Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Peter Garrett Supports Rock The Schools Program

Federal Minister for the Arts and former Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett has been named the patron for the Boost Mobile Rock the School program. The initiative will bring live music and career advice to 70 high schools across Australia.

The Take, Claire Clark, and Stone Parade will give students a first-hand look at all facets of the music industry.

“Rock the Schools is exciting, loud and a great training ground not only for up and coming artists but also all those integral support roles that are so important to be successful in the rock industry- sound, lighting, management and the like,” Peter Garrett explained.

“It is my great pleasure to be supporting a program that nurtures, inspires and educates young people about the diversity of opportunities within the music industry.”

Peter will attend the first event of the program, to be held at Brunswick Secondary College in Melbourne on May 6.

Image source: Peter Garrett website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

You Am I Join The JD Set

You Am I are tagging along on round one of The JD Set tour, giving fans a chance to see them for nix. The local legends will join up-and-comers The Glass Ceiling and The Shiny Brights for the tour.

“We discussed getting involved and decided to do it because if we didn’t, someone else would anyway, and it’s great to see the corporate sector being involved in the music scene in a positive way,” Rusty Hopkinson said.

“We liked all the bands that went up for voting and hope that this little road show will be a great introduction to some cool new groups. We’re just along for the ride, doing what we love to do and hoping to provide a positive influence to the supports.”

Check out You Am I on The JD Set at the following dates.

22 May 2009 – The Zoo, Brisbane
23 May 2009 – The Gaelic, Sydney
29 May 2009 – The Prince Bandroom, Melbourne
30 May 2009 – Westland Hotel, Whyalla

Image source: Live Guide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Living Legend Liza Minnelli Australia Bound

It’s always a little bit special when a true living legend visits our shores. Liza Minnelli is one such gem.

Liza hasn’t been here since 1989, when she toured with Frank Sinatra and Sammy David Jr. This time around she’s playing a one-woman show based around her recent Broadway smash Liza’s at the Palace. . . She’ll be backed by a 12-piece orchestra led by conductor and drummer Michael Berkowitz and pianist and musical supervisor Billy Stritch.

Fans can expect to hear all the big hits including “Caberet,” “Maybe This Time,” and “Theme from New York, New York.”

Get your tickets from May 6 from the usual outlets. Here are the dates!

16 & 17 October 2009 – Sydney Opera House
20 October 2009 – Burswood Dome, Perth
23 October 2009 – Entertainment Centre,  Adelaide
25 October 2009 – Rod Laver Arena,  Melbourne
30 October 2009 – Entertainment Centre,  Brisbane

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ricki-Lee’s a New Woman

Ricki-Lee Coulter has returned from a three-month trip to the United States with a “NEW sound, NEW look, NEW woman to set loose on you all.”

The pop star wrote about her “marathon of studio sessions” on her MySpace page. She called the trip “exhausting,” but adds that the experience “was an amazing adventure.”

But the good news for fans is that all the hard work wasn’t in vain. A new single “isn’t too far away at all,” with the album to follow.

Image source: Pierre Pouliquin @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Vanessa Amorosi and Hoobastank Hook Up

Vanessa Amorosi has teamed up with American rockers Hoobastank for their latest single, “The Letter.”

“I loved the song, from the first time I heard it,” she says. “To be asked to sing on it by Hoobastank was amazing, they are a great bunch of guys.”

It’s a bit of a mutual admiration society, with Hoobastank singer Doug Robb gushing about Vanessa’s involvement with the project.

“She brought a haunting yet powerful quality to the song that we think sounds great. The video was a blast to make as well. She rounded out the story perfectly and I finally got to trash a room. This is one of my favourite videos of ours so far. It looks amazing.”

Vanessa’s achieved chart success in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and here in Australia but she’s never taken a crack at the US market. It sounds like that may be about to change! Industry insiders say the pairing may be a sign that Vanessa’s preparing to release her last album Somewhere In The Real World in the United States.

We’ll get to hear the song on May 4, when it’s released to radio and TV outlets.

Image source: Pacific Coast News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eskimo Joe Announces Aussie Inshalla Tour

The wait is finally over for Eskimo Joe fans. The Western Australian trio has just announced dates for their Inshalla tour to promote their highly-anticipated fourth album.

Eskimo Joe just returned home from a European tour to the news their latest single “Foreign Land” was the most added song to local radio. After two weeks, it’s still sitting pretty in the top 20 Aussie airplay charts. While travelling Europe was exciting, the band can’t wait to get back in front of their local fans.

“Having played shows abroad we are really excited to be getting in front of our home audiences with a new record and new songs to play,” said Joel Quartermain. “We’ve put a lot of thought into this show hoping everyone will have a unique experience.”

This will be Eskimo Joe’s only local tour this year, so expect the shows to sell out first. Make sure you don’t miss out by grabbing your tickets when they go on sale on May 4 from the Eskimo Joe website and the usual outlets. Here are all the dates!

29 July 2009 – Wollongong University
30 July 2009 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (All ages)
31 July 2009 – Newcastle Panthers
1 August 2009 – ANU, Canberra
7 August 2009 – The Palace, Melbourne
13 August 2009 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
15 August 2009 – Fremantle Arts Centre
22 Saturday August 2009 – Riverstage, Brisbane
24 August 2009 – Moncrief Theatre, Bundaberg (All ages)
25 August 2009 – Gladstone PCYC (All ages)
26 Aug 2009 – Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton (All ages)
27 August 2009 – Mackay Entertainment Centre (All ages)
28 August 2009 – Brothers Leagues Club, Cairns  (15+)
29 August 2009    – Townsville Entertainment Centre (All ages)
2 September 2009 – Hobart City Hall (All ages)
3 September 2009 – Albert Hall, Launceston (All ages)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

MySummerMusic.com and Jetstar Make Summer Festival Travelling Easy

Despite the economic downturn, more Aussie music fans are travelling interstate to catch the big festivals. Jetstar and MySummerMusic.com are making it even easier to catch the action.

The trend seems to be influenced by those cheap cheap interstate flights and the rise of fantastic local festivals.

“There are also local festivals like Southbound in Perth, Meredith and Falls Festival in Victoria that attract a huge number of fans from outside their state,” explained Leigh Treweek, the national marketing director of Street Press Australia.

“With Jetstar, people can grab low fares, travel interstate, stay with friends, all within their means. Australians don’t just see their own city as a place to party – they will jump on a plane at the drop of a hat to see their favourite DJ or band outside their home state.”

MySummerMusic.com provides a one-stop shop for music fans hoping to catch a festival interstate.

“We have a large number of subscribers logging on each week to check out their favourite acts, and then clicking through to Jetstar to book their ‘Festival Travel’,” said the site’s director, Marc Mancini.

I can’t think of a better way to spend those K-Rudd dollars, can you?

Image source: Deep Schismic @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anzac Day Video: "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" by Eric Bogle

Today is Anzac Day, a day where in between the two-up and the cheap beers we stop to remember those who fought so bravely for our freedom. This is a day when it doesn’t matter whether you support our involvement in wars or you don’t. Those diggers are pretty bloody fantastic. So take a listen to this song, raise your glasses, and remember those courageous men and women. Lest we forget.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Trus Me Set to Wow Oz

Manchester’s Trus Me is just 27 years old, but he’s already being hailed as a musical genius.

His unique sound, which blends house, jazz, disco, African chants, Latin beats, and other genres together has endeared him to fans and critics alike. After securing a month-long residency at New York’s APT club, Time Out called him “a hero to those who worship the sort of deep, soulful and meaningful music.”

Australia will get their chance to see this British wunderkind in the flesh when he visits Oz to promote his album Prime Numbers next month. Here are all the dates.

8 May 2009 – Sorry Grandma, Melbourne
9 May 2009 – Bar Soma, Brisbane
10 May 2009 – Sugar Club, Adelaide
11 May 2009 – Lost Baggage, Sydney

Image used with permission from Finely Tuned

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rockin’ Relief Raises Nearly $40, 000 For RSPCA’s Bushfire Fund

Michael Gudinski and the team from Frontier Touring Company has helped add almost $40, 000 to the Bushfire Appeal with the Rockin’ Relief charity auction.

The top item, a Gibson guitar signed by the artists who played Sound Relief, raised $3000. Another big seller was an autographed harmonica from Billy Joel which fetched $1230. I’ll bet it’s just perfect for playing the intro from “Piano Man”! All up 99 items were auctioned off, raising $39, 661.

What I like most about this auction is that it benefits one of those oft forgotten bushfire charities, the RSPCA. The funds will help provide vet expenses, livestock feed, wildlife carers, animal equipment, and shelter. It’s estimated that around 1 million animals were killed or injured in the Victorian bushfires.

Image source: Newscom