We’re back with another 5 Newcastle artists you should be listening to right now.
Editors Note: If you don’t see your favourite Newy act listed below, it doesn’t mean that we haven’t heard of them or don’t like their music. So far we’ve covered 15 local acts in this series, but we’ve written about hundreds of Newy bands which you can search for using the navigation search in the menu bar. The whole point of the post is to expose our community to music they haven’t heard because listening to the same thing all the time would be pretty boring, right?
We also have a LOCAL MUSIC HIT LIST we update regularly on Spotify with heaps of local music, so get amongst it!
Amy Vee
Every once in a while you get the opportunity to chat with a passionate soul. Someone who is so completely dedicated to the beautiful craft of songwriting that you finally become aware of every single intricacy behind the craft. Singer/songwriter Amy Vee is one of those people. If you’re at all familiar with the live music scene in Newcastle, the alt-folk stylings of Amy Vee will not be news to you, but this will serve as a welcome reminder of just how wonderful she is. Her latest single, 10 years, is a beautifully crafted story, interwoven with delicate vocals and effortless folk stylings. If you have not yet seen her live, track her down, take the time to get cozy in the corner of your favourite venue and let every single sound wash over you. You can thank me later.
Amy Vee plays 5 Sawyers in Darby Street Newcastle on the 8th of June
Dan Southward
I have read many wonderful things about Dan Southward over the years, but it wasn’t until I saw him perform at 48 Watt Street on Saturday, that I completely understood the depth of talent he pours into both his songwriting and his live set. Dan was humbly soft spoken, and managed to captivate the audience with a perfect acoustic arrangement, and was easily one of my favourite performances of the year so far.
Dan Southward plays the Stag & Hunter Hotel in Mayfield on 23 June.
Rose&theSea
I first saw Rose and the Sea at an Open Mic Gig at the Hamo one night. I wasn’t really paying attention at the time, most likely staring into space and hoping my pet bird didn’t hate me too much for leaving him at home. But then… Deanna Rose and Milli Casey began to sing. The way their harmonies seem to effortlessly combine with one another, to form the most beautiful sound astounds me. You can catch them gigging together or separately, either way, you won’t be disappointed.
SeeRose&theSea have no gigs currently listed on their Facebook page, but you can often catch them at The Lass O’Gowrie Hotel. Keep your eyes on the gig guide.
Family Dog
The first time I heard Family Dog’s song, Close Me Out I was immediately hooked. Since their establishment in 2015, the five-piece alternate rock band have released a solid “mini album” with an official Launch Party at the Stag & Hunter and have developed a loyal fanbase. I’m a big fan of Family Dog guitarist Matt James’ side project Puzzy and his former band Maids was a local institution before their split last year. Saying that though, I think this is the perfect vehicle for Matt’s artistic output which is evident in the sounds you hear on the release.
There’s nothing on the gig calendar for Family Dog at the moment, but keep your eye on the gig guide as they’re sure to pop up somewhere soon.
In Motion
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt since I started working at Newcastle Live it’s that Newy loves a tight entertaining three piece band… And that’s what you get with In Motion. To be honest, I wasn’t too hot on the act when I first saw them a few years ago, but every time I’ve seen them play since then, they’ve gotten better and better. And I think that’s what I’ve come to LOVE about this band – They know (or have learnt) to build on their strengths, which is rare. For me, it’s like the boys have grown into their roles within the band, especially enigmatic frontman Lachlan Fisher, and their performance at the Byron Bay Blues Fest Busking Comp this year absolutely blew me away. With more hooks than a tackle shop, these guys have landed some serious opportunities including a recording session at Newcastle’s 90 Degree Studio with Allon Silove (who’s a fucking legend) that is currently being mixed with a release in the pipeline.
In Motion will take to the stage at Kings Cancer Council Concert this Sunday (4 June) to be held at Wests Cardiff in the Macquarie Room. Doors open at 1:30pm.
PHOTO: Gavin Whitner Follow – Boots of a Guitarist Performing Live on Stage musicoomph.com
