Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Roberta Flack, The Vagrants, Mammal, and More Announced Bushfire Benefit Shows

Here are a couple of new Victorian fires benefit concerts to add to your calendar.

Grammy award winning soul legend Roberta Flack was so touched by the bushfire tragedy she’ll play a very special show with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) on Thursday 19 February at Hamer Hall.

“I was devastated to hear of the desperate plight faced by so many people. I wanted to do something for those affected by these tragic fires and we approached the MSO with the idea,” she said.

“This tragedy has touched everyone. The MSO has enjoyed a century of wonderful support from the Victorian community and now in this hour of need, we would like to play a small part in the healing process,” MSO Managing Director Trevor Green added.

“Roberta kicked off her Australian tour in Melbourne at the height of the heatwave and we are delighted to be performing with her again.”

All proceeds will go to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

The following night The Vagrants, Mammal, Muph and Plutonic, Calling All Cars, and a bunch of local acts will team up for the Rock N Roll Relief fundraiser concert in Bendigo. The town was directly affected by the bushfires, and it really needs your support.

“The PUB is hosting the event and is providing the venue and staff whilst Dewar Audio offered their services at no cost allowing the proceeds of this event to be donated to the appeal. Many volunteered to be part of this event and work with the owner of the PUB owner Gavin Fisher to get this event rolling. Being the regions premium entertainment venue, the PUB tapped into their vast network to secure an impressive lineup,” said co-organiser Anita Donlon, National Chairman of the Music Managers Forum (Aust) and founder of Bendigo based IMN Inc.

Tickets to the show are $20, including free pizza all night. All proceeds will go to the Bendigo Bank Fire Appeal.

If you can make it to these shows, please do. You’ll enjoy some fantastic music, and you’ll be helping those people who so desperately need it.

Image source: PR Photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Josh Pyke Guitar Boat Sold

My husband assured me we didn’t have enough cash lying around to buy the guitar boat seen in Josh Pyke’s“Make You Happy” clip. He was right. The awesome piece of music memorabilia has sold for $7100.

Money raised from the eBay auction will benefit the Indigenous Literacy Project, an initiative looking to address the literacy crisis in remote Aboriginal communities.

If you want to see the boat you’d better get in quick. It will be on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour until February 19.

Image source: Haveweallgotthebends @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day is here. If you’re attached, I hope that special someone is treating you right. And if you’re single, I hope you’re spoiling yourself and rejoicing in your singledom! Whichever side you stand, everyone loves a good love song (no matter how much they protest!) Aussie blokes have an image of being ocker kockabout blokes, but the truth is that local lads have penned some of my favourite love songs.

Here are three of my favourites to help you celebrate this special day!

I love Keith Urban’s “You’re My Better Half” so much I actually used it at my wedding reception. For me this one will forever remind me of cutting my cake and posing for cheesy photos. This acoustic version is my favourite take on the song.

Say what you want about Savage Garden, but Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones could craft a brilliant pop song. There’s a reason why “Truly Madly Deeply” was such a big hit; it’s just that good. When it was on high rotation you might have sworn you never wanted to hear it again, but trust me, it really is worth another spin.

“Message to My Girl” is an absolute classic, one of those love songs that is cool enough for even the lads to admit liking. It was released in 1983, a fact which just blows my mind. While so many early 80s stuff sounds stuck in the past, this Split Enz tune sounds as fresh as the time I first heard it.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Victorian Bushfire Appeal CD Released Next Week

Sony Music is doing their bit for the Victorian bushfire appeal, with a benefit CD set to be released next week.

Bushfire Aid: Artists for the Bushfire Appeal CD will help raise funds for the thousands of people left homeless in the fires. All money raised from the sale of the CDs will go directly to the Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal.

It’s a cracking collection of songs too, with plenty of patriotic tracks and inspirational tunes. Do your bit to help the fundraising effort and make sure you grab a copy and spread the word!

Here’s the complete track list.

“The Rising” – Bruce Springsteen
“Don’t Give Up” – Shannon Noll & Natalie Bassingthwaighte
“Honesty” – Billy Joel
“Halo” – Beyonce
“Walking On A Dream” – Empire Of The Sun
“One Country” – Midnight Oil
“Spirit Of The Bush” – Lee Kernaghan
“Shine” – Vanessa Amorosi
“Castles In The Air” – Hoodoo Gurus
“Better Than” – John Butler Trio
“Time After Time” – Jessica Mauboy
“Losing My Way” – Justin Timberlake
“Miracle Of Love” – Eurythmics
“True Blue” – John Williamson
“Holy Grail” – Hunters & Collectors
“You” – Wes Carr
“Lean On Me” – Bill Withers
“Great Southern Land” – Icehouse

“White Noise” – The Living End
“Working Class Man” – Jimmy Barnes
“These Days” – Powderfinger
“We Can’t Be Beaten” – Rose Tattoo
“Saving Grace” – Pete Murray
“You’re The Voice” – John Farnham
“Down Under” – Men At Work
“This Flower” – Kasey Chambers
“Leaps & Bounds” – Paul Kelly
“Believe Again” – Delta Goodrem
“The Prayer” – Anthony Callea
“The Greatest Love Of All” – Whitney Houston
“Here With Me” – Dido
“You Raise Me Up” – Westlife
“The Power Of Love” – Jennifer Rush
“Dream Catch Me” – Newton Faulkner
“Touch” – Noiseworks

Image source: Undercover News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Madness and The Human League Join V-Festival

The V-Festival just got a whole lot more interesting for old fogies like myself. Ska legends Madness and 80s electro-pop outfit The Human League have just joined the bill!

But it’s not all retro. Youngsters will be satisfied with the recent addition of Razorlight, The Kills, and ex-Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis.

There are more local acts too, with Children Collide, Howling Bells, Jackson Jackson, and Wolf and Cub all late additions to the bill.

They join the already spectacular line-up which includes international headliners The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs, Duffy, and Snow Patrol.

Here are the dates!

28 March 2009 – Centennial Park, Sydney
29 March 2009 – Avica Resort, Gold Coast
4 April 2009 – Showgrounds, Melbourne
5 April 2009 – Claremont Showgrounds, Perth

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sarah Blasko Records in Sweden

Sarah Blasko has travelled to Sweden to record her third album.

The new tracks were penned at home in Sydney before she set off for a European tour. While in Europe Sarah decided to work with pop mastermind Bjorn Yttling. She’d noticed his name on the back of some of her favourite albums, including discs by Lykke Li and Camera Obscura, so she figured she’d pop the question.

“I sent him a letter and some music and within about a week he got back to me and said he was interested, so I went and visited him in Stockholm and we hit it off,” Sarah said in a statement.

“He showed me the great studios we could record in, he had some great ideas and a lot of enthusiasm and I just felt we could make a good record together. The snowy conditions also won me over.”

It has to make a nice change from Australia’s heatwaves!

Sarah should be in the studio for the next six weeks, but she’ll keep us updated on her progress through her blog.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wolfmother Back in Action

Wolfmother is back with a brand new band and a batch of new songs. Andrew Stockdale road-tested his new outfit with shows in Sydney and Brisbane over the weekend.

Andrew was joined by guitarist Aidan Nemeth, bass player Ian Peres, and drummer Dave Atkins. They played new songs including “White Feather,” “Pilgrim,” “Phoenix,” and “Far Away,” and plenty of Wolfmother favourites.

“A few things have happened,” Andrew told the crowd at Sydney’s Oxford Arts Factory.

“I have got to say it’s so great just to be able to play some music and share the music – do what we know, do what we love.”

They played under the name White Feather, which is thought to be reference to the 1970s Australian band Blackfeather. But the name change was simply a temporary measure to keep things low key. In future they’ll return to the Wolfmother name, despite the absence of founding members Chris Ross and Myles Heskett.

Their next performance is scheduled for March 22 at Adelaide’s Clipsal 500.

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Adam Brand Plans Victorian Bushfire Benefit Concert

Adam Brand is planning to play a relief concert for Victoria’s bushfire victims. The country singer, who grew up in the Victorian country town of Colac, said he was personally touched by the tragedy.

“This is a national tragedy,” he said.

“I feel helpless as a singer. I wish I was a builder or carpenter that could directly help rebuild their lives. However, as a singer, like everybody else in Australia, I will do all I can to help these people through this difficult time.”

The concert is likely to be held at Whittlesea or Bendigo in the coming weeks. Fellow country stars James Blundell and The Sunny Cowgirls are also likely to take part. Organisers are trying to get other artists involved from all genres of music.

Adam also plans to donate a portion of sales from his new album, Hell Of A Ride, to bushfire victims.
If you don’t want to wait until this show to help, here are some other benefit concerts I’ve heard about:

  • Valentine’s Day Bushfire Appeal @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney from midday, February 14 – The Alandale Allstars (Lindsay McDougall, members of The Mess Hall and Bluejuice) will play covers. There’ll be raffles and bucket collections for the bushfire appeal.
  • Bushfire Benefit Gig @ Prince Bandroom, Melbourne, February 22 – Blue King Brown, DJ Dexter, True Live, The Red Eyes confirmed with more to come. Tickets $25 including booking fee, with all proceeds going to the bushfire relief fund.
  • Bushfire Blues Love Bucket Relief @ Corner Hotel, Richmond, February 24 – Line-up includes Monique Brumby, Spectrum, Chris Wilson, Geoff Achison & The Soul Diggers, and many more. Tickets are $25 plus booking fee from the hotel, with the entire ticket price going to the Bushfire Relief Fund
  • The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, Adelaide, February 19 from 6 pm – Line-up includes Prawnhead, 3 Korner Jax, Ronnie Taheny, Adelaide Ukelele Appreciation Society, Eric Bogle, and heaps more. Tickets are $20 at the door with all proceeds supporting the Red Cross and Salvation Army.

Does anyone know of any other fundraising shows? Make sure you leave a comment with the details!

Image source: BRANDette @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sparkadia Dreams of European Success

Sparkadia hopes to crack the tough European market with a move to Germany later this year. The Sydney four-piece will base themselves in Berlin, where they plan to record a new album and tour Europe.

You can say goodbye (or should that be auf Wiedersehen?) to the band at their farewell shows in March and April. Brisbane’s John Steel Singers and Sydney’s The Jezabels will join them on the road.

Here are the dates!

8 March 2009 – Rock It Festival, Joondalup
12 and 13 March 2009 – The Zoo, Brisbane
21 March 2009 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
4 April 2009 – The Factory, Sydney

Image source: KingDaveRa @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jason Mraz Back for Blues Festivals and Sideshows

Jason Mraz’s love affair with Australia continues. The laid-back American troubadour will embark on his sixth local tour next April.

This is bound to be the biggest tour yet thanks to the popularity of this smash hit single “I’m Yours” and the album it came from, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

So it’s fitting that Jason will tour with a seven-piece band and two big support acts. In a stroke of synchronicity, Jason will take fellow Californian Eric Hutchinson on the road with him. Eric’s song “Rock & Roll” appeared in recent advertisements for Channel Seven’s series Packed to The Rafters, replacing the drama’s original tune “I’m Yours.” Australia’s own Lisa Mitchell will round out the stellar bill for these shows.

The tour’s highlights will include performances at the Bluesfest Byron Bay and the West Coast Blues & Roots Festival. He’ll also co-headline Adelaide’s Music in the Park concert with Missy Higgins.

If you still haven’t grabbed a copy of the album, you might want to hold off. We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. will be released as a 2CD/DVD expanded edition on March 6. It includes the album, three previously unreleased EPs, a 20-page booklet with lyrics and additional artworks, and a full band live DVD. It’s enough to tempt me to fork out for another copy!

Every show sold out on Jason’s last tour, and I expect this one’s going to go the same way. Tickets go on sale on Thursday 19 February, so get in quick! Here are all the dates!

13 April 2009 – Byron Bay Bluesfest, Belongil Fields
14 April 2009 – Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane
15 April 2009 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
17 April 2009 – Bonython Park, Adelaide (Missy Higgins to perform instead of Lisa Mitchell)
18 April 2009 – West Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Fremantle
20 April 2009 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne

Image source: Bauer-Griffin