THE long-term future of the Cambridge Hotel as a live music venue might be increasingly doubtful, but the Newcastle West institution's short-term outlook heated up this week with three big shows announced.
Brisbane indie-pop songstress Mallrat kicks off the triple treat when she plays at the Cambridge on July 22 fresh from wowing sold-out crowds in capital cities.
Mallrat, aka Grace Shaw, has built up a large audience through her triple j Hottest 100-charting songs Charlie, Groceries and Nobody's Home and recently she released a collaboration with Cub Sport, R U High?
Those surf-rock lads from Wollongong, Hockey Dad, will then arrive back in town for their first Newcastle show in two years on August 27.
Last year Hockey Dad released their third album Brain Candy, which delivered the tracks I Missed Out and Germaphobe and debuted at No.2 on the ARIA charts. Melbourne surf-rock band The Grogans will support Hockey Dad.
Brisbane's thrash-garage three-piece DZ Deathrays will then complete the trifecta of Cambridge gigs on September 23, to support their upcoming album Positive Rising: Part 2, due for release on July 9.
The Newcastle Herald revealed on June 3 that an undisclosed party is preparing to buy the Cambridge and has entered the due-diligence phase, which is likely to be finalised by the end of this month. It's understood the new owner plans to redevelop the site with high-rise apartments.
The news has understandably concerned Newcastle music fans given the Cambridge has arguably been the city's biggest supporter of live music for decades.
MILLER-HEIDKE GIG
LAST October ethereal songstress Kate Miller-Heidke made her long-awaited return to pop music after six years with the release of her album Child In Reverse.
Unfortunately due to COVID-enforced border closures and restrictions only a limited number of fans have had the opportunity to hear Miller-Heidke perform the songs live. That's about to change with the Melbourne artist announcing a 16-date national tour beginning in September.
The tour includes a show at Newcastle City Hall on October 17. Pre-sale begins on Monday, followed by the general sale on Wednesday.
CAT PARTY NIGHT
JONES The Cat's Jack Watterson admitted his Newcastle punk band would "ideally love to blow up a Lamborghini, but they don't quite have that in the budget" for their next music video.
Instead the four-piece will record a video for their upcoming single Vices on Saturday at an Anna Bay house party. The house party will also feature sets from fellow Newcastle bands Sleepeaser, Save The Humans and Keepsake and tickets can be bought by direct messaging Jones The Cat on their Facebook page.
"We knew the film clip we wanted to do, which is bit of fly-on-the-wall-at-a-house-party," Watterson said.
"One of the hardest things for bands at our level is to come up with cool ideas that you don't have to throw thousands of dollars at."
Jones The Cat plan to drop several singles over the coming months and next Tuesday they will release TheAdelaide Sessions EP onto Spotify.
DOUBLE ACT
TROY Cassar-Daley and Ian Moss might inhabit different musical worlds - country and blues-rock respectively - but they have long shared an appreciation for each other's songs.
For the first time the legendary singer-songwriters and guitarists are teaming up for the Together Alone Tour, which will take listeners through a musical journey of their respective careers. Newcastle City Hall will host the duo on October 21 with support from Melody Moko.
RAAVING ON TOP
NEWCASTLE'S indie-dance favourites Raave Tapes can add "festival headliner" to their long list of achievements. The two-piece of Joab Eastley and Lindsay O'Connell will headline Brisbane's Hidden Lanes Festival on August 14.
While Raave Tapes have been one of Newcastle's most popular acts since the mid-2010s and regularly sell out shows, they've worked hard to broaden their fan base in other Australian cities.
Fellow Newcastle band Kookshill will also perform at Hidden Lanes.
POOL GOES WEST
MELODY Pool's first extensive tour in four years might have been plagued by Victorian lockdowns, but on a personal level, it was a beaming success for the Kurri Kurri singer-songwriter.
So much so Pool has extended the tour to a Western Australian run from July 21 to 24 with fellow Hunter troubadour William Crighton.
