Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rebecca Neary Wins The Vines Competition

Congratulations Rebecca Neary! She’s won tickets to The Vines’ exclusive upcoming show at St Stephen’s Anglican Church, and a whole bunch of other prizes, courtesy of Sounds of Oz’s recent Live at The Chapel Russian Standard competition.

Rebecca impressed all of the judges with her clever entry, which read:

Make me a Vodka VIP,
Rocking quietly in the vestry!
WINNING DAYS it would be,
The Vines in the pulpit in front of me!

We saw the effort she put in, and thought we just had to reward her. A true Vines fan, Rebecca will be travelling from the Queensland suburb of Fitzgibbon to attend the Sydney show later this week. Now that’s dedication. I hope you have a blast Rebecca!

Image used with permission from Burson-Marsteller

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paul Kelly To Recieve APRA Honour

Paul KellyPaul Kelly will be the fitting recipient of the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at this year’s APRA Music Awards.

Paul’s been chugging along for the last three decades, crafting some of the most moving and poignant songs around, and perhaps most significantly telling Australian stories. For that alone I think he deserves to be celebrated, and I’m glad organisers agree.

He’ll join previous recipients of the honour including Slim Dusty, Angus and Malcolm Youn, Jimmy Little, and Don Burrows.

The APRAs will be held in Sydney on June 21.

Image source: Andrew Braithwaite @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tumbleweed and You Am I Headline Reclink Community Cup

The 2011 Reclink Community Cup is shaping up to be more than just a game of football. Tumbleweed and You Am I will both play at Elsternwick Park in Brighton on June 26.

These big names will be joined by Mercy Kills, The Rebelles, and the sensational Barry Morgan on his organ. Spicks and Specks fans are probably the only ones who know what I’m talking about, but I’m sure they’ll be there with bells on!

As if this year’s event wasn’t cool enough, organisers have given it the theme “Do You Love Me?” No, it’s not about the whining of insecure, lovestruck teens; it’s actually a tribute to Nick Cave. To celebrate, all bands on the bill will include a Nick Cave song as part of their set.

Check out the Community Cup website for more information about this year’s event.

Image used with permission from Chrissie Vincent Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kasey Chambers Wins International Songwriting Competition

Way to go Kasey Chambers! Her song “Beautiful Mess” has taken out the top prize in the International Songwriting Competition.

The song speaks of the “beautiful mess” of parenting, and was inspired by her two boys Talon and Arlo. Kasey beat out around 15, 000 songwriters from 115 countries, and impressed an all-star judging panel which featured Peter Gabriel, Ben Harper, and Tom Waits to take out the grand prize.

“I honestly can’t believe it,” Kasey told The Daily Telegraph. “When I entered the competition, I didn’t think I even had a chance being up against songwriters from all over the world but I thought it’d be a fun to enter anyway. Winning with the song ‘Beautiful Mess’ makes it even more special as it’s a song I wrote for my two boys, Talon and Arlo. Guess I’d better buy them an ice-cream!”

Here’s the video for the song so you can see just what wowed the judges!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

[Me]’s Live Music Month, and New Shows

Melbourne rockers [Me] are feeling pretty generous this month. They’ve dubbed May Live Music Month, and are handing out free live tracks to their fans.

To score the songs you simple need to click the download button above or add your details to the band’s e-mail list via their website. Then just wait for the tunes to roll in! Each download includes cover art hand-drawn by local artist Steve Walker and access to a community page to chat about the songs.

But that’s not the end of [Me]’s altruism. They’re also offering their Facebook fans a whole bunch of bonuses. Simply “like” the band to receive a free download of the EP track “Carousel,” access to the fan-exclusive video for the EP’s title track “Naked,” a free desktop wallpaper, and a 10% discount on [Me] merchandise.

After the band’s shown you so much love, isn’t it about time that you gave them something back? There’s no better way to thank the lads for all their freebies than catching them in the flesh. [Me] will play the following shows next month to support their Naked EP release.

10 June 2011 – Tone, Surry Hills
12 June 2011 – The Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Remember Mum on Mother’s Day

I really hope you’re going to spend time with your mother tomorrow, or at least give her a phone call. But if you’re too lazy to do that, Warner Music’s made it easy to touch base with her.

The record label has put together a cute Mother’s Day website where you can send e-cards featuring some of her favourite singers, including Michael Buble, Josh Groban, and Patrizio Buane.

Best of all, everyone who sends a card can win a trip to Melbourne to see James Blunt. You’d just better take her along if you win!

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Win Tickets to The Vines’ Russian Standard Vodka Live at the Chapel Show!

Remember when I told you about The Vines show for Russian Standard Vodka Live at the Chapel, and added that you could only win your way in through the Live at the Chapel website? Well, that wasn’t entirely true. I have a very special The Vines Live at the Chapel prize pack to give away to one of my readers!

The prize pack includes a double pass to the invite-only show at Sydney’s St Stephen’s Anglican Church in Sydney on May 26, a copy of The Vines brand new album Future Primitive, Russian Standard Original and a four-pack of the new Russian Standard Vodka Citrus RTD, and some free music downloads. This is a money-can’t-buy prize, and I’m thrilled to be able to offer it to one of my readers.

To enter just tell me in 25 words or less why you’d like to see The Vines play at the first Russian Standard Vodka Live at the Chapel show of 2011. Too easy! Remember to leave your e-mail address in the comment so I can let you know if you’re our lucky winner!

Entrants must be over 18. The prize does not include transport or cover any associated costs. Competition closes at noon AEST on 19/05/11. Judging will take place on 20/05/11. Winners will be notified on 23/05/11. Prize packs will be distributed on or before 26/05/11.

Image used with permission from Burson-Marsteller

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out with Sister Jane

Blue Mountains’ blues rockers Sister Jane kick off a quickie tour tonight to promote their debut album Mercy.

This is really sexy stuff, the kind of music you’d expect to hear in some wild smoky bar where men get in fist fights over games of pool. There’s a little of The Doors circa Roadhouse Blues and a bit of Buffalo Springfield too. Put simply, this is the sort of music that they just don’t make any more.

The album’s amazing, but something tells me the energy kicks up a notch when Sister Jane takes the stage. And with many of these shows free, or close to them, there’s really no excuse. Do yourself a favour and put in an order for one of the vinyl copies of the album while you’re there. I imagine Mercy’s only going to sound better with that familiar record crackle thrown into the mix.


5 May 2011 – Phoenix Bar, Canberra (Free entry)
6 May 2011 – Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick (Free entry)
6 May 2011 – Pony, Melbourne (Late show at 2 am)
7 May 2011 – Old Bar, Fitzroy ($10 entry)

Image used with permission from Broken Stone Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Vines Play First 2011 Live at the Chapel Show

The Vines will kick off this year’s Russian Standard Vodka Live at the Chapel series will blistering set at Newtown’s St Stephen’s Anglican Church on May 26. It won’t be your typical church music, that’s for sure!

The show will allow the rejuvenated Aussie act to showcase tunes from their forthcoming album Future Primitive, which will hit stores on June 3. The disc features the brand new single “Gimme Love.”

“We’re stoked to play Live At The Chapel, following in the footsteps of some bands that we really admire, like Foo Fighters and Coldplay,” said the band’s lead singer Craig Nicholls. “Can’t wait to play the new album live!”

Head to the Live at the Chapel website to win your way into this exclusive show. It’ll later end up on TV screens, but we all know watching it on the small screen can’t compare to being there!

Image used with permission from Burson-Marsteller

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Perth Musicians Play the Songs of Cole Porter and Gershwin Brothers

Four of Perth’s finest musicians – vocalists Earl Cole, Jay Weston, Clara Helms, and pianist David Wickham – are teaming up to celebrate some of the greatest music ever written for one special night at Mosmans Restaurant.

The musicians will perform the songs of the Gershwin brothers and Cole Porter at this intimate dinner show on May 25. Together these songwriters created some of the most iconic music of all time. To hear it at the riverside restaurant, while enjoying a three-course feast, sounds sublime.

Tickets cost $129 per person, a steal for the three courses, bubbly on arrival, and all the entertainment. Book your place by calling the restaurant on (08) 9383 3388.

Image used with permission from Earl Cole