritah brings her potent blend of melody, message and groove back to Adelaide for a one-off show at the Adelaide Festival Centre as part of the OzAsia festival on Sun 23 Sept at 2pm... Australia's most extreme touring metal festival, Festival Of The Dead, will hit Adelaide at Fowler's Live on Thurs 25 October. The line-up includes The Berzerker (Aus/UK), The Amenta (Aus/UK), Akercocke (UK) and Fleshgore (Ukr).

The Hampdens (pictured) are celebrating the release of Generation Y, the fresh new single from their forthcoming debut album, 'The Last Party'. (Generation Y is co-written by Julian Hamilton of The Presets who is also the co-writer behind Silverchair's latest smash Straight Lines.) Lisa Mitchell, that little thing from Australian Idol last year, has just released her debut EP 'Said One To The Other' and will be supporting The Hampdens. Be at the Wheatsheaf Hotel on Sat 22 September if you wanna check it out.

Get set to be terrified!... The Scare are set to release their debut album 'Chivalry' on 6 Oct and will launch it at Enigma Bar on Sat 3 Nov with Regular John... Sydney four-piece Ghostwood (formerly The Ghosts) hit the road to officially launch their debut EP, playing the Rocket Bar on Fri 5 October.

A massive blow for Escape The Fate fans - the band has withdrawn from the International Taste Of Chaos, due to immigration and legal issues. They promise 'once this is all cleared up we will jump right on an airplane and give you a show that you will never forget'. The Taste Of Chaos show will be at full throttle on Sun 21 October at The Entertainment Centre with the likes of The Used, Rise Against, The Bled, Gallows, Carpathian, Antagonist and local lads 919.

Another one to devastate fans... 1990s have had to make a couple of changes to their Cookies Australia Tour 2007. Not good news for Adelaide however because, due to international commitments, the pop rocking Glaswegian trio have had to cancel their Fowler's Live show on Thurs 27 September. All ticket holders can receive a full refund from their point of purchase. Puff is seriously bummed about this one!

Drum roll please... The winner of the News.com.au National Campus Band Competition state final is Room One. The judges including dB gals Jess and Kate who were at their wits ends deciding just one winner but the indie rockers put on an amazing performance at the Flinders Tavern on Fri 14 Sept that sees them jetting off to the national final in Melbourne. An honourable mention goes out to screamo lads Capulet, formerly known as Against The Overdose, who took out the 'runners up' place by only a matter of points.

City South Association is pleased to announce the 4th Annual Whitmore Square Arts Fair will be held in Whitmore Square on Sunday 28 October. The free family day in the square will feature the work of over 40 South Australian artists including a program of free art workshops, games, live music and theatrical performances. Get down to it!

Saturday 6 October sees a group of students from AUSMUSIC SA put together a special event. Taking place at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, four original local Adelaide acts will be taking to the stage for an afternoon of rockin' blues and melodic roots. Present on the day will be the refreshing folksy, roots sounds of Kylie Kain, the quirky acoustic twangs of award winning Vorn Doolette, the sweet bluesy melodies of young Julia Henning and the toe jamming good fun of Big Smokey Hambones & The Stew.

Melbourne's Custom Kings are set to unleash their debut album 'At Sea' after their two successful EPs and tours with The Cat Empire, John Butler Trio and The Beautiful Girls. Check out their folk, rock, pop and everything-in-between style at Jive on 20 Oct.

Another local event put on by local people is the Spring-Rock Fest 2007, a debut live music extravaganza to be held on Friday 21 September at Jive Bar. Headlining the rock'n'roll onslaught will be powerhouse rock trio Booster, fresh from releasing their debut album 'The Real Deal', new up and coming rock quartet Dead Popes Of The Vatican featuring various members of the The Gels and Blow up Betty and The Warsaw Flowers, and a very recent feature artist on Triple J and playing their last show due to a member leaving Adelaide, punk rockers Kasavett, who have been setting local venues alight with their brand of rock'n;roll sing-a-long tunes. Doors swing open at 8pm, and door charge is $10 entry. A night not to be missed, Puff thinks!

In local news, Cities Roamed By Cannibals, a brand new rock and roll machine, featuring members of Adelaide bands Babydoll, The Bovines and Transit are playing their second show on Friday 21 Sept at The Exeter on Rundle with Transmitter... Local lads Blood Red Renaissance return with a vengeance at The Jade Monkey on Fri 28 September, bringing fellow miscreants SuperBee and Aphelion... On Friday 21 September at the Jade Monkey, Adelaide pop rockers Squeaker get the ball rolling for their upcoming album release with the big launch of their new single Jesus Ain't My Boyfriend with support from Nereeda, and Adelaide's official cock rock ambassadors Fighterpilot... Saturday 22 September will see new five-piece screamo/rock sensation Witness This take to the stage to blow you away for the first time at the Northern Sound System in Elizabeth. They'll be playing with Her Latest Flame, Enola's Secret, Avenue For Escape and The Promise of Love... Adelaide's favourite disco metallers Tony Font Show will be unleashing their latest recording in November, but you don't have to wait that long 'cos they'll be at the Crown & Anchor on 21 Sept with 200 motels and Superbee, and then at the Rhino Room on 29 Sept with Third Time Lucky... The Day After Sadness boys are back and at it again, only this time they're not alone! Friday 21 Sept the big show rides into Murray Bridge for a monster all ages gig with 3 Days Darkness, Sleep Parade and Fear In Dakota at the Town Hall. And Sat 22 Sept sees them travel back to Magill with Forget All This, Fear In Dakota, Sleep Parade and Officer Down at the Magill Club, Uren St Magill... Kasavett are getting set to play at Jive on Friday 21 Sept - but lead singer Dan is getting ready to move to Canberra. Yes Canberra, land of fireworks and adult entertainment. It might be the last show for a little while so Kasavett encourage everyone to get down and see a great line-up and place any orders for fireworks with Dan. Joining them is Booster, Dead Popes Of The Vatican and Warsaw Flowers... And Before The Aftermath are back, after a short break writing and rehearsing with new guitarist Adam Hollinshead (TommyGun, Diplomat). They'll be at the Jade Monkey for the first time as a four piece on Sat 22 Sept with loemax and Your Motive For.

Grab your mates and get down to Fowlers Live on Friday 21 September for seven big bands rocking it off for the Emergenza Festival Semi Final #1 and a chance to play at a festival in Germany. The dueling bands include Rejusa, Raw Ether, Wone, Vishus Fish, Abeyant, Late Night Heroes and Fatality Cries. The night kicks off at 8pm and all the bands need your support to make it through to state final, so get in early and have your say by voting for your favourite bands!

Head over to Urtext Studios (Level 2/14 Grenfell Street) on 22 September for 'She Said What', a day-long event for and by female artists, musicians, performers and zinesters. The day kicks off at 12pm with stalls, art and performance, then from 8.30pm, catch local and interstate acts Sianna Lee (Love Outside Andromeda, Melb), Assassination Collective (Melb), Spider Vomit (Melb), Miss Golly Gosh and Dimension Flux plus DJ Red Evan and DJ Pash This!

Earlier in the night Spider Vomit will launch their new EP 'Widows Walk' at a free gig at the Exeter Hotel on Rundle Street with support from Hit The Jackpot. Here they are playing in the sand...

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