MELBOURNE – WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 10

Bella Union at Trades Hall

Level 1, Trades Hall, Corner Lygon and Victoria Streets, Carlton (enter from Lygon St)

this is an over 18s event

tickets $27+bf from www.bellaunion.com.au

$30 on the door if available

Running Times

Doors 8.00pm

Pikelet 8.45-9.30pm

DJ Jens Lekman 9.30-10.00pm

Frida Hyvonen 10.00-11.15pm

DJ Jens Lekman 11.15 til close

SYDNEY – THURSDAY FEBRUARY 11

Paddington Uniting Church

395 Oxford St, Paddington

this is an all ages, no alcohol event

tickets $27+bf from www.moshtix.com.au / 1300 348 849

$30 on the door if available

Running Times:

Doors open 7.00pm

Pikelet 7.30-8.15pm

Frida Hyvonen – 8.45-10.00pm

Chris Robison and his Many Hand Band, released privately in 1973 and reissued now on CD for the first time, was one of the world’s first records by an openly gay songwriter. Coming just a few years after the Stonewall Riots of 1969, Many Hand Band is a dazzling feat of musical daring. But Chris Robison is not just a pioneering gay musician, he is an all-pervasive presence in New York rock from the late 60s onwards, having played with everyone fron Elephant’s Memory and Steam to Kiss, the New York Dolls, John Phillips and Bob Dylan.

Not only that, Many Hand Band is a totally freewheeling and unique album, coalescing all the

sensory overload of downtown New York City life in the early 70s. It touches on folk, psychedelia rock, Latin funk and more, all filtered through Robison’s sly and cheeky personality.

Chapter announces Arks Up, the debut release from Melbourne quartet Dick Diver. It’s the second in Chapter’s new EP series, featuring a vinyl single accompanied by a CD with extra tracks.

Dick Diver have only been at it for less than a year, but already have the hallmarks of a modern classic. There’s something in their combination of widescreen Australian sweep, 70s New York punk edge and scratchy 90s indie rock that transcends influences to become truly rare and exciting.

They’re launching Arks Up in Melbourne at the East Brunswick Club on Friday December 4, with support from the Nation Blue and the Twerps!

The second of Chapter’s deluxe reissues of Kath Bloom and Loren Connors incredible early 80s avant-garde folk albums is out now! Featuring their final two albums Restless Faithful Desperate and Moonlight (both originally released in 1984), the 2CD set not only includes the early version of Kath’s signature tune Come Here, but a raft of previously unreleased bonus tracks!

Chapter Music announces a new EP by warmhearted Melbourne pop scallywags The Twerps! This is the first in Chapter Music’s new EP series, featuring a vinyl single accompanied by a CD with extra tracks.

Forming late 2008 around charismatic guitarist/vocalist Marty Frawley (son of much-missed Paul Kelly & the Dots member Maurice Frawley) and bassist Rick Milovanovic, the Twerps have quickly risen to become one of Melbourne’s favourite lo-fi pop bands. They’ve recently scored support slots for the likes of Deerhunter and the Bats, with shows coming up in December supporting California’s The Oh Sees.

Their debut release features eight (or is that nine?) short, simple but incredibly infectious tracks, recorded to analogue tape by Eddy Current Suppression Ring guitarist Mikey Young. Marty’s cheeky but heartfelt songs are complemented by the crystalline guitar lines of guitarist Julia MacFarlane (ex Batrider) and the sympathetic percussion of drummer Patrick O’Neill.

The EP takes the form of a four song vinyl single, plus a CD with bonus tracks.

The luscious vinyl version of Crayon Fields swoonworthy second album All The Pleasures Of The World has just arrived back from the pressing plants, and looks incredible! Limited to 300 copies, with half going to the band to sell at gigs, you’ll have to get in quick to make sure you get a copy!

Chapter is excited to announce a new limited edition release by autistic Melbourne freakoids Bum Creek.

Released to coincide with their appearance at Newcastle Sound Summit this month, this 100 copy only self-titled CD is a teaser before the band’s full length LP to be released on Chapter Music early in 2010.

Known for their wild and transcendental live performances, in the studio Bum Creek explore slightly different territory. Subdued loping rhythms and dub-tinged squiggles, vocal improvisation and processed guitar create a disorienting cocoon world that once entered, is hard to leave.

Chapter Music has gone back in time to resurrect two long out of print compilation cassettes from its mythical lo-fi past. Both released in 1994 in editions of around 200 copies, Too Much Ash and Asparagus Milkshake documented a pre-Myspace explosion of Australian DIY, as bands and musicians from Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane  (and occasionally Sydney) gradually reached out to make contact and develop a national network.

The cassettes feature scene creamers such as the legendary Cannanes, Small World Experience, Minimum Chips, Clag and Sleepy Township, all recorded in magnificent hissy lo-fi glory. Both tapes have been reissued in 100 copy editions, with elegant foldover covers and newly written liner notes!