After The Fire Charity CD for Victorian Bushfire Victims

So you picked up Bushfire Aid, saw Sound Relief, but still want to do more to help the victims of Victoria’s horrific bushfires? A new compilation CD can help you do just that.

After the Fire features acoustic performances by some of Australia’s most amazing musicians. Each artist had just an hour to record their track, adding to the CD’s spontaneous and honest feel. Most were captured after just the first or second take.

Many of the songs were penned exclusively for the recording. Others, like Renee Geyer’s “Dedicated (To the One I Love)” are old favourites.

This is an album full of stories. Brian Mannix wrote his song “All I Know” just moments before laying it down. Chocolate Starfish reformed for just one hour to take part. And little known singer-songwriter Ross Buchanan, a survivor of the Kinglake bushfire, contributed “Salty Tears,” a song written just after his ordeal.

All money raised from the sale of After the Fire will go to the St Vincent De Paul Society of Victoria’s Bushfire survivor’s relief fund. You can get your copy from the After the Fire MySpace page.

Upper Coomera State College Wins Kate Miller-Heidke Competition

You might remember me mentioning Kate Miller-Heidke’s “Caught in the Crowd” competition, which invited high school students to create their own music video.

The entries are in, and Upper  Coomera State College in Queensland has emerged victorious. Their brilliant video highlights not just traditional bullying, but also the modern epidemic of cyberbullying. Check it out below!

The school has picked up a $2000 video hardware package and a live performance from Kate Miller-Heidke for their hard work.

If you’re not lucky enough to be a student, you can still see Kate as she embarks on her Caught in the Crowd tour. It kicks off at Melbourne’s Prince in Wales on April 30.

Record Store Day Australia is Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the first inaugural Record Store Day Australia. Record shops across the country are indulging in some good old fashioned in-store appearances with live performances and signings from top local and international artists.

Expect a few sales, freebies, and other promotional activities too.

Read on to see who’s appearing at your local store!

NEW SOUTH WALES
Ronan Keating: 1 pm @ Mall Music, Warringah Mall, Brookvale, Northern Sydney
Natalie Bassingthwaite: 1 pm @ Virgin Megastore, George Street, Sydney
Rob Hirst: 3 pm @ Mall Music, Warringah Mall, Brookvale, Northern SydneyWes Carr: 10 am @ Leading Edge Music, Warriewood, Noon @ Leading Edge Music, Carlingford, 1.30 pm @ Sanity, Blacktown, 3.00pm @ JB Hi Fi, Parramatta
Jessica Mauboy: 11:30 am @ Mall Music, Warringah Mall, Brookvale, 1:30pm @ NV Liverpool
Cassie Davies: 10am @ Mall Music, Warringah Mall, Brookvale, Noon @ Virgin Mega Store, Sydney City, 1:10pm @ JB Hi-Fi Bondi
Cassette Kids: 10 am @ JB Hi Fi Bondi, 11:30am @ Virgin Mega Store, City
Amber Lawrence: 1 pm @Richmond Records, Market Place, Richmond
Mark Cashin & The Lil’ Husseys: 10am @ Leading Edge Lakehaven
Short Stack: 1:30 pm @ JB Hi Fi Tuggerah
Melinda Schneider: 11 am @ JB Hi Fi Erina
Jaywalker: 11 am @ HMV Erina
Daniel Dawes: Noon @ Leading Edge Warriewood
Bob Short: Mojo, Short Street, Sydney
Annie Capare: Mudgee Bookcase, Mudgee
Local music showcase:The Rock Factory, Crown Street, Wollongong
Local music showcase: Rock Sounds & Hi Fi, Main Street, Lithgow
Local music showcase: Leading Edge Music, Westfield, Figree
Mitchell Shadlow : St Mary’s Sound Centre, St. Mary’s

ACT
Wendy Matthews: 1 pm @ Songland Tuggeranong
8 local bands : The Music Shop, Garema Place, City Walk, Civic

VICTORIA
Cheech and Chong: Noon @ JB Hi Fi Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Russell Morris: 1 pm @ JB Hi Fi Eastland
Little Birdy: 1 pm @ JB HI Fi Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne
Pez:1 pm @ Sanity Melbourne Central
Scissor File: 2 pm @ JB Hi Fi Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne
Paul Costa: 11 am @ Leading Edge, Kangaroo Flat
The Bedroom Philosopher: 2 pm @ Collectors Corner, Swanston St, Melbourne
Local music showcase: Leading Edge Music, Colac

QUEENSLAND
Troy Casser Daley: 1 pm @ JB Hi Fi Ipswich
Texas Tea: 12:30 pm @ Rocking Horse Records, Brisbane
The Gin Club: 1:30 pm @ Rocking Horse Records, Brisbane
Yves Klein Blue: 2:30 pm @ Rocking Horse Records, Brisbane

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Special Patrol: 2 pm @ The Muses, Rundle Mall, Adelaide
Dave Gleeson: Noon @ Sanity Marion, 1:30 pm @ JB Hi Fi, Rundle Mall, Rundle

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Alex Lloyd: 1 pm @ JB Hi Fi Perth
Local musicians jam session: from 10 am @ Chinatown Music, Broome

NORTHERN TERRITORY
Local music showcase: Murray Neck Music World, Alice Plaza Shopping Centre, Alice Springs

Image source: Senor Codo @ Flickr

Sound Relief Raises More Than $8 Million for Disaster Charities

Fresh from the news that Bushfire Aid has raised $1.6 million for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal comes official reports of the profits of Sound Relief. The benefit concerts staged in Sydney and Melbourne last month raised more than $8 million. If you’re keeping score, that’s $7,159,760 for the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and $874,416 for the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal.

“We are thrilled with the amount of money raised by Sound Relief. It is no small exercise to stage two stadium concerts of such magnitude and the willingness of so many to provide their talent, time, labour and equipment free or at cost has allowed such a significant sum to be raised for the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and The Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal,” the organisers said in a statement.

“We are proud to have been part of Sound Relief and hope the funds raised will help to heal the communities that have been impacted on by these devastating disasters.”

The concerts reunited classic acts like Midnight Oil, Hunters & Collectors, and Split Enz, and featured surprise duets by Coldplay and John Farnham and Barry Gibb and Olivia Newton-John.

Image source: Wikipedia

Dance til you Drop with Novanation Radio

Neon Records has announced a long-term commitment to power the new DMG digital 24-hour dance station Novanation. Neon will supply exclusive content to the station, including a new weekly dance show Neon Essential 10. The program’s host, Grant Smillie of TV Rock, had this to say about the deal.

“We think is a great step forward for the dance community and all Australian electronic artists. We now have a 24 hour station dedicated to playing and breaking music … with the blurring of boundaries between rock, pop and dance The DMG network has taken the leap forward and we as part of the dance community applaud and are proud to be on board.”

To celebrate the launch of Novanation, Neon Records and Warner Music Australia will release a series of dance compilation CDs this year. The first features top dance artists like Zoe Badwi, Roger Sanchez, and Armand Van Helden remixed by TV Rock and Chardy. The double CD, Neon Essential – Volume 1, will be in stores from May 1.

But that’s just the start of the Novanation phenomenon. We can also expect a national tour supporting the CD to kick off on April 25. Dates are yet to be announced, so watch this space!

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Sony Bushfire Aid CD Raises $1.6 Million for Victorian Bushfire Victims

Congratulations Australia! You have helped Sony Music’s Bushfire Aid: Artists for the Bushfire Appeal CD raised more than $1.6 million for the Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal.

The CD, featuring international and local artists, was released just days after the Victorian bushfire tragedy. Artists contributing to the CD, including Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, and The Living End, waived their royalties for the project. The CD’s manufacturers also waived the production costs.

The album is still available in stores, so if you haven’t got yours yet, why not? Let’s get those proceeds up to a cool $2 million!

Image source: Tastygoldfish @ Flickr

Bacardi Express Special on Channel V

The second Bacardi Express has just wrapped up its travelling tour. The train took Groove Armada, British India, Bluejuice, Van She, Lost Valentinos, Beardyman, and HOOPS DJs from Melbourne to Sydney. The bands made pit stops in Wagga Wagga and Wollongong, and it sounds like they had just as much fun as the crowds!

“The Bacardi Express was a totally unique experience. From the train where we got the opportunity to jam with the other bands on the tour, to the full capacity gigs, which included our first ever matinee DJ set,” said Andy Cato from headliners Groove Armada. “We’ve been to Australia many times before but this is up there with one of our best trips.”

The tour opened to a packed house at Melbourne’s The Palace. The bands fed off the high-energy audience, which Groove Armada’s Tom Findlay described as “off the rails.”

But the Bacardi Express experience is about more than the shows; it’s about the journey. The bands, along with some lucky competition winners, enjoyed the trip on the luxurious 15-carriage Bacardi Express. The train came complete with two dining cars, three cocktail bars (with plenty of Bacardi on hand of course!), a gaming room, chill-out lounge, and the very cool jamming room. One of the highlights of the trip was Tom Findlay’s impromptu five-hour DJ set. There were also five sleeper carriages, but with entertainment like that going on I can’t imagine they were used much!

Stav from Bluejuice broke the golden rule and offered some insight into the tour’s shenanigans.

“Bacardi Express was total awesomeness … I lost my voice four times over, I wore a Ugandan model’s clothes and talked like a drag queen for at least fifteen minutes. I won a trivia quiz with the Lost Valentinos’ boys and will bask in that glory forever.”

If you missed the event, you can catch some of the action on pay TV. Channel V will air a Bacardi Express special from May 15. Check it out!

Image used with permission from Peer Group Media

Boom Crash Opera Dancing in the Storm Again

Boom Crash Opera is the latest band to give their hits the acoustic treatment with a Liberation Blue album.

The stripped-bare Dancing in the Storm will feature the title track, “Onion Skin,” “The Best Thing” and plenty more smash hits from the 80s and 90s. It comes 12 years after the release of their last studio album, Gizmo Mantra.

Dancing in the Storm is due for release on May 1. There’s also playing some acoustic shows with Taxiride and Sean Kelly to celebrate the album’s launch. Here are all the dates!

14 May 2009 – Conrad Treasury Casino “Live Wire Bar,” Brisbane
15 May 2009 – Victoria Point Sharks Club, Brisbane
16 May 2009 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
21 May 2009 – The Basement, Sydney
22 May 2009 – Towradgi Beach Hotel, Wollongong
29 May 2009 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
30 May 2009 – Barwon Heads Hotel
7 June 2009 – Rutherglen Winery, Victoria
12 Jun 2009 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Eskimo Joe Ready to Release Album Number 4

This is our first look at the artwork for Inshalla, the much-anticipated fourth album from Eskimo Joe.

The first single “Foreign Land” is all over radio at the moment, coming in as the most added song for the week. And it’s little wonder why. Everything this Western Australian trio touches turns to gold, and this album’s likely to be no different.

But don’t expect more of the same. The group has embraced a fresh new sound for the curiously titled album. Guitarist Joel Quartermain explained the meaning behind the mystical moniker.

“In the very early stage of writing the album, our singer [Kav Temperley] spent five days in Egypt and he heard everyone saying this word ‘inshalla’, which literally translates to ‘god willing’ but can be interpreted a number of ways,” he said.

“For us, it is more about being resigned to fate and accepting what will be will be. It was a turning point for the band when we decided to ease off control and let fate take over. And, of course, it’s a beautiful word which is another reason why we chose it.”

Inshalla hits stores on May 29.

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

"All Woman" – Various Artists

Last month I told you about Warner Music Australia’s newest compilation album All Woman. I got my hands on an advance copy last week, and I’ve been blasting it ever since.

It’s two CDs chock-full of girl power anthems. All the usual suspects are there – Aretha, Whitney, k.d., and Marcia – alongside new kids Delta Goodrem, Gabriella Cilmi, Joss Stone, and Colbie Caillait. Forget those whiny love ballads bemoaning lost love: these women are confident and in control, and their energy is infectious. The diverse track selection of soul divas, rock goddesses, and pop princesses ensures the CD stacks up to repeated listens, and sing-alongs. As soon as I finish disc two, I’m ready to pop in disc one again.

This is the sort of soundtrack you need for road trips with the girls or a long day’s housework. Best of all, $1 from the sale of every CD will benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation. You can get yours when All Woman hits stores on Friday, April 17.

Image source: Chaos website