Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get Ready for Ausmusic T-Shirt Day

Ausmusic T-Shirt Day is upon us, a day where we show off our favourite Aussie band T-shirts to raise awareness and funds for Support Act. This important charity supports musicians and music industry workers experiencing financial hardship and physical or mental health issues. Funds from this year’s event will expand Support Act’s Wellbeing Helpline.

On November 16, Ausmusic T-shirt Day, you’re invited to donate via the official website, snap a selfie wearing your favourite Australian band T-shirt, and share it on your socials using the hashtags #ausmusictshirtday, @supportact.

“The cool thing about the website is that it enables artists and music lovers to create teams so they can get their workplace, school or social media networks involved in the campaign,” said Support Act CEO Clive Miller. “It’s a really simple and fun way to raise funds for a great cause and we really hope that music fans across Australia can be our ambassadors and get their workplaces involved; and that artists can mobilise the support of their fans.”

Don’t have an Australian band T-shirt yet? I’d suggest you need to spend more time at merch counters! But Support Act has you covered, with specially commissioned band tees available through the Levi’s online store. Proceeds from the sale of these shirts go straight to Support Act.

Image used with permission from Ferris Davies PRM

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Levi’s & Support Act Release Web Series For Music Industry Mental Health

Levi’s and Support Act have teamed up to help improve mental health in the local music industry. Together they’ve created Tune Ups, a six-part webseries offering tips on mindfulness and other strategies to combat mental health concerns while highlighting the new Wellbeing Helpline for people working within the music industry. The online videos feature appearances from key music industry figures including Briggs, Alex the Astronaut, Joel Birch from Amity Affliction, and heaps more. Take a look at the video below to learn all about it.

“We are very grateful to Nicky Rowsell and Levi’s for being the driving force behind the campaign,” said Clive Miller, the chief executive officer of Support Act. “Tune Ups highlights how important it is for all of us to be aware of our mental health, and provides some great examples of how people in our industry manage their wellbeing. We hope it inspires anyone who may be doing it tough to know that they are not alone, and that they can reach out to our free, confidential Wellbeing Helpline at any time on on 1800 959 500 if they want to talk to someone about any aspect of their wellbeing.”

You can find the videos on the Support Act website, Vice Music channel Noisey, and other social platforms. While they’re made for music industry professionals, there’s plenty there for anyone who’s struggling with mental health issues. If you or someone you know is struggling, please make sure to take a look.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Phil Jamieson’s Magic Castle Raising Money for Headspace Port Macquarie

Grinspoon frontman and all-round good dude Phil Jamieson has put together a fantastic fundraiser night, dubbed Magic Castle, for headspace Port Macquarie. Happening December 13, the musical extravaganza will raise money to support the vital work headspace does supporting the mental health of young people in Port.

Along with a headlining set from Phil, punters will also enjoy music from Byron Bay punk act Mini Skirt, Newcastle singer-songwriter Grace Turner, and Port Macquarie’s own Royal Chant, Genes, and Vena Klymo.

Tickets are $30 plus booking fee, a steal for a night’s entertainment that’s all for a good cause. Get yours at the venue, Panthers Port Macquarie, or Oztix.

Image used with permission from Wonderlick

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Melbourne Getting a New Live Music Space

With countless live music venues around the country closing their doors, it’s exciting to hear of anything new opening up. Geddes Lane Ballroom will breathe new life into Melbourne’s historic Showgirls Bar 20 venue. It’s only fitting as before the strippers moved in, the site was the Grainstore Tavern, the place that launched John Farnham’s Whispering Jack album and hosted household names like Daryl Braithwaite, INXS, Little River Band, and Tina Arena.

Ben Thompson and Ashlea O’Loughlin (The Venue Collective, 170 Russell, East Brunswick Club) will take charge of booking talent. Acclaimed chef Shannon Bennett will preside over the food and beverages to leave our tastebuds satisfied. Lorenz Grollo, the CEO of the Grollo Group, rounds out the team.

“We’re excited to be bringing live music back to one of Melbourne’s most popular venues throughout the 80s and 90s”, enthused Ben Thompson, “It’s been a hidden gem, centrally located, close to trains and trams and a big carpark with a fantastic tried-and-tested band room. We’re doing some acoustic treatments, putting in a world class PA and cleaning the place up. Live music fans will love it. With the loss of so many live music venues over the last 10 years including quality smaller rooms like Ding Dong Lounge and Shebeen, there aren’t many options out there. People need the option to come into the city and experience original live music. The venue will be open to all conceivable genres of music from local, national and international acts and we have some surprise shows planned for summer.”

Geddes Lane Ballroom promises to open to some serious next month with an iconic Melbourne rock act. Make sure you follow their social pages for news of that as it breaks!

Image used with permission from On the Map PR; photo credit Jason Edwards Herald Sun

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sia & Dolly Parton Release Song For Netflix Film

Country legend Dolly Parton has teamed up with our own Sia for “Here I Am,” the ultimate torch song and first track lifted from the upcoming Netflix film Dumplin’.

Released on November 30, Dumplin’ tells the story of a plus-size teen who signs up to her mum’s beauty pageant to protest the impossible beauty standards and starts a revolution in her small Texas town. The soundtrack also sounds incredible, with Dolly collaborating with other celebrated acts like Mavis Staples, Elle King, Alison Krauss, and Miranda Lambert.

The soundtrack will certainly be worth checking out, but until then, how do you think Sia sounds with Dolly?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dragon Does Countdown Hits at Crown

Legendary adopted Aussie act Dragon are ringing in the silly season with a very special show at Melbourne’s Palms on Crown. Called The Best of Countdown Chartbusters, the gig will take the audience on a trip down memory lane with songs from the Countdown era. Songs like this!

Along with all your favourite Dragon hits, you can expect to hear covers of some smash singles from the United Kingdom, America, and Australia. Think the songs of Michael Jackson, The Knack, David Bowie, Little River Band, and Madness, to name just a few, done as only Dragon can.

“When we go to the merch desk and talk to the crowd and do photos, everyone is so connected to Countdown,” explained bassist Todd Hunter. “You can really see how the show affected their lives.”
There’s not a lot of lead time on this one, with tickets going on sale tomorrow morning at 9am from Ticketmaster for the December 21st gig.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tom Thum Releases Fascinating New TEDx Talk

Do you know who’s behind the most watched TEDx talk ever? A politician perhaps, or social activist? No, it’s Brisbane beatboxer Tom Thum, who clocked up more than 66 million views on his first TEDx talk. With his first talk going gangbusters, expect a lot of eyeballs on his latest TEDx talk “What Happens in Your Throat When You Beatbox.”

The talk sees Tom teaming up with Dr Matthew Broadhurst for an up-close and personal look on what the body does when it’s beatboxing. It’s the first time in the world a doctor has ever performed a live on stage laryngoscopy on a beatboxer, a practice that will reveal more about Tom Thum than you’ve ever seen before!

Tom’s own curiosity inspired the presentation. “Basically I wanted to get a deeper understanding (in the most invasively literal way) of how my artform worked,” he explained. “I realised that beatboxing had been relatively understudied compared to other vocal styles and I wanted to be part of the story in my own weird way.”

Turn it on and I promise you won’t be able to look away! Science meets music in this fascinating TEDx talk.

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

James Reyne Announces Year-Long Melbourne Residency

Music fans in Melbourne will have plenty of chances to see James Reyne next year, with the Aussie legend announcing he’ll play the Palms at Crown on the first Saturday night of every month.

The sets will include all the hits and some special treats from James Reyne’s vast solo career and Australian Crawl back catalogue. Make sure you arrive on time for the support acts, who are some of the best acts in the country.

“Very happy to be back playing the first Saturday of every month of 2019 at The Palms,” James said in a press statement. Fabulous rock and roll turf and almost our second home by now. At least we can say we’ve ‘gone a little Vegas.’ They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but I tell ya, what happens at The Palms you can scream from the mountain tops!”

Join in the fun at the following shows. Tickets are available now from Ticketmaster.

5 January, 2 February, 2 March – with Chantoozies
6 April, 4 May, 1 June – with Models
6 July, 3 August, 7 September – with Taxiride
5 October, 2 November, 7 December – with Boom Crash Opera

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute; credit: Robin Reidy

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Stuart Coupe Celebrates Roadies with New Book, Panel Events

Roadies are the unsung heroes of the music industry, working tirelessly for the bands and solo artists who receive all the accolades. Until now. Stuart Coupe is giving roadies their due with his new book “Roadies – The Secret History of Australian Rock’n’Roll.” To celebrate its release, Chugg Entertainment and Support Act have joined forces for two very special lunchtime launch events in Sydney and Melbourne.

Each event will see Stuart in conversation with some of the roadies featured in the book. Sydney will hear from Nicky Campbell (The Rebels, Skyhooks, Renee Geyer, Cold Chisel) and Ross Ferguson (Little River Band, Tina Turner, Elton John, Beastie Boys), while Melbourne gets Howard Freeman (Sherbet, Dragon, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) and Geoff Lloyd (Crowded House, Jimmy Barnes, Last Chance Café). The world’s first female roadie, Tana Douglas (AC/DC, Elton John, Status Quo), will fly from LA to speak on both panels.

The events will also feature special performances from Richard Clapton and Hoodoo Gurus’ Brad Faulker and Dave Shepherd in Sydney and Phil Manning in Melbourne.

The Sydney event will be held at The Factory on 26 September. The Thornbury Theatre will host Melbourne’s on October 4. Tickets are available now from the venues. Attendees will receive a signed copy of “Roadies – The Secret History of Australian Rock’n’Roll.” All money raised will benefit the Support Act Roadies Fund, administered in association with the Australian Road Crew Association.

Image used with permission from Chugg Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sam Perry Announces Tour & Support Act Competition

They cop a lot of criticism, but I am avid fan of music-based reality shows. They’re one of the few places a nationwide audience can see undiscovered musical talent, and that’s nothing but positive to me. The Voice Australia has perhaps faced the most criticism, a show that enjoys great ratings but has not, as the naysayers remind us, produced a big star. Personally I think “stars” are overrated. Plenty of singers unearthed on The Voice are gigging regularly … but I digress. If The Voice Australia was ever to deliver us a bona fide star, it might be Sam Perry. Simply because he broke the mould and gave us something we’ve never seen on shows of this ilk. In fact, it’s not quite like I’ve seen anywhere else.

Vocal looping in and of itself isn’t new, but the way Sam used it to create soundscapes was incredible. He had raw talent, but I felt like working with Kelly Rowland improved him week after week. It was mentoring at its finest, the kind of thing that happens when these shows are at their best.

Too many reality TV acts fade into obscurity once the cameras stop rolling, but Sam isn’t going to go away quietly. He’s making new music which we’ll no doubt get a taste of when he plays shows around the country later this year.

“My new music is coming together well,” he said. “I have a lot to do and more to learn, but it’s exciting. I also can’t wait to tour Australia and show everyone what I have been working on.”

Sam also wants to pay his good luck forward and use his profile to give another artist a leg up. So he’s launched the Not a DJ support competition. He encourages anyone interested in supporting him on his national tour to send a demo (Soundcloud or private download link), bio, and photo to info@michaelparismgmt.com for the chance to win a place on the bill.

“Starting out as a local artist in a small town, I know all too well how hard it can be to meet the right people, and be heard amongst the already established bands,” he explained. “I’m not great at networking and there is not really a rule book to follow. All I knew, is that I wanted to perform to a room of people, that were there to listen. I can’t wait to hear all your music, and find a local support act to join me in their city on my tour around the country.”

Sam Perry will play the following shows in November and December. Tickets are available from his website. If you go, remember to arrive early enough to cheer on the support act. They might just be the next star of the future.

16 November 2018 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
17 November 2018 – Dub in the Park, Adelaide
23 November 2018 – The Helm, Sunshine Coast
24 November 2018 – 256 Wickham, Brisbane
30 November 2018 – Civic Underground, Sydney
7 December 2018 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
14 December 2018 – Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth
21 December 2018 – Magnums Hotel, Airlie Beach
22 December 2018 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville

Image used with permission from Beehive PR