From country cool to indie gold, here are the gigs to catch this month
Liberty Hall, August 15
In 2013, Sydney band The Preatures hit paydirt with the song Is This How You Feel?, a slinky pop banger that went platinum and scored them $50,000 when they won the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition. The band split up in 2021, but reunited last year to play a show celebrating 2014 debut album Blue Planet Eyes. That one-off gig has now spun out into a national tour playing the album in full, with the promise of new songs hinting the band may be back for good.
Keith Urban
Qudos Bank Arena, August 22-23
With everyone from Beyoncé to Post Malone jumping on the bandwagon, it's fair to say country music has hit peak coolness in the mainstream. Queenslander Keith Urban has been playing his own take on country pop for decades now (his self-titled debut album came out in 1991), and long before cowboy hats became a go-to fashion accessory. Touring in support of last year's album High, Urban is a generous performer, known for gigs that push past the two-hour mark - so expect all the hits, along with the new material.
Icehouse
Sydney Coliseum Theatre, August 23
Icehouse may not have released an album of original material in more than 30 years, but the love for the iconic Sydney band is obviously still there. Eighties hits Great Southern Land and Electric Blue (co-written with John Oates of Hall and Oates) both appeared in triple j's recent Hottest 100 of Australian Songs, and earlier this year the Iva Davies-led project scored the Icon Award at the Rolling Stone Australia Awards.
Tyler, the Creator
Qudos Bank Arena, August 26-28
Los Angeles rapper, singer and producer Tyler, the Creator (Tyler Okonma) has gone from snotty teenage firebrand in the late Noughties to bona fide Grammy-winning, stadium-selling-out pop star over the past two decades, becoming one of modern music's most electric live acts in the process. Tyler is touring in support of last year's chart-topping album Chromakopia, although he's bound to also play new songs from his just-released surprise album Don't Tap the Glass.
Rad Presents - Live
Liberty Hall, August 30
Artist management and events company Rad Music is saying goodbye to winter with this mini-festival across Liberty Hall and Courts, featuring a bunch of artists on its roster. Playing across two stages, the line-up includes Victorian rock band The Belair Lip Bombs, Sydney rap-experimental-punk hybridists Shady Nasty and xiao xiao, plus indie bands Armlock, Dust, Bridge Dog, Paint, Bimbo, Sevilles and Crocodylus. Headlining is Wollongong's mighty Hockey Dad, one of the country's most reliably great live rock bands.
Paul Kelly
Qudos Bank Arena, August 30
It's heartwarming to see that, at age 70, national treasure Paul Kelly is performing his largest headline shows ever. Over a prolific career (29 studio albums and counting), he's produced more iconic songs than almost any other Australian artist, including perennial Christmas anthem How to Make Gravy. Making this show even more of a must-see is support act Lucinda Williams, a legendary singer-songwriter in her own right who has her own show at the Sydney Opera House on August 31.
Soft Centre Festival
White Bay Power Station, August 30
One of the joys of being a music fan is discovering new acts and occasionally pushing outside the barriers of what you normally listen to. This multi-stage event is just the thing for those after some audio and visual adventure, with the promise of radical performance art, adventurous club sounds, blistering A/V shows, site-responsive installations and 'durational spectacle'. Highlights include the intriguing sounding CONTENT.NET.AU: The Musical, British artist and musician Klein, and US rap experimentalist Pink Siifu.
Other Australian artists worth catching in August include Melbourne's Merpire, recently reactivated Sydney band Deep Sea Arcade, dance dynamos Shouse, Tim Minchin, The Rubens, Youth Group's Toby Martin, Montaigne, Gypsy & The Cat, Alex Lloyd, The Cat Empire, Caligula, The Moving Stills, Jeff Lang and End of Fashion playing their self-titled debut album in full to celebrate its 20th anniversary. International artists include Cuban pop sensation Camila Cabello, Daniel Seavey, Pup, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Jay Park, Alex Warren, NZ indie rockers Ringlets, German DJ Paul van Dyk and US rockers The Used playing three albums over three nights. Who will you be seeing? Let us know in the comments.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Meet the new crop of farmers looking for love on Farmer Wants a Wife
Hit TV series Farmer Wants a Wife is returning with a new round of eager bachelors looking to bring love to the farm in 2026. Six eligible farmers will seek to harvest romance in a new crop of single women to find their future wives. A nationwide search for single women has begun for those seeking to swap the city for the farm. Here are the farmers taking part: The 41-year-old almond farmer from Riverland in South Australia is an adventure buff. Camping, fishing and water sports are always on the cards. But he does have a softer side, he reminds us. He enjoys cooking for loved ones and meaningful conversations, too. He said romance is all about the "little things". "I've cooked surprise meals, organised thoughtful getaways, and made time to really connect, even just listening when it matters most," he said. A big part of Jarrad's life is his two sons, aged nine and 12, from a previous relationship. "I make sure they know how important good manners are because it's important to me that they grow up to be respectful men," he said. Aww. The hunky South Australian export is the youngest of the farmers at 24 years old. A towering sheep farmer, Dylan prefers "open skies and rodeo circuits" over "city lights and flashy cars". He describes himself as "genuine, hardworking, honest, and resilient". But don't pigeonhole him, he warned. He loves to draw and cares for orphaned wildlife in his spare time. Dylan said he once had a partner end a relationship with him because he was "too romantic". As if there is such a thing? The 28-year-old Queensland export is highly sociable and thrives on bringing people together from different walks of life. The life of the party, Alex loves a dance floor but also enjoys "quality conversation". The cattle and mushroom farmer is a hard worker who hasn't been on a long holiday in years but is hopeful of finding love. "Love is hard to define, but once you have found it, you know you have found it," he noted. "It should not be described with words because it felt. It is beautiful. It is a feeling." The proud Queenslander describes himself as "easy-going" and "fun-loving". At 37 years old, he knows a few things about love and is the most pragmatic of the six. But the proud dad of two young children said he is a "sucker for a beautiful smile" and a relaxed spirit. "I believe love doesn't necessarily complete you, but it makes everything feel better and more meaningful with that person by your side," he said. "My parents have been married for over 40 years, and they're both still in love. I really want that." Jason boasts he makes a great cup of tea and is looking to find someone to share the "quiet moments" of live with. READ MORE: When the filming stopped, which Farmer really ended up with his Wife? The 37-year-old beef cattle farmer from the west is "outgoing, determined" and "loves a good laugh". John said he isn't above dramatic romantic gestures. "I have flown to the other side of the world to surprise somebody that I was in love with, which was pretty romantic," he said. "But I do believe that real romance lies in the everyday things." A motor enthusiast, he said he values health and fitness and and would like a partner who shares those passions. "I like someone that has a softness in their nature, but at the same time a resilience and can handle life's curveballs," he said. The apple farmer from South Australia is the tallest farmer on offer at 194cm and also the equal youngest at 24. He describes himself as energetic and outgoing, and loves sports. "Life is meant to be fun, and it's so much easier when you're happy," he said. He said he is a supreme extrovert who loves socialising and meeting new people. Physical touch is his love language, and he believes open communication is essential for successful relationships. Hit TV series Farmer Wants a Wife is returning with a new round of eager bachelors looking to bring love to the farm in 2026. Six eligible farmers will seek to harvest romance in a new crop of single women to find their future wives. A nationwide search for single women has begun for those seeking to swap the city for the farm. Here are the farmers taking part: The 41-year-old almond farmer from Riverland in South Australia is an adventure buff. Camping, fishing and water sports are always on the cards. But he does have a softer side, he reminds us. He enjoys cooking for loved ones and meaningful conversations, too. He said romance is all about the "little things". "I've cooked surprise meals, organised thoughtful getaways, and made time to really connect, even just listening when it matters most," he said. A big part of Jarrad's life is his two sons, aged nine and 12, from a previous relationship. "I make sure they know how important good manners are because it's important to me that they grow up to be respectful men," he said. Aww. The hunky South Australian export is the youngest of the farmers at 24 years old. A towering sheep farmer, Dylan prefers "open skies and rodeo circuits" over "city lights and flashy cars". He describes himself as "genuine, hardworking, honest, and resilient". But don't pigeonhole him, he warned. He loves to draw and cares for orphaned wildlife in his spare time. Dylan said he once had a partner end a relationship with him because he was "too romantic". As if there is such a thing? The 28-year-old Queensland export is highly sociable and thrives on bringing people together from different walks of life. The life of the party, Alex loves a dance floor but also enjoys "quality conversation". The cattle and mushroom farmer is a hard worker who hasn't been on a long holiday in years but is hopeful of finding love. "Love is hard to define, but once you have found it, you know you have found it," he noted. "It should not be described with words because it felt. It is beautiful. It is a feeling." The proud Queenslander describes himself as "easy-going" and "fun-loving". At 37 years old, he knows a few things about love and is the most pragmatic of the six. But the proud dad of two young children said he is a "sucker for a beautiful smile" and a relaxed spirit. "I believe love doesn't necessarily complete you, but it makes everything feel better and more meaningful with that person by your side," he said. "My parents have been married for over 40 years, and they're both still in love. I really want that." Jason boasts he makes a great cup of tea and is looking to find someone to share the "quiet moments" of live with. READ MORE: When the filming stopped, which Farmer really ended up with his Wife? The 37-year-old beef cattle farmer from the west is "outgoing, determined" and "loves a good laugh". John said he isn't above dramatic romantic gestures. "I have flown to the other side of the world to surprise somebody that I was in love with, which was pretty romantic," he said. "But I do believe that real romance lies in the everyday things." A motor enthusiast, he said he values health and fitness and and would like a partner who shares those passions. "I like someone that has a softness in their nature, but at the same time a resilience and can handle life's curveballs," he said. The apple farmer from South Australia is the tallest farmer on offer at 194cm and also the equal youngest at 24. He describes himself as energetic and outgoing, and loves sports. "Life is meant to be fun, and it's so much easier when you're happy," he said. He said he is a supreme extrovert who loves socialising and meeting new people. Physical touch is his love language, and he believes open communication is essential for successful relationships. Hit TV series Farmer Wants a Wife is returning with a new round of eager bachelors looking to bring love to the farm in 2026. Six eligible farmers will seek to harvest romance in a new crop of single women to find their future wives. A nationwide search for single women has begun for those seeking to swap the city for the farm. Here are the farmers taking part: The 41-year-old almond farmer from Riverland in South Australia is an adventure buff. Camping, fishing and water sports are always on the cards. But he does have a softer side, he reminds us. He enjoys cooking for loved ones and meaningful conversations, too. He said romance is all about the "little things". "I've cooked surprise meals, organised thoughtful getaways, and made time to really connect, even just listening when it matters most," he said. A big part of Jarrad's life is his two sons, aged nine and 12, from a previous relationship. "I make sure they know how important good manners are because it's important to me that they grow up to be respectful men," he said. Aww. The hunky South Australian export is the youngest of the farmers at 24 years old. A towering sheep farmer, Dylan prefers "open skies and rodeo circuits" over "city lights and flashy cars". He describes himself as "genuine, hardworking, honest, and resilient". But don't pigeonhole him, he warned. He loves to draw and cares for orphaned wildlife in his spare time. Dylan said he once had a partner end a relationship with him because he was "too romantic". As if there is such a thing? The 28-year-old Queensland export is highly sociable and thrives on bringing people together from different walks of life. The life of the party, Alex loves a dance floor but also enjoys "quality conversation". The cattle and mushroom farmer is a hard worker who hasn't been on a long holiday in years but is hopeful of finding love. "Love is hard to define, but once you have found it, you know you have found it," he noted. "It should not be described with words because it felt. It is beautiful. It is a feeling." The proud Queenslander describes himself as "easy-going" and "fun-loving". At 37 years old, he knows a few things about love and is the most pragmatic of the six. But the proud dad of two young children said he is a "sucker for a beautiful smile" and a relaxed spirit. "I believe love doesn't necessarily complete you, but it makes everything feel better and more meaningful with that person by your side," he said. "My parents have been married for over 40 years, and they're both still in love. I really want that." Jason boasts he makes a great cup of tea and is looking to find someone to share the "quiet moments" of live with. READ MORE: When the filming stopped, which Farmer really ended up with his Wife? The 37-year-old beef cattle farmer from the west is "outgoing, determined" and "loves a good laugh". John said he isn't above dramatic romantic gestures. "I have flown to the other side of the world to surprise somebody that I was in love with, which was pretty romantic," he said. "But I do believe that real romance lies in the everyday things." A motor enthusiast, he said he values health and fitness and and would like a partner who shares those passions. "I like someone that has a softness in their nature, but at the same time a resilience and can handle life's curveballs," he said. The apple farmer from South Australia is the tallest farmer on offer at 194cm and also the equal youngest at 24. He describes himself as energetic and outgoing, and loves sports. "Life is meant to be fun, and it's so much easier when you're happy," he said. He said he is a supreme extrovert who loves socialising and meeting new people. Physical touch is his love language, and he believes open communication is essential for successful relationships. Hit TV series Farmer Wants a Wife is returning with a new round of eager bachelors looking to bring love to the farm in 2026. Six eligible farmers will seek to harvest romance in a new crop of single women to find their future wives. A nationwide search for single women has begun for those seeking to swap the city for the farm. Here are the farmers taking part: The 41-year-old almond farmer from Riverland in South Australia is an adventure buff. Camping, fishing and water sports are always on the cards. But he does have a softer side, he reminds us. He enjoys cooking for loved ones and meaningful conversations, too. He said romance is all about the "little things". "I've cooked surprise meals, organised thoughtful getaways, and made time to really connect, even just listening when it matters most," he said. A big part of Jarrad's life is his two sons, aged nine and 12, from a previous relationship. "I make sure they know how important good manners are because it's important to me that they grow up to be respectful men," he said. Aww. The hunky South Australian export is the youngest of the farmers at 24 years old. A towering sheep farmer, Dylan prefers "open skies and rodeo circuits" over "city lights and flashy cars". He describes himself as "genuine, hardworking, honest, and resilient". But don't pigeonhole him, he warned. He loves to draw and cares for orphaned wildlife in his spare time. Dylan said he once had a partner end a relationship with him because he was "too romantic". As if there is such a thing? The 28-year-old Queensland export is highly sociable and thrives on bringing people together from different walks of life. The life of the party, Alex loves a dance floor but also enjoys "quality conversation". The cattle and mushroom farmer is a hard worker who hasn't been on a long holiday in years but is hopeful of finding love. "Love is hard to define, but once you have found it, you know you have found it," he noted. "It should not be described with words because it felt. It is beautiful. It is a feeling." The proud Queenslander describes himself as "easy-going" and "fun-loving". At 37 years old, he knows a few things about love and is the most pragmatic of the six. But the proud dad of two young children said he is a "sucker for a beautiful smile" and a relaxed spirit. "I believe love doesn't necessarily complete you, but it makes everything feel better and more meaningful with that person by your side," he said. "My parents have been married for over 40 years, and they're both still in love. I really want that." Jason boasts he makes a great cup of tea and is looking to find someone to share the "quiet moments" of live with. READ MORE: When the filming stopped, which Farmer really ended up with his Wife? The 37-year-old beef cattle farmer from the west is "outgoing, determined" and "loves a good laugh". John said he isn't above dramatic romantic gestures. "I have flown to the other side of the world to surprise somebody that I was in love with, which was pretty romantic," he said. "But I do believe that real romance lies in the everyday things." A motor enthusiast, he said he values health and fitness and and would like a partner who shares those passions. "I like someone that has a softness in their nature, but at the same time a resilience and can handle life's curveballs," he said. The apple farmer from South Australia is the tallest farmer on offer at 194cm and also the equal youngest at 24. He describes himself as energetic and outgoing, and loves sports. "Life is meant to be fun, and it's so much easier when you're happy," he said. He said he is a supreme extrovert who loves socialising and meeting new people. Physical touch is his love language, and he believes open communication is essential for successful relationships.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Tyler, the Creator 'just wanted to be silly again' on Don't Tap The Glass
Tyler, the Creator "just wanted to be silly again" on Don't Tap The Glass. After 2024's Chromakopia dealt with some heavy topics, from his struggles with his hair to his relationship with his father, Tyler wanted to have "some fun" and cut the "deep s***". Speaking to Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, he said: "It was being silly, just fun again. Because CHROMAKOPIA was so like, for me... That I'm not saying it's the most mature, deep s***. Everyone has different lives. But for me, whether it's me talking about my relationship with my hair and how that's affected me, or me almost being a father last year, or the relationship that I have with my father now, just so many things that I decided to dive deep into. After the weight of that got off, I just wanted to be silly again. "And, if you listen to the end of Rah Tah Tah, and the end of Noid, and some of Sticky, and even a I Hope You Find Your Way Home verse, just like low-key, my LA accent just really popped in through there. And I was just being silly, just having fun again. And I was like, 'Oh, for this, man, I just want to get back to that, no deep album cuts, no slow emotional s***, no f****** this is where my... I just want to be fun and say outrageous s*** and say s*** that... inside jokes that me and my friends laugh at, and just talk big fly s***. That was the goal. That was the main 100 per cent goal." He continued: "Like, on there, I keep saying, 'Get your funky a** in that tub, b****.' I keep saying that because it's this funny video on Instagram I found of this little girl playing with her doll, saying it, and it's the funniest thing to me. And I'm like, 'Oh, that spirit was the base of the early stuff that I made.' And it was just fun doing that again, and not trying to be good, and precious, and make the most innovative music. Like, bro, over it. No intros, no outros, no bridges. Get to the f****** point. Get to the hook. Get to the verse. No beat switches, no f******... I'm over it, bro." The album has been categorised as dance music after Tyler hailed it music for "body movement", but it's not your standard dance record. He explained: "It's a weird thing because, like bro, I be so open and loud about the s*** I love and that inspire me and this and that, blah blah blah. And I think sometimes the problem is it doesn't go through people's filter, and that's when it gets weird. Listen, man, this album, for example, DON'T TAP THE GLASS, I never called it a dance album. It's just some s*** that I would love people to dance to because it's music that I will want to dance my body to. And that's all type of dance music on there. Some people hear the idea dance music, and they're like, 'Oh, it's techno or deep house, or it's this certain sound.' Bro, if you grew up with black folk, Ring Ring Ring is another one." Tyler added: "Bro, if you grew up in the South and you know New Orleans Bounce, Don't Tap That Glass is New Orleans Bounce. Don't You Worry, Baby, that's Atlanta bass, that's Miami bass. But some of these folks, they didn't grow up within that culture. So, I'll Take Care of You" someone could say, That's a UK jungle record. And some people might be like, You can't dance to that, but that's dance music. Sucka Free, if you grew up in Los Angeles with n***** in Dickies and White Tees and Chucks, with the blower on them, you know that is a two-step record that mother****** Daz Dillinger would f******…do you feel me? But that's all my interpretation of dance music or a music that you could dance to. So, I think it has to go through your filter, and a lot of folks, sometimes it doesn't go through their filter. It do be control-C, control-V, da da da. Yeah, I don't know. It's such a weird f****** thing, dude. It's such a weird thing. I don't even know how to speak on it because it's so... that is the strongest, buffest, like, 'I work out, eat protein,' gray area." Listen to the full interview anytime on demand with an Apple Music subscription.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
From country cool to indie gold, here are the gigs to catch this month
The Preatures Liberty Hall, August 15 In 2013, Sydney band The Preatures hit paydirt with the song Is This How You Feel?, a slinky pop banger that went platinum and scored them $50,000 when they won the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition. The band split up in 2021, but reunited last year to play a show celebrating 2014 debut album Blue Planet Eyes. That one-off gig has now spun out into a national tour playing the album in full, with the promise of new songs hinting the band may be back for good. Keith Urban Qudos Bank Arena, August 22-23 With everyone from Beyoncé to Post Malone jumping on the bandwagon, it's fair to say country music has hit peak coolness in the mainstream. Queenslander Keith Urban has been playing his own take on country pop for decades now (his self-titled debut album came out in 1991), and long before cowboy hats became a go-to fashion accessory. Touring in support of last year's album High, Urban is a generous performer, known for gigs that push past the two-hour mark - so expect all the hits, along with the new material. Icehouse Sydney Coliseum Theatre, August 23 Icehouse may not have released an album of original material in more than 30 years, but the love for the iconic Sydney band is obviously still there. Eighties hits Great Southern Land and Electric Blue (co-written with John Oates of Hall and Oates) both appeared in triple j's recent Hottest 100 of Australian Songs, and earlier this year the Iva Davies-led project scored the Icon Award at the Rolling Stone Australia Awards. Tyler, the Creator Qudos Bank Arena, August 26-28 Los Angeles rapper, singer and producer Tyler, the Creator (Tyler Okonma) has gone from snotty teenage firebrand in the late Noughties to bona fide Grammy-winning, stadium-selling-out pop star over the past two decades, becoming one of modern music's most electric live acts in the process. Tyler is touring in support of last year's chart-topping album Chromakopia, although he's bound to also play new songs from his just-released surprise album Don't Tap the Glass. Rad Presents - Live Liberty Hall, August 30 Artist management and events company Rad Music is saying goodbye to winter with this mini-festival across Liberty Hall and Courts, featuring a bunch of artists on its roster. Playing across two stages, the line-up includes Victorian rock band The Belair Lip Bombs, Sydney rap-experimental-punk hybridists Shady Nasty and xiao xiao, plus indie bands Armlock, Dust, Bridge Dog, Paint, Bimbo, Sevilles and Crocodylus. Headlining is Wollongong's mighty Hockey Dad, one of the country's most reliably great live rock bands. Paul Kelly Qudos Bank Arena, August 30 It's heartwarming to see that, at age 70, national treasure Paul Kelly is performing his largest headline shows ever. Over a prolific career (29 studio albums and counting), he's produced more iconic songs than almost any other Australian artist, including perennial Christmas anthem How to Make Gravy. Making this show even more of a must-see is support act Lucinda Williams, a legendary singer-songwriter in her own right who has her own show at the Sydney Opera House on August 31. Soft Centre Festival White Bay Power Station, August 30 One of the joys of being a music fan is discovering new acts and occasionally pushing outside the barriers of what you normally listen to. This multi-stage event is just the thing for those after some audio and visual adventure, with the promise of radical performance art, adventurous club sounds, blistering A/V shows, site-responsive installations and 'durational spectacle'. Highlights include the intriguing sounding The Musical, British artist and musician Klein, and US rap experimentalist Pink Siifu. Other Australian artists worth catching in August include Melbourne's Merpire, recently reactivated Sydney band Deep Sea Arcade, dance dynamos Shouse, Tim Minchin, The Rubens, Youth Group's Toby Martin, Montaigne, Gypsy & The Cat, Alex Lloyd, The Cat Empire, Caligula, The Moving Stills, Jeff Lang and End of Fashion playing their self-titled debut album in full to celebrate its 20th anniversary. International artists include Cuban pop sensation Camila Cabello, Daniel Seavey, Pup, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Jay Park, Alex Warren, NZ indie rockers Ringlets, German DJ Paul van Dyk and US rockers The Used playing three albums over three nights. Who will you be seeing? Let us know in the comments.
