AC/DC could add a Juno to their trophy case. The Aussie band’s comeback record Black Ice has been nominated for International Album of the Year at the Canadian equivalent of the ARIAs.
They’ll go head to head with some rock stalwarts: Metallica’s Death Magnetic and Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy are up for the gong, alongside Coldplay’s Viva La Vida and Jack Johnson’s Sleep Through the Static.
The Juno Awards are on March 29 in Vancouver.
Image source: Newscom
It seems there’s no truth to the rumors that Madonna’s Sticky and Sweet tour will visit Australia later this year.
Undercover says Madonna’s record label has denied the stories and the promoter who was negotiating with Madonna before the dollar crashed says the talks are off the table. The dates published in newspapers last week don’t check out with venue bookings either.
Sorry Madonna fans but it all makes sense. When the tour was originally planned we were getting 95c to the US dollar. These days it’s sitting at around 65c. For shows so spectacular, the cost after the conversion would be phenomenal.
It looks like Madonna fans would be better off saving for an overseas trip if they want to catch the show, because I can’t see it finding its way here.
Image source: Bauer-Griffin
Adopted Aussies Evermore wowed me with their new single “Between the Lines”, and it looks like there’s more where that came from. They’ll unleash their third album Truth of the World: Welcome to the Show on March 21.
We can expect much more than a mish-mash of radio-friendly songs here, as lead singer Jon Hume explains.
“I heard someone say that albums were dead … and everyone just wants three minute songs these days. That’s exactly what we are trying to fight with this record,” he said in a statement.
“We hit reset on what this band was about, threw everything out and just imagined the record we would want to hear someone else make. Something you could put on and not ever want to hit skip… one piece of music that ebbs and flows but never stops. It’s a concept album that takes inspiration from trash entertainment, news headlines and political propaganda, and turns it into an over the top, fun, rock’n’roll show.”
You can catch that “over the top, fun, rock’n’roll show” when the lads hit the road in April and May. Stay tuned for the dates when they’re released!
Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia
Sydney band Decoder Ring has scored the prestigious support slot for Coldplay’s Viva La Vida Australian tour. The local lads, who were hand-selected by the British band, will play for 150, 000 fans at 11 Aussie arena shows.
Decoder Ring’s organic sounds and psychedelic electronic arrangements are sure to set the stage for Coldplay’s spectacular audiovisual show.
There are strictly limited tickets available through Ticketek. Here are all the dates.
27 and 28 February 2009 – Burswood Dome, Perth
3, 4, and 5 March 2009 – Rod Laver Arena, Rod Laver Arena
8 and 9 March 2009 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
11, 12, 14, and 15 March 2009 – Acer Arena, Sydney
Image used with permission from Liz O’Grady
Forget the entertainment centres. The coolest gig on Fall Out Boy’s Australian tour will be an invite-only show on the deck of the HMAS Tobruk.
“We’re pumped to come back to Australia for our national tour in February, and what a great way to cap it off by taking over Sydney Harbour and playing in front of one of the world’s most iconic bridges,” bass player Pete Wentz said.
Among the lucky front-row ticket holders will be the 140 crew members who’ve recently returned from deployment overseas.
“It is a great opportunity for the Navy, giving our people and competition winners a once in a lifetime experience,” HMAS Tobruk commanding officer Peter Thompson said.
“Our crew has been working hard and this performance is a great way to say thank you.”
Image source: Pacific Coast News
No one could ever accuse Kevin Mitchell of getting stale. As part of Jebediah, he gave us slices of alternative rock like “Leaving Home” and “Fall Down.” Then under the moniker Bob Evans he dabbled in a more mainstream sound, combining pop with a quirky indie sensibility. Now as Bob, Kevin says he’s ready to rock once more.
So it might seem an unlikely choice to record Goodnight, Bull Creek, his third album as Bob Evans, in the home of country music, Nashville. Brad Jones has produced the recording, as he did with Bob’s last album Suburban Songbook.
“This is my rock album. I’m saying goodbye to the suburbs,” Bob said.
You can get a taste of the new rocking tracks when Bob hits the road in April and May.
18 April 2009 -West Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Fremantle
7 May 2009 – Tivoli, Brisbane
8 May 2009 – The Sands Tavern, Maroochydore
9 May 2009 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
10 May 2009 – Great Northern, Byron Bay
12 May 2009 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
13 May 2009 – Newcastle University
14 May 2009 – Wollongong University
15 May 2009 – Metro, Sydney
16 May 2009 – ANU Canberra
20 May 2009 – Peninsula Lounge, Moorooduc
21 May 2009 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
23 May 2009 – Republic Bar, Hobart
28 May 2009 – The Gov, Adelaide
Image source: Monototo @ Wikimedia Commons
The Veronicas have become the first Aussies since Kylie Minogue to have a top 20 single in the United States. “Untouched” is currently at number 17 on the American charts after selling 758, 000 units.
“Feeling the energy of ‘Untouched’ doing so well in America is a great feeling. It’s a different style of music to breakthrough on the American charts, and people are excited. Especially us!” The Veronicas said in a statement.
Kylie peaked at number 7 in 2002 with “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” Can the Brisbane twins do better? Only time will tell, but they should definitely be congratulated on their chart success so far!
Here’s the song that did it for them live at last year’s ARIA Awards!
One of my favourite albums of 2008 was Curiouser by Kate Miller-Heidke, so I’m pretty excited she’s finally taking her new songs on the road.
The tour coincides with the release of “Caught in the Crowd,” the very different follow-up to “Can’t Shake It.” This sees Kate in introspective mode, dealing with the regret she feels at seeing schoolyard bullying as a child and doing nothing about it.
Kate will criss-cross the country in February and March, so there’s no excuse for not catching her “Caught in the Crowd” tour.
Here are all the dates!
5 February 2009 – Roar Sounds @ Melbourne Zoo
6 February 2009 – Ha Penny’s, Geelong
7 February 2009 – The Palais, Hepburn Springs
8 February 2009 – St Kilda Festival
10 and 11 February 2009 – Clarendon Hotel, Katoomba
13 February 2009 – Newcastle Leagues Club
14 February 2009 – Waves, Wollongong
15 February 2009 – Soco Cargo, Sydney
19 February 2009 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
20 February 2009 – The Capital, Bendigo
21 February 2009 – Peninsula Lounge, Moorooduc
27 February 2009 – Coolongatta Hotel, Gold Coast
28 February 2009 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
1 March 2009 – Community Centre, Lake Kawana
4 March 2009 – Spurs Tavern, Devonport
5 March 2009 – Republic Bar, Hobart
6 March 2009 – Batman Fawkner, Launceston
8 March 2009 – Push Festival, Old Abbotsford Convent
9 March 2009 – Stage 88, Canberra
12 March 2009 – Seaview Tavern, Woolgoolga
13 March 2009 – Armidale Club, Armidale
15 March 2009 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
18 March 2009 – Brunswick Music Festival @ Brunswick Town Hall
19 March 2009 – Amplifier, Perth
20 March 2009 – Players, Mandurah
21 March 2009 – Fly By Night, Fremantle
Image source: Ed-meister @ Flickr
After making a splash in Los Angeles and Paris, Billabong’s Design for Humanity is coming to The Forum. The event, which hits Sydney on February 18, brings the worlds of music, fashion, and art together for a great cause.
Local sensations The Cassette Kids, Ashleigh Mannix and DJs The Bag Raiders will provide entertainment on the night. The event will also offer a sneak peek of Billabong’s 2009 summer fashions.
Proceeds from ticket sales will go to Surfaid International, a charity committed to easing human suffering through community health programs. The organization is currently providing health education, disease prevention programs, and emergency preparedness support in the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra and Nias Island in North Sumatra.
If you’d like to support their efforts and enjoy a great show you can pick up a ticket for just $30 (plus booking fee) by clicking the picture in this post. Too easy!
Bacardi Express headliners Groove Armada is giving Aussie music fans exclusive access to their brand new EP before the rest of the world.
The new songs are now available through the B-LIVE Share application found at the official Bacardi website. This revolutionary new site rewards music fans who share the Groove Armada tracks through the site and with their online communities. The more songs you share, the more EP tracks you can access. Additionally, people using the service have the chance to win a VIP experience with the band onboard the Bacardi Express.
It’s exciting to see a model which allows fans to share music legally, ensuring the artists, promoter, and publisher are all compensated.
“Sharing music has always gone on. It’s giving music away that’s the problem. We wanted to come up with a 21st century version of what we used to do with cassette tapes. When you give music away for free it’s disposable. When you share it, it’s done with love,” Andy Cato of Groove Armada said in a statement.
The EP also has a local connection, with Australian electronic duo Van She Tech remixing the song “Drop the Tough.”
If you’re over 18 you can access the EP through the B-LIVE Share website until March 1, when it will be available for commercial digital release.
Image source: Newscom