Rounding off a remarkable summer of Australian tours supporting Al Green and Tori Amos, The Ray Mann Three return home to Sydney ready to play some more. The band will perform over two very special nights, featuring original art by Ray Mann and special guests, at Notes in Newtown.

The Ray Mann Three w/ Ray Mann Art Exhibit
Thu 25th & Fri Feb 26th @ Note’s, Sydney, NSW
www.noteslive.net.au

Following on from the phenomenal success of her two recent albums Temporary People (2009) and Worksongs (2008), one of Australia’s truly great singers, Tina Harrod, will treat audiences across Australia to the full passion of her live performances with her National ‘Underneath Your Spell’ Tour. Tina Harrod, like many great artists, continues to push boundaries and blaze a path of her own – already celebrated as a pre-eminent soul and R&B singer, Tina has been exploring more jazz influenced territory with stunning results.

First, the award-winning album ‘Worksongs’, featuring Tina’s unique interpretation of artists as varied as Nina Simone, Portishead and Nick Drake. And now, ‘Temporary People’ an album of original songs and a ‘devastatingly emotional’ (The Age) work of vulnerability, passion and outstanding musicianship. Both albums were made with her trio of Australia’s top-notch jazz players – bassist Jonothan Zwartz (who co-wrote the album with Tina except for 3 songs that Tina wrote with her partner Jackie Orszaczky in the last years of his life), pianist Matt McMahon and drummer Hamish Stuart. The trio will be touring with Tina, playing material from both albums.

Tina Harrod sings about love, loss and pain like no other. In baring her soul, both on stage and in her recorded works, Tina channels personal experience into universal themes that resonate with people across the spectrum. Tina’s authenticity and emotional power has gained her legions of fans, punters and critics alike. “The more I get to know who I am, the more interesting the music becomes,” says Tina.

Tina Harrod just keeps on getting better – don’t miss the opportunity to see her!

To accompany the tour Tina has released a stunning new video clip:
Tina Harrod – Underneath Your Spell

More clips and info at myspace.com/tinamharrod

The Age Top 10 Albums of 2009
“Temporary People — Tina Harrod. Sydney’s late-blooming jazz goddess offers a free lesson to Idol contestants: before engaging larynx, place soul through wringer.”
Michael Dwyer, The Age

Herald Sun Top 10 Albums of 2009
“Temporary People – Tina Harrod. Strength and vulnerability show in songs exploring life’s vicissitudes, delights and fulfillments.”
Roger Mitchell, Herald Sun

SMH Best Adult Release for 2009
“Temporary People – Tina Harrod. Loss, pain, the complexities of those strange people around us … Tina Harrod stood out for the depth and the extent to which she would go to be true to the feelings as much as the songs. Keysong: Underneath Your Spell”
Bernard Zuel, SMH

‘Temporary People’ also in ABC RADIO NATIONAL Top 10 Albums of 2009

“Not even Billie Holiday can cast a shadow here” Michael Dwyer, The Age (4 stars)
“Harrod’s voice is truly an instrument in its own right” Noel Mengel, The Courier Mail (5 stars)
“Harrod’s style embodies force and fragility” John McBeath, The Australian (4 stars)
“Harrod pours herself, every inch, sinew and synapse, into the songs…she gives you goosebumps.” John Shand, SMH

‘UNDERNEATH YOUR SPELL’ TOUR DATES
Wed 17 + Thu 18 Feb The Promethean, ADELAIDE SA
Fri 19 + Sat 20 Feb Ellington’s Jazz Club, PERTH WA
Thu 25 Feb The Street Theatre, CANBERRA ACT
Fri 26 + Sat 27 Feb Bennett’s Lane, MELBOURNE VIC
Tue 2 + Wed 3 March Ravál, SYDNEY NSW
Fri 26 March Armidale Autumn Music Festival, ARMIDALE NSW
Sat 27 March Mullumbimby Bowling Club, MULLUMBIMBY NSW
Sun 28 March Brisbane Jazz Club, BRISBANE QLD

Media Enquiries: Clare McGregor – claremcg@bigpond.net.au | 0418 192 524
Management – Nathan Farrell, Macquarie Music nate@macquariemusic.com.au
Vitamin Records – www.vitamin.net.au | vitamin@vitamin.net.au

Click to download Press Release as PDF

Blue Mountains hip-hop 4 piece Thundamentals are back on the airwaves, and East Coast stages from Brisbane to Melbourne this February with the launch of ‘My Lady’. The 3rd single from their debut album Sleeping On Your Style – a Latin/Soul infused tune featuring Sydney neo-soul sensation Ray Mann on guest vocals – proves why SMH Metro has dubbed Thundamentals one of the Top 10 live acts to watch in 2010.

Bursting onto an explosive Australian hip hop scene in 2009, Sleeping On Your Style
garnered attention for its outstanding production, eclectic musical influences and
compelling rhymes. From the Cairns Post’s effusive, “…hands down (my) hip hop album of the year…one of the most engaging listens…in any genre”, to the Hobart Mercury’s
summation that “these four lads are the brightest young stars on the block”, praise flowed
as smoothly as the rhymes – 3D World deftly labelled it “…an extremely worthy piece of
art”.

2009 was a productive year: 3 national tours that saw Thundamentals headline, as well as
share stages with the likes of Lyrics Born (USA), Drapht and Astronomy Class. Both singles (‘Move It Up’ and ‘The Mash’) made Triple J high rotation; Thundamentals were featured as a ‘Next Crop Artist’ as part of Oz Music Month, with Dom Allesio hailing them as “…one
of the more exciting Aussie hip hop outfits to emerge in the past few years”. Support from iTunes followed the Triple J buzz – after naming ‘The Mash’ Single of the Week, Thundamentals were invited to record an exclusive live EP for fans and competition winners at Sydney’s iTunes store – and then MTV got on board, championing the band as
one of the next big up and comers in the Australian hip hop scene.

2010 seems set to fill those shoes, and more. Just weeks into the new year, Thundamentals have already had massive performances at Peats Ridge Festival and Sydney Festival First Night, supported by their SMH praise.

Thundamentals ‘My Lady’ tour:
Friday 19th February: The Annandale Hotel, Sydney NSW
Saturday 20th February: Hotel Gearins, Katoomba NSW
Friday 26th February: Northcote Social Club, Melbourne VIC
Saturday 27th February: The Step Inn, Brisbane QLD

All inquiries contact:
Nate Farrell
Nathan Farrell Entertainment
+61 405 165 630
nate@macquariemusic.com.au

Click here to download as PDF

Austin Busch & The Good Reasons have been making waves on the Melbourne scene for some time with their upbeat, soul-infused R’n'B. A keys-driven four piece, they crank out the party vibes, alternating between guitar and sax flavours. A crowd favourite at The Mac, they’ve just returned from Peats Ridge, and are solidly building a reputation as one of the East Coast’s most captivating live acts.

Austin Busch – Keys, Guitar, Vocals.
Gus Rigby – Saxophone, Guitar.
James Gilligan – Bass.
Chris Port – Drums

Myspace.com/AustinSite

Born in NZ, Tina Harrod’s Fijian and Welsh ancestry certainly indicated she might one day become a professional singer.

From her early days she was surrounded by a rich and varied musical legacy that sparked her passion for music and performance. In the late 80s, after moving to Sydney, Tina joined the legendary Jackie Orszaczky in his soul incarnation, The Grandmasters. Their acclaimed 1997 album ‘Family Lore’ won Tina the attention of the music media and punters alike. In 2004 she released her first solo album ‘Shacked up in Paradise’ featuring Tina’s original songs, some co-written with Orszaczky.

It was with the release of ‘Worksongs’ in 2008 that Tina was recognized as one of Australia’s great singers. Recorded live in one day, ‘Worksongs’ was the culmination of a couple of years performing with her trio (Jonathon Zwartz, Hamish Stuart, Matt McMahon). Rave reviews applauded Tina’s impeccable interpretation of artists as varied as Nina Simone and Nick Drake while her knock-out live shows continued to swell the ranks of her loyal fan-base. ‘Worksongs’ went on to win an Australian Jazz Award for Best Vocal Album.

With her latest album ‘Temporary People’, Tina has once again created an extraordinary work of vulnerability, emotive power and exquisite musicianship. Tina Harrod’s journey of musical discovery, like many great artists, continues to unfold.

TinaHarrod.com | Myspace.com/TinaMHarrod

“There are really only two great Australian soul and R&B singers: Renee Geyer and Tina Harrod…Harrod connects with the song more deeply than ordinary singers.” – Sydney Morning Herald

“The power of Nina Simone with the expression of Billie Holiday, yet Harrod’s individuality is never compromised.” – The Australian 2008