Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Violent Soho Score American Record Deal

Brisbane new-grunge outfit Violent Soho have just inked a deal with Ecstatic Peace, the American label run by Sonic Youth mastermind Thurston Moore.

The band made their mark with the release of We Don’t Belong Here and extensive local touring and festival appearances. Late last year they set their sights on success in the United Kingdom and United States of America.

Violent Soho plan to release their first album with Ecstatic Peace later this year, which they’ll back up with international tours.

Image source: Miss Julia Jones @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Armin and Armand for We Love Sounds

The sun may be setting on the summer festival season, but that’s no reason to pout. Winter festivals are just around the corner! Leading the pack is We Love Sounds, and with the first round of announcements it’s promising to be bigger and better than 2008.

DJ Mag’s number one DJ Armin Van Buuren will play an ‘exclusive’ Sydney show at We Love Sounds. You can catch him performing an extended set in the special Armin Only Arena. US dance god Armand Van Helden is also returning to Oz for the first time since his sellout tour in 2007. We Love Sounds favourite James Zabiela will unleash his never-before-seen light show, and Laidback Luke will also be there.

We can expect at least another 45 techno, electro, house, and nu-disco acts to join them. Dates are still being confirmed but here’s one to mark in your diary: tickets go on sale on March 16.

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Link Love Around the Music Channel

Since you’re here, I already know you love Australia and it’s world famous music scene. But more likely than not you also enjoy music from other places and other genres I haven’t even touched on here at Oz Music Scene. But fear not, this blog is part of the b5 Media blog network, which features some of the best music sites out there.

My b5 music comrades have rather outstanding posts up which are worth a read:

It goes without saying that NYC’s finest will be in attendance at the upcoming SXSW music festival. b5’s Big Apple Music Scene has talked with Motel Motel and Lemonade, both SXSW showcasing artists. Motel Motel will be performing three times that week, while Lemonade hopes to impress with their first South-By appearance.

The Rock Dose has a feature on Jump Back Jake, the Nashville southern rockers who will also be performing at SXSW.

Austin Sound Check is embracing the latest tech craze and checking out other local musicians who love to Twitter. The blog also tells us why celebrity chef Rachel Ray needs to keep her oven mitts off the famous SXSW festival.

On Metal Martyr, read three reviews of hard-hitting instrumental albums from Scale the Summit, American Draft and Pegataur.

Image source: Rodolfo Clix @ Stock.xchng

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Veronicas Go Platinum

The Veronicas have become the first Australian act in the 21st century to become platinum-selling artists in the United States.

“Untouched” sold 67, 000 digital units in the last week in the US, bringing its total sales to 1.01 million.

No other Australian act has even cracked the top 20 in the US since Kylie released “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” in 2003. This new milestone is definitely worth celebrating. Well done girls!

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tony Joe White Returns to Oz

Living legend Tony Joe White is returning to Australia in April. The gravelly voiced singer known as the Swamp Fox is a regular visitor to these shores, but we love having him here!

This time around he’ll play the blues festivals in Byron Bay and Perth, the Boogie festival in rural Victoria, and an amazing show with Dan Auerbach at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel.

The tour coincides with Tony Joe’s latest album Deep Cuts, which features reworkings of all his classic songs. The album doesn’t just update these iconic songs, it reframes them for a whole new audience. The album will be available exclusively at all Tony Joe’s Australian shows. Here are the dates!

7 April 2009 – Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave
8 April 2009 – Toff in the Town, Melbourne
9 April 2009 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
10 April 2009 – Boogie Festival, Tallarook
12 & 13 April 2009 – East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Byron Bay
15 April 2009 – The Basement, Sydney
17 April 2009 – Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL
18 April 2009 – West Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Fremantle
19 April 2009 – The Gov, Adelaide

Image source: Tostadilla @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sound Relief for Australian Disaster Victims

The Australian music community, and some exceptional international artists, have rallied together to organize two massive concerts on March 14 to raise funds for the Victorian bushfire and Queensland flood victims. Sound Relief shows will be held at the Sydney and Melbourne Cricket Grounds.

Coldplay will perform an acoustic set in Sydney, while Kings of Leon will play Melbourne. Jack Johnson will also make the long trek from his Hawaiian home to play the Melbourne show.

That’s the young music fans taken care of, but there are plenty of reunions to excite the older generation. Icehouse will reform for the Sydney show, while Melbourne gets a triple treat with Hunters & Collectors, Split Enz, and Midnight Oil all earning a spot on the bill.

Jet and Wolfmother willdo more than their fair share, playing both cities. Each band will perform one city at the start, then jump on a plane to play the other gig. Now that’s dedication!

Tickets for the Sound Relief shows are a very reasonable $75, and all proceeds will benefit the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and The Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund Appeal in Queensland. Tickets go on sale next Wednesday March 4 from Ticketek.

We can apparently expect more artists to be added to the bill before then, but here’s the line-ups as they stand!

Melbourne

  • Augie March
  • Bliss N Eno with Paris Wells
  • Gabriella Cilmi
  • Hunters & Collectors
  • Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson with Troy Cassar-Daley
  • Jack Johnson
  • Jet
  • Kings Of Leon
  • Liam Finn
  • Midnight Oil
  • Paul Kelly
  • Split Enz
  • Wolfmother

Sydney:

  • Coldplay
  • Eskimo Joe
  • Hoodoo Gurus
  • Icehouse
  • Jet
  • Josh Pyke
  • Little Birdy
  • Midnight Juggernauts
  • The Presets
  • Wolfmother
  • You Am I

Image source: Sound Relief website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Resin Dogs Close Roar Sounds at Melbourne Zoo

Melbourne Zoo’s Roar Sounds 2009 concert series is going out with a bang this Thursday.

Queensland urban outfit Resin Dogs will headline with special guest MC N’fa from 1200 Techniques. The hip-hop act will be supported by hometown hero Phrase and Alexx The Kidd.

This week’s show is kicking off a little earlier than the previous weeks. Alexx The Kidd will take the stage from 6:30 pm, but you can visit the animals until 7. Gates open at 5:30 pm.

The BYO policy means you can bring along a few beers and nibblies and save cash, or you can grab refreshments at the zoo. Just remember to pack plastic cups because glass ones aren’t permitted.

Tickets are on sale from Melbourne Zoo in person, by calling 1300 ZOOSVIC, or visiting zoos.org.au.

Image used with permission from AmpHead Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bushfire Aid Trumps Lily Allen

The ARIA album charts might say Lily Allen’s claimed this week’s top spot with It’s Not Me, It’s You. But that’s not the whole story.

Bushfire Aid: Artists for the Bushfire Appeal was only on sale for four days of last week’s chart period, yet it outsold Lily’s sophomore effort two to one. But because it is a compilation album, it does not register on the album charts.

“The music industry has united together to support Sony Music Bushfire Aid release,” said Denis Handlin AM, Chairman and CEO of Sony Music. “The support of the artists, songwriters, music companies, music publishers, Sony DADC manufacturing and media partners has been fantastic.”

All artists involved in the project will donate their royalties to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. The double-disc is expected to raise more than $200, 000.

If you don’t have your copy yet, why not? You can pick it up from music stores across Australia or online no matter where in the world you are.

Image source: Undercover News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

New South Wales Cans 2 am Curfew

The New South Wales government has just worked out what Melbourne realised last year: 2 am pub and club lockouts don’t reduce alcohol-related violence.

So they’ve scrapped the plan they brought in four months ago, and are hoping to introduce a “safety star rating system” instead. It will see each venue given a star rating so the public could make more informed choices. Minister for Gaming and Racing Kevin Greene will present a discussion paper to cabinet next week. From there it’ll be debated within the government before receiving comments from the hotel industry and concerned members of the public.

Honestly I’m not sure this solution is going to help curb the violence, but it will probably make sure that people like myself don’t get stuck in the middle of it!

Image source: Orin Optiglot @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Melbourne’s Corner Hotel Stages Bushfire Benefit Show

Melbourne’s Corner Hotel will host a star-studded concert to raise funds for the Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal.

Artists confirmed to play on the night include Kram, Dave Larkin’s new outfit The Gun Street Girls, Rocket Science, The Casanovas, The Basics, The Pictures, and The Hot Little Hands. Expect some extra special guests to pop up too.

Rockwiz host Julia Zemiro will preside over the event and keep things running smoothly.

It’s all happening on March 1. Tickets will be $30 at the door. Get out there and show your support!

Image source: Rhhed73 @ Flickr