Alternative Rock | Musicosity

HighSch00L

Currently based in London, Melbourne locals HighSchool have had quite a year over there – playing sold-out headline shows, supporting the likes of CHVRCHES, NewDad and Wet Leg, and appearing at a whole host of UK and European festivals. Fresh from supporting Sam Fender on his Australian tour, today they’re excited to finally be announcing their first ever hometown show, when they’ll headline Melbourne’s Corner Hotel on Wednesday 14 December.

The trio of Lilli and Rory Trobbiani and Luke Scott, HighSchool made quite the introduction late last year with their infectious six-track debut EP, Forever at Last, released to much acclaim:
‘A sprawling and gorgeous thing, overflowing with ideas and gothic excess. A monument to unbridled creativity’ – NME
‘Deliciously dark dance numbers that’ll be stuck in your head for days’ – DIY
‘Potent indie pop that recalls early Beach Fossils, aspects of The Cure, while channelling elements of The Go-Betweens, but really they are forging fresh paths, and laying claim to a sound of their own’ – Clash Magazine

As the EP continues to find fans, they recently recorded live favourite ‘Only a Dream’ with in-demand producer Dan Carey (Black Midi, Fontaines D.C., Wet Leg) being released on his ever-excellent Speedy Wunderground record label. A gloriously catchy track, it’s currently on the BBC 6Music playlist and the limited, one-time press 7” is long sold out.

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Tam Vantage

Tam Vantage and full band will be playing their first show since 2017, to celebrate the release of ‘Laughing Gas & Apple Pie’.

Tam spent his formative years playing with the bands Pop Singles and The Stevens. He released his debut solo album in 2015 and a sophomore album in 2017. Since then he has released a collection of 80+ home demos, played in the bands Permits, Girlatones, Leah Senior, Carpet Burn, and Chook Race, and contributed to the music and debut album of his late father Neil Richards.

His new album is an offering of high energy, fuzzed-out, alternative rock n’ roll.

The live band will consist of Kayley Langdon (Blonde Revolver, Future Suck, Carpet Burn) on drums; Rob Remedios (Chook Race, Permits, Small Intestines) on bass guitar, and Chris Korczynski (The Tropes, Battlestations, Brick) on second guitar.

‘Laughing Gas & Apple Pie’ is available as a pressing of 100 vinyl LP’s via Still Traveller Records, and can be heard on all digital platforms.

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Alternative Rock

Indie Rock

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Holiday - Band

Emerging with a sound that spans decades and genres, HOLiDAY aligns to a resonance of anthemic artists of recent times. Romantically referenced as ‘the lovechild of Florence and The Machine and Foals’, they unapologetically merge gritty alternative rock with heartfelt indie pop. The charming combination of female and male vocals lands the band in the realm of other joint lead vocal groups alike, receiving recent praise for festival appearances as “a modern-day Fleetwood Mac with hints of The XX ” (Damian Costin, Live Nation).

HOLiDAY’s content spans lyrical war cries to humble love songs with lead vocalist Meg Hitchcock (London, UK) having one of those voices that comes along every few generations, her tone sitting somewhere between the Celtic-coral qualities of London Grammar’s Hannah Reid and pop royalty Whitney Houston. Accompanied by Jesse Higgs (Tasmania, Australia), with an evident musical upbringing, emanates anthemic and heartfelt rawness, recently referenced as “an Aussie Freddie Mercury that plays guitar like John Frusciante” (Julia Davis, New World Artists). Combined with Marcos Micozzi's (Buenos Aires, Argentina) atmospheric guitar playing, Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) meets Brian Eno like production attributes and his passion for integrating analogue and digital recording - results in HOLiDAY’s timeless yet innovative sound.

This dynamic trio from three separate corners of the globe serendipitously met and are still based in the creative vortex of Byron Bay, Northern Rivers. Currently defining their debut EP, a first glance comes via their single ‘Next Best Friend’ showcasing HOLiDAY’s self-produced talents and ambitious creativity. HOLiDAY are for fans of: London Grammar, Foals, Sam Fender, Florence and The Machine and other alternative rock staples.

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Alternative Rock

indie pop

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The Valiants

The Valiants are an explosive 5 piece Indie/Alt Rock outfit, sprouting from the hills of East Melbourne. With influences ranging from Arctic Monkeys to AC/DC, they bring a unique sound to the Melbourne rock scene. Punchy drums, groovy bass lines, duelling guitar riffs, and soaring keys are what you can expect from these boys as they tear up stages near you.

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indie

Alternative Rock

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King’s Vengeance

King’s Vengeance are a heavy rock 3-piece hailing from Melbourne, Australia. With influences drawing from the classic rock, blues and heavy metal acts of the 60’s to today, their sound is a unique fusion of hard-hitting riffs, spirited lyrics and incendiary musicianship.

The band's debut single, "Down," was released on August 06 2021, with a music video for the song released on August 13.

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Alternative Rock

Classic Rock

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X Ambassadors

X Ambassadors (also stylized XA) are an American pop rock band from Ithaca, New York, that consists of lead vocalist Sam Harris, keyboardist Casey Harris, and drummer Adam Levin. Russ Flynn is a touring member who plays guitar and bass. Their most notable songs include "Jungle", "Renegades", and "Unsteady". The band's debut full-length album, VHS, was released on June 30, 2015. Their second album, Orion, came out on June 14, 2019. Their third album, The Beautiful Liar, was issued on September 24, 2021. Their fourth album, Townie, came out on April 5, 2024.

2009–12: Ambassadors and Litost

X Ambassadors began playing under the name Ambassadors, touring with artists such as LIGHTS. During this time, they self-released their debut EP, Ambassadors, creating a music video for its lead single, "Tropisms", shot and directed by Rodrigo Zedillo.[citation needed] Shortly after, they self-released their second EP, Litost, which included the eponymous song, later to be used in the soundtrack for The Host. The band signed a record deal in 2012 with SONGS Music Publishing. They launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund and shoot two music videos for the EP's singles, "Weight/Lightness" and "Unconsolable", with the latter being re-recorded later. The group was noticed by Imagine Dragons while frontman Dan Reynolds was sick in the hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. Reynolds heard an acoustic version of "Unconsolable" on 96X WROX-FM and asked Interscope to sign the band as soon as possible.

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Spoegwolf (ZAF)

Spoegwolf is 'n Afrikaanse musiekgroep van die Paarl, Suid-Afrika wat in Februarie 2012 gestig is. Die groep bestaan uit Moskou du Toit (tromme, perkussie en sang), Chris von Wielligh (kitaar, klavier), Albert van der Merwe (baskitaar, sang, rymklets) en Danie du Toit (sang, kitaar, klavier). Van hulle treffers is Loerie, Lenie Blou, Bittermaan en Somerset-Wes. Spoegwolf het geskiedenis gemaak deur die eerste Afrikaanse musiekgroep te wees om die nommer een plek op die Apple Music treffersparade in Suid-Afrika te beklee. Op hoërskool het Chris by hulle aangesluit op klawerbord, en in 2008 het hulle Die Burger se Jip Rockspaaider-kompetisie gewen.

Die eersteprys het 'n professionele opname in 'n ateljee behels deur Paris Recording Studios - hul eerste musiekvideo, en gigs moes sorg vir daaglikse uitgawes. In hulle tweede jaar het hy en Albert besluit om dié spelery meer professioneel aan te pak. Die musiekgroep het as Ysterkoei bekend gestaan tot en met 2012, toe Spoegwolf ontstaan het en die groep 'n sterker visie en beeld wou koppel aan die groep en die musiek wat hulle maak.

Hulle visie – en met Danie se nuutgevonde insigte te danke aan sy taal- en kultuurvakke verkry in die rekenaarlokaal waar hy saans na ete gaan werk het – was om ’n musiekgroep te skep vir mense wat lief is vir literatuur.

“Ons wou ’n Afrikaanse band wees wat dink.” Hy noem dan ook sy literêre en musiekinspirasie as onderskeidelik Ernest Hemingway, J.D. Salinger en Bruce Springsteen."

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Alternative Rock

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The Hard Aches

The Hard Aches are an Australian melodic punk/alternative rock band from Adelaide, South Australia. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Ben Clennett (aka Ben David) and drummer Alex Upton. The band formed in 2012, originally born out of a backing band for Clennett's solo work under the moniker Ben David and the Banned. The group played the Adelaide leg of the Big Day Out in 2012, before extensively touring for the rest of the year. Three new original songs, now under the name The Hard Aches, were released in February 2013 as a split EP with Melbourne band Foxtrot. The band also opened for Dropkick Murphys and Frank Turner in April 2013.

The band's debut standalone EP, entitled Organs and Airports, was released in November 2013 via Anchorhead Records. In 2014, the band parted ways with bassist/vocalist Brianna Mahoney. She was not replaced, converting the band into a duo. The band's debut album, Pheromones, was released in May 2015 via Anchorhead Records. The album spawned two singles, "I Get Like This" and "Knots." A standalone single, "Loser," was released in October 2015. A new single, "Glad That You're Gone," arrived in May of 2016 as a precursor to the band's second EP, I Freak Out.

The band released a new single, "Brain Drain," in 2017. It was released as both a standalone single and a split seven-inch with UK band Muncie Girls. Their second studio album, Mess, was released in April 2018 via Anchorhead/ADA. Its singles were the title track, "Happy" (featuring Georgia Maq) and "I Feel Like I'm Dying."

Prior to a national tour with Grinspoon, the band released a new single entitled "Wasted" in September 2019.

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punk

Alternative Rock

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Littlefoot

On the vibrant Melbourne music scene, where the air hums with anticipation and the walls of Iconic venues echo with the strains of creativity, one band stands poised to make a seismic Impact.

Littlefoot, a quartet with a penchant for heavy alternative rock, is set to headline at the legendary Cherry Bar. Their music, a fusion of raw energy and ‘90s heavy rock influences, promises an electrifying experience for fans and newcomers alike.

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Alternative Rock

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Floodlights

Five lives that collided to make a stamp of their own.

Floodlights’ dynamic live performance is raw and intimate, intertwined with powerful outbursts and marching rhythms. Evocative lyricism lies at the heart of their songwriting and is enhanced by their unique sound. They explore themes of personal turbulence, national identity and the Australian landscape as a form of escapism. Floodlights write honestly and poetically in the hope that it resonates with others.

Gaining global attention with 2019’s sold-out EP 'Backyard' and 2020’s critically acclaimed debut album 'From a View', Floodlights went on to play sold-out shows and festivals across Australia, performing alongside the likes of Amyl and The Sniffers and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. Appearances at all three Falls Festivals over the Australian summer has sling-shotted them into this year, whilst gearing up for tour dates with Pavement (USA) in early March.

With the highly anticipated 2023 release of their second album, Floodlights showcase their distinctive style and compelling evolution as a band.

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Alternative Rock

Alternative/indie

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