Two of the country’s strongest emerging alt-country singer-songwriters bring their bands to Lazybones Lounge for a double headliner this March.

CJStranger hones a unique sound and spirit for his new album, Hey Stranger. Describing first single Strange One as a “stream-of-consciousness ramble of a day living in the inner-west,” CJ carves out contemporary Australian music akin to present day greats like CourtneyBarnett, filled with occurrences like electric shocks, technology failing, having a tunnel dug under your house, and tryin' to pay rent. “After a strong coffee,” he notes, “things feel better.”

Following on from the galloping country of the triple j spun Outlawand highly satisfying Fool's Gold, new single and album opener White Linesis yet another brilliant example of how CJ perfectly matches gently simmering music with the raw honesty of reflective coming-of-age lyrics. Channeling an amalgamation of PaulKelly, KurtVile and TheChurch, White Lines is about new beginnings and unexpected challenges in life, lyrically set against the backdrop of the Australian landscape.

Slinging a small-but-powerful arsenal of instruments, CJ Stranger crafts his distinctive sound using an old weathered resonator, a weird vintage organ, and his beloved purple guitar Frankenstein-ed out of discarded bits and pieces. This array of repurposed musical antiques allows CJ Stranger to sculpt a vivid and honest landscape for his musings. 

These days based in the Blue Mountains while regularly Sydney-side, CJ's 2016 debut album established his prowess as a singer, songwriter and guitar player, but it was a different kind of animal. CJ Stranger is an exaggerated and more nuanced side of Henderson, brought forth by exploring this new artistic persona.

A singer-songwriter through and through, CJ Stranger's captivating voice, tell-all lyrics and natural feel for finger-picking walk together in perfect synchrony. Creative and honest,Hey Strangeris a rewarding listen that feels comfortingly familiar, yet new and exciting.

Newcastle native Ben Leece is an accomplished singer-songwriter with his heart firmly on his sleeve. His debut album No Wonder the World Is Exhausted has been met with praise from critics and fans alike earning respect among Australia's alternative country community and has toured extensively over the past 18 months in support of the release. Be it solo or with his touring band Left Of The Dial, Leece continues to win crowds over with a genuine stage presence.

Ben Leece describes his latest single Magpie as "one of the more important things I'll ever do."

In fact, the song has such emotional meaning for the Newcastle alt-country singer-songwriter that for the past two years he's been hesitant to release the track to the world. Magpie tells the story of 17-year-old Aboriginal boy Stephen "Whiff" Smith who was mysteriously killed on railway tracks in 1995 near Leece's hometown of Quirindi in north-west NSW. Stephen was a talented rugby league player with the Werris Creek Magpies and a student at Leece's high school.

Lazybones Lounge Restaurant & Bar is a  COVID Safe ✅. You must be seated when drinking & obey the conditions of entry