Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster Announces Aussie Tour

Australia’s been a bit slow to cotton on to the brilliance that is Ruthie Foster. But all that’s set to change when this talented soul artist tours Oz for the first time to support her fifth album, The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster.

Ruthie touches down in March for a string of dates including Sydney’s The Basement, the Port Fairy Folk Festival, the Blue Mountains Music Festival of Folk, Roots & Blues, the Point Nepean Music Festival, and the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival.

To coincide with the tour, Shock Records will release three of Ruthie’s previous albums, which were unavailable in Australia. Shock will also release a tour edition of The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, which includes a bonus live disc.

Here are Ruthie Foster’s Australian tour dates:

4 March 2008 – The Basement, Sydney
8-9 March 2008 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy
13 March 2008 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
14 March 2008 – Brunswick Town Hall, Melbourne
15 March 2008 – Mossvale Music Festival, Mossvale
16 March 2008 – Blue Mountains Music Festival of Folk, Roots & Blues, Katoomba
20 March 2008 – The Factory Theatre, Enmore
21-22 March 2008 – East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Byron Bay
23 March 2008 – Point Nepean Music Festival, Mornington Peninsula

Image source: McBeth @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Be in Kisschasy’s New Video!

You’ll have to put your skates on for this one kids, but if you’re a Kisschasy fan living in Melbourne you could appear in their next music video. The shoot is taking place tomorrow, that’s Thursday January 10, at Fairfield Park.

The sessions take place at 3 pm until 8 pm, and 8 pm until 11 pm. You’ll need to see Killian at the kiosk when you get there. You should wear something appropriate for a folk festival, and sunscreen and a hat because it’s going to be a scorcher. You should also bring a blanket to sit on, and plenty of water to drink.

Have fun!

Image source: Eleven A Music Company @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Country Cat Bound for Nashville

Country glamour girl Cat Southern is spreading her wings and heading to Nashville.

Cat’s sweet voice and contemporary edge saw her take out the Toyota Star Maker Awards in 2006. She’s spent the last year promoting her Star Maker Last First Kiss EP and playing plenty of shows, including performances for our troops in the Middle East.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Cat’s now ready for her biggest challenge: the United States. The Central Coast-based singer-songwriter will work with producer Terry Sawchuck, the man behind the success of Alanis Morissette, and Carrie Underwood’s musicians.

You can check out Cat’s latest single “Little Miss Understood” at her MySpace page.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

A Little Urban On The Way

There’s more happy news today with confirmation that Nicole Kidman and her Aussie country singer husband Keith Urban are expecting a child. The tabloids have speculated about Nicole’s “baby bump” for some time, but her publicist finally confirmed it today.

“Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban confirmed today that they are expecting a baby,” said publicist Wendy Day in an official statement. “The couple are thrilled.”

Nic has two adopted children, Connor and Isabelle, from her first marriage to Tom Cruise, but she’s made no secret of wanting her own children.

One things for certain: with parents as good looking as Keith and Nicole, this new baby is going to be absolutely gorgeous.

Image source: jeaneem @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Guy Sebastian To Wed

Congratulations are in order for Guy Sebastian, who recently became engaged to his long-term girlfriend Jules Egan.

Guy broke the news (and the hearts of teenage girls everywhere) in this week’s New Idea. He told the gossip rag he proposed to his main squeeze while walking on a Queensland beach over the Christmas holidays. His lucky lady is now sporting a gorgeous white-gold ring set with 140 diamonds.

The mag reports the couple got together eight years ago after singing together at a friend’s wedding. They met through the Assemblies of God Paradise Community Church when Guy was just 13. Awww.

You can leave your well wishes for Guy and Jules on the New Idea website.

Image source: Toby Forage @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

It’s All About the Music: Duck Duck BOOM

In summer most of us suffer from festival overload. After shelling out cash for The Big Day Out, V Festival, the upcoming Blues and Roots shows most of us are too broke to even think about another one. But what if you heard about a festival that actually gives back to the music industry? I’m not talking about lining Richard Branson’s wallet; I mean really supporting the biz at a grassroots level. That festival is Duck Duck BOOM.

“You can think of a major music festival as a tertiary graduation day of sorts with pomp and fanfare, but it’s your local venues who are the underpaid and underappreciated primary and secondary school teachers and childcare workers of the music industry. And really there aren’t a lot of major events groups who are acknowledging this and putting something back,” explained Duck Duck BOOM coordinator, Dave Dreimann.

“I’ve got nothing against major music festivals. I think they are awesome. They bring in some incredible international talent and often take local bands who are doing well that one more step out into the public eye. They definitely serve an important purpose. But on a day-to-day basis it’s your local music venues, not these guys, who are giving the bands that go on to greater things their start and their education.”

In keeping with its altruistic aims, Duck Duck BOOM isn’t travelling to your local showground or stadium. Instead, this one-day festival will hit North Fitzroy’s Empress Hotel. This Victorian institution has worked tirelessly to support local bands for decades, a job that’s just become even tougher under Yarra Council’s noise restriction laws.

Duck Duck BOOM features a fantastic lineup of artists from all around the country, including local indie darlings Plastic Palace Alice and Number Station, Queensland folk rockers Yves Klein Blue, and Western Australia’s Will Stoker and The Embers. Sherlocks Daughter, Tonight is like Space Invaders, Plague Doctor, The Vice Chancellors, and Quiet the Few round out this impressive bill.

Strictly limited tickets are available now from Moshtix. At just $35.60 including booking fee, it’s a small price to pay to see some awesome bands and support the local industry.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Shannon Noll Plays Online Charity Show

Thanks to the power of the internet, Shannon Noll’s Aussie fans can catch their idol performing in Las Vegas later this month. Shannon will make history as the first Aussie to appear on Deep Rock Drive, an exiting new website showcasing live music.

So here’s how it happens. Fans should log on to Deep Rock Drive from 8 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on January 19 and vote for Shannon to play. Once 1000 votes are logged, fans can purchase tickets to the online show for $7 US.

Now before you whine that you can watch plenty of stuff online for free, consider that 50c from your ticket will help Shannon’s chosen charity. He’s picked the Rainy Day Foundation, an organisation committed to helping people affected by the Aussie drought.

The Deep Rock Drive website has some really cool features which allow fans to choose their camera angles and vote for the songs they want to hear during the show.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Vanessa Amorosi Scores AFL Theme Song

Expect to see a lot more of Vanessa Amorosi this year. Not content with just being the face of Calvin Klein, Vanessa will also sing the theme for the 2008 AFL season.

The music video for her song “Start It” was filmed recently at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Vanessa loves Aussie Rules and is a keen Hawthorn Hawks supporter.

All this publicity couldn’t have come at a better time for Vanessa. Her new album Somewhere in the Real World will hit stores on March 17.

Image source: Australian Paralympic Committee @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Natalie Imbruglia and Daniel Johns Split

After four years of marriage, Natalie Imbruglia and Daniel Johns have called it quits.

According to a joint statement, the pressure of maintaining a long distance relationship and busy careers caused the split.

“While we are very sad that our marriage has ended, we want to make it clear that our parting is amicable, and we remain friends,” they said. “This mutual decision has not been taken lightly or quickly.

“However, our career demands and our lives in different parts of the world have brought us to the point where unfortunately this difficult decision was necessary for both of us.

“We have simply grown apart through not being able to spend enough time together.”

Natalie spends most of her time in London while Daniel is still based in Australia. The pair has called for privacy during this difficult time.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kasey Plays Charity Gig

Here’s one for all the country fans. Kasey Chambers is set to perform her seventh annual Live Free in the Park concert in Tamworth later this month.

This year’s events will raise money for Tamworth’s Ronald McDonald House, which will be built in April.

Kasey promises this year’s event will be something special.

“We have put together a special acoustic show where my husband Shane Nicholson, my Dad Bill Chambers and myself will be doing acoustic-based versions of songs from my last 4 albums and also take the opportunity to road test some brand new material,” she said in a press release.

To check out Kasey’s acoustic goodness get yourself to Tamworth’s Bicentennial Park on the evening of January 25.

Image source: jeaneem @ Wikimedia Commons