REVIEW: Bliss n Eso (Festival Hall, Melbourne 12/06/09)

*All photos by Lisa Schattner

Picture this....

It's 8.45pm. Outside, it's a cold wintery Melbourne Saturday night. Inside, it feels like the fireplace has just been lit. On stage, hip hop artist Pez is the one igniting that fire.

Melbourne born Pez had the crowd bouncing so high, at times it felt as if he was the main act. If his role was to warm the crowd into a dose of some aussie hip hop, then he definitely played his part. Finishing his set by bringing on talented singer Hayley Cramer, Pez together with partner 360, wowed the crowd with 'The Festival Song'. If you hadn't started moving by now, this song surely would've fired you up.



Only 20 minutes after getting the heart racing, Bliss n Eso appeared on stage to a rapturous applause. Kicking things off with 'Woodstock 2008', BnE had the crowd eating out of their palms. Anything the duo (plus Dj Izm) asked of the young crowd, they complied with a wonderful energy.

Standouts of the set included (as per usual) some of the better songs off album 'Flying Colours' such as 'Eye of The Storm', 'Bullet and A Target' and 'Happy In My Hoodie'. Clearly getting some footage for their yet-to-be released DVD, BnE added some old faves into the set like 'Up Jumped The Boogie', 'Party At My Place' and were even joined on stage for an encore by Paris Wells for the tune 'Field of Dreams'. Thanks to the crowds' chants of wanting more, BnE came on for one more party favourite, 'Sea is Rising'.



There was a lot of sweat, west-side hand gestures and moshing from the crowd. Clear signs that this was one hell of a concert. It's not everyday that you can say how an artist is better live than recorded, well Bliss n Eso are one of those bands. They're a hands down must see act. This was a seriously kick-ass show.

Bliss n Eso 'Flying Colours Live' tour

Bliss n Eso return this June for yet another shot at world domination by touring Australia in support of their new live DVD (out May 15th).

In the time since the boys last hit the road, they've rocked 82,000 punters at Sound Relief, won an ARIA, had three tracks in Triple J's Hottest 100 and toured internationally. Bliss n Eso are clearly Australia's hottest hip hop act at the moment.

They're re-releasing their ridiculously successful album 'Flying Colours' with an added bonus - a live DVD. 'Flying Colours' has produced four killer tracks so far including 'Bullet and a Target', 'Woodstock 2008', 'Eye of The Storm' and 'The Sea is Rising'. With these tracks and more being played, this tour will be one hell of a sweat fest.

TICKETS ON SALE 29th APRIL

BLISS N ESO
FLYING COLOURS LIVE TOUR
SUPPORTED BY PEZ (FEAT. 360 AND MATIK) & DIAFRIX

Sat 6th June ANU BAR Canberra
Sun 7th June COME TOGETHER FESTIVAL Luna Park, Sydney
Sat 13th June FESTIVAL HALL Melbourne
Fri 19th June THE TIVOLI Brisbane
Fri 26th June THEBARTON THEATRE Adelaide
Sat 27th June METRO CITY Perth

BASSINTHEGRASS 2009

BASSINTHEGRASS turns seven this year, and for the 7,000 music lovers who will be there, they are going to be in for a real treat.

The likes of The Living End, The Cat Empire, Sneaky Sound System, Gabriella Cilmi, Augie March, Bliss n Eso, Seany B/Matt Roberts will all be appearing plus many more yet to be announced Territory acts.

BASSINTHEGRASS is recognised by national acts as the Territory’s - and northern Australia’s - greatest music festival. In the past, the festival has been able to enjoy the country’s top acts such as Powderfinger, Wolfmother, Hilltop Hoods, Jet, You Am I, Dallas Crane, Grinspoon, as well as some of the Territory’s finest bands.

The 7th BASSINTHEGRASS will be held on Saturday 23 May at the Amphitheatre for 12 hours of the hottest music the Top End can give us!

Tickets on sale April 8th and are only $50!

May 23rd
Darwin Amphitheatre
Darwin, NT

www.bassinthegrass.com.au

Come Together festival 2009

In June, over the long weekend, the Come Together festival will return to Luna Park for the 6th time and will once again deliver unlimited free rides, fresh new talent and two full days of non stop music for all ages.

How could you not put on a party without the likes of Bliss n Eso? They have taken Australia by storm and turned a mass audience at Sound Relief into one hell of a party. These guys are one of the hottest acts in the country right now and surely will turn Luna Park upside down on the Saturday.

Along with BnE, Midnight Juggernauts will make a triumphant return to the live stage. After a huge success with their debut album 'Dystopia' and special mentions from electronic duo's Justice and Daft Punk, the Juggs will hopefully through in some new tunes to keep the crowd sweating on the Sunday.

Joining these two popular acts will be the likes of Datarock, Dukes of Windsor, Art vs. Science, Quan (from Regurgitator), Pez, Cloud Control, Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire!, Wolf & Cub, Muph and Plutonic, Red Riders, Kram (from Spiderbait), Phrase and many many more.

Come Together 2009
Luna Park, Sydney NSW
June 6th-7th

Tickets on sale now.

www.cometogether.com.au

Sound Relief Benefit Concerts announced

After much anticipation, both local and international musicians have come together for the latest bushfire and flood benefit - 'Sound Relief'. On Saturday March 14, Sydney and Melbourne will hold these Live-Aid-style fund raising concerts at the the SCG and MCG respectively.

A smorgasbord of musicians have put aside time from touring, chilling, recording and even retirement for the gig. Heavyweights Coldplay and Kings of Leon will be performing that night on their own tour, but are more than happy to make some time for a special appearance and perform 4 songs. Melbourne will get the added bonus of seeing Peter Garrett put aside the Labor uniform for a one-off with legendary Midnight Oil, whilst both cities get a selection of some of our finest local talent, past and present, including Hoodoo Gurus, Split Enz, Jet, The Presets, and Phase 2 of Wolfmother.

Put together by the united front of Chugg and Frontier Touring, the Melbourne shows promises to donate 100% of all proceeds to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal, with the Sydney show splitting its proceeds between the Victorian Bushfire and Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund Appeal.

Tickets for both events are $75 and go on sale 9am Wednesday March 4 through ticketek.

SYDNEY LINEUP

Coldplay (ACOUSTIC)
Eskimo Joe
Hoodoo Gurus
Icehouse
Jet
Josh Pyke
Little Birdy
The Presets
Wolfmother
You Am I
+ more acts to be announced (rumours are Foo Fighters or possibly Robbie Williams)

MELBOURNE LINEUP

Augie March
Bliss N Eso with Paris Wells
Gabriella Cilmi
Hunters & Collectors
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson w/ Troy Cassar-Daly
Jack Johnson
Jet
Kings Of Leon
Liam Finn
Midnight Oil
Paul Kelly
Split Enz
Wolfmother

The concerts will be a celebration of multiple music genres, with artists playing short sets packed with hits. Concert goers are encouraged to attend the concerts from start to finish as major artists will be spread across the bill right from the very start of the day.

www.soundrelief.com.au

Bliss N Eso need fans for live DVD in Sydney

Bliss N Eso will perform a special one-off show for a DVD release next month in Sydney.

‘Flying Colours’ earned Bliss and Eso an ARIA last year for Best Urban Album.

They will perform their complete setlist for 1,200 fans at The Metro in Sydney on February 20.

The gig will be included on a limited edition CD/DVD version of the ‘Flying Colours’ album coming later this year.

Tickets Available from:
www.ticketek.com
www.oztix.com.au
And the Metro Theatre Box Office

www.blissneso.com

Odyssey NYE 2009 party

Come NYE, Carrara Sports Complex is going to go off.

Odyssey 09 is set to explode for its highly-anticipated third event this New Years Eve. Spread across multiple stages, the Gold Coast event promises to be a show-stopper boasting the biggest superstar line-up yet. Carrara Sports Complex will be transformed into a music fortress, ensuring the event will be talked about long after the countdown to midnight is over.

The lineup includes Jet, Grinspoon, Eskimo Joe, The Butterfly Effect, Bliss n Eso, Evermore, Operator Please, Malente and more!!!

All drinks are included in the price of the ticket ($150) which is possibly a world first. Also ,the ticket guarantees entry into various nightclubs in the Gold Coast and Brisbane areas. For an extra $60 you get to feel like a VIP which gets you an intimate chill-out zone, private bar, private toilet and catering. Sounds like one heck of a deal!!!

December 31st - Carrara Sporting Complex, Brisbane, QLD

www.odysseynye.com.au

Bliss n Eso win ARIA for 'Flying Colours'

We feel like giving a huge high five to the boys of Bliss n Eso. They won the ARIA award for 'Best Urban Release' last night and it was a huge surprise. Bliss n Eso and their team from Illusive including Matt Gudinski and Adam Jankie have had an awesome 2008.

They released 'Flying Colours' ealier this year and it is just ssensational. We here especially like the song "Eye of The Storm" which has the epic sounds of Angus and Julia Stone throughout song.

www.blissneso.com