What’s On In Newcastle? The Amity Affliction, Hot Chocolate & A Printmakers Open Day

by Skye on October 17, 2013

This week we have loads to keep you entertained with plenty of bands and activities! You’ll catch Amity Affliction, Evan & The Brave and even Hot Chocolate all playing in Newcastle this October. Check out all the deets you need here.

Thursday 17^th October

Evan & The Brave @ The Small Ballroom

The weather’s getting warmer, days are getting longer and that mellow time of year is fast approaching. Luckily for us, Sydney quartet EVAN & THE BRAVE have the soundtrack sorted. Teaming up with producer Tony Buchen (Andy Bull, Washington, The Preatures), their debut EP ‘ISLAND’ is set to drop on September 27 with an east coast tour to follow soon after.

On the back of attention received from triple j Unearthed for their 2012 stand-alone single Lil Monster (“total ear candy”, says triple j’s Dom Alessio), and current single ‘Stay This Way’, the band will be taking all of their indie dream-pop tunes to cities around Australia this October and November as they set off for their first full-length tour.

The recent addition of Ross James, also of LANTERNS, has seen the band create even more radio worthy tracks. Having shared stages with HUNGRY KIDS OF HUNGARY, THE FALLS, JOSH PYKE, PASSENGER and THE TROUBLE WITH TEMPLETON, it’s no accident that EVAN & THE BRAVE are stepping into the limelight with a plethora of fresh, promising material. The debut EP features five tracks, each offering something narratively unique, but strung together by some clear sonic intentions.

With soaring vocal harmonies reminiscent of some of the 60’s greats, awesome texture-focused production and unforgettable hooks, there are undoubtedly exciting things to come from EVAN & THE BRAVE. For more details on their upcoming shows head to www.facebook.com/evanandthebrave.

Friday 18^th October

Boys In The Band @ Wests New Lambton

The biggest hits from the greatest bands of all time!

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Beatles, Bee Gees, The Platters, The Jackson 5, The Beach Boys, The Drifters, Simon and Garfunkel, Backstreet Boys.

As seen on Australia’s Got Talent 2013, Boys in the Band celebrates the world’s greatest hits from the most iconic bands of the 20th century! The show features four of the most talented, versatile, handsome and hip young guys in the entertainment industry today and is backed by their own sensational 7 piece  band, The Players.  Boys In the Band will be performing their slick, sensational show at Wests New Lambton on Friday 18 October, 2013.

Boys in the Band has been created with meticulous attention to detail and has quickly become one of the most successful headline acts with numerous sold out concerts, festival dates, and special appearances at prestigious corporate events around the globe. Highlights have been performing for the 2012 Grand Prix on the roof top of the iconic Marina Bay Sands Casino in Singapore, performing for Tourism Australia in China, at the prestigious Winter Ball at Parliament house Canberra and numerous sold-out open air concerts & Festivals in Australia.    Most recently these talented boys have just returned from a two week season at the Mandela Theatre Johannesburg South Africa and are booked to return there for a 4 week season in September/October, 2013.

The show features such classic tunes as Walk Like a Man, Sherry, Can’t Buy Me Love, Let it Be, Hey Jude, Imagine, Blame it on the Boogie, ABC, Unchained Melody, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Surfin’ USA, Good Vibrations, Night Fever and Staying Alive and also includes medleys of the biggest mega hits the world has known.

Boys in the Band are also currently competing in the new Channel Nine Series “Australia’s Got Talent” and are excited to be performing their first concert at Wests New Lambton.  

“A rollercoaster ride of the greatest hits of all time!”

“Brilliant from start to finish!”

“It’s slick, it’s fun, it’s simply sensational!” 

Tickets: Ph 4935 1200 or visit www.westsnewcastle.com.au

Nancy Vandal  @ The Cambridge

With Guests - Beef Week + In Hydes Shadow

2013 marks the 20th anniversary of seminal Australian punk band Nancy Vandal, and to celebrate the occasion they’re releasing a new album ‘Flogging a Dead Phoenix’ and heading out on an East Coast tour this October. ‘Flogging A Dead Phoenix’ is the band’s first album since ‘I’ve Wasted My Life‘ in 1999 and was recorded by ex-bassist Jason “Jason” Beers, more commonly known as the frontman of fellow punk rock heritage item Frenzal Rhomb. It has been described as “a chaotic blend of garagey punk infused with Motorhead riffs and a glue sniffing brass section”. The new album was partly financed by an enthusiastically supported Pozible project and will be accompanied by a massive 92 page full colour edition of the band’s official zine The Vandal’s Voice. Nancy Vandal will be hitting the road to promote ‘Flogging A Dead Phoenix’ with an explosive East Coast tour through October to December and you are advised to attend.

A bit about Nancy Vandal…

The year is 1993. A small group of what appear to be circus prostitutes step out of their Bat & Ball Hotel toilet dressing room and leap upon the stage. They thrill the assembled

crowd with their trashy punk rock and roll stylings then pause briefly to perform a puppet show. The band is Nancy Vandal and within a few short years they will be tearing up stages all over the country and bringing a sense of whimsy to festivals including Homebake, Livid, Falls, and The Pushover. During that time they would release five cult classic records and have anthems such as ‘Rock and Roll Concert’ and ‘Move Over Satan’ envelop the Triple J airwaves like a drunken cuddle. The turn of the century saw their output decrease significantly due to fears the millennium bug would damage band equipment as well as a severe outbreak of nits. They have since performed only occasionally based on tarot card readings and prevailing weather conditions, however to celebrate their 20 year anniversary team Vandal have decided to take things up a notch.

Tickets: Bigtix

Saturday 19th October

Amity Affliction @ Newcastle Panthers

With special guests Chelsea Grin, Stick To Your Guns, In Hearts Wake.

Over the last ten years, The Amity Affliction have become one of Australia’s most respected and beloved bands. Armed with a party attitude and a staunch work ethic, they have emerged as leaders in the Australian hardcore scene

Their last album Chasing Ghosts comfortably claimed #1 spot on the Australian ARIA album chart upon debut, is now certified gold and continuing to amass the adoration of the public as the band tour relentlessly in its honour.

Currently enduring the marathon event of the US summer, Vans Warped Tour, Amity will return to home shores this October to share the stage with UK’s metalcore guns Chelsea Grin, Orange County melodic hardcore gurusStick To Your Guns, as well as local up-and-comers In Hearts Wake.

Brothers In Arms is an apt title for the upcoming tour; their biggest local lap to date. Not only is it taken from Greens Ave, the next single from the Chasing Ghosts album, it’s also the perfect way to capture the spirit and strength of the bonds formed between touring bands and the sentiment behind bringing quality international acts to Australian shores.

“So Brothers In Arms/ Lets march home towards calm/ towards oceans and shorelines/ With open arms”

Tickets: $50.70 from Moshtix

Doors open: 7pm

Adalita @ The Great Northern

 With special guest Laura Jean

Adalita recently revealed the release date for her second solo album, All Day Venus – this coming September 20.  Now, further good news is at hand for fans of the Melbourne artist.  Following the album’s release, Adalita will hit the road for a headline tour.

The tour will take Adalita to major metro and regional locations along Australia’s east coast.  It will provide the first opportunity for fans to see Adalita playing her new material with a full band.  The band line-up includes ex Paradise Motel bassist Matt Bailey. In addition to the east coast tour dates, Adalita will also perform a solo show in Adelaide.

Adalita is delighted about getting back on the road. “I can’t wait to tour. It’s all I think about, it’s all I want to do, I’m so hungry for it and I want to share that with the people that I bring on board for this band. I want to create a little universe that people can enter and really get involved in…I feel like it’s going to be a real trip and an intense communion, both band wise and audience wise. Whatever shape it all takes and however it ends up sounding is completely open to the next few weeks of rehearsals and I definitely feel like I want to have a really good time with this album and just have fun.

Said album All Day Venus was recorded with acclaimed local producer Lindsay Gravina. Featuring twelve fresh songs, including the album’s title track ‘All Day Venus’ and the current single ‘Warm Like You’, the album was borne from periods of intense creativity and personal reflection; the songs dark, brooding and unflinchingly honest, bursting with energy.

Live, the album is like to take on a life of its own.  As Adalita intimates, “I’ve never had a band on my solo project so it’s all completely new to me and really I’m just gonna be winging it from here on in. Of course I’d like to emulate the album and stick pretty close to it but I hope it ends up sounding raw and pretty loud, with the always mystical additional factor of playing live. You kind of have to tend to make things a bit larger than life live so I want to match that feeling with what myself and the band come up with.”

Opening for Adalita on the tour will be indie songstress, Laura Jean – her charming folk tunes the perfect accompaniment to Adalita’s music.  Tickets for the All Day Venus tour go on-sale next Monday September 2.  For details, head to adalita.com.

Adalita’s solo debut won critical acclaim upon release, ultimately scooping the coveted AIR Award that year for Best Independent Album.  All Day Venus is a vastly different offering, but one that is sure to similarly impress.  It’s out September 20.

Tickets: www.bigtix.com.au

Workshop Open Day @ Newcastle Printmakers Workshop

Newcastle Printmakers Workshop is a contemporary art studio, established over 30 years ago. The workshop provides facilities for the community to learn about printmaking as well as being home for around 80 enthusiastic artists.

The Open Day on October 19th will celebrate the refurbishment of the physical workshop, built almost 50 years ago. Thanks to Pozible Crowd Funding, and the receipt of a Community Partnership Grant from the State Government, rewiring, re-plumbing and general restoration have now been completed. The workshop is ready for another generation of artists, and those who wish to learn about printmaking, to use and enjoy for another 50 years.

At the Open Day there will be:

• Demonstrations of printmaking techniques
• Opportunities to try printmaking first hand
• Time to chat with and discover how local artists work
• Information about what’s on offer in your community
• Original artworks available to purchase
• The chance to win original artworks
• Light refreshments available

The Open Day is an excellent opportunity to learn more about printmaking (etching, lino printing, wood block printing, lithographs, solar printing and screen printing) and to meet and support this long-standing community group.

Time: 11am to 3pm

Where: Newcastle Printmakers Workshop, 27 Popran Road, Adamstown

Sunday 20^th October

Hot Chocolate @ Wests New Lambton

Hot Chocolate are one of the most successful bands ever to come out of the 70′s.   Formed in Brixton, London, England in 1968, members of the group included Errol Brown, Tony Connor, Larry Ferguson, Harvey Hinsley, Patrick Olive and Tony Wilson.

In 1970 Hot Chocolate, with Errol Brown as lead singer, released their first record entitled “Love Is Life” which reached number 6 in the charts. This was the start of a fifteen year career for the group who amassed a total of over 30 hits and also became the only group in the UK to have a hit for fifteen consecutive years.

The band found a new singer, Greg Bannis and keyboard players Andy Smith & Steve Ansell.  Since 1992, the band has enjoyed years of continued success touring all around the world performing to many thousands of fans who love the music of Hot Chocolate.  In 1997 the classic single “You Sexy Thing” reached number one in the charts after it was featured in the movie ‘The Full Monty’ and a new Hot Chocolate ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation released in October 1997 reached number 10 in the album charts.

In 2010 singer Kennie Simon replaced Greg Bannis on vocals creating what many are saying is their best sound ever.

Hot Chocolate’s hits include ‘You Sexy Thing’, ‘Brother Louie’, ‘Emma’, Every 1’s a winner’, ‘It started with a kiss’, I’ll put you together again’, ‘Heaven’s in the back seat of my Cadillac’ and ‘So you win again’.

Tickets: Ph 4935 1200 or visit www.westsnewcastle.com.au

Monday 21^st October

Architecture of the Mind @ The Lockup Cultural Centre

Architecture of the Mind explores the distance between the lived experience and the memory of experience, responding to neurological science that shows memories leave a physical trace in your brain. Research demonstrates that the more that you access a memory the more it changes, as each time you ‘remember’ it is re-written neurologically, thus straying from the primary experience. Imagination digs in and around the original memory, filling the gaps between what we remember and what we think we remember. Blurring fact and fiction, this work wavers between nostalgia and how we yearn for the past, yet so often wish to alter it.

The exhibition closes on the 27th October so don’t miss out!

Where: The Lockup Cultural Centre, 90 Hunter St, Newcastle

Tuesday 22^nd October 

Music & Trivia & The Cambridge Hotel

Music and Movie Trivia is at the Cambridge Hotel every Tuesday from 7pm. Register your team from 6.30pm. Free entry.

Wednesday 23^rd October 

Antics Student Night & The Cambridge Hotel

Antics student night featuring Rivalries, Undergreyskies, Bound For Ruin & Fingers Crossed performing live and Djs till late.

Free entry.