Music News

Planet Earth had We Are The World in 1985, and now a couple of local musicians are planning something similar. Talented musicians Luke Owens, Craig Morley and Dave Turpie are planning to gather a troupe of Bendigo musicians to write and record a Christmas track, and hopefully raise $100,000 ..

It was probably never in the original plan but Steve Lane and the Autocrats have broadened their musical palate to the world of children’s entertainment. Well, kind of. Signed to the ABC’s music label, Lane was asked to contribute The Wiggles’ hit Fruit Salad, to their tri..

MICK GRIFFIN In only its first year, the Echuca Riverboats Festival over the weekend (February 17-19) is already shaping up to be a major event on many a musical calendar. The stage site was idyllic, nestled in amongst mighty gum trees on the banks of the Murray River. ..

American blues maestro Eric Bibb just had an epiphany. “I recently came back from a trip in Mali... where I recorded with a wonderful musician, Habib Koite,” Bibb says. “It was an epiphany, something of a homecoming. “I don’t want to over-dramatise but ..

Songwriters are usually meant to write about what they know. But The Cat Empire’s Harry James Angus treads a slightly different path. A little ditty to be found on his solo album, Little Stories, among other tales about buried bones and sentimental capitalists, is The Batsmen, a satiri..

The phone has been ringing off the hook for The Cat Empire's Harry James Angus. Ever since fledgling AFL club Greater Western Sydney's new theme song- which he wrote- was released, a large section of the media has been ringing up to say Hello, Hello. “That’s all I&rs..

THE GIG GUIDE Friday, February 17 THE CORNER VENUE Heaven the Axe with Abreact and Artilah from 8pm. $10 BENDIGO FOLK CLUB The Beez from 8pm. HIBERNIAN HOTEL Chris Morley from 8.30pm. Free T..

Melbourne artist Tracey Roberts has a unique view into the realm of art and music. She has “multi-colour synesthesia”, which allows her to see colours, shapes and images when she hears music. Both a visual artist and a singer-songwriter-pianist, it's no surprise her artwork a..

If there is a band before my time that I desperately wish I could have seen, it would be Pink Floyd. So I was never going to miss an opportunity to see Roger Waters perform The Wall at Rod Laver Arena last week. With the hype, and more importantly the man behind the production,..

A SPECIAL piece of music equipment is looking for a new home. Roy Burke was a community-minded bloke, a local policeman who was devoted to the Anglican Church, loved the Elmore Field Days and ran countless Blue Light Discos at the Elmore pool. Roy was also skilled as a drummer, keeping the beat..

WHEN Bobby Rydell steps on the stage of The Capital Theatre next month it will be as part of his 21st tour of Australia. His first was in 1960, and he already had a hit record under his belt, Kissin’ Time. Thirty-four US hits later and a string of favourites around the world, Bobby..

MICK GRIFFIN Throughout much of the nineties, Custard were one of Australia’s most prominent and popular bands, with a loyal live following and hit songs by way of Apartment and Music is Crap. The band also released some of the definitive albums from that time with Wahooti..

LIVE performances will combine with live footage and stunning artwork, as music label Broken Stone Records hits Kyneton as part of a 10-day east coast show case tour. BSR co-owner Jonathon Miller said the roadshow had existed in different forms since BSR began operation back ..

A MEETING on the streets of Wagga Wagga proved to be the catalyst for the formation of hard rockers Heaven The Axe. Bombshell lead singer Phoebe Pinnock was spotted by the man she would eventually marry, Steve Watts (of Manticore fame), who had been entertaining the idea of a female-..

Adalai – Unfamiliar Places Adalai’s first EP is a combination of eight tracks, which offer a welcome departure from the usual alternative rock riffs and chorus lines. Unlike many alternative rocker bands out there, Adalai successfully manages to get every song..

For Australia’s one time Queen of Pop Tania Doko, it’s high time for a bit of good old fashioned self indulgence. After spending the past few years writing songs for others, like former pop matriarch Taylor Dane, she’s back to expressing what’s in her own heart. And s..

THE GIG GUIDE Friday, February 10 THE BRIDGE Mez and Al from 7pm. Free MANCHESTER ARMS The Keepers of the Flame from 8pm. Free BASEMENT BAR Sarah Louise Langley with Paul D Solo from 10pm. N..

Let’s get one thing clear: Grand Perceptor don’t do sweetness and light, so don’t even ask. Grand exponents in “terror rock”, GP’s vocalist Old World Sparrow, drummer Dean “Deano” Stanton and menace-on-the-bass Mick Fitt, you can safely accuse ..

BY NUHTAYA JOHNSON. Celtic Thunder perform in Australia for the first time later this month. And the Thunder's five soloists, George Donaldson, Ryan Kelly, Emmet Cahill, Keith Harkin and Neil Byrne will embark on their Australian tour fresh from a break after an intense tour of A..

For the Hoodoo Gurus’ Dave Faulkner, crafting a hit tune is a lot like sketching or sculpting, and sometimes you need to follow your nose, and your instincts. But for arguably the band’s finest work, What’s My Scene? he had absolutely no idea what he was writing about. ..