Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kate Ceberano’s Secret Past

She’s been a fixture on the Aussie music charts for decades, first with her band I’m Talking and then with solo hits like “Brave” and “Bedroom Eyes.” She’s danced with the stars (and won!) and even taught Daniel Kowalski a thing or two about singing on It Takes Two. But how much do you really know about Kate Ceberano?

SBS gives you the chance to find out a whole lot more when its surprise hit Who Do You Think You Are? continues this Sunday night. The series delves into the past of celebrities to find out where they really came from, and how their roots have made them the people they are today.

Who Do You Think You Are? featuring Kate Ceberano airs at 7:30 pm on Sunday January 20.

Image source: Vivian Evans @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Deni Hines Promotes Green Message

Deni Hines has always been conscious of her impact on the environment. She lives in a chemical-free house, refuses to eat meat, and won’t install cable TV because it would mean cutting down a few trees.

Now she’ll spread the word on a new green television program. The Daily Telegraph says the show, scheduled to screen later this year, will cover everything from eco-friendly cosmetics to recycling.

Shooting for the series begins in March, and will take Deni to remote locations including Arnhem Land, Alice Springs, and Darwin.

But that’s not all Deni’s doing to help create a greener world. She was in Sydney yesterday to help launch a Landcare and Mount Franklin project to plant 250, 000 trees around the country.

Nice work Deni!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ben Lee and Ione Skye Engaged

Aussie cutie pie Ben Lee has announced he’ll wed his Hollywood actress girlfriend Ione Skye.

In typical Ben style, he announced the happy news on his blog.

“It’s very exciting … and I am psyched about making this commitment with such a wonderful partner,” he said.

Ben proposed after receiving the blessing of his spiritual guide Sakthi Narayani Amma in India.

“Amma said: ‘Marriage will be good for Ben. In the past, Ben has wavered on his path as he didn’t have support. Ione understands his job and profession and can support him. She is spiritually connected to the Divine. There should not be any problem with Ben and Ione. Every marriage has adjustments. You cannot plan for everything in life. But it can be smooth. Ben can ask Ione. Amma will bless everything.'” Ben recounted.

“So that is why I got home last night, proposed, got the all important answer from my love, and am lying here in bed in LA, jetlagged, sick with flu, but thrilled beyond belief. Life is full of surprises and the unexpected. But sometimes you get what you need AND what you want”

I’m not sure what it is about the entertainment industry these days, but it seems like everyone is either getting married or getting pregnant! All this lovely news sure makes a nice change!

Image source: Spebi @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

It Takes Two, Take Three

Channel Seven’s star singing Survivor, It Takes Two, has always been a bit of a guilty pleasure in my house. So I was thrilled to read it’s coming back for its third season in a few weeks time.

For those of you who don’t know, It Takes Two pairs musical mentors with non-singing celebrities. Like Dancing with the Stars, the mentors and students perform each week in a selected genre.

As you can imagine considering this is the third time around, the celebrities are a bit light on this year. For starters, we’ve got Candice Falzon, the ironwoman more famous for getting raunchy with Sonny Bill Williams, crusty newsreader John Mangos, and ex-model Chloe Maxwell. They’ve even recruited Mark Wilson from Dancing with the Stars. I suppose he needs something to do in the off-season.

The celebrity mentors are a little more interesting though. Ricki-Lee Coulter has another chance to outshine her former colleagues, stepping into the role vacated by Young Diva Paulini. It looks like Ian Moss got a taste for mentoring during his short stint on Australian Idol last year. He’ll take over from Screaming Jets’ frontman Dave Gleeson as the show’s resident rock god. And Adam Harvey is the show’s new country crooner, replacing Troy Cassar-Daley.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Doc Neeson Hints at Angels Reunion

Could an Angels reunion be in the air? Fans of the classic Aussie rock group may have reason to get excited after Doc Neeson spoke of the possibility on Sydney radio yesterday.

“It’s in the wind. It’s the first time it’s been mentioned out loud,” the Angels frontman told Vega 91.5’s Mark Gable.

“We’ve been talking about doing some gigs together … we’ve had so many requests.”

Many thought The Angels would never play together again after their bitter split in the late 90s. Doc went on to form Doc Neeson’s Angels while John and Rick Brewster, Chris Bailey, and Graham Bidstrup worked on side projects including The Original Angels Band and The Brewster Brothers.

While they were together, The Angels created some of Australia’s best-loved rock anthems including “No Secrets,” “Take a Long Line” and “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again.”

It’d be brilliant to see them back together again, so let’s hope the lads do more than just talk about it!

Image source: Doctor Mike @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Next Big Thing: Ashleigh Mannix

Canberra’s Ashleigh Mannix is set for big things after catching the eye of Billabong. The mega surfing label has sponsored the talented teen, allowing her to record her debut EP.

The sponsorship deal has taken Ashleigh to surfing events in Ireland, Hawaii, France, England and Spain. Recently she also performed at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championship at Narrabeen.

Sure she looks great in Billabong’s clothes, but there’s more to Ashleigh than a pretty face.

“I write all my own stuff,” she told The Sunday Telegraph. “I’ve never really known how to classify it, but it can be folky, then poppy with a tinge of country.”

I’m really impressed by her impassioned acoustic tracks. I highly recommend taking a listen to the songs on Ashleigh’s MySpace page. After giving them a spin, I’m hungry for more.

Image source: Winam @ Flickr 

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Other Imbruglia

Natalie Imbruglia’s a household name throughout the world, but sister Laura’s always been the family’s quiet achiever. No doubt Laura could have ridden on her sister’s coattails and blasted onto the mainstream charts, but this talented Sydney-based singer-songwriter would rather do things her own way.

“I was trying to stay away from that whole scene, that major-label thing,” she told The Sunday Telegraph.

“Any major label that would sign me would sign me for the wrong reasons … just to push the Natalie angle. I don’t think I have a lot of mainstream broad appeal.”

Following her desire for independence seems to have paid off for Laura. Next month, she’ll take her eclectic mix of folk music, rock, and punk to European audiences. Laura will play shows in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Here are all the dates:

14 February 2008 – Backstage, Munich
15 February 2008 – Kulturkeller, Fulda
16 February 2008 – Blue Shell, Cologne
18 February 2008 – Lido, Berlin
19 February 2008 – Objekt 5, Halle
20 February 2008 – Gruener Jaeger, Hamburg
22 February 2008 – Komma, Wörgl
23 February 2008 – Avalon Exil, Krems
24 February 2008 – B72, Wien
25 February 2008 – Weekender, Innsbruck
26 February 2008 – Conrad Sohm, Dombirn
27 February 2008 – Mariaberg, Rorschach
28 February 2008 – ISC, Bern

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"Get Ready" – Human Nature

Human Nature have been doing their Motown thing for so long it’s easy to forget they used to be a boy band. But all that is coming to an end with the release of their final Motown experience, Get Ready.

After pumping out a few of these soulful nostalgia trips, there was always the risk the third album would become stale. To prevent this, The Nature headed to Detroit and enlisted the help of some of Motown’s finest artists: Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Martha Reeves, The Temptations, and Smokey Robinson.

The result is an album that’s full of energy and loads of fun. You might think that by the third album, Human Nature would have already covered all the good tracks. The wonderful thing about Motown music is that no matter how many albums come before it, there are still great songs to record. “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” “Tears of a Clown,” “It’s The Same Old Song,” and the title track “Get Ready” all benefit from the Human Nature treatment. I could have done without the inclusion of a Motown-style “Jingle Bells,” but that’s what I get for buying the album around Christmas time.

There’s nothing earth-shattering or revolutionary about this recording. If you didn’t like the first couple of Motown albums, this one probably won’t rev you either. But there’s a reason why Human Nature have sold millions of Motown records around this country. Quite simply, these lads have four of the finest voices in Australia. And when you get them singing some of the greatest songs ever written, the result is always going to be sublime.

Image sources: Human Nature website and jeaneeem @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Christina Aguilera’s Down Under DVD

If you missed Christina Aguilera when she toured last year, or you just want to relive all the excitement you’re in luck. Footage from Christina’s Sydney show will be released as a DVD in March.

The release of Back to Basics: Live and Down Under should be some comfort to fans in Melbourne and New Zealand whose concerts were cancelled when the diva became ill.

The DVD contains hits from Christina’s recent Back to Basics album, including “Ain’t No Other Man,” “Candyman,” and “Hurt” alongside old favourites “Come On Over,” “Fighter,” and “What a Girl Wants.”

Back to Basics: Live and Down Under hits stores on March 8.

Image source: Raffaele Fiorillo @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Corby Rejects Sony Deal

Remember how Matt Corby was poised to sign a big recording contract with Sony BMG? The recording giant assured the young star he’d have the creative freedom he craves, but Matt still refused their generous offer.

“I’m still a young guy and I don’t want to be packaged. I’m just cruising along and playing music, if it all fails I’ll go back to doing my HSC or become a garbage man,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper reported that Matt’s dropped out of school to focus on his musical career with band Fatis Valour.

I know stars can succeed without the support of a major label, but I have to wonder whether Matt’s made right the decision here. Sony BMG may be a major commercial label, but they’ve nurtured some fantastic indie artists like Augie March, Something for Kate, and You Am I.

We’ve seen plenty of musicians succeed without the backing of a major label, but at the age of 16 I’m not sure whether Matt has what it takes to go it alone. It’d be a real shame to see this talented teen emptying garbage cans in a few years time.

Image source: Toby Forage @ Flickr