GiggySound

SWING LOW

And The Bakery announcements have already begun! Minnesota indie-rock gods Low bring their mesmerising slowcore sounds to the venue in late October. Famed for their sonically intense sound, Drums And Guns – the band’s latest album – features minimalist drum loops working alongside subtle melody. The Perth show will see the band perform material from across their entire catalogue, with local support from Erasers and Schvendes. Saturday, October 23, The Bakery, Northbridge. Tickets are $44 plus booking fee from 78 Records, Mills Records, Planet Video and nowbaking.com.au. Doors open 8pm.

TALKING TREE

Helmed by Perth producer Sue Taylor and French filmmaker Julie Bertucelli (Since Otar Left) and based on an Aussie book, The Tree recently closed the 2010 Cannes Film Festival to a standing ovation. The Tree tells the story of a young girl who becomes convinced her dead father is whispering to her through the leaves of a Morton Bay fig tree on the family property.

SOUNDS OF THE SOUTH

If you like the sound of performing alongside Interpol, Klaxons, Joan Jett, Eskimo Joe and Birds Of Tokyo at Southbound 2011, then you should register your band today with Sonicbids.com. All you need to do is upload your band’s tracks to Sonicbids before Friday, October 29, to be in the running to win a highly coveted spot at Southbound. The winners will be announced on Thursday, November 11, and will join the many big acts at Sir Stewart Bovell Park in Busselton from Saturday, January 1, ’til Monday, January 3.

LLAMA LIVE

Welcome to Llama Live – the latest addition to the local live music landscape. A weekly showcase of the crème of the scene from Perth and beyond, every Thursday will see a new handpicked selection of bands from ’80s synth pop to dance punk and everything in between. Drinks, tapas, music and you – the ultimate weekend warm up at the Llama Bar, Subiaco every Thursday night. It all kicks off on Thursday, September 2, with Good Little Fox and Resort. And throughout the rest of September catch Sneaky Weasel Gang, The Brow Horn Orchestra, Brash & Sassy, and The Domnicks, featuring Dom Mariani and Nick Shepherd. $10 entry or $20 for table seating (including a drink). Free entry before 7.30pm.

MODEL CITIZEN

Most Australians will recognise Erika Heynatz for her roles as a model/television presenter but few know that Heynatz isn’t just a pretty face – she’s also talented a singer and performer with a strong love for pop music. After challenging her musical abilities on Channel 7’s It Takes Two series, Heynatz decided it was time to take the plunge and follow her dream of becoming a musician.

ROCKING THE ROCKS

After a sell out season last year, Live At The Quarry returns for the 2010/11 season. Get ready for a series of top music performances in the Quarry’s idyllic surrounds. Featured in the season will be the new darling of the Australian music scene, Lisa Mitchell, playing songs from her impressively mature debut album, Wonder. Iconic musician John Williamson brings his Australian histories to life under the stars, as will the magical Clare Bowditch delight Quarry audiences this season. Mark Seymour will play a double bill with mate James Reyne, both drawing from their vast back catalogues for a truly special performance. Tickets for the Quarry shows sell out notoriously fast, so make sure you’re ready when tickets to this unique WA season goes on sale at 9am on Thursday, August 26, from ticketmaster.com.au. For more information head to liveatthequarry.com.au. Start planning your picnics now!

FRESHLY BAKED

Ah, remember the days of seeing great indie, electronic, experimental and hip hop gigs in that dark wallpapered Bakery space? Sweltering inside in the middle of summer and stepping out into the courtyard to make friends with like minded Perth individuals? It would be an understatement to say that Perth’s alternative music and arts scene has missed the Bakery – we’ve had a giant hole in our hearts and social calendars for almost two years now!

WELL, WELL

The Modfather himself, Mr Paul Weller has just announced a second Perth date, after tickets to the first show bolted out the door. So for all the unlucky ones who missed out on tickets, Weller now plays a second show on Thursday, October 14, at Metro Freo – the night before his sold out appearance at Fremantle Arts Centre. Tickets for this second show go on-sale from Friday, August 27, from Ticketmaster. Get in quick!

While this may have been one of the more insipid election campaigns since Gough Whitlam first injected a bit of pop star into polling, it’s not been completely devoid of verve. Indeed, with only days to go until we exercise our great democratic right in telling the ‘how to vote’ changelings to bugger off, the pundits are still divided on who is likely to pocket the keys to The Lodge. So, in the spirit of getting all political for a couple of weeks every three years, here are three hot predictions from around the X-Press office.

OUCHIE

Hailing from Melbourne town, Ouch My Face is a three-piece act that likes to rock with their own brand of experimental punk. Having opened for bands such as The Bronx, Handsome Furs and Shonen Knife, Ouch My Face will have audiences thrashing when they take to the stage of Manhattans on Friday, October 22, and Mojo’s on Sunday, October 24. Tickets are on sale now from Heatseeker, Mills and Planet.