Last Hope is going back on the road this month, culminating in shows at the Perth and Apollo Bay Music Festivals

The Windy Hills featuring Andrew Kidman and Machine Translations bring the 16 short surf and art films to live in a night devoted to the freedom of the open water and the people who live in its spirit. A film with live score accompaniment, this is not to be missed.

The Windy Hills take the stage as creator Andrew Kidman and a selection of noted filmmakers elevate the traditional surf film into an artistic vision that treads deep to the heart of the subculture, with vintage footage, moody winter waves and some very cool music.

‘Last Hope’ On Tour

Wednesday, February 17, Arts Centre, Margaret River WA *

Friday, February 19. Perth Festival, Perth WA *

Thursday, march 25, Gershwin Room, St Kilda VIC

Friday, march 26, Westernport Hotel, San Remo VIC

Saturday, March 27, Apollo Bay Music Festival, Apollo Bay VIC

Sunday, March 28, Speakeasy Cinema, Melbourne VIC

* with special guest Holly Throsby

Shout it from the hills!!!!!

‘Astro Coast’ by Surfer Blood is in stores today!

Pitchfork Best New Music – “Surfer Blood know from a good hook, but perhaps what’s more promising is how most of their compositions build to their rewards” 8.2/10

Feature Album Triple J Radio – “Long ago I relented and realised that there aren’t many original ideas left in music. When they do sprout, it’s an epiphany. But most of the time, I just dig people combining all the other great ideas that have come before them, and executing them really really well. Enter, Surfer Blood.” - Zan Rowe, Mornings 9-12 pm

Londoner James Blackshaw is still yet to reach the age of 30, but has already made anincredible impact on the cannon of modern acoustic guitar music. Blackshaw’s accomplished guitar work is often likened to that of the 12-string masters Bert Jansch, John Fahey and LeoKottke, and also finds kindred spirits in minimalist composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass. He is a superb young talent whose nimble and embellished compositions have been described by Dusted Magazine as “meditative mindfuck” and “a great soundtrack for settling dusk on a deep summer’s day” and by Rolling Stone as “one of the best and most original instrumentalists in the new, acoustic renaissance.”

Having marked his presence with the release of several limited CD-R albums – all of which were reissued by Tompkins Square in 2008 – Blackshaw’s dazzling style of deep beauty has now graced eight albums, the latest being ‘The Glass Bead Game’ for Michael Gira’s Young God label. ‘The Glass Bead Game’ sees Blackshaw swapping his guitar for piano in some pieces, and also employing vocals, harmonium, cello and violin for what The Observer said was “full to the breaking point of bliss itself” and “the most forward-thinking and sublimely executed of James Blackshaw’s releases to date”.James Blackshaw will perform solo for the first time in Sydney on Sunday March 7 at Raval in Surry Hills. It promises one of the great live experiences of 2010. Tickets are extremely limited.

James Blackshaw

with special guest Seaworthy

Sunday 7th, March

Raval, 42 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills

Tickets $23 plus BF from Moshtix

‘Each Time Is A New Time’ Mp3

Field Music third record ‘Field Music (Measure)’ is out February 12 on Spunk

Brooklyn art school boys Suckers went unto the MTV studios a little while back for a chat about their debut E.P of “labyrinth pop” and their upcoming album (possibly to be titled ‘Problem Solved.’ or ‘Wild Smile’ Quinn says in the interview)

Watch the video here

Suckers’ EP with two, Australia-only bonus tracks out February 12 on Spunk. Produced by Anand Wilder from Yeasayer, the debut offering does exactly what the first single suggests; it gets your body moving. Blending rowdy guitars, shouting vocals and blasting trumpets with delicate, well-considered production and charming dance grooves, Suckers’ E.P is an accomplished collection of hippy pop. Opening with the 70s pop sounds of Beach Queen complete with synchronised chorus chants, track two Afterthoughts & TV is torch-bearing whisky swilling rollick through alt country and 90s indie. Then, the triumphant harmonies and meandering sing-a-long melody of Easy Chairs prepares you for the joyous hit
single It Gets Your Body Movin, before the Southern summer whistles of Gone is Your Long Black Hair and the gentle thump thump of King Of Snakes.

The band are currently wrapping up their full-length debut album with producer Chris Zane (Passion Pit, The Walkmen, Tokyo Police Club).