VCV BLOG #11

There's a lot of big names who have appeared on Melbourne's Basement Discs stage over the years - and now you can add Four Lions to that hallowed list! 

Shann and Keith were rapt to get the chance to perform there as a duo last Friday in front of a very appreciative lunch-time crowd. 

The in-store set was part of a four-date mini tour for several members of Four Lions, which saw them zipping up and down the highway last weekend. 

Shann - performing as Four Lions (Solo) - supported Geelong alt-country troubadour Nathan Seeckts at The Lost Ones Basement Bar in Ballarat on Saturday afternoon. Later that night, Shann and Stephen - performing as Four Lions (Duo) - graced the stage at Bendigo's Entree Music Bar. 

And Shann and Keith - performing as Four Lions (Duo) - returned to The Taproom at Castlemaine's Shedshaker Brewery last Sunday, to wrap up the weekend's shows. 

Many thanks to all the people who braved the winter chill and inclement weather to turn out for these gigs, and to the venues for hosting the band. 

And big thanks to Nathan for joining forces with the guys for these shows. Nathan is currently on tour in regional Victoria and interstate, so make sure you check him out when he comes to a town near you. 

Stay tuned for the announcement of more Victorian and interstate dates for the full band this week!

VCV BLOG #10 

It's been a couple of weeks now since the Victorian Hard Days album launch tour wrapped up with a late afternoon gig at Castlemaine's Shedshaker Brewing. 

Big love to everyone who came along as Four Lions made the journey up and down the highway, with shows across three consecutive weekends, from Melbourne to Bendigo, Geelong to Ballarat, and Daylesford to Kyneton.  

And special thanks to the venues who opened their doors and shared their stages with the band. 

Four Lions will be taking the Hard Days album interstate, with shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra in the next couple of months.  

The first stop this weekend is Brisbane, where Four Lions (Duo) - Shann and Keith - are performing at Footstomp Music's Americana Amplified showcase. 

Get down to The Triffid in Newstead from 7pm for the big four-act bill, also featuring Ben Leece, Danny Widdicombe and Dana Gehrman, and Paddy McHugh. Tickets are just $12.75; you can pre-book at www.oztix.com.au 

And stay tuned for details of other shows around the country - coming soon!

VCV BLOG #9

Four Lions have hit the road, and the Hard Days tour is off and running! 

The band kicked off its eight-date album launch tour of regional and metropolitan Victoria last Friday, with Daylesford's Palais-Hepburn the first port of call. 

Tonight, the good ship Four Lions docks at the Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar in North Melbourne, along with The Christopher Marshall Predestination and Midweek Blues. 

This will be Four Lions' only Melbourne show after the unexpected closure of Ripponlea's Lyrebird Lounge, which the band packed out during their How Much single tour back in March. 

Then it's off to Kyneton's Major Tom's on Saturday night. Tickets ($10) are almost sold out, so jump online now at www.trybooking.com because you are not going to want to miss this show. 

Earlier that day, Shann and Keith will be performing in duo mode at an in-store at Ferntree Gully's Captain Stomp Records. 

Next week the tour will wind up after a four-date jaunt through Ballarat, Geelong, the big hometown show in Bendigo, and a Sunday afternoon session at Castlemaine. Check the VCV and Four Lions' websites and socials for all the details. 

See everybody at the shows! And don't forget to swing by the merch desk and say hello to yours truly, who will be selling vinyl, CDs, T-shirts and caps; buttons are free until they run out!

It's not every week that you get Album of the Week in a major newspaper! 

Big congratulations to Four Lions for being the featured act in this week's Herald Sun's Hit section, with the first major review of their new album Hard Days. 

Music writer Cameron Adams says: "Hard Days covers an impressive amount of musical terrain in just over 40 minutes", comparing the songs to Oasis, Blur, Paul Kelly, the Rolling Stones - even the Cocteau Twins. 

"Melancholy, country-tinged, Wilco-esque melodic rock seems to be their sweet spot," Adams says. 

Read the full review here: 

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/album-reviews-four-lions-vampire-weekend-and-more/news-story/a7771c2308fffc0db768703bbd9ad02c 

The review has also been featured on the news.com.au website, garnering national exposure for the band and their album. 

Next stop is the Hard Days album tour, which kicks off in Daylesford on Friday, May 17. Full details on the VCV and Four Lions websites, and social media feeds. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the shows!

VCV BLOG #7

Today is the day! 

Four Lions' new album, Hard Days - their fourth - has finally hit the shelves, nine months after the boys headed into Head Gap studios in Preston to lay down the tracks. 

The album was recorded by Finn Keane, mixed by Sam Kassirer in Boston, Massachusetts, and mastered by Ludwing Diaz in San Francisco, California. 

You can stream the album now, or purchase it online or in-store: 

https://linktr.ee/fourlionsmusic

The first single How Much, released in Februrary, was followed by Stay, which came out last month. Both singles have received national airplay, and have been included on Spotify playlists compiled by The Australian Music Scene, Music Victoria and Gyrostream, among others. 

Unfortunately, last month's Bendigo Autumn Music Festival, in which Four Lions - one of just three local bands to feature - had a prime slot, was cancelled. But the band is going full steam ahead with its Victorian album tour this month. All details are on the VCV and Four Lions' websites.  

From Daylesford to Kyneton, Ballarat to Geelong, Bendigo to Castlemaine, and a couple of dates in Melbourne, make sure you don't miss out when Four Lions comes to a town near you this month!

VCV Blog #6 

What a weekend! 

Four Lions have just wrapped up their three-date Victorian mini-tour to promote the single How Much, which came out last month, from the forthcoming album Hard Days. 

The boys played their first Melbourne show in two years at Ripponlea's Lyrebird Lounge, previewing several new songs and a few old favourites, on Friday, March 15, to a full room. 

Then it was back on the highway and homeward-bound for the following night's show at a packed Handle Bar on Saturday, March 16. The band finished the tour the next afternoon on Sunday, March 17, among the vines and under sunny skies at The Shiraz Republic at Cornella. 

All shows featured support from their old mates, Canberra-based blues rock duo The Barren Spinsters, and were attended by big, appreciative crowds. 

It's now full steam ahead to April, which will see the release of Four Lions' next single Stay on April 5, and the band's appearance at the inaugural four-day Bendigo Autumn Music Festival. There, they will be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Kurt Vile and the Violators, Tex Perkins and the Fat Rubber Band, and Cash Savage and the Last Drinks - among many, many more.

VCV BLOG #5 

It's been a big week for the boys. 

Last Friday saw the release of How Much, the first single from Four Lions' fourth album Hard Days, which will be out on May 1 on Verse Chorus Verse. 

The band debuted How Much at Summer In The Parks at Crook St Park, Kennington, along with several other new tracks and a bunch of old favourites. 

The event also saw new bassist Bradley Bradford make his public debut on stage. 

It was a balmy summer night in the parks, and the band was thrilled to see so many of their fellow townspeople out and about in support of live and original music. 

If you missed it, never fear - Four Lions will be backing up next month with a Victorian mini-tour to promote the second single, Stay (out on March 1). 

The band will make its first appearance on a Melbourne stage in two years - at Ripponlea's intimate, bohemian Lyrebird Lounge on Friday, March 15. 

It's back to Bendigo on Saturday, March 16, for a show at their old stomping ground Handle Bar. Then cruise out to Cornella's Shiraz Republic with us on Sunday, March 17, for a laidback afternoon of tunes and tipples. Full details on the VCV and Four Lions websites. 

How Much is available now to buy on Bandcamp and iTunes, and to stream on Spotify and Google Play Music.

VCV BLOG #4

It's a new year - and, with that, one door has closed and another has opened for Four Lions. 

The band has bid farewell to foundation bassist Greg Perry, who has amicably left to concentrate on other commitments. Greg has played on all of Four Lions' recordings to date, and gigged with the band from the get-go. 

"We will miss his wisdom, considered advice and solid grounding of our music," lead guitarist Keith MacQueen says. 

Stepping into the breach, with a view to becoming a permanent member, is new bassist Bradley Bradford. 

Brad is an English ex-pat - and experienced muso - who has made a new home for himself in Bendigo. He has built a reputation around town through his involvement with Steve Saxton and The Gentlemen and The Tyson Hodges Trio. 

He will make his debut with Four Lions at Summer In The Parks - their first gig for 2019 - this Friday (February 1). The band will be on stage at Crook St Park, Kennington, from 6.30pm. 

Friday also sees the release of the single How Much (you can stream it right here on the VCV website; see link on the home page). And you can expect to hear it - and a handful of other songs from the forthcoming album Hard Days - in the park on Friday! 

See you there.

VCV BLOG #3 

Shann, Keith and myself had the pleasure of meeting Footstomp director Graham Ashton at the Northcote Social Club last week. That's the great man on the left, rocking a Clash T-shirt. Four Lions are thrilled to be working with Asho and his fellow Footstompers, who will be handling publicity and promotion for the band's upcoming album Hard Days, due out on May 1 on Verse Chorus Verse. 

Footstomp is a highly regarded Brisbane-based music company that has worked with some of the biggest acts in contemporary Australian rock 'n' roll, including You Am I, Ben Lee, Ash Grunwald, Busby Marou, and David Bridie, to name but a few. 

And Asho's team has already hit the ground running, getting the band's songs out into the ears of radio and media peeps around the country. 

We're just a week away from the release of first single How Much, which the boys will be unveiling during their set at Summer In The Parks, Bendigo, that evening. Event details are on both the VCV and Four Lions websites. 

It's Four Lions' first gig for the new year, with many more to come. If you live in Victoria, they will be coming to a town near you in the next couple of months. If you're interstate, expect to see them up the East Coast after the album launches in May. 

They will certainly be clocking up the miles on the road this year! 

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the gigs.

VCV BLOG #2 

Got a sneak peek this week at the video for the upcoming single How Much - and it's a beauty! 

The video was shot in Four Lions' hometown of Bendigo by Ross Jardine and edited by Jordan Allen (4Eyed Flicks), both long-time visual associates of the band. 

It features friends, local musos, and family members, with a special guest appearance by band mascot Lou the dog. Well done to everyone who contributed their talents  - and it looks like it was a blast to make! 

How Much will be officially released on February 1, which is also the date for Four Lions' first show of the new year. 

If you're in Bendigo - and even if you're not - hit the road and head down to Crook St Park for Summer In The Parks, an all-ages free event. 

Four Lions will be on stage from 6.30pm for an hour-long set. And I reckon it's a lock that How Much will appear on the set list! 

Crook St is a familiar venue for the boys - they recorded their 2018 digital-only album Live At Crook St (no ambiguity in that title!) there. 

You can try before you buy at Bandcamp (https://fourlions.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-crook-street) and stream it on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/album/7bvQWJTKahIihhaFqhpJs1?si=GOFNvbx3SliEZ0hnrg0_Ug). 

So scoot over there now and have a listen - and we'll see you in the park next month!