It’s been a hard slog but we’ve had an absolute blast listening to all the submissions for our Needle in the Hay vinyl comp. There is an absurd amount of good music pumping around Australia (and NZ) right now and we were delighted to be introduced to so many great new artists.
We’ve narrowed down our shortlist (which we will be announcing next week), and from that we’ve chosen six incredible artists to play our Needle in the Hay launch party at the Botany View Hotel in Newtown, Sydney on September 1st. Head here for all the details.
From our shortlist, our panel of judges, which including Jake Stone (Bluejuice) Magoo (producer, Regurgitator, Midnight Oil) and Julia Wilson (Rice Is Nice) will be picking the winner and runners up of the comp.
But to get everyone pumped for the party, let us introduce you to the six bands playing on the night.
Before we kick off our Needle in the Hay party at the Botany View on Friday September 1st, we wanted to introduce you to the bands playing the night.
Dave
Dave‘s single Eggiwegs, which wormed its way into our hearts earlier this year, has to be a contender for song of the year. The trio are from Newcastle and create visceral, high voltage rock ‘n’ roll, with a touch of melancholy and nostalgia that reminds us a bit of Jebediah or British India.
Their mini-album Yoch! Bangers Vol.1 came out back in May and it’s a ripsnorting good time. Check it out here.
Yon Yonson
We’ve been big fans of Yon Yonson for a while now. They’re local Sydney boys, delivering some of the most gripping experimental pop around town.
After releasing their epic 17 track album Yes No Sorry in March this year on TEEF Records, hitting stages alongside Hey Geronimo and most recently jumping onto Ngaiire’s hand-selected Fringe Festival Lineup, these boys are on their way to great things.
Raindrop
The brainchild of Sydney-based multi-instrumentalist Miles Devine, Raindrop create music with an innate sense of freedom: breezy, explorative, kaleidoscopic, and audacious.
They’ve described themselves as “medium fidelity psychedelic RnB”, which leaves audiences free to pretty much take Raindrop and their music in whatever way they choose. But what you will inevitably get is a strange brew containing essences of the Flaming Lips, the Beatles, MGMT and Unknown Mortal Orchestra and more.
Their submission to Needle in the Hay isn’t out yet, so we can’t reveal too much about it. But we can say its really good, and you should be excited. Here’s something from a few years back.
Forest Hall
Forest Hall produce fast-paced, pop-infused garage rock that is super catchy, free of bullshit and packs a punch.
The band’s new EP was written chief songwriter Mislav Belobrajdic, and is all tongue-in-cheek, self-depreciating, people-shouldn’t-take-themselves-so-seriously rock ‘n’ roll: a swan song for the sinful and the lackadaisical souls of the world.
They also put on a killer live show. Check out the EP below.
Okin Osan
Okin Osan is the brainchild of Sydney’s Rose Chan (yep, the younger sister of Rainbow Chan). All 60s garage and surf, her sound is brimming with sweet pop hooks and carries a summery lilt you just can’t get out of your head.
Lyrically intriguing and parred with a gritty adolescent fury that keeps you hanging on for more with each and every track, we cannot wait to see what this Sydney band brings to the stage at the Needle in the Hay party.
Check out her EP Are You Game? below.
Egoism
Egoism are perfecting the art of combining ambient guitar and powerful vocals with a subtle undercurrent of rock. They are bold, cinematic and inventive, sure to bring a fresh set to the party we cannot wait to hear what they have in store.