NEWCASTLE jazz-pop duo Bravo Victor are plotting their next move after recording material for a second release last week.
Sophie Aked (vocals) and Jono Burgess (bass) recorded a dozen tracks - half of which were originals – live to two-track across two days at Gareth Hudson’s Hazy Cosmic Jive studio in Charlestown.
Burgess said he and Aked were still deciding whether to release the material early in 2019 as a six-track all-original EP or include several covers on what would be a debut album.
“We had lots of feedback after the first one, like people would come to see us and say, ‘we get it now, we get the bass and voice thing’,” Burgess said.
“So that’s what was driving us with this one. We wanted to do it without any tricks up our sleeve. Because we’ve played so much since that first record, it’s not a real representation of what it’s like live.”
Bravo Victor’s self-titled debut EP was released in 2017 after the duo formed following a collaboration on a Newcastle Conservatorium of Music project.
X-CITING CHANCE
UNIVERSITY Of Newcastle creative industries students have the opportunity to showcase their talents to a wider audience at next month’s Festival X.
The week-long festival, held from November 7 and 11 throughout the Newcastle CBD, will bring together short film screenings, concerts and pop-up music ensembles.
“We’re incredibly proud of our talented students and above all, this is a wonderful opportunity for them to showcase years of dedication to their craft to their family and friends,” director of Festival X and lecturer with the School of Creative Industries, Dr Simon Weaving, said.
Triple j host and electronic producer Kristy Lee Peters, best known as KLP, will host a songwriting workshop called Ricochet Songs as part of Festival X on November 8.
There will also be pop-up shows that range from folk to gypsy jazz and pop, before Festival X concludes on November 11 at the Newcastle Conservatorium.
FKA HERE TO STAY
HOPE Estate have vowed to bring FKA Festival back to the Pokolbin winery next year after it’s measured debut on Saturday.
A crowd of 3000 attended the festival which featured prominent Australian indie rock artists The Jungle Giants, British India, Trophy Eyes, Kingswood and Luca Brasi. While the crowd figure would have been below expectations, FKA has been hailed a success.
READ MORE: Gallery and review of FKA Festival
“The combination of incredible artists, the weather holding out and the amazing crowd, we’re calling Hunter Valley's newest boutique festival a success,” a Hope Estate spokesperson said.
“With such great feedback, we’re excited to say that we’ll be bringing the tunes back to the Hunter for FKA 2019.”
DEVILISH VIDEO
ANYONE who’s seen William Crighton knows the Bellbird artist broods intensity. He’s amped that up to 11 for the video of his new psych-rock single Devil’s Tongue.
Featuring his band mates Reuben Alexander, brother Luke and wife Julieanne, the video depicts Crighton performing in the sand dunes, a quarry and a bush junkyard. It was filmed by bush balladeer Aaron Lyon.
Meanwhile, Newcastle Americana songstress Demi Mitchell has unveiled a video for Dancing In The Sand, the fourth single from her album The Overflow, which recently received a four-star review in the German Rolling Stone.
WORLDLY TOUR
Surf-folk legends The Beautiful Girls will return to Newcastle’s Cambridge Hotel on January 20 on their Beautiful World single tour.
The track, which features dub-step influences, was released in July and Mat McHugh and co spent the winter touring the single in Europe. The Beautiful Girls were last in Newcastle in January for the 15-year anniversary of their debut album Learn Yourself.
