Following a massive year for both his bands the Hard-Ons and Nunchukka Superfly - and before another big year gets into gear with the Hard-Ons and their national co-headline tour with Redd Kross -  Peter 'Blackie' Black, guitarist and songwriter extraordinaire, is set to release two new solo albums - his first since he released two solo albums in November 2020 - on February 6, 2026.

Entitled Boss is Gone Gone Gone and A Bowl of Spiders, the two records were made simultaneously over a 9 month period, once again at Pet Food Factory with Jason Whalley and Jemima Perry-Ewing,  then mixed at Parliament Studios by Lachlan Mitchell and mastered by John Ruberto.

Sez Blackie: "It's two albums again 'cause I just had too many songs I wanted to record .. Boss is Gone is purely acoustic - again I wanted to see if i could pull off something so quiet - and Spiders is eclectic.. and like everything i do i always hope the new stuff is better than what i've done before :-).   

"How I differentiate these songs (from Hard-Ons or Nunchukka songs) for the most part is very easy. Some are personal and I wanted to do them myself, some I wanted to experiment with and one I was told 'save that for ya solo album Blackie" so i did hahaha'. 

"I'm really really happy with both..."

Highlights across the albums are plentiful. On A Bowl of Spiders there's "Conga Line to the Rest Room" ("I wanted to try synth pop...") and the stomping, uplifting "There is Love" ("I was getting into gospel.."), the hooky power pop of "Clap Your Hands". The variety of guitar tones is astounding.  Boss is Gone Gone Gone kicks off with "Pumas on the Sleeve", a snippet of acapella pop a la Beach Boys, and "Push Push Push" reprises that vibe, with help from Screamfeeder's Tim Steward's backing vocals. 'Acoustic' doesn't just mean guitars... "Toss and Turn", a duet with the Neptune Power Federation's Lauren Friedman is another vocal stunner, and "Long Long Drive Ahead of You" is almost country, and features yet another stunning vocal arrangement, with harmonic help from Blackie's Hard-Ons bandmate Tim Rogers. 

Boss Is Gone Gone Gone will be available on white 12" vinyl (100 only), black 12" vinyl and digitally.

A Bowl of Spiders will be available on yellow 12" vinyl (100 only), black 12" vinyl and digitally.

And Blackie will tour the album nationally in Feb, before the Hard-Ons hit the road with Redd Kross. Stay tuned for dates. 

Heavy-hitters praise Blackie's last couple of solo records:

“These two fantastic albums are simply bursting with ideas and, both lyrically and musically, there are surprises at every turn... Fascinating, entertaining and bloody brilliant!” – Dave Faulkner (The Victims, Hoodoo Gurus)

"Both discs offer a melodic salve for our weary times... Blackie, thank you for making these records, we need them right now!" -  Steve McDonald (Redd Kross / Melvins)  

"It’s great how far reaching and ambitious Peter Black’s solo stuff is. Great vocal melodies...  “ – Warren Ellis (Dirty Three / Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds)

“Beautifully produced pop.. and pop with a capital P too. ... everything Blackie has done is quality... but the addition of acoustic and harmony has taken Blackie into classic rock territory.. and if that means joining the likes of Brian Wilson and The Byrds why ever not. ” – Captain Sensible (The Damned).

Boss Is Gone Gone Gone will be available on white 12" vinyl (100 only), black 12" vinyl and digitally.

A Bowl of Spiders will be available on yellow 12" vinyl (100 only), black 12" vinyl and digitally.

https://cheersquadrecordstapes.bandcamp.com/

Follow Blackie on

https://www.facebook.com/peter.black.399

https://www.instagram.com/peterblackieblack/

Joel Leggett is a dynamic and talented multi-instrumentalist who has been captivatingaudiences with his soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics. With three acclaimed albums, Joel isset to make 2025 a landmark year, releasing a series of new tracks thatshowcase his evolvingsound. His latest work blends fresh influences with the authentic, emotive storytelling hisfans love, reflecting a creative direction that feels truer to his artistic vision.Joel’s music journey includes remarkable achievements. His debut album, Changing Currents,is nearing 20 million streams, a testament to its enduring appeal. The single Part of Me hassurpassed 7 million streams, further solidifying his place in the indie music scene. In 2024, hissingle Cup of Tea added to hismomentum, earning praise and strong rotation on Triple J.Over the years, Joel has toured Australia, sharing stages with renowned artists and bands,including The Terrys, Pacific Avenue, Kim Churchill, Pete Murray, Alex Lloyd, and The Dreggs,among many others. Known for his captivating live performances and engaging stagepresence, Joel has built a loyal following.With new music set to be released throughout 2025, Joel’s upcoming work reflects a soundinspired by classic Australian bands and a matured songwriting style. This next chapterpromises to be his most exciting yet as he continues carving his unique space incontemporary Australian music.

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Looking forward to Dan Hopkins bringing the blues, gospel and soul back to Flow Bar.

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Steve Poltz has fun on stage. Steve Poltz has fun off stage. Every show has its own vibe. Raucous, joyous, improvisational and always strange. Stellar guitar work and songs that will have you smiling one minute and crying the next. Born in Halifax Nova Scotia Canada, raised in Southern California and now living in Nashville Tennessee, Steve Poltz has toured Australia over 20 times and is a master of improvisational songwriting and works without a set list to be free to react instantly to the mood of a room. After over a dozen albums, he’s still creatively firing on all cylinders and critically acclaimed by the likes of Rolling Stone, Associated Press, Billboard, and many more. He also thinks he's an attorney for dogs but that's a whole different story. Catch him while you can. He's elusive like Bigfoot

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https://www.dramatix.com.au/events/2362

Recent Rock‘N’Roll Hall of Fame inductee Tim Rogers announces a string of intimate solo shows. Tim Rogers career reaches across 30 years, over 20 albums, 10 ARIA awards, countless TV, Film, Theatre appearances and is a best-selling author to boot. Ultimately Tim is known for his intelligence and craft in writing and performing a some of Australis best and most loved songs. Be up close and personal for these performances of this most loved artist.

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LC&TTW are working on new material: A conceptional body of work coined 'Australian Western' by Lucas himself. This collection of songs will be road tested at the infamous beach side vibes shack that is Flow Bar - Where one feels the beauty of the coastal breeze, but is also reminded of the almighty ocean's gravitas.

'Australian Western' is a story of commitment, or love; Falling in to it, then breaking out of it. The songs were written in that order, but are played in reverse. It's not a break up album, it snapshots a relationship as it blossoms, and then shrivels. The beauty, and the gravitas.

The electric guitars are being packed away, the classic fender bass back in its case and an acoustic 4-string to take its place, drum sticks back in the bag, and brushes and broomsticks as the weapon of choice. But the boots and hats will remain. A new direction, a new sense of sound, a new door is being opened for the band.

One night only. Two sets. New and old songs. Same Train Wrecks.

Celebrating Tracey 'TDog' Davis birthday!

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With Special Guests to be announced… Meg Washington is a platinum-selling, award-winning, and genre-defying singer-songwriter who fluently weaves the worlds of jazz, pop, folk and musical theatre together. At the heart of Meg’s latest album “GEM”, is this tour's namesake “Natural Beauty” - a concept that stemmed from challenging the role of an artist in society, and bringing her own world of truth and beauty to the surface. “It took a long time to write. It’s the only piano song on the album, and is written as a sort of list of various complaints I have about being an artist inside a capitalistic world. I never imagined I would use ‘superannuation’ as a lyric, but the songs always find a way to startle me”. On her Natural Beauty Tour, Meg brings her unforgettable show to an extensive list of some of Australia’s most beautiful and remote locations. Solo, Meg’s shows are an intimate, captivating spell. Alone at the piano, the soaring melodies and lyrical poetry of her songwriting are laid bare, as Meg makes her way through a selection of songs from her impressive five-album catalog. Each night is truly unique, with a setlist often chosen according to the special, connected moment that is shared between artist and audience. “I grew up singing in jazz clubs, so these intimate solo shows feel so right to me. I love to improvise, and these shows are the perfect chance.” A rare opportunity to hear Meg’s electrifying voice up close and to experience one of Australia’s best musicians in a never-to-be repeated live performance

On his world tour of the East Coast, wandering minstrel Tim Woodz travels in his van, playing shows between Melbourne and Cooktown. He has supported Tex Perkins, Damian Cowell (TISM) and Jack Davies, performing songs about laundromats, possums, tall trees and backyard cricket in a storytelling style that captures nostalgia and off-beat humour.

Becoming a regular favourite at a number of festivals, including Savannah in the Round and Tablelands folk festival, Tim has a humble showmanship that inspires the type of creativity and excitement that you can take home and heat up for later!

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After reminding fans and media nationwide why they fell in love with his songs and antics on his widely successful Awake Is The New Sleep 20th Anniversary Tour, Ben Lee is back with a string of 40 regional dates in 2026. “Being out on the road just for the sake of it is what it’s all about” he says “anniversaries are nice, but the road is where it happens. Night after night, sweaty, a little chaotic, unpredictable. Hand to hand combat”. He winks. See you out on the road!