Three Melbourne troubadours continue to create waves abroad

Vance Joy, Courtney Barnett and Meg Mac wave the flag for Melbourne’s claim as one of the world’s great music cities as they continue to break through internationally.

Joy’s Riptide, which sold 1.5 million copies in the US where it reached #20 at Top 40 radio, has picked up 3 x Platinum in Canada and Platinum in New Zealand. The single Mess Is Mine is poised to enter the Top 10 alternate rock charts in the US and had 3.5 million views on YouTube. The album Dream Your Life Away sold over 150,000 in the US, went Gold in Canada and shifted 50,000 in Australia. Joy returns to the US for further touring, before teaming up with Taylor Swift in May for worldwide dates which sees them in Australia at the end of 2015. New single Georgia is climbing up the ARIA chart, coming with a video shot with Luci Schroder.

Barnett’s debut album Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit entered the UK charts on the weekend at #16. In America, she’s getting rave reviews, with one critic hailing her “the new Dylan”. Barnett’s high profile at SxSW in Texas saw her awarded the festival’s Developing Act Grulke Prize. Named after its late creative director Brent Grulke, it is given to acts who break new ground and display the most promising careers. Previous recipients were Haim, The Flaming Lips and Damon Albarn.

:: Label Spotlight –Courtney Barnett's Milk Records

Meg Mac, noted by Buzzfeed as the #1 SXSW act to watch out for and drooled over by the New York Times and Flavourwire, is now being chased by multiple publishers and booking agents from the US and UK. She’s on her first US dates with Clean Bandit behind the US release of her debut EP after signing to Lyor Cohen's 300 Entertainment a few weeks ago. After returning to Australia for Groovin’ The Moo, she returns for more US dates in May.