It was a huge night on Wednesday as young local singer/songwriter/piano/guitarplayer James Cooper showed us how much latent support he has in his home town, filling Newtown’s Vanguard to capacity with friends and fans. With nearly 600 friends signed up to his MySpace page and his own mailing list from his www.james-cooper.com website, it was a great case-study for the pulling power of the internet, because the only other marketing we’d done for the launch was one small black and white ad in one local street press mag. CD sales at the gig were strong and the crowd enthusiastically received James’ live performance, as almost everyone in the room had heard samples from the album online, but nobody had yet seen James perform in Sydney. With a five piece band James impressed us with his professionalism, giving the set moments of light and shade, from big rock moments to small, intimate solo spots on the piano. James is up next at Sydney University’s Manning Bar and the Vic On The Park in Sept and Oct. You owe it to yourself to see this guy play before he starts packing out larger venues.

It was as close to a Royal Command Performance as the City of Bankstown is ever likely to see. Celebrating its Silver Jubilee Year, the city fathers elected to celebrate the achievements of one of Bankstown’s most successful sons, Hollywood movie actor Bryan Brown, in a two day film festival of his best work, staged at the glamorous and palatial Revesby Workers Club.

By special invitation, Karma County headlined the glittering formal opening event on the first evening, playing an intimate acoustic set on a stage in a room only a little smaller than the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Nevertheless, the punters - a mix of regular club members, Bankstown’s high-and-mighty, and film industry heavy-weights - really got into the famously smooth grooves of the County.

After the set, bandleader Brendan Gallagher introduced the music video for the band’s “Dexter & Sinistra”, featuring Bryan Brown - the reason the band was headlining the event.

See the photos from the event in this photo album, including exclusive behind-the-scenes and in-the-dressing-room shots of the band in action.

Karma County are returning with a tour celebrating their collaboration with Australian film legend Bryan Brown, Dexter & Sinistra.

One of the standout tracks from their latest album Pacifico, Karma County teamed up with Brown who lent his signature tones to tell the story of suburban love and loss.

The band are touring through New South Wales and Queensland, with the centrepiece being their closing night performance at the Bryan Brown Film Festival at the Revesby Workers Club on August 26. The festival is the highlight of the Bankstown Silver Jubilee celebrations. (unfortuantely invite only)

Karma County are celebrating an anniversary of their own, with ten years under their belt in 2005 with a career that has included five timeless albums including the 2000 ARIA Award winning album Into the Land of Promise.

The band, Stuart Eadie (drums), Michael Galeazzi (bass) and fronted by the ever-talented producer, guitarist and vocalist Brendan Gallagher have carved their own niche in the Australian music scene with their song-based adult pop and have proved their live ability over many years of taking their show to adoring audiences across the country and around the world.

The Dexter & Sinistra Tour kicks off with a ‘warm up’ in Bondi at the Beach Road Hotel then begins officially in Sydney at The Basement on August 24 with special guests Tina Harrod and band plus Jess Younan (solo) then travels to Brisbane, Gold Coast and Byron Bay where the lads will be joined by the effervescent Greg Arnold. See dates below.

DATES Wednesday 24 August THE BASEMENT Sydney w. Tina Harrod + Jesse Younan (solo) 29 Reiby Place, Circular Quay, NSW 
Phone : (02) 9251 2797 
www.thebasement.com.au

Thursday 26 August BRASS MONKEY Cronulla 
15A Cronulla St, Cronulla, NSW
Phone: (02) 9544-3844 
www.brassmonkey.com.au

Friday 02 September SOUND LOUNGE Gold Coast w. Greg Arnold 
Currumbin RSL – Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin Gold Coast, QLD
Phone:(07) 5534 7999
www.thesoundlounge.com.au

Saturday 03 September TROUBADOR Brisbane w. Greg Arnold 
1st floor 322 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley Brisbane, QLD
Phone: (07) 3252 2626 
www.thetroubadour.com.au

Sunday 04 September BEACH HOTEL Byron Bay 
Opposite the main beach, Byron Bay, NSW 
Phone:(02) 6685 6402
www.beachhotel.com.au

See the Dead Marines, featuring three of Australia’s most regarded contemporary artists - singer/songwriter Bernie Hayes, Front End Loader’s Bow Campbell and Brendan Gallagher of Karma County.

These long-time friends and compelling performers recently recorded their first album, New Day, an album of original songs, tales of love and loss and the dear school of experience refracted through the prism of a wine bottle or three.

From the rich vocal harmonies of ‘Everybody Wants To Hurt Somebody Sometime’ to the rawness of ‘Six Pack Love Letter’, and the soothing jazz sounds of ‘I Couldn’t Be Less Cool’ the Dead Marines deliver songs that are open, honest and warm. Some excellent three-part harmonies and some stunning guitar-playing make for a great gig.

Dates: Saturday 23 July, Tilleys, Canberra Sunday 24 July, Hopetoun Hotel, Surry Hills

Label boss note: the Revesby Workers Club gig will definitely be the one to catch, as KC will be playing at the Bryan Brown Film Festival, an event organised by Bankstown City Council to honour Bankstown’s favourite son, the actor Bryan Brown. His vocals feature on the track Dexter & Sinistra on the album Pacifico and Brownie also features in the video clip, which will play during the festival. Book early to avoid disappointment!

DATE	VENUE	INFO & BOOKINGS
tue 23 aug	Beach Rd Bondi	71 Beach Road Bondi NSW (02) 9130 7247
wed 24 aug	The Basement w. Tina Harrod + Jesse Younan (solo)	29 Reiby Place Circular Quay NSW Phone:(02) 9251 2797 website
thur 25 aug	Brass Monkey	15A Cronulla St Cronulla Phone: (02) 9544-3844 website
fri 26 Aug	Revesby Workers BRYAN BROWN film festival	2B Brett Street, Revesby, NSW Phone:(02) 9772 2100 website
fri 2 sept	Sound Lounge Gold Coast with Greg Arnold (solo) – X- Things Of Stone & Wood	Currumbin RSL Currumbin Creek Rd. Currumbin, Gold Coast Phone:(07) 5534 7999 website
sat 3 sept	Troubadour Briso with Greg Arnold (solo) – X- Things Of Stone & Wood	1st floor 322 Brunswick St. Fortitude Valley Brisbane Phone: (07) 3252 2626 thetroubadour@graffiti.net website
sun 4 sept	Beach Hotel Byron Bay	Opposite the beach Byron Bay NSW Phone:(02) 6685 6402 website