What’s On In Newcastle? Groovin’ The Moo, A Body Building Comp & Justice

by kirsty on April 24, 2014

Thursday 24th April

Justice @ The Newcastle Entertainment Centre

The tour announcement follows the huge success of Justice Crew’s 2013 pop anthem ‘Everybody,’ which further thrust them in to the spotlight achieving Double Platinum sales and hitting the Top 10 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Their smash hit ‘Boom Boom’ was a #1 ARIA single, making them the first Australian Group to hit #1 in over five years, and has now achieved over 6 x Platinum sales. Their recent single ‘Best Night’ achieved Double Platinum sales and hit the Top 10 on the ARIA single chart, after earlier Double Platinum hit single ‘Friday to Sunday’ and Platinum ‘And Then We Dance.’ ‘Boom Boom’ was released in the US last year through Pitbull’s record label 305 and RCA, which instigated a promotional tour of the country where they visited media and expanded their already existing American fan base.

Justice Crew is currently in the studio and working on a new single that is set to be released in the coming months.

A finalist from the hugely successful TV show The X-Factor Australia, Jai Waetford placed in the top three of the fifth series; no mean feat considering the calibre of talent surrounding him and the fact that he is only 14  years old. Jai had part one of his life dream realised with the release of his debut single ‘Your Eyes’ last year, sporting heartfelt lyrics sung as if penned by this young teen himself. This will already be his second tour around Australia after he joined the other Top 5 contestants on The X Factor Live Tour late last year.

Doors: 7:30PM

Tickets: Ticketek

Play Along with Sam @ The Playhouse

Sam Moran needs your help! He’s is searching for his lost sound jars and his animal friends, the Bam Bam Binos on a fun musical filled animal adventure.

In his signature safari suit Sam invites you to explore his world through rhythm, music and  movement. So come sing-along, dance-along and Play Along with Sam.

Time: 11:00AM

Tickets: Ticketek 

Old Man Luedecke @ Carrington Bowls Club

Old Man Luedecke is making a sooner-than-expected, but still very welcome return to Australia after the success of last year’s Australian tour with our own folk troubadour Jordie Lane.

Invited back to perform at the National Folk Festival in Canberra, Old Man Luedecke is grabbing the opportunity to pay a return visit to NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia for a run of intimate side shows while he is here.

Like all the best guests, he isn’t coming empty handed though; he’ll be bringing with him his new EP I Never Sang Before I Met You to share with the many friends and fans he’s made on his two previous visits.

The four-track EP features well-known Canadian artist Joel Plaskett (who also produced) on drums, bass, lead guitar and organ alongside Old Man Luedecke on banjo and vocals. Recorded in January this year at the New Scotland Yard studios in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the EP is available now through iTunes.

Family life and work is ‘crazy busy’ for Old Man Luedecke right now. His Juno nominated Tender Is The Night album has also been nominated for 3 (Canadian) East Coast Music Awards, snagging nods for Album of the Year, Folk Recording of the Year and Solo Artist, he’s about to head out for a Canadian tour before returning down under, and his 3 gorgeous daughters (all under 3) are keeping him well and truly in demand on the home front as well.

So now is a great time to catch up with one of Canada’s finest folk artists. With those 3 young daughters and a career that’s flourishing, it may be some time before we can welcome him back again.

Time: 8:00PM

Tickets: Door sales only

Bare Grillz ‘Friends’ Album Launch Tour @ The Croatian Club

Bare Grillz, Newcastle’s leading exponent of swirling sweaty punk mess, will be making their way along the bottom-half of the east coast throughout April.

After a yearlong travel hiatus, followed by a shorter ‘post-New Zealand broken arm’ hiatus, Bare Grillz are finally ready to show the product so far.

The tour is in support of their debut LP ‘Friends’, recorded by TV Colours’ Bobby Kill and Danger Beach’s L.A. Thomas and out through Y202 Records and Dream Damage.

“Each song on Friends is a minute lesson in growth and decay…Along with Y202, Dream Damage has championed futuristic neo-punk since its inception, and Friends is another quality record that pushes the label’s sound in a new direction.” – Mitchell Judge, Mess & Noise

“The amount of things Bare Grillz can balance on their plate, especially considering their status as a mild punk three-piece, they’re more like a Hydra of assorted punk tunes than any sort of traditional band. And that is a very, very good thing. Thank fuck Bare Grillz are back.” – Ryan Saar, Soundly Sounds

“…the thirteen track album is a riotous explosion of edgy punk which sounds quite unlike anything I’ve heard in a really, really long time. Or at all.” – Dan Harr, Music News Nashville

Civil War @ The Small Ballroom

“The Small Ballroom will be hosting Sydney’s Civil War, accompanied by a mixed bill of Newcastle punk and hardcore including Hurtxunit, Tired Minds, Distance, Brinkworth, Guilt Trip and I’ll Natured. To top off this huge line up, also playing will be Metcalfe, Jacob and Brain Freeze

Doors: 6:30PM

Tickets: Kingdom Sounds

Friday 25th April

With so many happenings in Newcastle on Anzac day we have created a Dawn to Dusk guide to help you plan your day!

Saturday 26th April

Groovin’ The Moo @ Maitland Showground

Team Groovin the Moo is in the highest of spirits to be welcoming a new bunch of Artists to take part in the regional Australian festival fun! With The Presets, Dizzee Rascal (UK), Vance Joy and Wave Racer to The Jezabels, Disclosure (UK), The Kite String Tangle, Violent Soho and Cults (USA) plus many more. The eclectic line up for 2014 is sure to provide another year of pure solid gold for the GTM community and all the new friends who will help to create GTM Oakbank South Australia for the very first time.

Time: 10:30AM

Jazz In The Grove @ Wollombi

Enjoy a day of live picnic jazz in the beautiful Wollombi Valley. Bring your picnic rugs and hampers; enjoy great music, wine, food and company! Tickets $30, free for children 17 and under! Camping available. For more information or to secure tickets please visit Stonehurst or phone the Stonehurst Cellar Door on  (02) 4998 1576.

Time: From 11:00AM

Tickets: Stonehurst Wines

Fuelarama @ Newcastle Foreshore

Fuelarama is a family event on the Newcastle foreshore that celebrates Newcastle’s love of its Harbour and its car culture. The event includes the first round of the Australian Offshore Superboat Championship, (this year there will be world famous drivers from all over the world competing in this round of the championships), Ute Muster, USA vs Australian Muscle Car Show and Concert.

Fuelarama attracted 10,000 people in its first year and 20,000 in the second year and 30,000 in the third year. This year event organisers will hold the Ute Muster on the Saturday, the Muscle Car Show on the Sunday with a boat show and concerts on both days.

Fuelarama runs over the 26th and 27th of April

Time: 9am till 5pm

Gloryhammer @ The Cambridge Hotel

Scotland - A highland realm of mystery, wonder, and epic battles from an ancient time, shrouded by magical mists. A time of dragons and wizards, and enchanted weapons. These are the legends of the Kingdom of Fife, when the great hero Angus McFife waged an epic war against the evil wizard Zargothrax, to free the people of Dundee in the name of glory and steel. These are the legends of Gloryhammer!

The ‘Heroic Fantasy Power Metal’ band Gloryhammer is the new project formed by Christopher Bowes, the mastermind behind pirate-metal sensation Alestorm, with a desire to explore the more symphonic and epic side of metal. The band’s debut concept album ‘Tale From The Kingdom Of Fife’, released in March 2013, is telling a story based in an alternate-history medieval Scotland, where magic and dark sorcery reigns supreme. Gloryhammer is a band like no other… Prepare for epic battles!

Doors: 8:00PM

Tickets: Oztix

An Intimate Night wtih Tex Perkins & Charlie Owens @ Lizottes

Tex Perkins has shown us many faces over the journey. Frontman for the evocative soundscapes of The Cruel Sea and the hard edged pub rock of The Beasts of Bourbon, collaborator on the Tex, Don and Charlie outings, and compadre to Tim Rogers on the TnT project. More recently seen leading the Tennessee Four in a night of memorable music in his turn in the Johnny Cash musical The Man In Black, Tex is now back once again to the lilting, dark country of Tex Perkins & The Dark Horses, returning this coming June with a new album and to play some select tour dates in support. The forthcoming self-titled release shows yet another direction for the enigmatic singer/songwriter, while still filled with Perkins’ gravel-tainted vocals and poetic reveries, this record is a mature, poignant follow up to 2003’s “Sweet Nothing.” The live set promises, as always, to be something special. Perkins’ world-weary growl will showcase songs from the new album, alongside gems like - “I know You Know I Know”, “Splendid Lie”, “Real Love”, “A Name On Every One” and “She Speaks”. A Different Language.

Tickets: Lizottes 

Comedy @ The Playhouse

Ruffhouse Comedy is pleased to announce that International Headliner, and one of the stars of comedy festivals worldwide is headlining the third instalment of Comedy@ThePlayhouse. Eddie Ifft has wowed audiences world wide and is bringing his show - “Train Wreck” to the Civic Playhouse Theatre.

Eddie Ifft has appeared on TV and radio across the world, and his podcast, “Talkin’ Sh*T” is one of the most popular in the world today. Come and see why he his Melbourne Comedy Festival Show has completely sold out.

“Ifft’s jokes are damn funny. And they’re often funny for the very reason that he is so gloriously uncompromising.” Chortle Magazine.

Also featuring Newcastle’s best loved, barefoot, wide smiling comedian, Matty B in support the show is hosted by resident MC Gareth Wasik, who’s album Jesus Can’t Play Rugby, spent 4 weeks on top of the iTunes Comedy Charts.

Time: 7:30PM

Tickets: Ticketek

Don Quixote @ The Civic Theatre

Don Quixote, a retired gentleman travels the roads of Spain searching for glory and grand adventure.  Accompanying him is a somewhat bewildered labourer named Sancho Panza who he has persuaded to accompany him as his faithful squire.  In return, Don Quixote promises to make Sancho the wealthy governor of an Island.  Don Quixote gives up food, shelter and comfort all in the name of a peasant woman Dulcinea del Toboso who he envisions as a princess.

Don Quixote was first performed in Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre in 1869. Since then it has been performed all over the world by Russian and international ballet companies.

The Imperial Russian Ballet Company will bring this flamboyant and festive ballet to Australia & New Zealand in 2014.

There is also a perfromance on the 27th April at 2:00PM

Doors: 8:00 PM

Tickets: Ticketek

Sunday 27th April

NABBA/WFF Night Of Champions @ Town Hall 

If you start seeing a lot of tanned up bods walking around Newcastle this weekend, this is why. The National Amateur Body-Builders Association and the World Fitness Federation are coming to together to put on a fantastics show this Sunday!

With categories including Bodybuilding, Mr Athletic, Mr Fitness Model, Miss Figure, Miss Physique, Miss Fitness Model and Miss Bikini Model, there’s going to be something for everyone!

Body-building cannot survive on the shoulders of the hulking great masses alone. It must appeal to the wider world of physical culturists practising their art.

In order to make our way confidently forward we must espouse health and fitness for this and future generations.

NABBA firmly believes that body-building is for everybody and we provide better competition and higher standards to our stakeholders every year.

This is a great show for Newcastle with a lot of local competitors so come along and support this great event.

Competitor registrations @ Strength Republic on Saturday the April 26th from 12pm - 3pm.

Tickets: For spectators - available at the door for $40.

Follow the Facebook event page for more updates.

Movie Night ( The Three Amigos ) @ Lizottes

Mexican Inspired Menu - Tacos & Jugs of Sangria & Margaritas. We are honouring the beautiful Kings Theatre and going back to its roots with the launch of our Lizottes Movie Nights!

Join us for dinner and stay for the screening of a free Cult Classic on the big screen with complimentary popcorn. The Movie Combo will include your choice of Main Meal, Movie and Popcorn all for $36.

Tickets: Lizottes

Djuki Mala ( Chooky Dancers ) @ Civic Theatre

A rare glimpse of something extraordinarily special. Presented by Artback NT:Arts Development and Touring.

For over a decade, Djuki Mala (Chooky Dancers) have been exploring and re-defining the notions of contemporary Aboriginal performance. After receiving over 2 million hits on Youtube for their hilarious performance of Zorba The Greek, Djuki Mala have electrified audiences at major festivals and events in Australia and overseas, attracting huge media interest.

The Chooky Dancers fuse traditional and contemporary forms of dance, dressed in traditional costumes and ochre to create a work that is a marvel of timing, comedy and clowning, an important part of the Yolngu Culture. An extraordinary show that promises both laughter and insight. Very highly recommended.

Doors: 7:30PM

Tickets: Ticketek

Monday 28th April

Haydn & Italian Cello @ City Hall

Presented by The Australian Chamber Orchestra

One of the greatest cello pieces ever written, Haydn’s C major cello concerto is a crowd favourite and the ideal showpiece for passionate Italian cellist Giovanni Sollima’s Australian debut.

Sollima is renowned for his invigorating performance style and it is exhilarating to experience him performing alongside Richard Tognetti. The ACO first met Sollima in Richard Tognetti’s musical laboratory in Festival Maribor, Slovenia, where a review of his performance read: “Sollima issued a challenge to all who think the cello is for the faint of heart…this was music that lifted the cello into the realms of the musical gods.”(MusicWeb International).

An internationally recognised musician, Sollima has composed for diverse artists including legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma and 70s punk icon Patti Smith. In this concert you will hear Sollima’s Boccherini-inspired L.B. Files flanked by an authentic Luigi Boccherini (L.B.) cello concerto.

Boccherini: Cello Concerto in G

Giovanni Sollima: L.B. Files (Australian Premiere)

Haydn: Cello Concerto in C

Verdi: String Quartet (arr. for string orchestra)

Doors: 7:30PM

Tickets: Ticketek 

Tuesday 29th April

 

Wednesday 30th April

The Acacia Strain @ The Cambridge

The Acacia Strain don’t like labels. Who does? Instead, they’re just an all encompassing ‘Heavy’ and heavy has no boundaries. Since forming in Massachusetts USA in 2001, the band have released six album, two splits, done an awesome cover of Slayer’s Seasons In The Abyss, toured with everyone from Hatebreed to Crowbar to The Casualties (and so many variously styled bands in between), played the Warped Tour and cracked the top 200 with two albums. Simply being ‘Heavy’ releases the shackles and truly lets a band do what they want. In 2012 they signed to Rise Records and released their latest and most crushing effort Death Is The Only Mortal. Later that same year they were involved in a rollover accident but it only slowed them down, it did not stop them.

Bouncing back mid last year with two new full time members, Devin Shidaker (ex Oceano) and Richard Gomez (ex Molotov Solution) The Acacia Strain are heading back to Australia this autumn to demonstrate their bone crushing rhythms, apocalyptic samples and triple guitar assault that combined, delivers their signature blend of hardcore, death and doom. Allmusic describes them as “an inelegant and unstoppable juggernaut fueled by memories of the unchecked aggression unleashed on the world by the likes of Pantera and Sepultura”

With lyrics centered around misanthropy and nihilism, with some misogyny and sexual deviance thrown in for good measure, you know a night with these guys is most definitely going to be completely Heavy!

Joining them on their epic 12 date tour of the nation will be Aversions Crown and Graves.

Queensland’s Aversions Crown are an exercise in punishing extremity. With six members creating aural carnage by mixing up nihilistic fury and cosmic horror with relentless blasting, jackhammer rhythms and a dark ambience, the band crush all in their path.

Since their inception in 2011, Wollongong heavy hitters Graves have been on a constant rise through the Australian heavy music scene. Having supported Thy Art is Murder, Northlane, and House vs Hurricane, Graves quickly moved into main support slots for big internationals like Obey The Brave, Hundredth, Atilla and most recently, a full national tour with I Declare War after the release of their EP, Pestilence.

Doors: 7:00PM

Tickets: Oztix

Tamara Stewart @ Lizottes

Tamara Stewart Planting The Apple Seed Tour with special guest Luke O’Shea

After touring as June Carter in the Johnny Cash The Concert - A Ring of Fire 50th Anniversary Tour, Golden Guitar winner Tamara Stewart embarks on her Planting The Apple Seed Tour across Australia in early 2014. In a two hour intimate show, Tamara will perform songs from her acclaimed Apple Seed album, along with great country classics that have inspired Tamara’s awarding winning career. Tamara’s ‘say it like it is’ style of song writing has won her many awards over her four album career, including a Golden Guitar win in 2013. Her talent for writing has seen her touring the UK and making multiple trips to Nashville to work with country music’s most notable hit makers. After a break from recording and performing, the debut of Apple Seed at #2 on the ARIA Country Album Chart in 2012, was a welcomed return to the top of Aussie country music and thrust Tamara back into the spotlight. As a producer and writer, Tamara has welldeservedly claimed her place as one of Australian country music’s most talented women.

However, the path to her success has been winding and at times rocky. Having a break from performing, after recording her 3rd album, Tamara felt lost without music; she turned to food for comfort and as a result experienced significant weight gain. However, Tamara returned to tell her story of this lonely time and to lose 42kg in preparation for the release of Apple Seed her most successful career chapter so far. Tamara’s inspiring story of was told in many major publications and on national television, including Australian Women’s Weekly, Morning Television and Fitness Magazines. Her transformation was also naturally documented in song with the #1 single Butterfly. Butterfly, from Apple Seed not only topped the country charts but also re-connected Tamara to her loyal followers and brought in a whole new swag of fans. Tamara became a beacon of inspiration to many Australian women and men inspiring many weight loss journeys and personal transformations. Tamara still receives photographs from fans who now bear tattoos of a butterfly or some lyrics from the song! Not only a brilliant writer of her own truth,Tamara has played a large part in the success of many other Aussie country artists. Tamara has written or co-written many #1 hits over the years and continues to write and co-write with other country music stars who have appeared in the Top 10 across country radio and television. As well as writing Tamara sits quite comfortably in the music producer chair. In 2009 Tamara wrote the song Tangerine Sky and called on fellow artists to record the song to raise money for the Salvation Army’s Victorian Bushfire Appeal. Fellow artists Troy Cassar-Daley, Tommy Emmanuel, James Blundell and Anne Kirkpatrick were amongst the many that answered Tamara’s call for support. Being a proud ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), every sale of her new album APPLE SEED contributes $1 back into research for a cure for breast cancer “ supporting the NBCF’s goal of ‘No deaths by 2030’. She is also the founder and co-ordinator of Busk For Breast Cancer - national initiative launched at the 2013 Tamworth Country Music Festival to raise money for research into a cure.

Tickets: Lizottes