FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
Performance NEXT month Shock Entertainment will release Thick as a Brick – Live in Iceland by Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson on 2CD, DVD and Blu-ray. This is the first release for the combined Thick as a Brick and Thick as a Brick 2 and it offers a superb presentation of the complete presentation of the complete story of Gerald Bostock. Thick as a Brick was originally released in 1972, when it made No.1 on the ARIA Chart. Jethro Tull was the brainchild of Ian Anderson, who played flute and sang while standing on one leg. When they formed in 1967 they had the folk sound, some jazz and the blues. Jethro Tull was a unique phenomenon in popular music gaining 11 gold and five platinum albums. Many Australian rock music critics rarely took them seriously, and they were off the cutting edge. Not one record store in the country would be without copies of ‘Thick as a Brick’ Jethro Tull was Ian Anderson (vocals, flute), Mick Abrahams (guitar), Glen Cornick (Bass) and Clive Bunker (Drums). The album still holds up more than 30 years later as does ‘Living in the Past’ and ‘A Passion Play’. Ian Anderson’s profile has rarely been higher following the very successful release of his new solo album Home Erraticus this year and Anderson will tour Australia and appear in Melbourne, December 15. Details www.jethrotull.com *** ENTRY is now open for the 36th Toyota Star Maker – Australia’s longest running search for a new country music star. Star Maker has been a crucial launching pad for some of Australia’s biggest country music stars including Keith Urban, Lee Kernagahn, James Blundell, Beccy Cole, Lyn Bowtell and Kylie Sackley. In 2015 competition will be as tough as ever following the outstanding commitment from recent winners Luke Austen, Luke Dickens, Bob Corbett and Kaylee Bell who have all grabbed the prize and haven’t stopped running. Barry Harley said “Star Maker is Australia’s most prestigious search for a country music star which boasts winners with international roots and appeal.
Keith Urban (1990), Craig Robertson (1989) and Kaylee Bell (2013) were born in New Zealand and this year’s winner Jared Porter was born and lived in the USA for the first 11 years of his life. At 14 years he relocated with his mother to Orange, NSW where he was educated” www.starmaker.com.au *** FOLK Alliance Australia invites all people interested in the Australian Folk Music scene to attend this year’s Folk Alliance National Conference in Melbourne
1-3 August 2014 The Conference will present 10 tourready acts selected from a diverse range of young/emerging performers making their name as the next wave of Australian folk-headliners. Showcase acts include Rowena Wise, The Company, Gina Williams & Guy Ghouse, Alana & Alicia Egan, Lucy Wise, Stray Hens The Conference program comprises interactive sessions, workshops, talks, presentations and panel discussions tailored for performers, organisations and/or festival organisers. Other events
include Conference Dinner, Showcase Concerts, Opening Night Party Meet & Greet Sessions, making up the Conference’s packed schedule. Conference topics include: touring, media and promotion, management, financial and legal, funding, skills development, presentation, recording and distribution, networking, career development, getting gigs, event organisation skills and much more. More info www.folkalliance.org.au/ conference or call 0403 192 631. *** TO celebrate 30 years as a solo artist, Jimmy Barnes is revisiting some of his biggest hits, collaborating with some of his favourite artists; Keith Urban, The Living End, John Farnham, Bernard Fanning, Shihad, Tina Arena, Baby Animals and Jon Stevens plus more. The album also includes brand new recordings of ‘Working Class Man’, which sees Jimmy reunited with the song’s writer, Journey’s Jonathan Cain, as well as ‘Ride the Night Away’, featuring the song’s co-writer Little Steven Van Zandt from the E Street Band. Produced by Kevin Shirley (Cold Chisel, Silverchair, Aerosmith), the 30/30 album not only celebrates the phenomenal career to date of one of Australia’s foremost musicians but also illustrates Jimmy’s continuing relevance within the contemporary Australian music scene, both as a recording and a touring artist. In celebration of his 30th Anniversary Jimmy Barnes will be embarking on a tour later this year, playing a select number of A Day on the Green wineries nationally, with full details to be announced soon. 30/30 Anniversary album (Liberation) is due out August 29. Jimmy will appear at Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong Saturday November 15th, Michelton Wines, Nagambie Saturday December 13 and Rochford Wines, Coldstream on Saturday December 20 with special guests including The Living End, Mahalia Barnes, Troy CassarDaley, Baby Animals, Ian Moss, Nick Barker and You Am l. 30/30 Anniversary album (Liberation) is out August 29th.
Before the Global Financial Crisis we were inundated with financial geniuses telling us how to make money: Superannuation, term deposits, property, shares. Crash! The culprits scurried underground, blamed others, allowing us the benefit of getting rid of them for a time. They’re back like mushrooms, and suddenly everyone’s an expert again. Perhaps a Club for financial advisers and football experts? Imagine, each evening, after another day of serving up tripe, continuing said tripe amongst themselves. *** I TOOK part in a survey of home owners; our thoughts on borrowing from banks whereby we don’t pay them back until we die. Ten of us; coffee, biscuits, $40. Eight of them had financial advisors worn as a badge of common sense? The world may well be “waiting for the sunrise” but in financial terms it’s a bridge too far (forever) for most of us. The financial system (Murray enquiry) and the quality of the financial advice is being undermined by conflicted remuneration structures. *** ARE we being brainwashed? I really don’t know, but I cannot help wondering as to the slant of news reports on the fighting (Israeli bombardment, Hamas tunnels) in Gaza. Channel 9 highlighted some 15 Israeli soldiers killed and
barely mentioned a total of 350 deaths. SBS later showed film of some 2000 injured on the Palestinian side. Our Foreign Minister speaks high and mighty, rightly, about the MH17 disaster, without mention of the Gaza tragedies. Sore thumb? *** NATHAN Buckley’s rat pack a far cry from the talented long serving pack he kicked out. “We didn’t see this coming” said Bucks. “It’s got nothing to do with personnel, it’s got a lot to do with how we execute and the way we play. There’s a focus on our forward line, and we could definitely score heavier, but it’s not about who, it’s about how we go about it and how we move the ball. We haven’t controlled field position as much because our defence hasn’t been as effective, and we’ve turned the ball over when we shouldn’t” Double dutch, or words of wisdom from master coach Nathan Buckley? Don’t wait to be told mate; you need palmolive gold, now. *** “ONCE upon a time in Punchbowl” and the Cronulla beach riots (SBS) witnessed many Australians putting their stupidity literally on show for the cameras, inspired to some extent by the likes of Alan Jones, Andrew Bolt and others. John Howard said “I do not accept that there is underlying racism in this country” surely tongue in cheek. The major-
ity of Australians are indeed rascist, as evidenced by both political parties policies on boat people. Again I ask “Who discovered the boat?” *** SAYS our man Greg Hunt “we were voted in with a clear mandate to repeal the carbon tax” or was it because the majority decided they’d had enough of the Labor party? What is it with this “mandate” word, used in a sense of self-righteousness for the boats and the carbon tax yet conveniently ignored for pension cuts, health, education and other shifties; in fact no mandates? One wonders what transpires at their meetings to think we would fall for this word as and when it suits them, until one reads the daily baa baa letters in that morning newspaper. Loved the carbon tax bit where they said it would be good for small business. Sadly most small business owners have been falling for this con all my life. Surely a sense of importance but missing the small print? National interest be blowed. Live and let live? *** LEAVE my mate Woody Allen alone. He married his step-daughter; big deal. What’s that got to do with whether or not you go see his films? If we apply this rule we would never see another film. If we were really honest with ourselves (highly unlikely) we would banish all mirrors from our home. Old sins cast
By Gary Turner
www.jimmybarnes.com *** OSCAR winning director Ron Howard will make a new documentary about the Beatles’ touring years, with the backing of their music label Apple. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are giving their full co-operation to the movie, as are John Lennon and George Harrison’s widows. The film will tell the band’s story from the Cavern Club through the Ed Sullivan show to Beatlemania. Howard won the Academy Award for Best Director for the film A Beautiful Mind. He also directed Cinderella Man and Rush. *** ROCK legends Pink Floyd are set to release a new album The Endless River in October, their first for 20 years. The news came from author, Polly Samson, who is married to the band’s David Gilmour, and has previously written lyrics for the band. Their album ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ (1973) was a favourite album of mine. The album was a carefully constructed cycle of songs with deep meaning. The band embraced all that technology had to offer, especially synthesizers and saxophone. The band met as students all studying architecture in London in 1965. Pink Floyd came from Georgia bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Syd Barrett formed the band with Roger Waters and Barrett determined the musical direction the band took but when he Barrett left the band in 1968, Roger took over the songwriting and the musical direction. Dark Side of the Moon became one of the highest selling rock albums of all time. In 1979 they released The Wall, a concept album which was made into a movie by Bob Geldof. www.pinkfloyd. com
A Grain of Salt SEIZE the day! That’s what he said. A departing inspirational comment? How about “Have a nice day” or “cheerio”? He bullocked off to seize his frivolous day. I was at the cafe, coffee, reading, MMOB. I drifted back; the late 50’s. The open fields of green surrounded by friends, acquaintances, sunflowers, daffodils and old people. Swings, slides, running and tennis balls, the Merri Creek, tadpoles, the tip. Mucking around. No fields now, big trees, apartments, surrounding me. Walking is difficult. Hard to seize the coffee cup let alone the bloody day. Maybe go backwards; is there an App to go backwards? The brain’s still working, just. See a doctor, antibiotics for the back; miracle drug guaranteed to bring on diarrhea. Bloody forest. Snakes everywhere; huntsman, politicians, crooks. Mates, Gary and Jack, Lawrie, Nancy, lovely Dianna, all to lah lah land. A day at a time, an hour, a bloody minute. Seizing be damned. Back to my newspaper. *** PRIME Minister Tony “I don’t believe any thinking Australian would want us to capitulate to moral blackmail” referring to self-harm among women on Christmas Island? Leaving aside the moral blackmail nonsense is he suggesting if you disagree you’re not a thinker? I wonder if Putin is a thinking Russian? ***
By Cliff Ellen long shadows. *** “THEY seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven or is he in hell? That demned elusive Pimpernel” Billy Boy Shorten? Or is he giving the Coalition enough rope? *** IF Joe Hockey is an “average Joe” (Good Weekend, The Age) I’m Rumpelstiltskin...So many birthdays in July? October, the month of the birds and bees?...The repeal of the carbon tax will save me $550 a year, and behold, I’m now Snowy on the trams...Downtown Rye-beautiful one day, Antarctica the next...Essendon thrashes Collingwood and a form of fascism marches on, in Canberra.....”I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion” [Alexander the Great]...hooroo...cliffie9@bigpond. com
Frankston Times 28 July 2014
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