LIVE WIRE – Sydney Live Music Guide April 14th

Local reggae and afrobeat masters The Strides can be found at the Beach Rd Hotel on Thursday 14^th for the new weekly dub/reggae night, Drop. The Strides continue the following night with a show at the magnificent 505 on Cleveland St, Surry Hills, where the hearty menu and boutique beers flow with the best local grooves. Friday 15^th sees another Dust Tones night at Tone in Surry Hills, with Mista Savona Soundsystem and Vida Sunshyne leading a reliably top-class line-up of DJs at this top-class venue. East Side FM are presenting their free entry Global Rhythms on the Bay festival for the second time at Robertson Park in Watson’s Bay on Saturday 16^th, with the exhilarating Dereb the Ambassador amongst the impressive world music line up that kicks off at noon. Also on Saturday, those interested have a chance to see what all the hype is about with Seekae playing at The Manning Bar at University of Sydney – definitely a group to keep your eye on. Monday 18^th finds US singer Michelle Shocked playing The Basement at Circular Quay, as part of her latest Australian tour. Folks down south can catch a mid-week performance by Xavier Rudd at Waves Nightclub near Woolloongong on Tuesday 19^th before he heads up north for a token spot at this year’s Byron Bay Blues Fest. The Holidays are hitting the isolated but hip Beach Rd Hotel in Bondi on Wednesday 20^th as part of their Seven Million Mornings tour that sees them through to this year’s Groovin’ The Moo festival tour in May. Also on Wednesday, the incomplete but still legendary Funky Meters are playing The Metro in Sydney’s CBD off the back of their Blues Fest appearance, with one half of the original line up – organist Art Neville and bass player George Porter Jr – still making it well worth a look. Thursday 21^st sees New Zealand psychadelic rock quartet Little Bushman playing at The Gaelic Club in Surry Hills – led by former Trinity Roots front man Warren Maxwell, these guys are one of the most underrated bands to cross the ditch of late. Saturday 23^rd is the night of the second annual Inner West Festival at the entirely apt Sandringham Hotel in Newtown. There the Sando plays host to The Hard Ons, Sketch the Rhyme, Reverse Polarities, Zeahorse, Tuka and True Vibe Nation amongst many others – what fun! Also on Saturday, Burmingham DJ Mark E heads the next Adult Disco night at Civic Underground in the city, run by the sometimes painfully cool Future Classic label. Aussie rock faves Grinspoon are playing at Waves Nightclub down south on Sunday 24^th, as part of their short Six to Midnight tour throughout NSW over the Easter long weekend. Back at the Gaelic Club, Sunday also finds We Had Parties! – Rumble in the Jungle, the fifth annual night of its kind, with P*A*S*H, Teen Spirit, Ghetto Blaster and F.R.I.E.N.D/s heading the night of novel names and obnoxious beats.