September 2023 Mixtape | shove it
Let’s switch-flip straight in with the behind the scenes insights on mixtape at the foot of this post. Just press play to listen and read our Access All Areas info while you chill to all this fresh tune-age.
Shaun Baxter released his debut EP in March 2023, recorded + produced by Syd Green from the Kasey Chambers band ( + an ex- 19 Twenty festival band rocker). The two together produced seven original songs, hinting at folk/americana with an Australian Coastal Country Rootsy Vibes. The new EP + single is called 'Morning Sun' but we have locked in a newer track which offers up serious pacific southeast vibes called We’ll Be Found. Follow him here >>
Chubi is one of our new finds from digging in the cloud crates. Located on a deep trawl of undiscovered talent from Wollongong. AKA by his daytime name of Rowan Hamilton, this track isn’t box fresh but seeing as we have just found him, we are welcoming to our mixtape with Tell Me You’re All In. This chilled out tracky vibe is one of those tunes you hear in really expensive too-cool hotels in New York + you wonder who it is by. We salute your sophistication sir + we hope to feature you on the reg.
Regional promoters Echo & Salt have a management stable that keeps them equally busy + Satin Cali are now off on a Gold Coast tour with new track, Nirvana + Cheap Groceries.
Image: Illawarra rock photographer Lachy Starling's book Music Volume 1
We admit we have been stalking The Milk Incident. They finally crumbled to our demands + shared the track Joyride. We feel forgiven + less creepy now. Go see them live.
Art Vs Science hit us with a new album kicking off with Open Up Inside. Thirroul’s legendary Dan Mac/Swirly Dan/The Swirly Train/Art Vs Science ringmaster is now busy with his most recent creation, the curation of The Bowlo Mini-Fest. This event feels like a miniature MELTDOWN FESTIVAL, now in its 26th year in London, + which was recently curated by Christine + The Queens. We think it would be cool if Illawarra legends curated these mini-fests on the regular + give us an insight into who inspire their worlds.
Next door neighbours over in Sydney metroland shared with us Straight Arrows with their recent gig at 130 Art Studios in Wollongong. Always in person + at volume, we’ve got the Walking Thru My Mind, with its 90s Liverpool vibes. Come back again soon Arrows + folks... please follow 130 Art Studios for their regular lo-fi happenings. Support your local venue here >>
We featured Y.O.G.A a loooooong time again with Pain Makes Us Alive (Red Axes Remix) when they visited The Beaches to bounce the northern surf villages. We can’t wait any longer for a fresh track, so we are passive aggressively flirting with them by featuring a twelve-month-old dark dream pop track called Ripple. We hope this blatant indecency has an effect + they supply us with fresh tunes for Spring.
Denim On Her bring discordant jams with their debut single Found. We know very little about them other than they are from the Illawarra + they supported Left Lane at La La La’s recently but that’s enough to get them on the mixtape list as a ‘must watch live’. Follow them here >>
Rum Jungle, who we last saw live at The Beaches supporting Pacific Avenue slide by with Dash Of Speed.
Stevan with 4Real 4Ever + he is playing at Saturday, 14 October 2023 University of Wollongong + also at the brand new Clearly Festival launching this November in Kiama with a group of co-founders that include the Kiama born creator of Ibiza’s ultimate DJ retreat programme, Orbit. Block your diaries for showground shenanigans on Saturday, 11 November 2023 with Stevan, Groove Society + one of our favourite tank-wearing groove merchants, and terminal groove merchants and GPC faves, Big Twisty + The Funknasty. Get your tickets for Clearly fest here>>
Ulladulla’s Chloe Dadd fizzes back to the top with new track Vitamin C, a freshie following on from her shows supporting Pacific Avenue earlier this year. This will be pumping its pulp on Triple J.
Lizzie Jacks + the Beanstalks continue to push out their new material + this pogo pummelling Pyramid Scheme. They are joining a big line up with Steven + Earl Sweatshirt at UOW on 14th October.
Sorry guys but the DMA’s gig at Anitas on Friday 13th October has already sold out before they sail off to tour the UK again. If they slide in a Thursday 12th somewhere in the region, we will let you know. We have a live studio track to keep you happy with Fading Like A Picture.
Penultimately we are flaunting another track from the new album of the month, Art Vs Science with LOVE, which we absolutely do. Thanks for sharing the love, Swirly Dan Mac.
Image: Illawarra music venue, Ryan's Hotel in Thirroul
And finally, after further stalking, we introduce Claimsmake, + their exclusive set of uploads just for Grand Pacific from which we chose Plute. They are touring their new single Scenes + supporting Seeker at Ryan’s in Thirroul on 9th September + you can grab more info here >> + every gig is free, for goodness sake. No excuses, man.
And finally, finally (because they released their tracks on the 25th August, dammit) we have Wollongong's very own variant of the B52s, blending expert musicianship with a far less serious approach to songwriting, The Tin Knees with Larrikin Necklace.
Plus the awesome Palto Guise with their new track Bite Your Tongue offering up pure funk-inflected Arctic Monkey's vibes, which we didn't see coming and will be awesome live. Give them a follow here to learn when their next gigs are happening >> .
.. and finally, finally, finally as we have to close this gate....we have freshly dropped Mon Cherie from the very huggable Joe Mungovan who has a show in Wollongong on 1st September at the new Mae Mabel bar so check that out here >>
Thanks to all the bands, management and promoters who contributed this month. To supply tracks and promo info for the next mixtape just send your linked tunes to the Grand Pacific soundcloud here >>
