CD Review: The Boat People – Echo Stick Guitars

Review: Lana Harris

The Boat People   Are The Boat People benefiting from all the media coverage of a certain method of arrival upon our land girt by sea? Like the refugee boats, they’ve recently taken a new direction, ending up in previously unexplored waters. The audio land about turn has definitely benefited The Boat People. Previously an Indie pop band, the new single ‘Echo Stick Guitars’ presents the four piece as Australian electro pop. The song made me feel like I was joyfully stumbling through a fluro hued platform game, the lack of depth made up for by the easy accessibility
to a steady beat that bounces you along. Robin Waters (who penned the tune) says he came up with the chorus (hey champions, hey violins, hey echo stick guitars) by stringing together heroic sounding words in a Tasmanian gorge at night. I’m wondering which other spooky Australian landscape inspired the velodrome reference later on.

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SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS TO CELEBRATE 10TH ANNIVERSARY AT WOODFORD

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS TO CELEBRATE 10TH ANNIVERSARY AT WOODFORD
Dates & Venue Confirmed for 2010

Splendour In The Grass has been working toward establishing a permanent sustainable event venue to stage the festival. The chosen 660 acre North Byron Parklands site at Yelgun in the Byron Shire is undergoing the comprehensive approval process with the NSW Department of Planning for a permanent cultural event venue and will not be ready for next year’s event.

While this approval process goes ahead, Splendour In The Grass organisers are delighted to announce the festival will temporarily relocate to Woodford in Queensland, home of the Woodford Folk Festival, for the event’s 10th anniversary in 2010.
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Photo Gallery: Opeth @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 22 November 2009

Photographer: Stephen Bull

Photographer: Stephen Bull
Continue reading Photo Gallery: Opeth @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 22 November 2009

Live Review: Cloud Control and Leader Cheetah at the Annandale Hotel, Sydney 21 November 2009

By Natalie Salvo

The Sydney music scene has received a number of heavy blows with the closure of the Hopetoun Hotel; Purple Sneakers vacating the Abercrombie; and talk of legal quibbles between the Annandale Hotel, local council and residents. Sure, a lot of people have shown their support, but its not much help without actual audience numbers. Hang your heads in shame, Sydney, because the Annandale Hotel was only half-full for Cloud Control and Leader Cheetah’s all-ages matinee show on Saturday. What you missed was two up-and-coming bands putting on a really enjoyable afternoon of entertainment that was worth far more than virtual signatures in the sky.
Continue reading Live Review: Cloud Control and Leader Cheetah at the Annandale Hotel, Sydney 21 November 2009

Live Review + Photos | Kate Miller-Heidke @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney 20 Nov 2009

Review: Patrick Harrison
Kate Miller-HeidkeThe mosh pit at the Enmore theatre was packed out from wall to wall before the support acts – had even left the stage, and the seats quickly filled up. As soon as Kate Miller-Heidke hit the stage, the excited hubbub exploded into a minute’s solid applause. She lived up to her usual image – with freshly dyed hair and a dress made out of purple frills and silver tinsel. And, as soon as she started playing, everyone in the house knew they were in for something special. The whole crowd fell dead silent to hear her open with “Our Song”, a honest and emotional performance that Kate starts over her partner Kier Nuttal’s guitar before the rest of the band comes in.
Continue reading Live Review + Photos | Kate Miller-Heidke @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney 20 Nov 2009

Jack Johnson to headline Bluesfest 2010

Jack Johnson  
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Jack Johnson : Jack Johnson music available at iTunes


Bluesfest unveiled a major new announcement – that Jack Johnson will be the headline artist at the Bluesfest 21st Anniversary festival held in Byron Bay over Easter from Thursday April 1 through to Monday April 5, 2010.

Jack Johnson’s exclusive 2010 Bluesfest appearances mark his first Australian appearances since March 2008, and his first Bluesfest appearances since 2005. These hotly anticipated Bluesfest performances are truly special as there will be no other Jack Johnson Australian shows on this tour!

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BRIGHTBLACK MORNING LIGHT AUSTRALIAN TOUR w/ special guest RIO EN MEDIO (USA) – January 2010

Brightblack morning light   Mistletone is proud to present for the first time in Australia, the slow and hazy psychedelic jams of New Mexico’s Brightblack Morning Light. Their dreamy, blissed out desert tones will be the perfect accompaniment to a hot summer.

The band was founded by the gentle naturalist ND Shineywater, hailing from Alabama, birthplace of icons such as Sun Ra & Diana Ross. Shineywater since has moved to live a minimal life off the coal/nuclear grid in New Mexico, by using only four solar panels in his small adobe dwelling.

For this tour Brightblack Morning Light will consist of Shineywater with two accompanists: Danielle Stech-Homsy (keyboards/vocals) who has released two fine solo albums under the name Rio en Medio, and Cannupa Luger, a Native American artist and percussionist who lives in the mountains nearby Shineywater’s home.
Continue reading BRIGHTBLACK MORNING LIGHT AUSTRALIAN TOUR w/ special guest RIO EN MEDIO (USA) – January 2010

Live Review | Hungry Kids of Hungary @ The Zoo, Brisbane with Deep Sea Arcade and Ball Park Music – 14 November 2009

Photo and Words: Elize Strydom

Hungry Kids Of HungaryThe Zoo is filled with fresh faced lasses in floral dresses and boys with floppy hair and dance pants. As soon as the six members of Brisbane’s Ball Park Music hit the stage to room is on its feet and inching closer to the stage. It’s like were being sucked forward by the gloriously poppy sounds and irresistibly jangly guitars. And the trombone. How can anyone resist a trombone? This collective of shiny, happy young’uns have spent much of the year gigging around the city and attracting a little pack of supporters. They released an 8 track debut “Rolling on the floor, Laughing ourselves to sleep” early this year and some of the tracks have come to the attention of triple j heavyweights.
Continue reading Live Review | Hungry Kids of Hungary @ The Zoo, Brisbane with Deep Sea Arcade and Ball Park Music – 14 November 2009

Announcement: Lily Allen with Dizzee Rascal, Calvin Harris and Miami Horror at Brisbane Riverstage 19 January 2010

LILY ALLEN with DIZZEE RASCAL, CALVIN HARRIS + SPECIAL GUESTS MIAMI HORROR
Tuesday 19 January – Brisbane Riverstage

Your chance to catch three of the UK’s hottest talents on one stage, including the only opportunity to see DIZZEE RASCAL and CALVIN HARRIS perform their Number One hits ‘Dance Wiv Me’ and ‘Holiday’ live!

They are brash, bold and right now three of the UK’s HOTTEST talents. Catch LILY ALLEN, DIZZEE RASCAL and CALVIN HARRIS as the pop superstars share the stage for this very special Brisbane only performance with guests MIAMI HORROR.
Continue reading Announcement: Lily Allen with Dizzee Rascal, Calvin Harris and Miami Horror at Brisbane Riverstage 19 January 2010

The Boxer Rebellion – New Single ‘Flashing Red Light Means Go’ + Australian Tour

The Boxer Rebellion   London based band The Boxer Rebellion are making their way to Australia to ring in the New Year and celebrate the massive worldwide success of the their second album ‘Union’. Receiving glowing reviews the world over, the album managed to knock My Morning Jacket from the #1 position on the US iTunes Alternative Chart and lead The Boxer Rebellion to become the first unsigned band in history to break the U.S Billboard Top 100 Albums Chart with a digital-only release!

Now available on CD ‘Union’ continues to create a mass of passionate devotees wherever it lands. As they prepare to release their second single in Australia -‘Flashing Red Light

Means Go’ – the tidal surge that has been The Boxer Rebellion across the globe looks set to hit our shores with a resounding reverb of epic proportions.

The Boxer Rebellion will be playing their only Sydney show at Purple Sneakers NYE House Party ( ** BUY TICKETS HERE **) as well as limited side dates in other cities.

  Purple Sneakers NYE

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Young Heretics EP Launch and Tour – Debut EP ‘The Dreamers’

Young Heretics   Click here to enter the Young Heretics debut EP “The Dreamers” Giveaway

Young Heretics are set to launch their debut EP ‘The Dreamers’ in early December. The two piece will be playing with a full backing band, bringing to life the epic layers and textures that have made the 4 song EP such a hit amongst media and fans alike. Formed early in 2009, Young Heretics is the brainchild of Matthew Wright and Kitty Hart, who have found a connection through their love of warped pop and sonic invention.
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Live Review: The Rogues Gallery Comedy Club, GRAND OPENING REDCLIFFE

The Rogues Gallery Comedy Club, GRAND OPENING REDCLIFFE
Thursday 12th November 2009 – Review by: Lisa Lamb

Richard Price Shayne Hunter   There is no black and white to comedy. A comedian should be like a prism and refract the different colours of light “. – Richard Price

Redcliffe, (occasionally referred to as Deadcliffe by the locals), is no longer a sleepy place where the pelican builds her nest, all that has changed thanks to some very funny Rouge’s . Held on the first Wednesday of every month. This is an alternate comedy club run by comedians Shayne Hunter and Richard Price (founder of Rouge’s Gallery Comedy Club). It is a great way to catch up on some of Australia’s best talent before they become media stars, though some are there already, plus the price is right. Admission is free! Woo hoo! Located at the Bramble Bay Bowls Club, at the end of the Hornibrook Highway, people came from as far away as Toowoomba for the opening night, to laugh till their jaws ached, and then laugh some more.
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Interview with Geoff Corbett of SixFtHick (Six Ft Hick)

Interview: Bek Grealy
Photo by Matt Palmer

SixFtHickGeoff Corbett (GC) talks SixFtHick with our Bek Grealy

LMM: You guys formed in 1995 in the name of SixFtHick, where did the name originate?

GC: We had on the back of my song book probably about 50 names and unfortunately SixFtHick was chosen from these names to be the band name. I am sure there are better names out there, but I think other bands have them, so that’s where the problem is, you know?

LMM: 14 years on from the beginning of SixFtHick, which is a mighty fine effort, when you first started in playing, did you just get out there and you were taken on board and loved by the viewers, or did you have to work hard for your fan base?

GC: In Brisbane when we first started, we were pretty much hated, and that was actually expected because we pretty much sucked. I don’t think we were any good until probably 2 years when we found our feet. But I mean that can be said for a lot of bands starting out.
Continue reading Interview with Geoff Corbett of SixFtHick (Six Ft Hick)

ARIA Chart News, w/c 16 November 2009

Robbie Williams makes chart-topping debut on the ARIA Album Chart ahead of his Australian visit
ARIA Releases two new charts

Robbie Williams (Robbie Williams) explodes onto the ARIA Album Chart this week with “Reality Killed The Video Star”, claiming his fourth Australian No.1 album to give him an impressive total of twelve weeks at the top of the chart. The international superstar, who will perform at the ARIA Awards next week, scored a total of nine weeks at number one for his 2004/05 “Greatest Hits” release, along with one week at the top for both “Intensive Care” and “Rude Box” in 2005 and 2006 respectively. He also claims the first chart topper on the new ARIA Digital Album Chart with “Reality Killed The Video Star” and whilst Foo Fighters were number one on the Physical Album Chart, Robbie’s digital sales were extensive enough to ensure him number one overall, as reflected by the ARIA Album Chart. It’s only the second time since digital album sales were included in the album chart some two years ago, that the number one Physical Album and number one on the ARIA Album Chart have been different.
Continue reading ARIA Chart News, w/c 16 November 2009

LAMB Confirm Australian Headline Shows – Brisbane and Melbourne 2010

Lamb, the UK’s finest trip-hop duo excited their fans when they signaled an end to their five year hiatus, announcing their reformation in early ’09 for a series of summer festivals and one-off live shows. The Frontier Touring Company is ecstatic to announce the news many have been awaiting: Lamb are back and will perform intimate headline shows in Brisbane and Melbourne this summer.
Continue reading LAMB Confirm Australian Headline Shows – Brisbane and Melbourne 2010