Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

2011 in Review | The Musical Year that Was

It’s that time of year again, time to bid 2011 farewell and look ahead to everything 2012 will bring us. But before we close the door on 2011 I thought I’d look back on the music and that made it special for me.

Top 10 Aussie Albums
1.    Busby Marou – Busby Marou
2.   Let’s Go – David Campbell (a welcome Christmas present – look for the review soon!)
3.    Yearlings – Dead Letter Chorus
4.    I Know This Now – Timothy Nelson and the Infidels
5.    One Thousand Origami Birds – Jack Carty
6.    Home – Adrian Deutsch
7.    Bleeders – The Trouble with Templeton
8.    Blood Thinner – Jordie Lane
9.    Go With the River – Owls of the Swamp
10.    Mighty Big Light – Steve Parkin

Top 10 Aussie Tours
1.    Tony Hadley and Go West @ Belmont 16 Footers
2.    Cyndi Lauper @ State Theatre
3.    Dolly Parton @ Allphones Arena
4.    Jimmy Barnes @ Lizotte’s Kincumber
5.    Joshua Radin @ The Enmore
6.    David Campbell @ West Leagues Club
7.    Eddie Vedder @ Civic Theatre
8.    Cold Chisel @ Newcastle Entertainment Center
9.    Indigo Girls @ State Theatre
10.    Rai Thistlewayte @ Lizotte’s Kincumber

Image source: Billy Alexander @ Sxc.hu

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Reece Mastin Still on Top of Singles Charts

I’ve only just returned from some well earned time away from the office, so this week’s chart report is coming to you a bit late. I was happy to arrive home to see Reece Mastin’s still hanging on to his spot on the top of the ARIA singles charts with “Good Night.” While the album’s dropped slightly to number three, it’s still an amazing effort over this competitive Christmas period.

Guy Sebastian is also continuing to hold his own. His summery single “Don’t Worry Be Happy” remains steady at number six.

Cold Chisel’s best of is the only other Aussie release sitting in the top 10 albums chart. It’s slipped slightly to the number 10 position, which is probably to be expected since their tour is done and dusted.

Click below for this week’s top ARIA 10 charts.

Continue reading “Reece Mastin Still on Top of Singles Charts” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lan Party Announce Final EP & Show

All good things much come to an end, and sadly that’s the case with Lan Party. After five years together the Melbourne band is parting ways.

However they’re not leaving us without a proper farewell. The band has just launched their final EP, cleverly titled Lan Party Never Existed. They’ll also play one last time for their hometown fans at The Evelyn this Friday, December 23.

If you’re a fan make sure you’re there to send this innovative band off in style!

Image used with permission from Trent Menessa

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Reece Mastin Back on Top of ARIA Singles Charts

After last week’s stumble Reece Mastin is back on top of the ARIA singles charts with “Good Night.” Only Michael Buble could keep Reece out of the top spot on the album charts, but I’m sure he’s more than happy with a number two debut. It’s tough to compete with a Christmas album at this time of year!

Guy Sebastian’s also holding steady on the singles charts with “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” It’s at number six this week.

Cold Chisel’s tour has seen their latest best of album reenter the charts at number eight. Triple J’s Like a Version 7 has also reentered the top 10 this week. How exciting to see more local releases occupying those top spots!

Click below for this week’s ARIA top ten.

Continue reading “Reece Mastin Back on Top of ARIA Singles Charts” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Molly Meldrum in Critical Condition

Like everyone who cares about music in this country, I’m reeling with the news of Ian “Molly” Meldrum’s accident. As I write he’s still lying in a coma in a Melbourne Hospital after falling from a ladder the day before. The idea that one misstep while hanging some Christmas lights can see you facing down death is a pretty scary one.

The thought of an Australian music industry without Molly Meldrum is also pretty hard to comprehend. Since I was tiny the Man with the Hat was there telling me to do myself a favour and listen to our local artists. He championed small acts and made them superstars. I wonder whether so many of our household names would have been recognised without his support.

If anyone can make it through a battle like this, it’s Molly. He’s got more spirit than most of us, and hopefully that will see him through. My thoughts are certainly with him and his nearest and dearest at this scary time.

Image source: Eva Rinaldi @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dan Kelly Plays The Tote for Christmas

Dan Kelly’s ringing in the festive season with a special Christmas show at Melbourne’s Tote Hotel on December 23.

Dan will play with his Dream Band in their first show since Boogie Festival a few months ago. They’ll be ably supported on the night by the sublime harmonies of Gostelradio, instrumental surf band The Bluebottles, and eclectic dance act Honky Kong DJs.

This sounds like a much better way to celebrate the season than another lunch with your boring rellies. Tickets are available now from The Tote, and at the door on the night if they last that long!

Image source: Twp @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Reece Mastin Still on Top

Reece Mastin has made it two from two, taking out the top spot on the ARIA singles chart with “Good Night” for the second week running. All too often we see songs bursting from reality TV shows starting strong, but I think this result in the second week is more telling. Suddenly this isn’t just about the die-hard X Factor fans rushing out to grab the single; Reece is grabbing the attention of new fans through the subsequent airplay.

Guy Sebastian’s bettered last week’s chart position, nudging up one spot to claim number six with “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” And it seems the ARIAs have reminded everyone how awesome Gotye and Kimbra’s collaborative effort was, because “Somebody That I Used to Know” has zoomed back into the charts to hold the seventh spot.

Sadly the ARIAs haven’t been so kind to the albums charts, as for the first time in a long time there isn’t a local release in the top 10. Perhaps we should start supporting our local industry while we’re doing our Christmas shopping!

Click below for this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Reece Mastin Still on Top” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Earl Cole & Chelsea J Gibson Announce Christmas Show

Western Australia’s Earl Cole and Chelsea J Gibson are ringing in the silly season with a festive dinner and show at Perth’s Bouchon Bistro on December 21.

A Swinging Christmas will see the local duo performing seasonal songs including “Winter Wonderland,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and my personal holiday favourite, “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”

Everyone’s budget is stretched tight at this time of year, but tickets are quite reasonable at $110 for the show and a three-course dinner. You can book yours by calling Bouchon Bistro on (08) 9387 3898.

Image used with permission from Earl Cole

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Reece Mastin Tops ARIA Singles Charts

Reece Mastin has shaken off The X Factor Australia curse and zoomed into the Australian singles charts with a number 1 debut. “Good Night” outsold all the other songs this week, and is hopefully the first of many milestones for the talented teen.

Rewind one year and the best Altiyan Childs could muster was a number 8 position for “Somewhere in the World.” I’d argue that Altiyan’s song was much stronger, but clearly Sony knows what the single buying population wants.
Reece’s X Factor mentor Guy Sebastian isn’t doing too badly either. His single “Don’t Worry Be Happy” is sitting pretty at number 7. It’s not a cover of the Bobby McFerrin smash, but it’s every bit as catchy.

Aussies aren’t exactly taking the singles charts by storm, but it’s been some time since I’ve seen two local acts in the top 10. Hopefully with the ARIAs reminding us of all the great Australian talent around, we’ll see more songs cracking the top 10 in the coming weeks.

The same goes for the albums chart, which is also dominated by international acts. The best we could muster is Triple J’s Like a Version 7 sitting at number eight. Cold Chisel’s tour has also inspired fans to invest in the new best of disc. It’s sitting at number 10 on the charts.

Click below for this week’s ARIA top 10.
Continue reading “Reece Mastin Tops ARIA Singles Charts” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The ARIA Awards Wrap

Boy & Bear and Gotye were the big winners at last night’s ARIA Awards ceremony. Boy & Bear took home five awards for their stunning debut Moonfire, including best album and best group. Gotye scooped four, including male artist of the year and best single for “Somebody That I Used to Know.”

That’s all the stuff you’ll read in all the other media outlets, so I thought I’d much rather talk about the way I saw this year’s awards. Honestly, it was pretty bloody good. Admittedly anything would look like a world class production compared to last year’s shambles, but I was impressed by the way things went off.

I’ve heard criticisms that some of the jokes fell flat, and some of the irreverent spirit of Aussie music was missing. Maybe. But most important for me was that the ceremony had real heart. I found myself genuinely moved at several moments: when Billy Thorpe’s wife and daughters accepted his posthumous ARIA for Tangier, when former Wiggle Greg Page stood with his fellow skivvy wearers as they were inducted into the Hall of Fame, when Delta Goodrem sang “The Day You Went Away” against the backdrop of the images of people the industry has lost, and when Missy Higgins joined Gurrumul for a gorgeous duet. I have no clue what they were singing about but it was the most touching musical number of the night.

For those moments I loved these ARIAs. They reminded us that the night should be about recognising and celebrating the amazing music we make as a country. We punch well above our weight, and we deserve a night that acknowledges that, without bringing in too many international guests or getting too fancy with the staging.

Last night wasn’t perfect, but it was certainly a step in the right direction. I’m not sure how much Go had to do with the broadcast, but I take my hat off to them for whatever part they played. Even if it was just ensuring these awards stay on free to air, it was important. And how refreshing to see the channel being the youth station it originally set out to be and offering something new rather than the countless Big Bang and Two and a Half Men reruns.

Boy & Bear and Gotye may have taken home the lion’s share of the pointy things, but as clichéd as it sounds, Australian music was the big winner last night. Click below for the other winners!

Continue reading “The ARIA Awards Wrap” →