Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bateman’s Bay Great Southern Bluesfest Gets Big Names

It might not be as famous as Bluesfest in Byron Bay or Fremantle, but this year’s Great Southern Bluesfest in Bateman’s Bay is shaping up to be one impressive festival.

A third announcement has just seen Toni Childs, Mick Hart, Pink Martini, The Snowdroppers, and four more acts added to the bill. They join already confirmed starters like Todd Rundgren, Harry Manx, Dallas Frasca, Ben Kweller, and Lonnie Lee.

The Great Southern Bluesfest will take over Mackay Park from October 1 to 3. It sounds like an excellent excuse for a South Coast holiday to me!

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Download Guy Sebastian for Free!

Life’s been hard lately for Guy Sebastian fans. We know he’ll be back soon for The X Factor, and we wish him every success on the international stage, but it’s pretty tough to have him spending so much time in the United States these days! To reward your patience, you can now download “Never Hold You Down,” one of the fab tracks from Guy’s massive Like It Like That album for free. Just click the widget below to get in on the fun!

That should make your Sunday so much sweeter!

<a href="http://guysebastian.bandcamp.com/track/never-hold-you-down">Never Hold You Down by Guy Sebastian</a>

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jonesez Needs Your Help To Make Best Basement Video for “Best Friends”

The singles are coming thick and fast from Jonesez. Just a month after releasing “Be That Guy,” he’s unleashing “Best Friends,” the second single from the album Betty’s Soup, which will hit stores on August 6.

The single is an ode to one of Jonesez’ pals who sold pot to pay his university fees. It’s a surprisingly charming tribute to the unlikeliest of drug dealers.

The film clip will be the third in Jonesez’s Basement Videos series. He’s asking for our help to make it the best ever. Head to Kickstarter or click the widget below to donate; a $5 pledge will see your name in the film clip’s credits, while one of $1750 will earn you Jonesez’s own beloved Fender Telecaster! There are plenty of other rewards up for grabs too, so give what you can to help Jonesez pay for props, lighting, and all the other stuff that signed artists get for free!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Triky Releases Two Albums and Scores Slot in New York Comp

Sydney DJ Triky must be one of the hardest working folks in the dance industry. He’s just released not one, but two, new albums and scored a slot in a major US competition.

The first album, Electric, features 12 high-energy tunes with thumping bass lines. It picks up where Triky’s first studio releases Tweaked and Permanent Damage left off, but pushes the dance envelope that much further. Then there’s Filtered, which is described as “an exploration in BPM with tracks ranging from 140 to 150 BPM.” The experimental project takes Triky in an exciting new direction. Both albums are released through Triky Entertainment and distributed via MGM/Green Media Distribution.

On the back of these album releases Triky has earned a spot at New York’s M.E.A.N.Y. Fest. This competition, which is staged in iconic venues like Gramercy Theater and the Bowery Poetry Club, could net Triky time in a recording studio, a digital distribution deal, and much more.

We wish him all the best of luck in the comp!

Image used with permission from Azure PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ting Tings Postpone Aussie Tour, Pull Out Of Splendour

There’s bad news for local Ting Tings fans, with news the band will delay their Australian tour. The decision was made when the release of their sophomore album, Massage Kunst, was pushed back until later this year.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 02: The Ting Tings perform live on the Main Stage during the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park on July 2, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)


I can understand the call from a business point of view but feel for the fans, particularly those who bought tickets to Splendour in the Grass expecting them to perform. The band along with another no show The Middle East, will be replaced with Art vs Science and Sally Seltmann.

While festival goers won’t get refunds anyone with tickets to The Ting Tings Melbourne and Sydney sideshows will. If you bought your tickets on a credit card, the money will be automatically refunded. If you did things the old fashioned way, return to your point of purchase with your photo ID for a cash refund.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

U2 Tour Announcement Imminent, Industry Experts Say

Is your wallet feeling a bit lighter these days? With so many massive international acts announcing local tours, it’s little wonder. It seems we might be able to add another to our already crowded concert calendar. If you’re a U2 fan you may want to set a little cash aside, as the band has reportedly pencilled in Aussie shows.

File picture shows lead singer Bono of the rock band U2 during the first of two concerts at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, September 23, 2009. Bono has undergone emergency back surgery on May 21, 2010 for an injury sustained during tour preparation training. He was admitted to a specialist neuro surgery unit in a Munich hospital. Picture taken September 23, 2009. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn/File (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT PROFILE HEADSHOT)


The tour will reportedly be confirmed once Bono gets back on the road following his back surgery. Some insiders also say the shows will be held in stadiums in early December. However others suggest U2 may arrive in early 2011 as The Eagles and Bon Jovi tours will “suck a lot of money out of the market.”

At any rate, it seems U2 are coming, so you might want to get saving!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Amity Affliction Make Impressive Chart Debut

Crowded House might have lost its number one possie to Eminem this week, but the ARIA charts weren’t all bad news for local acts. The Amity Affliction have made an impressive debut, with their sophomore album Youngbloods landing at number six.

It’s good news for the Queensland six-piece who are preparing to head out on a national tour to promote the release. If you’re hoping to see the lads, you’d better be quick. Shows in Adelaide and Melbourne have already sold out, and tickets for other shows are limited. With the band heading to the United Kingdom and the United States later this year, this might be the last time we see them for a while.

Catch them while you can at the following gigs.

2 July 2010 – Fowlers, Adelaide (Licensed All Ages) (SOLD OUT)
3 July 2010 – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne (Under 18s, Day Show)
3 July 2010 – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne (18+, Night Show) (SOLD OUT)
5 July 2010 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat (All Ages)
6 July 2010 – Kangaroo Flats Leisure Centre, Bendigo (All Ages)
8 July 2010 – Woden Basketball Stadium, Canberra (All Ages)
9 July 2010 – UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney (Licensed All Ages)
10 July 2010 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane (18+)
11 July 2010 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane (Under 18s)
17 July 2010 – Tank Arts Centre, Cairns (All Ages)
18 July 2010 – Townsville PCYC, Townsville (All Ages)
22 July 2010 – Oh Snap @ Black Betty’s, Perth (18+)
23 July 2010 – YMCA HQ, Perth (All Ages)
24 July 2010 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury (18+)
25 July 2010 – YMCA HQ, Perth (All Ages)

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Melbourne Gallery Shows Glastonbury Photo Exhibition

Most of us can only dream of attending the Glastonbury festival, but music fans in Melbourne can enjoy the next best thing. The city’s Raw Gallery is currently showing Glastonbury: Another Stage, an exhibition of the festival photographs of British snapper Venetia Dearden. The exhibition marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic festival.

A festivalgoer in costiume sits under painted flowers at the Glastonbury Festival 2010 in south west England, June 24, 2010. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY)


“As a photographer I was magnetically drawn to witness and understand what lies at [Glastonbury’s] core,” Ms Dearden said. “I decided to create an oasis amongst the crowds where I could meet and document some of the thousands of individuals who travelled from all around the world to make up this vast, eclectic gathering.”

You can see Glastonbury: Another Stage at Raw Gallery until July 24. Entry is free, so if you’re living in Victoria there’s no excuse for not checking it out!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Optus Searching for Young Music Bloggers for Sound Scribe Competition

Have you ever read my blog and thought “I could do better?” Perhaps that’s a question best left unanswered, but if you do fancy yourself as an online music journalist Optus might just be able to make your dreams come true.

The telecommunications company is looking for aspiring music writers living in regional Australia to be known as Optus Sound Scribes.

Applicants should be aged between 16 and 24 and passionate about the music in their local area. Up to 40 Optus Sound Scribes will be selected to write a blog about music in their town for a period of three months. During this time they’ll be mentored by industry leaders and able to interview top local and international musicians. These finalists will then compete for the title of Australia’s first Optus Sound Scribe of the Year.

If you think you’ve got what it takes, head to the Optus Sound Scribe website and get your entry in before July 23.

Image used with permission from Peer Group Media