■ Hockey Dad played the first of three sold-out Wollongong shows on Sunday. The boys were awesome, clearly pumped up after a run of similarly sold-out dates down the East Coast and ready to have some fun with a home-town crowd. Energy levels exploded from the first notes, rarely letting up until the final calls for an encore. Two more shows are planned for Saturday at Rad, in the afternoon and evening. If you bought tickets a few months ago, don't forget!
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■ A few local acts have been announced for Brisbane's Bigsound festival. Billed as Australia's answer to South By South West, the music showcase is planned for September 9 and 10 in Fortitude Valley. The first 50 acts have been announced, with Wollongong DJ/producer Moonbase Commander and former local guys Born Lion on the bill already. The way our music scene is going lately, don't be surprised to see a few more announced as part of the 100 bands still to come.
■ Megan Washington is coming our way, announcing a show at Anita's Theatre in Thirroul. The singer will play September 3, as part of a national tour. Tickets are on sale now.
■ For something a bit more mellow, both Lior and Ben Lee will play over the course of one weekend at Anita's. Lior's tour brings him to Thirroul on October 9, and Lee will back up on October 11.
■ Keeping it chilled out and Thirroul-based, a special show is happening on Friday at Black Gold, a new space above the Finbox store. Jordan Ireland, formerly of much-loved band the Middle East, brings his new project Stolen Violin down for a performance. Obscura Hail will support. Entry from 8pm, $10.
■ Punk legends Frenzal Rhomb are coming our way too, playing the Unibar on August 1.
■ South Coast rock band Latham's Grip have announced a tour that will take them around the country in August. The It's Time tour, to showcase tunes from the band's upcoming EP, will start in Canberra and stop in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and more. All shows are free entry, including a local one at Rad on August 1.
■ Wollongong dance label Unknown Records have had win after win lately, with releases by acts on their roster doing well on the charts. The collective is holding a label party on July 10, with a bunch of their acts performing back to back. Baytek, Pantheon, Colour Castle, Knights of Columbus and more are booked for the party at the Harp Hotel.
■ Wollongong metal titans LORD are finally bringing out some new material. Their EP What Tomorrow Brings is out soon, a six-track release including a 25-minute - yes, 25-minute - title track and covers of tunes by the Police and more.
■ Sydney mini-festival Volumes has been announced, with a bunch of local flavour on the bill. Farmer and the Owl have helped curate the line-up, with the Walking Who, Step-Panther, Shining Bird, the Pinheads and Tees all booked to play. It's going down at a few Oxford Street venues on August 29.
