Here’s an interesting 1988 documentary titled ‘Brisbane Bands’ we found on youTube.
This documentary focuses on the isolation and struggle many Brisbane punk bands had to endure in the face of conservative Brisbane during the 1970’s.
Mark Callaghan (GANGgajang/The Riptides), Ed Kuepper (The Saints), Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens) and Ed Wreckage (The Leftovers) speak about growing up in Brisbane during the 1970’s and forming bands.
Ed Kuepper reflects on the Saints’ classic single ‘(I’m) Stranded’ and the single’s promo-video.
| FILM: Tropfest Filmmakers across Australia are rolling out their video cameras with the Movie Extra Tropfest 2009 call for entries officially now open! The 2009 Tropfest Signature Item (TSI) is SPRING – apt as the festival, to be held on Sunday 22 February 2009, has been the spring board for launching many an aspiring Aussie filmmaker’s career. Get in quick and look at the entry details before the Thursday 15 January 2009 deadline. |
| ART: ‘Contemporary Australia: Optimism’ is the first in a major new national triennial series of thematic contemporary Australian art exhibitions. Encompassing many facets of contemporary Australian visual art and culture, the exhibition includes painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, installation, video and video installation, cinema, animation, performance, music and comedy. GoMA until February 22nd 2009 |
| COMEDY: Brisbane Comedy Festival Fri 6 – Sat 28 Mar 09 Brace yourselves for the first, the biggest, the best, LOL comedy festival Brisbane has ever seen. The inaugural Brisbane Comedy Festival takes over Brisbane Powerhouse Friday 6 – Sunday 29 March 2009 …that is just under a month of laugh-a-minute moments courtesy of some of the craziest talent from near and far! |
| THEATRE: The Alchemist Start the year with Ben Johnson’s satirical masterpiece and a parade of wildly extravagant characters in this outrageously funny co-production with Bell Shakespeare. All that glitters might not be gold, but The Alchemist is a dazzling 24-carrat comedy classic. QPAC: 23 Feb to 14 Mar 2009 |
“Low”, the double platinum smash from Flo Rida featuring T-Pain, has topped the ARIA 2008 Top 100 Singles and Digital Track Charts*. “Low” spent three weeks at number one, an incredible 19 weeks in the top 10 and 37 weeks in the top 50, ensuring it was the dominant single of 2008. Flo Rida also had a further two singles within the top 100 and the album “Mail On Sunday” landed at #66 on the ARIA 2008 Top 100 Album Chart*.
The number one album of 2008 came from Kings Of Leon – the US rock band’s fourth studio album “Only By The Night” outselling all other releases to claim top spot on the ARIA 2008 Top 100 Album Chart. The band’s dominance was clearly evident by the success of the first two singles lifted from the album, with “Sex On Fire” spending 4 weeks at number one during the latter part of ’08, finishing at #5 on the end of year chart, with “Use Somebody” at #30. Chalking up sales in excess of 350,000 units, “Only By The Night” spent 4 weeks at number one and has not left the top 5 since its release. Topping off an incredible year for the band, their previous albums “Because Of The Times” and “Aha Shake Heartbreak” landed at #46 and #81 respectively in the end of year chart.
Continue reading ARIA unveils 2008’s Top 100 Singles, Albums & Digital Tracks, Top 50 Music DVDs
“He is our Shelley; he is our Lord Byron!” – Bono
“Leonard Cohen was the first artist I discovered by myself. He is the symbol of my musical independence. The sadness of Cohen was inspiring; it gave me a lot of energy. I always remember all this when someone says that my records are morbid or depressing.” – Nick Cave
“I tell you who I also think is wonderful is a chap called Leonard Cohen. Do you know him? He’s remarkable. I mean, the orchestration is fantastic and the words, the lyrics and everything, he’s a remarkable man.” – Prince Charles
“Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld/ so I can sigh eternally.” – Nirvana, “Pennyroyal Tea”
The Frontier Touring Company and Roundhouse Entertainment are honoured to present the legendary Mr Leonard Cohen in his first Australian concert tour in almost a quarter of a century. The tour will include a series of indoor arena concerts plus a day on the green winery shows.
Continue reading Leonard Cohen Australian Tour 2009
Our friends Sparkadia have an extra special treat for you this silly season. Their track ‘Too Much To Do’ has been remixed by hot NYC-based producer Buffalo Bill, who has also worked with the likes of Kaiser Chiefs and The Cribs, and they’re giving the song away for free to celebrate the awesome year they’ve just had.
Continue reading Free Sparkadia Track | Vote for Sparkadia in the Hottest 100!!!
The Woodford Folk Festival is almost beyond words. A festival fantasy land that will fill all of your senses. From it’s humble beginnings in 1987, known then as the Maleny Folk Festival, this yearly event has grown into one of the largest ‘folk’ festivals in the world.
Set in the picturesque countryside of Woodford and offering six days and nights of concerts, dances, workshops, circus acts, forums, street theatre, writers’ panels, film festival, comedy sessions, acoustic jams, social dialogue and debate, an entire children’s festival, art and craft workshops, late night cabarets and special events including a spectacular fire event.
A total of 23 different venues will host 580 separate acts and 1600 events over the week. Continue reading Woodford Folk Festival
Roll up! Roll up! Rock ’n’ roll ringmaster Serj Tankian has donned his top hat and will be cracking the whip at some very special shows in Australia. With System Of A Down on hiatus, the frontman has gone solo with the multi-layered album Elect the Dead and nd his band the FCC.
Music available at 
Since the album’s release in late 2007, the freshly minted solo artist has supported Foo Fighters, played festivals including Rock en Seine, Ozzfest, Coachella, Reading and
It’s been a long, long, too long a wait but finally Brian Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom and Lee Rocker will be back down under on their Farewell World Tour.
Formed in 1979 the Stray Cats took the world by storm with their infectious rockabilly musical stylings and frenetic live shows.
Having created their own version of the standard rockabilly sound by blending Brian’s jazz & swing sensibilities with the band’s love of the 70’s UK punk sound, the Stray Cats have built up a devoted following and maintained an enviable live reputation throughout their 30 year career.
Continue reading Stray Cats @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 26-27 February 2009
For the inaugural Australian series All Tomorrow’s Parties (ATP) have announced that arguably the most significant Australian export of the last twenty years Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, are to make their curating debut. The Bad Seeds intimate knowledge of all things Australian (music and otherwise) coupled with their innate sense of the weird and wonderful will – we are sure – make for a series of very unique events.
Performers already chosen to appear at All Tomorrow’s Parties 2009 include seminal Australian punk band, The Saints – featuring original members Ed Kuepper, Chris Bailey and Ivor Hay performing their first Australian shows (outside Brisbane) since 1977; British transcendentalists, Spiritualized; avant-blues artist, James Blood Ulmer (US); krautrock supergroup, Harmonia (Germany); electro-terrorists, Fuck Buttons (UK); pioneering synth-minimalists, Silver Apples (UK); psychotic space rockers, Afrirampo (Japan); Ex-Swan M. Gira (USA), the jazz-noir stylings of the Laughing Clowns (Aust), former Go-Between Robert Forster (Aust), the synth-punk of Primitive Calculators: former Birthday Party guitarist, Rowland S. Howard (Aust), post-grunge/noise devotees, The Stabs (Aust), classical-rock teenagers Bridezilla (Aust) & the sublime ambience of The Necks (Aust)
The Cat Empire
Return to The Tivoli!
| Guess who’s back? The Cat Empire. After a quieter year by Empire standards, the guys are pulling together their ever-entertaining troupe to hit the road in Australia, with the announcement of theatre shows, and more to follow for Feb/March 2009.
The National Tour will support the Feb ’09 release of a new album – Live on Earth – which incorporates recordings of shows all over the world, spanning the bands career to date. |
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Continue reading The Cat Empire @ The Tivoli, Brisbane – March 12th and 13th 2009
School’s out for summer, the craziness of Schoolies Week is over, and Christmas holidays are finally kicking in. Once the whirl of the New Year rolls around, it will be time to gear up for study again…but where to start? To edge all those students into university life, Secret Sounds is launching The Big O, an annual orientation week event to get your uni campus rocking.
The Big O will see The Music, The Fratellis, Ben Lee, Bluejuice, Yves Klein Blue and triple j Unearthed J Award nominees Cassette Kids hit the East Coast to welcome the school year. Coming to a campus near you, The Big O is a series of O Week events to be held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Wollongong and Newcastle. Tickets are available for both students and the general public. Please note these will be the only shows for headlining acts in each state! While The Big O is the official music celebration of O Week on campus, traditional initiation events will still be in full swing. Check your university website for full details..
In their last visit to Australia The Music danced up a storm, leaving the Splendour in the Grass tent bent at the seams and the crowd ballistic for more. Their headline shows sold out in minutes. Now, The Music look forward to returning to Australian shores in 2009. “It’s one of those places you look at when you are younger and can only dream about going to, so whenever I’m there I always feel privileged,” says frontman Rob Harvey. Their album ‘Strength In Numbers’ is out now. .
Glasgow guitar-slingers, The Fratellis are no strangers to the road. Having toured the UK and USA six times, the Brit Award-winning trio were one of the highlights of Splendour in the Grass 2008. Their second album ‘Here We Stand’ saw them go from indie stars to pop icons. Their sold out headline shows had venues shaking, bodies jumping, and punters shouting for more. .
Giving any crowd the warm and fuzzies is as easy as a smile and a tune for Ben Lee. The ex-pat Aussie returns home with a full band for the first tour of brand new material from his forthcoming album, “The Rebirth of Venus” due out on February 7th 2009. The ARIA Award-winning artist’s new single ‘I Love Pop Music’ has already elected Ben Lee the President of Pop. .
Who better to get a party started than Bluejuice? With a mandate to get people dancing with carefree abandon, the five piece pulls together a sweaty mix of rock, hip hop, electro and disco. Give them a little bit of vitriol on the dance floor at The Big O. .
Fresh out of the LA studio, Yves Klein Blue will be returning to their loyal Australian fan base. The Brisbane four-piece have been recording their debut album in Hollywood with Kevin Augunas (Cold War Kids, The Vandals). Yves Klein Blue caused a stir in 2008 with the release of their debut EP “Draw Attention to Themselves” which saw them embark on a national and international tour, with sold out shows from home-town Brisbane to London and New York. Their debut full-length album is due out in April 2009. .
Sydney’s Cassette Kids are the final addition to The Big O bill. On the cusp of something big, Cassette Kids have already earned a fierce reputation thanks to captivating vocalist Katrina Noorbergen. They have toured with The Presets and shared the stage with Ting Tings, New Young Pony Club, Van She and many more. .
Get some higher learning as The Big O schools students across the nation in the art of a good party throughout Orientation Week 2009!.
Secret Sounds and triple j proudly present The Big O Tickets on sale from 12pm on Friday, December 19th, 2008.
Thursday, 26th February: Monash University, Clayton Campus, Melbourne Supported by FasterLouder, Street Press Australia and Channel [V] Tickets available from www.qjump.com.au www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849 Polyester Records (Melbourne City, Fitzroy) Greville Records (Prahran) Missing Link (Melbourne City) Monash Student Association outlets For more information call (03) 9905 3035. This is an over 18’s event. Photo ID will be requested. .
Friday, 27th February: University of Sydney, Manning House Supported by FasterLouder, Street Press Australia and Channel [V] Tickets available from www.qjump.com.au www.moshtix.com.au or 1300 (GET TIX) 438 849 + Moshtix Outlets Including: Fish Records (Balmain, Leichardt, Newtown), The Music Shop (Bondi), Utopia (Broadway) Resist Records (Newtown) Red Eye Records (City) www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849 In person from The Access Centre (Level 1, Manning House) Ph: (02) 9563 6103 For more information visit www.manningbar.com or call 1800 013 201. This is an over 18’s event. Photo ID will be requested..
Saturday, 28th February: University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus Amphitheatre, Brisbane Supported by FasterLouder, Street Press Australia and Channel [V] Tickets available from www.qjump.com.au www.oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545 + Oztix Outlets Including: Butterbeats (City & Valley), Gooble Warming (West End), Rockinghorse Records, Moshpit Music (Maroochydore), Sunflower Music (Broadbeach) In person from UQ Union 2nd Hand Bookshop For more information please call (07) 3377 2259 This is an All Ages event. Photo ID will be requested to purchase alcohol..
Tuesday, 3rd March: Australian National University Bar and Refectory, Canberra Supported by FasterLouder Street Press Australia, BMA and Channel [V] Tickets available from www.qjump.com.au www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849 Landspeed Records (02) 6248 9220 For more information please call (02) 6125 3660 This is an over 18’s event. Photo ID will be requested..
Thursday, 5th March: University of Wollongong, The Great Hall & Uni Bar Supported by FasterLouder, Street Press Australia and Channel [V] Tickets available from www.qjump.com.au www.bigtix.com.au Redback Music (02) 4229 6169 Venue Unishop (02) 4221 8050 For more information please call (02) 4221 8000 This is an over 18’s event. Photo ID will be requested..
Friday, 6th March: Newcastle Uni, Bar On The Hill & Outdoor Surrounds Supported by FasterLouder, Street Press Australia, Reverb and Channel [V] Tickets available from www.qjump.com.au www.bigtix.com.au The Rock Shop (02) 4929 1856 Billy Hydes (02) 4965 4222 Uni Campus Outlets (02) 4968 3845 For more information please call Uni Campus Centre (02) 4968 3845 This is an over 18’s event. Photo ID will be requested..
www.thebigotour.com
Awaken from thy nightmarish faerytale and prepare for the violation of thy soul as the Lords of all the metal-goth-vampire disciples, the inimitable Cradle of Filth, descend upon Australian soil in 2009. Just Say Rock Productions, in bloodied unison with Roadrunner Records Australia, proudly presents the Australian leg of Cradle of Filth’s, Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder tour in May 2009.
Conspicuously missing from our shores since 2000’s Midian tour, the highly successful extreme metal innovators from Suffolk, England will deliver their full theatrical rock show to Australian audiences who have been kept waiting in the depths of murky darkness for ‘ages’.
| Billions Australia are pleased to announce that the wait is over! Canada’s psych-and-prog-spiritual pioneers BLACK MOUNTAIN are heading to Australia in February/March 2009 to take us on a ride of monster riffs, swirling Hammond and cosmic rock. |
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Black Mountain play summer festival dates at the Perth Festival and Golden Plains in Victoria but will headline their own club shows in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney!
Continue reading Black Mountain Australian Tour February, March 2009
