Queensland’s rock renaissance
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UP AND COMING: Sheppard are one of the new breed of young Queensland bands finding fame.
Source: Supplied
TOGETHERNESS: Brisbane all-girl surf rock band Go Violets (from left) Phoebe Imhoff, Alice Rezende, Ruby McGregor and Harriette Pilbeam. Pic: Jeff Camden
Source: News Limited
EVERYTHING is coming up roses for Go Violets and a new wave of Queensland bands taking their music to the world.
As the all-girl quartet launched Heart Slice at Jet Black Cat Records on Thursday, Brisbane pop band Sheppard were playing a week of shows in New York, and Triple J favourites The Jungle Giants celebrated a sold-out Sydney show before 1200 fans on the back of debut album Learn to Exist.
Cairns-raised singer-songwriter Emma Louise this week received her first ARIA nomination for best female, alongside Missy Higgins, Sarah Blasko and Jessica Mauboy.
The Amity Affliction received an ARIA best metal nomination for their No.1 album Chasing Ghosts, and Sheppard are nominated for best independent release at the ARIAs alongside Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
Busby Marou and Violent Soho have cracked the ARIA top 10, while newcomers such as The Creases, signed to UK label Rough Trade, and Go Violets, signed to the Create Control label, are creating a huge buzz.
Go Violets singer-guitarist Alice Rezende said Brisbane was the catalyst for her to start writing songs.
“I often wonder if I would be playing music if I didn’t live in Brisbane,” she said.
“All the friends I know play music and you feel inspired when you hear what they are doing.
“Everyone is doing something different and not copying each other’s styles, which is great.”
The music business is changing rapidly and Emma Louise, Sheppard and The Jungle Giants have broken through while releasing their own music without signing to a record label, the traditional route to music success.
Promoter Michael Chugg’s Chugg Music is managing Sheppard, and their single Let Me Down Easy has gone platinum; a rare independently released success on commercial radio.
The band’s debut album, recorded in Brisbane, will be released next year.
Artists such as Seja, The Trouble With Templeton and My Fiction are also winning praise for their albums, while established bands such as Halfway and Ballpark Music plan their next releases.
RISING FAST
Go Violets
All-girl quartet play spiky guitar-pop with sunny melodies like Josie. Debut six-tracker Heart Slice released this month.
Violent Soho
Hard rockers crashed into the national top 10 for the first time with Brisbane-recorded third album Hungry Ghost. Show at The Zoo next Saturday sold out, Sunday show added.
The Jungle Giants
Debut album Learn to Exist went to No.12 on the ARIA chart, wrap up Australian tour with two Brisbane all-ages shows and at Brisbane’s Hi Fi Bar next Saturday.
Busby Marou
Nashville-recorded album Farewell Fitzroy biggest-selling Australian album of the week at No.5.
Sheppard
Band featuring siblings Amy, Emma and George Sheppard being played on 150 US radio stations and debut single Let Me Down Easy platinum for 70,000 Australian sales.
Emma Louise
Up for best female at 2013 ARIA Awards, single Jungl
e a hit in Italy, debut album Vs Head Vs Heart No 12 in Australia.
Halfway
Fourth album Any Old Love, produced by Go Betweens’ Robert Forster, set for February release.
Jeremy Neale
Founder of Brisbane live favourites Velociraptor switches his razor-sharp songwriting to solo career with In Stranger Times EP.
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