Category Archives: Festival

Live Review | Sounds of Spring 2009 (part 2)

Review By Jose Eduardo Cruz
Photo by Matt Palmer

MammalAfter overcoming security guards that were more intent on removing bottled water from punters then checking bags for dangerous items, I entered the RNA to a sea of people ready to have a good time. There was an incredible amount of space for everyone to move around in; there were plenty of real toilets, not those disgusting portaloo’s made famous by Kenny, and sufficient shade to shelter during the midday sun.
The first band on the agenda was Melodyssy on the Trash Stage.
With a sizable crowd present, Melodyssy dive into a powerful set. Unfortunately, the mix was way too bass driven and overpowered the guitar and vocals. Overall, they managed to please those that stayed around to listen to their whole set.

After The Fall at the Main Stage begin to warm things up with their danceable vibrant set. The crowd was rather tame considering the high energy these guys were putting out. Nevertheless, a masked Mexican wrestler and Barney Rubble made an appearance in the crowd which was duly noted by their front man.

Next in line was Dead Letter Circus and the first sing along of the festival gets started. These guys are professional and could be the next big thing potentially taking over the spot currently held by The Butterfly Effect. The pit was still subdued and only until their front man decided to jump from the stage and acquaint himself with the front row that the energy in the pit picked up. We see the first crowd surfers and the crowd ignites. In a gesture that will make everyone remember them, Dead Letter Circus started to throw multiple bottles of water into the crowd. DLC proclaim that “Sounds Of Spring” is the best festival and that there are “No glow sticks here!!”

Now I will dedicate several more words to the next band for they were, for me, by far the best band in the line up. Mammal exploded onto the stage with Ezekiel Ox wearing a pair of bull horns through the entire first song. The entire pit was electric and fed off every move from the entire band. Mid set things got a little interesting. Mr. Ox pointed to the Australian flag and explained why he did not associate himself with it. He pointed to the Aboriginal flag fixed to his mic and pledged his allegiance to Indigenous Australians. Not ever having associated Mammal with a political stance, it’s a pleasure to see and hear some level of social commentary in such a massive public gathering. Perhaps not the best delivery, considering alcohol and ignorance can lead to violent patriotism, but nonetheless an excellent move. It does not stop there, Mr. Ox decided to dive into the crowd, crowd surf his way to the middle of the pit while signing and carrying on a call and response. Looking forward to documenting this band in the near future.

Shihad, the on again off again band from across the pacific, jump on stage with their trade mark low rider guitars and embark on a greatest hits set. They struggle to get the crowd motivated enough, but it’s a hard task having to follow Mammal. The regulatory sing along is carried out as is the diving into the crowd.

As 5pm approached, the sun begun to set and people begun to tire and the ample grass space was taken over by sleepy bodies. Anticipating the forecasted dust storm, I made my way to a more protected area within the RNA.

Something with Numbers on the Triple J stage was an interesting band. They had the whole tent from the front to the back dancing. In between songs, I was approached by a fairy, which seem to come out a lot at festivals, and given a present. Before she left she said for me to dance and continue having fun.

The Beautiful Girls is a special band that is always well received wherever they play. Two new songs are debuted and near the end of their show they had the crowd singing to a Phil Collins classic. “I can feel it in the air tonight”, “I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life”… very appropriate considering the dust storm that hit Brisbane that night.

Blue King Brown is received by a much smaller crowd then they are used to. They are always cultural, political and acknowledging. The fusion of latin, reggae and rock has made them the premier band in Australia within their genre. However, this is the third time watching this band and although I am a big fan, the format of their performance has been the same the three times I have seen them. My fear is that they will be overexposed and quickly become stale. Nevertheless, they are one of the best Australian independent bands. This reviewer just hopes that something new begins to happen in their shows.
As yet another festival draws to a close, Josh Pyke gently sends everyone home with his beautiful sound.

Overall this was one of the best festivals I have ever attended. The atmosphere was excellent, there were no overly drunk idiots ruining the day for someone else, the punters were very calm and respectful and even with a dust storm that made everything seem apocalyptic, fun was had by everyone. We all await 2010 with anticipation.

BIG DAY OUT 2010 – THE OFFICIAL FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT

As 2010 looms on the horizon like a sci-fi sequel it’s time to announce what’s confirmed for the next instalment of travelling mayhem known as the Big Day Out.

So here it is… The Official First Announcement:
BIG DAY OUT 2010: Muse, Powderfinger, Lilly Allen, Eskimo Joe, Groove Armada, Grinspoon, The Mars Volta, Ladyhawke, Dizzee Rascal, Karnivool, Peaches, The Temper Trap, Kasabian, Midnight Juggernauts, Rise Against, Magic Dirt, Mastodon, Lisa Mitchell, The Horrors, Bluejuice, Calvin Harris, Kisschasy, The Decemberists, Tame Impala and Girl Talk
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Live Review: ATP NEW YORK 2009 Curated BY The Flaming Lips & ATP – September 2009

Author: Elize Strydom
Imagine a festival on the set of Dirty Dancing. Or the Shining. Or a combination of both. Imagine a festival where there is no branding or on-site sponsorships. Where the crowd only reaches 3000 people, max and you don’t have to line up for hours and purchase a beer with a drink ticket. Where there are no VIP areas or back stage hangs and the artists mix it up with the punters. Where all shows are indoors and the weather doesn’t matter. Add to that sets from three Australian bands (The Drones, The Dirty Three and Bridezilla) as well as Animal Collective, The Jesus Lizard, Sufjan Stevens, Suicide, Deerhunter and the Feelies. It’s not a dream, it’s All Tomorrow’s Parties New York. Elize Strydom and a bunch of other Aussies managed to score cheap flights and experience the magic.

Photos of the live performances: The Drones, The Feelies, The Dirty Three feat. Nick Cave on piano, Panda Bear, Iron and Wine, Suicide, The Jesus Lizard and David Cross.

Sunset Sounds 2010 Second Line Up Announcement

Sunset Sounds 2010 – Brisbane 6-7 January 2010

SUNSET SOUNDS returns to announce a picnic basket-full of guests to join the soiree-starters of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Grizzly Bear, Moby, Hilltop Hoods, King Khan & The Shrines, and loads more over January 6 and 7. Welcoming them to the lush paradise-like realm of the stunning Brisbane Botanical and City Gardens comes;

Dance-inducing, pop-culture fanatics DATAROCK (Norway)
Synth drenched icy-pop delivered by indie darlings DAPPLED CITIES
The dapper-suited pop-rock crooners LITTLE RED
Funny, dirty and devilishly clever JAMIE T (UK)
Gritty and charming modern exploration of pop music from BERTIE BLACKMAN
Evocative blenders of intelligent lyricism, the folky bliss-starters OH MERCY
The dream-like tapestries that weave an aural delight from PATRICK WATSON (Canada);
Statically charged wall of sounds from DZ;
Dressing indie tunes with a healthy dose of 60’s pop, Brissy’s own HUNGRY KIDS OF HUNGARY
Brisbane’s indie overlords FANS! DJS
Delicately layered lullabies of MCKISKO
With many more still to be announced!
Continue reading Sunset Sounds 2010 Second Line Up Announcement

Soundwave 2010 – General Public ticket announcement!

Faith No More image small   Soundwave 2010 – General Public tickets announcement!

With early bird tickets selling out in frenetic pace the excitement is palpable for the general public on sale for Soundwave 2010. So without further ado we can announce that tickets go on sale Friday 18 September at 9am. Tickets will be available through Oztix (head to the website for a full list of retail outlets at www.oztix.com.au) and www.ticketek.com.au 132 849.

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One Movement Showcase Music Festival Artists

Buy tickets
One Movement Showcase
  The live music component of the One Movement Festival is the ONE MOVEMENT SHOWCASE MUSIC FESTIVAL
As the live music component of the event, the One Movement Showcase Music Festival is unlike any festival the Southern Hemisphere has ever experienced with 80 artists playing unique 30-minute showcase sets, premiering their latest material to industry and fans alike in a full outdoor festival setting over two days at Perth Esplanade.

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Interview: Tex Perkins on Sounds of Spring, Album and Film Scores

Interview: Bek Grealy

Tex PerkinsThe Sounds of Spring line-up reads like a who’s who of Australian music. Tex Perkins is prominent and takes time out to chat to us about the festival, his album and writing film scores.

Bek – Have you checked out the final line up for Sounds of Spring? Are you looking forward to playing alongside some really great bands?
TexNo I don’t know who’s on the line up. Who is??

Bek – Shihad, The Panics, Tim Rogers, The Living End, Josh Pyke and Clare Bowditch – just to name a few – Sounds of Spring looks set to be a massive day, really impressive?
TexYes some of those are my very good friends, so I am really happy to hear that. I’d love to go and watch them when time permits. Yeh fantastic line up.

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Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Brisbane – 23 to 28 August 2009

mbff  
MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION FESTIVAL BRISBANE
HOSTED BY CITY HALL – 23 TO 28 AUGUST 2009

With the largest LCD screen assembled in Australia, showcases from national fashion giants Easton Pearson and Akira and huge international labels Dries Van Noten and Martin Margiela from Camargue, the first Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Brisbane group show at City Hall will start the festival in style on Sunday 23 August.

Festival Director Lindsay Bennett said the prestigious parade demonstrated the success of the Festival as a way to reach Queensland’s designers, retailers and fashion consumers.
Continue reading Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Brisbane – 23 to 28 August 2009

Sunset Sounds 2010 First Line Up Announcement – Brisbane 6-7 January 2010

Yeah Yeah Yeahs   Australia’s newest, hottest, summer music festival SUNSET SOUNDS is back for its sophomore year after the inaugural SELL-OUT event in January; returning to the stunning Brisbane Botanical and City Gardens over January 6 and 7 to invoke a sumptuous summer soiree of delights.

With tickets to The Falls Festival selling out each year, fans need not despair as the most sumptuous of the handpicked spices from around the globe that are playing The Falls will frolic in the park at Sunset Sounds, such as;

The kaleidoscopic vocals of Karen O guiding the formidable YEAH YEAH YEAH’S (USA); iconic songwriter and producer, MOBY (USA); rewriting the hip hop rulebook comes HILLTOP HOODS; nerve-shatteringly beautiful and likely

contender for Album Of The Year, GRIZZLY BEAR (USA – First Ever Australian Shows); harmony-laden whole hearted dynamism of THE TEMPER TRAP; in his first Oz performance with new international band comes XAVIER RUDD; iconic modern rockers the EDITORS (UK); the ethereal, organic and immaculate performance of SARAH BLASKO; the unbridled dynamic energy of incendiary guitar virtuosos RODRIGO Y GABRIELA (Mexico); a hootenanny hoedown from bluesman SEASICK STEVE (USA); captivating soaring vocals and sonic alchemy of EMILIANA TORRINI (Iceland); the dazzling guitar work and shimmering tapestry of future folk from KAKI KING (USA); Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist and lyricist, the eclectic ANDREW BIRD (USA); diversely mixed palate of classic gypsy-pop from YVES KLEIN BLUE; sweet pop-folk sensibilities of LISA MITCHELL; the 11-peice psychedelic-soul big band explosion from dynamite act KING KHAN AND THE SHRINES (Germany – First Ever Australian Shows); the rare multi-instrumentalism and indie-rock melting-pot of THE JOHN STEEL SINGERS; three sets of funky hands from the feel-good brand of obscure pulsating electro/pop from ART VS. SCIENCE and the lush, raw, emotive power from Townsville folk darling’s THE MIDDLE EAST. Plus, LOADS MORE LOCAL & INTERNTAIONAL ACTS to be announced
Continue reading Sunset Sounds 2010 First Line Up Announcement – Brisbane 6-7 January 2010

Review: Splendour In The Grass 2009 – Day 2

By: Elize Strydom

Day two! I arrive at the site to find it virtually deserted. I’m here early for good reason. I’ve been hanging out to catch Townsville collective The Middle East and they’re first up on the GW McLennan stage.

Their tunes The Darkest Side and Blood have been getting considerable airplay on triple j and a friend of the band handed me a copy of their record but I’ve been told they MUST be seen live. Five guys and one girl walk on stage and take their places behind various instruments but they won’t be there long. Throughout the set each member will put down his guitar and take up a trumpet, stop tinkling the ivories in favour of the flute, or accordion, or tambourine and on it goes. Rohin Jones takes the role as front man for much of the set. He’s smiley and gracious and thanks the audience for waking up. One minute the sound is gentle, spacious and delicate the next it’s raucous, crashing and emotive. Bree’s sweet vocals weave in and out of the softer tunes and I’m reminded of Bright Eyes during their more country rock moments. As I watch them I picture myself writing this review and just know I won’t do the Middle East justice. I haven’t. See them for yourself, post haste!
Continue reading Review: Splendour In The Grass 2009 – Day 2

Review: Splendour In The Grass 2009 – Day 1

By: Elize Strydom

The clouds have cleared and it’s a sunny 21 degree-er in Byron Bay. I’m at Splendour In The Grass but there ain’t a lot of green stuff on the ground at Belongil Feilds. No matter, no one really comes to this festival to hang out on the lawn, right?

I make my way through the gates sans sniffer dogs and my friend and I head over to the Supertop. “Let’s watch Manchester United!” I enthuse.

“Um, okay.” He says, “Not sure who they’re playing this weekend. But I know Manchester ORCHESTRA are about to play on this stage.”

Uh, yeah, that’s what I meant!

Manchester Orchestra look nothing like I expected – and no, I wasn’t expecting a real orchestra. Lead Singer Andy Hull reminds me of Joaquin Phoenix post identity crisis – a massive mop of hair, unkempt beard and wild eyes. He and his four band mates play long rock jams (with two drum kits!) with minimal lyrics and not a whole lot of interaction with the audience. I’m way up the back and people around me are into it, despite the fact that for most this is the first they’ve seen or heard from the Atlanta quintet. When they break out with triple j fave ‘I’ve Got Friends’ the crowd goes wild. It’s pretty different from the rest of their set. The song has the distinct structure of a ‘single’. When it’s over a bunch of people clear out but I stick around to the end and am not disappointed.
Continue reading Review: Splendour In The Grass 2009 – Day 1

Illness Forces Jane’s Addiction To Cancel Australian Tour Including Splendour In The Grass Performance

The Living End replace Jane’s Addiction on the bill for Splendour in the Grass 2009

It is with disappointment that organisers confirm that JANE’S ADDICTION has cancelled tomorrow’s scheduled performance at SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS due to illness.
Continue reading Illness Forces Jane’s Addiction To Cancel Australian Tour Including Splendour In The Grass Performance

Sounds Of Spring 2009: 3rd Artist Lineup Announcement

Just when you thought Sounds of Spring 2009 couldn’t get any better…another 23 acts join us to round-out the line-up

Related: Interview: Tex Perkins on Sounds of Spring, Album and Film Scores

Sounds of Spring    Tex Perkins, Salmonella Dub, Something With Numbers, Kram, Calling All Cars, Midnight Youth, Mary Trembles, MM9, Jericco, Ouch My Face, Astronomy Class, Coalition Crew, Omni Anti featuring DINO, Root!, Further, Amity Affliction, Hungry Kids of Hungary, Grand Atlantic, The Scare, Mexico City, Melodyssey, Nova Scotia, Drawn From Bees.

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20th Anniversary Abbey Medieval Festival, 11th & 12th July 2009

Medieval Battle
[Photo: Stuart Blythe]
  Saturday 11th July and Sunday 12th July mark the 20th Anniversary of the Abbey Medieval Festival.

The Abbey Medieval Festival offers an experience unlike any other. The colour, pageantry and atmosphere and the authenticity of performers will transport visitors back in time in this unique week of festival activities. Visitors will thrill to the excitement and skill of the Joust, the roar of knights in battle and be entertained by the beautiful Middle-eastern dancers, drama, music and the markets. They may also indulge their medieval taste buds and feast on tantalizing food at the Medieval Banquet or dance their way into the starry night at the Masque Ball.

This year the Jousting Spectacular will be more thrilling and competitive than ever before! The Joust is one of the festivals most popular spectacles. It is now ticketed to guarantee seating or standing space to allow as many people as possible to clearly see the event. There will be three tilts each day to maximise the opportunity for visitors to enjoy this dangerous and yet exciting event.
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Live Review: Paniyiri 2009 – Greek Celebration delights Brisbane.

Author: Lisa Lamb

paniyiri   After being forced to take a raincheck in May due to extreme weather, Paniyiri, Queensland’s signature celebration of all things Greek, took over Musgrave Park and The Greek Club, South Brisbane in a spectacular showcase of Hellenic hospitality on the weekend of July 4 and 5.

If Paniyiri doesn’t make you want to jump on a plane to Athens nothing will! From the moment you arrive your senses are accosted by the tantalising smells of souvlaki and moussaka and other Greek delights, with over thirty food stalls plus a full program of traditional cooking demonstrations in the Greek Club headlined by celebrity chef Vasili Kanidiadis from SBS’s Vasili’s Garden, will uncover the recipes and secrets behind quintessential Greek dishes. Not to mention all that ouzo, most of it very reasonably priced.

Continue reading Live Review: Paniyiri 2009 – Greek Celebration delights Brisbane.