Band, Artist or News Submissions

If you have a news story/review that you think should be included on LIFEMUSICMEDIA.COM, please drop us a line by sending an email to lifemusicmedia@gmail.com. If you wish to receive credit for your contribution, please include your name/nickname and/or web site URL, if applicable.
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Junip “Fields” – Album Review

Review: Natalie Salvo
If ever there was a group that embodied the spirit of quality over quantity, then Junip’s it.

The trio – made up of José González (vocals, guitars), Elias Araya (drums) and Tobias Winterkorn (keys) – have released a few singles and EPs; taken a 5-year break (where the former toured his solo work); and are now on the verge of releasing their debut album, Fields. It took a lot of effort to get here (although it was by no means the longest spell – Guns N’ Roses anyone?) but in this case people will declare it was a labour of love well worth the wait.

González and Araya have been making music together since they were 14, having started creative life as a hardcore group. In 2010 they’ve taken a different musical route, improvising together to find song sketches and in particular, looking for beats and guitar patterns that stood out for their overall groove and melody. The result is 11 nu-folk and pop songs borne out of patience, perfectionism, inspiration and sheer bloody mindedness.
Continue reading Junip “Fields” – Album Review

Goodnight Owl “Goodnight Owl” – EP Review

Review: Natalie Salvo
Goodnight Owl started life in a bedroom, graduated to various recording studios and a church in Melbourne, and the result is a folktronica quartet content on blurring the lines between musical genres. Peel away the layers and you have five songs on a self-titled debut EP that have too many ambient noises and electronic beats to be strictly pop, yet also boast too many tender, heartfelt moments to be strictly the former.

The group have been likened to The Postal Service, Sigur Ros, Bon Iver and Band of Horses and they admit their music can take you in one of two directions. Like being faced with a road less travelled, on the one hand there is the promise of the embrace of the dawn while the alternative is an adventure into the dark
Continue reading Goodnight Owl “Goodnight Owl” – EP Review

Betrayal By Harold Pinter @ Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane – 6 Sept-9 Oct 2010

  Betrayal – By Harold Pinter

Overview:

Could you keep an affair secret for ten years? Would you start an affair if you knew how it would end?

Harold Pinter’s Betrayal explores these questions and more as it shows a passionate love affair told in reverse, starring Paul Bishop, Sibylla Budd and Hugh Parker.

Robert and Jerry share many things – they work in publishing, have long lunches together and are both in love with Robert’s wife Emma.

Continue reading Betrayal By Harold Pinter @ Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane – 6 Sept-9 Oct 2010

Cat Empire @ The Tivoli, Brisbane – 25 August 2010 w/ Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes – Photo Gallery

Photographer: Cody Alexander


Click image to view full photo gallery


[Photos: Cody Alexander]
Continue reading Cat Empire @ The Tivoli, Brisbane – 25 August 2010 w/ Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes – Photo Gallery

Kasey Chambers ‘Little Bird’ Tour : Sept-Nov 2010


Little Little Bird – Kasey Chambers
  The Frontier Touring Company by arrangement with Premier Artists and Essence Music are proud to present Kasey Chambers ‘Little Bird’ tour.

Kasey’s fifth solo album, ‘Little Bird’, will be released on Friday September 17th.

The 14 tracks were recorded with an all-star band that Kasey dubs The Millionaires; John Watson on drums, Jeff McCormack on bass, with her husband Shane Nicholson, Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil) and Kasey’s dad Bill Chambers playing all manner of guitars and stringed instruments. Then came a procession of respected guest vocalists for different tracks: Missy Higgins, Camille Te Nahu, Brooke Harvey, Andy Toombs, James Gillard, and seminal American country singer Patty Griffin.

Continue reading Kasey Chambers ‘Little Bird’ Tour : Sept-Nov 2010

HELLYEAH! “Stampede” – CD Review

Review: Ben Hosking


HellyeahHellyeah
  Many metal fans were surprised to see Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott take to the drum stool again after the murder of his brother, Dimebag Darrell Abbott in 2004. He’d famously declared he’d never play again and no one really blamed him either.

However, as early as 2000, a select few members of up and coming metal groups Mudvayne and Nothingface had started making plans to form a supergroup. The initiating members recorded a demo and approached Vinnie Paul about joining. After first declining the offer, he finally joined the band 18 months later; commenting that, “Everybody had their head in the right place and that let’s-tear-the-world-a-new-ass attitude“.

Continue reading HELLYEAH! “Stampede” – CD Review

Homebake Music, Film & Arts Festival postponed for 2010

Homebake Music, Film & Arts Festival has been postponed for 2010 *Only*… here is the press release from the Homebake team:

“After much deliberation (& some procrastination) – we here at Homebake festival HQ have decided to take a break and postpone Homebake Music, Film & Arts Festival for this year only, 2010.

As we’ve not been able to have the ‘planets align’ to a standard we feel appropriate to the long standing reputation of Australia’s largest ‘locals only’ event, we’d rather focus on a positive future and are instead planning for a unique return version of Homebake Festival to take place during the first week of December 2011.
Continue reading Homebake Music, Film & Arts Festival postponed for 2010

World’s Funniest Island @ Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour 16-17 October 2010

******* World’s Funniest Island has been cancelled due to a drop off in sponsorship. ******

World’s Funniest Island is a very special comedy event staged over one weekend on Cockatoo Island in the middle of Sydney Harbour and brings together over 180 acclaimed Australian and International comedy artists.

International talent includes Police Academy legend Michael Winslow, the return of the hit show Allah Made Me Funny, five-time Emmy Award nominee Will Durst and six hilarious stand-out new US comics. Also joining the lineup is the incredible comic mind-reading Philip Escoffey from London in ‘Six Impossible Things Before Dinner’.

Aussie headliners include The Umbilical Brothers, Wil Anderson, the world premiere of viral hit sensation Beached Az Bro Live, Lady Julia Morris, Fiona O’Loughlin, Heath “Chopper” Franklin, Axis of Awesome, Tom Ballard, Tom Gleeson, Mikey Robbins and Claire Hooper.

One ticket includes the short ferry rides to and from the Island and as many shows as you can pack into 12 hours each day. The 16 venues on the spectacular heritage listed island include a bomb shelter, tunnels, and a former prison.

The festival will pack in everything from top comics, sketch shows, comedy burlesque and cabaret to the best of campus comedy, plus music, art, booze, food, camping out and spectacular harbour views to calm you down in amidst all the mayhem.

Come along for one day of chuckles, spend two in stitches or if you’re feeling like a hilarious island getaway is just what you need, camp out for 3 nights on prime Sydney Harbour waterfront!

“Events like World’s Funniest Island are what set Sydney apart as an events destination, it a major event that makes the most of Cockaoo Island and attracts both Sydneysiders and visitors. World’s Funniest Island is bound to become the preeminent comedy event in Australia” John Montgomery, General Manager Events, Events NSW

Where: Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour
When: 16-17 October 2010

Glamorous Life by Joanne Rahn and Lovebirds Australia – Brisbane Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival 2010

Photographer: Warren Jopson Photography for http://www.fashionscene.com.au/
Click here for FULL gallery


Photographer: Warren Jopson Photography for http://www.fashionscene.com.au/
Continue reading Glamorous Life by Joanne Rahn and Lovebirds Australia – Brisbane Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival 2010

PVT (Pivot), Seekae, AXXONN @ The Zoo, Brisbane 19 August 2010 – Live Review

Review: Denis Semchenko
As is the rule with The Zoo on school nights, there’s only a handful of people inside the room by the time AXXONN – aka Brisbane electronic music artist Tom Hall – announces his appearance by producing a series of bleeps from his keyboard and laptop. Not deterred by lacking crowd numbers, he quickly fills the sonic space with heady drone-electro, hitting one cutting, heavily-sustained synth chord after another. As the kick drum gets more insistent and bassy, the lucky few listeners in the room begin to “get into it”, rewarding each track with progressively louder applause. Hall’s one-man show may not involve much antics to ensure an enthralling viewing experience, but the music itself makes for an excellent listen.
Continue reading PVT (Pivot), Seekae, AXXONN @ The Zoo, Brisbane 19 August 2010 – Live Review

Jesus Christ Superstar @ Playhouse Theatre, 20th August 2010 – Live Review

Review: Lana Harris

Rocking great guitar riffs fill the sold out venue, slow notes trembling across the grey walls of a ruined cathedral set, preparing the audience to receive the voice of Tod Strike. As Judas, he opens the narrative by launching into ‘Heaven on Their Minds’, a song which allows Strike to demonstrate a truly commanding voice and worthy of one of the lead roles in this production.

  This reimagining of the original production of Jesus Christ Superstar (first performed in 1971) has a pared back, post apocalyptic set that doesn’t change, and puts the focus on the singing, as does the score – which tells the whole narrative by using more than 20 songs to move the story forward. Not a single piece of dialogue is presented without a backing melody. The basic storyline is easy to follow – easier if you’re familiar with the story of Jesus, because even though this is a post apocalyptic version of a musical first performed in the seventies based on an interpretation of a book written centuries ago, the plot is still the basic biblical storyline of Jesus gets famous, Jesus is betrayed by jealous best friend, Jesus is crucified as a result of the backstabber.

The post apocalyptic setting of this tale makes it easy to draw parallels between this and the lives of modern day celebrities. The scenes where the supporting cast forms a mosh pit as Jesus sings boost the resemblance.

Continue reading Jesus Christ Superstar @ Playhouse Theatre, 20th August 2010 – Live Review

Livin’ Music SHOWCASE hits The Tempo Hotel, Brisbane – 12 September 2010

To coincide with Princess Rodeo’s ‘Alternate Colours’ single launch @ Livin’ Music SHOWCASE – The Tempo Hotel, Brisbane – 12 September 2010, we have a few copies of their CD up for grabs!… See below for details.

  Indie Brisbane is set to ROCK this September, with an assorted swag of local acts coming together to take part in the Livin’ Music SHOWCASE.

Closing out the Valley Fiesta weekend, and with a line-up that ranges from Pop-rock to Prog to Blues, this diverse event promises high energy and rocking talent across the board.

Continue reading Livin’ Music SHOWCASE hits The Tempo Hotel, Brisbane – 12 September 2010

SOUTHBOUND 2011 – Three Full Days, Three Nights Camping, Over 60 acts, One Festival!

Three Full Days, Three Nights Camping, Over 60 acts, One Festival!

  The summer festival season is so close we can taste it. And it tastes delicious! The prime course on this summer festival menu is Southbound , WAs only superb and sustainable music, camping and arts festival. Returning to Busselton from the 1st – 3rd January, and proudly presented by triple j, Southbound is the perfect way to bring in the new year.

We are salivating over the line up and are very very excited to bring you this audible feast. So excited, we’re serving up all the juicy acts on one huge announcement platter.

From lands far away are those pioneers of the electro-rock movement, Klaxons, bringing us new material, and New Yorkers Interpol, presenting their hotly anticipated 4th album. Joining them, are slow-burning kings, The National, and set to take it up a notch, all with new material to share are The Rapture, Hot Hot Heat and Cold War Kids.
Continue reading SOUTHBOUND 2011 – Three Full Days, Three Nights Camping, Over 60 acts, One Festival!

Robin Williams “Weapons of Self Destruction” Australian Tour – November 2010

ROBIN WILLIAMS – AWARD-WINNING ACTOR AND COMEDIAN TO EMBARK ON HIS FIRST-EVER STAND-UP COMEDY TOUR OF AUSTRALIA!

This November, Robin Williams will bring his critically acclaimed new stand-up comedy tour, entitled “Weapons of Self Destruction”, to Australia. The high-energy show will highlight Williams’ trademark free associations and riffs on social and political absurdities. The show, which toured the US in 2008 and 2009, sold out venues across the country as well as in the UK and Canada and earned the comedian spectacular reviews. Williams last American comedy tour was in 2002 when he returned to the stand-up scene after a sixteen year hiatus.
Continue reading Robin Williams “Weapons of Self Destruction” Australian Tour – November 2010