Category Archives: Sydney

Review: Big Day Out 2012 – Sydney – 26th January 2012

Review by Sibel Kutlucan

Celebrating 20 years since the first ever Big Day Out in Sydney 1992, which boasted incredible bands such as, Nirvana and Violent Femmes, the Big Day Out has had a reputation to uphold with line-ups that every year do not disappoint. This year was no exception.

For 2012, Big Day Out offered an impressive line-up that consisted of a range of rock, dance, pop and hip hop acts, including Kanye West, My Chemical Romance, Noel Gallagher, Soundgarden and Kasabian.

The morning weather was bleak, with rain and threatening storm clouds looming. However, the masses of music fans still poured into the Sydney Showgrounds from 11am, anxious for a sure day of excitement, great music and the ambience of bare flesh, and despite the weather, did not scare away the summer attire of short shorts and bikini tops.

Earlier acts such as Sydney rockers Papa Vs Pretty and Victoria’s Stonefield enticed crowds and brightened up the sky. The busy schedule of all six stages charged on and as the bands played and the crowds grew the storm clouds slowly disappeared and the typical Australia Day sunshine arrived.

Sydney indie-rock band Bluejuice owned the Boiler Room, with their infectious music and attitude whipping their eager fans into a whirlwind of odd dance moves and great times, especially when they erupted with their hit, “Broken leg”.

Boy and Bear were another standout act in the afternoon as they took to the orange stage and showed why they were recent ARIA winners with their amazing cover of Crowded House’s “Fall at your Feet”, which commemorated Australia Day with the crowd enthusiastically singing along.

Kiwi songstress Kimbra had her audience enthralled as she took to the Converse Green Stage thrashing about and singing her lungs out of her waif like frame. Her powerful voice was contagious and her act was a definite standout of the festival.

Jersey alt-rockers My Chemical Romance pulled a huge crowd at the orange stage, with front man Gerard Way sporting new blonde locks and clad all in black, led their set through an impressive range of tracks off their discography including old favourites “I’m not okay” and “Helena”.

Brit indie-rockers Kasabian were welcomed to the blue stage with flashing neon blue lights and smoke slowly filling the stage, as their crowd erupted in cheers, eager to welcome Kasabian back to our shores. “Shoot the runner” as always was a definite crowd-pleaser and resonated with festival-goers long after their set finished.

Kanye West did not disappoint as he took to the blue stage for his hour and a half long set where he dominated the other acts of the night. With his eye-catching back-up dancers to his rather unique dress sense and contagious tracks, Kanye West delivered a fantastic set.

Amongst all the great music on the six stages, the Guvera skate ramp always had their crowd entertained; however it was when Tony Hawk took to the ramp that the skate ramp attracted more festival-goers that even some of the headliners. It was a moment not to be missed, and the epic skating was a nice break between the countless sets to take in.

Celebrating an amazing 20 years of festivals Big Day Out came home to Sydney this Australia day despite earlier problems involving the spilt of co-founders Ken West and Vivian Lees, as well as the announcement of BDO’s withdrawal from New Zealand next year. This dark news however, did not impact the festival and West said that the festival will come back stronger and that Big Day Out’s heart will always remain in Sydney, as it began here 20 years ago.

Once again the Sydney leg of the Big Day Out tour delivered an amazing Australia day to all the music lovers who bared the bipolar weather for a day of great music and experiences.

Review by Sibel Kutlucan


Related:
* PHOTOS! BIG DAY OUT – SYDNEY

* Review our review of: Big Day Out 2012 – Gold Coast Parklands – 22nd January 2012

PHOTOS: Big Day Out 2012 – Gold Coast
PART 1
Soundgarden, My Chemical Romance, Stonefield, Cage The Elephant, The Amity Affliction, Kimbra

PART 2
Kanye West, Kasabian, Abbe May, The Jezabels, Foster The People, The Living End, Mariachi el Bronx, Calling All Cars, Papa vs Pretty, Parkway Drive, Boy & Bear, The Vaccines

PART 3
Crowd Pics

Festival Of The Sun 2011 @ Port Macquarie, NSW – December 9-10, 2011 | Photo Gallery

Photographer: Amy Lee Freshwater
Continue reading Festival Of The Sun 2011 @ Port Macquarie, NSW – December 9-10, 2011 | Photo Gallery

Suzi Quatro – Touring Australia – Sept/Oct 2011 – Tour News and Tickets

Suzi Quatro legendary rocker, international superstar…icon…The Queen of Rock! There isn’t a better description when it comes to one of the most influential performers of all time.

Due to her popularity and solid fan base in Australia she returns to tour this September October.

Audiences can expect to experience 90 minutes of raw, rock-filled, energy, with Suzi playing all of her hits, including Can the Can, Devil Gate Drive, 48 Crash, and Stumblin’ In, plus tracks from her forthcoming album.

Suzi has toured the world many times over with her music and is more than a household name, she is a legend.
Continue reading Suzi Quatro – Touring Australia – Sept/Oct 2011 – Tour News and Tickets

Elton John – 2011 Australian Tour Announced! [Tour News & Tickets]

ELTON JOHN & HIS BAND RETURN TO AUSTRALIA THIS SUMMER

“Singing in an unfaltering voice, and projecting an exuberant air, Mr. John behaved more like a master of ceremonies than a guest of honor. His patter between songs was affable enough to defy the dimensions of the arena.” New York Times

“Elton played and sang awesomely, with gale-force gusto. Lord knows how many times he’s performed these songs, but somehow he still manages to sound as if he means every word of them.” The Telegraph UK

Chugg Entertainment is proud to present the much-lauded return of the one and only Elton John to Australia this summer.
Continue reading Elton John – 2011 Australian Tour Announced! [Tour News & Tickets]

Music Video Mash Up 2011 – Attn Bands & Film Makers

Do you want to make a music video?

CALLING ALL BANDS/MUSICIANS and FILMMAKERS!!!

Registrations are NOW OPEN @ www.mvmu.com.au

Following on from a huge inaugural year last year, The Music Video Mash Up filmmaking competition is back for 2011- and with the addition of Sydney and Melbourne to the competition, bigger and better than ever.

What Is It ?
Continue reading Music Video Mash Up 2011 – Attn Bands & Film Makers

Saltimbanco – Cirque du Soleil – Australia 2011 [Official Trailer, Info & Tickets]

Performance Dates and Tickets available here

Cirque du Soleil® returns with Saltimbanco™, the show which started Australia’s love affair with the celebrated company when it first toured here in 1999.

Saltimbanco — from the Italian “saltare in banco” (to jump on a bench) — features an international cast of over 50 performers and musicians from more than 20 different countries. Presented in premium ‘intimate-mode’ arena venues, this is classic Cirque at its best – a thrilling, kaleidoscopic celebration of awe-inspiring artistry and agility.
Continue reading Saltimbanco – Cirque du Soleil – Australia 2011 [Official Trailer, Info & Tickets]

DATAROCK @ Oxford Art Factory, Sydney – 5 May 2011 w/ Gold Fields – Photo Gallery

Photographer: Chelsea Meatchem

Photographer: Chelsea Meatchem

Continue reading DATAROCK @ Oxford Art Factory, Sydney – 5 May 2011 w/ Gold Fields – Photo Gallery

Trial Kennedy ‘Living Undesigned’ National Tour – May/June 2011 – Tour News

On May 13, Trial Kennedy releases its long awaited second album, Living Undesigned. To celebrate, the band is taking their show on the road for a string of album tour dates around the country in May.

On paper, you’d have to wonder how Trial Kennedy is even still a band.

Two years ago, the Melbourne rock outfit were perched at the edge of something big. After two killer EPs (2004’s Present for a Day and 2005’s Picture Frame), their Nick DiDia-produced debut album, New Manic Art, was garnering the sort of critical acclaim every band aspires to. Songs such as ‘Neighbours’ and ‘Colour Day Tours’ became instant Triple J anthems. The band toured hard, earning a burgeoning Australian fan base to go with their stellar live rep, and coveted support spots with the likes of Fall Out Boy and Birds Of Tokyo. Their star was rising.

And then… well, then a whole lot of bad mojo went down. The band’s original bass player left, there was illness, the daily struggle of balancing day jobs and personal relationships with artistic careers, and the band parted ways with their management and label.
Continue reading Trial Kennedy ‘Living Undesigned’ National Tour – May/June 2011 – Tour News

Matt Walters Album Launch @ The Vanguard, Sydney – May 11, 2011 [Gig News & Giveaways]

  Australian singer-songwriter Matt Walters will launch his new album at this show featuring his unique blend of folk influenced pop music. Having toured Australia extensively, the 25-year-old has supported the likes of Ben Folds, Paul Kelly, and Liam Finn.

The debut album Farewell Youth was produced by Paul Mckercher (Sarah Blasko, Augie March) and Francois Tetaz (Bertie

Blackman, Gotye) and features a hauntingly pretty single I Would Die For You with guest vocals by Megan Washington.

Launch Shows:
May 11th 2011 – Vanguard, Sydney – Buy Tickets


Thanks to Matt Walters and Remedy Music, we have double passes to giveaway to the Matt Walters Album Launch @ The Vanguard, Sydney on May 11, 2011

For your chance to win a double pass to the Matt Walters Album Launch @ The Vanguard, Sydney*

1. Follow us on Twitter and/or Like us on Facebook
2. Fill in the form below.
3. (Optional) For an extra chance to win *and good Karma*, Tweet this messsage: I entered for a chance to win tickets to the Matt Walters Album Launch @ The Vanguard, Sydney http://tinyurl.com/4x2ubsv – @LifeMusicMedia

Note: Winners will be notified by email on the Sunday the 8th May 2011.

Good Luck!

Continue reading Matt Walters Album Launch @ The Vanguard, Sydney – May 11, 2011 [Gig News & Giveaways]

VIVID SET TO INSPIRE SYDNEY – May/June 2011

Vivid Sydney (27 May – 13 June) today reveals the second major program announcement of the annual festival of light, music and ideas. Over 50 global and local creative leaders will come together to imagine the future at Vivid Creative Sydney.

Vivid Creative Sydney (30 May – 12 June) explores the potential of the creative industries to transform society and re-shape our economy. The 2011 series will pursue in-depth debate andcelebrate our city’s creativity, with events at some of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks including the Sydney Opera House and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Continue reading VIVID SET TO INSPIRE SYDNEY – May/June 2011

BENJALU ‘Shadows In The Sun’ Tour – April/May 2011 [Tour News]

Budding roots rock outfit BENJALU win over fans with a new approach on their new ‘Shadows in the Sun’ EP and tour.

  Four musician mates from Newcastle, collectively known as BENJALU, will release their third EP ‘Shadows In The Sun’ on April 15 via MGM’s Green label, and this week they’ll set off on another lengthy tour returning to fans in venues across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT.

With new media changing the way musicians approach releasing their music, speculation has been growing about the status of the long player release and BENJALU believe offering music lovers a slice of solid new sounds on a regular basis is the best approach. As a young independent self funded band, by releasing EP’s it allows them to tour more often and share their music with their fans more regularly which in turn helps them build a solid fan base.

Continue reading BENJALU ‘Shadows In The Sun’ Tour – April/May 2011 [Tour News]

Come Together 2011 – Luna Park Big Top, Sydney – 11 June 2011 [Festival News]


BUY TICKETS
  After seven years of providing a distinctly domestic soundtrack to June long weekend, Come Together keeps its focus on showcasing the best of homegrown talent with an exciting new twist for its eighth incarnation. Come Together returns in 2011, for one day only on Saturday June 11th.

We’ve revamped, refreshed, recharged, renovated and are ready to roll out the musical movers and shakers with an all Australian hip hop line-up set to have the Big Top jumping.

Lining up front and center & fresh from nailing down the highest ranked hip hop single at number 12 on the Triple J Hottest 100, is hip-hop artist on the rise Drapht. Hailing from Perth, Drapht emerged onto the scene alongside fellow WA heavy hitters Downsyde and Fdel and has since established himself as an MC on the up having polished his on-stage antics alongside the likes of the Hilltop Hoods, Dilated Peoples and Koolism amongst others.
Continue reading Come Together 2011 – Luna Park Big Top, Sydney – 11 June 2011 [Festival News]

Sampology’s Super Visual Monster Mash – April/May 2011 [Tour News]

  Sampology mixes YouTube clips, exerts from films, TV shows and vintage VHS finds, turning your ordinary club night into a crazy AVDJ mashup.

The technical aspect to Sampology’s Super Visual AVDJ shows is pretty darned impressive. He’s madly manipulating video via two turntables and a mixer and triggering animations from his drum machine, all projected live onto a big-ass widescreen. But it’s Sampology’s cheeky sense of humour, sprinkled across the exerts from film and TV shows, filmclips, YouTube clips and vintage VHS finds that takes your ordinary club night and turns it into a stupidly exciting and crazy fun visual mashup.

Its like dancing your butt off at your favourite movie of all time, and laughing the whole way through.
Continue reading Sampology’s Super Visual Monster Mash – April/May 2011 [Tour News]

DANIELLE SPENCER TO JOIN SIR BOB GELDOF & JON STEVENS FOR ROCK AND REBUILD CHARITY CONCERT IN SYDNEY! May 2011

Australian singer/songwriter Danielle Spencer will join Sir Bob Geldof & Jon Stevens for the Rock & Rebuild one-off charity concert at Lyric Theatre Sydney on May 1. Spencer and band will open the evening performing songs from her debut album ‘White Monkey’ and her current album ‘Calling All Magicians’.

In an effort to provide hope and inspiration to communities affected by recent natural disasters in Australia, New Zealand and Japan, all monies raised through ticket sales and donations will support; the Australian Red Cross for their Victoria Floods Appeal, New Zealand Earthquake Appeal and Japan and Pacific Disaster Appeal as well as to the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund.
Continue reading DANIELLE SPENCER TO JOIN SIR BOB GELDOF & JON STEVENS FOR ROCK AND REBUILD CHARITY CONCERT IN SYDNEY! May 2011

Future Music Festival 2011 :: Timelapse

The Sydney leg of the all conquering Future Music Festival was held at Royal Randwick Racecourse on 12th March 2011 and encompassed 9 stages, 2 big-tops, 2 inflatable tents all set up over 5 days.

Music: Chemical Brothers – Escape Velocity

futuremusicfestival.com.au
futureentertainment.com.au
Continue reading Future Music Festival 2011 :: Timelapse