Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gimme That Guitar Becomes Harvey James Tribute

The forthcoming Gimme that Guitar concert, which was to be a fundraiser for the late Sherbet guitarist Harvey James, will now be a tribute show celebrating the music he played and loved.

“This is such a sad time, especially for Harvey’s family,” the remaining members of Sherbet said in a statement. “We were all hoping that he’d be with us for Gimme That Guitar; sadly it was not to be.  Harvey stepped into Sherbet at a critical time, and his stunning talent and infectious personality immediately shone through. After all these years, his wonderful solos still shine. It will never be the same again without Harv. RIP old mate.”

The remaining members of Sherbet will pay their respects, along with musical friends Richard Clapton, Renee Geyer, Ian Moss, Swanee, and more. Harvey’s sons Gabriel and Joshua will play guitar in the Band of Friends, and Gabriel will also take his father’s place in the Sherbet line-up. Longtime Sherbet fan and pal Libbi Gorr will act as MC.

If you want to go and don’t have a ticket you’re fresh out of luck. Tickets to the February 17 gig at Sydney’s Factory Theatre sold out in just two days. If you’d still like to make a donation to Harvey’s family and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, you can do it through the Gimme That Guitar website.

Image source: Gimme that Guitar website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Barnes Family “Floodlight” Album Tops iTunes Charts

The Queensland flood relief efforts have received a boost after the Barnes family album Floodlight shot to number one on the iTunes chart a little more than a day after its release.

But why wouldn’t it? The digital album features some amazing songs from Jimmy Barnes, his children EJ and Mahalia, and David Campbell, his brother John “Swanee” Swan, his brother-in-law Diesel, his son-in-law Ben Rodgers, and a couple of special guests. And it costs just $4.99, which is a price that even the most cash-strapped music fan should be able to afford.

I made my donation at Coles when news of the floods first broke, but this album has inspired me to dip back into my wallet again. Every little bit helps after all. Click here to purchase your copy through iTunes.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chris Brown Starts World Tour in Oz

Chris Brown is no doubt hoping that Australia’s forgiven him his nasty temper when he kicks off his world tour here this April.

The tour will promote Chris’ forthcoming album F.A.M.E., which hits stores in March. The lead single “Yeahx3” is currently sitting at number five on the ARIA charts, so it seems he’s still got some fans out there.

They’re likely to lap up the concert’s amazing bill, which features Jessica Mauboy, Justice Crew, and DJ Havana Brown. It’s an awesome line-up which should help this troubled R’n’B singer sell out his big venues.

Tickets for the following shows go on sale through Ticketek on February 4.

20 April 2011 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
23 April 2011 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
26 April 2011 – Acer Arena, Sydney
29 April 2011 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
3 May 2011 – Burswood Dome, Perth

Image used with permission from SueMacMedia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Avalon Drive’s Damion Page

Brisbane band Avalon Drive crushed fans when they split up in November 2008, but the time is right for a reunion. The lads will play one last show at the Hi-Fi Bar on February 5. I caught up with lead singer Damion Page to talk about the show, Avalon Drive’s heyday, and how the Queenslanders are giving back to their city after the recent floods.

You disbanded in 2008. Why was the time right now for one more show?
People change. I needed some time and a break to get back to basics with music. As much as it pained me back then to disband, I back my decision up 100%. I don’t think we should ever have to sacrifice our love for music for something you aren’t 100% happy with. Music is an extension of me and nothing felt right. Come 2011, everything is feeling great and we are pumped about everything that is happening.

How are you feeling at the prospect of playing together again?
Doesn’t feel like we ever stopped, the energy, ideas are all still alive. If anything we have more of an understanding of what we all need from playing music and embrace absolutely everything that’s put out there. Onstage is going to be electric, always has been.

You’re playing again in front of your hometown audience. How important were the people of Brisbane to your success?
My god how Brisbane backs their own bands. It’s simply amazing and still astounds me how alive Avalon Drive fans were and still are. It’s nuts. We are so fortunate and we are so grateful for it. We never ever truly got to thank everyone; this is our way of doing that. By bringing everyone into one room, singing the same songs. Without our Brisbane fans and friends behind us, it just wouldn’t have been the same.

I’m sure this show will be extra poignant considering everything Queensland is going through at the moment. Have you or any of the other members of the band been directly affected by the floods?
I think all of Australia has been affected. It’s certainly made me realize how fragile life can be and I think I can speak for most people out there when I say how important your friends and family are. We decided to give all our profits from this show to those affected by the floods and hope that Brisbane gets back to being beautiful Brisbane ASAP. A few members were caught in the midst of the drama but no story can compare to the tragedies some of our neighbours have faced with the loss of their loved ones. Too hard to put into words I’m sorry.

Continue reading “Q & A with Avalon Drive’s Damion Page” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Harry Hookey and David Garnham Win Telstra Road to Tamworth Competition

Harry Hookey of Cowwarr in Victoria and David Garnham of Darwin have taken out the major prizes in this year’s Telstra Road to Tamworth finals.

Harry was named best performer, after performing a cover of Bob Dylan’s “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” and an original tune, “Don’t You Ever Treat Me Like a Fool.”

“I feel like a very lucky man tonight in Tamworth,” he said after his win. “This is really overwhelming, I don’t have enough words to say how awesome my fellow performers were, and each one of them has a career in the industry if they want it.”

David was named best songwriter after he wowed the judges with two original songs, “Father Drinks Too Much” and “Sobering Up, Settling Down.” The win caps off a big 12 months for David, who was also named a Triple J Unearthed artist in June.

“I’m trying not to swear right now and am full of clichés with no good words to give you,” David said last night. “This is the second time I’ve come through the Road to Tamworth and I was determined to show how much I wanted it – it’s such a well run program and I’m stoked.”

Both artists take home a bunch of prizes including a trip to Nashville with studio time, domestic and international gigs, publicity, and 12 months of mentoring designed to increase their profiles and take them to the next level. Here’s hoping this opportunity leads to bigger and better things for them both!

Image source: Ted Sealey

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

DanceAID Goes National, Plans Flood Relief CD

Floods in ToowoombaDue to overwhelming support, the DanceAID concert to benefit the Queensland flood relief efforts has become a national event. The dance music community will now play in Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Darwin, in addition to the already announced Melbourne event.

The line-up is also getting stronger, with international acts Malente, James Curd, and Mark Brown joining the already announced local artists including Kaz James, the Nervo sisters, Ruby Rose, Zoe Badwi, TV Rock, The Potbelleez, and heaps more.

If you can’t get to any of the shows don’t worry; you can still show your support. A DanceAID CD will also be released featuring tracks from the involved artists, including previously unreleased acoustic versions of singles from Dirty Sound and Zoe Badwi. Look for it on iTunes from Friday January 21.

If you want to see the DanceAID artists doing their thing in the flesh though, and raise some money for the Queensland flood relief efforts, here are the places you need to be.

19 January 2011 – Prince of Wales, Melbourne
20 January 2011 – La La Land, Byron Bay
20 January 2011 – Platinum, Gold Coast
21 January 2011 – Red Square, Adelaide
23 January 2011 – Discovery, Darwin

Image source: Timothy @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ragamuffin Raises Money for Flood Relief

Andrew McManus is doing his bit for the flood relief efforts through his Raggamuffin concert tour. The Brisbane show has been newly christened Reggae for Recovery, and all profits will go to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.

In addition, 10% of the profits from the Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide gigs will benefit the appeal, while 10% of the profits of the Perth event will go to the Carnarvon Flood Relief Fund.

“All of our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families affected by the tragic events in Queensland,” Andrew McManus, a born and bred Queenslander, said in a statement. “Let’s hope we can raise a substantial amount of money to ease some of the pain and to aid in the rebuilding of Queensland.”

Ragamuffin fans should note a few late venue changes. The Brisbane show will now be staged at Riverside in the City Botanic Gardens. Melbourne’s event will now be staged at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, while the Adelaide show will happen at the Thebarton Theatre.

Ragamuffin really has one of the best reggae line-ups we’ve seen in this country, with Mary J. Blige, Jimmy Cliff, Maxi Priest, Sean Paul, and The Original Wailers all on the bill. If that’s not enough to convince you, all tickets have just been reduced to $99. Here are all those dates!

26 January 2011 – Fremantle Oval, Perth
28 January 2011 – Parramatta Park, Sydney
29 January 2011 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
30 January 2011 – Riverstage, Brisbane
2 February 2011 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide

Image source: Musicisentropy @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

You Am I Headline Ric’s Big Backyard Festival

Are you suffering summer festival fatigue yet? I don’t blame you, but Ric’s Big Backyard Festival is one event that may pique your interest.

This is a much more low-key affair than the Big Day Out, Summadayze, Future Music Festival, and other shows of its ilk. It takes the festival back to grass roots level, to a time when a generous soul would volunteer their space for a big rock show.

That space is the courtyard behind RG’s and the upstairs and downstairs stages at Ric’s in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. The bill features an eclectic bunch of musos including You Am I, Pangaea, Die Die Die, Guineafowl, King Cannons, and heaps more. There’ll be 21 bands in all, which makes the $75 price of admission seem quite reasonable indeed.

Ric’s Big Backyard Festival hits Brisbane on Saturday March 26. Tickets go on sale on February 7 from OzTix.

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

R.I.P. Steve Prestwich

While we were still reeling from the untimely death of Sherbet’s Harvey James, we learned that we’d also lost Steve Prestwich. The Cold Chisel drummer died from a brain tumour on Sunday at the age of 56.

Steve began to play with Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, and Don Walker in the early 70s outfit Orange. They changed their name to Cold Chisel in 1974, and the rest is history. He helped Don Walker write one of the band’s greatest songs, “Flame Trees,” and also put pen to paper for “When the War is Over” and “Forever Now.”

Following Chisel’s demise in 1983, Steve joined Little River Band and helped “When the War is Over” become a hit all over again. But he was back for Chisel’s reunion shows.

I remember attending the Last Wave of Summer gig at Newcastle Entertainment Centre back in 1998. This was a band I never expected to see live, and I lapped it up. I am so thrilled that I got to see Steve Prestwich doing his thing, and so sad to see him taken from us all too soon. Here’s the music video of Cold Chisel doing “When the War is Over” to remember him by.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Country Music Supports Flood Victims Digital Album Raises Money for Queensland Relief Appeal

Leading local and international country acts have banded together for the release of Country Music Supports Flood Victims, a digital compilation to raise funds for the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.

Australian acts Lee Kernaghan, Catherine Britt, Sara Storer, Adam Brand, and Kev Carmody (to name a few) appear alongside international artists Doc Walker, Sean Brody, and Emerson Drive on the release.

“Watching the television coverage of the Queensland floods tragedy unfold from my home in Darwin, it has been hard to comprehend the enormity of the devastation,” Sara Storer said in a statement.

“Queensland has always been one of my favourite places to tour and I have made friends with a lot of people throughout the state during the past ten years, many of whom have been directly affected by the recent events. My heart goes out to all those who have lost relatives and friends as well as those whose homes and property have been damaged or destroyed. I pray that recovery comes as quickly as possible.”

The 13-track digital album is available for $10 exclusively from BigPond Music, which sounds like a pretty good deal to me. If you haven’t given yet, or if you’re feeling extra generous, this might be the album to get you into action.

Image source: BigPond Music