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!
Category: News
"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
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
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
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
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
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.
AC/DC are Legends of Rock
AC/DC fans should tune in to Channel Seven tonight for the documentary Legends of Rock.
The half-hour special follows Molly Meldrum travelling with the band on their Black Ice tour. It promises plenty of behind-the-scenes footage, rare historic clips, and some exclusive news about the future of Acca Dacca.
It’s on 7 and 7HD tonight at 9:30 pm.
Image source: Newscom
Shannon Noll’s Not Too Macho for Moisturiser
He might be a boy from the bush but Shannon Noll is really a metrosexual at heart. Nollsy’s just been named as the face of male grooming range Beauty Mate.
The local range includes pepperminty face wash, a shaving gel, an SPF-enhanced moisturiser, and hair care products.
Rough and ready Shannon says he doesn’t have an extensive beauty routine, but he’s owned up to using a moisturiser with SPF.
“Working in the sun all the time [as a farmer] you get burnt pretty quick. I know quite a few blokes with pretty crusty ears,” he said. “You have to take care of that.”
Shannon also likes to use a cleanser as they lift his whiskers for a nice close shave. But the man does have his limits.
“I’m not too into eye creams and stuff,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Beauty Mate takes their responsibility of looking after men seriously, pledging to donate 10% from the sale of their hair care products to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Image source: Jeaneeem @ Flickr
Bands Back to School for Big O Festival
British band The Music will join Scotland’s The Fratellis and a host of local musos for the very cheekily named Big O festival next year.
Aussie artists on the stellar bill include Ben Lee, Bluejuice, Yves Klein Blue, and Cassette Kids.
The tour will take in universities around the country next February and March. Here are the dates.
26 February 2009 – Monash Uni, Melbourne
27 February 2009 – Sydney Uni
28 February 2009 – University of Queensland, Brisbane
3 March 2009 – ANU, Canberra
5 March 2009 – Wollongong Uni
6 March 2009 – Newcastle Uni
Image source: Newscom