Flying high on an updraft of love for their recently-released second album All the Pleasures Of the World, Melbourne euphoric pop quartet Crayon Fields are jetting over the Pacific for their first ever US shows in March, including an appearance at music conference mecca South By Southwest.

CRAYON FIELDS US DATES

Sunday March 14 Los Angeles, CA – The Echo, Crayon Fields on stage at 7.10pm (Aussie BBQ showcase)

Monday March 15 Los Angeles, CA – Silverlake Lounge, Crayons on stage at 8pm

Wednesday March 17 Austin, TX – Gibson Studios, Crayon Fields on stage at 5.30pm (KEXP live broadcast)

Thursday March 18 Austin, TX – Ghost Room, Crayon Fields on stage at 12:45pm (Austin Town Hall Party with Lets Wrestle, Surf City, Dappled Cities, The Loom, Lovely Feathers)

Friday March 19, Austin, TX – Chupacabra, Crayon Fields on stage at 1:45pm (Pegstar.net Party, with James Husband, Wave Machines, The Invisible, Ume, Robert Ellis, The Forecast)

Saturday March 20 Austin, TX – Maggie Maes, Crayon Fields on stage at 12.05pm (Popfrenzy Aussie BBQ showcase, with Best Coast, Sally Seltmann, Surf City and more)

Saturday March 20 Austin, TX – Mi Casa Cantina, Crayon Fields on stage at 9.00pm (Official SXSW showcase)

Tuesday March 23 Williamsburg, NY – Bruar Falls, from 8pm (with Richard Davies, Kath Bloom and Guy Blackman)

Wednesday March 24 Brooklyn, NY – Sycamore, from 9pm (acoustic show)

Thursday March 25 Brooklyn, NY – The Bell House, Crayon Fields on stage at 7.40pm (Aussie BBQ showcase)

Friday March 26 Manhattan, NY – Pianos, from 8pm (with Yawn + TBA)

Sunday March 28 Los Angeles, CA – Echo Curio, from 3pm (with Guy Blackman + TBA)

Brand new Pikelet album Stem has just come out, a split release from Chapter Music and awesome Melbourne label Love+Mercy Records.

It builds on the heady, swirling loops of her 2007 self-titled debut, sailing into the psychedelic pop stratosphere with the addition of a full backing band.

It only takes one listen to realise that Stem is an incredible expansion of vision. New Pikelet inductees Shags Chamberlain (synths), Tarquin Manek (bass, clarinet, backing vocals) and Matthew Cox (drums) bring a cosmic space-prog edge, infiltrating Evelyn’s wide-eyed style with mind-expanding results.

After her 2009 world tour that took her everywhere from LA to Latvia, and recent shows with the likes of Devendra Banhart, Kaki King, Frida Hyvonen and upcoming shows with Dirty Projectors, it seems the sky is the limit for Pikelet. But actually that’s not quite right – as Stem proves, not even outer space can contain her!

Stem is in stores now, and available on iTunes!

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!