Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amateur Hour TV Brings Aussie Music and More to the Web

When I was younger, there was plenty of live music on TV. My parents weren’t into Countdown, but I remember tuning in to catch bands play on Hey Hey It’s Saturday. Later there was always a live performance on Rove Live and The Panel. I even remember seeing a lot of cool acts on Good Morning Australia and Midday. Today RocKwiz brings us live music when it’s on, The Loop’s started to give us live interviews and performances, and the morning shows and singing reality programs are happy to book acts once they’ve hit the mainstream, but we don’t see nearly as much live music. Where do young artists go when they release a single or album?

Well, next month they’ll probably start heading to Amateur Hour TV, a new half hour-ish web series created by Laura Imbruglia. Each episode promises to feature live performances, interviews, comedy skits, and other assorted entertainment filmed in Melbourne’s bars and rehearsal spaces.

Laura created the series after lamenting the lack of Australian variety shows. She insisted she’d make her own, and after asking for volunteers to join her quickly amassed a crew of more than 30 willing folks. They’ve pulled the show together on a shoestring, and it deserves your attention.

Episode one of the six episode pilot season will hit the web on September 1. New episodes will air every two weeks. Head to the Amateur Hour TV website and subscribe to the channel to stay up to date with everything Amateur Hour TV.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

4 Best Melbourne Hotels for Spotting Visiting Musicians

I think most music lovers would be lying if they said they’d never visited a hotel in the hope of meeting their favourite musician. I’m only slightly embarrassed to look back on the moments I spent loitering around a Melbourne hotel bar trying to spot Human Nature, or that time I stayed in the same hotel as John Mayer in Sydney. So I figured I’d put together this guide of the best hotels for star-spotting in Melbourne.

4. The Olsen: Trendy Boutique Accommodation

Superior service and a quiet neighbourhood have helped make the Olsen a celebrity favourite. This boutique Art Series hotel isn’t as flashy as many star magnets, but that’s actually part of its appeal. Until the word gets out, paparazzi don’t expect the big stars will stay here, so they can go about their stay without being pestered. A few years back a handful of Justin Bieber fans were lucky enough to get autographs from the Canadian singer when he emerged from the Olsen; most of his followers were sure he’d be at the Langham. Dead Daisies singer Jon Stevens also says the Olsen is the only place he’ll stay in Melbourne.

3. The Langham: Kanye West’s Favourite Hotel

Image via Flickr by Traveloscopy

When Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian visited Melbourne as part of 2014’s Yeezus tour, there was just one place they wanted to stay: the opulent Langham. The Kardashian-Wests rented the hotel’s presidential suite and the entire 23rd floor for the duration of their stay for the princely sum of $10,000 a night. If you visit, make sure you remember Australia’s musical past with a meal at Melba Restaurant, named after Melbourne-born opera great Dame Nellie Melba.

2. Park Hyatt Melbourne: Parkside Luxury Hotel

Some of the world’s most famous female singers love the Park Hyatt Melbourne. Both Pink and Lady Gaga have stayed at this five-star hotel just a block back from Fitzroy Gardens. No doubt they loved its quiet location on the outskirts of the CBD, and its three entrances which made it easier for them to evade the paparazzi.

1. Crown Towers: Five-Star Celebrity Magnet

Image via Flickr by a.meins

It costs big bucks to stay here, but if you can swing the room tariff you’re almost guaranteed to run into a musician at the Crown Towers. After all, this is the place where Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown were shown the door after trashing their suite. Its Palladium Ballroom is the home of the Logies, so those international acts that we always fly in always stay here. In recent years, Crown Towers has also hosted Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Kings of Leon, Andrea Bocelli, and our own Kylie Minogue.

If you do happen to bump into a musical superstar while you’re around one of these Melbourne hotels, just remember to be respectful. They might be supremely talented, but they’re also human beings entitled to space during their downtime. Treat them as you’d hope to be treated, and you might just have a special moment with one of your favourite stars.

This post was written as part of the #HipmunkCityLove project. Have you ever had a hotel encounter with a musician you love? Let me know in the comments!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Northlane Scores First Number One

Sydney metalcore band Northlane has made a big impact on the ARIA charts, debuting at number one on debut with the latest effort Node. It’s their first number one, and their first album featuring new frontman Marcus Bridge.

With Northlane and another strong debut from Lamb of God, last week’s number one, Tame Impala’s Currents, has been pushed down to number three.

Another previous number one, Two Strong Hearts from living legends John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John, has dropped a few spots to land at number 10 this week.

Delta Goodrem’s the lone Aussie representing us in the singles top 10. Her new single “Wings” sits at number eight, making it the week’s highest debut.

Click below for this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Northlane Scores First Number One” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kickstart Your Career with Melbourne Music Bank

Are you a Victorian musician looking for your big break? Then you might want to consider applying for the Melbourne Music Bank.

An initiative of the Bank of Melbourne, the competition will give one talented local muso some recording time at Sing Sing studios, a film clip, album artwork, printed CDs, and the chance to get their song on a Bank of Melbourne TV ad. The prize also includes access to a dedicated team of Victoria’s finest music industry professionals.

“Being involved in the Melbourne Music Bank 2014 was an extremely valuable experience for me as an artist,” said last year’s winner, Heloise. “I received some incredible prizes and tools that have made networking, promoting and growing my fan base much easier, tools that I otherwise wouldn’t have had access to. I have met some incredible people who have been an excellent support base and offered precious guidance and knowledge, something that is invaluable in a tough industry.”

To enter, just submit an original song on the Melbourne Music Bank webpage before August 23. Good luck!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

A Music Lover’s Guide to Newtown

After waxing lyrical about St Kilda, I figured it was only fair to celebrate a musical hotspot a little closer to home. While the Sydney CBD might boast big-name venues like the Sydney Opera House, State Theatre, and Sydney Entertainment Centre (for the time being anyway), it’s a bit too touristy for my tastes. If you really want to get a sense of the spirit of Sydney music lovers, head to Newtown instead.

See Live Music

Image credit: Lauren Katulka

You wouldn’t be a music lover if you didn’t come to Newtown wanting to see live music. Newtown’s biggest venue is the Enmore Theatre, an intimate space where I’ve seen some of my favourite acts including Joshua Radin, Counting Crows, and John Mayer. Death Cab for Cutie, James Reyne, and Blood, Sweat, and Tears will all play here in the coming months.

I also love a dinner and show at the Vanguard, and the pokie-free policy at Newtown Social Club (formerly Sandringham Hotel). Bench Wine Bar has live jazz every Thursday night and soul on Sunday evening. One of my favorite Voice contestants, Mitch Anderson, also plays at Newtown’s Cooper’s Bar every Wednesday.

Attend the Newtown Festival

Top Aussie acts like The Whitlams, Sarah Blasko, and Thundamentals have all performed at the Newtown Festival. The event celebrates the best of the local area with music, food, beer, a dog show, and a kids’ zone. It hits Camperdown Memorial Rest Park on November 8 this year. It’s free to attend, but please drop a few dollars in the collection buckets to help support the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre.

Shop Up a Storm

Newtown has some of my favourite music-related shops, so make sure you stop by when you’re visiting. Egg Records has an eclectic range of new and used vinyl, CDs, and music memorabilia. If you like punk music, you’re going to love Repressed Records. This independent record store has a great range of new and used vinyl, T-shirts, and even zines (remember zines?). Pete’s Musicians Market is the perfect place for expanding your musical instrument collection. Pete sells new and second-hand instruments, including many rare collectibles. The collection of funky electric guitars is something to behold.

Where to Stay

Newtown is popular amongst young people, so its accommodation options tend to be fairly basic but really affordable. Australian Sunrise Lodge’s King Street location puts you close to everything. With a swimming pool and barbecue area, Billabong Gardens claims to be Sydney’s best value budget accommodation. If you really want to see how the locals live, skip the hotels in Sydney and consider staying at an Airbnb property.

How to Get There

When I visit Newtown, I tend to catch a train from Central Station. If you prefer to bus it, the numbers 423, 426, and 428 leave from Circular Quay and travel through major inner-city locations like Eddy Avenue, near Central, and George Street before stopping at Newtown. There’s plenty of parking if you want to drive, but I wouldn’t recommend tourists navigating Sydney’s notorious traffic.

This post was written as part of the #HipmunkCityLove project. Which Sydney suburb do you love most?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

A Music Lovers’ Guide to St Kilda

St Kilda holds a special place in Australian musical mythology. Paul Kelly sang about it in “From St Kilda to Kings Cross,” Masters Apprentices brought us “Melodies of St Kilda,” and in “The Crowd,” The Cat Empire sang about wanting to “sleep on the St Kilda sands.” So if you’re a travelling music lover, it makes sense to get out of the CBD and base yourself in this Melbourne suburb instead. Make sure you put the following on your itinerary.

See Some Live Music

Image by Melissah Crumpton via Trover.com

Of course as a music lover, you’re going to want to catch a band or two during your stay. Unfortunately, it seems most locals would rather be clubbing than watching live music, so the number of venues booking bands is dwindling. However, there are still a couple of great options available.

The Prince of Wales is probably the best known pub supporting the live music scene. It attracts big name acts, too; over the next few months, head there to see Regurgitator and Salmonella Dub. Republica and Captain Baxter have live music on the weekends and amazing food. And don’t forget the Palais, a beautiful art deco theatre that will welcome Olly Murs, Mondo Rock, and Xavier Rudd over the coming months.

Catch a RocKwiz Taping at the Espy

St Kilda is home to The Esplanade Hotel, or “The Espy” as the locals call it. Even if you’ve never been to Melbourne, you’ll recognise this pub as the home of RocKwiz. Whether you have dreams of being on the stage with Julia and Brian or cheering the teams along from the crowd, no visitor to St Kilda should miss a RocKwiz taping. The Espy is currently undergoing renovations, but sign up for the Kwizlist newsletter to learn when taping begins again and score your tickets.

Go Shopping

St Kilda has plenty of great places for travellers wanting souvenirs of their holidays. Jazz lovers could spend hours browsing the pre-loved LPs and EPs at Mainly Jazz Records and Books. Get some cool instruments at African Drumming, or drool over the goodies at The Bose Store.

Where to Stay

St Kilda has plenty of great accommodation options that are much more affordable than the hotels in inner-city Melbourne. Habitat HQ doesn’t have frills, but this hostel has a guitar library and open mic nights every Tuesday. If you want a little more luxury, look to Sixty Two on Grey, a renovated Georgian house built in the 1860s, or Tolarno Hotel, once owned by celebrated artist Mirka Mora. Her works still adorn the walls, along with pieces from up-and-coming local talents.

How to Get There

The number 96 tram, which travels from East Brunswick to St Kilda Beach, is the quickest way to get from Melbourne to St Kilda. You could also catch a train on the Sandringham line or rent a bike and take the scenic Bayside Trail, which connects Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs with St Kilda.

This post was written as part of the #HipmunkCityLove project. What do you love about St Kilda?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Telstra Road to Discovery Wants You!

Time is running out for you to get your entry in for this year’s Telstra Road to Discovery competition. The competition has provided a launch pad for some of Australia’s brightest new stars including Harry Hookey and Melody Pool.

The competition nurtures the talents of singer-songwriters, awarding winners one of two music development funds valued at $15,000. If you’re one of the victors you’ll also enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to the US, where you’ll attend the Americana Music Festival and local gigs. You’ll also receive invaluable mentorship from some of the industry’s best.

“Telstra Road to Discovery opens doors for artists like no other program. If you are an aspiring musician, or know of someone trying to get their foot in the door, this is a great opportunity to do so,” explained longtime program mentor Ella Hooper.

Aspiring singer-songwriters have until Sunday August 23 to submit their entries online at www.telstra.com/trtd.
Image used with permission from Edelman Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Soldier’s Wife Delivers Songs of Women and War

If you want to experience a musical performance with a difference, get yourself to Canberra Street Theatre or the Opera House. These are the only places you’ll see The Soldier’s Wife, a special show developed by a group of singer-songwriters inspired by the time they spent talking to the wives and widows of Australian servicemen. The artists listened to their stories and turned them into song, creating a work which is a unique snapshot of Australia’s history.

The project aims simply to give women touched by war a voice. Through the songs you’ll learn about their sacrifice, their pain, their joy, and much more.

Headed up by The Soldier’s Wife’s musical director Deb Suckling, the production also features the talents of Jackie Marshall, Bertie Page, Sahara Beck, Emma Bosworth, Roz Pappalardo, Lydia Fairhall, Leah Flanagan, and Kristy Apps. Miss Murphy will be a special guest performer at the Sydney show.

The Soldier’s Wife will play Canberra Street Theatre on August 6 followed by Sydney Opera House on August 7. If you can’t get along, or you simply want to relive the show, a full-length album featuring the songs will be released later this year. Proceeds from the album’s sale will benefit Legacy and the Partners of Veterans Association of Australia.

Image used with permission from SCG Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sans Releases Awesome Single “Torquay”


Melbourne indie pop act Sans have released their new single “Torquay,” and I can sum it up in three words: fast, furious, and fun. It’ll probably make your head spin, but like any good ride you’ll be desperate to repeat the experience after it’s done.

Sans will launch “Torquay” and their forthcoming EP Adolescence for hometown fans at The Toff on August 8.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Company

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Patrick James Covers The Church

Patrick James is one of my favourite Aussie singer-songwriters, so when I saw he’d covered The Church’s Under the Milky Way I just had to share it with you.

It’s a tender respectful rendition that should please music purists and encourage more people to check out the talented Aussie.

What do you think of Patrick’s take on The Church?

Image used with permission from Title Track