New Australian-Based Artist Management Company Sidekick Launches in Adelaide
The inaugural roster includes Slim Krusty, The Bennies, Young Offenders and more.
Image Jam Media
Adelaide’s music scene is thriving, but it’s not just the artists making an impact. Enter new punk-inspired artist management company Sidekick – built for bands who exist beyond algorithms and trends.
The brainchild of Kyle Landman and Hannah Louise, both of whom have several years of experience in the Aussie music industry, Sidekick is doing its bit to promote amazing artists with a DIY approach that’s grounded in community.
The duo came up with the idea for Sidekick after a shared frustration with how modern music is driven by algorithms and metrics rather than talent and feeling.
The inaugural roster is absolutely stacked, with folk punk troubadour Slim Krusty, psychedelic reggae ratbags The Bennies, punk rockers Young Offenders, chaotic punk outfit LOLA, four-piece noise makers HESH and energetic genre blenders Jongo Bones and the Barefoot Bandits all signed to Sidekick.
“Towards the end of last year, we both just found ourselves getting bored. Everything started to feel safe, predictable, no one wants to step out of line. Artists are getting signed off the back of a 20-second clip getting picked up by a machine, without ever playing a live show, and to us, that’s crazy,” says Louise.
“You don’t need a viral TikTok or a radio station telling people you’re cool. In fact, we’d prefer you didn’t and are focused on making something real, not wasting time chasing algorithms.”
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Sidekick is a hybrid management company that does it all, combining artist and tour management with promotion and bookings.
“We’ve done the long drives, the shit sleeps, the highs and the lows. We’re not guessing, we’ve been there. And we’re so excited to now do it alongside our artists, who we’re bloody proud of,” says Landman.
“Punk is overlooked in Australia. You’ll see a show headlined by bands that the industry have decided are ‘in’ and no one is moving. Then you’ll see a punk gig with 20 people and everyone is jumping around, having a blast. That’s the energy we care about – people finding their place and people.”
Keep up to date with everything Sidekick have going on by following them here. Check out all the upcoming Sidekick shows, both in Australia and overseas, below.
Sidekick Upcoming Shows
MAY 9: Slim Krusty - Signature Brew - Haggesrton (UK)
MAY 9: HESH - Arthur Art Bar - Adelaide (AUS)
MAY 9: LOLA - New Found Sound Fest - Port Adelaide (AUS)
MAY 13/14: Slim Krusty - The Great Escape - Brighton (UK)
MAY 15: Slim Krusty - Dayglo Studios - St Leonard’s (UK)
MAY 17: Slim Krusty - The Station - Birmingham (UK)
MAY 19: Slim Krusty - Scream & Shake - Blackpool (UK)
MAY 20: Slim Krusty - Folklore - Brighton (UK)
MAY 21: Slim Krusty - Cafe Kino - Bristol (UK)
MAY 23/24: Slim Krusty - Cattle Market - Sandwich (UK)
MAY 28: HESH - The Metro - Adelaide (AUS)
MAY 29: LOLA - The Metro - Adelaide (AUS)
MAY 29: Jongo Bones and the Barefoot Bandits - The Metro - Adelaide (AUS)
JUNE 13: Young Offenders - Dog Daze - Mo’s Desert Clubhouse (AUS)
JUNE 26: The Bennies - Moonshiners Bar - Tamworth (AUS)
JUNE 27: The Bennies - Thrashville - Lower Belford (AUS)
JUNE 27: Slim Krusty - Dead of Winter Fest - Mansfield Arena (AUS)
JULY 10: Young Offenders - Adelaide Beer & BBQ Fest - Adelaide (AUS)
JULY 10: HESH - Adelaide Beer & BBQ Fest - Adelaide (AUS)
SEPT 4: LOLA - Wild At Heart - Berlin (GERMANY)
SEPT 11: LOLA - The Star And Garter - Manchester (UK)
