Tag: Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Avalon Drive Reunite for Hometown Show

Brisbane band Avalon Drive broke some hearts when they parted ways in November 2008, so fans will be thrilled to see they’re getting back together for one show next year.

The Hi-Fi Bar in Brisbane is the place to be on February 5, when the band takes us on a trip down memory lane with songs from their debut self-titled album and more recent discs.

It promises to be a pretty special night with a number of mystery guests set to appear!

Tickets are on sale from the venue now. While the show’s not for many months, I wouldn’t wait around if you’re keen to go. You know this one’s going to sell out!

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

New On the Pulse Festival Brings Bands to Brisbane Kids

And those festival announcements just keep on coming. On the Pulse is a new kid on the block, but something tells me this youth-oriented event is going to take off in a big way.

It’ll bring 15 unsigned and independent punk, rock, and pop acts to Brisbane on October 23; they’ll play across two stages at the Fortitude Valley PCYC and The Hive. Acts on the bill include up and comers Finabah, Flicks, Burning Brooklyn, Words Versing Verses, and Starting Sunday.

“On The Pulse has been created not only to create a quality festival platform for our younger and growing artists, but also to present an exciting opportunity for young music fans to be introduced to new music and exciting new bands,” said festival promoter Marc Mancini.

Parents can rest easy as this is a completely drug and alcohol free event. Tickets cost $25 and are on sale now through Oztix, Rockinghorse Records, Kill the Music, and Sunflower Music.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Kelsie Rimmer

Kelsie Rimmer is on the path to country super stardom after taking out the Brisbane heat of this year’s Telstra Road to Tamworth competition. I caught up with the 18-year-old from Palmwoods today to chat about the competition, her love for country music, and why she’s heading to “Boot Camp.”

Congratulations on winning the Brisbane heat of the Telstra Road to Tamworth on the weekend.
Thank you very much.

What was it like to be a part of the competition?
It was really, really great. I got to meet so many talented performers and lots of industry professionals as well. It was just really great to be up on stage singing and performing, which is what I love doing.

What made you decide to enter?
I have been a singer-songwriter for a long time, and I realised that it’s really what I want to pursue as a career so I’ve just been entering lots of competitions actually. But I know that country music is my calling, and I know that Tamworth is the country music capital, so I feel really privileged to be a part of it.

At 18 you would be one of the younger competitors. Was it daunting taking on some of the more seasoned performers?
Well actually, it was pretty daunting because we’d all practiced together and I’d heard them all singing and playing their guitars and stuff, and they all sounded amazing. But I kind of just went into the competition with the attitude that I was just going to get up there and be myself, and if that worked out well then it did, and if it didn’t it didn’t. So I actually wasn’t very nervous at all, just because I wasn’t expecting anything.

Was the crowd one of the biggest you’ve performed to?
No actually, even though it was the Ekka, I expected it’d be much bigger. I’ve performed in a few musicals and stuff which have had huge crowds, so the crowd wasn’t the most daunting part. It was mostly the competition part.

Continue reading “Q & A with Kelsie Rimmer” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chaka Cancels Brissie Gig

Brisbane has lost its Chaka Khan concert, after the soul diva claimed to have “unforeseen international commitments.”

Is it just me, or do those kind of official excuses tend to sound like a load of BS? Maybe if there was some sort of official apology I might believe it a little more.

Anyway, the other Aussie fans can breathe easy. The Melbourne show on June 13 and Sydney show on June 15 will still go ahead as planned. Brisbane ticketholders can get a refund from their place of purchase.

Image source: Live @ J&R @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Musicians Honoured in Brisvegas

Brisbane has produced some of Australia’s finest musicians. Now they’ve been honoured with a very special rock ‘n’ roll Walk of Fame.

Ten plaques will honor the city’s prominent musical exports, including the Bee Gees, Powderfinger, The Go Betweens, Savage Garden, and Keith Urban.  

Deputy Mayor David Hinchcliffe told the ABC he hopes the plaques in Brunswick St Mall will become a local tourist attraction. He also hopes to expand the walk in future.

“There are a few that we hope will make the cut in years to come because we will continue the walk of fame,” he said.

“These are just the first 10 steps and in future years I would expect the likes of Billy Thorpe, Resin Dogs, the Noonan family, The Veronicas.”

Image source: Jeaneem at Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Powderfinger and Silverchair Hit Brisbane

Last Friday night seasoned concert goer Lisa Mayer, saw Silverchair and Powderfinger at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. I caught up with her for a chat about Powderfinger’s hometown gig.

Lisa’s a big fan of both bands, but she expected Silverchair’s performance would have the edge. The Newcastle lads opened the show with a rocking set, which included big hits “Without You,” “Greatest View,” and their latest smash “Straight Lines.”

While the band did their best to entertain, the local crowd seemed largely unmoved.

“Silverchair did rock, but the audience kind of didn’t. I wanted to stand up and dance but it wasn’t that kind of audience,” Lisa told me. “Other than that, I was really happy with Silverchair and I didn’t think that I could enjoy Powderfinger as much as I enjoyed them.”

When Powderfinger took to the stage, the audience became “the kind of hometown crowd that a band would be proud of.”

And the band delivered a set worthy of their adoring fans. A stripped-back acoustic version of “Sunsets” was “absolutely spine-tingling,” and “On My Mind” was a surprise with “Midnight Rambler” in the middle. But the real crowd-pleaser was “My Happiness” which encouraged a spontaneous sing-a-long.

Lisa said the song “saw the entire entertainment centre singing along while the band stood in amazement that everyone was singing their own song back to them, full volume. That had to be a spine-tingling moment for them. They all looked so happy to be there, so happy that they were with fellow Brisbanites and playing at the Entertainment Centre for the first time.”

So how much did Lisa love the show? Well, she’s going back to see the bands at the Gold Coast and Toowoomba later this week. Now that’s dedication.

Image source: jeaneeem @ Flickr