MELBOURNE hip-hop artist Illy has just dropped the music video we didn’t know we needed for his new collab with Queensland rockers, WAAX.
The music video for ‘Cheap Seats‘ dropped this morning, three weeks after the song’s initial release but in all honesty, it was worth the wait.
Directed by Tyson Lloyd – the guy behind Dune Rats’ ‘Crazy‘ – ‘Cheap Seats‘ features a bunch of muppets on a late-night Uber ride to the local servo for munchies and cigarettes (a situation we’ve all been in at one time or another)… No doubt garnering one of them a one-star passenger rating in the process. It’s fun, it’s relatable, it’s completely out of the box… it’s exactly what we needed this year.
Also, when we say muppets, we mean… Jim Henson-esque. Take a look for yourself:
The track follows on from ‘Loose Ends,’ which was Illy’s killer release with Gflip a few months ago, and if it’s any indication of what the remainder of his album The Space Between is going to bring us when it’s released in January, we’re in for a treat.
It is, in fact, the sixth single from the album – an unusual move under normal circumstances, but as Guy Sebastian (who also appears on The Space Between) said at this week’s ARIAs, we’re living in an unusual time and releasing music in a different way, between streaming and COVID constraints.
Melbourne- born ARIA-award winning (and nominated!) artist Illy has just dropped his brand new track ‘Lean On Me’ featuring New Zealand singer-songwriter Robinson, and it’s an empowering track for mental health and for breaking the associated stigma!
Directed by Ryan Sauer, the track tells the story about the beauty in having the ability to support those that you love the most when they need you. The song echoes the sentiment that there’s always someone to ‘lean on’ when times are difficult and the associated beauty in having someone to ‘lean on’ and being chosen as that person for someone to lean on during their toughest times. Through the key lyrics “Remember when it’s hard, just part of the ride/We all gotta go through this sometimes/Hold on for your life, yeah close your eyes” Illy highlights that everyone goes through hard times and that things won’t be hard forever – you just have to hold on.
Watch: Illy – Lean On Me ft. Robinson:
The newest release follows on from the previous May 2019 release, the acclaimed ARIA-certified Gold Track ‘Then What’.
Illy also utilises the track as a powerful tool to encourage his listeners to speak up and talk to someone about their problems and to help destigmatise the associated stigma surrounding mental health. Whether that someone is a family member, friend or a professional he tries to highlight that there is always someone willing to listen and that speaking about and acknowledging your problems is the first step towards getting help.
Harnessing the power of Robinson’s dreamy vocals gives the song a whole other dimension that complements the hopeful vibe of the track perfectly and makes it appeal to everyone.
With an impressive discography that spans across pop, electro, soul and dance, and with roots in hip-hop, Illy remains one of the most creative artists in Australia and a firm favourite for inclusion on some of the greatest festival lineups Australia has to offer!
You can catch Illy live and performing his new track alongside some of his greatest hits as part of his appearances at two of the biggest Aussie festivals this November!
Get November started right with debut festival Land of Plenty in Shepparton, Victoria on November the 2nd, then keep the party going with Spilt Milk festival across two dates and states: Canberra on Saturday the 23rd of November and Ballarat on Saturday the 30th of November!
Word on the street is you do not want to miss this!
ILLY UPCOMING FESTIVAL APPEARANCE DATES
November 2: Land of Plenty Festival, Shepparton, Victoria Tickets: Official Website
November 23: Spilt Milk Festival, Canberra, Australia November 30: Spilt Milk Festival, Ballarat, Australia SOLD OUT – Join the official waitlist for tickets here
December 31: Falls Festival, Marion Bay Tickets: here
January 18 2020: Out of Bounds Festival, Campbelltown, Australia Tickets: Official Website
March 1-4 2020: Snow Machine Festival, Hakuba, Japan Tickets: here
With River Sessions festival just days away, Girl figured it was time to chat to Festival Director Michael Delaney, who kindly took some time away from last-minute prep to chat to us about the event.
The festival, which this year features acts like Amy Shark, The Rubens, Illy, LDRU, Middle Kids and Skegss, has been running for a number of years. Delaney has only recently joined the team, he is just as excited for this year’s event as the rest of us.
“Everything is coming together great,” he said.
“We are extremely lucky to have some amazing stakeholders working with us in Mackay. We’re less than a week out now from festival kick-off and the site is going to be looking great, the weather is meant to be lovely, so we’re feeling confident.”
This year’s event has been moved to Mackay Harbour, which takes it further out of the city to previous years.
“We chose the new location in J.M. Mulherin Park because it’s beach side and a great park, but also because the original park is under construction this year,” Delaney said.
The change of venue also allows for a bigger crowd – organisers are expecting 5,000 people to attend this year’s festival, which is up from last year by well over a thousand.
“Over 1500 tickets were sold from the Brisbane area this year, too, which is huge,” Delaney said.
“This year we’re featuring 15 hand picked local food vendors with gourmet foods, as well as some amusement rides and arts and craft stalls.
“There’s plenty to do and see besides the awesome music.”
Delaney said there were definite challenges to hosting an event in a regional area like Mackay, although the original motivation for hosting the event in Mackay still stands.
“We are locals ourselves and we want to give the locals something they can call their own, whilst bringing people to Mackay from out of town,” he said.
“Organising regional festivals takes a lot more work than in metropolitan areas, being that the market is a lot smaller, and it can sometimes take people some travel to attend.
“But it’s a testament to what a great festival River Sessions is that not only locals enjoy the event, but plenty of people make the trip from Brisbane too.”
Delaney said a considerable amount of effort was put into choosing the acts to perform each year, although even with the best planning there were still plenty of surprises.
“Each year we do extensive market research on who is bringing out new content and who our audience are loving at the moment, to make sure we can bring festival-goers a line up to remember, every time,” he said.
“There has never been a time when the event has always gone as planned,” he added.
“There are always curveballs thrown our way, and we have to deal with them the best we can. That’s what makes organising an event like River Sessions so exciting.”
One such curveball was an economic one, which forced the event to shut down for a couple of years. Organisers have made an effort to keep tickets affordable upon their return, though.
“We always like to keep the local community in mind when planning the festival, as in the end it really is for them,” Delaney said.
“Due to the mining downturn the festival was no longer sustainable for the region. However, the break allowed us to come back bigger and better than ever, which has been a huge bonus.
“To make sure the tickets are affordable for everyone to come and enjoy the music, and fall within festival-goers’ expectations, we keep an eye on the market, as well as receiving assistance from tourism departments in Mackay and (wider) Queensland.”
At the end of the day, the regional weather is also a drawcard for out of town festival-goers in June.
“The winter weather in North Queensland is just perfect for a festival,” Delaney said.
“With no bad weather – not a cloud in the sky – and still above 22 degrees.”
There are still limited tickets to this Saturday’s River Sessions. Head to riversessions.com.au for all the info.
Back in April, US megastar Khalid announced a tour of Australia with some mysterious Canberra and Ballarat dates without venues… Mystery solved today with Spilt Milk‘s epic line up announcement.
Ol’ mate Khalid has been officially confirmed, along with CHVRCHES, Kota Banks, Illy, Middle Kids, G Flip, Ocean Alley, Dune Rats, Golden Features, Confidence Man, Tones And I, Allday and plenty more you’re sure to froth over.
The festival is also expanding to Victoria for the first time, so mark Saturday 23 November down if you’re near Canberra, and Saturday 30 November down if you’re near Ballarat.
Spilt Milk 2019 Lineup
Allday
Arno Faraji
Bene
Choomba
Chvrches (Uk)
Confidence Man
Dom Dolla
Dune Rats
G Flip
Godlands
Golden Features
Groove City
Illy
Juice Wrld (Us)
Khalid (Us)
Kota Banks
Lastlings
Lime Cordiale
Mansionair
Middle Kids
Ocean Alley
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
Running Touch
Sippy
Tones And I
Winston Surfshirt
Plus:
Rat!Hammock (Ballarat Only)
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers (Canberra Only)
Saturday, 23rd November Commonwealth Park, Canberra Tickets: Official Website
Saturday, 30th November Victoria Park, Ballarat Tickets: Official Website
Tickets are already sold out but you can check out resales and go on the official waiting list here.
The complete lineup for Shepparton’s Land of Plenty 2019 has finally been revealed!
Having already announced Illy, Briggs, Tones and I, Slowly Slowly and a heap of other stand-out acts, LOP has today added festival co-headliners & triple j hottest 100 winners Ocean Alley, rising DJ /surfer (and social media dominator) Alex Hayes, masked mystery dance act Moji, ‘Pick of the Crop’ winner Charlie McCosh, a specially-curated performance by Yorta Yorta artist DRMNGNOW and plenty of other acts to get excited about.
All of this plus carnival rides, food trucks, market stalls, art displays, multiple bars and all for a $99 ticket price.
LAND OF PLENTY 2019 November 2 – Showgrounds, Shepparton
ILLY
OCEAN ALLEY BRIGGS ALEX THE ASTRONAUT SLOWLY SLOWLY OCEAN GROVE TONES AND I ELITOTT
STILL HERE hosted by DRMNGNOW JACK BOTTS HEARD INSTINCT COLLECTIVE
CHARLIE MCCOSH (Pick of the Crop winner)
PLUS DJ’S: ALEX HAYES MOJI FRESH KIWI RUI TAMARA BRIANNA BASILE DECK DJ’S
& MORE!
Tickets: $99 (General Admission) $149 (The Big Apple VIP package) On sale now: landofplentyfestival.com
When Shepparton’s brand new all-ages Land of Plenty festival was announced two weeks ago, we were promised some of ‘Australia’s hottest bands’ – and they’ve certainly delivered with part one of their stellar line-up. All of this plus art displays, carnival rides, food trucks, market stalls, and, rumour has it there is still a second headliner, more acts and DJs yet to be announced.
Headlining the event will be one of the Australia’s smoothest MC’s and exciting live acts, Illy. Illy’s most recent album came in at number one on the ARIA charts and was also nominated for six ARIA awards (including winning Best Live Act). Illy’s lauded career spans five albums, multiple platinum and gold selling single and countless sold-out live tours.
PM-in-waiting Briggs will also be heading to Shepparton, the place he was born and raised, to bring the fire and the celebration. Undoubtedly one of the country’s most diverse talents in media, music and comedy, Briggs is soon to release his fourth solo album having spent the past few years touring alongside the likes Ice Cube, Ice T, 50 Cent, Hilltop Hoods and Paul Kelly – as well as releasing 2017’s multi award-winning A.B Original record ‘Reclaim Australia’. As well as dominating music, Briggs is also continuing his on-screen work (Black Comedy, The Other Guy, Cleverman, The Weekly) – and of course his off-screen work as a show writer for American TV icon Matt Groening’s new Netflix series Enchanted.
Joining Illy and Briggs on stage will be Alex The Astronaut, Slowly Slowly, Tones And I, Ocean Grove, Eliott (featured pic), Jack Botts and Heard Instinct Collective.
Land of Plenty Festival 2019 Illy Briggs Alex The Astronaut Slowly Slowly Ocean Grove Tones And I Eliott Jack Botts Heard Instinct Collective + second headliner, more acts and DJs still to be announced!
Tickets $99 (GA) or $149 (The Big Apple VIP package) On sale 9am Thursday 16th May. Visit the web site for more info.
River Sessions Music Festival has dropped their biggest line-up yet, with an impressive array of Aussie talent gearing up to take the stage in Mackay on Saturday 29 June.
Amy Shark (pictured) leads the wave of talent, followed closely by The Rubens, Illy, Middle Kids, Skeggs, LDRU, Stand Atlantic and Alice Sky.
With an impressive selection of the best Aussie talent, this year is shaping up to be a huge one for the regionally owned and operated festival. Aiming to return to it’s roots as a boutique event, the festival will present one stage featuring high-quality Australian artists, along with a selection of local food vendors and the best winter weather North Queensland has to offer.
River Sessions 2019 Saturday 29 June JM Mulherin Park, Mackay Harbour Featuring:
Amy Shark The Rubens Illy Middle Kids Skeggs LDRU Stand Atlantic Alice Sky
The biggest night in Australian music was held with minimal disruption in Sydney last night.
Kirin Callinan, AKA ‘that Aussie muso whose song was deemed so bad it was bagged out by Jimmy Fallon in America’ rocked up to the ARIAs wearing a kilt and showed the photographers – including our own Jasmine – whether he was really Big Enough.
ICYMI, here’s Fallon’s take on the track – which includes our hero Jimmy Barnes as well:
Speaking of Jimmy, he took out the award for Best Children’s Album, of all things, for his album Och Aye The G’Nu! Is there anything he can’t do?
Later on, he also introduced Daryl Braithwaite for his induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Braithwaite then hit the stage with Guy Sebastian and Vera Blue for a rendition of his hit song Horses, proving his nearly 70-year self can still belt out and hold some ridiculous notes.
Sebastian had earlier admitted it was the first time he’d really sung the track sober. Either the who’s who of Australian music was in the same boat, or they were hitting the vinos, because everyone was on their feet singing along.
It’s refreshing watching the ARIAs over, say, the EMAs or AMAs. Not only do most of our acts sing live instead of lip synching – and yes, Lorde sang live instead of just doing the weird interpretive dance of the EMAs this year – but the reaction of our artists to winning awards and giving speeches is so damn Aussie.
Illy, upon completing his acceptance speech for Best Australian Live Act (read from his phone) finished with, “Now I’m off to get drunk!” whilst Apple Music Song of The Year winners Peking Duk started their speech with, “Well shit ay!”
No thanking God here, people. No sir.
Here’s the entire list of winners (and nominees) from the 2017 Aria Awards:
Best Pop Release Amy Shark – ‘Night Thinker’ Dean Lewis – ‘Waves’
Jessica Mauboy – ‘Fallin”
Sia – ‘The Greatest’
Vera Blue – ‘Perennial’
Best Group A.B. Original – ‘Reclaim Australia’ Gang Of Youths – ‘Go Farther In Lightness’ King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – ‘Flying Microtonal Banana’
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – ‘Skeleton Tree’
Peking Duk feat. Elliphant – ‘Stranger’
Best Adult Contemporary Album Bernard Fanning – ‘Brutal Dawn’
D.D. Dumbo – ‘Utopia Defeated’
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – ‘Skeleton Tree’ Paul Kelly – ‘Life Is Fine’ Pete Murray – ‘Kamacho’
Best International Artist Adele – ’25’
Bruno Mars – ’24K Magic’
Ed Sheeran – ‘Loose Change’ Harry Styles – ‘Harry Styles’ Kendrick Lamar – ‘Damn. And Untitled Unmastered.’
Lorde – ‘Melodrama’
Metallica – ‘HardWired… To Self-Destruct’
Shawn Mendes – ‘Illuminate’
The Rolling Stones – ‘Blue & Lonesome’
The Weeknd – ‘Starboy’
Best Children’s Album Jimmy Barnes – ‘Och Aye The G’Nu!’ Lah-Lah – ‘Having Fun!’
Peter Combe – ‘Living It Up’
The Idea Of North, Lior & Elena Kats-Chernin – ‘A Piece Of Quiet [The Hush Collection, Vol. 16]’
The Wiggles – ‘The Wiggles Duets’
Best Female Artist Amy Shark – ‘Night Thinker’
Jessica Mauboy – ‘The Secret Daughter’ (Songs from the original TV series)
Julia Jacklin – ‘Kids Win’
Meg Mac – ‘Low Blows’ Sia – ‘The Greatest’
Best Independent Release A.B. Original – ‘Reclaim Australia’ Dan Sultan ‘ Killer’
Sia – ‘The Greatest’
Tash Sultana – ‘Notion’
Vance Joy – ‘Lay It On Me’
Best Male Artist D.D. Dumbo – ‘Utopia Defeated’
Dan Sultan – ‘Killer’
Illy – ‘Two Degrees’ Paul Kelly – ‘Life Is Fine’ Vance Joy – ‘Lay It On Me’
Best Australian Live Act Client Liaison – ‘Diplomatic Immunity Tour’
Flume – ‘Flume: Australian Tour 2017’
Gang Of Youths – ‘Gang Of Youths’ Illy – ‘The Two Degrees Tour’ Jessica Mayboy – ‘All The Hits Live Tour’
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – ‘Gizzfest’
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – ‘Australia & New Zealand Tour 2017’
Peking Duk – ‘Clowntown Tour’
Tash Sultana – ‘Tash Sultana Aus/NZ 2017’
Violent Soho – ‘Violent Soho With Special Guests The Bronx’
Breakthrough Artist A.B. Original – ‘Reclaim Australia’ Amy Shark – ‘Night Thinker’ Dean Lewis – ‘Waves’
Tash Sultana – ‘Notion’
Tkay Maidza – ‘Tkay’
Apple Music Album Of The Year A.B. Original – ‘Reclaim Australia’
Amy Shark – ‘Night Thinker’ Gang Of Youths – ‘Go Farther In Lightness’ Illy – ‘Two Degrees’
Paul Kelly – ‘Life Is Fine’
Apple Music Song Of The Year Amy Shark – ‘Adore’
Bliss n Esso feat. Gavin James – ‘Moments’
Dean Lewis – ‘Waves’
Guy Sebastian – ‘Set In Stone’
Illy feat. Anne-Marie – ‘Catch 22’
Jessica Mauboy – ‘Fallin” Peking Duk feat. Elliphant – Stranger’ Pnau – ‘Chameleon’
Sia feat. Kendrick Lamar – ‘The Greatest’
Starley – ‘Call On Me’ (Ryan RIback Remix)
Best Blues and Roots Album All Our Exes Live In Texas – ‘When We Fall’ Archie Roach – ‘Let Love Rule’
Busby Marou – ‘Postcards From The Shell House’
Paul Kelly & Charlie Owen – ‘Death’s Dateless Night’
Tash Sultana – ‘Notion’
Best Comedy Release John Clarke – ‘Clarke’s Classics’ Arj Barker – ‘Get In My Head’
Buddy Goode – ‘More Rubbish’
Kitty Flanagan – ‘Seriously?’
Rhys Nicholson – ‘Rhys Nicholson Live At The Eternity Playhouse’
Best Country Album Kasey Chambers – ‘Dragonfly’ Lee Kernaghan – ‘The 25th Anniversary Album’
O’Shea – ’61-615′
Shane Nicholson – ‘Love And Blood’
The McClymonts – ‘Endless’
Best Dance Release Dom Dolla & Torren Foot – ‘Be Randy’
Jagwar Ma – ‘Every Now & Then’
Peking Duk feat. Elliphant – ‘Stranger’ Pnau – ‘Chameleon’ The Kite String Tangle – ‘The Kite String Tangle’
Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Album Airbourne – ‘Breakin’ Outta Hell’
Frenzal Rhomb – ‘Hi-Vis High Tea’
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – ‘Murder Of The Universe’ Northlane – ‘Mesmer’ SleepMakesWaves – ‘Made Of Breath Only’
Best Rock Album Dan Sultan – ‘Killer’
Dune Rats – ‘The Kids Will Know It’s Bullshit’ Gang Of Youths – ‘Go Farther In Lightness’ Polish Club – ‘Alright Already’
The Preatures – ‘Girlhood’
Best Urban Release A.B. Original – ‘Reclaim Australia’ Illy – ‘Two Degrees’
Remi – ‘Divas & Demons’
Thundamentals – ‘Everyone We Know’
Tkay Maidza – ‘Tkay’
The full list of nominees for the 2017 ARIA Awards has been unveiled, with big names such as Tash Sultana, Amy Shark, Sia, Illy and AB Original scoring multiple nods. Gang Of Youths and Paul Kelly led the pack this year, scoring eight and seven nominations respectively.
The 2017 ARIAs will be held at The Star in Sydney on 28 November and televised live. Check out all the categories and nominees below:
best pop release
Amy Shark — Night Thinker
Dean Lewis — Waves
Jessica Mauboy — Fallin
Sia — The Greatest
Vera Blue — Perennial
best independent release AB Original — Reclaim Australia
Dan Sultan — Killer
Sia — The Greatest
Tash Sultana — Notion
Vance Joy — Lay It On Me
best adult contemporary album Bernard Fanning — Brutal Dawn
DD Dumbo — Utopia Defeated
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds — Skeleton Tree
Paul Kelly — Life Is Fine
Pete Murray — Camacho
breakthrough artist nominees AB Original — Reclaim Australia
Amy Shark — Night Thinker
Dean Lewis — Waves
Tash Sultana — Notion
Tkay Maidza — TKAY
best video Amy Shark — Drive You Mad
Bliss N Eso — Moments (feat. Gavin James)
Client Liaison — A Foreign Affair
Client Liaison — Off White Limousine
Dean Lewis — Waves
Gang Of Youths — The Deepest Sighs, The Frankest Shadows
Illy — You Say When (feat. Marko Penn)
Jessica Mauboy — Fallin
Kirin J Callinan — SAD
Sia — The Greatest
best country album Kasey Chambers — Dragonfly
Lee Kernaghan — The 25th Anniversary Album
O’Shea — 61-615
Shane Nicholson — Love & Blood
The McClymonts — Endless
best dance release Dom Dolla & Torren Foot — Be Randy
Jagwar Ma — Every Now & Then
Peking Duk — Stranger (feat. Elliphant)
PNAU — Chameleon
The Kite String Tangle — The Kite String Tangle
best female artist Amy Shark — Night Thinker
Jessica Mauboy — The Secret Daughter (Songs From The Original TV Series)
Julia Jacklin — Don’t Let The Kids Win
Meg Mac — Low Blows
Sia — The Greatest
best male artist DD Dumbo — Utopia Defeated
Dan Sultan — Killer
Illy — Two Degrees
Paul Kelly — Life Is Fine
Vance Joy — Lay It On Me
best group nominees AB Original — Reclaim Australia
Gang Of Youths — Go Farther In The Lightness
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard — Flying Microtonal Banana
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds — Skeleton Tree
Peking Duk — Stranger (feat. Elliphant)
best blues & roots album All Our Exes Live In Texas — When We Fall
Archie Roach — Let Love Rule
Busby Marou — Postcards From The Shell House
Paul Kelly & Charlie Owen — Death’s Dateless Night
Tash Sultana — Notion
best children’s album Jimmy Barnes — Och Aye The G’Nu!
Lah-Lah — Having Fun!
Peter Combe — Live It Up
The Idea Of North, Lior & Elena Kats Chernin — A Piece Of Quiet (The Hush Collection, Vol 16)
The Wiggles — The Wiggles Duets
apple music song of the year Amy Shark — Adore
Bliss N Eso — Moments (feat. Gavin James)
Dean Lewis — Waves
Guy Sebastian — Set In Stone
Illy feat. Anne Marie — Catch 22
Jessica Mauboy — Fallin
Peking Duk — Stranger (feat. Elliphant)
PNAU — Chameleon
Sia feat. Kendrick Lamar — The Greatest
Starley — Call On Me (Ryan Riback remix)
best australian live act Client Liaison
Flume
Gang Of Youths
Illy
Jessica Mauboy
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Peking Duk
Tash Sultana
Violent Soho
best international artist Adele — 25
Bruno Mars — 24K Magic
Ed Sheeran — Divide and Loose Change
Kendrick Lamar — DAMN. and Untitled Unmastered.
Harry Styles — Harry Styles
Lorde — Melodrama
Metallica — Hardwired… To Self-Destruct
Shawn Mendes — Illuminate
The Rolling Stones — Blue & Lonesome
The Weeknd — Starboy
best hard rock/heavy metal album Airbourne — Breakin’ Outta Hell
Frenzal Rhomb — Hi-Vis High Tea
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard — Murder Of The Universe
Northlane — Mesmer
Sleepmakeswaves — Made Of Breath Only
best rock album Dan Sultan — Killer
Dune Rats — The Kids Will Know It’s Bullshit
Gang Of Youths — Go Farther In The Lightness
Polish Club — Alright Already
The Preatures — Girlhood
best urban release AB Original — Reclaim Australia
Illy — Two Degrees
Remi — Divas & Demons
Thundamentals — Everyone We Know
Tkay Maidza — TKAY
apple music album of the year AB Original — Reclaim Australia
Amy Shark — Night Thinker
Gang Of Youths — Go Farther In The Lightness
Illy — Two Degrees
Paul Kelly — Life Is Fine
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