Bow Wow to get down at the Cambridge

Formerly known as Lil Bow Wow, he burst onto the scene at 13 with dread locks and the hip-hop smash Bounce With Me, and built a fruitful career in music, TV and movies. His seventh album Underrated has originally meant to be released in 2010, but has been stalled by squabbles with the record company and due to his acting and family commitments.

The 29-year-old will perform at the Cambridge Hotel on August 5.

ARCADES and Lions’ initial plan a year ago was to conquer Newcastle. With their reputation forged as one of the leaders of the growing underground indie scene, the four-piece have turned their attention to broadening their horizons.

Thursday night’s show at the Lass O’Gowrie will be Arcades and Lions’ last in the Hunter until spring as they plan to head into Grove Studios on the Central Coast to record a five-track EP.

“We’ve built a Newcastle fan base and now it’s time to get out and record some proper material and see how far it can take us,” drummer Darren James said.

Following the studio time the 2015 Youth Rockin The Black Dog winners plan to play their first shows outside the Hunter in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and regional NSW.

“I think our goal was to, after a year, get outside Newcastle for our first show,” James said. “As it happens one year after we became a band to the day we have our first gig outside Newcastle. Everything has worked out to plan.”

Thursday’s show will feature several freshly-written songs, including one which didn’t even have a name on Tuesday. 

“We’re just going to give it a crack,” frontman Tim Walker said. “We work best under pressure.”

IT has been a slow build, but Sydney’s Montaigne appears ready to launch her blossoming career into mainstream on her forthcoming debut album Glorious Heights.

Her striking voice and epic, yet quirky, pop tunes have been buzzing around Triple J since 2012 when she was an Unearthed finalist with the indie track Anyone But Me. Her subsequent singles Clip My Wings and In The Dark, along with their artistic videos, have further showcased her music which carries strong influences from Kate Bush, Bjork and Sia. Montaigne, whose real name is Jess Cerro, will play Lizotte’s on October 9. 

KURRI Kurri songstress Melody Pool has landed the support slot on Bob Evans’ national tour in August.

Pool will join the Jebediah frontman on seven dates supporting his new album Car Boot Sale starting on August 4 at Adelaide’s Grace Emily Hotel.

IF you missed RAAVE TAPES’ crazy self-titled EP launch on Saturday night at the King Street Hotel, don’t fret the Kurri Kurri lads are heading out on the road. The garage dance rockers will plays shows in Sydney, Wollongong, Brisbane, Gold Coast and at Islington’s Small Ballroom on July 10 to complete the tour.

Saturday’s EP launch sold out by 7.30pm, with 100 people lining up for the show at 6pm that also featured Kale and No-Fi Records stablemates PALS, Vacations, Wavevom and Voodoo Youth.

ORGANISERS of last year’s Springfest at Morpeth’s School of Arts Hall have expanded their horizons for the grassroots show’s second coming.

Springfest II will be held in a paddock adjoining Hinton’s Victoria Hotel on October 15. On the bill that showcases emerging acts will be The Treehouse Children, Red Slim, Midnight Movers, Arcades and Lions, Auxfire, Swamp to Sahara, Lennie Tranter and the Bagism Revelation, Jones The Cat, Maple Moths, Ben Bradly, In Motion and Stephanie Grace. Tickets are on sale for $25.

KARISE Eden was forced to postpone Wednesday night’s show with Dean Ray at Wests New Lambton due to illness. The reality TV stars have rescheduled their show for July 13 and all previous tickets are still valid.

IN the early 2000s Alex Lloyd was the hottest young songwriter in the country when Amazing topped the Triple J Hottest 100. It’s been a decade since the 41-year-old tasted mainstream success, but the pop-folk troubadour will release an album of acoustic reworkings of his most loved songs. Amazing, Coming Home and Black The Sun will feature on Acoustica, to be released on August 5. Lizotte’s host Lloyd on October 15.