The Lambrou brothers of Connor (vocals/guitar) and Harry (drums/didgeridoo) impressed judges at Mayfield’s Stag and Hunter Hotel with their unique sound, which blends rock, roots and Indigenous influences.

Harry’s ability to play drums and didgeridoo simultaneously, in particular, wooed the judges.  

“All five of the bands could have won, in the end it just came down to festival compatibility,” judge Craig Wilson of Swamphouse Photography said. 

Other bands who reached the decider were Sydney alt-rockers Fossicks and Newcastle acts Diplazar, Shrimp and Smoke & Rain.

LamBros, who released their self-titled debut EP last year, will contest the grand final at Airlie Beach Festival of Music on November 9-11. Other acts on the bill include Kasey Chambers, Smash Mouth, The Church and Killing Heidi. 

The overall winner of the national band competition secures a place on the main stage line-up at the 2019 festival, a $1000 performance fee, accommodation and a spot on Balcony TV.

Newcastle band The Venom Lips were the last Hunter act to win the competition in 2016.

SU Morley’s title song, Boom Town, from her debut album as Steel City Sue, won Best Song at the 2018 Australian Roots Music Awards at Nimbin on the weekend.

The song deplores the decrepit state of Newcastle’s CBD, recalling its rich history of earlier times, and points the finger squarely at the lack of civic contribution from the coal industry.

The record was also a finalist for Best Roots Album.

Steel City Sue will play Dashville Skyline music festival at Lower Belford on September 28-30. 

IT’S been long over due, but Newcastle’s Kira Puru surprised her fans by releasing her eagerly-awaited self-titled debut EP on Wednesday.

When Puru spoke to the Newcastle Herald in June before her Cambridge Hotel show she expected the five-track EP would not hit the airwaves until later this year or even in 2019.

However, the Cardiff-bred singer-songwriter broke the news on triple j on Tuesday when she debuted her latest single Fly; a cheeky electro-pop ode to joining the mile-high club.

The debut EP also features the already-released singles Tension and Molotov, which began Puru’s shift away from soul and jazz towards a electronic pop sound.

CLUB Azzurri isn’t generally considered a major live music destination in Newcastle, but that hasn’t stopped the Kahibah venue booking American post-hardcore band The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus on their upcoming national tour.

The Florida band is touring their first album in four years, The Awakening. Formed in 2003, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus command 1.9 million monthly Spotify listeners and are most famous for their 2006 hit Face Down.

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus play their all-ages show at Club Azzurri on December 1.

Brisbane band The Comfort will be joining the four-piece on support.

FIRST it was an NRL grand final appearance, now it’s a headline spot at Laneway Festival. The opportunities just keep building for Newcastle drummer Dom Borzestowski with his Sydney band Gang Of Youths.

The line-up for Laneway, which stops at Rozelle in Sydney on February 3, also features Courtney Barnett, Camp Cope, Baker Boy, Methyl Ethel, Middle Kids, Mitski, Skegss, Red Orange County and Jorja Smith.

There’s been plenty of excitement about Gang Of Youths’ forthcoming grand final appearance and even suggestions from Borzestowski’s Newcastle friends about wearing a 1997 Knights jumper for the performance.

Please let this happen.

NEWCASTLE actress and entertainer Maree Lowes, better known as ABC Kids star Dirtgirl, is hitting the road to support her new album Gumboot Boogie.

The breezy folk-pop single Changes dropped last week and will be followed by the album on October 5.

Gumboot Boogie is all about encouraging environmental sustainability and fun for youngsters just like Dirtgirl’s hit children’s TV shows Get Grubby TV and dirtgirlworld.

Dirtgirl is heading out on a spring tour, but unfortunately there’s no Newcastle show announced as yet.

AFTER a five-year hiatus Central Coast-bred singer-songwriter Laura Imbruglia announced her return to music by releasing new single Tricks on Wednesday.

The younger sister of actress and singer Natalie Imbruglia has spent the past five years, since her third album What A Treat, developing her comedy writing and TV production on web series Amateur Hour and creating a Melbourne 3RRR  radio show, Word Nerds.