Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Declan Kelly Presents Thin Green Line Foundation Fundraiser

If you want to hear some fantastic music and support a great cause, get to The Gasometer in Melbourne later this month for The Thin Green Line Foundation’s World Ranger Day fundraiser, Declan Kelly Presents Dieseln’Dub.

Declan Kelly will perform alongside soul singer Emma Donovan, soul-hip hop act Radical Song, Kingtide’s Tony Hughes, and gutsy vocalist Pat Powell. Support for the shows comes from Watussi’s Oscar Jimenez and the Amaru Tribe and Yolngu Boys’ Yirrmal Marika.

The shows support the work of The Thin Green Line Foundation, which supports park rangers in their efforts to protect endangered species and threatened ecosystems. You can learn more in the video.

There’s an evening show on July 24 and an afternoon one the following day. Tickets cost $50 for general admission or $120 for the VIP tix which include priority seating, food and drinks, and waiter service.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John On Top of ARIA Albums Charts

I’ve been a bit lax on reporting Aussie chart news of late. I missed writing about when Grace topped the charts, and when her brother Conrad Sewell followed suit. But as John Farnham clocked up his ninth number one album with Two Strong Hearts, I figured I really needed to make the time. Farnsy’s now scored number ones (whether singles or albums) every decade for the last six decades. And let’s not forget about his partner in crime, Olivia Newton-John, who’s now scored her third number one on the albums charts.

Empires, the latest album from Hillsong United, is still going strong. The modern church’s latest effort is at number five, six weeks after its debut.

Blacktown deathcore band Thy Art is Murder will also be happy with their first ever top ten appearance. Their third album, Holy War, sits at number seven on debut.

Conrad and Grace might have slipped away from the number one spots but they’re still making their presence felt on the singles chart. Conrad’s single “Start Again” has slipped slightly to number three while Grace’s cover of “You Don’t Own Me” has fallen to number eight.

Here are the complete top tens for the week!

Top 10 Albums
1. Two Strong Hearts – John Farnham and Olivia Newtown-John
2. Title – Meghan Trainor
3. X – Ed Sheeran
4. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful – Florence & The Machine
5. Empires – Hillsong United
6. 1989 – Taylor Smith
7. Holy War – Thy Art is Murder
8. Unbreakable Smile – Tori Kelly
9. In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
10. Freedom – Refused

Top 10 Singles
1. “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” – Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend
2. “Fight Song” – Rachel Platten
3. “Start Again” – Conrad Sewell
4. “Can’t Feel My Face” – The Weeknd
5. “Shut Up & Dance” – Walk the Moon
6. “Headlights” – Robin Schulz feat. Ilsey
7. “Bad Blood” – Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar
8. “You Don’t Own Me” – Grace feat G-Eazy
9. “Black Magic” – Little Mix
10. “Powerful” – Major Lazer feat. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Top 5 Reasons Music Lovers Should Visit Fitzroy

Fitzroy was developed in 1839, which makes it Melbourne’s oldest suburb. However, it has one of Melbourne’s most youthful cultures, with awesome street sculptures, vegetarian restaurants, and a great artists market every weekend.

It’s a shame then that Fitzroy is one of the top things visitors to Melbourne never do (but should). That goes double if you’re a music lover. Whether you’re a local or a tourist passing through, top Fitzroy features like these should be enough to encourage you to get out of the CBD and head to the suburbs.

The Old Bar: Old School Live Music Venue

74-76 Johnston Street, Fitzroy

It doesn’t matter what night of the week you visit the Old Bar, you’re going to hear live music. This Fitzroy institution sticks to what it knows, refusing to serve food or put on airs and graces like so many local pubs. The carpet’s sticky, the beer is cold, and the owners are more interested in nurturing the next big thing than bringing in household names.

Northside Records: Soulful Record Store

236 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Northside Records separates itself from the other record stores around the city with its focus on sweet soul music. Soulful genres like funk, hip-hop, and reggae are all represented in this oh-so-cool store run by RRR’s Chris Gill. Northside Records also has its own record label which is the home of funky acts like Saskwatch and The Let Your Hair Down Girls.

The Workers Club: Bands on the Up

51 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Image via Flickr by Zanmanken

The Workers Club regularly hosts EP and album launches for some of Australia’s hottest new talents. In the coming month Sounds of Oz favourites like Au Dre, Our Man in Berlin, and Gena Rose Bruce will all play at this hip venue. It’s worth arriving early for a gig to try the American-style dining menu. The spicy chicken spare ribs are finger lickin’ good, and there’s an extensive vegetarian menu with dishes that even carnivores will love. No wonder The Urban List named it one of the best places for live music in Melbourne.

Dixons Recycled: Grab a Bargain

414 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

One of two remaining Dixons Recycled in Melbourne, the Fitzroy branch of this second-hand record shop has more punk and experimental music than the Blackburn outlet. Dixons is one of the longest-running second-hand music retailers in Australia, and it’s an awesome place to find some cheap souvenirs while you’re in Melbourne. It’s also a great place to find those rare, deleted, and import items to add to your music collection.

Yah Yah’s: Party On

99 Smith Street, Fitzroy

One of the biggest complaints people have about Melbourne’s suburbs is that the venues close too early. Yah Yah’s bucks the trend with live bands and DJs cranking out the tunes until 5 am every Friday and Saturday. Those moderately priced beers mean that things can get messy here, but that might just be part of the fun.

This post was written as part of the #HipmunkCityLove project. If you’ve been to Fitzroy, what do you love about it?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Save the Date: Melbourne Guitar Show

If you love guitars (and who doesn’t?) get yourself to this year’s Melbourne Guitar Show.

It’s set to be the country’s largest pop-up guitar shop with all the biggest brands on sale, collector’s items, workshops, and performances from local guitar gods like Jeff Lang, Lloyd Spiegel, Davidson Brothers, James Ryan, and heaps more. Along with acoustic and electric guitars, you’ll also find ukuleles, amps, traditional stringed instruments, and heaps more.

“We are excited to showcase our industry’s products and the wealth of local talent that Melbourne and Australia has to offer,” said Australian Music Association CEO Rob Walker. “We seek to grow our guitar community, educate and entertain.”

Thousands are expected to attend the show at Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse on August 8 and 9. Will you be one of them? Adult tickets are $20 at the gate or $17 if you pre-order.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Ultimate Neighbours Guide to Melbourne

Much more than a soapie, Neighbours is a national institution, as important to music fans as it is to TV addicts. What music lover could resist seeing the place where talents like Kylie Minogue, Delta Goodrem, and Natalie Imbruglia got their start? If thoughts of Erinsborough have you dreaming of a Melbourne holiday, here’s how to make the most of your stay.

Book a Neighbours Tour

A Neighbours tour is the best way for you to really discover what Neighbours is all about. Bunyip Tours operates the original official Neighbours tour. It will take you to Global Television film studio in Nunawading. There you’ll see the Lassiter’s Complex, Fitzgerald Motors, Harold’s Store, and of course Charlie’s Bar where so many great acts like Ben Lee and The Wombats have played over the years. You’ll also get a Neighbours postcard to take home as a souvenir.

Visit Ramsay Street

Image via Flickr by snoozeuk

The exterior shots of Ramsay Street aren’t created in a studio though. All the houses you’re familiar with are actually in a place called Pin Oak Court in the Melbourne suburb of Vermont South. Remember that these are real residences, so you should be respectful of the people who own these homes. They’re used to tourists though, so they won’t mind you snapping a photo or three.

Head to Erinsborough High

There have actually been a couple of Erinsborough High Schools over the years. Blackburn English Language School and Coburg Senior High School have both been used for exterior shots. Since they’re real schools you won’t be allowed on the grounds, but you can admire them from the street.

Put Your Neighbours Trivia Knowledge to the Test

Image via Flickr by timparkinson

Discover whether you’re a true Neighbours buff at the Neighbours trivia nights held most Mondays from 7 at St Kilda’s Elephant & Wheelbarrow. Neighbours stars mingle with fans during the trivia questions, so it’s a great opportunity to get a photo with your favourite actor. Don’t get too distracted by the stars though; there are big prizes on offer like trips to The Whitsundays and New Zealand, so it pays to have your wits about you.

After three rounds of trivia, Alan Fletcher (Dr Karl Kennedy) entertains the masses with his band The Waiting Room. Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson) often jams with the band too. Tickets for the Neighbours trivia nights are available at the Elephant & Wheelbarrow door on the night for $40.

Stay in the City

You might think you need to head to the suburbs to get closer to fictional Erinsborough, but it’s actually smarter to stay in the centre of Melbourne. Bunyip Tours’ Neighbours tours leave from Flinders Street, so you can walk to the meeting point if you stay at Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders or the Great Southern Hotel. The trivia night also runs a courtesy bus which will pick you up from inner-city accommodation. These hotels aren’t just well located, they’re also very affordable unlike so many Melbourne accommodation options!

This post was written as part of the #HipmunkCityLove project. What Neighbours musical moment did you love most?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Guy Sebastian Fifth in Eurovision

I’m sitting here bleary eyed and bursting with pride following this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. I’m an unashamed Eurovision tragic, and I’ve been up at 4:55 am three times this week (just enough time to grab a piece of paper to take notes to remember who to vote for and a Coke to wake up). This was the big one though, Guy Sebastian’s appearance, the first time Australia has competed and voted in the competition’s 60 year history.

Other singers got pitchy as the nerves caught up with them, but not Guy. A consumate professional, he truly did Australia proud with “Tonight Again,” a song that had me grooving around the loungeroom. But of course, a great song and performance is no guarantee of Eurovision success. There was a part of me before the event that worried that there might be some backlash from people who thought Guy and Australia had no place in Europe’s contest. I feared we might end up getting no points at all. Instead we got 196, including two douze points (that’s the maximum of 12 for those playing at home). Thanks Sweden and Austria! That put us in fifth place, behind the winner Sweden, Russia, Italy, and Belgium.

Fifth is more than credible in a field of 27, especially considering some of my favourites Lithuania and Cyprus were number 18 and 22 respectively. It’s not enough to see us back next year, but more than enough for us to hold our heads high. Personally I’ve had so much fun voting and even getting up early for it. It was amazing to feel part of a contest that’s been one of my year’s highlights for more than two decades.

Thank you Austria for including us in the celebrations. And thank you Guy for doing this country proud.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Triple Treat for Flying Doctor Fundraiser

There’ll be three times the divas at this year’s Altitude event, as Jessica Mauboy, Reigan Derry, and Dami Im join forces to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) of WA.

“We are very excited that these wonderful Australian artists are performing at Altitude in what is a very special year for us – the RFDS celebrating 80 years of service in WA,” explained the state’s RFDS chief executive officer, Grahame Marshall. “The number of people needing our services are today at record levels and growing every single year with us managing 35,000 patient contacts around the state last year alone, and we want to ensure that we’re still here responding to the needs of the people of WA for another 80 years at least.”

To achieve that, the RFDS needs your help. Tickets to the event aren’t cheap, but you’ll be treated to first-class entertainment and the knowledge that you’re doing good.

Altitude hits Crown Perth’s Grand Ballroom on July 25. Tickets are available online now.

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get Cruising with Sea ‘N Beats

After taking my first cruise last month, I’m a true convert. I love not having anything that I need to do, choosing from fancy food prepared every night of the week (without the need for washing up), and playing trivia twice most days. Maybe it’s time to start planning the next one, as Australia’s first electronic cruise, Sea ‘N Beats, has just been announced.

The boat will be jam-packed with massive electronic acts including Alison Wonderland, Peking Duk, Cyril Hahn, Hot Dub Time Machine, Jawz, Young Franco, Hayden James, Safia, The Kite String Tangle, and heaps more, who’ll play over seven floating stages. It’ll depart from Brisbane on March 5, 2016, and spend four days cruising around local waters entertaining music lovers. It’ll even make a stop on a mystery Queensland island. Sounds like a pretty awesome way to spend a holiday if you ask me.

More details, including how you can secure your tickets, are available at the Sea ‘N Beats website.

Image used with permission from 5/4 Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paul Kelly, Gurrumul, and More to Play 30th Barunga Festival

The Barunga Festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a bang this year. Paul Kelly, Gurrumul, Neil Murray (ex-Warumpi Band), and Sammy Butcher will all make appearances at the event, which will take over the Barunga area, two hours south of Katherine, over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

The festival will also deliver a great line-up of cultural performances, sporting events, workshops, and kids’ activities.

“Barunga Festival is a celebration of culture,” said festival director and Skinnyfish Music CEO Mark Grose. “The event is stronger than ever and attracts Indigenous clans from across the Northern Territory and beyond where they can meet, compete, discuss and celebrate their links and their diversity. It’s also a place for non-Indigenous people to come and get a taste of the real Australia with their families”.

If you’ve never been, the 30th anniversary is the time to change all that. The Barunga Festival runs from June 5 to 7. Tickets, which include camping, are available through Moshtix or at the gate.

Image used with permission from SGC Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Budget-Saving Tips for a Musical Holiday in Sydney

If an international artist will play anywhere in Australia, it’s Sydney. While most will make it to Melbourne and Brisbane, it’s becoming increasingly common for musicians to announce a single Sydney date on a promo tour before jetting off to the next international locale. Consequently more out-of-towners are making the long-haul trek to Sydney to see their favourite bands and singers.

Sydney’s an exciting place to see live music, but with the highest cost of living in the country a musical holiday to the New South Wales capital can also be expensive. Living on the Central Coast, I regularly make the trip, so I wanted to share my budget-saving tips with you all.

Book Your Accommodation Early

You might be tempted to wait for a last-minute deal, but on big concert nights the earlier you book, the better. You’re competing for Sydney hotel rooms with music lovers from other states and across New South Wales, along with regular holidaymakers and businesspeople, so it’s easy to see why the best rooms fill quickly. I’ve noticed prices jump by $100 to $200 as concert dates near, so dilly-dallying doesn’t pay.

Don’t be Afraid to Compromise

Photo by Miller Wu via Trover.com

You might have your heart set on the Novotel Rockford right next to Qantas Credit Union Arena, but it’s not your only option. The light rail’s Paddy’s Market stop is right outside the venue, so you could easily book a hotel near any of its other stops. It also runs from Central Station, so you could also catch a train to Central from any other local station. This opens up more accommodation options which may be cheaper, especially closer to your show.

Hostels like Cambridge Lodge are also basic but clean, and they’ll do the job if you simply need a place to crash post-gig. If you don’t need frills, why pay for them?

Save on Pre-Gig Nosh

If you’re looking for a special meal before a show, by all means splash out on dinner at ARIA or Quay. But if you’d rather save your cash for merch, read on.

Circular Quay has some of the most expensive restaurants in the city, but it’s not the only option when you’re heading to the Opera House. If you aren’t fussed about the waterfront views, head to the Rocks. There are some great cafes and pubs serving up yummy meals for far less.

Darling Harbour is a popular choice for people heading to Qantas Credit Union Arena, but the meals are overpriced for what you get. You needn’t resort to the Macca’s next door though. Instead head a block back to Chinatown for affordable, authentic Asian cuisine.

Options are a little limited around Allphones Arena, but you needn’t resort to Olympic Park’s overpriced pub fare or even more expensive fast food inside the venue. I find the market stalls and food trucks that pop up around concerts the best bet. The gozleme van is my personal pick.

This post was written as part of the #HipmunkCityLove project. What ways do you love saving money when seeing shows in Sydney?