mick medew and ursula

You've come to the right place for the premiere of the filmclip for "Punk Grandma" by Mick Medew and Ursula. It's the lead track from their "In The Zone" album being releases on I-94 Bar Records on November 1. It will ship before then and pre-orders are open here. 

The video was filmed and produced by Tracey Walker. Thanks to Delilah Moon Willsteed and Lucas Ciechanowski for playing the punk grandkids. Also appearing are the amazing rhythm section of Mick Medew and Ursula 4, Lois Andrews and Stuart McLaughlin.  

It’s a match made in the sub tropics: Dave Smith, founder of ARIA-nominated Brisbane synth act Boxcar, has teamed with Queensland rock and roll hall of famer Mick Medew and partner Ursula to launch a series of steamy dancefloor remixes of the title track from Mick Medew and Ursula’s “Love Is Calling”album.

Dave and Ursula go way back - to Brisbane in the ‘80s, in fact, when Dave helped make a video for Ursula's then band, Ironing Music.

Mick Medew is the former leader of the legendary Screaming Tribesmen, whose “Igloo” single is an all-time Australian underground classic, and more recently vocalist and guitarist for Mick Medew and The Mesmerisers.

“Love Is Calling” was 4ZZZ’s Album of the Week on its release on I-94 Bar Recordsin early 2022. The remix project has realised four Boxcar remixes whose titles are inspired by Dave Smith’s love of Roma and Brunswick Streets in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct.

The artwork is by Ash Moses and the songs were meticulously mastered by Melbourne sonic wizard Ernie O. 

The ”Love is Calling Boxcar Remix” EP will debut on the Heyday program on 4ZZZ on Saturday after 6pm Brisbane time and will go live on all streaming services from Monday. Save the streaming songs here.  

Tickets for the only Sydney show by Mick Medew and the Mesmerisers are selling - and how.

The I-94 Bar presents the former Screaming Tribesman and his all-star band at Marrickville Bowling Club on Saturday, November 5 with support from the impeccable powerpop stars The On and Ons and fuzz-fiends Jupiter 5. Grab yours here. 

Mick Medew and the Mesmerisers will play a free show at Mayfield Bowling Club in Newcastle on Friday, November 4 with support from local heroes East Coast Low and Mick Medew and Ursula.It's free admission and you can see the Facebook event here.

Mick Medew and Ursula will launch their "Love Is Calling" album with a free Sunday show at The Golden Barley Hotel in Enmore on Sunday, November 6 from 6pm. Facebook event details here.

Their single “Punk Grandma” is number-three on the 4ZZZ playlists in Brisbane and attracting airplay all round the country. The album it comes from, “In The Zone”, is out next week. So I-94 Bar Recordsartists Mick Medew and Ursula are officially launching the album in their home town in style.

The “Meduo” will play It’s Still A Secret in South Brisbane with The Mick Medew and Ursula 4on Saturday, November 16 with Lovejoy Surf.The gig is at the grandparents friendly hour of 2pm and tickets are here.

“In The Zone” hits retail and digital channels on November 1 but you can procure a pre-sale CD copy here.

The Mick Medew and Ursula 4 plays a New South Wales show at Northern Rivers Hotel, Lismore, on Sunday, December 8 from 2pm. (Sheesh, what is it about these early starts?) Details in the Facebook event here.  Stay tuned for news about Newcastle and Sydney launches early in 2025.

“Punk Grandma” is a bubblegum-flavoured piece of punk fun from Brisbane icon Mick Medew (Screaming Tribesmen) and his musical and life partner Ursula (nee Collie, ex-Ironing Music). and it's out on all digital platforms including Bandcamptoday.

The first single from “In The Zone”, the forthcoming album by Mick Medew and Ursula,due on 1 November on I-94 Bar Records, is an anthem for anyone who believes in growing old disgracefully.

Sung by Ursula, its pop-punk levity is laced with some stinging guitar from Mick Medew, backed by bassist Lois Andrews and drummer Stu Maclaughlin, who make up the live band, The Mick Medew and Ursula 4.

Says Ursula: “’Punk Grandma’ was written while I was in the house with the grandkids and Mick was on the deck working on the melody on his guitar. I ran out singing the chorus: ‘I feel young, I have fun. I’m not done!’”

The Mick Medew and Ursula 4 will launch “Punk Grandma” with special guests The Glycereens and Gen Jones at PFR Lounge in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, on Saturday, October 19. Tickets via Humantix.

1. In February, we played a gig at the now closed Platform 5 in Clayfield, Brisbane. This venue was always good to us and we were very sorry to see it go.

2. In March, we used our frequent flyer points to head to Melbourne to launch our 2022 album, “Love Is Calling”. (ED: WHAT NO RECORD COMPANY TAB?)Dave Graney and Clare Moore invited us to open for them at The Night Cat in Fitzroy. What an honour! And what a great turn-out. We then played on the southside at The Lyrebird Lounge with special guest Penny Ikinger. Thanks to Suzi and all our Melbourne (and even Tasmanian) friends and fans who made this trip so special for us. We'll be back!

01 - L7 in Melbourne. 
This was a blast. Playing “Bricks Are Heavy” in full ,plus all those other wonderful tracks from the ‘90s. It’s number-one because it’s recent.

02 MONAROS – “Can’t Polish a Turd”.
As good as it gets. What a bloody great record with songs like “Kareen”, “Best Cop In Town” and the awesome “Mum Washed Me Cum Sock”. It’s a no-brainer for the #2 slot.

Ernie O’s 2023 Top 10

10. River of Snakes live at Northcote Social Club (supporting Chris Masuak & Dog Soldier) on 26 May. It takes a lot to make my jaw drop, but this tight and gritty 3-piece achieved it flawlessly and with ease. Raul (Magic Dirt) on guitar and vocals, Elissa (The Loveless, RnRHS) on bass and vocals and Dave (Grindhouse, Drifter) on drums wove a tapestry of love, loss and lust that draws you in and leaves you wanting more. Check out their goodies here!

9. Stu Wilson – As Yet Untitled Mini-Album. Still a work in progress, but (Loose Pills, Aberration, New Christs, The Crisps and more) has gone next level with his solo material, taking advantage of his Stu Stu Studio to lay down some tracks that wouldn’t sound out of place on a 1980’s Citadel release. We’re having a lot of fun with this! Check out a teaser here.

Woody Radio – DJs Gidget and Boris
A non-profit internet radio station based out of Canada run by Gidget and Boris alongside a team of international DJs that plays the best mix of indie power-pop, rock, punk, goth, electro and metal music that you probably never heard of (unless you keep your ear to the ground and finger on the pulse of the up-and-coming bands and artists).

For the past two years, both Gidget and Boris have kept Suburban Urchins in their charts, firstly with the "Born In The Suburbs" album, and Gidget has closed out 2022 with the Zed Girl EP climbing to number-one on her chart. LIsten here.

_{The Barman at an I-94 Editorial Board meeting with Our Man in Dimboola, Ron Brown (left).}

THE BARMAN’S BEST ALBUMS OF 2022

Do The Understanding – Ron S Peno and The Superstitions (self released)
Ron S Penohas equalled and maybe surpassed his output with Died Prettyafter a succession of excellent records with his champion Melbourne band. The man needs a muse and found an outstanding one in co-writer and guitarist Cam Butler.This is the Album of the Year.

The rest in no particular order:

The year started with a lot of writing and preparing of songs which would appear on the debut album ''Love is Calling by Mick Medew and Ursula .The world close to us was starting to look engaging again with Covid seemingly dissipating

1. Love is Calling Release - June 19
Our album is released on June 19, gaining much attention. Having the album chart on 4ZZZ's chart show for four weeks and being selected as Album of the Week is yet another example of our wonderful radio station being good to us . Seeing many reviews and articles in print was a first for the century. Thanks to Craig Barman for all the hard work.

The Golden Rat with Joe Rizzo – “Can Any Of You Muthas Dance?”
This live recording from July 2024 went straight to digital and we're thankful someone had the nouse to preserve it. The Golden Rat headlined a tribute show in Tokyo to honour the late Walter Lure (Heartbreakers/Waldos), who passed away in 2020. Joining The Golden Rat (Hiroshi The Golden Arm and Mr Ratboy) for this special evening was drummer Joe Rizzo - who'd done time with Walter for years (and was also a member of The Waldos, Pillbox and D Generation). Killer set of Heartbreakers/Thunders tunes done right! 

Marc Valentine – "Basement Sparks" CD
My brother and I saw Marc Valentine in ‘93 in London when he was fronting power-pop outfit the Last Great Dreamers. He released a killer album a couple of years back that included Wreckless Eric and Matt Dangerfield from The Boys, but this new album, “Basement Sparks” goes one better. Great songwriter who understands the pop/hook combo very well.

 Some of the best material to come out of Ernie O’s Urban Fringe Compound over 2024, in no particular order (as these are my friends and clients, it doesn’t pay to play favourites):

Mick Medew and Ursula – In The Zone CD (I-94 Bar Records)
Mick and Ursula’s material has certainly “matured” with this release, with Ursula taking over vocal and co-writing duties on some of the more post punk styled songs ("Punk Grandma", "Invisible Woman"), while Mick’s melodic songwriting style shines on tracks like "In The Zone" and "Surfing On The Waves". This album is getting some great reviews online and from Australian independent radio stations. Available fromBandcamp. Get it!

John Kennedy and the New Originals – Live at the Marrickville Bowl (I-94 Bar Records)
John put together a stellar outfit withPete Timmerman, Phil Hall, Murray Cook andMatt Galvin, andRichard Ball captured it live to 1’s and 0’s before Phil mixed it to sound like we’re actually in the room with the band. A totally live recording with no overdubs and only some pauses removed to keep it flowing, John has curated some of the best songs from his extensive stable, and a couple of old chestnuts (includingEastern Dark’s "Julie Is A Junkie" and "Hand of Law" byRadio Birdman). Stellar! Get ithere.

“I FEEL YOUNG, I HAVE FUN, I'M NOT DONE!"

1. This year I've been back writing songs. To have Mick Medew as a collaborator is fantastic. Hope you've enjoyed them on our second album, “In The Zone”.

2. I've seen some amazing gigs this year. Here’s the highlights. Human League!!Halfway's 20th anniversary of “Any Old Love”. (I was asked up on stage to play harmonica on one song, but I danced instead). Dave Graneyand Clare Moore and Adele Pickvance at The Bearded Lady.  Glycereens at our single launch. Radio Birdman, Sabrina Lawrie, Salt & Steeland Sarah Stockholm at Stranded, Loves a Blur as part of the Going Nowhere Fast exhibition and book launch. The Worm Turns at PFR Lounge (plus I got to meet Ildi Babu). The Melancholics single launch. The Saints ‘73-‘78at The Princess Theatre. The Donnybrooks at Lismore.

3. The 23rd March is a special day for Mick Medew and me, because that's when we saw Stuart McLaughlin drumming in Sarah Stockholm's band. We both looked at each other and said. “I like his style; he could suit us”. I approached Sarah and she said, “Go for it! He’s got his own studio too!” Turns out said studio is five minutes from us. Stuart was keen. We asked Mick's former bass player, Lois Andrews to join, and she said Yes too!! The Mick Medew and Ursula 4was born and April 1 was our first rehearsal. We’ve since played four gigs and we are looking forward to next year's shows in Newcastle, Sydney, Ipswich and good old Brisbane.

4. On the 24th of January we got a new fridge! The door actually closes and seals the cold air in!! How about that??!!!!

In The Zone - Mick Medew and Ursula (I-94 Bar Records)

Hello I-94 Barflies. Well folks, The Farmhouse has been rocking this past week because I’ve been listening to the new Mick Medew and Ursula “In The Zone”. What a follow up to “Love Is Calling”.

“In The Zone” is classic Mick but what makes this so interesting is how Ms Ursula has taken over some of the songwriting duties to come up with some bloody classic tunes

Mick and Ursula have been joined in the studio by Mick’s Mesmerisers bandmate, the wonderful Lois Andrews, on bass guitar and newcomer Stuart McLaughlin on drums. Ex-Mesmeriser Brian Mann also lent a hand on production while contributing some guitar, drums, bass and vocal parts.