Christie's Music News
Posted: 2:40PM, Tuesday 30th June, 2009. Updated: 4:06PM, Tuesday 30th June, 2009.
Christie Eliezer penned the Music Managers Forum's "The Music Industry" and wrote the book on seven Australian movers and shakers in the Oz music biz "High Voltage". Formerly the Australasian bureau chief of Billboard magazine, he continues to write for Billboard, as well as a range of magazines including BRW and Australian Musician. His weekly music industry column, hailed as among the Top 10 music blogs by UK's "Music Week" trade publication, is syndicated to Beat, The Brag, dB and Rave. He was editor of Juke Magazine, Australia's top rock weekly for over a decade.
Eight Days a Week
One Movement announces speakers, acts
American super-songwriter Dianne Warren and Coldplay’s manager Dave Holmes of 3D Artist Management are among the first round of speakers announced for Perth’s One Movement for Music summit (October 16-18). Others include Sire co-founder Seymour Stein, Barry Dickins of UK’s International Talent Booking, UK lawyer Robert Horsfall, Yahoo’s head of programming John Lenac, US booking agency Windish’s founder Tom Windish, Indian mega-company Saregama’s vice president Atul Churamani, Jason Sausto president of Chinese technology company Onkyo, Thailand’s leading entertainment conglomerate BEC-TERO’s deputy managing director Neil Thompson, Indian-based Soundbuzz GM Mandar Thakur, Hong-Kong based Ruuben van den Heuvel who is Head of APAC Digital Music Retail for Nokia, Hong Kong-based Colleen Ironside who is senior VP for Pan Asia Booking at Live Nation, Colleen Zulian whose Asia Sounds runs the successful TV series “Sutasi”, XYZ Music Channel’s GM Shaun James, Scott Murphy whose company D:Net Media invented the DDA technology, Molly Meldrum, American entertainment futurist Dann Bowley who founded the International Institute of Entertainment, Arts & Sciences, and Hong Kong-based Hans Ebert who is chairman/CEO of We Enhance Inc.
Acts performing during the summit are Hilltop Hoods, Kate Miller-Heidke, Little Red, Blue King Brown, Wolf & Cub, Old Man River, Bertie Blackman and Philadelphia Grand Jury. From other countries are Scribe (NZ), MySpace success story Meiko (USA), Thai superstar Tata Young, The Parlotones (Sth Africa) and Tigarah (Japan). See (www.onemovementmusic.com). Early bird rates end July 9.
Bomba, Luiters, new faces in John Butler Trio
John Butler has announced that super-drummer Nicky Bomba and Sydney bassist Byron Luiters are the new members of the Trio.
Bomba, a prolific songwriter, performer and producer in his own right, was the main drummer on JBT’s five times platinum album “Sunrise Over Sea”. Fans including this columnist were disappointed when he did not join the Trio on the road, as his style gave Butler’s music an extra crispness.
Luiters was a member of the Sydney outfit Ray Mann Three.
The new lineup began recording in early June. Butler says, “Over the last twelve years of the JBT, I have been blessed with some amazing individuals. All have left their legacy and have raised the musical bar of the band. With any new incarnation it has always been an honour and challenge to meet the benchmark the band has achieved artistically and take it to the next level. It’s great to be playing with Nicky again and Byron brings a whole new level of melody, funk and Mojo to the Trio. Very exciting times.”
On July 2nd Butler departs for a solo overseas tour starting in the Northern Hemisphere. He has been invited to play, for the first time, at the Montreal Jazz Festival. He will also play at the Rothbury Music festival in Michigan alongside Bob Dylan, The Dead and Ani Di Franco, and The Mile High Festival in Denver. In North America he has sold out headline shows in Toronto and LA. In Europe Butler is playing at the most famous music hall in Paris, the Folies Bergere and in London at the Union Chapel , a stunning old converted church situated in Islington. This show sold out within 24 hours of going on sale. He also plays Cannes, Amsterdam and Antwerp.
He returns at the beginning of August, just in time to take part in the “Cannot Buy My Soul Concert” which is part of the Queensland Music Festival and takes place at the Brisbane River Stage on Saturday August 1st. The night is about interpreting Kev Carmody songs, and he will play alongside Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins and Bernard Fanning.
Check details here; http://qmf.org.au/events/view/cannot-buy-my-soul
He will then head to Northeast Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory to participate in the Garma Festival of Traditional Culture which takes place from August 7th until 11th.(www.garma.telstra.com).
Helpmann nominations announced
The nominees of the Helpmann Awards were announced concurrently on Monday — in Sydney at The Lyric Theatre and in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s Theatre. The awards are presented by Live Performance Australia (LPA) and have 41 categories. Of the ones most relevant to this column are:
* Best Special Event
Hidden Republic
Melbourne International Arts Festival in Association with Arts House
Sound Relief
- The Frontier Touring Company, Chugg Entertainment, IMC & Mark Pope Music
Festival First Night - Sydney Festival
Dawn Chorus - Sydney Festival
* Best Contemporary Music Festival
Big Day Out 2009 Vivian Lees and Ken West
Homebake Music, Film & Arts Festival - Domestic Music Concepts Pty Ltd
V Festival - Virgin Management & Michael Coppel
2008 Queenscliff Music Festival - Queenscliff Music Festival Inc
* Best Australian Contemporary Concert
Morning Of The Earth - Film & Music Live In Concert - Chugg Entertainment
Paul Kelly - More Songs from the South - One Louder and The Harbour Agency
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
- Presented by: WA, Perth International Arts Festival. NSW, Sydney Opera House Trust
Kylie X2008 - The Frontier Touring Company
* Best International Contemporary Concert
Coldplay "Viva La Vida" Tour Chugg Entertainment
Neil Young - Vivian Lees and Ken West
Grace Jones - Presented by Sydney Festival
Leonard Cohen World Tour 2009 - The Frontier Touring Company
The awards are held on Monday 27 July at 6.30pm at Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House, whilst the After Party will be held at The Argyle in The Rocks. Jonathan Biggins and Julia Zemiro will jointly MC. Performing are the casts of “Avenue Q”, “Candy Man”, “Chicago”, “Jerry Springer – The Opera”, “Shane Warne - The Musical”, “7 Fingers” and “Wicked”, as well as performances from The Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company and Opera Australia. They’ll be broadcast live on the Bio channel. Full list of nominations are at www.helpmannawards.com.au.
LPA's Chief Executive, Evelyn Richardson, said "the Helpmann Awards are the pinnacle industry event for Australia's live performance industry, recognising the very best in live pe rformances that annually attract over 20 million people to shows across the nation with revenues of over $A1.2 billion, and growing.”
(Disclaimer: this column is a judge of the above categories).
Hoods go gold
Hilltop Hoods’ “State of the Art” which debuted on the ARIA charts last week at #1, was certified gold out of the box, after advance orders from record stores of 35,000. The album sold almost 30,000 in its first week. Their national tour , which kicks off on July 18 has already sold out shows in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide.
Latest additions to AMBC
Latest additions to the speakers list for mid-August’s Australasian Music Business Conference in Sydney are Steve Wherrett (Sponsorship, Promotion & New Business Development, Sony Computer Entertainment), Shae Constantine (Director of Domestic Music Warner Music), Stuart Matchett ( Content Director Digital Radio ABC), Nick Love (Business Development Director MySpace) and Paul Buchanan (General Manager, Soundbuzz Australia). More details at: http://www.immedia.com.au/ambc
Up the gumtree without a paddle
The Sydney court case over whether the flute riff from Men At Work’s “Downunder” ripped off from kiddie klassik “Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree” took a detour on its first day. Larrikin Music says it is owed royalties because it nicked from the 1934 song, penned by a Melbourne music teacher, the late Marion Sinclair, for a Girl Guide competition. But lawyers representing MAW’s Colin Hay and Ron Strykert, Sony BMG and EMI claimed Larrikin could not sue because it may not own the rights. They said that Sinclair passed over song’s copyright to the Girl Guides as part of the competition’s rules. Larrikin says that the Girl Guides didn’t want her copyright, only permission to use it in a campfire book in 1970. Instead, the publisher claimed, she assigned copyright to the Libraries Board of South Australia, and Larrikin bought it from the board.
Paramore head to Sydney
Nashville-based Warner Music act Paramore’s singer Hayley Williams and guitarist Taylor York will, after their appearance at the Summer Sonic festival in Japan, are slipping down to Sydney. They’re here for two days (Mon Aug 10, Tues Aug 11) to promote their upcoming album “Brand New Eyes” which will be released on September 29. Their earlier album “RIOT!” went gold. p>
Angus & Julia take a road break
Having just finished a massive tour through the US of A, Angus & Julia Stone are now going to take a short break so they can rest up from their perennial international touring schedules. But brudder and sistah are always writing and are working on a new record.
Fighterpilot hang up flight suits
After six releases and ten years in existence — five years with the current lineup — Adelaide’s Fighterpilot played their last show in the near future at the Adelaide Uni Bar on the weekend. They plan to work on solo projects.
Michael Jackson: Australia responds
Sony Music had its factory working through the weekend to get Michael Jackson product in the stores after 100,000 records were sold last Friday alone in Australia after the news broke. Commercial radio played his songs 444 times that day, according to one source. Peer Group Media, which tracks songs played on radio and sold online, said Jackson songs got 278 spins between 7 am and 5 pm. In comparison, his songs received a total of 154 plays for the entire week between June 17 and 25.
Last Friday, at dance clubs around Australia staff wore one glove each while djs block-played his songs. In Melbourne, Simon & Garfunkel dedicated “Bright Eyes” to him. Pink in Sydney dedicated her whole show to him, with her dancers doing his moves and her guitarist attempting a moonwalk with his cowboy boots. Gabriella Cilmi did snatches of “Beat It” at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK.
Fans were glued to TV as part of their mourning process. 1.239,000 tuned into Nine Network’s special hosted by Karl Stefanovic. A combination of a Jackson report and an interview with troubled cricketer Andrew Symonds saw Nine’s “60 Minutes” bring in 1.4 million viewers, up from 1.26 million the week be fore.
While promoter AEG Live, which now has to return $85 million in tickets, word is there were tentative talks for him to tour here in 2011. His last visit, in 1996 through Dainty Consolidated Entertainment, sold 300,000 tickets over nine shows.
One of the 10 dancers Jackson was rehearsing with in the week of his death was 24-year old Shannon Holtzapffel from the Gold Coast. His dream since he was 10 years old was to dance with Jackson. He will stay on for the tribute tour that is being planned with Justin Timberlake and Beyonce.
A phenomenon of his time who sold 750 million records worldwide, and released 13 No. 1 singles (he did 6 million sales in Australia) everyone has their fave Jackson moments. To this columnist it was watching the moonwalk for the first time in 1983 and meeting him backstage a few years later. He spied my Jimi Hendrix T-shirt and pranced over to coo, “He’s a genius!” Takes one to know one.
APRA awards #1: Record number of first-time winners
Nine out of the 12 winners at last week’s APRA awards in Melbourne were first-time winners. They were voted for by either 30,000 member or the APRA board, or based on airplay statistics.
The Living End’s Chris Cheney, who’d returned from a holiday in Europe to pick up his Song of The Year trophy for “White Noise” was one example. It was the band’s first APRA nomination in its 15 year career. Cheney told the crowd of invited guests that, “We get accolades for our live shows but songwriting takes up an enormous amount of my time and it's nice to get recognised for it.'' He added about the song, ''I didn't know it'd eclipse everything we've ever done, it's become the song we're most well known for which is amazing for a band on their fifth album.''
Kim Moyes of Presets was another first-time nominee, his partner in crime Julian Hamilton having nominated with Daniel Johns for Silverhair’s “Straight Lines”). They took Songwriter of the year. ''It's kind of like being congratulated for sitting around and drinking tea in our pyjamas which is how we write songs,'' Moyes said.
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and Jessica Mauboy were also first time winners; both coincidentally couldn’t make it to the awards after being struck down by the flu. (But Gurrumul listened in by telephone to the acceptance speech by producer Michael Horner and label boss Mark Grose; and Grose wore a Gurrumul T-shirt under his suit while saying “thank you” or “that’s good” in Gurrumul’s dialect). His win came just as his album entered the UK charts that week. It’s sold 140,000 units in Australia with no mainstream radio support.
Nathan Hudson of Faker was definitely a first timer: the audience gave him a sympathetic cheer as he stood onstage struck with stage fright. Hudson had minutes before finished Faker’s opening set at Pink’s show across town and dashed over).
Of other winners, Kasey Chambers and Shane Nichols were playing in America, and jazz man Joe Chindamo was that night doing a gig in Israel with fellow nominee Paul Grabowsky. Old Man River stayed close to home in Sydney as he’s awaiting the birth of his first child.
The night was another triumph for regular host, comedian Jonathan Biggins. He wasn’t as scathing as he’d been in past years. But he kicked off the night in a reggae beanie and wig in an indie allstars with a song that namechecked major names: “Obama” evoked the “aww ma ma ma” refrain from “The Real Thing”) and rhymed “Peter Garrett” with “carrot”. Biggins also turned up at one point wearing a mask — not because of the swine flu, he explained, but “I’m allergic to talent.”
AC/DC’s 30-year old “Highway To Hell” was a surprise winner as Most Played Australian Work Overseas. Albert Music’s chief Tim Prescott pointed out that AC/DC has, in the past 12 months, sold 12 million units (half of “Black Ice”, and half of their back catalogue). Prescott also acknowledged the long-time work of former Albert’s general manager Fifa Riccobono who was responsible for much of AC/DC’s early success around the world.
Among the stand out performances were Potbellez doing “Don’t Hold Me Back”, Lior with a string quartet on “I’ll Forget You”, Bliss’n’Eso’s “The Sea Is Rising” Perth blues-rockers Abbie May & The Rockin’ Pneumonia joined by Mondo Rock’s James Black on keyboards and creating a buzz, as did Dan Sultan and his band with a swing version of The Living End’s “White Noise”.
The APRA awards said volumes about APRA’s own mindset. The night started with tribal elder Auntie Joy welcoming the audience to her country (and Josh Abrahams, a presenter, later thanked her for welcoming him to this country), a reflection of the association’s strong work with indigenous talent. The strong domestic sales for Australian acts were reflected for APRA’s achievements. Ian James, the association’s vice-chairman and managing director of Mushroom Music, revealed that in the past 12 months, it had collected $116 million for acts in domestic and international licensing. This represented 45 new songwriters and 21 new recording acts.
Next year, the awards return to Sydney when they represent the end of APRA’s Sydney Song Summit.
The event is broadcast on MAX on Sunday 5th July at 8.30pm.
APRA awards #2: standing ovation for Sony’s Denis Handlin
Sony Music chief Denis Handlin received a standing ovation after the APRA board chose him for the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. He was introduced onto the stage by John Farnham who spoke of his passion for music, as well as his leadership of Sony and of the Australian recorded music industry as chairman of ARIA for an unprecedented 10 years), and his winning an Order of Australia for raising $12 million for charity.
Handlin received accolades for his passion for music from a range of his artists including Delta Goodrem (whom he signed after one listen), Peter Garrett (the Oils had asked him to introduce them at their ARIA Hall of Fame, remembering how he went to bat for them when the Oils once turned down a push from Sony International to play at the Grammys because they preferred to play an indigenous rights show in Sydney), Silverchair (who remembered him crowd surfing during one of their shows), Pink, Human Nature, Billy Joel (“love ya like a brother”), Angus Young, and Colin Hay of Men At Work (whom Handlin signed, they sold 20 million worldwide). Other colleagues made the point that Handlin knew the whole record business, as he’d started out sweeping the label’s warehouse and then did promo and marketing. "You’re one of the best executives we have, "Sony BMG chairman Rolf Schmidt-Holtz told him.
Handlin himself recalled being mesmerised by the Beatles, and was such a fan of radio, that he and his brother Des ran their own radio station in the basement of the family home in Brisbane. “My 40 years (in music) seems like 40 minutes,” he told the audience, adding that his path was lit up by “incredible songs and incredible artists”. He spoke of his admiration for Ted Albert (“a true gentleman”) and the need to protect copyright, to have mentors for rising talent and told his peers, “Be positive about this fantastic industry and embrace change.”
APRA awards #3: the winner’s list
Song of the Year
Title: - White Noise
Artist: - The Living End
Writer: - Chris Cheney
Publisher: - Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
APRA Songwriters of the Year
Kim Moyes & Julian Hamilton – The Presets
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
APRA Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Publisher: SFM Publishing
Ted Albert Award For Outstanding Services to Australian Music
Denis Handlin AM
Most Played Australian Work
Title: This Heart Attack
Artist: Faker
Writer: Nathan Hudson
Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
Urban Work of the Year
Title: Running Back
Artist: Jessica Mauboy featuring Flo Rida
Writers: Jessica Mauboy / Audius Mtawarira* / Sean Mullins
Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd*
Blind Faith Entertainment Pty Ltd administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
Dance Work of the Year
Title: Don’t Hold Back
Artist: The Potbelleez
Writers: David Greene*/ Ilan Kidron* / Jonathan Murphy*/ Sam Littlemore
Publishers: MCDJ Music/Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd*
Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Blues & Roots Work of the Year
Title: Sunshine
Artist: Old Man River
Writers: Ohad Rein* / Edo Kahn / Nadav Kahn
Publisher: Albert Music*
Country Work of the Year
Title: Rattlin’ Bones
Artist: Kasey Chambers / Shane Nicholson
Writers: Kasey Chambers* / Shane Nicholson
Publishers: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd*
Universal Music Publishing MGB Australia Pty Ltd
Jazz Work of the Year
Title: Something Will Come To Light
Artist: Joe Chindamo
Writer: Joe Chindamo
Publishers: ORiGiN Music Publishing Pty Ltd administered by Albert Music
Most Played Australian Work Overseas
Title: Highway to Hell
Artist: AC/DC
Writers: Bon Scott / Angus Young / Malcolm Young
Publisher: Albert Music
Most Played Foreign Work
Title: All Your Reasons
Artist: Matchbox 20
Writers: Kyle Cook(ASCAP)* / Rob Thomas (ASCAP)*/ Paul Doucette (BMI) / Brian Yale (BMI)
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd*
Wilkinson writing with No Doubt
Gold Coast based Operator Please’s Amandah Wilkinson has been co-writing songs with members of US band No Doubt. Some of these are expected to appear on the next No Doubt album.
Yves Klein Blue in for a tweet
A new campaign by Brisbane band Yves Klein Blue’s record labels Dew Process and Universal Music Australia sees the band tap further into social networking to expand its audience. Consumers can download their new single “Make Up Your Mind” for free but have to tweet back what lengths they’d go to catch the band’s set at Splendour in The Grass. The campaign was conducted with digital social media agency The Population to expand YKB’s following. It was inspired by Travis Barker and DJ AM who gave fans a mixtape in return for the fans tweeting others to tell them about the mixtape.
The Population’s managing director Tony Thomas said, “The social web provides entertainment companies like Dew Process Recordings and Universal Music with an opportunity to reward their fans with valuable content, in exchange for spreading the word. Ultimately the fans become the communication channel.”
Undercover moves
Undercover Music has moved to 121A Ryde Road, Hunters Hill NSW 2110. The postal address is the same. Phone and fax is (02) 9816 5822.
Pnau to tour
As now officially announced, Nick Littlemore will not be touring with Empire Of The Sun. That’s because he and Peter Mayes are in the US recording a new Pnau album. Pnau are now based in London, and their label Modular says the pair will be touring here in late 2009.
NA2R entries close July 3
The New Artists 2 Radio (NA2R) event, now in its eighth year, aims to discover the next big star to be played on radio through the country. The event is open to unsigned Australian artists who have not charted in the top 100 Australian national airplay chart. Nine finalists will be selected with three winners, one each from rock, pop and adult contemporary. See www.na2r.com.au. This year the prize also includes a day-shoot of a music video produced by Short Motion Studios, under the direction of Rachel Dunn from Girl Director.
Fear Factor cancel…
US heavy hitters Fear Factory have cancelled their Australian and NZ tour for August. Tour promoter Blue Murder was advised it was due to "recording commitments”. But it is understood that there had been problems within the band’s ranks over the usage of the name, which also caused the band to previously blow out its German tour.
…and Deicide
A week after Fear Factory blew out their tour, Deicide told promoter Soundworks Touring that their October run had to be deep-freezed for the time. The band’s bassist/vocalist Glen Benton said, "We are currently working on the new album and will be recording during the time frame of said tour... On behalf of the band and myself, we are sorry for any inconvenience and will reschedule the tour for another time frame as soon as we can." The band has been in the studio in Florida working on its first album for Century Media Records.
World first for Children Collide?
Universal Music Australia is claiming a world first for the new video for Children Collide’s “Chosen Armies” video. It allows the viewer to control all camera angles using their mouse, enabling them to watch whatever aspect of the video they wish through the entire clip, to literally see all sides of Children Collide.
Dean Poore from Panoramic Video - Online Interactive Reality and Johnny Mackay from the band worked together on the idea of an interactive music video clip, using a customised Flash player created and developed by Poore and software wizard Steve Smith. In collaboration with producer/director Toby Angwin of Soup Kitchen Films, the video was filmed using a Red One camera pointed vertically with a special panoramic lens. The 360 degree nature of this video meant that Angwin had to choreograph and direct the entire shoot around the camera in one go. Poore said "The interactive web version of the same video is a unique concept that allows each viewer to independently watch and move their own point of view around, as if they were there in the middle of the band playing." Go to www.childrencollide.com.
Chuggy goes to the dogs
Sydney-based promoter Michael Chugg Entertainment will hold the World Dog Games at Sydney’s Acer Arena on October 31 and November 1. Events will include dog diving, frisbee and flyball with the goal of one mutt being honoured as top dog. The concept was the brainchild of MCE’s Tara King. At this early stage, the event has already proven to be a winner. European and US promoters are showing interest in staging the event in their territories, while Volvo and Purina Pet Foods have come in as sponsors. How long before some wag dubs this Woofstock?
At the launch at Centennial Park restaurant, Chugg muttered something about the fact that there was little difference between dogs and rock stars. The idea of dogs is new to Chugg as a promoter — although at the launch he did confess that as a kid in Tasmania, he led show dogs around the ring at the Launceston Show (his grandfather was a judge). The launch saw the likes of Jimmy Barnes, Sam Neill and Diesel coming along with their pooches, with celebs having to wear dog tags, eat out of dog bowls and knocked back Pomeranian cocktails. There was even a green VIP room with a buffet for the more pampered pooches and dog biscuits served on silver platters. But no hot dogs… Incidentally, just before Chugg went on, AMBC organizer Phil Tripp bet him $200 that Chugg would drop four letter words during his speech. Tripp lost.
Fumes, Skipping Girl, join DDA list of artists
Sydney based duo The Fumes and Melbourne’s Skipping Girl Vinegar are the latest Australian acts to release their music on the DDA format. DDA, invented in Australia by former Zomba Records Australia chief Scott Murphy, allows fans to augment CD content with music, lyrics, liner notes/credits, photos and artwork. It launched with Sneaky Sound System and Gurrumul Yunupingu. We’ll see 40 more DDA releases between now and Christmas including international artists and non-music related DDAs. See www.dda4me.com.
Jets’ Gleeson issues challenge to musicians
Screaming Jets singer Dave Gleeson has issued a challenge to musicians and fans on the issue of homeless people. He proposes through during the month of July, each act put aside $1 for each person to attend their shows, towards charity. The Jets are donating to Fr Chris Riley's Youth Off The Streets program. Gleeson says, “Let's be thankful for the things we have gained through being a part of the most mega job in the world. Let's spare some change for people who are at the bottom, with nowhere to go but down".
PopKomm axing: Aussies caught
The last minute cancellation of the PopKomm trade fair/showcase in Berlin, due to low numbers, has left a hole in the pockets of the 12 Australian acts chosen to play The Great Australian Wave showcase in September. These were Dukes of Windsor, Stone Circle, Death Mattel, Tracer, Blackchords, Bloodpoets, Yves Klien Blue, Amanda Medica, Eden James, Nick and Liesl, Cousin Leonnard, Worldfly, Atomic Bliss, Sonic Monkey, Zumanity and Blame Ringo. They had already paid for non-transferable airfarea. What’s more, the $10,000 funding for the showcases by Arts Victoria was pulled two weeks after it was announced as the event was cancelled. Stephen and Renate Iorio who coordinated the showcase, are trying to save the situation by setting up other dates through Germany. “Promoters over there are right behind us,” says Stephen Iorio, who expects to announce new dates by the week’s end. See www.thegreataustralianwave.com.
Battery Kids back
Adelaide’s Battery Kids returned to live action last Friday after a lengthy hiatus from playing gigs. They’ve got their debut album prepped for release later in the year, with the title “We’re Just Hanging While The Rats All Gather And The Vultures Circle Overhead.”
Cradle of Fiilth on their Oz tour
UK metal band Cradle of Filth seemed to have had an adventurous trip to Australia, in a blog posted by frontman Dani Filth. They included drummer Martin Skaroupa running around a hotel at 5 am in a Borat lime green Mankini and reported to the staff as a flasher, their promoter waking up the next morning to discover his shoes solidified in the freezer, Filth collapsing backstage during the encore in Adelaide due to a mixture of jetlag and heavy partying, trips to the Sydney zoo and aquarium and windy rain-soaked boat journeys around the harbour. The singer reported, “The promoters looking after us were also doing a great job of making us feel welcome and putting us up in some very nice hotels with inspiring views along the way. Their assistance also lent itself to at least one of us getting royally drunk of a night, most usually on the days off and ending in a hotel room awash with beer.”
Robbery at Live on Light Square
The Live on Light Square nightclub in Adelaide was robbed of an unspecified amount of cash on Sunday night. The club was closed at the time, and the two armed men did not harm the cleaner who was the only occupant at the time. A police dog was brought but lost their scent. Anyone with information should phone BankSA Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
ACCC investigating Forte School?
The ACCC is apparently investigating Brisbane music school franchise Forte School of Music, after complaints by unhappy franchisees, reports the Brisbane “Courier Mail”. They claimed Forte earned fees from products and services that arrived late, or not at all. One investor told the paper he sunk $200,000 into his franchise and later sold it for $1, another estimated they lost $70,000 in 18 months. The “Courier Mail” reported that Forte director Gillian Erskine denied any wrongdoing and told the ACCC she would co-operate with the investigation.
Winter Jam: venue changes in Melbourne, Sydney, tribute to Jackson
Organisers of Winter Jam 09 have changed venues for two cities. The Melbourne show on Thursday July 2 goes from Hisense Arena to The Palace Theatre on the same day. All tix are valid except for under 18s who have to return their tix as The Palace is an over 18 licensed venue. Same applies to the Sydney show on Saturday July 4, which moves from the Sydney Entertainment Centre to Enmore Theatre.
The shows have now become a tribute to Michael Jackson from each of the acts.
Omarion via Twitter: “The greatest of all time!! M.J you will 4ever live in my heart. I am a second gener- M.J descendant I will hold u down! Jehovah still luv's U”
DJ Nino Brown: “It’s a tragic loss to the music world. Michael Jackson was and will always be one of the most iconic figures in music.”
Giovanni and Dave from Phinesse: “Sad day for music and fans alike … Michael Jackson has no doubt been a major influence on the Phinesse as performers and songwriters. He will be surely missed. He’s legacy will live on through his music and the constant influence you see through today’s artists and for sure many artist’s in the future.”
Fatman Scoop and Panjo 5 are currently not contactable however their managers have expressed the deep sense of loss the artists feel and how much they are looking forward to playing in Australia and paying respect to Michael in their respective sets.
Emmanuel concert rescheduled
Tommy Emmanuel’s concert in Adelaide looks like being rescheduled for this week. He was to take to the stage last Friday at Her Majesty’s Theatre but suffered high blood pressure. Given that his shows are so high energy, it was decided it was safer for him not to play.
Staffords plan TV series
Brisbane sibling electro-dj act The Stafford Bros plan to extend running a TV channel on their MySpace page to filming their own reality series, reports dance music site InTheMix. It’ll basically be about life as a Stafford. A TV crew will film them at this weekend’s show at The Met in Brisbane, and then follow them to Europe. Two networks are “interested”, they say.
Mighty Music Machine clarification
Back in February, this column noted that dance retailer Mighty Music Machine closed its Chapel Street store after 33 years to go online. Yes it has opened its online business but also has a bricks’n’ mortar store at 441 Auburn Road, Hawthorn. Contact is (03) 9822 2522.
Billy Hyde opening in Brisbane
Musical instrument retailer Billy Hyde is arriving in Queensland. It is opening up an Academy in Fortitude Valley (174 Barry Parade) with guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, strings, sax, woodwind, harmonica and vocals lessons, and needs teachers for these. Contact Parmis on accounts.brisbane@billyhydemusic.com.au or (07) 3250 6333.
In Through the Out Door: Executive Changes
Risdale leaving Aztec, sets up label, tour company
After five years as part-time publicist at reissues label Aztec Music, Lou Risdale leaves this week to set up her own record label and tour company. Risdale explains, "Due to the introduction of two new record labels, Aztec Music require a full-time publicist, and as I've been running my own music publicity company Lance Rock Publicity plus employed as Artist Production Manager part-time for both Meredith Music Festival & Golden Plains Festival for the past eight years, I was unable to do so." Aztec is about to announce its new full-time publicist.
Risdale's new label Z-Man Records will be distributed by Aztec in Australia and Shock overseas. The first releases are from Melbourne noise merchants Witch Hats, and Mother & Father, with releases from Tex Napalm & Dimi Dero (Germany/France), and Mark Steiner (Norway). Her touring company is Lance Rock Tours which will tour local and overseas acts through Australia, and also taking Australian bands to Europe. Her first tour is Pete Ross & The Paesanos. The former guitarist from Dan Brodie & The Broken Arrows) who now lives in Italy, is back home to release his CD "Six String Suicide". Risdale is contacted at lou@lancerock.com.au and 0410 436 660.
Longwell exiting ARN
Bob Longwell, CEO of the Australian Radio Network for the past nine years, will not renew his contract when it comes up for renewal in December. He wants to return to the US ``to be closer to his family."
FremantleMedia Enterprises announces Penn
FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), the commercial and brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, appointed Jon Penn as CEO of Asia Pacific. His territory covers Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, and he will also grow the business in India and Japan. Penn reports to David Ellender, Global CEO of FremantleMedia Enterprises, who said, "This appointment is another step towards creating a regional CEO structure for FME that combines invaluable local and partner expertise like Jon' s with the benefits of our wider global network."
Rollo leaving DMG
After six years as Chief Engineer at DMG Sydney, Scott Rollo leaves on 10th July to join Tabcorp as Broadcast Engineering.
In fact it's Collins
ABC-TV has appointed its Arts Entertainment and Comedy department manager of development, Jennifer Collins, the new head of factual programming.
Things We Hear
* Adam Freeland is hotly tipped for Big Day Out while Gossip are here in November and Animal Collective will do gigs in December around their Meredith Festival appearance.
*MySpace Music is closing offices around the world but not Sydney.
* IMC agency reveals that the 15th Homebake is on Sat December 5.
Lifelines
Dating!
Mauboy and soccer lad.
Jessica Mauboy has been desperately keeping under wraps her relationship with Darwin-based soccer player Themeli "Magoo" Magripilis. But the "NT News" revealed all this week. The 20-year old Greek-born plays for northern soccer league's Hellenic - the same club that Mauboy's younger sister Sophie plays for.
Fined!
Timothy Jay Ferguson who broke into a fenced building site on William Street, Northbridge and scaled to the top of a 56-metre building crane in the early hours, copped a $500 after he told the judge he'd been to a nightclub and must have had his drink spiked because he didn't remember the incident.
Vale Robert Findlay, audio specialist
Robert Findlay, former GM of Sydney-based Syntec International, passed away five weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer. He was in his mid-50s. Last week, colleagues spoke of a generous kind Scottish-born man who'd go that extra mile to help out a customer or someone in the industry. Says Howard Jones, founder of Studio Solutions who knew him for 15 years, "He was a real people's person, and people enjoyed doing business with him."
Findlay started in the industry in the early '70s as an assistant administrator with the Rank Organisation in the broadcast & motion picture division. Eventually he went on the road selling Altec Lansing products into the consumer & PA markets. Later at John Barry's, he established the audio division within the film company. It is said he sold more of the Tannoys brand in this market than anyone else. At Syntec he worked closely with audio, video and film professionals. His office was large photos of Collies. He and his wife Judy were huge supporters of DCH, which specializes in rescuing animals that were abandoned or abused, and nursing them back to health. "A gentleman and a gentle man," Jones sums up.
New Signings
Bag Raiders join Modular stable
Modular Records has signed Sydney duo Bag Raiders aka Jack Glass and Chris Stracey. Their new single “Shooting Stars” is the first release in Modular’s new collaboration with The Bang Gang Deejays in-house label, Bang Gang 12 Inches, and will be out August 14.
The single comes correct with remixes by Kris Menace, Siriusmo, In Flagranti and Shazam, and a video directed by New York upstart Ron Winter. Their launch shows are in the Tour Section.
Riot get loud with Danko
Sydney based Riot Entertainment will release Toronto hard rock act Danko Jones’s fourth album “Never Too Loud” in late August.
Tylea gets a Sugarrush
Singer songwriter Tylea will be releasing some of her music online for the first time through Brisbane digital label Sugarrush.. First cab off the rank will be “Tylea and The Imaginary Music Score” EP (see www.myspace.com/tyleaandtheimaginarymusicscore) and her 2-CD “Colour Your Insecurities” CD set soon after.
Select Global to distribute Jazz Manifesto
Sydney-based Select Global will distribute US jazz specialist label Jazz Manifesto, from Delta Leisure Group. The series will release to mainstream retailers mastered original records by jazz greats as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Charlie Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Quincy Jones and Sonny Rollins. Also new to its distribution is world/ethnic music label Arc Music, with music including India’s Punjabi pop and bhangara, Chinese dulcimer, Japanese koto etc.
Listen to the Brand
Quicksilver/Kram partnership continues
The partnership between surf company Quiksilver and Spiderbait drummer/singer Kram continues. It involves a cover of the Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop”. The video features former world champion Aussie surfer Matt Hoy and other members of Quiksilver’s pro surf team. Filmed over two days on Victoria’s rugged South West coast, the clip was produced by Soup Kitchen Films and described by director Toby Angwin as a hybrid blend of “Dog Town meets Mad Max”.
A Quiksilver/Ramones product-line, which includes t-shirts with artwork based on the Ramones originals has been produced in agreement with the Ramones’ global merchandise licensee, Bravado. The product names are inspired by Ramones songs with tees called “Gabba Gabba Hey”, “Blitzkrieg” and “Rockaway”.
Says Kram, “’Blitzkrieg Bop’ is one of the best songs of all time so when the Quikkie guys asked me to do a cover of it, it was a little daunting because it was such a famous song, it’s like someone asking you to do a cover of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ or ‘Jailbreak’. So I just tried to do my own version. I did it really fast. I did it in one day. I got the next door neighbour’s kids to sing the back-up ‘Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!’. I just wanted to have that kids element to it. That’s one of the major elements about it. I was so stoked to be asked to do it.”
The Quiksilver/Kram collaboration began earlier this year when Kram was invited to play at Quiksilver’s “Pro Show” music festival on the Gold Coast and co-host the “Backstage with Hoy” segments that featured on quiksilverpro.com.au during the first event on the 2009 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour.
“Blitzkrieg Bop” will be serviced to Australian media next Monday June 29 and is due for digital release through Universal Music on July 3. Kram will appear at a number of Quiksilver flagship stores in Sydney and Melbourne where he will perform “Blitzkrieg Bop” acoustically.
Saturday July 11 @ 3.00pm – Quiksilver, Shop 82-88, Manly Corso, Manly, NSW
Sunday July 12 @ 2.00pm - Surf, Dive & Ski, Bondi Beach, NSW
Friday July 17 @ 7.00pm – Jetty Surf, Bourke Street, Melbourne
Rossi Boots kicks in the blues
Rossi Boots is giving SA blues acts the chance to be seen with their Killing Floor Blues Challenge. There’ll be four heats with prizes from
Grover Allman, Derringers and Black Market Music. The winner will open the bill at major blues and roots event Juke Joint at Queens in October, which drew 650 last year. See www.killingfloorblues.com.au, registrations close on July 20.
Nelson get into Trap
Melbourne beer Nelson teamed with local band The Temper Trap (now based in Melbourne) to design a limited-edition label for the brew. The band alongside graphic artist Reece Hobbins to create a visual version of their sound. The beer is out in July.
Awards and Honours
Musicoz opens for entries, offers $300,000 prize
The national Musicoz Awards is back for its ninth year. Entries are sought in 17 genres — rock, pop, dance/electronica, urban, country, alternative, acoustic/ singer songwriter, schoolies, metal/hardcore, worl/folk, live, jazz/classical, blues/roots, international, instrumental and Christian/spiritual.
As well as this they have several other awards chosen from entries in the above categories:
The Nova Unsigned Initiative Award
The APRA Songwriter's Award
Tony Mott Photography Award
Garth Porter Producer Award
People's Choice (Public Vote) Award
The Musicoz Artist of the Year Award.
Some top music industry names are in the judging panel, and presenting partners being MTV, Nova, The Sydney “Daily Telegraph”, Street Press Australia, BigPond Music, Rova (Taxibacks) and Hot Country. There is $300,000 worth of cash, prizes and industry opportunities for winners. These include cash, recording time, record and publishing deals, photo shoots, music videos. Prizes are also from Turramurra Music, Maton Guitars, Rode Microphones and Roland, Push out Artist for MTV (NEW), National Airplay across The Nova Network, and introduced this year, Featured Artist - Free Song of The Week from BigPond Music.
Garrett gets French honour
Peter Garrett was made an Officer in the Order of Arts and Letters by France's new Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand. The former Midnight Oil singer turned arts minister received the honour in person. The Order Of Arts And Letters award, one of France's top honours, recognises people who have made a significant contribution to the arts.
Q Song finalists
Almost 2200 songs were entered in Q Song 2009, almost 800 entries more than last year. Each song was judged anonymously (track title only) by a team of music industry representatives from The Courier-Mail, triple j, ABC, 989 fm, Musicadium, JMC Academy, dew-process, 4zzzfm, Time Off, Australian Institute of Country Music, QUT and APRA. “Judges were once again overwhelmed by the enormous talent of Queensland songwriters and the high quality of entries” Executive officer Denise Foley said.
The winners will be announced at the 4th annual Q Song Awards night to be held at The Tivoli, August 11. Tickets for the event available from www.qsong.com.au.
Performing on the night are Mark Sholtez, alt country Texas Tea, indigenous roots Zennith, indie pop The Boat People, Hungary Kids of Hungary, 2008 Primary School winner Jazz D’Arcy and last year’s multi award winning James Grehan.
Category Track Title Songwriter(s)
* Primary School
Time Will Fly Romany Elmas
Believe Jenna Dearness-Dark
Country Outback Girl Romany Elmas
Byron D’Arcy My Place
* Secondary School
All These Things Holly Lovell
City Andrew Redford
Waiting Andrew Redford
Body Jordan Mengel
* Folk Ballad
Meet In the Middle Tara Simmons
All Over Now Phill McKenna
Danshyttan Timothy Carroll
Arrest This Heart Hungary Kids of Hungary
* Jazz
The Walls Hannah Macklin, Steve Newcomb
The Theory of Us Katie Wighton
Ballad for Songs and Places Rafael Karlen
Everything Must Go Toby Wren
* Hip-Hop/R & B
BubbleGum Laneous (L. Mitchell)
All the Fuss Hannah Macklin
Our World Aaron Ainsworth
Takin' the Lead Common Ground
* Pop
The Boy Who Cried Misery The Rocketsmiths
Rainbow Kraut The John Steel Singers
Scattered Diamonds Hungary Kids of Hungary
When You Say That I Don't Tara Simmons
Care about You
* Alternative
We Are Tara Simmons
Set It Right Hungary Kids of Hungary
2:00 AM Black Mustang
Forgotten Tongues Timothy Carroll
* Indigenous
What’s Going On Lucas Proudfoot (Max Judo)
Kuranda Reggae Aden Brim (Zennith)
Best Beware Sue Ray
Don't Mind Shane Eggmolesse
* Electronic / New Music
Your Heels in Sand, Soul in Pursuit Mr. Maps
Shine Zoe Purelove
I See Them, They're Like Mountains Mr Maps
2004 Benjamin Thompson
* Blues and Roots
Heavy Stuff Claire Whiting
Kuranda Reggae Aden Brim (Zennith)
Be theOcean James Grehan
My Desires Danny Widdicombe
* Gospel / Spiritual
When I Touch My Heart Emma Dean
Holy Love Bec Laughton
Invincible Jackie Ward
The Other Side 8 Ball Aitken
* Country
|My Own Best Friend Adam James Robinson, Kevin Bennett
Outback Booty Call 8 Ball Aitken
Do I Kimberley Bowden, Jay Collie, Jasper Somerville Collie
Cattlemans Waltz John Connor and Kristie Hatchman
* Rock
Rainbow Kraut The John Steel Singers ( Brisbane)
Bring On the Colour Guard Nick O'Donnell, Drew Fellows, Ross Duckworth, Iain
Wilson (Brisbane)
In My Head James Grehan (Carrara, Gold Coast)
Under The Light Anthony James Cox (Brisbane)
* World Music
Come Listen Peter Hunt (Brisbane)
Bom Fazer Anje West, Owen Newcomb (Brisbane)
Amadora Cameron Ford (Brisbane)
Mesiastaka Fredro, Momotombo (Brisbane)
* Punk
Talkin' Humidity Blues Joseph Ireland (Townsville)
Love Is Insane David J Spicer (Brisbane)
Boredoms Benjamin Thompson (Brisbane)
Smash The State Lex Weddell (Brisbane
* Q Music Encouragement Award
This Town Alan Boyle
Keep It Raw Mantist
Tip Toes Ange Takats
Stupid Not To Amy Cushway
* The Courier-Mail People’s Choice Award
City Andrew Redford
Scattered Diamonds Hungry Kids of Hungary
When You Say That I Don't Care About You Tara Simmons
Mountains In The Sky Tom Cooney
Takin' the Lead Common Ground
There is Something Hiding My Heart Dan Parsons
Baby You've Changed Mexico City
Forgotten Tongues Timothy Carroll
Rockhampton in tune
A total of 62 songs were entered in the ROCKon Song Awards, part of ROCKon Music Summit program at the Walter Reid Cultural Centre in Rockhampton July 10 - 12. Winner open for GANGgajang at Pilbeam Theatre on Friday July 10, and have their song professionally recorded. Coordinator Michael Walker said the quality of entries was sensational, and exposed Central Coast talent to national execs. Judges include record producer Mark Opitz, Angels drummer Graham “Buzz” Bidstrup, ABC Music Programmer Bill Riner, Q Music Big Sound Program Director Stephen Green, and GANGgajang singer and General Manager of the Australasian Music Publishers Association, Mark Callaghan. See www.rockon.org.au.
New Grooves
Sandcastle Music washes in with tide
Sandcastle Music is a new “flexible music company” set up to manage music copyright, from publishing to recordings to synchronization, distribution and marketing. Music biz vet Rob Scott has joined forces with Chris Cudlipp, founder of the music, sound and picture-post company Sandcastle Studios in Sydney’s McMahons Point. Their studio complex features a full-service recording facility for Sandcastle Music’s exclusive use.
“Sandcastle Music is a flexible business for the new music economy,” says Scott. “It’s a really exciting development for songwriters and artists alike. At a time when the music industry is under enormous pressure, we’re confident that our fresh approach, coupled with solid experience and flexibility, will bring our writers and artists the exposure they so deserve.”
Sandcastle Music has kicked off with three artist signings and a host of sync deals.
Its first release is Melbourne singer-songwriter Jen Cloher’s sophomore album “Hidden Hands”. Its first single “Mother’s Desk” has just been added to Triple J’s playlist. Later in the year, Sandcastle will release the self-titled debut album from Texas’s folk royalty Folk Uke. The company is also publishing roots/reggae artist Declan Kelly, whose new album Adrift is out now through Vitamin.
Sandcastle now publishes award-winning composers Michael Yezerski, Amanda Brown, Roger Mason and Bryony Marks, as well as sub-publishing the UK’s Warp catalogue for Australia and NZ. In the coming months Sandcastle will release soundtrack albums for Andrew Lancaster’s debut feature “Accidents Happen”, and David Caesar’s new film “Prime Mover”.
“Given Sandcastle Studios’ film, television and advertising affiliations, sync licensing and screen music will be a very important part of the mix for Sandcastle Music,” says Scott. “We already have placements in Channel Seven’s ‘Packed To The Rafters’ and have provided the original music for TV campaigns including SBS's ‘Six Billion Stories and Counting’.”
Edwards, Tropiano, launch consultancy
Biz vets David Edwards and Nik Tropiano have joined forces to start a new consultancy. Dfrnt Music: A Consultancy A la Carte offers a wide array of services to indie musicians and managers as shopping a deal, finding a manager, tips on touring and merchandising, accounting and business practices, understanding the marketplace. It will also work alt-rock, punk and metal acts for labels. Edwards managed INXS and co-created “Rockstar: INXS”, and also did production, merchandising and marketing. Tropiano set up Chatterbox, a label, management & publicity company. See www.difrntworld.com/alacarte/
Masterplan PR a sister act
Masterplan PR is a new company set up in Sydney by sisters Sarah and Kate Jones. Sarah Jones worked at EMI as national media manager for Capitol and at Sony Music’s Red Label before working for Warner Music in London for a spell and returning to Oz in March.
Kate Jones is also back from the UK working as Communications / Digital Manager - Masterplan PR, after working with MTV in London as Brand Assistant, and prior to that worked in Australia as events executive at Octagon, and Executive Assistant at Universal McCann.
They can be contacted at masterplanpr@gmail.com and on 0402 316 451 (Sarah) or 0411 645 096 (Kate), Masterplan PR is representing Sydney indie-pop band Sailmaker who are working on a self- produced, 3-tiered release with the first installment due out in September - http://www.myspace.com/sailmakermusic.
$35 million building fund for NSW projects
A new fund, the NSW Community Building Partnership, was announced in the NSW budget on 16 June. It is open to community groups, not-for-profit organisations and local councils, and available for projects such as community halls, playgrounds and cultural facilities. Up to $300,000 is available for each of the 93 NSW electoral districts - with a further $100,000 available for those with higher unemployment. Applications deadline is Aug 10. See www.communitybuildingpartnership.nsw.gov.au/home.
Hard Day’s Night agency launched to service film industry
Hard Day’s Night is a new advertising/marketing agency to service Australian film producers and distributors and help them reach a wider audience. It was set up by Josh Pomeranz, business director at post-production company Spectrum Fillms, Rachel Dixon, head of consulting business Handshake Media, and a number of film industry stakeholders. Josh Pomeranz says that Australian film production is going through a boom. “So many filmmakers put their heart and soul into good films, but they aren’t getting the audience they should be,” he says. “We need to get more people to see Australian films.”
Hard Day’s Night is sourcing advertising and marketers, and also a success story from outside the film business to head the agency to “provide a set of new eyes.” Twitter: https://twitter.com/australianfilm.
Rose sets up PR firm
Megan Rose used to be Megan Fowler when she was Publicity Manager at Sony Music and Ten Network. She took a break when she had her son Finley last September. Now she’s back, setting up Megan Rose Management and contacted at (02) 43 640621, 0422 229 715 and meganrose@virginbroadband.com.au. Clients include Caplice Management, Dfrnt Music and the Sweet/Radiators tour.
Aussies Abroad
Minogue heading back to India
Kylie Minogue, who notched up headline inches when she visited India to sing and make a cameo in Bollywood movie “Blue”, will return there in August. The film’s director Tony D'Cruz says plans are being worked out for her to attend the film’s premiere in Mumbai. D’Cruz and Minogue last month caught up with each other in London, spotted having dinner together with her mother and manager.
UK media buzz for Lost Valentinos
Lost Valentinos have returned from a UK promo tour during which “The Guardian” proclaiming them to be the “new band of the day”, the “NME” listed them in its Essential Tracks section, and “DJ”, “Mixmag” and “Dazed” ran features. Their debut album “Cities Of Gold” is out through the etc etc label (thru Ministry Of Sound / Universal Music).
Borne track gets on US TV
Tasmanian-hailed Melbourne-based band Borne have their track “The Guide” used to promote a new American TV show called “The Philanthropist.” It was the initiative of LA-based expatriate Janine Kerr, music supervisor for NBC Universal’s channels. Kerr recently arranged for Guy Sebastian's "Like It Like That" for use in promos for NBCs 2009 summer shows.
Max Judo kick in America
Tweed Heads-based Max Judo’s recent US college tour through seven states has paid off. They now featuring on more than 140 college radio stations nationwide with several top 20 debuts in New York and Chicago networks. They played Minnesota, Nerbr aska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and California. They return in September for another run.
Grafton Primary getting US radio support
Australian indie-electronica heroes Grafton Primary have jbecome the #1 Most Added artist on the RPM/CMJ chart in North America. 35 electronic stations — half of the electronic music format stations there — have added Grafton Primary to their playlists. The trio last month played in London and Germany to coincide with the release of their
debut album “Eon” through Republic of Music (Bloc Party, Fatboy Slim, Muse, Hot Chip). A second UK/Europe tour is set for the second half of 2009, with a festival in Mexico City and dates on the US West Coast in the works.
Morning After Girls on the road in America
New York residents The Morning After Girls hit the road Stateside with their pals The Warlocks. The lineup now includes founding members Sasha Lucashenko and Martin Sleeman with American musicians E.J. Hagen on bass, Anthony Johnson on drums and Alexander White on keyboards, guitar, percussion & backing vocals. This lineup recorded their T debut album with Alan Moulder , with lead off single “General Public” to be released in Australia soon. The band describes the album this way: 'In an age where the speed of development is thought to bring people together, it seems that most of us may feel a greater sense of isolation than ever before. Technology seeks to connect, but it seems many of us feel a lack of the reality which binds us all; meaningful connections. This is not a new theory by any stretch of the imagination, but, simply, over this past year and a half, The Morning After Girls have managed to celebrate this very feeling of aloneness by creating an album that is simply an exploration of the very things which makes each one of us truly unique, truly apart from the next, purely, alone.”
“Sutasi” showing through Asia
“Sutasi”, the search for contemporary Asian talent, began broadcasting through Asia on the weekend. The show was the brainchild Melbourne based Colleen Zulian’s company Asia Sounds. It features 37 acts from 13 countries duking it out over seven episodes. Visit www.sutasi.com.
Zulian points out, “ “Sutasi’ is not about putting artists on the stage to be judged or ridiculed for the sake of entertainment. The quality of musicianship and performance will be evident to everyone who watches the shows. These artists represent some of the very best talent that Asia has to offer and their performances will be treated respectfully and fairly by a panel of industry experts from around the world. ‘Sutasi’’s objectives are very clear. These artists and musicians deserve to be seen and heard by everyone and ‘Sutasi’ is offering very real opportunities for this to happen.”
Mayfield in Europe
Taking 50 hours to fly from Adelaide to London (the joys of cheap flights) didn’t dent rock band Mayfield’s energy levels. No sooner than they arrived than they scored a tour through Abbey Road Studios. They are invited to Germany to meet with labels and bookers.
Festivals
Record attendance for Adelaide Fringe
Attendance for the 2009 Adelaide Fringe broke the 1 million mark, making it the second largest arts festival in the world after the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland. It drew 975,000 in 2008. According to Fringe chair Judy Potter, 1,004,440 attended 534 events. It injected $27.2 million to the South Australian economy, with 29,000 interstate and overseas visitors. Of these, 14,500 visited the state for the first time. "Alongside this, paid attendances have continued to be robust, making the Fringe a great environment for artists to perform to an enthusiastic audience," Potter commented
Canberra gets a country music festival
Canberra gets a three day country music festival October 9 to 11. It will have music over five stages, workshops, competitions, awards, dancing, and a Muso's Breakfast. It is held on the 31-hectare Tuggeranong Homestead and is off the Monaro Highway. Kids under 13 admitted free. Those wanting to perform at the festival see www.canberracountry.com.
Festival partner
The University of Sydney signed on a major sponsor of the Sydney Festival for three years. It will assist the Festival generate new ideas and attract new audiences.
Pacific festival an annual event?
The large turnout for the inaugural Pacific Communities Festival held in Cairns on the weekend was such a success it'll most likely become an annual event, says coordinator Gillian Tarawhiti. The idea was to bring the youth whose parents were from PNG, NZ, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands to hang and also learn about their culture through dance, music and food. 30,000 Islanders live in the region.
Skills and Thrills
MMF: releasing an indie record
The first part of the Music Managers Forum’s three-part look at releasing a record independently is, Creating the 'Product'. The Music Managers Forum holds a seminar on Monday 6th July. It is at Building M Theatre - Level 6 at Ultimo TAFE, Mary Ann Street, Ultimo. It starts at 7.30, free for MMF members, $5 for students and $10 for the public.
Main speakers are engineer, producer, writer and performer Genevieve Maynard (and owner of Revolution Studios) and super-produced Peter Blyton whose done everyone including Bowie, Elton, Urban, Streisand and Hutchence.
They’ll discuss if your product is ready to release, pre-production, studio or home studio, the role of a producer, use of session players and mastering. Further info, contact Mark Ellis at mark@digitalharmony.com.au
Part 2 will cover manufacturing, distribution and release (Aug 6) and Pt 3 is about promoting your product (Sept 7).
Cutler, Greene, on getting on the road
Fretfest director Alan Buchan holds a workshop “How To Put Your Show On The Road” on Tuesday, 7th July. Speaking are former Rolling Stones tour manager Sam Cutler and DIY musician Paul Greene. It’s 6.30 pm at The Grove, 225 Waterworks Road, Ashgrove.
Organising a music event in SA
The next course in Ausmusic SA’s Music Industry Training program is "How to Organise Your Own Music Event", starting 21 July. It covers concept, planning, logistics, marketing and promotion of music events. All students will design and deliver their own music event. It is held the Boardroom of Music House, behind Fowler’s Live on the corner of Morphett Street and North Terrace in the city.
Jazz WA improv camp
Jazz WA is running an improvisational music camp Monday 6 to Thursday 9 July. It offers professional tuition to budding jazz musos aged between 12 and 18. The fee is $330 including GST, which includes tuition, lunchtime concerts by visiting groups and a professional final concert featuring the students. Only 60 places are available, register at www.jazznow.jazzwa.com.
Bondi Wave: home recording, videos
Upcoming programs at the Bondi Wave Music course are a look at the programs available for use in home recording (July 9, 16, 23) and how to make and edit a video for a live show (six dates in July). See www.waverley.nsw.gov.au or call 8362 3400.
On the Song Trails
Song Trails gives aspiring singer songwriters the opportunity to tap into the experience from high profile performers. Song-trailers Robert Forster, Peter Farnan, Melinda Schneider, Scott Edgar of Tripod, Eric McCusker of Mondo Rock, Mark Gable from The Choirboys and indigenous performer Leah Flanagan will travel around Queensland ‘road-trip style’ presenting a series of song-writing workshops.
The free three-hour songwriting workshops will be held from 10am- 1pm in each tour location (list below). Everyone from high school prodigies to old time storytellers, is invited to attend, share their own work, learn to overcome creative blocks and gain insight into the artistry and techniques required to finally complete that self-penned masterpiece. Attendance at the workshops is free, but pre-registration by 10 July is essential. Register online at www.qmf.org.au
While travelling between locations, the song-trailers will also be writing new songs together about the places they visit and the people they meet to present in a free show-and-tell finale performance of songs and stories at Brisbane Powerhouse on 2 August. Those with Forster, Farnan and Edgar are at:
Mon 27 Jul – Moranbah
Tue 28 Jul – Emerald
Wed 29 Jul – Rockhampton
Thu 30 Jul – Bundaberg
Fri 31 Jul – Nanango
Those with Schneider, Flanagan, Gable and McCusker:
Mon 27 Jul – Cleveland
Tue 28 Jul – Brisbane
Wed 29 Jul – Warwick
Thu 30 Jul – Ipswich
Fri 31 July – Logan
Tuning up in Darebin
As part of the Darebin Music Feast Songwriters’ Award two free workshops are held to assist entrants. Helen Begley of folk band Milk will trace the journey of a song from idea to editing, restructure, arrangement and final polishing on Sat 4 July at Northcote Town Hall (2 pm to 4pm). Brent Parlane is at the same venue on Sat 11 July, 2pm to 4pm on song structure and techniques to improve your song writing. Bookings essential. contact Emily Fuller on ph: (03) 8470 8593 or email: emily.fuller@darebin.vic.gov.au.
WAAPA Extension Courses
The WAAPA Extension Courses range from art management, jazz improv or music theatre. Register your interest by emailing explore.waapa@ecu.edu.au - phoning (08) 9370 6007 or visiting http://waapa.ecu.edu.au/explore.
How to get funding in NSW
Community organizations in the NSW Mid North Coast are invited to a meeting on July 9 to learn how to apply for funding. The Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation is opening its doors from 9 am at Opal Cove with workshops on the Deductible Gift Recipient status.
Gold Coast writers speak
APRA’s “Songwriter Speaks” series on the Gold Coast sees James O’Brien and Robin Waters of The Boat People. It is on Wednesday 15th July at The Loft (54a Thomas Drive) on Chevron Island. It’s at 6 pm, free for APRA members. RSVP to qld@apra.com.au or phone Emma or Chris on 07 3257 1007.
Media Wash
MTV Australia dominates New York’s Promax awards
MTV Networks Australia dominated the Promax and Broadcast Design Awards hin New York winning more gold awards than any other Australian television network in the competition. Altogether it got seven gold and two silver awards. These were for use of air and print in branding, and TV/video presentation in general entertainment, and direct and design.
Sven Muller, Head of On Air Creative, MTV Networks Australia & New Zealand: “It is fantastic that MTV's creative team has again been so successful in one of the world's most prestigious design competitions - and this year, we are very proud to be the Australian broadcaster with the highest number of Gold Promax Awards. These wins are not only testament to the creative expertise that we have within the MTV organisation but they also serve to underscore MTV's continued originality on both the local and the global stages."
2SER podcasts
Sydney community radio 2SER now has 14 programs and segments available as podcasts. They can be listened online or downloaded programs as MP3’s from http://www.2ser.com/podcasts. Some of the programs on offer include “Jailbreak” for prisoners and their families, “Panacea” (alternative health ideas), “Radio Atticus” (law in the name of social justice), “The Fourth Estate” (media and communications), “The Wire” (national current affairs), “Neighbourhood Watch” (students' eye view of world events) and “Final Draft” (books, publishing and writing).
Under more “Riffs”
Melbourne music scribes Miranda Young and Jeff Jenkins’ book on Aussie on the road anecdotes, “Underneath The Riffs” has been green-lighted by the publisher for a Vol 2. This time it will source stories from across Australia, instead of being Melbo-centric as the first.
Five alive
Richard and Bridge from Queensland’s 92.5 Gold FM Breakfast Show completed a marathon 25 hour live broadcast. “25 Live for Give Me Five” raised $30,000 for essential equipment at the Children’s Wards of the Gold Coast and Tweed Hospitals. During the 25 hour broadcast, they were challenged to a sky dive, attended the opening of the new Atrium Bar at Conrad Jupiters, a bikini wax on Richard and a broadcast at South Coast Automotive at Tweed Heads.
Michael Atkin of “Hack” wins award
Michael Atkins from triple j’s youth current affairs show “Hack” was awarded his second ‘Young Australian Journalist of the Year (radio section) Award’ in a row. It was for his story ‘Getting Out of Juvi’ about a young man struggling to readjust to life in the first days of leaving a juvenile justice centre. It is awarded by The Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance and The Walkley Foundation and recognises the best work from Australian journalists under 26. The judging panel said of Atkins’ story "It was impossible not to be captivated… Michael displays not only an understanding of his subjects, but also of his audience. Each of the interviews shows the extensive research and patience required to take the listener into another world” and commented that, importantly Michael had clearly earned “the trust of those he interviewed".
QLD radio moves
Angela Anderson has joined the B105/ Triple M newsroom, moving from Gold Coast’s Hot Tomato where she was drive newsreader.
Also joining B105 as image producer is Matt Innes from Star 104.5 Central Coast.
Pete Laurie, 4BC/4BH Brisbane creative writer, starts as Creative Director at Sea FM Maroochydore on July 13.
Austereo Brisbane creative writer Matt Dawson moves over to the writing team at ARN Brisbane on July 23.
Venue Vibes
Psychic vanquishes evil spirits in Melbourne nightclub
The "Sunday Herald Sun" reports that Melbourne nightclub Queensbridge enlisted a psychic to get rid of the nasty vibes that caused the violent problems there of late. Apparently nightclub consultant Glen Coburn and venue manager Dan Viney came up with the idea. The psychic found five evil spirits. The cleansing of the dark forces was part of the $1 million revamp of the venue, which will be relaunched this month as Embassy.
La Bianca returns with BYO nightclub
From PerthNow: Banned Northbridge club owner Nunzio La Bianca — the first person to get a five year ban from working in a licensed premise after his The Rock was closed down by cops — has started a new club called Revolutions on ``dry'' Newcastle St. It's a non-alcoholic place which is BYO which can be rented out for functions including Battle of the Bands. The authorities have no say over him if a venue is BYO.
Promoters combine for Miami Shark gig
In a rare move, three female music promoters who support unique Qld acts — BJ Hemmling and house booker at the Shark Bar from Cherry Red Music, Brenda Vincent from Ice Management & Productions and Sally from Mustang Promotions — team up for a show at the Miami Shark Bar on July 11 to showcase interesting acts. Playing are High Noon Heat, No-Hype, Asa Broomhall and Nally-Jay.
No new clubs for Sydney?
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that NSW premier Nathan Rees is proposing a 12-month freeze on any new liquor licences in Kings Cross, the southern part of the city around George Street and on Oxford Street. The government will also overhaul restrictions on the 48 hotels and clubs that are subject to 2am lockouts and other rules.
Meantime, the owners of four Sydney hotels — Mansions and Vegas in Kings Cross, the Oxford in Darlinghurst and the Peakhurst Inn — which went into administration blamed the 2 am lockout. They said business dropped by half since the lockout was introduced in December.
The John Curtin relaunches
Melbourne's John Curtin Hotel has launched a new website, and also upgraded its its in-house equipment.
Powerhouse waxes lyrical
Brisbane Powerhouse's Waxing Lyrical series is held the second Saturday of every month, where singer-songwriters they play their favourites and share the stories behind their lyrics. The first is on
11 July, with Pinky Beecroft, Kate Bradley and Anthony Dettori (The Sunburys), hosted by Jo Chapman, Triple Z's host of Art to Lunch.
Opportunity Knocks
Glaceau Vitaminwater National Campus Band Competition
This year's National Campus Band Competition is sponsored by Glaceau Vitaminwater. Organised by the Australasian Association of Campus Activities (AACA), NCBC has been running on Australian
University and TAFE campuses across the country for 20 years. Heats are held throughout August, with State Finals in early September. The National Final will be held on September 27 at Sea World on the Gold Coast in conjunction with the 2009 Australian University Games Opening Ceremony. Winner gets $5,000 in cash from Glaceau Vitaminwater. See www.myspace.com/ncbcaustralia.
Wanna make a video for Sneaky Sound?
Sneaky Sound System are offering film makers, animators and film students the chance to make a video for "It's Not My Problem", currently #1 on the UK club charts. First prize is £5,000 (approx A$10,400) five runners-up get £500 (approx A$1000). Winner announced on July 20, more info www.sneakysoundsystem.com/videocompetition.
Wanna play Flinders Peak?
Flinders Peak Festival, at Ivory's Rock Conference Centre, Peak Crossing--south-west of Brisbane--July 5, is seeking young and emerging artists to take to the stage in 09. Contact Ben Salk ben.salk@ircc.com.au. Visit www.flinderspeakfestival.org.
Festival Australia funding opens
The Festivals Australia program funds regional and community festivals to put on new projects which could not have been put on otherwise. Eligible organisations include local governments and councils, cultural organisations and regional arts councils that manage festivals. Applications close on 15 July. Visit www.arts.gov.au for more info.
SSA Top 10 song comp
The Songwriting Society of Australia's 2009 CD Song Competition is open. It offers a $1500 first prize, $1000 second prize, and $500 third prize - sponsored by APRA. The fourth prize is 2-3 day songwriters workshop, held in Sydney or Melbourne by CMC Productions with American songwriters, with the top ten songs chosen also featuring on a CD. Associated members can enter for $30.00 - a saving of 50%. Entries close of Friday 31 July. For more information visit www.myspace.com/songwritingsocietyofaustralia call (02) 9294 4236 or by email songsoc@ozemail.com.au.
Cabaret 360
Ukitopia Arts Collective is holding the inaugural Cabaret 360 in Tweed Heads to support performance artists — from acrobats to actors to beatboxers. It will be held on July 31 from 7pm in the Uki Hall, which will be transformed into a multi-stage theatre environment with top lighting and sound. with a professional lighting designer and, full sound reinforcement. For more information email cabaret360@gmail.com, phone co-director Hamilton Barnett 0439 021 233 or go to www.myspace.com/ukitopiaartcollective
Good Work
Golden Stave luncheon raises $450,000
Pix by Bob King
The 31st Golden Stave Foundation Charity luncheon held last Friday drew 600 people and raised in excess of $450,000 for Children’s charities. This year’s theme featured performances by Tommy Emmanuel, Col Joye, Mental As Anything, The Radiators, Jimmy Barnes and an 80’s inspired dance routine by “So You think You Can Dance”’s Stephen & Danny. Col Joye was the Hall of Fame recipient while Iva Davies won the Nordoff-Robbins award.
An auction saw Chrissy Amphlett’s infamous school girl tunic raised $2,000 courtesy Clive Thomas of CT Freight. A commemorative personally autographed Who frame raised $8,500 and a commemorative ACDC plaque which raised $3,000. Speed painter Brad Blaze did portraits of Pink, Bono & Jimmy Barnes which collectively raised almost $10,000 for the charity.
The charities will benefited include continued funding for the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy program at the Golden Stave Music Therapy centre. In conjunction with the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, it pays for The Clown Doctors” to visit hospital wards and lift the spirits of sick and terminally ill children.
The money also goes to:
* providing music instruments, CDs and books for the Catholic Centre for Hearing Impaired Children
*sponsor 12 kids aged 6-7 to attend the Stewart House for a 12 day program
* the construction of the Centre for Children with Cancer which will incorporate The Golden Stave Music Therapy room
* support the Music Therapy Program, in the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick
* support for Wheelchar Sports NSW Inc and their 3-day Christmas Camp held at Narrabeen for 40 junior wheelies from all over NSW
* funding for Paraplegic & Quadriplegic Association of NSW through Golden Stave Scholarship Program covering education/institution fees, computers, software, art supplies, transport & accommodation requirements in relation to study, sport & recreation.
* financial support for the Music Therapy program at Royal Far West School
* financial support for the Community Outreach Ministries Inc’s “New Start” program which provides supported accommodation for young people who are experiencing difficulties
* to purchase an Incubator/Humidicrib to care for potential babies for close monitoring and observation of tiny babies giving oxygen and humidity stabilising the babies’ condition at the Sydney Advents Hospital.
* support for Autism Spectrum Australia’s Music Therapy Program.
Community Cup raises $120,000
The Community Cup raised $120,000 for Reclink after drawing 6500 people to its new home at Elsternwick Park. This year Triple R and PBS allowed SYN to be part of their Megahertz team. They lead for most of the match but musos team, Rockdogs, won by 1 point — with Tim Rogers shooting one in with two minutes to spare. (56 to 55). There were cheerleaders, ring-ins (former Collingwood player Rupert Betheras who was sneaked in as “Banjo”) who were dragged off, a dozen streakers, the beer ran dry an hour before the end and a splendid mid-event set from the Cosmic Psychos.
Award winners included: Sam Pang (Steve Connelly Medal for Best On Ground); Tim Rogers (Ian Rilen Medal for Best Community Cup Veteran); Jason Evans (David McComb Medal for Most Courageous Rockdog); Phil Gionfriddo (Paul Hester Medal for Cheekiest Player); Ally Spazzy (Tim Hemensley Medal for Rockingest Rockdog); and Adrian Basso and Mick James (Kath Letch Medal for Service To Community Radio/The Community Cup). Pic by Brent Dower.
Sony’s “Bushfire Aid” raises $1.6 million
Sony Music Australia’s CD “Bushfire Aid: Artists for the Bushfire Appeal” raised $1.6 million for the Salvation Army. The record company’s Chairman & CEO Denis Handlin handed over the cheque to the Salvation Army’s Colonel Raymond Finger at the Sony Foundation’s AFL: It’s a Serious Business event at Melbourne’s Crown Casino. The money will go to the Bushfires Recovery Response Youth & Music Project.
Handlin said, “The public support has been fantastic with sales of the CD now having reached 110,000 copies since release in mid-February. Our donation today will go a long way in assisting the youth of the affected areas through the fantastic initiative by The Salvation Army of establishing a network of youth support and music programs.”
Abruzzo Quake Benefit notches up $20,000
The Abruzzo Quake Benefit Show in Sydney raised $20,000, with sets from Australian artists from an Italian background. The set by father and son team Maurice and Aaron Abruzzo went down so well that they were asked to reprise it. This time it is for the July 7 event at
Doltone House, Pyrmont for another fund raiser for the cause. This is a VIP event at $250 a ticket with guests including Kevin Rudd and Morris Iemma.
Hall of Fame fund raiser
A fund raiser is being held for the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame in Tamworth. It is held at Butler’s Auditorium at 7pm on Friday, July 17 with Rob Breese, Leanne Coddington, Jodie Crosby, The Crosby Sisters, Dianne Lindsay, Lawrie Minson, Deniese Morrison, Slim Newton, Steve Newton and Peter Pratt. A “meet and greet” fundraiser barbecue at Tamworth’s Harvey Norman store from 9.30am to 1pm on the Saturday following the concert.
Song Room needs help
The Song Room runs arts-based intervention programs for disadvantaged or at-risk children in 250 schools and communities. It needs donations to keep its programs going, see www.songroom.org.au or call (03) 9495 6422.
“A Better Day”
The free A Better Day concert Saturday July 4 between 3 pm - 8 pm is in support of the Kinglake region. It was ravaged by the Victorian bushfires. Colin Buchanan, Roma Waterman, Carter & Carter, John Lemmon, Melbourne Gospel Choir, Melbourne Gospel Kids Choir
and local acts will play, with donations going to the Kinglake Ranges Visual & Performing Arts Alliance Optional.
Take This Job and Love It
General Manager for Gold Coast Arts Centre
The Gold Coast Arts Centre is looking for a General Manager to attract high quality, popular shows / exhibitions / events, drive revenue growth and also driving change in the business to ensure future growth and expansion strategy. The Centre has a 1200 seat main theatre, function rooms, "cinemas", art gallery and cafe as well as other complementary business units. You need solid business management experience gained in an expansive public / community facility backed up with well developed project / program and change management skills. You also need tertiary qualifications in business / marketing combined with well developed media and communication skills. A background in arts administration or live theatre / entertainment / hospitality would be an advantage. Contact Jeff Wood at Talent2 in their Gold Coast office on (07) 5630 9701, quoting reference number: 34497.
Sheer Chart Attack
Black Eyed Peas make history
The Black Eyed Peas this week break Madonna’s 1985 record to become the first act in twenty four years to replace themselves at the top of the ARIA Singles Chart. “I Gotta Feeling” becomes the group’s sixth number one single, putting them on equal footing with Eminem and Kylie Minogue, with only Delta Goodrem earning more No. 1’s (8) this decade. “Boom Boom Pow” drops to #2 after having spent a huge six weeks at the top.
Hilltops hold strong
Hilltop Hoods continue to hold strong at #1 on the ARIA Album Chart with “State Of The Art”, becoming the first Australian artist to spend multiple weeks at number one since Silverchair’s “Young Modern” in 2007. Their 2006 album “The Hard Road” spent one week at #1. The Hoods achieve their first ever top 10 single with “Chase That Feeling” jumping eight spots to #8.
Snob Scrilla, Temper Trap make it in
US-born Sydney based Snob Scrilla arrives at #41 with "... ... ...". It is his first chart entry although he made it previously as co-writer of Jessica Mauboy's "Running Back" single from last year.
Melbourne four-piece The Temper Trap are the other Top 10 entry of the week, as their debut album "Conditions" enters at #9.
Associations
WAM to promote mental health
Perth-based West Australian Music Industry Association (WAM) has joined forces with the Dept of Health's Mental Health Division to promote mental health and challenge the prejudice and stereotypes attached to mental illness through a new website www.musicfeedback.com.au. It contains self-help tips, videos & free music downloads and score a free CD/DVD of the hottest WA music.
Australia Council honours community arts leaders
The Australia Council for the Arts presented four inspirational arts leaders with prestigious awards in community arts. Steve Payne, founder and previous leader of The Torch Project in Victoria, won the $50,000 Ros Bower Award for his lifetime of achievement in using the arts to transform communities. He ran workshops and performances that confront social issues such as domestic violence, drug addiction, racism and youth poverty. The workshops help promote community well-being and build stronger, more active neighbourhoods.
Three young arts workers each received a $10,000 Kirk Robson Award in recognition of their outstanding leadership in the arts. Amy Hardingham, artistic director of the Outback Theatre for Young People in NSW, is devoted to giving young people in rural and regional NSW access to the arts.
Alexandra Crosby, artist and communicator, works connecting emerging Australian artists with their Indonesian counterparts.
Angela Frost was arts centre manager at the remote Djilpin Arts at Wugularr in the Northern Territory. It supports 200 indigenous artists.
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