Lauren Katulka – Page 101

Posted on 10/05/2008 by Lauren Katulka

Ross Wilson Rocking All The Way to California

This story is just too cool. Apparently Aussie legend Ross Wilson has been invited to the Eagle Rock Music Festival in Eagle Rock, California. No prizes for guessing what they’ve asked him to sing.

Ross may have written this classic rock track 38 years ago, but it’s never really gone away. It was an Aussie number one in 1971, and it hit the top 20 again in 1982. More recently Ross assumed the alias of King Mondo and recorded the song with The Wiggles.

It’s popped up again on Ross’ latest album Tributary. In an unlikely twist Ross has decided to give the song a 1908 feel in an attempt to capture what it may have sounded if it were written 100 years ago. That certainly sounds interesting!

Tributary is part of the very cool Liberation acoustic series. It hits stores today and features new takes on Ross’s solo hits, Daddy Cool classics, and Mondo Rock gems.

Of course I have to leave you with a bit of “Eagle Rock.” Here’s the man himself performing an African-inspired version of this monster hit on John Safran’s Musical Jamboree.

Posted on 09/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Videos Galore at Graeham Goble’s New Site

Here’s one for all the nostalgia buffs out there. Little River Band founder Graeham Goble has just relaunched his website with an absolute treasure trove of video content.

The site features 50 clips in all, including plenty of rare footage. See Birtles and Goble perform their hit “I’m Coming Home” on the Don Lane Show and the Paul Hogan Show. There’s also a rare duet with John Farnham at the Carols by Candlelight, and some very cool Eagles songs with none other than Glenn Frey!

The spiffy new website coincides with this week’s release of Graeham’s new album Let it Rain. To get you in the mood,here’s the film clip from the LRB classic, “Reminiscing.”

Posted on 08/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Jimmy Barnes Plans Theatre Tour

Aussie rock icon Jimmy Barnes has announced his first major theatre tour in more than a decade.

“It’s something I haven’t really done since Soul Deep,” Jimmy said in a press release. “I’ve had a fantastic run of big outdoor and winery shows over the past summer but I’m itching to get back indoors. The rooms are small enough to still get intimate with the audience, but you can stretch out more than in a pub.”

The up close and personal gigs follow the success of Jimmy’s latest album Out of the Blue. Jimmy will perform songs from this platinum release and plenty of old favourites. Jimmy’s keeping it all in the family, with his son Jackie playing drums in his band and his daughter Mahalia opening the shows.

This is the large chance local fans have to see Jimmy before he embarks on a European tour in spring. So make sure you get your tickets when they go on sale on Monday May 12.

See Jimmy when he hits the following venues:

25 June 2008 – Canberra Theatre Centre
27 June 2008 – Settlers, Mildura
28 June 2008 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
4 July 2008 – Concert Hall, Brisbane
5 July 2008 – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
7 July 2008 -Brolga Theatre, Maryborough
8 July 2008 – Caloundra RSL, Caloundra
10, 12, and 13 July 2008 – The Palms at Crown, Melbourne
16 July 2008 – Regent Theatre, Wollongong
18 July 2008 – Panthers, Newcastle
19 July 2008 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney

Image source: DianeSunshineCoast @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on 07/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Party to Protest Melbourne Curfew

Melbourne is regarded as something like Australia’s version of New York: a city that never sleeps with an exciting music and arts scene. That reputation is under threat though as the state government plans to trial a 2 am curfew

So what does it all mean? Basically you won’t be able to enter a bar in Melbourne after 2 am. If you’re already inside that’s fine, but don’t even think about ducking outside for a ciggie or a quick chat on your mobile phone.

The government says the move will curb alcohol-fuelled violence by reducing the amount of bar hoppers circulating the city. Others say it’s just going to spoil everybody’s fun. Personally some of the drunkest folks I’ve seen are the ones too intoxicated to move from one pub to the next!

If you think John Brumby and his ministers are a bunch of killjoys join the party protest on the steps of Parliament House. Just head to Spring Street at 11 pm on May 30 to have a great time and make a difference!

Image source: Robyn Jay @ Flickr

Posted on 07/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Mary J. Blige Announces First Australian Tour

It’s been a long time coming, but R&B royalty Mary J. Blige will finally tour Australia this June.

She’ll head Down Under to promote her eighth studio album Growing Pains.

“Mary J. Blige is a superstar in anyone’s language,” said promoter Michael Chugg. “She is sexy, stylish, sassy and what a voice! She’s one of the greatest live acts I’ve ever seen and I’m thrilled to bring her to Australia for the first time. I had goose bumps when I saw her perform with Sting at the VH1 Awards and so did Sting! I can’t wait to see her blow Australian music lovers away.”

These hot tickets go on sale on May 16.

Here are the all important dates!

10 June 2008 – Burswood Dome, Perth
12 June 2008 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
13 June 2008 – Entertainment Centre, Sydney
14 June 2008 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane

Image source: Mikamote @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on 06/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Gyroscope Tickets Sell Fast

There’s less than a week to go until Gyroscope embark on their Breed Obsession tour. But if you were hoping to grab some last minute tickets, you might need to think again.

Plenty of shows are already sold out, and others are selling fast. And these tickets are only going to get rarer now the band’s latest single “Australia” has hit radio.

It shows the band’s softer side, with acoustic guitars and intimately patriotic lyrics.

“This was a really fitting song for the album,” Daniel Sanders said in a press release. “It was essentially written about myself leaving England as a tot and coming to Australia, and then growing up here, appreciating it, and embracing our culture and heritage and falling in love with it all. I wanted to express it for my own sake. So I could rejoice in what I love about this country.”

Too right!

If you want to see the lads, there are still some tickets available for the all-ages gig at Sydney’s Metro on May 16, and the under-18s show at the Hi-Fi Bar & Ballroom in Melbourne on May 18.

Posted on 06/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Kylie Awarded Top French Honour

We love her, the Brits love her, and it seems the French love Kylie too. They awarded our pop princess its highest cultural honour, the Order of Arts and Letters, in a ceremony in Paris yesterday.

France’s cultural minister Christine Albanel told Kylie she was a “Midas of the international music scene who turns everything she touches into gold.”

But it wasn’t just Kylie’s catchy tunes hotpants that impressed France. Ms Albanel also applauded the work she’s done in increasing the profile of breast cancer.

“I want to publicly salute the courage you showed by revealing publicly that you had breast cancer. Doctors now even go as far as saying there is a ‘Kylie effect’ that encourages young women to have regular checks,” she added.

Kylie’s proud parents Ron and Carol Minogue made the trip to France to support their daughter.

Kylie kicks off her European tour in Paris tonight.

Image source: Georges Biard @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on 05/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Music Channel Brings You Sensational Songs

I promised it and the music channel delivered: plenty of must-hear songs for your iPod, MP3 player, or old-fashioned stereo! Here’s what my clever colleagues came up with.

Sammi at 52 Bands has outdone herself with four music videos from the likes of Ben Folds Five and Amy Winehouse.
Ana at Austin Sound Check has introduced me to Full Service and Built by Snow.
Devorah may cover the New York Music Scene, but she’s still digging Aussie outfit Architecture in Helsinki!
Duffy’s so hot right now, and Dave at Brit Music Scene tells us which song he thinks you must hear.
Jason at Christian Music Fan thinks we need to listen to a little Derek Webb and Tobymac.
Heather at Country Music Stop shows us Jewel’s Southern flavour.
Lara at Crooner Culture serves up one of my favourites: “Everything” by Michael Buble. That man makes me swoon!
Roberta at Ear Sucker likes to rock, whether it’s old school like Def Leppard or new school like Cradle of Filth.
Stacey at Hippie Sounds serves up some classic cuts from Paul McCartney and Crosby Stills and Nash.
I don’t know a whole lot about industrial music, but Derek at Industrial Addiction has steered me in the right direction with videos by Within Temptation and Mortiis.
Bryan at Jazz and Blues Lounge offers none other than Miles Davis andDave Brubeck. I agree – these songs should be in every music collection!
Dave shows us two videos that never got the attention they deserved at Killed by the Video Star.
Scott at Metal Martyr encourages us to take advantage of two free downloads!
Find your bliss with Shankar’s favourite songs at New Age Vibe.
After that you might want something a little more upbeat. Denise at News in Punk has just the thing.
I absolutely love “Falling Slowly,” and so does Bruce at Our Digital Music. Go listen to it at his blog!
Dexie at Pop Music Scene is listening to Flyleaf and Nelly, and she thinks you should too!
Something old and something new: Deb at She Plays Music recommends a little Patsy Cline and Fiona Apple.
Albert at Smells Like Alternative shows us a new spin on the old Pearl Jam classic “Corduroy.”
Bruce at The Rock Dose gives us a double dose of Dylan.
Our resident Rock Relic Chuck offers two videos from one of his favourite bands, The Fore.
Mike at Toronto Unplugged tells us we need to listen to two of Canada’s finest … and there’s no Nickelback or Celine Dion to be seen!

Image source: Dan Barrett @ Unsplash

Posted on 05/05/2008 by Lauren Katulka

Two Must Have Aussie Tracks

Here at the music channel we believe you can never have enough great songs. So today we’re playing good Samaritans and telling you the tunes you need on your MP3 player. Every blogger will talk about the two tracks they think you must own.

Personally, I’m in a bit of a romantic mood at the moment, so I figured I’d write about some of my favourite love songs.

The first is “Sew My Name” by Josh Pyke. I’ve always had a thing for cute guitar boys, so Josh ticks all those boxes. He’s pure mellow acoustic goodness. This is probably my favourite of his tracks because it’s just so sweetly romantic. It’s like a modern fairytale – beautiful but quirky and free of clichés.

For something different I figured I’d take a look at the flipside and dig up something a little older, and something by a great female singer. Renee Geyer was the obvious choice. Here she is with the delicious “Say I Love You.” It’s so bold and brassy and fun, with a beat that was just made for dancing. Don’t fight it – just do it!

Posted on 04/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Kylie Admits US Failure, Focuses on European Tour

Kylie Minogue might be massive in Australia and Europe, but American audiences haven’t warmed to our pop princess.

Her newie X topped the Aussie, Greek, and Taiwanese charts, and cracked the top ten in the UK, and Switzerland. But in the United States the record sold a measly 6000 copies, and limped into the Billboard charts at number 139. With appearances on The Today Show, Dancing with the Stars, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and The Late Late Show to support it, X simply should have done better.

Kylie knows when to quit, and she’s ruled out further efforts in the American market.

“I gave it my best shot. I won’t try again,” she told Britain’s Daily Mail.

And seriously, why would she? She’s got a European tour to think about. Fans there have spent more than half a million dollars on tickets.

Kylie’s first tour since her breast cancer diagnosis will kick off in Paris on Tuesday, before taking in Greece, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Luxembourg, Russia, Latvia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

All those enthusiastic European fans should make her American flop a little easier to swallow. If you want to be amongst them, see when Kylie’s visiting you.

6 May 2008 – Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris
7 May 2008 – Sportpaleis, Antwerp
9 May 2008 – Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart
10 May 2008 – Festhalle, Frankfurt
12 May 2008 – O2 Arena, Prague
14 May 2008 – Stadthalle, Vienna
15 May 2008 – Sports Arena, Budapest
17 May 2008 – Cotroceni Stadium, Bucharest
18 May 2008 – Lokomotiv Stadium, Sofia
20 May 2008 – Kurucesme Arena, Istanbul
22 May 2008 – Terra Vibe, Athens
25 May 2008 – Hallenstadion, Zurich
27 May 2008 – Cologne Arena, Cologne
29 May 2008 – Olympiahalle, Munich
30 May 2008 – Geneva Arena, Geneva
1 June 2008 – Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon
3 May 2008 – Palacio de Deportes, Madrid
5 June 2008 – Rockhal, Luxembourg
7 June 2008 – Colorline Arena, Hamburg
8 June 2008 – Forum, Copenhagen
10 June 2008 – Spektrum, Oslo
11 June 2008 – Globe, Stockholm
13 June 2008 – Hartwell Arena, Helsinki
16 June 2008 – Olimpiiski, Moscow
18 June 2008 – New Arena, St Petersburg
20 June 2008 – Riga Arena, Riga
22 June 2008 – Velodrom, Berlin
23 June 2008 – Ahoy, Rotterdam
26, 27, 29, and 30 June 2008 – Odyssey Arena, Belfast
5, 6, 8 and 9 July 2008 – Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow
11, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 18 July 2008 – Evening News Arena, Manchester
20, 21, 23 and 24 July 2008 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
26, 27, 29 and 30 July, and 1, 2 and 4 August 2008 – O2 Arena, London

Image source: Sunrise.seven @ Flickr