Sarah Blasko – Patronaat Haarlem, 11 December 2013

Back in 2002 I received a CD as a Christmas present from a good friend of mine. It was an EP called Prelusiveand she explained it was the debut EP by an old friend of hers who was now going by the name of Sarah Blasko.

I really enjoyed what I heard and was excited when the song Your Way started to get some air play on Triple J radio. Over the 10 plus years since then I have watched this Sydney based singer-song writer blossom into one of Australia’s top female musicians. Her 4 albums to date have seen significant chart success in Australia, winning her two ARIA awards and numerous other award nominations. And she has toured extensively, selling out good size venues all over Australia, joining the lineup of numerous festivals and earlier this year, even playing 2 sold out nights at the iconic Sydney Opera House, backed by a full orchestra.

Cloud Control – Bitterzoet Amsterdam, 2 October 2013

Cloud Control will always have a soft spot in my music blogging heart.

Cat Power – Paradiso, 2 July 2013

About 10 years ago I developed quite an obsession with Cat Power, a.k.a. Chan Marshall, and in particular her album You Are Free. By no means had I stumbled across a new breaking artist, this was already her 6th studio album, but this album opened up a new world of sounds to me.

Vampire Weekend – Heineken Music Hall, 19 November 2013

I once read (and it was on the internet, so it must be true) that the boys from Vampire Weekend come from a part of New York that was heavily impacted by the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Although it did not impact their families directly, a significant number of kids in their schools lost parents and relatives. With enough pain and darkness already around them, their music had been a conscious decision to bring some positivity and enjoyment back into the world around them.

Laura Veirs – Bitterzoet Amsterdam, 7 November 2013

A no frills show that was as professional as they come.

Having done two consecutive shows at the giant box that is the Heineken Music Hall, it was really nice to be back at Bitterzoet. A place where they serve their beer in a real glass and where, no matter how far back you stand, you could still throw that glass onto the stage, should you feel the urge.

Billy Bragg - Melkweg Amsterdam, 3 November 2013

So join the struggle while you may, The Revolution is just a Billy Bragg t-shirt away

De Wereld draait buiten festival, Westerpark 7 July 2013

Ok I don’t speak enough Dutch. Correct that any Dutch, but I do enjoy watching de Wereld draait door television program with my girlfriend and it is only one of a few that I do.

So when this show announced that it would be supporting a festival which included Vampire Weekend, at the park near my house, I jumped at the chance to go with both hands.