UNDER THE BIG TOP Spiegeltent Newcastle keeps getting better, after genre-defying artist Kate Miller-Heidke was added to the festival line-up. Miller-Heidke, who co-wrote the music and lyrics for Muriel’s Wedding: The Musical, will close the festival in Civic Park on April 15, backed by a string quartet.
EASTER ROCK Tim Rogers and his mötley crüe of bandmates, You Am I, are set to deliver some pre-Easter goodies for Newcastle by performing at the Cambridge Hotel on March 29. While Rogers played several solo shows at The Edwards last year and You Am I headlined the Gum Ball and Bimbadgen in 2016, the ‘90s indie rock legends haven’t actually performed together on the more intimate pub stage of the Cambridge since 2015.
FESTIVE EXPANSION You’ll be getting more musical bang for your buck this September after the Wollombi Music Festival announced its expansion to two nights at the Cranky Rock site. The festival is scheduled for September 21 and 22.
NEW RHYTHM Four legends of Newcastle’s music scene are collaborating for the first time on Sunday to shake up the Star Hotel. Bruce Mathiske (guitar/vocals), Dave Carter (bass/vocals), Steve Cowley (guitar) and Adam Manning (percussion) will perform as Rhythm Express. Expect gypsy and latin elements, as well as virtuoso guitar licks.
NOVO COUNTRY Jess Holland might hail from Mudgee, but there’s Novocastrian fingerprints all over her third album Miss Demeanour, released last week. The country album was recorded by Newcastle’s Rob Long at his Funky Lizard Studios and features local musicians Ben Elliot, Matt Gaudry, Jason Walker and Gleny Rae.
