Indie Focus

Heaps of sweet indie acts from Down Under have been invited to Texas' South By Southwest music conference and showcase, including Jonathan Boulet, The Beards, The Trouble With Templeton and many more, joining the already announced San Cisco and Twerps.

Flume, Tame Impala, The Rubens and Parkway Drive all found themselves in ARIA's 2012 End of Year charts, a list with an increased Aussie presence 27 locals out of 100, up from 22 in 2011. Hilltop Hoods and The Temper Trap were the two highest ranking indie acts, coming in at 13 and 33 respectively.

Aussie acts are holding their ground on the Billboard charts as well, Tame Impala's Lonerism still on people's minds, Atlas Genius' Trojans scoring high on the rock/alternative charts, while San Cisco continues to make it big on English radio – station xfm giving the group some invaluable airplay.

Two more acts were announced as finalists for The Cooper's Amp, with Urthboy and Jess Ribeiro & The Bone Collectors joining Hermitude on the shortlist. The remaining finalists (nine total) will be announced before the winner is crowned in March, winning the $30,000 prize.

All Tomorrow's Parties curated Saturday installment of the I'll Be Your Mirror Melbourne festival has officially sold out, with both single day passes and weekend passes all snatched up, however the Sunday festivities, curated by The Drones are still available for purchase.

Shoegaze Godfathers Underground Lovers released a sweet trailer for their new record Weekend which featured a brand new tune for your listening pleasure – check it out!

Western Australian indie-roots act Ruby Boots released their new 'Alice down the hole' type clip for single release Kellie Anne, the first taste of their debut album and the song their east coast tour will be celebrating, kicking off this week.

And some more sweet clips for you, with Tin Sparrow dropping their new vid for single The Beast, fresh with some beat-driven Zombie dance moves mixing with their indie-folk tune – get on it. They've got some dates coming up soon too, so give them a look in.

Industrial metal rockers Our Last Enemy have announced the addition of new drummer Zot, of Ink and Anxiety Whispers, with the band's original drummer Jeff moving to keys and samples. According to the band, Zot brings a powerful force to the groove heavy metal the boys produce, already having formed a tight relationship with vocalist and fellow past Anxiety Whispers band mate Oliver.

With the aim of only creating a three song demo, Sydney's He She Wonderland have ended up putting together a 12-song album at Rancom Street Studios under the guidance of Choirboys' Mark Gable as A&R – an almost year-long project which is near completion.
A few new signings this week:

Exciting new singer-songwriter Thelma Plum signed with Footstomp, and is set to release her debut EP in March of this year.

Also to be released in March is Internet covers king D At Sea's debut EP (woah, poetry), who has signed with Melbourne's UNFD label, the EP is titled Unconscious, with the first single December to be unleashed this month.

Gold Coast hardcore dudes Prepared Like A Bride have signed a management deal with US-based firm The Artery Foundation who entered the Australian market last year.

The Popfrenzy label have added garage-rockers Unity Floors to their books, the duo officially releasing a single that was uploaded online last year called Nice Fit, which was officially launched in East Sydney last weekend.

Tours:

Aussie hip hop artist Draft dropped word of his massive tour of Australian universities, taking his four-piece on the road after a relatively quiet year – the 20-date list of gigs will go on sale next week.

Indie act Feelings, made up of musos from Philadelphia Grand Jury, Dappled Cities and Art vs. Science dropped a new single through last week and also backed it up with a tour in honour. The single Intercourse is described as Sexpop, with their first record due mid-year.

The Smith Street Band expanded their already massive 14-date tour to a 19-date tour, adding a few more 18+ and all ages gigs to the list of shows, as well as some great local talent to get the ball rolling before support USA's Bomb The Music Industry! and The Bennies.

Last week, Brisbane's Gung Ho announced a tour in celebration gor their debut EP Anywhere Else – five dates that they'll also be joined by sweet rocker Jeremy Neale – check the dates.

Brisbane's electro band Mitzi not only dropped word that they'll be supporting Foals on their January BDO sideshows through the week, but the date of release for their debut record titled Truly Alive – set to hit shelves next month.

Speaking of supports, Yeasayer announced their Aussie indie support acts with Oliver Tank and Fishing to warm up the crowd before Sydney's Metro show, and star-studded Montero taking the Melbourne HiFi duties.