Documentation: 21 January 2010

Some shots form our last monthly show at the Old Bar.

Recent UK import MV brought the beautiful analogue sounds of the cassette. The buzz and hiss of the multiple walkmans was woven together beautifully.



Sean Baxter schooled everyone in the possibilities of the drum kit. The master extended technique percussionist highlighted you don't need big amps or manic flailing to create intense sounds, bending enamel plates and creating tuned rumble from the skins of the drums.



Ethic Cleansing, the first time collaboration between Screwtape and Ebola Disco, brought an angry, confrontational edge to the evening with their painfully descriptive explanation of the horrors of dementia.

Watch the video here.



Rounding out our final night at the Old Bar was the now iconic Australian grind trio, Agents of Abhorrence. Flat out grind for 15 minutes. Nothing more to say.



A big thanks to all the folk at the Old Bar for the last year and bit. The boys have been huge supporters of what we do at Sabbatical, first hosting our monthly shows at their previous venue, The Afterdark, giving Sabbatical a monthly platform to present the various musical happenings we were interested in. Thanks for everything.

We will continue to present shows at various spaces around town and will soon find a new home for regular nights. Watch this space for all the news.

Sabbatical presents: The What Is Music? Festival

Sabbatical is proud to be presenting one of the Melbourne events at this year's What Is Music? Festival. This Monday, 14 December we will be presenting a showcase of some of the label's finest talents as well as a special once off collaboration between Japanese noisemakers Shayne Bowden (from the group hercel) and our very own, Rob Mayson (Grey Daturas, Breathing Shrine, Bone Sheriff).

The complete line-up is:

Shayne Bowden (Japan) & Rob Mayson - a trans-national aural sparing match
Dead Boomers with Lloyd Honeybrook - the wall of noise just got bigger
Green Beret - an incredible combination of talent in a rare live outing
Aux Assembly - one the last shows of this fine duo before an international relocation

As well as these performances we will be screening new film works from Christina Tester (Gold Tango) and Eli Partridge (Heil Spirits).

This show will start a little earlier than usual, with the first act kicking off at 8pm. Cost is $10 at the door.

This will be our last show for the year, so come down and have a drink, take in the sights and sounds and celebrate what has been a great year for Sabbatical.

Sabbatical presents: The Emergency

Beats. Noise. Beats. Noise. It's hard to choose so we've put together four of our favourites to create a delicious and diverse night out.

The Emergency - first-time percussion set and a new album about to drop on eXO
Nomex - one NZ's finest aural export (read: brutal)
Super Star - space loops to infinity
Anon - one of the best things about Sydney

Six dollars entry, doors at 8.30pm.

As always, Sabbatical items will be available to purchase on the night.

Documentation: 22 October 2009

Eko Eko Azarak


Matthew Brown


Galactagogue


Bonnie Mercer

Sabbatical presents: Bonnie Mercer

Coming up this month at our regular Old Bar show is a stellar line-up of individual artists.

Bonnie Mercer - Grey Daturas powerhouse freed from the shackles of a band
Galactagogue - solo outing for the incredible Mark Skelton
Matthew Brown - synth warrior extraordinaire
Eko Eko Azarak - sounds like the opening to the best Goblin song you've never heard

22 October 2009
8.30pm

The Old Bar, 74-76 Johnston Street, Fitzroy

Six dollars entry

Sabbatical presents: Heil Spirits

Earlier this year, on tour as a guest member of Aktion Unit, the standout was undoubtedly Heil Spirits, the one-man audio storm of Eli Partridge (formerly of hardcore act The Stockholm Syndrome). Based in Lismore, northern NSW and the power behind the CD-R label Glacial Avatar, Partridge creates shuddering, visceral aural nightmares that deliver a punch straight to the solar plexus.



As such, it is with great anticipation that Sabbatical presents Heil Spirits this month at the Old Bar:

17 September 2009
The Old Bar - 74-76 Johnston Street, Fitzroy

Heil Spirits - turbulent waves of sound
James Rushford & Joe Talia - labyrinthine aural pieces from this incredible duo
Anekantavada - abrasions form new Melbourne resident Mitchell Brennan (Brassskulls)
Laral - despondent sounds for the low-spirited

Doors at 8.30pm, six dollars gets you in.



While down south Heil Spirits will be doing a bunch of shows across Melbourne. Click the flier for details.

Sabbatical presents: Dead Boomers

This August, Sabbatical presents:

Dead Boomers
Sean Baxter & Rod Cooper
Golden Fur

Thursday, 20 August 2009

The Old Bar, 74-76 Johnston Street, Fitzroy

As always, six dollars gets you in.

Sabbatical presents: Spartak

Canberra's own Spartak return south for the second time in as many months. Sabbatical is presenting the final show on their Lost Signal EP launch tour. The group will be fighting fit from shows across Australia, as well as Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

On this occasion Spartak will also perform seperately, in duos with two icons of Melbourne improvisation. Shoeb Ahmad will take on Dave Brown's mighty Candlesnuffer in a wave of guitars, while drummer Evan Dorrian partners with the esteemed Adam Simmons. Opening the night will be the kraut-jams of Snawklor, in full swing with the extended 'big band' line-up.

As always, it's happening at the Old Bar (74-76 Johnston Street, Fitzroy), doors at 8.30pm, first group on at 9pm.

Spartak (ACT)
Candlesnuffer vs Shoeb Ahmad
Adam Simmons & Evan Dorrian
Snawklor

Copies of Spartak's Lost Signal wil be available on the night, along with the Sabbatical catalogue. Or, if you can't wait, pick a copy via the hellosQuare website.

Sabbatical presents: Aux Assembly

This month's show sees the welcome return of one of Sabbatical's groups, Aux Assembly. Dimitra and Elise will bring their beautiful, haunting soundscapes to the Old Bar as headliners of a diverse night including Kristian Roberts (harsh solo noise), A. Wallace & Tom Hall (found sound experiments) and J.L. Dimmick (endless saxophone excursions).

Sabbatical presents:

Aux Assembly
Kristian Roberts
A. Wallace & Tom Hall
J.L. Dimmick

The Old Bar - 76-78 Johnston Street, 76-78 Johnston Street, Fitzroy

Doors at 8.30pm, first act on at 9pm.

$6

Documentation: James Rushford & Joe Talia launch

Witness Girl


Fourth Impact


Anthea Caddy & Thembi Soddell


Jame Rushford & Joe Talia

Sabbatical presents: James Rushford & Joe Talia 'Palisades' launch

Thursday, 21 May Sabbatical presents the launch of our thirteenth series release, Palisades by Melbourne based duo James Rushford & Joe Talia (SBB013). This cavernous electroacoustic fabrication finds its heart in exploration of the unforeseen voices of their selected instrumentation and devices. These include prepared violas, autoharp, spring reverb tank, and various metal objects. The ensuing extended compositions incorporate elements of ethereal drone and instrumental concrète, with stasis as a recurring theme. James and Joe will be joined on this occasion by a series of duo performances from Thembi Soddell & Anthea Caddy, Forth Impact! and Witness Girl. Hosted by the Old Bar (74-76 Johnston Street Fitzroy Victoria), with doors opening at 8:30pm, action from 9pm, and six dollars in.

Palisades is released through Sabbatical on Monday, 18 May 2009 and will be available through the webstore on that day and in Australian independent record stores shortly thereafter.

Sabbatical presents: Crab Smasher

Thursday 19 February at the Old Bar Sabbatical Presents welcomes a number of interstate artists, and a couple of familiar locals. Opening the show is Automating, the solo project of Sasha Margolis (of Y35.3). Second up is a solo performance from JK Fuller (of Zond and Mum Smokes among others), followed by Scissor Lock, a Sydney based project of one Marcus Whale. Closing the evening is Newcastle based ensemble Crab Smasher. Doors are at 8:30pm, with the first performance kicking off shortly after 9pm. Entry is $6.

090122 Documentation: A view from the mixing desk

Dead Boomers
This wall of noise's length was on this occasion determined by double vodka and sodas, no fruit.

Ev & Shags
Performing outside of the Pikelet Big Band the duo performed an incredible set of semi-improvised keyboard intricacy and bliss.

Chrome Dome
Part Joy Division, part Suicide, synth/pop/no wave tunes filtered through two over the top minds.

Paeces
The free-folk/pyche implosion on this occasion and the collective sounding more cohesive than ever. Fantastic stuff.

Sabbatical presents: Paeces

Thursday 22 January at the Old Bar Sabbatical Presents our first show for 2009. Opening the show is the brutal wall of Dead Boomers, featuring Mark Groves and Leith Thomas of Sabbatical. Second up is the duo of Evelyn Morris & Shags from Pikelet, exploring new-age-kraut synth jams, followed by Chrome Dome, a new duo (featuring one Shaun South) offering up ugly hypnotic pop music. Closing the evening is Paeces, on this occasion consisting of Sean Bailey, Chris Hill and Bianca Hester with a recorded component from the absent Joshua Petherick. Doors are at 8:30pm, with the first performance kicking off shortly after 9pm. Entry is $6.

Photographic documentation: last Old Bar show of 2008

Aktion Unit

Rod Cooper

Wasted Truth

Collapsed Toilet Vietnam

Sabbatical presents: Collapsed Toilet Vietnam

Thursday, 11 December Sabbatical hosts our final show for 2008 at the Old Bar. Headlining this show is broken scum rock/grind unit Collapsed Toilet Vietnam, in one of their final performances prior to a three month break. A new release from the group (a split cassette with Pathetic Human) should be available at this show. Also performing are Wasted Truth (an awesome new duo featuring Sean Bailey of Lakes and Harriet Morgan of Downtown), Rod Cooper (legendary instrument builder obsessed with the qualities of metal) and Aktion Unit (featuring Rene Schaefer (Hand Hell) and Dan Lewis (Mirror Farm) with guest Liam Matthews on percussion). The show kicks off at 8:30pm, and entry is a mere six of your worthless Australian dollars.

Sabbatical presents: The Old Bar 231008

Following the recent closure of the Afterdark in Northcote, Sabbatical is proud to announce that our monthly shows have now relocated to the Old Bar (74-76 Johnston Street Fitzroy). The first of these new series of shows falls on Thursday, 23 October 2008 and features a couple of largely dormant gems from the early Sabbatical catalogue.

Bone Sheriff (a duo consisting of active local heads Rob Mayson and Simon Taylor) makes a welcome return to live performance after a lengthy hiatus, as does the almighty Aux Assembly duo of Dimitra and Elise Bishop. Also appearing is the fascinating Oranj Punjabi project of Fjorn Butler and Dead Boomers, a duo consisting of 2/3 of the Sabbatical crew, Mark Groves and Leith Thomas.

Entry for this show is $6, and the door shall open at 8:30pm. The Sabbatical catalogue (including our releases from Bone Sheriff and Aux Assembly) along with a number of related works will be available for sale on the evening.