What does Hamburg in Germany have to do with Aussie music?

Normally, not much. But every year in September, the Northern German city hosts a massive event that brings together music industry professionals and fans from all over the world. For artists from other continents, it’s a perfect gateway to the European/UK market. And this is where Australian music comes in.

Unexpectedly, I was in the neighbourhood this year as well. So I popped in to see what’s going on in the Aussie music landscape without travelling to the land Down Under. And, as usual, I have some thoughts about it.

PART 198 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE

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The Aussie BBQ in Hamburg was my third overall, but the first I attended in Germany.

Unlike the London events in the last two years, this one is a part of the Reeperbahn Festival – one of the biggest annual music conferences and showcase events worldwide. Hamburg also happens to be one of my fave alternative cities to visit. So even though a trip to that part of Germany was not originally on my agenda this year, I just couldn’t resist the opportunity to shake hands of some artists whose music I only know from the streaming platforms. 

Before talking about the showcases, though, I want to shout out the BBQ’s organiser – Sounds Australia. It is the Aussie equivalent of what is mundanely called a Music Export Office in other parts of the globe. Their crew always put on a stellar event. This time was no different. Cool acts were discovered, new industry connections were made, fun convos were held, and one or two glasses were clinked.

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This year’s event was quite a special one, too. It was the 10th anniversary of the Aussie BBQ at the Reeperbahn Festival and the last one in the Molotow venue in its current location. So there was plenty to celebrate with the 13 acts across the two stages: the outdoor backyard and the indoor club space.

But enough of the introduction. After all, and as per my beloved Aussie saying that was quoted at one point during the event, “We’re not here to f*ck spiders”. So here are the four acts I want to highlight this year.

THE MOST AUTHENTIC SET – MILAN RING

Before seeing the artist live in Hamburg, my impression of Milan Ring was that she must be one of the busiest professionals in Australia. I’ve recently heard her name mentioned quite a lot in the local music business.

And I wasn’t wrong. The Sydney artist wears many hats indeed. She is “an accomplished musician, songwriter, producer, engineer and musical director” who has collaborated with artists like BARKAA, Winston Surfshirt, B Wise or Sampa The Great and supported Leon Bridges and Arlo Parks, amongst many others.

But I was most interested in seeing her own RnB/neo-soul project, though. It’s pretty much a one-woman show, including live looping, sampling, a guitar and jazzy vocal. And because I know it’s not always easy to be the first act to open a dimly lit club at 12.30 PM on a Friday (which is also the third day of a big music festival), I have nothing but respect for her craft and musicianship.

Milan Ring’s talent has also been recognised by a nomination for the Reeperbahn Festival’s own Anchor Award. And in a brief chat after her gig, the artist shared she’d relocated to Berlin to look for new opportunities. That move has already resulted in an upcoming headline show in the German capital’s famed Kantine Am Berghain in mid-October. So, something tells me the Aussie BBQ wasn’t the last time I saw her live in Europe.

THE ONES I WAS MOST KEEN TO SEE (AND THEY KILLED IT) – 3%

Let me start by saying that the club stage was waaaaaay too small for the raw energy of this First Nations supergroup. And I wasn’t the only one who thought so. The audience was totally digging their vibe.

3% might be a fairly new hip-hop collective (they released their first song only in October last year), but the three members, Dallas Woods, Nooky and Angus Field, are no newcomers to the Australian music landscape. The trio’s stage name “refers to the percentage of the Australian population that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up.” This new project is all about educating listeners on the First Nations’ history, legacy and current affairs in the land Down Under.

The band dropped the excellent 14-track LP Kill the Dead just over a month ago. And it comes as no surprise that it shot straight up on the Australian charts. The beats are dope. The music combines Dallas Woods and Nooky‘s fierce rhymes with Angus’ melodic vocals. But the trio’s storytelling abilities, demonstrated in the bold lyrics, are next level, too. So consider yourself warned – once you play the record, you’ll have it on repeat for days.

Funnily, hip-hop is not my go-to genre. But knowing where the 3% story comes from, I was really keen to see the collective live. And boy, did they deliver! Keeping in mind that it was their first time overseas with this project, my hunch is they’ll be back here with their own headline tour in no time.

THE ONE TO WATCH – ASHA JEFFERIES

For a fairly small country population-wise, Australia has an impressively big music community. So even though I follow the scene quite closely, there are always new acts I discover at the networking and showcasing events. This time, Brisbane-raised but currently Europe-based muso Asha Jefferies got my attention.

Her music is an interesting dichotomy. Sonically, it’s quite melancholic, with subtle yet distinctive vocals accompanying the pretty melodies. Yet, the song’s titles tell a different story. “Brand New Bitch”, “Ego Ride” and “Keep My Shit Together” are probably the most memorable ones from the muso’s back catalogue.

I must say I was taken aback by Asha’s performance in the club space. I went there just to get a glimpse of the artist I wasn’t familiar with, but I stayed for the whole set. The sentimental (and I’m guessing largely autobiographical) songs were much livelier than I’d imagined and the band’s performance drew me right in.

So the Aussie BBQ fully served its purpose in this case. Encouraged by the show, I also gave the artist’s debut album Ego Ride a listen. And I can confidently say I’ll be keeping an eye on her next moves in the music biz. Asha Jefferies – you’ve just gained yourself a new fan.

THE ONES WHO STOLE THE SHOW – BATTLESNAKE

When Dom Alessio from Sounds Australia announced this hugely entertaining act, he said something along the lines of “If you’ve seen Battlesnake live before, you know you’re in for a real treat. If you haven’t, you have no idea what you just got yourselves into.”

The metalheads from Sydney are the whole package, in my humble view. On the one hand, you’ve got the heavy riffs and seven bat-shit crazy members who also happen to be skilled musos. On the other hand, their show is both outrageously funny and innocently rowdy (think climbing the stage structure in underwear with teenage boys’ grins on their faces). Plus, their controversial stage outfits, combining church-like robes with pagan elements, are very much part of the whole act, too.

When I approached the bass player after their Aussie BBQ performance, the only thing I could utter was “I have no words.” To which he replied, “Then we’ve done our job.” And that, ladies and gents, summarises what Battlesnake are all about – making sure you’ll remember who they are, even if you don’t know a single lyric or any title of their songs (one of which is called “I Am The Vomit”).

This “noxious synthesis of amphetamine and gasoline”, as they dub themselves on their socials, was an absolute banger to close the Aussie BBQ on. And since the heavier scene is right up many Germans’ alley, I’d say Rammstein should seriously consider Battlesnake as potential support for their future tours.

The above four acts might have blown my socks off in Hamburg, but the rest of the performers punched well above their weight as well.

For instance, it was literally impossible to breathe when it was Rum Jungle‘s turn in the club space. The room was not only packed because of the band’s catchy tunes. The indie rockers from Newcastle are also known for good banter and rapport with the audience, which they proved in Hamburg.

These days, you often need more than the music to stand out, too. Sydney’s Johnny Hunter band (who have recently moved to London, but are now seriously thinking of swapping it for Hamburg) are the best example of that. What a bunch of personalities! And it doesn’t hurt that they rep one of the genres I grew up on – post-punk glam. The singer and I agreed it’s high time to bring rock’n’roll back, baby!

It might have been RVG‘s sixth time on one of the Molotow’s stages. But the Melbourne outfit delivered such an electrifying rock set that it felt like it was their first gig ever.

Tia Gostelow brought back good memories of when I saw her for the first time in Sydney’s Landsdowne Hotel many years ago.

Elsy Wameyo brought her bouncy mix of rap and afro beats to close the club stage in style.

And Mia Wray‘s showcase was one of the most sincere moments. The artist was genuinely surprised people were “into” her set. But when she braved a slower song that she’d been reluctant to play at first, as she earnestly shared with the audience, nobody had any doubts anymore about her amazing vocal abilities.

So it looks like visiting the Aussie BBQ events has become a new annual tradition for me. And I’m very much looking forward to seeing where Sounds Australia will “make me” go next year.

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