Empire of the Sun and David Guetta do Future Music Festival

The organisers of the Future Music Festival have announced Empire of the Sun as its first headliner, a few days ahead of the line-up announcement.

With the local lads nominated for an impressive 11 ARIA awards yesterday, including several artisan awards, the timing couldn’t be better. French DJ David Guetta, who’s currently enjoying a number one possie on the charts, has also let slip that he’s on the bill.

The full line-up announcement will come on Monday, with tickets to the events going on sale on October 21.

27 February 2010 – Brisbane
28 February 2010 – Perth
6 March 2010 – Sydney
7 March 2010 – Melbourne
8 March 2010 – Adelaide

Image source: Ang3lak @ Flickr

Megarampage Gets the Chop After Poor Ticket Sales

The big budget Megarampage festival, scheduled to play Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium on October 31 has been cancelled. Apparently the event struggled to gain sponsorship and failed to sell enough tickets to be viable.

They had the bands, with The Offspring, Good Charlotte, Wu-Tang Clan, Lil Jon, COG, and Mammal all on the bill. They had that very cool nine-storey high BMX ramp, and the extreme sports talent in Danny Way, Bob Burnquist and Morgan Wade.

But one thing they didn’t have was the press coverage. Honestly, I hadn’t heard about the festival at all until Lil Jon was added to the bill a few weeks ago. Sure I’m not in Victoria, and there may have been better media coverage there, but as a blogger I aim to keep my finger on the pulse. If I didn’t know it was happening, what chance did the average fan have? Things were definitely picking up, with the festival publicised in both Rolling Stone and Blunt this month, but it seems like too little too late.

If you were one of the few folks with tickets, you can get a refund at Ticketmaster.

Image source: wonker @ Wikimedia Commons

Faith No More Headline Soundwave 2010

Metal funk heroes Faith No More will headline next year’s Soundwave festival.

They’ll share the bill with Jane’s Addiction, who will make good on their promise to return to Oz after cancelling their Splendour slot due to illness. These perennial favourites will join a jam-packed line-up which includes My Chemical Romance, Paramore, AFI, Eagles of Death Metal, Reel Big Fish, A Wilhelm Scream, and heaps more.

Soundwave will kick off in Brisbane before travelling to capital cities around the country. Information on early bird tickets for Soundwave 2010 will be released shortly, so keep an eye on the Soundwave website for details as they come to hand.

20 February 2010 – RNA Showground, Brisbane
21 February 2010 – Eastern Creek Raceway, Sydney
26 February 2010 – Showgrounds, Melbourne
27 February 2010 – Bonython Park, Adelaide
1 March 2010 – Steel Blue Oval, Perth

Image source: Benutzer: Smalltown Boy @ Wikimedia Commons

Moby and Yeah Yeah Yeahs for Falls

What a line-up the folks from the Falls Festival have put together this year!

Music lovers in Tasmania’s Marion Bay and Lorne in Victoria will be entertained by international superstars Moby and Yeah Yeah Yeahs and local heroes Sarah Blasko, Lisa Mitchell, Hiltop Hoods, Temper Trap, Little Birdy, Xavier Rudd, and heaps more.

The Falls Festival is a great way to ring in the New Year, but you’ll have to be lucky to score tickets. They’re available only via a special ballot on the website. The ballot closes on Monday August 24. Successful entrants will be notified on September 1.

Image source: Uncensored Interview @ Wikimedia Commons

Peats Ridge Music Festival Lineup Announced

The more laid-back alternative to Coaster, the Peats Ridge Music Festival, has announced another incredible line-up for the New Year.

Local darlings Sarah Blasko, Liam Finn, The Panics, Whitley, Ash Grunwald, Blue King Brown and many more will all travel to the Central Coast to take part.

The first and second run of tickets have already sold out on the festival’s reputation alone, but fear not. A third batch will go on sale on Wednesday 12 August from Oztix from 9 am. But don’t delay, as once these tickets go that’s it.

The Peats Ridge Music Festival is the first major music event in Australia to run entirely on renewable energy. So why not have a green New Year, and celebrate with some top tunes? The festival runs from December 29 to January 1.

Image source: Somaya @ Flickr

Powderfinger Head Up Homebake Lineup

The cream of Australia’s music industry will head to The Domain in Sydney on December 5 for the 15th anniversary of Homebake.

Powderfinger have been named as headliners, but there’s plenty more of interest on the bill. Take for example the reunions of Underground Lovers and Tumbleweed, with original line-ups no less. The line-up also boasts “A special performance by Tim Finn,” as if his regular slots weren’t special enough. And acts that spend most of their time abroad like Sia, Daniel Merriweather, and Midnight Juggernauts will also make their presence felt. Add perennial favourites Jet, Hilltop Hoods, Eskimo Joe, Sarah Blasko, and more and you’ve got the recipe for a rollicking good time.

Tickets are on sale from August 17 from Ticketek, Moshtix, and the Homebake website.

Bimbadgen Blues, Now with Added Roots, Funk and Grooves!

Jazz in the Vines isn’t the only hot music festival hitting the Hunter this year. If you prefer your sounds a little bluesier, I suggest checking out the revamped Bimbadgen Blues show on September 12.

To celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary it’s back with a brand new attitude. Now known as Bimbadgen Blues Roots Funk n Grooves the festival toasts some of the country’s best talent. To coincide with the fresh new image comes a fantastic line-up, featuring The Panics, Blue King Brown, Kram, Ash Grunwald, Bluejuice, Philadelphia Grand Jury, Dialectrix, and Here Come the Birds.

“I felt it was time to reinvigorate the festival and the 10th anniversary seems like the right time to do it” said event producer Grant Smith. “We are trying to create something memorable and a little bit different to the other concerts and festivals in the Hunter Valley – there are going to be a few surprises on the day and we have a lot of ideas to implement as the event grows.”

What was once a day-time show will now kick on after the sun goes down, with some of the best music, food, and wine around. What could be better than that?

Tickets cost $65 and are available from all the regular outlets from May 11.

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Jazz in the Vines Just Keeps Getting Better

Jazz in the Vines is gearing up for another big year with more food, more wine, more music and more fun!

The annual Hunter Valley jazzfest is scheduled for October 31. A stellar line-up has already been announced, including The Australian Army Band and Dixieland Jazz Band, Watussi, Galapagos Duck, the fabulous foursome Christine Anu, Grace Knight, Paulini, and Monica Trapaga, and perennial favourite James Morrison.

Add six of the area’s premier wineries and a host of local restaurants and you’ve got a recipe for a fantastic day out.

Tickets are available from May 11 for the bargain price of $65. Get yours from the  Jazz in the Vines website, and all Ticketmaster and Moshtix outlets.

Image source: Stephen Michael Barnett @ Wikimedia Commons

Groove Armada Prepare to Board the Bacardi Express

As one half of Groove Armada, Andy Cato is preparing to head around Australia headlining the Bacardi Express 2009 tour. The train trip continues the band’s long running association with the brand. They’ve played Bacardi shows in Miami, Greece, Mexico, and Brazil already, on a whirlwind world tour which has had plenty of highlights.

“Greece was a big one. It was the first time we synced our DJ set to the lights, visuals and lazers. The gig was in a velodrome where the UK had won some of its very rare sporting gold medals. We added another win to the list that night. And Mexico crowds are always top class. That was another first too – the only gig we’ve done in a blow up arena,” he said.

Groove Armada are no strangers to Australia, playing here “a dozen times at least.”
“We’ve been to Australia a dozen times at least. We’ve had amazing gigs there over the last ten years. Centennial Park was special, as was the first time we played the Hordern. New Years Eve on Bondi Beach was everything you’d expect. We’ve played killer festivals outside Melbourne and Perth, and had a top ten night in the (now demolished) venue where the Beatles played on the Gold Coast. We’ve seen more nights to remember in Australian bars, clubs and house parties than you could hope to manage in a lifetime.”

This time around the band hope to visit the Match Bar and Grill in Melbourne.   ”A friend of ours has set it up to combine top food and drink with an enormous sound system out the back. Sounds like a one stop shop,” he enthused.

The Bacardi Express will depart Melbourne on March 26. It’ll make stops at Wagga Wagga and Wollongong before arriving in Sydney on March 28.

Image used with permission from Peer Group Media. Image credit: Derek Santini

Target Rocks Melbourne Fashion Week

Department store Target will bring together fantastic Australian music, delicious food, and of course cool clothes at the Target Rocks Red Market. The 22 March event is part of Melbourne’s Fashion Festival celebrations.

It’s free to attend the markets, which will feature appearances from special guests and the crew from Nova100, the Battle of the Decks competition, Dolly Styling Sessions, Get Down and Dance classes, pop-up Target stores showcasing all the latest runway looks.

If you want a closer look at those fashions, make sure you get to one of the runway shows. At just $20 each, the Target shows are amongst the cheapest this fashion week. Tina Arena is the fitting headliner of the 100% Fabulous show, while DJ John Course will pump out beats for the 100% Electric show.

It all sounds like so much fun! Check it out at the Western Tip and Peninsula Central Pier, 161 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands from 11 am to 4 pm on March 22.

Image used with permission from Style Counsel