Concrete Playground

I remember seeing one of Liam Finn's first solo Australian gigs at the Crown Hotel a few years back. He was then fresh from his main songwriting duties in his band Betchadupa and was showcasing new pop tunes experimental but intensely personal. A performance on David Letterman would follow and elevate his popularity, leading to support slots with Eddie Vedder and a hectic overseas touring schedule to promote his debut album I'll Be Lightning.

Finn uses different effect pedals to sample and loop bass, guitar and drums, layering these with live elements. Eliza-Jane Barnes also performs with him, offering an amazing voice and sweet Autoharp flourishes. "I think that doing this looping, one-man-band sort of
thing really keeps you on your toes and keeps it fresh," says Finn. "The more you
mess up, the more you’re forced to turn it into a good mess and people
seem to respond more. I find it really stimulating, I just love the
danger of it."

Finn and Barnes have teamed up to write and record Champagne in Seashells, a five-track collection that dabbles in '80s power pop, softer ballads and Finn’s inspired brand of songwriting, and the pair will launch it at the Gaelic Club in September.