Month: March 2009

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lisa Mitchell Announces Headline Tour

It’s been a long time coming, but Lisa Mitchell is finally hitting the road on her first headline tour!

She’ll criss-cross the country in April, giving fans a sneak peek of her debut album which will hit stores on July 3. The set will include Lisa’s latest track, “Coin Laundry.”

Having spent the last few months putting the finishing touches on the record, Lisa’s itching to get in front of an audience again.

“I’ll be joined on the road by my delightful band mates Robert Vasy on drums and Jan Bangma on bass, and I’m very excited to have Andy Bull and Vanessa Jade joining onstage for our latest expedition around the country!”she said.

See Lisa at a venue near you in this April and May. Here are all the dates!

16 April 2009 – East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
17 April 2009 – Northcote Social Club
18 April 2009 – The Karova Lounge, Ballarat
19 April 2009 – Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong
22 April 2009 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
23 April 2009 – The Sound Lounge, Currumbin
24 April 2009 – Bon Amici, Toowoomba
25 April 2009 – The Globe Theatre, Brisbane
26 April 2009 – Woombye Pub, Sunshine Coast
28 April 2009 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
29 April 2009 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
30 April – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
1 May 2009 – Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney
3 May 2009 – ANU Union Bar, Canberra
6 May 2009 – Mojo’s Bar, Fremantle
7 May 2009 – Amplifier Bar, Perth
8 May 2009 – Jive Bar, Adelaide

Image source: Sunrise.seven @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Butler Splits with Trio

John Butler has ditched the rest of his trio. The Aussie singer-songwriter has split from drummer Michael Barker and bass player Shannon Birchall for “artistic reasons.”

“Michael and Shannon have been by far the best line up I have performed with in The John Butler Trio to date. They have been a pleasure to live, love, learn, record and tour with. Their professionalism, musicianship, and commitment have been unwavering and for that and a whole lot more I am truly thankful,” he said.

But clearly not so thankful that he’d keep the lads, who’ve been playing with him for six years, in the band.

Catch Michael and Shannon at their final John Butler Trio performances in April.

9 April 2009 – Fire and Floor Benefit Gig @ The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
10 April 2009 – Chill City, Melbourne
12 April 2009 – East Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Byron Bay
18 April 2009 – West Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Fremantle

Image source: Marty Philbey/John Butler Trio press page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Missy Higgins Wants to Save the Kimberley

Missy Higgins is getting political, throwing her weight behind the Save the Kimberley campaign.

The Aussie singer-songwriter has recorded four cover songs for an EP which will raise funds in opposition to the West Australian government’s proposed gas plant in the Kimberley region.

You can get your hands on a copy of the charity release through iTunes from March 31.

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Britney Spears Plans Aussie Tour

It sounds like Britney Spears will bring her Circus tour to Australia sooner rather than later.

Leading local promoters are in talks with the former pop trainwreck who is expected to visit our shores later this year.

“All the promoters are vying for it, but the bottom line is that she really wants to come here and she really wants to come this year,” said Sony boss Denis Handlin.

Michael Gudinski is one of the promoters hoping to bring Britney over for her first Aussie tour.

“I don’t expect anything will be worked out or finalised for a month, but we’re in there,” he confirmed.

“It will be one of the biggest concert productions to come here.”

With a rotating stage, acrobats, a stripper pole, and a greatest hits set, it certainly sounds like it. The less said about those lip-synching allegations the better!

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aussie Stars Get Together for Melbourne Earth Day Show

Australian music fans have an extra reason to get to the Earth Day to be held in Melbourne’s Federation Square on March 28.

The show will feature a very special one-of performance by a new supergroup. Special guest frontman Paris Wells, Kram, Chris Cheney (Living End), Nic Cester (Jet), Renee Geyer, and Vika & Linda will play with an all-star band. That celebrity ensemble will include Ash Naylor (Paul Kelly), Wally Meanie (Meanies), Matt Cotter (Even), and Bruce Haymes (Renee Geyer). They’ll play a selection of eco-friendly cover versions. Word is that “Gimme Shelter” has made the set list.

Peter Garrett will also make an appearance, but he’ll be chatting about the environment rather than busting out some tunes.

The entire show will be powered by the energy generated by 300 bicycles, which is very cool indeed!

More than 8000 are expected to attend the free show, but it sounds worth braving the crowds for!

Image source: Flávio Takemoto @ Stock.xchng

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eddy Current Suppression Ring Win Australian Music Prize

Melbourne band Eddy Current Suppression Ring has beaten some impressive opposition to take home the Australian Music Prize.

The band won the $30, 000 grand prize for their sophomore album Primary Colours.

They faced stiff opposition from artists including The Presets, The Drones, C.W. Stoneking, and Cut Copy.

Image source: Mandy-Pixels @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Watch Ashleigh Mannix’s Amazing Cover of "Hallelujah" from Billabong’s Design for Humanity

You might remember me mentioning last month’s Billabong Design for Humanity event, a celebration of music, fashion, and art all for a good cause.

The night featured some top notch Australian entertainment including The Cassette Kids and DJ outfit Bag Raiders, but one of the standouts was young singer songwriter Ashleigh Mannix. You could have heard a pin drop as she opened the show with a stripped back version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” She performed to a backdrop of SurfAid International’s inspiring work with the people of the Mentawai Islands. It served as a poignant reminder why events like this are so important.

If you missed the event you can catch Ashleigh’s breathtaking performance here!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

ARIA Awards in Doubt

They say the show will go on, but no one is quite sure where this year’s ARIA music awards will be held, and who will broadcast the big event.

ACER Arena has hosted the show since 2001, but this year’s venue hasn’t been booked either. That has some joking that this year’s ceremony may be a very scaled back affair.

“It’s so up in the air at this stage that we’re jokingly thinking about putting a reserve booking on the Cowra Community Hall,” a senior source associated with the ARIAs told The Daily Telegraph.

Financial constraints have reportedly led to Network Ten’s contract lapsing. They have broadcast 15 of the past16 awards shows at a cost of $1 million each, on top of rights.

But an ARIA spokeswoman said she is confident they’ll find another broadcast partner.

“We’re excited about different ideas and plans for it. But we imagine they will be broadcast – but it’s still up in the air,” she said.

Industry gossip has it that the event will go to pay TV, and I for one am hoping that’s not the case. Free to air has lost the Grammys, the American Music Awards, and recent big shows like Sound Relief to pay TV. As a music fan without cable I’d be upset to miss yet another big music event.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

A December Wedding for Delta and Brian

There’s no date just yet, but it looks like glamour couple Brian McFadden and Delta Goodrem will get hitched in December.

“We’re looking at the end of the year, Christmas time, in Australia,” Brian said in Ireland this week.

“During the next couple of weeks, we’ll definitely be setting a date.”

The Goodrem-McFadden clan expanded this week. Brian has two daughters, Molly and Lily-Sue, and now they have two puppies! The fluffballs are named Vail and Aspen after Delta’s favourite ski fields. How cute!

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Flaming Lips’ Fleeting Oz Tour

Q Magazine named The Flaming Lips as one of the 50 bands you should see before you die. Now you’ll get your chance, with the band announcing their first Australian tour since the 2004 Big Day Out.

A return visit has been a long time coming, but with the band set to release a new album in June the wait is over, for Sydney and Melbourne residents anyway.

The blink-and-you’ll-miss it tour is sure to disappoint many, but after five long years fans will probably take what they can get! The Flaming Lips will play Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on July 28, before heading to Melbourne’s Festival Hall on July 29. Tickets for both shows go on sale on April 2.

Image source: PR Photos