High Highs

I'm going to Sydney next week for work, and then a weekend of play. One of the things we're doing is heading to the bi-annual Finders Keepers Market which is on Friday May 15th and Saturday May 16th at the Carriage Works. Playing on Saturday at around 6pm is a duo called High Highs. I've fallen for the gentle, otherworldly acoustic folk/pop tunes on their myspace page. They even try their hand at a cover of Dan Auerbach's "Trouble Weighs a Ton". There's no official release or label or any more details but the full list of artists appearing at the markets is here.

Tom Cooney

Brisbane singer-songwriter Tom Clooney brings his tear-jerker (aka acoustic guitar) down to Melbourne town this week as part of the launch tour for his debut album “Presque Vu”. His sensitive, restrained folk ballads have drawn apt comparisons with Iron and Wine, Bonnie Prince Billy and M. Ward. The album is beautiful but meloncholy, full of unexpected textures and understated grandeur. I reckon he'll fit well between Jen Cloher and Laura Jean on their upcoming November dates.

In the meantime, catch Tom Clooney on Wednesday at The East Brunswick Club in Melbourne with George Byrne and McKisko (who also features on his CD)... and check out some of Tom's songs online at myspace or on Mess and Noise.