Few music festivals survive a few years, let alone decades. So Stonefest’s 40th anniversary this year is cause for celebration. The Canberra music fest is pulling out the big guns this year, with a massive bill headlined by American indie gods The Dandy Warhols.
They’ll be ably supported by some massive local talent including Grinspoon, Faker, The Grates, Regurgitator, The Drones, Blue King Brown, and stacks more.
Any festival that can last four decades clearly knows how to entertain. This one might be worth a road trip for any interstate music lovers. It all happens at the University of Canberra on 31 October and 1 November. Tickets are available now through Ticketek. But sorry kids, it’s a strictly adults-only event.
Yesterday I got a little bit excited when The Eagles’ guitarist Joe Walsh told fans in a webchat that the band would return to Australia in January 2009.
But what I didn’t consider is the number of brain cells Joe’s killed in his time.
In fact, there are no immediate plans to bring their Long Road out of Eden tour to Australia. I understand it’s supposed to happen, but no one is exactly sure when. Including Joe apparently! Looks like we’ve all got to wait a little bit longer!
She’s scored a high-profile television slot on The View, and she’s also penciled in for an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. These TV gigs will introduce Delta to millions worldwide, so they’re guaranteed to get her noticed. Her fiance Brian McFadden has accompanied Delta on this important promotional visit.
Delta has released a repackaged version of her latest self-titled album in the United States. It includes her monster hit “Born to Try,” along with the new songs.
Delta is scheduled to return to Australia next month.
Two of Australia’s hottest upcoming indie acts are teaming up for one massive residency tour! Avalon Drive and The Sundance Kids will play shows in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide through August and September.
There’s a whole lot of hype surrounding both these bands, and with good reason. Brisbane’s Avalon Drive has just scored a record deal with SonyBMG, and they plan to release their debut EP later this year. They’ve also scored gigs alongside some of the biggest bands in the world including INXS, All American Rejects, Fall Out Boy, Hoobastank, Yellowcard, and The Veronicas. MTV called Avalon Drive a “band you want to see live,” and these residencies give you that chance.
The Sundance Kids are set to unleash their indie/pop/rock anthems on the nation with the release of their debut album in August. Time Off Magazine calls them “one of the premier rock acts in SA,” and their ardent fanbase would tend to agree.
Avalon Drive and The Sundance Kids will toss a coin for the Sydney and Melbourne shows to decide the night’s lineup, which should keep things spontaneous for the bands and the punters. See these hot new artists and some very special guests at the following shows.
24 August 2008 – Jive Bar, Adelaide (18+, with guests)
26 August 2008 – East Brunswick Hotel, Melbourne (18+, with Don’t Ask Us)
27 August 2008 – Spectrum, Sydney (18+, with Planet Of The Stereos)
31 August 2008 – Jive Bar, Adelaide (18+, with guests)
2 September 2008 – East Brunswick Hotel, Melbourne (18+, with The Scissor File)
3 September 2008 – Spectrum, Sydney (18+, with Envy Parade)
7 September 2008 – Jive Bar, Adelaide, SA (All ages 2 pm – 5 pm, with guests)
7 September 2008 – Jive Bar, Adelaide, SA (18+, with guests)
9 September 2008 – East Brunswick Hotel, Melbourne (18+, with Front Counter)
10 September 2008 – Spectrum, Sydney (18+, with Sierra Montana)
We’re not really having the best of luck with hip hop artists! Today news broke that Mary J Blige’s tour has been cancelled and Timbaland’s tour is in doubt.
Mary J was originally supposed to play here last month, but the dates were rescheduled until November. Now they’re off all together, with the official reason being “rescheduling issues surrounding Mary J Blige’s existing international tour schedule and personal commitments.” You know the drill, the same sort of garbage excuses international bands always give.
If it’s any consolation, it sounds like Aussie promoter Michael Chugg did everything he could to make this tour happen.
“We have been in constant contact with Mary’s management and have tried a number of alternatives to make this work, which is why it’s taken a bit of extra time to announce an update. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of Mary’s supporters who got behind this tour and called my office every day waiting on news.
“I want them to know that we will get Mary to Australia one day and I hope it will be soon, she is a superstar. I’ve seen it before and it’s time for Australia to get a taste too. I know her fans will hang in there and when she finally gets here, baby, it’s going to be huge!”
Mary J Blige ticket holders should take their tickets to their point of sale for a refund.
Now onto that Timbaland news. The confusion here arises because it seems he’s double-booked himself. Apparently the Melbourne and Auckland dates clash with shows in Poland and Finland. Now that’s a bit of a pickle!
A statement on the Finnish promoter’s website says “It is now confirmed by Timbaland’s management that they will be doing the European shows and not the Australian tour.”
Yet the Australian publicist Petrina Convey told Undercover that “At this point in time, as far as we know the Australian tour is still happening. The promoters have been trying to get in contact with Timbaland’s management for the last 48 hours.”
You’ve got to worry when management are off the radar for that period of time, don’t you? Stay tuned for more news on this tour!
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard Faker’s “This Heart Attack.” I wouldn’t say that I got sick of it, but I was definitely thrilled to hear they’d released something new to radio. That track is “Are You Magnetic?” and it’s just as addictive. The film clip also features plenty of Nathan Hudson’s crazy dancing, which is always a good thing.
If you hung on to your Kylie Minogue tickets after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, you might get to cash them in sooner rather than later. Frontier Touring’s Michael Gudinski says the Princess of Pop may bring her X2008 show to Oz in December.
“If everything can work out there’s every possibility we will do some dates later this year,” he told AAP.
“How many dates we can do, and how many cities we do, and that stuff, will have to be worked out – it’s an absolutely gigantic production, it really is like taking theatre on the road. But from Frontier’s point of view, I’m going to make every effort possible to make sure it happens.”
Michael said he tried to lure Kylie Down Under when he saw her for her 40th birthday in May. However the Grammy-winning star and her management were not willing to consider it at the time.
“Today was the first time that we’ve ever had any real discussion about whether it could happen, and we had a good talk today,” he explained.
“She would really like it to come to Australia … and I just think it would be absolutely unfair to her Australian fans not to see what is the most amazing production I’ve seen. Australia is her home country and she should be so proud of what she’s doing.”
I’ve heard rave reviews coming out of Europe about these shows, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the local fans can catch them!
It seemed like “Low” had the number one spot in Australia for an eternity, so I’m sure there are plenty of folks excited about the news that Flo Rida is bringing his show Down Under.
Sadly for some urban music fans, he’ll only visit Sydney and Melbourne. He’ll hit the Queensbridge Hotel in South Melbourne on August 29 before playing Luna Park’s Big Top in Sydney the following night. Hopefully, the gigs will go well enough to encourage the soul superstar to come back and explore more of our fine country.
Ticketek will sell tickets for both shows from 9 am on Monday 21 July.
Last night I headed out to my favourite venue, Lizotte’s, to see one of my favourite performers, James Reyne. The reasons why I love both venue and performer so much are similar: they deliver exceptional quality each and every time.
So I was in a good mood long before James took to the stage. It might have had something to do with the exquisite barramundi spring rolls and herbed rack of lamb I devoured, or the good company of my husband and parents, or the delicious pinot grigio we were all drinking. Nevertheless, when the support act Lianna Rose stepped out we were ready to have a good time.
Lianna was excellent, a storyteller with a rock rasp. She reminded me a little of Sheryl Crow with her knowing way and earnest performance. Her cover version of “Time After Time” was a highlight for me, but I also adored her originals. It’s just a shame that the folks sitting at the tables surrounding us didn’t make the effort to listen to her. Trying to hear her over their chatter was a little frustrating.
Thankfully they gave more attention to Mr Reyne. It’s been years since I’ve seen him perform with a full band, and Lizotte’s is the perfect setting for that acoustic mode he favours. Stripped back with two backup singers and a handful of acoustic guitars, these classic songs and their words become the focus.
And what classics they are. We joined James on tracks like “Slave,” “One More River,” “Way Out West,” “Hammerhead,” “Errol,” “Fall Of Rome” and “Reckless.” It’s impossible not to have a wonderful time with a soundtrack like that. James is one of those performers who loves to sing the songs we love to hear, which is why I keep coming back time and time again.
