Champagne & Oyster Garden

Alex Lahey is on a roll. 
 
An impressive, mature and full-sounding EP follows a raving-review performance as a Triple J Unearthed artist opening the 2016 Splendour in the Grass main stage. 
 
First single out of the boot was last year’s "Air Mail", introducing the airwaves to the Melbourne-based singer-songwriter’s knack for melodic, guitar-driven hooks and honest lyricism so often sought but so hardly acquired. 
 
Most recently Alex set the music industry abuzz with the insanely catchy "You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me". From the attention-grabbing opening bars (those drums sound like an angry landlord thumping your front door on a Sunday morning), it flips the classic break-up line “it’s not you, it’s me” on its head.  It was immediately added to rotation on Triple J, Triple J Unearthed, Syn FM and FBi FM, and started popping up on music blogs everywhere.
 
“Lets Go Out” is personality packed, infectious jam, embracing a simple, home-spun story-telling style that’s often underlined by her second love, the fuzz pedal.
 
Along with her new three-piece band and producer Oscar Dawson (Holy Holy, Ali Barter), Alex's recently released debut EP B-Grade University is currently on everyone's lips. 
 
Closing the Champagne and Oyster Garden.

Raised on the Victorian surf coast, the daughter of German migrants, Annika Schmarsel aka Alice Ivy, recalls a childhood coloured by extensive travel in a vibrant and multilingual household. Her first foray into music, an ill-fated tryst with the clarinet, was swapped for guitar before Annika began beat-making inspired by the likes of The Avalanches, J Dilla and Bonobo. 

As member of all-female soul outfit Sweethearts, in her late teens Annika twice toured Europe performing at the Poretta Soul Festival, Italy and Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland alongside luminaries of the genre ranging Al Green through Mark Ronson.

In the mere twelve months since founding electro-soul project Alice Ivy, she’s released a slew of singles, earned support slots for Banoffee and Remi and completed a UK and European tour.

‘Touch’, the first single from her forthcoming debut album is a sophisticated arrangement that conjures a “Through The Looking-Glass”-esque dreamscape, layering original field recordings from the streets of Melbourne with warm guitar lines, sampled strings, brass and a manipulated feature vocal from London-based blues singer Georgia Van Etten. Getting some serious air-time with her latest single 'Almost Here' (ft. RaRa) - we predict big things for Alice Ivy. 

Let the champagne flow, and welcome Alice Ivy into the Dream.

Deep within Melbourne’s inner Northern suburbs, BATZ was born consisting of vocalist Christina Aubry, bassist Dali Platt, guitars Jakob Kagan & Jim Stirton and drums Joshua Aubry. The five piece found themselves gathered around a table drinking whisky and wine and decided the time was right to create music for those who love the after hours, and we certainly do. 

BATZ songs are a unique mix of driving drums and bass, thrashy guitars and ethereal, melodic vocals. Their sound ranges from sweet love ballads such as ‘Follow Me’ to surfy, post-punk head-bangers ‘Take It’ & ‘Sid & Nancy’. Drawing sounds reminiscent of Blondie, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, and The Divinyls one can expect a live show with a lot of sassy grit behind it. 

The Francis Wolves are an 8-piece instrumental funk juggernaut from Brisbane, Australia. It’s true, The FW's aren't your typical suit wearing funk band: their style is a melting pot of genres, delivered via an ‘all in’ fuzzed out wall-of-sound. Ferocious horns and a brooding rhythm section, matched by ominous organ and infectious congas, will transport you to a Sergio Leone film set by way of the dance floors of Africa.

The Francis Wolves’ debut album graciously tips its hat to The Budos Band, Fela Kuti, The Stooges, Dick Dale and even The B-52’s. Producer Donovan Miller (FOREVR/No Anchor) captured the raw sounds of The FW’s in the studio, producing 33 tight minutes of grimey, sweat-inducing grooves that will leave you loose and wanting more.

After selling out of their first release, a double A-side 7inch single and playing a smattering of shows in QLD’s South-East, The Francis Wolves’ debut album is destined to leave in it’s wake a spate of melted faces and new fans. Our palms are sweaty...

Meet MMVAF15 Alumni Erin Fitzsimon aka Inigo: our neo-soul meets alternative-poppin' songstress. So good in the C&O Garden, we just had to invite her back. 

She mixes killer rhythms with catchy pop hooks and soulful vocals to create a unique sound that draws upon a variety of genres. Since launching the debut EP Souls to a sold out crowd in 2015, Inigo has been bringing danceable sets to Soulfest, Valley Fiesta and Brisbane Festival in addition to a joining a tonne of local and national bills. 

Inigo has hit the ground running in 2016, having already played at bunch of shows including a set at Bleach* Festival, a month-long residency at the Woolly Mammoth and featuring on the Brisbabes #3 line up. Fitzsimon was also a People’s Choice finalist for ‘Most Promising Female Songwriter' at the 2016 QMAs, as well as receiving a nomination for “Constant Beat” in the Urban category. Shake your tailfeathers. 

If Jack Johnson and Stevie Wonder had a lovechild his name would be Mark Lowndes. With his fusion of pop, reggae and soul, this singer songwriter packs an undeniable punch in his live shows. With his honest performances, well thought out lyrics and catchy melodies, he'll leave you wanting more.

From supporting the likes of Boys to Men and Brian McKnight to a finalist on 2012’s Australia’s Got Talent, Mark has had a huge amount of experience and success in his career to date. While being long considered a phenomenal live performer, Mark has also released 3 EP’s, performed at various local and international festivals while steadily continuing to reach into different pockets of the world with his indelible style of sound. For those lucky enough to have seen Mr Lowndes live will know that the mixture of his slam poetry, songs, a dash of rap and his humility amongst his unique rhythmic guitar playing, leaves his eclectic approach to music in a world of his own. 

Brisbane favourites FOREVR combine their love of real shoegaze with electronics to produce lush, loud, beautiful noise larger than the sum of its parts. 

April 2015 saw the release of their debut EP ‘DEMONSTRATION’, a live four-track soundscape which was featured in NME magazine, followed by their love letter to dance music, the two-track ‘Shoegazer’ 7”. 

Their music builds on the foundations of 80s-era Creation Records artists with towers of glistening electronica. Donovan Miller’s underwater guitar and Sam George-Allen’s smoke-wisp voice thread ribbons through a scaffold of arpeggiator, pulsing bass and rapid-fire digidrums – it’s been described as sounding like “rose gold sunsets over neon skylines”. With the addition of Kate Mackenzie and Thomas Roche on bass and drums, the new four-piece have just completed tracking for their self-produced debut album, due out later this year. 

Drooool-worthy music surrounded by pink lights, glistening lake and champagne, FOREVR and the Garden were made for each other.

The euphoric sights and sounds associated with the Australian Sunshine Coast could easily be likened to the dreamily soulful music produced by one of its most captivating young artists, Christian Patey.

Christian Patey, straying from his folk roots, has joined forces with electronic producers from across the world to create a new, effortlessly cool sound for himself. His use of electric guitar, synths and big drums takes the listener on an uplifting and chilled-out ride. So far, big collaborations include UK beat-maker Alabaster, well known Brisbane lads Yes You and most recently the renowned Jimmy2Sox (of Flight Facilities). With more collabs in the pipeline, 2016 is shaping up to be a big year for Patey, and we're stoked to join him for some champagne in the Garden on the 10th. 

A black cockatoo flying into a glitter storm...

Juju Bom blends intricate lyrics about natural phenomena and metaphysical mysteries into grounded realities.  Front woman Jeunae Rogers phrases and crafts melody with sophisticated sincerity in a timeless kind of feeling and nostalgia. She writes with an honesty and vulnerability that is both tender, harrowing and fierce. In collaboration with some fine musicians from other genre bending bands in Brisbane,  Juju Bom blends electronic drums, bass, keys/synth, veil piercing harmonies, feather-fingered guitar and a unique vocal honesty.  Juju Bom is a Vanguard of Soul.

*Winner of the 2016 MMVAF x Solbar Open Mic Night*

Sunshine Coast multi-instrumentalist sensation Chris Flaskas is an act not to be missed.

His uplifting original style of music, which he calls ‘Earth Rock’, has projected his name and alternate act abroad for his unique talents and captivating live performance. Chris Flaskas employs an array of traditional native instruments to create his unique sound, including the native Australian didgeridoo and the Hawaiian-style lap steel slide.

Chris’s live performances show his diversity as a unique original Australian artist and has been classed as powerful, motivating, energetic with a touch of tribal spirit.

Inspired by the likes of John Butler Trio and Xavier Rudd, Chris Flaskas recently released his latest EP ‘When The Gold Is Gone’, which has received positive reviews from fans and media including airplay on Triple J’s Roots ‘N All. The track also took home the award for ‘Best Alternative Rock/ Folk Song’ at the 2015 Akademia Music Awards.

Maroochydore’s own, Sommer Rd is fronted by powerhouse vocalist/percussionist Hollie Morris, with groover Sheldon Morris on guitar/vocals and bassist Jay Kovacs. Sommer Rd kicked off in 2015, born from a musical family where siblings Hollie and Sheldon were brought up with deep-seeded jazz, blues and folk influences. Playing unique covers and original music they were searching to evolve their sound when Jay Kovacs was introduced into Sommer Rd. With the new bass slapping and funk loving grooves, the group were able to unleash their sound. through our favourites "Be Free", "Tunnel Vision" and "Procrastinate" just to name a few. 

With influences such as Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Jamiroquai, Aretha Franklin and Marcus Miller, the band have a sound of smooth jazz, inspired soul with a pleasant kick of funk. With an EP due for release later this year, start your day with Sommer Rd and see what all the fuss is about.

*Winner of the 2016 MMVAF x Solbar Open Mic Night*