Photo: Erk rocks out to Australian band ME in Sydney in early 2011.  On the day of his birthday in 2011, Erk saw ME in London.

Upcoming Event

• Sat

  25

  May

  2013

  Vanity Riots EP Launch

  9pm - Late

  The Sly Fox, 199 Enmore Road, Newtown

  Tickets $15 at the door. 18+

  

   

  Vanity Riots are a female fronted hard rock/metal band from Sydney. Their latest EP, Ambulance. Appearing as a part of Lita Ford's Sydney after party, Vanity Riots have been working on this EP for some time with a new line-up. When a foundation stone of a band leaves, what could happen? Some bands implode, some bands find a new member. Vanity Riots found not only one new guitarist but two!

   

  The EP builds on what the last line-up did and sends it in a newish direction. It would have been hard to farewell one guitarist but to replace him with 2 new guys, have them learn all the songs plus record an EP - that's a lot of pressure!

   

  While the band have been rehearsing a lot and recording the EP, the EP launch is their first gig with the new line-up and their first gig since September 2012. Also playing on the night are Sydney hard rockers Rattlesnake & Kill Shott from Adelaide.

   

  Vanity Riots have appeared on Erk FM: Metal Monday & Erk FM: Australia on several occasions and were also an Erkstock artist in August 2012. Vocalist Monica is a special guest on Erk FM: Australia episode 346 & gives Erk a sneak peek at the EP as well as an insight to the production of the EP.

Erk FM: Australia is a music podcast featuring various artists from Erk’s own country – Australia. Available every Friday from December 2011, it is a companion podcast to Erk FM: International released on Wednesdays. Both podcasts were formerly on Fridays from January 2009 until November 2011 as Erk FM. This approach allows Erk to focus on Australian music in dedicated episodes while also allowing more exposure for overseas artists.

Australia is a large country & there are many styles of music as well as many different music scenes centring on the major state capital cities & regional areas. Thanks to the interweb, it has become a lot easier for Australian musicians to get their music out to the world.

Recent Episodes

Erk FM: Australia 348 – Attacking The Charts Hard!

by Erk

Welcome to Erk FM: Australia episode 348. Erk has been at one EP launch last weekend (Hard As Nails) & has another one this weekend (Vanity Riots). There is a lot of great music out there & in Sydney this Saturday night, there is great music that Erk has featured on Erk FM before in at least 5 different venues on the one night. Somehow Erk wishes he could be in several places at once! This week, Erk also found that a band he has featured before on Erk FM are starting to gig again with a new lineup.

  In an unusual move for an Australian indie/unsigned band, Melbourne female fronted hard rock band Bellusira are making an attack on the Australian music charts by encouraging people to pre-order their debut album Connection via JB Hi-fi. Online pre-orders will be signed by the band. In-store pre-orders are also available. 

  Music supplied by SGC Media, Insomnia Radio  & the artists directly. One track recorded live by Erk.

  Song list (all times approximate):

 

• 01:06 - Always - Hard As Nails (direct)
• 05:47 - Henry - Hard As Nails (direct)
• 10:58 - Ambulance - Vanity Riots (direct)
• 14:10 -...
  24, May 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 346 – Vanity Riots Ambulance EP Launch Interview

by Erk

Welcome to episode 346 of Erk FM: Australia. This episode consists of an interview with vocalist Monica from Sydney band Vanity Riots. No stranger to Erk FM, last year's Erkstock was their second last gig with their then lineup. After re-grouping and finding 2 new guitarists, Vanity Riots are back with a new EP called Ambulance. To support the launch of the EP and the new look Vanity Riots, the band are going on an east coast tour of Australia (full details on their website & social media pages).

During the wide-ranging interview, you will hear 3 songs from the new EP. First is the title track, Ambulance. The next track is called Bloodsucker. The third track is called I Love You Almost As Much As I Love Me.

17, May 2013Erk FM: Australia2 Comments

Erk FM: Australia 344 – Australia Is An Island

by Erk

Welcome to Erk FM: Australia episode 344. This episode features Australians based in Australia, Australians based overseas & overseas residents now calling Australia home - all of which is fine with me! A mellower episode this week with some jazz, pop, country and/or western & a lot more. 

  Music supplied by AirPlay Direct.

  Song list (all times are approximate):

• 02:15 - Friend In England - The Bent Legs (AirPlay Direct)
• 06:18 - Protest Song - The Bent Legs (AirPlay Direct)
• 11:11 - Forest - Paisley Park (AirPlay Direct)
• 15:10 - Day Parade - Paisley Park (AirPlay Direct)
• 20:13 - The Island - Marianna Ensemble (AirPlay Direct)
• 23:45 - On A Long Road - Marianna Ensemble (AirPlay Direct)
• 27:40 - I'm In Love With A Girl Called Vinyl - Threshing Ground (AirPlay Direct)
• 32:07 - Saigon Honey - Threshing Ground (AirPlay Direct)
• 43:25 - Last Beer In Bondi - Threshing Ground (AirPlay Direct)
• 46:42 - The Choices We Make - The Willow Seed (AirPlay Direct)
• 50:42 - Another Place - Cass Mitchell (AirPlay...
  10, May 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 342 – The Newsagency Sessions Nailed It!

by Erk

Welcome to episode 342 of Erk FM: Australia. This episode provides a good mix of music that Erk has been seeing live recently & what Erk has coming up in future weeks.  There's also an update from The Voice in relation to Suns Of Cascadia vocalist Oscar. Interestingly, a vocalist's appearance on The Voice led me (once again) to The Newsagency in inner-western Sydney for a nice night of intimate live music. This also led to half the playlist for this week's episode.

  Last weekend, Erk was pleased to be able to see Hard As Nails live for their first gig since Erkstock last year. Also, Erk was able to get a sneak preview of Vanity Riots' upcoming EP.

  Music supplied by Uptone Entertainment & the artists directly.

  Song list (all times approximate):

• 01:30 - You Can Close Your Eyes (live) - Miss Little & Abby Dobson (direct)
• 05:11 - A Place Without Time - Miss Little (direct)
• 08:58 - Where's The Way Out - Miss Little (direct)
• 17:04 - Fire & Smoke - Sutton Althisar (direct)
• 21:00 - Let The Sun - Sutton Althisar (direct)
• 25:01 - I Just Want You -...
  03, May 2013Erk FM: Australia7 Comments

Erk FM: Australia 340 – An Australian Dose Of Insomnia

by Erk

Welcome to Erk FM: Australia episode 340. On this episode, Erk wanders back through the Insomnia Radio archives to find Australian artists. Some of the artists are well known to Erk while others are new discoveries. The aim of Erk FM is to find new music and present it. An awesome aspect of podcasting is that it is usually non-competive and people are happy to share, Erk included.

  All music supplied by Insomnia Radio.

  Song list (all times approximate)

• 02:52 - Endless Sun - The Money Go Round (via Insomnia Radio)
• 07:09 - Life & Death Of Postman Pat (Wake Up) - Crossing Red Lines (via Insomnia Radio)
• 10:38 - Al Pacino - Sea Legs (via Insomnia Radio)
• 13:28 - Unstoppable - Enerate (via Insomnia Radio)
• 17:19 - Bumper - The Cannanes (via Insomnia Radio)
• 20:41 - Don't Leave - All India Radio (via Insomnia Radio)
• 31:26 - This Haunting - Alex Watts & The Foreign Tongue (via Insomnia Radio)
• 35:49 - Like This - The Night (via Insomnia Radio)
• 39:14 - Waiting Waiting - Jack Carty (via Insomnia Radio)
• 41:48 - History's Door - Husky (via Insomnia...
  26, April 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 338 – Welcome Back To The SGC!

by Erk

Welcome to Erk FM: Australia episode 338. Erk likes it when PR companies help to make creating a playlist really easily. On this episode, Erk features some artists who have been on Erk FM: Australia before with new music to promote. It is also good when the PR company lets Erk know about a band in his home city that he had no idea existed! Now that Erk knows they exist,  you will also know they exist because you are listening.

  During the week, Erk received a couple of song requests & did not want to say no! He also snuck some metal onto the show but it is very relevant to the song prior!

  All music supplied by  SGC Media & the artists directly.

  Song list (all times approximate):

• 02:22 - Fill Yourself - Mia Dyson (SGC Media)
• 07:25 - Picking Up The Pieces - Jeremy Hunter (SGC Media)
• 13:13 - Maybelene - The Love Junkies (SGC Media)
• 20:44 - Australia Street - Sticky Fingers (SGC Media)
• 25:18 - Like A Kid - The Trouble With Templeton (SGC Media)
• 31:26 - Trouble - Abbe May (SGC Media)
• 36;26 - Pool - Cub Scouts (SGC Media)
• 40:39 - Come On....
  19, April 2013Erk FM: Australia2 Comments

Erk FM: Australia 336 – Erkstock Revisited!

by Erk

Welcome to Erk FM: Australia episode 336. On this episode, Erk thought that he would revisit his debut gig as a promoter last year, Erkstock. Held to celebrate his birthday, Erk selected a range of bands to play at the Valve Bar in Sydney. With a range of female fronted rock & metal, everyone who attended the show & stayed longer than 5 minutes enjoyed themselves. So what have the bands who played Erkstock been doing since August last year? On this episode, we'll find out. We'll also find out for the very first time some of the other bands on Erk's wishlist for the event (Erkstock 2? LOL).

  It's not often that someone who has been on Erk FM gets themselves on national TV but Suns of Cascadia vocalist Oscar has done exactly that. Appearing on the 2013 season of The Voice on Channel 9, Oscar had his blind audition shown during the week & has progressed to the next stage. Erk will be keen to see how he progresses. Good luck, Oscar! Follow his progress here.

  All music supplied by Uptone Entertainment & the artists directly. Used with permission.

  Song list (all times approximate):

• 01:55...
  12, April 2013Erk FM: Australia2 Comments

Erk FM: Australia 334 – Erk Returns To The Studio!

by Erk

Welcome to Erk FM:  Australia episode 334. Back from his America trip & with the 70000 Tons Of Metal special series completed on Erk FM: Metal Monday, Erk is back in the Erk FM studio & is now catching up with what he missed while he was away. Because of the trip, the associated preparations and the extra content upon returning, Erk has not been to many gigs in Australia lately. His last gig before leaving for the US was Evil Ugly's single launch featuring Domino & his first Australian gig for 2013 was Domino's album launch. If you've ever seen Domino live and/or heard them on Erk FM, you are in for a treat.   In addition, Andy Mac has been busy not only getting his KANG out but also launching himself as a solo artist (The Andy Mac Experience? LOL). Does this mean no more Simpsons references, Andy? There's also a couple of artists who have had a name change since the last time they were played on Erk FM.    Aimee Francis has been jet-setting just like Erk. Arriving into America just after Erk left, Aimee's fresh from an appearance at 2013 SXSW & touring around the US. Quite appropriately,...

05, April 2013Erk FM: Australia4 Comments

Erk FM: Australia 332 – Swinging In The Breeze Before Erk Returns To The Studio!

by Erk

Welcome to episode 332 of Erk FM: Australia. There is one week to go before Erk returns to the Erk FM studio to present more Australian music after his epic US trip. Always looking to do something different, Erk presents two artists of different styles that are not staple genres on Erk FM. All music supplied by Radio Submit.

29, March 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 330 – Hopping Around After Being Late For Breakfast

by Erk

Welcome to episode 330 of Erk FM: Australia. There's a variety of songs on this week's episode - some of these songs have appeared on Erk FM before, others are new. Erk doesn't have a lot to say on this episode which makes a change for him!

22, March 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 328 – Progfest 2012 Sampler (Part 2)

by Erk

Welcome to episode 326 of Erk FM: Australia. This week (and last week), Erk provides some airplay for some artists who featured at Progfest 2012 in Australia. While Erk was not at the festival (it was around the same time as the Whiplash festival that Erk did cover on Erk FM: Metal Monday), it would have been a nice festival to cover. All music courtesy of Welkin Entertainment.

15, March 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 326 – Progfest 2012 Sampler (Part 1)

by Erk

Welcome to episode 326 of Erk FM: Australia. Over the next two weeks, Erk provides some airplay for some artists who featured at Progfest 2012 in Australia. While Erk was not at the festival (it was around the same time as the Whiplash festival that Erk did cover on Erk FM: Metal Monday), it would have been a nice festival to cover. All music courtesy of Welkin Entertainment.

08, March 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 324 – Dominotastic!

by Erk

Welcome to Erk FM: Australia 324. This episode is dedicated to Sydney arabian prog-rock band Domino. Domino are no strangers to Erk FM - Erk has enjoyed being front and centre at many Domino gigs over the last couple of years & has followed their progress closely. To date they have released their 2007 EP Shadows & Dust and are just about to release their debut album Where The Desert Meets The Sea. The launch gig for the album will be on Saturday March 16 at The Valve Bar, Tempe (Sydney). To celebrate, Erk features studio & live tracks from Domino as well as a couple of interviews. The first interview was recorded in December 2011 at Domino's rehearsal studio in Sydney & gives a good overview about the band. The second interview was recorded a year later (December 2012) at The Valve Bar & talks more about 2012 Domino style as well as about the new album.

01, March 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 322 – Welcome Home, Erk!

by Erk

Welcome to Erk FM: Australia 322. To celebrate Erk's upcoming return from the US, Erk decided that he would give newer listeners a look back at the very first Erk FM: Australia episode (Erk FM: Australia episode 196). This week's episode features a wide range of music which gives you a great snapshot of the current Australian music scene. There are many hard working bands who are doing great things often with little reward. There's even a track from an Australian iconic band on the music scene over many years. Music supplied by Deuce Management & Promotion, Hype33 Entertainment, SGC Media, Heapsaflash, AirPlay Direct & the artists directly.

22, February 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 320 – Welcome To My Love Movie

by Erk

Welcome to Erk FM: Australia episode 320. Erk planned a love related episode based on music that he had access to & programmed it for release on a random Friday during his 2013 US trip. When recording the show, he realised that the love themed episode is due for release the day after Valentines Day. Personally, Erk hates that particular day but he celebrates it for a totally different reason. All music supplied by Radio Submit as well as Musik & Film.

15, February 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 318 – Keeping It Uptone & Interesting

by Erk

Welcome to episode 318 of Erk FM: Australia. This episode is inspired by artist recommended on the Uptone Entertainment website. All of the artists on this episode except Cascade were contacted directly by Erk - these artists returned Erk's email & supplied their music to him.

08, February 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 316 – Cruising!

by Erk

Welcome to Erk FM: Australia episode 316. This episode has a cruising theme as Erk has been spending this week cruising on the 70000 Tons Of Metal trip. There's a range of artists on this episode - some have been heard together before on the one episode & some have not. Music supplied by SGC Media, Tijuana Gift Shop & the artists directly.

01, February 2013Erk FM: Australia1 Comment

Erk FM: Australia 314 – Waving to Erk As He Cruises Away

by Erk

Welcome to episode 314 of Erk FM: Australia. As this episode is being released, Erk is about to head onto the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise. Prior to the trip, Erk asked Australian artists & bands to wave to him on social media for future airplay. So the bands/artists you hear on this episode waved to Erk & this episode is Erk waving back.

25, January 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 312 – AMPing Up Australian Music

by Erk

Welcome to episode 312 of Erk FM: Australia. For something different, Erk decided to hand over control of the episode to his friends at the Association Of Music Podcasting to program the episode. All of the tracks are Australian - some have been suggested by the podcaster, some Erk heard first on the named podcast & others were suggested to the podcaster by Erk. Thank you to Ro (Dark Compass), Yannick (Euterpia Radio), Dave & Caroline (The Bugcast), Peter (Suffolk & Cool), Graham (It's A Frog's Life Acoustic Podcast) & Jonny (Edinburgh Man) for the submissions and inspiration for this episode.

18, January 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments

Erk FM: Australia 310 – Laundry After Midnight Preview

by Erk

Welcome to episode 310 of Erk FM: Australia. Erk is about to head on a jet plane to the US for 6 weeks. His first stop will be LA which is where this week's feature artist Lee Safar has spent a fair amount of time. When Erk first heard Lee's music a couple of years ago, she could best be described as a rock chick after many unhappy years cut off from music. She has changed focus and now produces electronic dance music (EDM). Erk originally interviewed Lee at the start of the process of her debut album, Laundry After Midnight. Included in this episode is a sample of the album as well as Erk's interview which was originally recorded as Erk FM: Extra episode 1.

11, January 2013Erk FM: AustraliaNo Comments