Category: 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

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kylie Designs Filofax for Breast Cancer Charity Auction

Kylie Minogue has put her support behind a celebrity auction raising money for breast cancer research.

Kylie joins Lily Allen, ER actress Alex Kingston, television presenter Holly Willoughby and a host of other British celebs donating customized pink Filofaxes. Each Filofax has been individually designed by the stars, and many even come with a personalised photo and message from the celebrity.

Bidding for the Filofaxes will start at £50 on buyoncegivetwice.co.uk. The auctions will close on April 13.

Kylie was successfully treated for breast cancer in 2006, but it’s clearly a cause that is still close to her heart.

Image source: PR Photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ed Keupper’s Clowns Laughing Again

Ed Kuepper seems to be in a fairly nostalgic mood these days. He recently reformed The Saints, and now he’s announced the Laughing Clowns will play together at this year’s Melbourne International Jazz Festival.

The April show will be the band’s first since 1985. The outfit, who dabbled in freeform jazz, bluegrass, and krautrock, formed in 1978 after Ed left The Saints. They split in 1985, but reformed again late last year. The line-up still features original members Louis Elliot on saxophone, Biff Miller on bass, and Alister Spence on keyboards.

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival is a week-long celebration featuring 55 events.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Pink Donates to Victorian Bushfire Appeal

Pink has donated $250, 000 to the Victorian bushfire appeal.

“I’ve been really affected by the media images of the tragic bushfires in Victoria,” she said in a statement. “My heart goes out to all those who have suffered so much in these circumstances. There is little anyone can do at such a long distance away but I wanted to make a tangible expression of support.

“I will be donating $250,000 to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal, and hope that this, amongst all the other outpouring of charitable support, will help the rebuilding of lives and communities in the areas affected.”

Pink will perform 46 shows in Australia starting May 22 at Burswood Dome in Perth.

Image source: Bauer-Griffin

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aussie Artists Play Clipsal 500

The Clipsal 500 isn’t just about the cars. It’s also a great opportunity to indulge in some home-grown music. The line-up for this year’s Jim Beam TrackSounds On-Circuit Concert has just been announced, and it’s one of the best yet.

The March 20 show will include The Presets, Pete Murray, Faker, Operator Please, and local five-piece Delamare.

“Delamare is a great group and given that the Clipsal 500 Adelaide is not only South Australia’s largest annual sporting event, but also one of our biggest music festivals, it’s great to present emerging local talent to such a large audience,” said Jason Allen, Clipsal 500 Adelaide’s chief executive.

Tickets for the massive show are currently available through Ticketek.

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Roberta Flack, The Vagrants, Mammal, and More Announced Bushfire Benefit Shows

Here are a couple of new Victorian fires benefit concerts to add to your calendar.

Grammy award winning soul legend Roberta Flack was so touched by the bushfire tragedy she’ll play a very special show with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) on Thursday 19 February at Hamer Hall.

“I was devastated to hear of the desperate plight faced by so many people. I wanted to do something for those affected by these tragic fires and we approached the MSO with the idea,” she said.

“This tragedy has touched everyone. The MSO has enjoyed a century of wonderful support from the Victorian community and now in this hour of need, we would like to play a small part in the healing process,” MSO Managing Director Trevor Green added.

“Roberta kicked off her Australian tour in Melbourne at the height of the heatwave and we are delighted to be performing with her again.”

All proceeds will go to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

The following night The Vagrants, Mammal, Muph and Plutonic, Calling All Cars, and a bunch of local acts will team up for the Rock N Roll Relief fundraiser concert in Bendigo. The town was directly affected by the bushfires, and it really needs your support.

“The PUB is hosting the event and is providing the venue and staff whilst Dewar Audio offered their services at no cost allowing the proceeds of this event to be donated to the appeal. Many volunteered to be part of this event and work with the owner of the PUB owner Gavin Fisher to get this event rolling. Being the regions premium entertainment venue, the PUB tapped into their vast network to secure an impressive lineup,” said co-organiser Anita Donlon, National Chairman of the Music Managers Forum (Aust) and founder of Bendigo based IMN Inc.

Tickets to the show are $20, including free pizza all night. All proceeds will go to the Bendigo Bank Fire Appeal.

If you can make it to these shows, please do. You’ll enjoy some fantastic music, and you’ll be helping those people who so desperately need it.

Image source: PR Photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Josh Pyke Guitar Boat Sold

My husband assured me we didn’t have enough cash lying around to buy the guitar boat seen in Josh Pyke’s“Make You Happy” clip. He was right. The awesome piece of music memorabilia has sold for $7100.

Money raised from the eBay auction will benefit the Indigenous Literacy Project, an initiative looking to address the literacy crisis in remote Aboriginal communities.

If you want to see the boat you’d better get in quick. It will be on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour until February 19.

Image source: Haveweallgotthebends @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sarah Blasko Records in Sweden

Sarah Blasko has travelled to Sweden to record her third album.

The new tracks were penned at home in Sydney before she set off for a European tour. While in Europe Sarah decided to work with pop mastermind Bjorn Yttling. She’d noticed his name on the back of some of her favourite albums, including discs by Lykke Li and Camera Obscura, so she figured she’d pop the question.

“I sent him a letter and some music and within about a week he got back to me and said he was interested, so I went and visited him in Stockholm and we hit it off,” Sarah said in a statement.

“He showed me the great studios we could record in, he had some great ideas and a lot of enthusiasm and I just felt we could make a good record together. The snowy conditions also won me over.”

It has to make a nice change from Australia’s heatwaves!

Sarah should be in the studio for the next six weeks, but she’ll keep us updated on her progress through her blog.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wolfmother Back in Action

Wolfmother is back with a brand new band and a batch of new songs. Andrew Stockdale road-tested his new outfit with shows in Sydney and Brisbane over the weekend.

Andrew was joined by guitarist Aidan Nemeth, bass player Ian Peres, and drummer Dave Atkins. They played new songs including “White Feather,” “Pilgrim,” “Phoenix,” and “Far Away,” and plenty of Wolfmother favourites.

“A few things have happened,” Andrew told the crowd at Sydney’s Oxford Arts Factory.

“I have got to say it’s so great just to be able to play some music and share the music – do what we know, do what we love.”

They played under the name White Feather, which is thought to be reference to the 1970s Australian band Blackfeather. But the name change was simply a temporary measure to keep things low key. In future they’ll return to the Wolfmother name, despite the absence of founding members Chris Ross and Myles Heskett.

Their next performance is scheduled for March 22 at Adelaide’s Clipsal 500.

Image source: Newscom