Paul Southwell

Profile picture of Paul Southwell
Website
https://stroppybaby.com

Posts by Paul Southwell

Mike Stern Tour Interview, 2025

Posted on

Award winning and many Grammy Awards nominated American Jazz guitarist Mike Stern has seen it all and lived to tell the tale. Musically daring, and with a mastery of guitar technique honed from years of live performance alongside the best in the business, his upcoming tour promises to be a mesmerising musical experience. His recuperation from serious injury reinforces his dedication to music, persevering with an enduring will power, and a deep-seated love for guitar and performance. It’s not the first time he’s conquered demons either, and done so with absolute certainty. 

HAMMERFALL Live Review, 2025

Posted on

Supports: Silent Knight & Valhalore Manning Bar, Sydney University. Saturday, the 18th of January 2025.  When Sweden’s heavy metal powerhouse band, HammerFall last played in Australia, it was in one city only. You can probably guess which one, but it gave the rest of the coast a taste of what it feels like to be in the

ENFORCER (Olof Wikstrand) Tour Interview

Posted on

Sweden’s traditional heavy metal band, Enforcer, have been steadily carving out a solid niche for themselves in the international metal scene, building their fanbase up through a solid work ethic. Now touring Australia, with their sixth and most recent album Nostalgia likely to feature in their live set, and being their first time here, they intend to serve up a feast of heavy metal anthems. In light of Enforcer making the trek to Australia, we caught up with the band’s founding member, frontman and guitarist, Olof Wikstrand. 

NASHVILLE PUSSY (Ruyter Suys) Tour Interview

Posted on

Hard rock music fans in this country with any street cred would be familiar with Nashville Pussy, as many a beer drenched, energy filled live show will see their name crop up. They’ve toured here several times, leaving a wake of dropped jaws in their wake, and most recently participated in the final shows at the notorious post-gig CBD venue Frankies Pizza. Now returning with legendary band The Supersuckers in tow, on the aptly coined Superpussy tour is upon us.

HAMMERFALL (Oscar Dronjak) 2025 Tour Interview

Posted on

Sweden has a plethora of fantastic metal bands, across a variety of sub-genres, who have been globally influential. For traditional heavy metal, Gothenburg’s Hammerfall set a global standard, having released thirteen well respected albums over around three decades, earning numerous chart successes, huge tours, and awards. Founding guitarist Oscar Dronjak, ever personable, offered some insights into Hammerfall’s upcoming Australian tour, and works behind the latest album. The tour is one that all respectable heavy metal music aficionados should attend. 

THE CULT – 8424 Tour Review, 2025

Posted on

The Cult were triumphantly returning to our shores to celebrate the band’s 40th anniversary with their aptly titled 8424 Tour. Seeing such a legendary rock band cherry pick over their stunning eleven album discography at the Sydney Opera House was indeed a delicious prospect.

SWEET (Andy Scott) Tour Interview

Posted on

Glam rock wasn’t just Bowie, T-Rex and New York Dolls. One of the most influential bands of the lot was Sweet, aka The Sweet, who melded flamboyance with melodic sensibilities that were all over seventies radio. Ask anyone growing up at the time, and the ear worms of their classic tracks will be easily recited, with joy, and a nostalgic kick. Sweet has weathered a variety of musical trends but the various versions of the band have toured our parts and played to appreciative crowds.

RAVEN (John Gallagher) Tour Interview

Posted on

English heavy metal three-piece band Raven were one of the early pioneers not just of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, but also regarded widely by many as a precursor to the thrash metal scene of the early to mid-80’s. Certainly, their first three albums put them on the map internationally. Raven soon found themselves on the American independent metal scene Megaforce label that also spawned now well established acts such as Anthrax and Metallica, which lead to touring across America with Metallica as openers, and being part of major label bidding wars for their brand of high energy, post punk, heavy metal.

SABATON – The Tour to End All Tours – Film Review, 2024

Posted on

Swedish power metal band Sabaton, have played many successful festival and headlines shows throughout the world. Given the roaring success of their tenth studio album from 2022, The War to End All Wars, which was a concept album sequel to their 2019 release The Great War, together with their over-the-top stage production, a live film made sense.