The Ray Mann Three & The Cool Calm Collective

"Urban, neo-soul, a dash of funk, lots of spunk with a truly fresh spirit... The Ray Mann Three have the ability to propel you into a higher sphere allowing your soul and intellect to waltz into the lofty clouds of the unique." - Drum Media 


The Ray Mann Three is those guys in the corner: sitting, jamming, sketching with soulful strokes; inhabiting a world of their own, but inviting you to visit - and maybe stay awhile... 



Vintage threads and stripped-back sounds: The Ray Mann Three's sound whispers its love of folks like D'angelo, Al Green and The Beatles - but listen a little closer: it hints at so many others too... 


The Cool Calm Collective is "THE" reggae, soul band to watch in 2009. Concluding 2008 with a top 5 nomination in the MusicOz awards and kicking off 2009 with an earth shattering set at the Gold Coast Big Day Out as well as their first EP release (Pauses and Progressions), its shaping up to be a stellar year for the GC/Brisvegas 7 piece. If you haven't checked out a live show yet or got your greasy mittens on a copy of the EP then do so immediately...Above all The CCC love to play music and party, and can usually be found doing both simultaneously, so if either or both of these past times interest you then The Cool Calm Collective should be on your ipod or in your gig diary... ..Whether its reckless reggae party anthems or messages of love, life, and loss; the Collective deliver their message with vocal conviction and honesty.

Hook Me Up
The Ray Mann Three

Mad Way South Fundraising Event

[ALTHOUGH WE ARE SUPPORTING THIS GREAT CAUSE PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A SOUNDLOUNGE EVENT - ALL TICKET SALES GO TOWARD THE FUNDRAISER]

1 Desert, 4 Men, 2,500 kms, One Goal - This August 2 Aussies race 2 New Zealanders to become the first men to cross the harshest desert in the world by Kite Power alone.

3 Support vehicles and a guide leave London with the four buggiers destined for northern Morocco on the 28th of July. From Northern Morocco the 2 teams separate into their kite buggies (2 per team) and race a ralleigh style race across the Western reaches of the Sahara Desert in 11 stages. The end point being some 2,500 kms south in Dakar, Senegal. Unlike the petrol chewing Paris to Dakar Ralleigh the travel will be completely eco friendly - wind power alone. The kites are attached to a harness on each buggy pilot and over many kilometres their bodies are put through enormous stress and strain. All these demands and challenges will be caught on film, with the intention of creating an adventure series upon our return to civilisation.

WHY ? The root cause for all this Madness is to showcase the plight of the 1000 s of girls caught in the Asian Child Sex and Trafficking Trade - a topic none of us really like to consider far less talk about. 12 men (4 buggiers, 7 support, 1 guide) this August stand in the gap for girls who ve never had a man stand for them in this way before - we aim to raise funds by sponsorship per kilometre of desert covered - these funds will go directly to the She Rescue Home Cambodia - who do an amazing work rehabilitating the children at risk of this trade in Cambodia and its surrounds.

Share the excitement, catch the spirit of Adventure, support the Aussies or the Kiwis and help us help these girls in Cambodia by doing something that has never been done before. Help us set 3 new world records ! The longest Kite journey ever (previous record Gobi Desert 1000 kms), the first time the Sahara has been crossed by wind power alone and the longest distance covered by Kite Buggy in a 24 hour period. See you at the Launch Party...

Rhombus

Back in Australia for a short visit the Rhombus dub scientists are set to inject The Sound Lounge with an atom smashing vibe for a Sunday evening of South Pacific brew of dub n’ bass, hip-hop, soul, funk, and roots-reggae.

Rhombus have been spreading the word since 2002, and locally Rhombus sold out their only previous visit to The Sound Lounge in 2008. They tour constantly in the land of the long white cloud and also on international stages, which includes regular visits to both Australia and Japan. Their unique sound has put them at the top of the New Zealand music industry having performed alongside the likes of St Germain (France), Fat Freddy's Drop (NZ), Salmonella Dub (NZ), Michael Franti (USA), Dry and Heavy (Japan), Trinity Roots (NZ), Gomez (UK), Kora (NZ), Shapeshifter (NZ), Katchafire (NZ), they were also billed for New Zealand’s Big Day Out in 2003 and 2006, laying testament to their profile in their local scene.

“It seems that the supply of excellent music coming out of the relatively tiny city of Wellington NZ is almost never-ending. To names like Fat Freddy’s Drop, The Black Seeds and Shapeshifter, you can add Rhombus”. Duncan M, Inthemix 2008

Peace and Arohanui!

Hawera
Rhombus

Juzzie Smith

Juzzie Smith's music draws from blues, folk and country and then steps into a world of its own. Employing slide guitar, yidaki (didgeridoo), and his very own customised suitcase stompbox, and combining these with awesome harmonica-playing talent and strong vocals, Juzzie displays a musical dexterity that has been blowing audiences away all over the country and overseas. Juzzie's music is influenced from his many journeys and samples from many genres and cultures - a drop of Tamworth, a sprig of Delhi, a dash of Arnhem Land and a hefty splash of New Orleans. Born part-man, part-harmonica, his good vibe-ing music will get your toes tapping and leave you feeling fine!

Weather
Juzzie Smith

Ashleigh Mannix & Ed Patrick

Hailing from a cultural mix that combines the NSW South Coast and the ACT, Ashleigh Mannix is a singer songwriter who is a fresh face to the Australian music scene. With her care free nature she is combining folk and pop genres to create a unique blend of music that is attracting both local and global attention. At 20 years of age Ashleigh has already received enviable accolades. With her second EP “Sparkle” due for release in the next month, 2009 is set to be a huge year. Ashleigh is an independent artist and until mid 2008 had no releases in stores. It was her strength as a live artist which caught the attention of the music industry. She was recently invited to perform at the relaunch of The Rolling Stone magazine where she was introduced as “unknown and unsigned” performing alongside Neil Finn, Powder Finger and The Living End to a packed Horden Pavilion. She has recently won the NA2R competition (new artists to radio - pop category) which will introduce her songs to commercial radio & the Music Oz Awards 2008 “Best Pop Artist”.

Ed Patrick came to Australia three years ago with an acoustic guitar and a backpack, planning to do some traveling, enjoy the sunshine and maybe play a song or two along the way. Little did he imagine that a few years later his carefree travels would land him a record deal with Australian music legends Albert Music.

Strange how life works out.

Originally from the cold, wet streets of Glasgow, Scotland, Ed is a refreshingly honest and down to earth singer/songwriter. Drawing on the deep musical heritage of his home town and such influential bands as Travis, Teenage Fanclub, The Fratellis and Franz Ferdinand, Ed writes songs that are both emotionally intense and melodically captivating.

Sparkle
Ashleigh Mannix

Declan Kelly & Fisherking

Declan Kelly - more than your average boy next door. A well-known face in his Bondi neighbourhood, Declan's upbeat, groovebased music reflects his colourful background and diverse range of influences. Born in Sydney, Declan is the son of an Irish father and a Maori mother, who were not surprised when it became clear that music was to become his life. Boasting a natural affinity with R&B, Declan has established himself as a sought-after drummer and is constantly touring and recording for some of Australia's top acts like Papa Lips, Bondi Cigars and, most recently, Nessa Morgan. In between these commitments Declan started writing his own collection of songs, making his first appearance as a vocalist on Andy Glitre's Bondi Calling compilation with his track 'Neighbourhood'. Declan has also spent time living in Europe, studying west African rhythms, under the tuition of Maestro Afro Moses, and busking in Paris, the south of France, and Dublin. Declan's time in Paris influenced the sound of his debut album 'Tales from the Neighbourhood' and his deep love and respect for indigenous music and culture can be heard throughout.

Recently being named winner of Triple J Unearthed FUSE Festival Competition, FisherKing has been marked as one to watch. Bringing a fresh new approach to blues 'n' roots, FisherKing’s captivating brand of pop-laden acoustic blues and coastal roots has caught the eye of music fans and critics alike. Pulsing with authentic energy and heartfelt lyrics, the music of this Sydney four-piece moves effortlessly from smooth, soulful tunes to strong, energetic groove.
"Cruisy, but really confident stuff. Each of their songs paints a strong picture of an act with loads of potential." - Richard Kingsmill, 'Unearthed', Triple J

Dallas Frasca & Kim Churchill

Frasca's remarkable voice has been described as being "like diving off a rock into a pristine gorge with the worst hangover of your life, and emerging from the cool depths rejuvenated." Maybe it comes from down the line of a blood relative of hers, Opera Singer, DAME NELLIE MELBA (who appears on the AUS $100 note), whatever the origin, her distinctive, gutsy, heart-felt vocal style is of uncommon strength and chunky guitar grooves have been wowing crowds all over Australia on the tour circuit and radio waves. With a wail as big as her dread-locked hair, she is a force for the future: she is woman, hear her roar. In 2006 Dallas won Triple J's 'Light Your Fuse' competition from over 500 entries. At the time she had no idea her music would cause the stir it has. From there, two of her songs hit top position on MP3.com, she released her EP 'Learn Your Routes' and was recently invited to front members of legendary rockers, Midnight Oil & the Violent Femmes. Dallas supported Xavier Rudd on his national tour, has played numerous major festivals in Australia including (East Coast Blues & Roots, Falls Fest, Apollo Bay, A Day On The Green, Narooma Blues & Rockabilly Fest, Southbound, Pyramid Rock Fest & Point Nepean Fest) and was recently invited to perform as one of 7 artists from the 7 continents of the planet for International Earth Day in Montreal.

Kim Churchill is an up an coming blues and roots performer who creates a completely unique sound from his chosen instrument, the guitar. With around 12 years experience including 8 years of classical training, Kim underlines his fiery passionate style of playing with a level of technique and intricacy “has to be seen to be believed” (Merimbula News Weekly). His style includes the use of body percussion, tapping and experimental techniques of his own, and has been likened to guitarists like Michael Hedges, Andy Mckee and Thomas Leeb. Former Australian Ambassador of Blues and premier endorsee for Cole Clarke Guitars, Lloyd Spiegel, believes that “it is Kim’s ability to create new sounds and techniques on the guitar which will lead to make a stamp on the Australian Guitar scene”.

Learn Your Routes
Dallas Frasca

Sugar Army

It’s looking very much like Sugar Army’s debut album is going to be a cracker. The band’s method of recording this album song-by-song has already yielded an alternative radio staple in the form of the Acute single, and now the equally-impressive Tongues In Cheeks has shown itself.

Two-for-two is a pretty good score by anyone’s standards.

Characteristically, Tongues In Cheeks reflects what Sugar Army displayed with Acute: an enviable ability to know how to balance lightness and darkness so that neither chokes the life out of the other. You can dance to it, you can soak up its eeriness, or you can just put it on in the car and feel your foot getting heavier.

Dave Graney and the Lurid Yellow Mist

Dave Graney is releasing the first ever album of his to be billed as a solo set. "knock yourself out". Its a "filthy r&b/electro boogie" disc. Dave played most of the instruments and wrote and recorded and produced it but it aint a minimalist acoustic sound. The album kicks off with the title track which was cooked up by Clare Moore in their studio and she co wrote several others and played on the majority. Lurid Yellow Mist members Stu Thomas and Staurt Perera also guest on several tracks. For the show at the Sound Lounge , , Dave Graney will be presenting the album with the Lurid Yellow Mist. This is a collective, of which Dave is a part, who have played together , in Dave and Clares case, since the Moodists in the late 70s. Stuart Perera on guitar hooked up with them in 1998 and Stu Thomas (who also plays in Kim salmon and the Surrealists) has played bass since 2004.

Lulo Reinhardt

From the family of the legendary Django Reinhardt we welcome to Australia for his second Australian tour, Lulo Reinhardt. A new master of the Gypsy Guitar.

Lulo Reinhardt is from the clan of Reinhardts to
which belongs his grand uncle, the world famous musician Django Reinhardt.

“The audience often expects me to play exclusively in the style of Django Reinhardt. As well as this, I Have found a style of my own.”

August through to mid September Lulo Reinhardt will be touring Australia and New Zealand. Performing with Lulo , from Germany also, Harald Becher on bass and from Australia: Daniel Weltlinger on violin, Sean Mackenzie on piano, Peter Kenard on percussion and Fabian Hevia on drums.

Don’t miss the one and only Show of Gypsy guitar legend Lulo Reinhardt direct from Europe with 6 piece band. Grand-nephew of Jazz legend Django Reinhardt, nephew of the Gypsy violin master Shnuckenack Reinhardt and from a traditionally long line of musicians Lulo represents one of the most unique voices in Gypsy-Jazz music today. His more recent
engagements have included sold out performances across San Fransisco and the Bay Area, Lanze Rote Spain and Germany and future engagements include a 3 month tour of the US, Canada and UK in 2009/. Lulo’s Latin-Swing Project combines pure Gypsy-Swing with elements of Latin music such as flamenco, tango and bossa nova.

Chocolate Strings & Fyah Walk

Chocolate Strings have been described as one of Brisbane’s finest purveyors of grooved out dub. Their soulful tracks and bangin' party tunes have captured the attention of many. A range of diverse backgrounds and influences give them a smorgasbord of sounds, a veritable buffet of fresh beats, bass and acoustic grooves to please the most discerning appetite. From the rich deep Polynesian vocal harmonies of female vocalists Ofa Fanaika, Nia Falekakala and Nicole McWalters to the smokin' sax of Josh "Bachelor of Jazz" Appleby, these cats serve up a set where the only thing you can be sure of is leaving with a smile on your dial and sore legs from dancing.

Amazing. A real first for Australia. With highly energetic stage shows, this is now one of the country's most highly regarded roots reggae bands. Debut release 'Sunrise Red' swells potent lyrics of a unique message, bringing fire & heat, consuming all in heavy bass, drum & blazing vocals.

All My Life
Fyah Walk

Announced August 5th

To Be Advised