Yeh, yeh I know…it’s so de rigeur nowadays to be all over Facebook and although the social networking site often seems more like a day care facility with people sending virtual drinks and poking each other via software there’s still good aspects to the whole circus.

So to that end you can now join HSR on Facebook and be kept up to date of new releases, free downloads (inlcuding some Facebook only freebies), artists news and say hi to the gang.

Anyone in Perth, and for that matter Australia, with even a passing interest in good music will know the name RTRFM. The station has been a shining light amongst so much FM dross that seems to exist across this country and consistently provides an outlet for the best new music both local and international. What other station can you tune into in the middle of the day and hear the expansive ambience of Slow Dancing Society followed by the dirge metal of the Melvins and then rounded off by the progressive electronic guitar pop-scapes of Pivot?

How do they do it? With your help. RTRFM is a not for profit community radio station with presenters volunteering their time to provide you with the “sound alternative”. The station requires financial support to keep on the air via subscriptions and donations from listeners, supporters and businesses . Radiothon is the yearly drive to ramp up that support and it’s on now. Head over to the RTRFM website for more info and subscription details and help support a station that really makes a difference. And not that you need rewards for such good deeds, but check out the awesome prizes you can pick up this year for subscribing including a whole raft of Hidden Shoal CD’s and download vouchers.

DO IT NOW!

A reminder for the good people of Perth - recent Hidden Shoal signings Fall Electric are playing live in three piece mode this weekend:

Friday, Aug 29, Fall Electric support James Cruikshank (The Cruel Sea) at Mojo’s Bar. Also playing will be Brendon Humphries and Alex Archer from the Kill Devil Hills, Joe Bludge and Seven Weapons.

Sunday, August 31, Fall Electric support James Cruikshank at Mojo’s Bar. Also playing will be Abbe May and Brendon Humphries and Alex Archer from the Kill Devil Hills.

The band will be playing songs from their forthcoming album Measure and Step, released on November 11th. If you’ve seen these guys live then you know why you need to go to see these guys live. If you haven’t seen these guys live then you need to go to know why you need to go to see these guys live. Come on stay with me! It’ll make perfect sense on the night(s).

The weekend’s gigs precede the extreme awesomness that is the RTRFM Radiothon Closing Party on the 6th of September at the Rosemount. Fall Electric will be joined by the likes of Red Jezebel, Tame Impala, The Preytells and Umpire. More info on Radiothon to come shortly.

If you’ve yet to pick up the August Specials from the HSR Store, hurry because there’s only a few days left! Until September rolls around you can download Chris Mason’s Up Down Up, Enargeia’s UFO: Stryker Force and Wayne Harriss’s Aerospace for $5.99 each, and Tangled Star’s It’s Now Or Later EP for $3.99. And which releases will be featured at special prices in September? Find out next week…