LIVE WIRE – Sydney Live Music Guide March 29th

On Friday 30th March Sydney hip-hop stalwarts The Herd are playing at the Manning Bar as part of their A Thousand Lives tour, in honour of their recent album release Future Shade. On this tour they’re celebrating the history of their ten year output through the combination of narrative and video. Those familiar with the group will realise how profound this night will be for a group that has never been afraid to augment their upbeat party jams with social commentary. They’re supported by special guests Thundamentals. San Francisco group Royal Baths are playing the Annandale Hotel in what is likely to be one of the darkest and brooding rock & roll gigs Sydney’s likely to experience for sometime. Their album Litanies is a journey through the darkest reaches of the soul, with meandering vocal melodies, flanked by eerie duelling guitars that become a recipe for despair and paranoia that would impress the likes of Velvet Underground and Alice In Chains. They’re supported by Super Wild Horses.

Sunday 1st April, Brisbane indie-pop six piece Ball Park Music are making waves with their beautiful uplifting pop songs. Their single It’s Nice To Be Alive has stolen hearts with its upbeat shuffle and super-slick vocal harmonies. They stormed into Triple J’s Hottest 100 with two singles from their first LP Happiness & Surrounding Suburbs and these guys will storm into your heart if you get along to their show. That’s at the Factory Theatre with supports Nantes and Cub Scouts.

On Tuesday 3rd April, Kiwi singing sensation Gin Wigmore is doing a Blues and Roots festival sideshow with her band at the Vanguard. Her sassy sophomore album release Gravel & Wine features her saucy, wailing vocals in front of a combination of dirty blues, pop and rock n roll tunes. She’s supported by The Preachers. US Funk/rock/soul collective Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue return to Australia after playing a blinding set at last years Blues & Roots festival and they do so with their new album in tow, For True, which features guests such as Lenny Kravitz, Jeff Beck and Ledisi. You can see why everyone is fawning over them at the Basement.

Wednesday 4th April sees local group Royal Headache playing at the Beach Rd Hotel. They caused quite a stir last year when they released a self-titled debut album brimming with undeniable raw power and energy but with lung busting soul-singing by frontman Shogun. They’ve received nothing but rapturous receptions to their live shows too, in particular, due to the electric performances of their frontman. That’s alongside Palms and Betty Airs. Also here for the Blues and Roots festival are living guitar legend Buddy Guy and gospel singing sensation Jonny Lang. Buddy Guy’s been prolific in the electric blues for over 50 years now and is so renowned that even guitar god Jimi Hendrix once stated that, “Heaven is lying at Buddy Guy’s feel while listening to him play guitar.” It’s on at the Enmore Theatre.