ELEFANT TRAKS

Lots and lots of great stuff happening at Elefant Traks HQ!

AWARDS...

We were delighted to hear that both Astronomy Class (Pursuit of Happiness) & Horrorshow (The Grey Space) have been nominated for Aria Awards in the Best Urban Release category. Big up fellas!

Astronomy Class are also up for an Air Award for Best Hip Hop Album & J Award for Australian Music Video of the Year. 2009 is indeed the year of Astronomy!

If that wasn't enough, the supremely talented Hermitude are also nominated for an AIR Award for Best Hip Hop Album for their Threads release!


SPITSHINE TOUR...

The Spitshine Tour has been smashing it all around the country! Be sure to checkout Urthboy's Tour Blog for all the latest goss. If you're in QLD and WA, hold tight for some incredible shows coming up this week and next. Remaining dates can be found here.

INSIDE STORY...

Horrorshow's Inside Story record is getting rave reviews all around the place and their performances on the Spitshine tour are winning over a whole new legion of fans. Don't be sleepin on this album!

URTHBOY...Shruggin

Shruggin is the brand new single from Urthboy featuring the incredible vocal talents of Jane Tyrrell. This tune is the perfect way to bring in the summer. Lookout for the the new clip, directed by Dean Wells - hitting TV screens this weekend.

Link to Video

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS TOUR DATES:

Oct-24 The Vanguard, Sydney

Nov-20 First Floor, Melbourne

Nov-21 St.Art Festival, Hobart (Day event/All-Ages)

Nov-21 Republic Bar, Hobart

Dec-04 Sands Tavern, Maroochydore

Dec-05 VENUE CHANGE: Show has moved to Swell Tavern, Burleigh Heads (G.Coast)

ASTRONOMY CLASS also appearing at:

Oct-23 Doyalson RSL, Doyalson

Oct-25 Fat As Butter, Newcastle

Horrorshow drop their brand new single Thoughtcrime (Doin' My Think). Now playing on FBi Radio & triple j.

The single is taken from their forthcoming album Inside Story, the follow up to their much loved debut The Grey Space. Download it for FREE here.

Horrorshow will be supporting Urthboy on his upcoming Spitshine Tour (dates & ticketing info below).

Keep an eye out for the new video created by J Award nominated production team Deep Creative.

SPITSHINE TOUR 2009 Announcement!
Presented by Elefant Traks, New World Artists, triple j, triple j tv & Street Press Australia

URTHBOY
supported by Horrorshow
With special guests Polo Club

From late September to mid November Urthboy embarks on his biggest tour to date, teaming up with wonderkids Horrorshow to launch their brand new records at over 25 dates nationwide.

Urthboy’s hotly anticipated third album Spitshine (hitting shelves August 28) has already generated a huge buzz: most downloaded song on triple j in 2009; soldout single launches; rotation on radio and TV. The video for current single Ready to Go (below) is an LED light inspired slice of adrenalin hip hop. The energetic and theatrical live show involves Elgusto (Hermitude) and Jane Tyrrell.

Horrorshow have experienced a rapid but organic rise in 12 short months, with their invigorating debut The Grey Space capturing a national following. Their second album, Inside Story, is set to dramatically swell their fanbase when it drops on Oct 2.
Opening the Spitshine tour is Melbourne’s Polo Club (triple j Unearthed/MTV Kickstart winners).

Tickets on Sale: Thursday 30th July
Tickets available from: www.urthboy.com and urthboy.oztix.com.au

SPITSHINE TOUR DATES:

24-Sept Plantation Hotel Coffs Harbour
25-Sept Hotel Great Northern Byron Bay
26-Sept Sounds of Spring Brisbane
2 Oct Metro Sydney
3-Oct Manly Fishos Manly
4-Oct Baroque Katoomba
7-Oct Hotel New York Launceston
8-Oct Republic Bar Hobart
9-Oct Republic Bar Hobart
10-Oct Jive Bar Adelaide
15-Oct O'Dowds Rockhampton
16-Oct Andergrove Tavern Mackay
17-Oct Bombay Rock Townsville
22-Oct Karova Ballarat
23-Oct Prince Bandroom Melbourne
24-Oct Pelly Bar Frankston
25-Oct Fat As Butter Newcastle (Urthboy Only)
29-Oct Uni Bar Wollongong
30-Oct Roi Bar Albury
31-Nov Stonefest Canberra (Urthboy Only)
5-Nov Coolangatta Hotel Gold Coast
7-Nov Sands Tavern Sunshine Coast
12-Nov Mojos Fremantle
13-Nov Prince of Wales Bunbury
14-Nov Amplifier Perth

Ready to Go is the second single from Urthboy’s upcoming and hotly anticipated third album Spitshine.

Featuring the vocals of Nat Dunn, Ready to Go wastes no time in announcing its intentions: this is a summer invasion; a dancefloor raid, and Urthboy is in peak form.

The production skills that elevated 2007’s acclaimed The Signal, are back once again with Count Bounce lacing the beat.

Hackett Films (Gruen Transfer, John Butler) have created a pulsating, energetic music video to accompany the single.

Watch the video here:

Elefant Traks unleashes it's landmark, 50th release & first official DVD!
Out in all good record stores on 31 July! Check out the trailer...

Elefant Traks 10th Anniversary DVD Trailer (out 31 July 2009) from Elefanttraks on Vimeo.

That's right folks, tickets are selling quick for the last headline Herd shows for the next 12 months. Be sure to grab them whilst you can. The Herd will be joined by the mighty Koolism! Catch some unreleased footage (taken from the Elefant Traks 10th Anniversary DVD). Scroll down for show info:

The Herd hit the road from Elefanttraks on Vimeo.

Welcome to the wonderful upside-down world of Unkle Ho, and his perfectly unconventional new EP Subterranea.

Neither poker-faced sophisticate nor court jester, Unkle Ho is the cloaked host from the future, entertaining a grand ball from the past.

Predominantly electronic but enhanced with live instrumentation and a cut and paste aesthetic, Unkle Ho has evolved again, elevating the groove of each composition.

The same folks that kicked up their heels to the sounds of Roads to Roma and Circus Maximus will have five more reasons to seek out Subterranea.

In his first release since moving to Jakarta, Unkle Ho introduces a Latin feel, an increased synth presence and some infectious vocal samples. Never fear, his beloved tubas, trumpets and violins merrily swing in the mix.

Internationally, Unkle Ho’s reputation grows, securing licenses on multiple labels in various countries in the last 12 months – there is no one like him.

Get a preview of the upcoming EP here!

Subterranea is released as a limited edition ‘softpak’ CD (only 1000) and for download through all digital outlets on July 3.

THE HERD ANNOUNCE FINAL TOUR
Last headline shows for the next 12 months!

Despite hanging up their boots for 2009, The Herd have given in to the demands of online fans and are announcing a final East Coast Tour.

The tour coincides with the special DVD release of the Elefant Traks 10th Anniversary Party, filmed with 13 cameras in late 2008. The DVD captures the vitality and energy of the Elefant Traks celebration.

It’s been a phenomenally successful 12 months for The Herd: their fourth album Summerland debuting at #7 on the ARIA chart and the resulting tour was the biggest in their history.
They went on to win two AIR Awards for Best Independent Artist, Best Hip Hop Album, the J Award for Best Music Video as well as being nominated for an ARIA for Best Urban Album. The Herd made their mark once again on triple j’s Hottest 100 with hit single The King is Dead coming in at #13 and 2020 at #63.

Don’t miss this last opportunity to catch the group’s explosive live show.

FRIDAY JULY 24 - Prince Bandroom, Melbourne
Tickets on sale from www.newworldartists.net, Missing Link, Polyester Records (City & Fitzroy), Greville Records, P.O.W Public Bar (www.princebandroom.com.au) - phone bookings 03 9536 1168

SATURDAY JULY 25 – Manning Bar, Sydney
Tickets on sale from www.newworldartists.net & www.ticketek.com.au, all Ticketek outlets -phone 132 849.

FRIDAY JULY 31 – The Zoo, Brisbane
Tickets on sale from www.newworldartists.net, www.oztix.com.au , all Oztix outlets 1300 762 545 and from www.ticketek.com.au- phone 132 849

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5 – Station Resort, Jindabyne
Tickets from www.newworldartists.net , Time 2 Ride (Jindabyne), Guest Services (Perisher), Perisher Tickets (Jindabyne) and from Station Resort Reception.

FRIDAY AUGUST 7 – Hunter Valley Brewery, Maitland
Tickets on sale from www.newworldartists.net , www.bigtix.com.au and from the venue or phone 02 4933 5786.

(Click HD for high-res)

Urthboy re-emerges with the sizzling new single Hellsong, a delirious moment of hip hop soul, produced by Hermitude.

Hellsong is taken from the forthcoming Spitshine record, dropping in August on Elefant Traks. It’s available for FREE download from www.urthboy.com.

This new single follows up from the tremendously successful album, The Signal released in 2007 with nominations for the J Award, AIR Awards and a finalist in the AMP (Australian Music Prize).

The animated clip was produced by Broken Yellow (The Herd, Only 19), composed with more than 7000 hand-drawn images and put together by an international team of artists.

HELLSONG LAUNCH INFO:

Melbourne
Fri 15th May
JOHN CURTIN HOTEL
29 Lygon St, Carlton
Tickets on sale from:
www.newworldartists.net and from John Curtin Hotel (03) 9663 6350.

Sydney
Wed 20th May
THE VANGUARD
42 King St, Newtown
Tickets on sale from:
www.newworldartists.net, www.thevanguard.com.au or phonecharge 9550 3666

Yes yes...It's all happening! Astro T-shirt transfers are available from the stores below with album purchase, tracks are also streaming from MySpace. Jump on it!

NSW:
HUM ON KING
LANDSPEED RECORDS
MALL MUSIC
RED EYE
REDBACK MUSIC
STOP 'N' ROCK

QLD:
BROOKSIDE MUSIC
CANELAND MUSIC
SUNFLOWER


SA:
MUSES - ADELAIDE
LEADING EDGE - SMITHFIELD
CLINIC 116

TAS:
MOJO MUSIC LAUNCESTON

VIC:
J. F. PORTER
LEADING EDGE MUSIC-BENDIGO
LEADING EDGE MUSIC-SALE
LEADING EDGE MUSIC-TRARAL
LEADING EDGE MUSIC ECHUCA
POLYESTER - CITY
POLYESTER - FITZROY
BLOCKBUSTER - PORT MELB

WA:
JUMBO MUSIC
MILLS RECORDS
PLANET VIDEO
TRAX-MORLEY

Astronomy Class are back with Pursuit of Happiness, out May 2. To pre-order your signed copy click on image (very limited stock).

Elefant 
Traks,
 New 
World
 Artists 
& 
triple
 j 
present:


ASTRONOMY
 CLASS

 Where
 You
 At?
 Tour

 supported
 by
 Thundamentals




Fri
 22nd
 May
 QUEEN’S
 WHARF
 BREWERY
–
Newcastle 
(Free)


Fri
 29th 
May 
AMPLIFIER
 BAR
–
Perth


Sat
 30th
May
 MOJOS
–
Fremantle


Fri
 5th 
June 
ANNANDALE 
HOTEL
–
Sydney


Sat
 6th 
June 
COME
 TOGETHER
 FESTIVAL 
(All‐Ages)
–
Luna 
Park Sydney


Sun
 7th 
June 
BAROQUE
–
Katoomba


Fri
 12th 
June 
EAST
 BRUNSWICK 
HOTEL
–
Melbourne


Sat
 13th
 June
 REPUBLIC 
BAR
–
Hobart


Thu
 18th
 June
 DEL
 PLAZA
–
Southport 
(Gold
Coast)



Fri
 19th
 June
 STEP 
INN
–
Brisbane
 


Sat
 20th 
June
 WOOMBYE 
PUB
–
Sunshine 
Coast


Sun
 21st 
June
 HOTEL
 GREAT 
NORTHERN
–
Byron
Bay



GRAB YOUR TICKETS HERE!



A little sneaky peaky at the artwork for yaz

Here it is, the new Astronomy Class video for Where You At? currently on high-rotation on triple J. Directed by Pradeep Senanayake of Deep Creative. Enjoy!


Astronomy Class - Where You At? Featuring Vida-Sunshyne & Kween G from Elefanttraks on Vimeo.

The making of the music video for The Herd's version of 'Only 19' was a moving experience for all involved. It brought together Vietnam Veterans still healing from the physical & psychological scars of war, a young and talented production team led by Navid Bahadori & Brendan Doyle of Broken Yellow, and a dedicated group of actors & volunteers.
Director Maiara Skarheim captured the journey as it unfolded, offering a behind-the-scenes look into the making of the clip in a short documentary feature that will screen on ABC2 on Monday, 16th March at 10PM .

Reggae hip hop trio Astronomy Class return with one of the punchiest little jams of 2009, ‘Where You At’ – the first single off their upcoming album Pursuit of Happiness.

Where You At is Sir Robbo, Chasm and Ozi Batla in upbeat spirits – and guest stars two of the new breed of prodigious female MCs in Australia, Vida Sunshyne and Kween G (KillaQueenz), both on the verge of big things.

For a preview check their myspace page! Single drops March 21.

The Elefants once again repped at the Woodford Folk Festival late last year with both The Herd & Hermitude playing over two sweltering nights.

Aside from the gigs The Herd once again took to the field against a very organised Woodford XI. The Woodford XI have been an institution at the festival for many years now, updating punters with live cricket scores from the all-important summer test series.

What started out as a friendly game 3 years ago has developed into a rivalry that can only be compared to the Boca vs Riverplate derby, in fact festival organisers have dubbed it the cricket 'grudge match'.

George Negus, celebrated journalist and sometime hip-hop fan featured in The Herd lineup for the second year running, bringing in some celebrity glam to the afternoon's proceedings. What followed was a gruelling match with The Herd IX managing a modest half-century at the crease after a sluggish start only to go down by 3 wickets in a nail-baiting close to the game.

The Herd's King is Dead came in at #13 and 2020 came in a #63 on Triple J's Hottest 100. Thanks everyone for voting!

Melbourne's Mista Savona is hard at work finishing off his second and as yet untitled album. The record will be released in Australia on Elefant Traks early March. Guests include Jamaican heavyweights Sizzla, Capleton, Burro Banton, Anthony B and loads more.

For a taste of things to come be sure to check his Fire Dragon Riddim, already making some serious noise across Jamaican radio.

Australian record label, Elefant Traks is celebrating their 10th anniversary with a huge one-off show at Melbourne’s HiFi Bar on Friday, February 27.

Following an epic, sold-out birthday show in Sydney, The Herd; winners of two 2008 AIR Awards and a J Award for Best Video, will headline the night in what will be their last club show of 2009. Joining them on-stage will be Hermitude; Astronomy Class; Horrorshow; The Tongue; and Melbourne’s Mista Savona and Combat Wombat.
Elefant Traks quietly entered the industry in 1998 as a bunch of kids creating music and burning up CD-R compilations. With a catalogue underpinned by hip hop, electro and reggae, 2009 will see the 50th Elefant Traks release.

What better excuse for a party?

Limited edition Elefant Traks hoodies and merchandise bargains will be available on the night as well as loads of surprises and giveaways.

Elefant Traks 10th Anniversary Party Friday Feb 27 HiFi Bar - 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne

The Herd
Hermitude
Astronomy Class
Mista Savona
Horrorshow
The Tongue
Combat Wombat

Tickets: $30 presale www.newworldartists.net, Missing Link Records, Polyester Records and www.thehifi.com.au or $35 on the door.