Secret Sounds

Irish troubadour JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW makes his maiden voyage to Australia this April to introduce his remarkable solo talent. Alongside debut performances at Bluesfest, McMorrow will set out on an east coast run with stops in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. No novice to the stage, James has already captured audiences throughout Europe and USA with his passionate, pop oriented folk, including the UK where his spot on last year’s Glastonbury lineup had many new fans witness his magic. His self-recorded album “Early In The Morning” platforms his musical integrity and genuine talent with hypnotic lyrics inspired by life, love and literature.

James Vincent McMorrow’s live show is a hushed and reverential affair, each show met with pin drop silence as people are mesmerised by every word and syllable. It will not always be this way however, James shares his future and tells us his dream for a much grander affair that includes a full band in tow when he visits here again. “Playing on my own right now is beautiful because it allows me to connect on a very primitive level, but I’d like to be in a place soon where I can be surrounded with friends on stage to share this with me.”

James Vincent McMorrow’s “Early In the Morning” is released via Dew Process on Friday, March 2nd. Shows go on sale this Monday, February 6th. For a limited time only, fans have the chance to download his album for just $10.99 with tickets purchased online.

Listen to the album “Early In The Morning” streaming here  jamesvincentmcmorrow.com.au

“Sounds both fresh and as if they’ve been in your head forever…McMorrow’s debut deserves its success.”
– Q Magazine

“A captivating debut… An arresting journey from emotional trials to aural pleasure.”
– Uncut ★★★★

Secret Sounds and Handsome Tours Present

JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW

With special guest to be announced

Thurs 5 April – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
Tickets from www.oztix.com.au  or 1300 762 545 

Wed 11 April – The Vanguard, Sydney
Tickets from www.thevanguard.com.au 

Thurs 12 April – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
Tickets from www.moshtix.com.au or 1300 GET TIX (438 849) 

Facebook Event: facebook.com/secretsoundstouring

Revered songstress LAURA MARLING has moved beyond her nu-folk tag with her highly-acclaimed new album “A Creature I Don’t Know” showing further depth and wisdom in her songwriting and lyricism. Hailed as NME’s Best Solo Artist and anointed Best British Female at the recent Brit Awards, LAURA MARLING’s star has well & truly risen at just 21 years of age.

“Laura Marling’s third album is less a total reinvention than a subtle maturation, a stretching out to the extent of her reach in all directions…. it’s also a record with more weight, darkness, humour and playfulness than ever before, her rockiest and jazziest moments yet, but also her most accessible sound.” – NME 

On her third jaunt to Australia to play Laneway Festival 2012, Secret Sounds is pleased to announce that LAURA MARLING willalso perform at the Forum Theatre, Melbourne on February 2^nd followed by a special show at Sydney Opera House on February 9^th.

MARLING first grabbed the world’s attention with her softly spoken and obscenely talented debut “Alas I Cannot Swim” in 2008. She was just 17 when she penned standout single ‘Ghosts’ which found its way onto high rotation on triple j and leapt into the Top 50 of the station’s Hottest 100. She toured the album down under, playing her inaugural Splendour in the Grass plus several rewarding sideshows.

Outstanding 2010 follow-up “I Speak Because I Can” cemented her position beyond that of a teenage prodigy, with themes of mortality, womanhood and responsibility effortlessly flowing into her music. Her live shows reflected that confidence, delivering stellar sold-out performances en route around the nation.

"The tiny elf is …deft with maturity and an astounding understanding of the intricacies of folklore storytelling, accompanied by quintessential folk instrumentation." - Time Off, January 2010

"This was a truly enchanting evening from one of the finest young talents around." - Drum Media, February 2010

“A Creature I Don’t Know” is a darker, subtler, more complex beast. Born from a woman who is musically bolder and lyrically more astute, the album weaves tales that Marling describes as “one-sided conversations”, creating characters that flow throughout her various songs. It tells of beasts and muses and mythic women. It has been welcomed as her finest work yet, a mean feat for an artist whose rise has taken on its own mythic proportions whilst her feet remain firmly on the ground.

Having charmed Glastonbury festival, BBC’s Later with Jools Holland, Radio 1 Sessions, and supported hero Ryan Adams, LAURA caps off this year with a sold-out UK cathedral tour and a string of performances across Europe. In 2012, it is Australia’s turn to again fall at the feet of this accomplished chanteuse.

A Creature I Don’t Know is out now through EMI.

Rolling Stone ★★★★
The Age  ★★★★
Herald Sun  ★★★★
Sydney Morning Herald  ★★★★
Q Magazine  ★★★★
mX  ★★★★

Secret Sounds Presents

LAURA MARLING

Presented by triple j and Beat 

Thursday, 2nd February
FORUM THEATRE, MELBOURNE
 With Special Guests HUSKY
ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100

Thursday 9th February
Presented by Sydney Opera House
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE CONCERT HALL
Tickets from sydneyoperahouse.com or 02 9250 7777

Having played more than 180 SOLD OUT shows worldwide off the back of their debut GOLD album, FOSTER THE PEOPLE return to Australia to satisfy the masses with headline performances in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in January 2012.

FOSTER THE PEOPLE went from an LA indie club act to an international hot ticket off the back of their EP, but it was their debut album Torches that saw them become festival favourites and radio royalty. Forming in 2009, the trio met in the City of Angels after frontman Mark Foster made the move from middle America Ohio. Foster was bored at work one day and penned a little ditty that would become a massive track the world over.  It was called ‘Pumped Up Kicks’.

A hit, a monster single, a song with a life of its own -- FOSTER THE PEOPLE’s contagious dance-pop anthem ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ has clocked more than 38 million YouTube views. The single is certified Triple PLATINUM in the USA, and Double PLATINUM in Australia. It is the #1 Song on iTunes, Alternative Radio and Spotify in the USA and is currently in the Top 10 of the ARIA Charts.

Having collaborated with not one but four big name producers, Paul Epworth (Florence & the Machine, Bloc Party), Rich Costey (Muse, The Mars Volta), Greg Kurstin (Bird and the Bee, Lily Allen) and Tony Hoffer (Belle & Sebastian, Depeche Mode) FOSTER THE PEOPLE made the album they wanted to make. Their way. And it certainly paid off.

FOSTER THE PEOPLE have become darlings of the late night TV circuit playing on Letterman, Ellen, Saturday Night Live and many more. The trio have also been nominated for Best New Artist at the MTV VMAs and the American Music Awards. The album is now GOLD in the USA and Australia.

Australia was one of the first countries to embrace the LA locals and we’ve kept on hugging them tight ever since.  FOSTER THE PEOPLE’s energetic sold out club shows in February 2011 saw a devoted and lucky few fist pumping to the tracks that would form the basis of debut album Torches.  In July 2011 they returned just as the album hit stores for a triumphant Splendour In The Grass performance that almost raised the roof of the Mix Up Tent with thousands of voices singing in unison. Their subsequent headline tour also sold out, with new shows added to meet the high demand.

The audience seemed to know and lose their shit to the first few bars of every single song with good reason – the infectious hooks of Call It What you Want and memorable lyrics of Miss You and Pumped Up Kicks created the perfect dance-and-sing-a-longs that often left no reason for the lead singer to be there as they drowned out his voice.” Inpress, August 2011

"Stand out tracks included the obvious Pumped Up Kicks, Waste and Houdini. However, this show was one of the few gems that made every track as appealing as the last…With Sean Cimino going nuts on the synth, Isom Innis on the keyboard and Cubbie Fink completing the tightly bound sound of FOP; they did not put a foot, finger or fret wrong and played like seasoned pros."  The Dwarf, Melbourne July 2011

Returning for Big Day Out 2012, FOSTER THE PEOPLE will play their biggest headline shows yet at the Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane, on Monday, January 23^rd; the Enmore Theatre, Sydney on Wednesday, January 25^th and the Palace Theatre, Melbourne on Monday, January 30^th. Tickets go on sale to the public 12pm next Monday, November 28^th.

Torches is out now through Sony Music.

www.fosterthepeople.com

Secret Sounds and Handsome Tours Present

FOSTER THE PEOPLE

With Special Guests
Presented by triple j, Rave, The Brag and Beat 

Mon 23 Jan – The Tivoli, Brisbane
Tickets from ticketek.com.au or 132 849

Wed 25 Jan – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Tickets from Enmore Box Office, 02 9550 3666 or ticketek.com.au

Mon 30 Jan – The Palace, Melbourne
Tickets from ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100 & oztix.com.au

Californian “naked kids” GROUPLOVE return to Australia this January! Their sunshine-laden hooks sparkled brightly at Splendour in The Grass and fans in Sydney and Melbourne were treated to intimate headline sideshows. Now back by popular demand, GROUPLOVE are set to kick 2012 off with a bang, including performances at both Falls Festivals before heading out on the road nationally, including WA’s Southbound.

“Lead track ‘Itching on a Photograph’ does what Cold War Kids can no longer do: scrape the clouds with a chorus that breaks open a cleansing storm.” 
Daily Telegraph

“It’s a perfectly woven mix of sappy sweetness with depth and they deliver it fantastically, the crowd eating out of their hand.”
Inpress August 2011

After finding each other in the balmy climes of Greece, GROUPLOVE produced a gem of an eponymous EP that saw their google-friendly name spread across the world. The band was founded by love after frontman Christian Zucconi met keyboardist/singer Hannah Hooper under Williamsburg Bridge and bonded over a mutual love of Pixies, Nirvana and Fleetwood Mac. It could have ended there as Hannah left for Crete shortly after, but on a whim, Christian joined the artist overseas. The pair then met guitarist Sean Gadd and pro surfer and bassist Andrew Wessen, add to the mix drummer and producer Ryan Rabin and GROUPLOVE was born.

Fast forward to 2011 and GROUPLOVE’s debut record “Never Trust A Happy Song” produced by their own Ryan Rubin has been hailed by triple j, earning it Feature Album of the Week and a slew of gushing reviews. It hit the ARIA charts at #21. With hit singles “Colours”, “Naked Kids” and “Itching On A Photograph” leading the charge, the ‘70s tinged sparkle-pop album is effortless.

“Never Trust a Happy Song is far from a cohesive album, but that actually works to its advantage--because it encapsulates the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows, of this emotional rollercoaster known as life.”
BBC MUSIC

“L.A.-based quintet unleash positively euphoric debut.”
 Q MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2011

“Listening to Never Trust A Happy Song is like God smiling down on you, telling you that you are his most wondrous creation and then giving you $50 for being a swell guy.”
THE AU REVIEW

It’s not surprising considering their place amongst the world’s hottest new bands, having already been named in the Top 10 of NME’s ‘Best New Bands’ list and ‘Ones to Watch’ from Spin magazine. GROUPLOVE recently shined on Conan O’Brien’s show in the US and have clocked up the frequent flier miles playing every summer festival from here to Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza to Reading, Rock En Seine France to Optimus Alive Portugal. They’ve recently graced the stage with Florence + the Machine & embarked on a sold out co-headline US tour with Foster The People. It’s no wonder they’re in high demand! Get tickets this Friday.

“An emphatically joyous sound of summer has landed and it goes by the name of Grouplove.”
LONDON BARFLY REVIEW

“Never Trust a Happy Song” is out now through Warner Music.

Secret Sounds Presents

GROUPLOVE

With Special Guests
Presented by triple j, Pedestrian and Street Press Australia 

Tues Jan 3 – FACTORY THEATRE, SYDNEY
factorytheatre.com.au or 02 9550 3666

Wed 4 Jan – CORNER HOTEL, MELBOURNE
cornerhotel.com or 03 9427 9198

Thu Jan 5 – THE GOV, ADELAIDE
moshtix.com.au or 1300 GET TIX or   venuetix.com.au or The Gov (thegov.com.au or 8340 0744)

Tues Jan 10 – THE ZOO, BRISBANE
thezoo.com.au or OzTix outlets

Wed Jan 11 – THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY
OzTix.com.au or OzTix outlets

Do you like to dress yourselves in the dapper attire of THE HIVES? If so, now is the time to break out your suit and tie and show us what you’ve got. We want to see your best Hives impression/photo. Whoever we deem the best lookalike will be heftily rewarded. Enter here!

There's lots of excited Pulp fans out there! While we wait for July to roll around, we can distract ourselves with this handy Youtube playlist, consisting of Pulp's hits and one live gem. Pulp fans will want to make sure Friday 27 May is locked into their diary. Tickets go on sale that day at 9am!