What an amazing year we had in 2011! We’re taking a look back now at our 11 favourite tours from the year, featuring the local artists who dominated our live scene…
11. Jinja Safari
Off the back of plenty of triple j lovin’, a fantastic EP and their debut LP Locked by Land, Jinja Safari impressed sold out crowds around the country. Their sold out performance to an all ages crowd at the Metro Theatre is already something of a legend. What a show!
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/jinja-safari
10. Wagons
What isn’t to say about Wagons that hasn’t already been said? This is one hell of a live band, lead by the wonderful Henry Wagons, and his hilarious banter. It helps that the music is phenomenal too. They had plenty of love in 2011, and easily make our best of list for the year…
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/wagons
9. The Jezabels (Pictured)
They released one of the best Australian albums of the year – Prisoner – in 2011, but one has to wonder how they fit it into their touring schedule. This is a band who played just about every festival, in every country of the world! And they always impressed.
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/the-jezabels
8. Seekae
What we said: “Seekae is a Sydney gem. A diamond, a ruby… Look, take your pick of expensive stone, and come up with your own appraising metaphor. Their ability to develop introspective narratives from warped electronica throws them into an alternate universe, as their contemporaries gaze from afar.”
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/seekae
7. Guineafowl
What we said: “With their excellent indie pop sounds that make people just wanna shut up and dance, it’s almost like there was pixie dust being thrown about the place that enabled the granting of a thousand wishes. Although one unfulfilled desire for some people may have been the lack of an encore, at least the band can pat themselves on the backs for having granted the wish of seeing original, arty music in a special venue by similarly extraordinary groups of wonderful musicians. Marvellous.”
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/guineafowl
6. Dead Letter Circus
What we said: “Dead Letter Circus have come such a long way from their beginnings on the Brisbane scene, from having a small and cultish following to being national favourites and turning heads overseas. Tonight wasn’t about any lavish stage antics or branching too far out of their comfort zone; the audience was treated to a pumping and tightly run gig – the sort DLC are becoming well-known for.”
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/dead-letter-circus
5. Ball Park Music
What we said: “A high energy set from start to finish, no one left the room disappointed and I would suggest with confidence that the more curious of the attendees left the room pretty big fans. They do know how to impress, that’s for sure… like I said before, there really is something in the waters up north…”
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/ball-park-music
4. Art vs Science
What we said: “There is no doubt Sydney trio Art Vs Science have come a long way in the past 12 months. With the release of their debut album The Experiment in February this year, showcasing four singles and coming in at #1 on the ARIA Australian Artists Albums chart, there is nothing not to be excited about their new national headlining tour of 2011.”
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/art-vs-science
3. The Drones
What we said: “The Drones’ pace and intensity throughout the set is relentless and their reputation for being one of the best live acts around is amply deserved and along with Adalita’s strong, compelling performance, the night is one that won’t be easily forgotten.”
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/the-drones
2. Architecture in Helsinki
Their success reached new levels of popularity in 2011 thanks to the release of their fourth LP Moment Bends, and there was no better place to see this than at the reception they received at each and every live show they played in 2011. Massive, packed out rooms, full of screaming, jumping fans. These was great shows and continue to prove how phenomenal a band Architecture are.
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/architecture-in-helsinki
1. Gotye
Is there a category this guy CAN’T win on the AU review? Sheesh! But sure enough, he was a favourite of our contriubtors in the live categroy as well, putting on amazing sets at Groovin’ The Moo Festival, the Sydney Opera House and closing the year out in style at Peats Ridge Festival… just to name a few.
Check out our coverage: https://www.theaureview.com/artist/gotye
