Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

AC/DC’s Black Ice Goes Double Platinum in US, and Four Times Platinum in Oz!

AC/DC’s comeback album Black Ice has been one of the year’s biggest sellers in the world this year. In America it’s just gone double-platinum.

Sure it’s only half as good as it did locally where the album went four times platinum, but it’s still nothing to sneeze at!

Given the record’s success back home, I bet you’re wondering when those local tour dates will be announced. From what I hear, you won’t be wondering much longer. Word is that AC/DC will announce some Aussie shows at the end of January, and they should arrive here towards the end of 2009.

It sounds like a long time to wait, but just remember how quickly Christmas snuck up on us all this year!

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Merry Christmas with a Little Paul Kelly

Merry Christmas Oz Music Scene readers! I hope you’re having a wonderful day full of family, friends, good food, even better booze, presents under the tree, and of course some fabulous music. If you don’t have the latter, I sympathise. My mum swears it’s not Christmas without carols sung by The Peppermint Candy Kids. In an effort to ensure you don’t have to suffer the same fate, here’s Paul Kelly with the Australian Christmas classic “How To Make Gravy.” Happy holidays everybody!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gilli Moon Releases a Christmas Song

Aussie expat Gilli Moon has released a new festive song, just in time for Christmas. “Merry Christmas My Love” is now available for download from iTunes.

Gilli, who is now based in the United States, describes the song as “the ultimate Christmas song for anyone who believes in love.”

It sounds like the perfect thing for a little pre-Christmas pick-me-up!

Image source: Gilli Moon website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"Perfect" Most Played Song on Aussie Radio

If you thought Vanessa Amorosi’s song “Perfect” was played to death on local radio this year, you’d be right.

The first single from Vanessa’s comeback album Somewhere in the Real World was the most played song on Australian radio in 2008.

Vanessa will cap off her “perfect” year with a performance at tomorrow night’s Carols by Candlelight in Melbourne, followed by a performance at St Kilda’s Riva on New Years Eve.

Image source: Pacific Coast News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Empire of the Sun Get Cinematic

Empire of the Sun’s Nick Littlemore and Luke Steele hope to bring their creative partnership to the big screen.

Nick, who also fronts local outfit Pnau, is currently completing a screenwriting course. He hopes the lessons will come in handy when he begins to shoot his first film with Luke in January.

“It just makes sense to really make this thing come to life,” Nick told The Sunday Telegraph. “It’s not dramatic storytelling – it’s probably closer to an art film.”

The dynamic duo hope to see their 90-minute film released in cinemas nationally.

Image source: Empire of the Sun website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Andre Rieu Scores 100th Platinum Award

Who was the biggest selling artist in Australia this year? Forget Pink and Kings of Leon. 2008 will be remembered as the year of Andre Rieu.

The flamboyant violinist sold more than 2 million units in Oz this years, earning him a whopping 100 platinum awards.

And the Rieu train isn’t slowing down either. His Live in Australia DVD was released last week, and has already earned 20 platinum awards. It’s the fastest selling DVD is Australian history.

Andre’s Waltzing Matilda album just clocked 70, 000 units, earning him that coveted 100th platinum award.

Expect more Andre Rieu mania amongst the blue rinse set when he returns for more Aussie shows next October.

Image source: Manel @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Natalie Bassingthwaighte’s "Someday Soon" Music Video Revealed

Here’s your first look at the new film clip from Natalie Bassingthwaighte! Nat cowrote her new single “Someday Soon” with Alex Smith and Paul Barry, the man behind Cher’s dancefloor smash “Believe.” Can this song be just as big? We’ll have to see when the song hits stores on January 10! That’s one month before Natalie’s solo album 1000 Stars is on shelves.

Keep your eye out in the music video for Natalie’s nephew, Logan Sheldrick. The nine-year-old plays a child actor in the clip. It must be pretty cool to have an aunty like Natalie Bassingthwaighte!

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kate Miller-Heidke Plays Human Trafficking Charity Show in Cambodian Temple

Kate Miller-Heidke has played a history concert at Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia. The MTV Exit event, the first rock concert ever held at the ancient site, looked to raise awareness of the plight of human trafficking victims.

Kate was the only Australian on the bill which featured Placebo, Duncan Sheik, and local Cambodian bands.
She described the show as “the most amazing gig I’ve ever done.

“The setting was magical and timeless as soon as the music started, all these Khmers came out of the forest and were dancing under the stars. While we were doing sound check, about a dozen Buddhist monks in their saffron robes were peering out of the temple at us, curious about what was going on. It was utterly surreal.”

Kate did not realise the extent of human trafficking until she became involved in the project.

“I was shocked to discover there are more slaves today than have ever existed throughout history,” she said. “Not thousands but millions of people are being forced into sex slavery and slave labour. It is a huge problem and it is happening in our neighbourhood.”

Good on Kate for getting involved with such an important cause!

Image source: Bauer-Griffin

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Prints at the 374 Gallery

If you’re looking for a last minute Christmas present for the music fan in your life, or just feel like giving yourself a little pre-Christmas gift, head on down to Melbourne’s 374 Gallery this weekend.

They’re selling a stack of rare and limited edition posters from acts like AC/DC, Billy Thorpe, Cold Chisel, Crowded House and plenty of international legends too.

The Rock Prints sale at the 374 Gallery is on at 374 High Street, Northcote. It’s on tomorrow night from 6 to 10 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm. Admission is free.

Image source: AllPosters.com

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jason Singh Signs Dance Deal with Neon

Former Taxiride frontman Jason Singh is giving dance music a go, signing up with Grant Smillie’s (TV Rock) record label Neon.

“The great thing about signing with Neon is that it gives me the opportunity to explore new music horizons,” Jason told Undercover News.

It sounds like the new stuff couldn’t be further away from the pop-rock Jason found fame with. His first release will be “The World As We Know It,” a remix of a song Jason did with his last band Future Role Models.

This new version will have the extra dance cred of producer Todd Watson.

“We bought Todd in to do a remix of “The World As We Know It” as a B-side for Future Role Models but it was a better version,” Jason said. “It rose to the top.”

Jason has rerecorded the vocals for the single which should hit stores at the end of January.