Tag Archives: Ben Lee

FUNtastic THIRD artist announcement for Bluesfest 21st celebration!

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The Great Music Keeps on Coming…

FUNtastic THIRD artist announcement for Bluesfest 21st celebration!

Playing Schedule online + One Day tickets selling FAST

The third major round of artists to perform at the 21st Anniversary Bluesfest has today been announced. The great music just keeps on coming in what is fast being considered by the media as the best ever Bluesfest bill – a fitting scenario for a 21st birthday celebration. And there’s still approximately 40 artists yet to be announced!
Continue reading FUNtastic THIRD artist announcement for Bluesfest 21st celebration!

Photos | The Big O Festival 2009 @ UQ Brisbane, 28 February

The Big O Festival 2009 @ UQ Brisbane, 28 February Photo Galleries
  Photographer: Stuart Blythe for LifeMusicMedia

Click the image to view the gallery…
The Music @ The Big O Festival 2009 : UQ St Lucia 28 February 20

Cassette Kids, Yves Klein Blue, BlueJuice, Ben Lee, The Fratellis, The Music

Brisbane Events Quick List for February, March 2009



Related:
February Festival List 2009 Australia
Festival List March, April & May 2009 Australia

ARIA Chart News, w/c 16 February 2009

Lily Allen debuts at Number One on ARIA Album Chart

Lily Allen’s new album, “It’s Not Me, It’s You” has raced straight to number one on the ARIA Album Chart this week, eclipsing her debut album “Alright Still” which peaked at #7 back in 2006. At the same time, “The Fear” has earned Lily her first top 10 on the ARIA Singles Chart, moving up from 13 to 8 this week.

In addition to Lily Allen, there are two further top 40 album debuts this week. Coming in at #3 is The Fray with their sophomore release “The Fray”, the follow up to “How To Save A Life” which hit #1 on the ARIA Album Chart in March 2007, some 9 months after release. Impacting at #21 is Ben Lee’s “The Rebirth Of Venus”, his sixth album since “Breathing Tornadoes” was released in 1998. Ben Lee - The Rebirth of Venus

Following a successful Australian tour, Leonard Cohen moves to sit just outside the Continue reading ARIA Chart News, w/c 16 February 2009

The Rebirth Of Venus & The Big O Festival – Ben Lee talks with Elize Strydom

This Boy’s In Love –
by Elize Strydom
benleerebirthalbumcover Ben Lee is in a good place. Granted, he’s in the honeymoon phase. Literally. As 2008 drew to a close Lee married his sweetheart, Ione Skye, in a Hindu ceremony in India. Add to that a shiny new album (The Re-Birth of Venus due out February 7th), a pop song on the radio and a national university tour (The Big O Festival) and you’ll start to realise why he’s so damn smiley all the time. Oh yes, this boy’s in love.

“For me, being in a stable relationship has allowed me to relax in a way that I didn’t even realise I wasn’t relaxed before. Probably because I was just putting all of my energy into chasing chicks! When you find someone that you trust and you love and you’re inspired by and you’re attracted to there’s a kind of support that can allow you to go to a deeper level. So I think with my records there’s starting to be this sound of relaxation in the music which is really nice.”

Indeed. The Re-Birth of Venus is Lee’s seventh solo album and his fifth with Chicago based producer Brad Wood.

“I’ve tried other producers but working with Brad is like coming home. We trust each other and it’s hard to build that trust. It’s not intellectual which I like. You just get together with friends and you make music and that’s how it works.”

For someone who started making records when he was 14, Lee is showing no signs of hitting the brakes. In terms of commercial success, it’s been a slow burning career for the guy that some just love to hate (do I need to mention that song by the Ataris?). In 2005 Lee won an ARIA award for Best Male Artist and Catch My Disease was the most played song on Australian radio. Does the thought of offering yet another album daunt him?

“These last few years I’ve been so wrapped up in process of making records I’ve become quite divorced from the anticipation of sharing them. I’m constantly chasing this experience that I want out of making records and music and I’m getting less and less concerned with how they’re received. I don’t feel at all that I’m doing it for the sake of it.”

The first single lifted from the new album (I Love Pop Music) reads like a summary of Lee’s world view with lines like:
Global warming threatens life as we know it Our leaders have not committed to a plan of action on renewable energy
and:
Religious intolerance creating geo-political instability.
Our lives are accelerating as we fall out of touch with nature and ancient myth.
Try singing along to that, kids! He rounds it out with the chorus:
I love pop music, sprinkle sugar through it Philosophy that you can dance to

Hmmm, please explain.

“One way or another I’ve always been interested in embracing the classic elements of a pop song which are about the bubblegum stuff that just make you feel good and at the same time tried to subvert it a little bit and add new left field twists to it. So I think that song just continues that idea.”

Catch Ben Lee at the Big O Festival touring universities around the country during Orientation Week.

The Big O Kick Starts Uni Life!

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

Ben Lee Bio

ben-lee
Ben Lee has been making albums since he was 14 years old.
• Recordings by his first band, Noise Addict, were released in the US by Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and Mike D of the Beastie Boys.
• The Re-Birth of Venus is his seventh solo album and his fifth collaboration with Chicago-based producer, Brad Wood.
• Ben has been nominated for thirteen ARIA Awards and has won six, including Best Male Artist in 2005. In that year, ‘Catch My Disease’ was the most played song on Australian Radio.
• Ben has collaborated with a vast array of artists including Liz Phair, Evan Dando, Ben Kweller, Ben Folds, Jason Schwartzman and Kylie Minogue.
• He has also starred in a film, The Rage in Placid Lake, and composed the ARIA and AFI-nominated soundtrack to the new Australian movie, The Sqaure.
• Ben lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Ione Skye, and his stepdaugher, Kate.
• New single ‘I Love Pop Music’ points out how pop music can also provide a serious message.
• ‘I Love Pop Music’ will be released digitally on December 20th.
• Missy Higgins and Patience Hodgson join Ben on ‘I Love Pop Music’.
• New album, “The Rebirth of Venus” is out through Dew Process/UMA on February 7th 2009.
• The inspiration for ‘The Rebirth Of Venus” is to celebrate feminine qualities such as creativity and compassion, hence the title.
• The new album was recorded with Brad Wood (Awake Is the New Sleep)
Ben Lee will be touring in March 2009


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Splendour In The Grass – Final Acts Announced

Clare Bowditch

It is with great pleasure we announce the second and final round of acts playing the sold out Splendour in the Grass taking place in Byron Bay on August 2nd and 3rd.

The Polyphonic Spree, New Young Pony Club, Yves Klein Blue, Lyrics Born, Tokyo Police Club, Albert Hammond Jr, Little Red, Clare Bowditch (pictured above), Bluejuice, Robert Forster, The Drones, Hadouken!, Bliss N Eso, Paul Dempsey, Katalyst, Even, British India, The Galvatrons, Delta Spirit, Slot Machine, The Black Stars, Van She Tech, Bag Raiders, Soft Tigers Food Fight, E.L.F Dj, Kato And Pob

join the already cracking line-up of:

Devo, The Music, Wolfmother, Sigur Ros, The Living End, The Presets
Tricky, Vampire Weekend, Ben Lee, Cold War Kids, The Fratellis
The Wombats, Pnau, Laura Marling, The Vines, The Grates, Operator Please,
Band of Horses, Van She, The Panics, Gyroscope, MSTRKRFT, Lightspeed Champion,
The Brown Birds from Windy Hill, Scribe, The Gin Club

See our original article – Click here.

Splendour In the Grass – Belongil Fields – 2008

Splendour In The Grass – 2008 SOLD OUT
***  ALL 2008 TICKETS SOLD OUT  ***

The Presets will play Splendour In The Grass

“….the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is an amazing line-up and the type of outstanding performances that have become the festival’s trademark. the two best days in any music lover’s calendar year… Splendour in the Grass!” Faster Louder

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS will return to warm up your winter this Saturday 2nd and Sunday August 3rd, 2008. Australia’s much loved festival event will take place at Belongil Fields in Byron Bay and will feature a veritable feast of musical treasures from around the globe.

This year all tickets to SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS will be sold online through the ticketing service, Qjump, via www.qjump.com.au. Qjump is a newly launched online ticketing company whose parent company has 7 years experience providing web based ticketing services. Qjump sells tickets for many leading Australian events and venues and its website and custom built hosting environment has been specifically designed to meet the high capacity on-sale demands of events like Splendour. In our efforts to improve and streamline the ticketing process, this year’s tickets will be delivered to buyers by email using Qjump’s print@home e-ticket. The benefits of this include reducing paper usage, greenhouse gas emissions and ticket scalping as well as reducing the cost of delivery for ticket buyers. Tickets go on sale at www.qjump.com.au from 9am on Thursday 22nd May.

From Akron, Ohio and Bristol, UK to Reykjavik, Iceland and the sunny Gold Coast, here’s a taste of the first acts lined up to thrill at SPLENDOUR 2008.

Splendour In The Grass Lineup Announcement (first acts lineup) –
Devo, The Music, Wolfmother, Sigur Ros, The Living End, The Presets
Tricky, Vampire Weekend, Ben Lee, Cold War Kids, The Fratellis
The Wombats, Pnau, Laura Marling, The Vines, The Grates, Operator Please,
Band of Horses, Van She, The Panics, Gyroscope, MSTRKRFT, Lightspeed Champion,
The Brown Birds from Windy Hill, Scribe, The Gin Club…
AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS 2008 TICKET PRICES
Event ticket $199 (inc gst) + bf
Green Event Ticket $206 (inc gst) + bf
Camping ticket $132 (inc gst) + bf

TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY 22ND MAY AT 9AM
Internet sales only – www.qjump.com.au

 

Links:  Splendour In The Grass site
Faster Louder