Premier Artists Present
ROYGBIV EP LAUNCH tix available at flyyingcolours.com/shows
featuring the single ‘Running Late’ ‘ROYGBIV’ EP out now in Aus thru Island Records
(2x sets)
THE INFERNOS
dear Laura
Sat 19 Sept 5pm
MORELAND CITY SOUL REVUE
Get on board the soul train and check out this all-star cast of musos playing old soul and soulful funk.
Sat 19 Sept 9pm
THE PRAYER BABIES
Rambunctious, rollicking folk-rock collective that let the good times roll.
Sun 20 Sept 3.30pm
FENN WILSON Young-gun singer-songwriter from the Bellarine Peninsula.
Sun 20 Sept, 5pm
SIDESHOW BRIDES
Sisters Layla and Rhianna Fibbins craft a unique blend of country/rootsy/folk with haunting harmonies and captivating melodies.
Tuesdays:
TRIVIA
THURSDAY HOSTED BY
YETI
(EX-FRANKENBOK)
+
DOUG STEELE (ALARUM)
TH SEPTEMBER
FOOD + DRINK
SPECIALS +
HEAPS OF
GIVEAWAYS + PRIZES ALL NIGHT
TRIVIA STARTS
AT 7PM
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL
90361456
f o r m o r e i n f o a s k i n s t o r e - f a c e b o o k . c o m / t h e b e a s t b u rge r s - i n s t a gr a m t h e b e a s t b u rge r s - w w w . t h e b - e a s t . c o m P H 9 0 3 6 1 4 5 6 | 8 0 LYG O N ST B R U N S W I C K E A ST | T H E B - E A ST. CO M
HEAVY METAL FOOD
With mysterious Mr. Drew, phone to book your table of up to 6
YO LA TENGO STUFF LIKE THAT THERE
RATATAT MAGNIFIQUE
SUN KIL MOON UNIVERSAL THEMES
SUI ZHEN SECRETLY SUSAN
MICACHU AND THE SHAPES GOOD SAD HAPPY BAD
EMPRESS OF ME
REMOTE CONTROL LOGO REIMAGINED BY COURTNEY BARNETT
, D O O F AZZ J & WINE KEND WEESUN 27th SEPT 5th -
e, groov es f o n o rap A fusi and g y m o n ! gastro the garden in
FRI 2
See over half a million tulips on show. 27 days of fun for everyone. OPEN 10AM TO 5PM DAILY
Visit our website for the exciting list of entertainment and activities. Get some friends together and enjoy this wonderful experience that can’t be found anywhere else in Victoria.
YTS U B KE
TIC LINE ON
www.tulipfestival.com.au
Tesselaar Tulip Farm, 357 Monbulk Road, Silvan Vic 3795 Phone: 03 9737 7722
The Kite Machine
D O G A PA L O O Z A CONFIRMS MORE ACTS Melbourne’s first (and only) dog friendly music festival Dogapalooza have announced the addition of local acts Cocoa Noire and Amistat to the festival bill, joining already confirmed artists Tash Sultana and Harrison Storm. The quintessential love fest of dogs and dog owners will feature live music, food offerings (including a vegan BBQ), various stalls, and a plethora of awards for your four legged friend to win. Dogapalooza will be held at Burnley Park, Richmond on Sunday September 27. Tickets via Oztix.
IRON MAIDEN ANNOUNCE 2016 MELBOURNE SHOW
F R A N K YA M M A RETURNS HOME FOR AUSTRALIAN TOUR After playing across the world to crowds in Canada, Switzerland, Latvia, Ireland, England and Wales, Indigenous soulster Frank Yamma is returning to Australia for a string of shows. Yamma will be accompanied on piano by fellow Australian performer David Bridie for his show at the Recital Centre Melbourne on Friday December 11. For over 20 years, the two friends have collaborated on live performances, songwriting and recording which has secured their international fame. Tickets on sale now, available through the Melbourne Recital Centre’s website.
THE MURLOCS GET ROLLING ON SINGLE TOUR To celebrate the release of their latest single, Rolling On, The Murlocs will hit the road on a national tour this October and November. After supporting Ty Segall, touring with Mac DeMarco and playing across the country in support of their previous single, the band will headline shows in Adelaide, Fremantle, Hobart, Ballarat, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Geelong. The single is taken from The Murlocs forthcoming second studio album, due out next year. A confirmed release date, album title, and artwork are still to come. The Murlocs will play Howler on Saturday November 7. Tickets are on sale through Moshtix. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 16
Not Fest is ready to showcase three full days of punk rock, pals and picklebacks, with 40+ bands on two stages across three days alongside acoustic karaoke, punk rock comedy and a gutbelter of a potato gem triathlon. The bill features of the likes of Paper Arms, Nerdlinger, Beaver, Wolfpack, Foxtrot, Release The Hounds, Daybreak and many more. Not Fest goes down from Friday November 13 Sunday November 15. Tickets available from the venue’s website.
MUSICIANS FOR DETAINEES ANNOUNCE ASRC FUNDRAISER AT THE TOFF Human Rights advocates Musicians for Detainees have revealed their lineup for the first in a series of fundraising events for The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) this October at the Toff in Town. Singer/songwriter Liz Stringer and Gian Slater’s jazz vocal ensemble Invenio will perform alongside local indie act Skipping Girl Vinegar and Brisbane’s Hailey Calvert. With 100% of profits going to the ASRC, each ticket sold has the capacity to raise funds the community including ESL classes, back to school kits and community lunches. To be a part of this event, head down to The Toff in Town on Wednesday October 21. Tickets are available through Moshtix.
WIZ KHALIFA It doesn’t matter whether you know him from the hugely successful See You Again (feat Charlie Pluth) or club banger Black and Yellow, but I’m sure you know him. Wiz Khalifa returns to Oz later this month, playing at Margaret Court Arena on Thursday October 1, and there’s gotta be a reader or two out there just dying to go. If you’re one of them, hit us up for a free double pass at beat.com.au/freeshit.
THE HOLLOW OF THE HAND
Rock legends Iron Maiden will return to Australian shores early next year. The tour announcement follows the release of their double studio album, The Book of Souls, which just debuted at #2 in Australia. Known for their gigantic stage structures, the tour will see vocalist Bruce Dickinson pilot over a Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet Ed Force One, which is needed to carry the entire band, crew, stage production and equipment. They'll hit Rod Laver Arena on Monday May 9. Tickets via Ticketek.
PUBLIC BAR COOK UP A STORM FOR NOT FEST
FREE $HIT
AT THE GATES CONFIRM FULL LINE-UPS FOR COLLOSSAL AUSTRALIAN TOUR Swedish death metal pioneers At The Gates have locked in dates and support acts for their upcoming Australian shows as they tour the country to promote their comeback album, At War With Reality. Joining them for their Melbourne leg of the tour are local legends Orpheus Omega, Collossvs and Hollow World for their show at The Corner on Friday October 30. The announcement comes as At The Gates debut their promotional video for their song The Book Of Sand (The Abomination) along with an animated video for the song Heroes and Tombs – both of which can be found on Youtube. Tickets for their show are available through Metropolis Touring.
YUNG LEAN LOCKS IN 2016 MELBOURNE SHOW Yung Lean is set to make his debut trip to Australia. The Swedish rapper, born Jonatan Leandoer Håstad, has been making music since the age of 15 when he was mixing, producing and writing music with his fellow Sad Boys Yung Gud and Yung Sherman to upload online. Yung Lean will play Prince Bandroom with special guests Fishing on Tuesday January 5. Tickets are on sale through the venue.
After collaborating on some shoots during the release of 2011’s Let England Shake, PJ Harvey and film maker Seamus Murphy spent the next four years travelling together to Kosovo, Afganistan and Washington D.C, producing some astounding photographs and poetic works along the way. Set for release on October 1, The Hollow Of The Hand is the culmination of their efforts, and we have ten copies to giveaway. You know the drill, beat.com.au/freeshit.
J AY P O W E R TA K I N G ON THE TOFF IN TOWN Soul songstress Jay Power announced details this week of her upcoming gig at The Toff in Town, set for Thursday October 15. Alongside her award winning band of Stevie Cat Jnr, Anthony Liddell and Mikey Chan, Jay Power will be joined on the night by special guests Jude Perl and Rita Satch, both recently returning from overseas tours. They play at The Toff on Thursday October 15; tickets are available now through Moshtix.
DON FERNANDO GET TO WORK ON VINYL LAUNCH With the release of their third recording Haunted By Humans and a European tour behind them, Don Fernando are celebrating by releasing the album on black, red and gold wax as they play at The Workers Club on Thursday October 1. Having received phenomenal support from peers, the band managed to tie off a short but well received European tour at London’s annual Desert fest. Joining the stoner rock titans at the venue are The Ugly Kings, Drifter and Two Headed Dog. Check out the band’s Facebook page for event details and more.
MONO TOURING AUSTRALIA THIS DECEMBER Post-rock legends MONO ( Japan) have unveiled plans for their upcoming tour of Australia. Best known for their shoegaze and minimalist influences, this will be MONO’s first Australian appearance since their last tour back in 2013. The tour kicks off in Perth on Friday December 4 and sees them play the Corner Hotel the following night, Saturday December 5, before heading up along the east coast and finishing off in Auckland. Stay tuned to The Corner’s website for ticket details.
F O R A L L T H E L AT E S T, C H E C K O U T B E AT.C O M . A U
WWW.THEPUBLICBAR.COM.AU
74 JOHNSTON ST FITZROY 9417 4155
theoldbar.com.au OPEN 4PM - 3AM MON-FRI 2PM - 3AM SAT-SUN FREE WI FI MON - FRI TIL 7PM - $6 PINTS MONDAYS - $15 JUGS MT GOAT SUNDAYS - $10 JUGS UNICORN LAGER $5 CANS EVERY DAY/NIGHT
WEDNESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER
SLOWLY SLOWLY SANS ELLIOTT FRIEND
7.30PM $5
THURSDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER
ONE GIRL FUNDRAISER:
LITTLE LAMB & THE ROSEMARYS CAMP COPE PEPPERJACK
8PM $8
FRIDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER
PITT THE ELDER THE GIRL FRIDAS 8.30PM $10
SATURDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER
THE BERKELEY HUNTS GEORGIA MAQ
3PM FREE
LAURA PALMER FEAR LIKE US SUMMER BLOOD MARICOPA WELLS SHADOW LEAGUE
8PM $10
SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
BEERSOAKED SUNDAYS: MALLEE SONGS SLEEP DECADE ZIG ZAG
8PM $5
MONDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER
MUNDANE MONDAYS: LADYZ IN NOYZ:
MARLO EGGPLANT
ROSALIND HALL CAROLYN CONNORS & FJORN AUX ASSEMBLY 8PM $5
$6 PINTS EVERY DAY UNTIL 7PM $10 JUGS EVERY DAY UNTIL 8PM $5 CANS ALL THE TIME WEDNESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER
MISS MISS(RESIDENCY), PALE TRIP, ASTRUDS
7:30PM $6 THURSDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER
KITTEN CLUB BULL DOG RADIO
8PM $6 FRIDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER
THE SUICIDE TUESDAYS LUKE SEYMOUP BAND, GLADSTONE, 8PM $10
FRIDAY ARVO
HIPPIECOSADEATH STAR NOSTRA
4PM FREE SATURDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER
TINY GIANTS - LAUNCH WHITE BLEACHES, GONZO THE DARE OHHS 8:30PM $10
SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
MINIMUM WAGE:
SARAH MARY CHADWICK GUY PARKMAN BAND, SWEET WHIRL 4PM FREE MONDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER
DECLAN MCKINNON & THE KNOCKABOUTS ALTITUDE, PLOTZ 7:30PM $6 TUESDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER
GHOST DICK - RESIDENCY DICEY’S PIZZA HOUSE BAND
TUESDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER ‘OH THE HORROR’ ART OPENING
SHERLOCK DARK FAIR CABLE TIES
OPEN TIL 4AM FRI/SAT
THE FLYING SO HIGH O’S, BRODOWN
SAD GRRRLS TOUR RACHEL MARIA COX ESS-EMM
2 3 8 V I C T O R I A S T, N O R T H M E L B O U R N E
8PM $6
band bookings: bandbookings@theoldbar.com.au
HUNTING BOW 7:30PM $6
BAR WEDNESDAYS
OPEN MIC
Show the Boogie Man what you’ve got !
THURSDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER
VINTAGE RUIN MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENT TWISTED FATE FALSE PROPHET FRIDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER
STEVE LUCAS
HAPPY HOUR 5 TILL 7.30 THEN
ROYMACKONKY(DARWIN) VI WHOOPIE CAT SATURDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER
GAYLE CAVANAGH & THE MIXED COMPANY BAND SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
LIVE AND KICKING WITH SAMMIGOLD ACE BRICKLAYING AFTER WORK HAPPY HOUR FROM 5PM:
WED, THURS & FRI 160 HODDLE ST ABBOTSFORD
S O U N D WAV E 2016 LINEUP EXPANDS
[Formerly The Hi-Fi Bar & Venue]
FRI 18 SEP
TIJUANA CARTEL SAT 19 SEP
K ATCHAFIRE THU 24 SEP
BIG K .R .I.T. FRI 25 SEP
CORMEGA + STUMIK
LORDI
SAT 26 SEP
NOISIA
SAT 03 OCT
CHUNK! NO, CAPTAIN CHUNK! FRI 09 OCT
CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK THU 15 OCT
ARDIJAH + BE AU MONGA FRI 16 OCT
BOY & BEAR PUSH LIMITS ON NEW TOUR In January Boy & Bear will hit the road in celebration of their upcoming studio album, Limit of Love. The band have had an impressive touring schedule recently, with 170 shows across three continents just last year alone. The upcoming album was recorded live with Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Kaiser Chiefs) and features lead single, Walk the Wire. Joining the band across the country will be Art of Sleeping and Montaigne. Boy & Bear will appear at Festival Hall on Saturday January 23. Tickets available from Ticketmaster.
TESSER ACT SELLING FAST
SAT 17 OCT
ABBATH
THU 22 OCT
THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION FRI 23 OCT
SAT 24 OCT
THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT SUN 25 OCT FRI 30 OCT
WOODLOCK SAT 31 OCT
NATIRUTS SELLING FAST
FRI 06 NOV
RUBBERBANDITS THU 12 NOV
MOJO JUJU FRI 13 NOV
HENRY WAGONS & THE ONLY CHILDREN FRI 27 NOV
OLIVER MTUKUDZI SAT 28 NOV
AYAWATA M AYA PREMIERS NEW SINGLE Ayawatamaya have just released the video for their latest single, The Way You Are, taken from the trio's forthcoming debut EP set for release early next year. The Way You Are is the band's first release under their new name, formerly calling themselves Sweets. With just drums, bass, vocals and a tiny synth keyboard, the three-piece take their cue from the likes of D’Angelo and Erykah Badu, where instruments are minimum but the groove is maximum, their live shows truly letting their sound shine. Ayawatamaya will launch the single at The Retreat Hotel on Saturday September 19.
LOST RAGAS HIT T H E H I G H WAY O N NATIONAL TOUR
SELLING FAST
THU 03 DEC
ACMI ANNOUNCE TOTAL BOWIE WEEKEND
MEW
SELLING FAST
FRI 04 DEC
L AGWAGON TUE 08 DEC
MERCURY REV WED 09 DEC SOLD OUT
FRI 11 DEC
MISFITS
SAT 12 DEC
THE E XPLOITED THU 17 DEC eMC f t . MASTA ACE SUN 12 JUN
DE ATH DE ALER TIX + INFO
MAXWATTS.COM.AU 1300 724 867
125 SWANSTON ST, MELBOURNE
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 18
NICO & VINZ EMBARK ON DEBUT AUSTRALIAN TOUR No, you’re not wrong. Oslo based duo Nico & Vinz have announced their debut tour of Australia, confirming headline dates throughout November this year. The duo’s breakout single Am I Wrong flew to the top of the charts in Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden in 2013. Claiming numerous accolades and awards in Europe, the single has since received 20 Platinum combinedcertifications in Scandinavia, and has almost reached Double Platinum in the US. They’ve locked in a show at the Prince Bandroom on Wednesday November 11. Tickets available through Live Nation.
ACMI are kicking Bowie fever up a notch as they announce Total Bowie, a weekend of events dedicated to the artist to accompany the David Bowie Is exhibition this September. Across two days, a lineup of special guest performers, artists and DJs will accompany fans through a series of Bowie-inspired events. Being Bowie is an opportunity to become part of Bowie and explain what he is to you, Ziggy Me: Bowie Duffy Photoshoot is a chance to be transformed into a Bowie incarnation, while Paper Bowie lets you design a Bowie inspired outfit or recreate his iconic costumes. Hosted by super fan Lauren Stardust, the weekend will also feature performances by Bowie Unzipped, the legendary Jeff Duff, Geraldine Quinn Unplugged, The Thin White Ukes, and many more. You can also hear from fans and experts about their love of Bowie in a series of short talks called My Bowie Talks or sit back and enjoy Jim Henson's 1986 film Labyrinth. Total Bowie will take over ACMI on Saturday September 19 and Sunday September 20. David Bowie Is closes on Sunday November 1.
NORTHLANE Northlane have also been confirmed for the 2016 incarnation of Soundwave. Having recently played sold out shows on the Canadian and North American legs of their Node world tour, the local heroes have been added to the bill. Northlane’s recent album, Node debuted at #3 on the ARIA charts, adding to the band’s lengthy list of Australian nominations and awards.
After almost 150 shows to their name in the past 12 months, Lepers & Crooks’ Through Gypsy Eyes Tour finally comes to an end next month, and lucky for us they’re wrapping up the tour in Melbourne. Lepers & Crooks play The Gasometer on Thursday October 1, heading back to their Sydney studio afterwards to record material for their next EP. Grab your tickets through Oztix.
KISSCHASY
YEL AWOLF
Returning for their fourth year, Let Them Eat Cake have locked in a swelling lineup of impressive underground electronic talent to celebrate 2016. The gargantuan 2016 event will feature performances from Âme, Ben UFO, Com Truise, Daniel Avery DJ Tennis, Four Tet, Jon Hopkins, Machinedrum, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Seven Davis Jr, Slum Village and The Opiuo Band. Let Them Eat Cake will take place on New Year’s Day, Friday January 1, at Werribee Mansion. Tickets are on sale 9AM Thursday September 15 via www.letthemeatcakenyd.com.au.
LEPERS & CROOKS WRAPPING UP TOUR IN MELBOURNE
THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH
BLIND MELON
LET THEM EAT CAKE UNVEILS IMMENSE LINEUP
Finnish metal gods Lordi have joined the ever-expanding Soundwave lineup, which so far includes Refused, Bullet For My Valentine, Dead Letter Circus and Failure. As winners of the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, Lordi have confused crowds and critics alike as they bring their monstrous outfits and loud guitars across stages worldwide.
Lost Ragas are hitting the road to promote their latest album Trans Atlantic Highway, travelling across the country over September and October. Following on from their 2014 debut Phantom Ride, which earned Lost Ragas ABC Radio National Album of Week, Trans Atlantic Highway sees the band expanding on their acclaimed roots sound. They’ll be playing two shows across Melbourne in October; Caravan Music Club on Sunday October 18, and Flying Saucer Club on Saturday October 31. Hit the venues’ websites for your tickets.
BRING ME THE HORIZON Fresh from releasing their fifth studio album That’s The Spirit, Bring Me The Horizon have officially joined the Soundwave lineup. The Melbourne leg of the festival will fill the empty space left by Big Day Out, running on Australia Day. Soundwave 2016 will be held on Tuesday January 26 in Melbourne. Visit the Soundwave website for tickets for more information.
PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY ANNOUNCE NATIONAL TOUR Philadelphia Grand Jury are bringing back the original trio of Joel Beeson (MC Bad Genius), Simon Berckelman (Berkfinger) and Dan Williams (Dan W Sweat) to release their new single Crashing & Burning pt II, a first taste from their upcoming sophomore album Summer Of Doom out Friday October 2. The announcement comes with details of a stack of tour dates around the nation across October and November, which sees the trio playing Howler on Saturday October 31. Grab your tickets from Moshtix.
F O R A L L T H E L AT E S T, C H E C K O U T B E AT.C O M . A U
Wesley Anne
Bar • Restaurant • Etc
Thursday 17th September
JACKSON MCLAREN 6pm FRONT BAR
ANNA CORDELL 6pm FRONT BAR
THE FLAMING MONGRELS
+ OWEN THOMAS
HOTEL
11
THIS WEEK
Saturday 19th September MONDAY
FRI
TUESDAY
$11 BURGER NIGHT
15
$
Sele onday All Day M Open for lunch middays friday, saturday and sunday
250 High st Northcote Hill 9482 1333
WEDNESDAY $11 PIE NIGHT + MRS SMITH’S TRIVIA
8PM
6pm FRONT BAR
Tuesday 22nd September
KIRSTY WEBECK’S COMEDY CRUSHES
8pm $22 (full) / $70 (group) / $17.50 (con) all incl bf BAND ROOM
FRIDAY COLD IRONS BOUND 8PM KNAVE KNIXX 10PM 681 SYDNEY RD. BRUNSWICK (03)9386 7580 WWW.EDINBURGHCASTLE.NET.AU
LUNCH FISH & CHIPS OR BURGER +BEER OR SOFTIE
VAN
2ctefodrM1ains
OSCAR LUSH
WINTER SESSIONS
WALKER
ecial Winter Sp
SAT
6 - 8 pm
THU
FREE JAYNE POOL EST W 6.30 PM
TACOS
S $10 JUG HT NIG L AL LONG!
SUN
SUNDAY
BLOODY
$11 ROO & WINE
6pm FRONT BAR
Sunday 20th September
WED
O RO $ 0 & EDINBURGH 1 + WINE CASTLE $ 5 1 9 9 . $ THE
8pm $5 BAND ROOM
JUKAI FOREST DUO
TUE
B RGERS
Friday 18th September
MON
BRUNCH
27 WESTON ST, BRUNSWICK THU FRI SUN OPENMON 3PM - LATE NOON - LATE TO
TO
CHARLESWESTONHOTEL@GMAIL.COM OR GIVE US A BELL ON 9380 8777
OD GO ES M TI
TOURING
WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN
For all the latest tour dates check out beat.com.au
INTERNATIONAL LUNA Northcote Social Club September 17 KATCHAFIRE Max Watt’s September 19, Brunswick Hotel October 1 CIRCA SURVIVE 170 Russell September 20, September 21 (AA) SLEEPING WITH SIRENS 170 Russell September 22 LOS CORONAS The Gasometer September 24, Cherry Bar September 25 BILAL Prince Bandroom September 24 CANCER BATS The Bendigo Hotel September 24 THE GARDEN The John Curtin Hotel September 24 JOAN BAEZ Arts Centre Hammer Hall September 24 BIG K.R.I.T Max Watt’s September 24 STORMZY 524 Flinders September 25 SEBASTIAN BACH The Forum September 25 DEVIN THE DUDE Laundry Bar September 25 LISTEN OUT FESTIVAL Catani Gardens September 26 MAROON 5 Rod Laver Arena September 26 PENNYWISE 170 Russell September 28 BAHAMAS Howler September 30 WHITE FANG The Curtin October 1 GORILLA BISCUITS The Reverence Hotel October 1 REEL BIG FISH + LESS THAN JAKE Prince Bandroom October 1 AS IT IS The Evelyn Hotel October 1 (AA), October 2 CHUNK! NO, CAPTAIN CHUNK! Max Watt’s October 3 JJ GREY & MOFRO Northcote Social Club October 7 SILENT KNIGHT The Bendigo October 8 KISS Rod Laver Arena October 8, October 10 JAAKKO EINO KALEVI National Gallery of Victoria October 9 SICK OF IT ALL Corner Hotel October 9 KIASMOS Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 9 CLINT MANSELL Melbourne Recital Centre October 10, 11 BABYLON CIRCUS Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 10 HAMMERFALL 170 Russell October 13 LIFEHOUSE The Forum October 15 HELLOWEEN Metro Theatre October 16 COLM MAC CON IOMAIRE Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 16, 17 BRANDT BRAUER FRICK Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 17 OUT ON THE WEEKEND Seaworks, Williamstown October 17 SNOT Corner Hotel October 17 MEGADETH Festival Hall October 19 BIGBANG Rod Laver Arena October 21 RHYE Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 21, 22 THE EXPERIMENT Merlyn Theatre October 21-24 JAI WOLF Howler October 22 ROBBIE WILLIAMS Rod Laver Arena October 22 – 24 ELDER AND EARTHLESS The Corner October 23 THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH Max Watt’s October 23 THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT Max Watt’s October 24 THE FIELD Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 23 THE FALL Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 23 – 25 DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT 170 Russell October 25 SOULFEST Sidney Myer Music Bowl October 25 DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT 170 Russell October 25, 26 NEIL DIAMOND Rod Laver Arena October 27 CANNED HEAT Corner Hotel October 29 ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK Palais Theatre October 29 10CC The Palms at Crown October 30 HOZIER Palais Theatre October 30 AT THE GATES Friday October 30 PULLED APART BY HORSES Ding Dong Lounge October 30, 31 ANATHEMA Corner Hotel October 31 AUDRA MCDONALD Hamer Hall October 31 DAY OF THE DEAD TBA October 31 HIGHLANDS FESTIVAL Yea October 31 – November 2 DAVID GUETTA Hisense Arena November 2 FLEETWOOD MAC Rod Laver Arena November 2, 4, Mt Dundeed Estate November 7 THE RUBBERBANDITS Max Watt’s November 6 NAUGHTY BY NATURE Trak Lounge November 6 THE DARKNESS Forum Theatre November 7 THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS Forum Theatre November 7 FLORENCE + THE MACHINE Sidney Myer Music Bowl November 10, 11 NICO & VINZ Prince Bandroom November 11 AUSTRALASIAN WORLD MUSIC EXPO Various Venues November 12 – 15 THE TEA PARTY Palais Theatre November 13 MUMFORD & SONS Sidney Myer Music Bowl November 13 BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 20
THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE Melbourne Town Hall November 15 POKÉMON SYMPHONIC EVOLUTIONS Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre November 13 HAUSCHKA Melbourne Recital Centre November 17 DEF LEPPARD Rod Laver Arena November 18 THE BEACH BOYS Palais Theatre November 18 LIVE The Forum November 19 ROBERT HENKE Melbourne Recital Centre, November 19 HANK MARVIN MEMO Music Hall November 21, 22 NILE Corner Hotel November 21 UB40 The Forum November 24 CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS Caravan Music Club November 25, Northcote Social Club November 26 EARTHCORE Pyalong, Victoria November 26 – 30 MARLON WILLIAMS Prince Bandroom November 27 RON SEXSMITH MEMO Music Hall November 27, Northcote Social Club November 28 RISE AGAINST Margaret Court Arena December 2 GOAT + KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD The Croxton December 4 LAGWAGON Max Watt’s December 4 CHRIS CORNELL The Palais December 4 THE CORONAS Corner Hotel December 4 THE HOTELIER The Reverence Hotel December 4 MONO Corner Hotel December 5 ED SHEERAN AAMI Park December 5 STEREOSONIC Melbourne Showgrounds December 5 RATATAT 170 Russell December 6 UNWRITTEN LAW The Corner Hotel December 6 MERCURY REV Max Watt’s December 8 SAM SMITH Rod Laver Arena December 8 HALESTORM 170 Russell December 8 YELAWOLF Max Watt’s December 9 SHELLAC Corner Hotel December 9, 10 JESSICA PRATT Northcote Social Club December 10 FATHER JOHN MISTY The Forum December 10 BULLY Howler December 10 JULIA HOLTER Howler December 11 THE MISFITS Max Watt’s December 11 TAYLOR SWIFT AAMI Park December 11 MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre December 11-13 ELTON JOHN Rod Laver Arena December 11, Mt Duneed Estate December 12 THE EXPLOITED Max Watt’s December 12 UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS Corner Hotel December 13 A DAY TO REMEMBER + THE AMITY AFFLICTION Rod Laver Arena December 17 FALLS FESTIVAL Lorne December 28 – January 1 GROUNDSWELL FESTIVAL Lake Tyers Beach January 2 YUNG LEAN Prince Bandroom January 5 NIGHTWISH The Forum Monday January 11 THE 1975 Festival Hall January 20 SOUNDWAVE 2016 TBA January 26 JAMES BAY Festival Hall February 3 SOILWORK 170 Russell February 16 REGGAE ROYALTY Palais Theatre February 18 JD MCPHERSON Corner Hotel February 19 FAT FREDDY’S DROP The Forum February 19 MADONNA Rod Laver Arena March 12, 13 BLACK SABBATH Rod Laver Arena April 19 JOSH GROBAN Palais Theatre April 25 IRON MAIDEN Rod Laver Arena May 9
NATIONAL THIRSTY MERC MEMO Music Hall September 16 SAINT JUDE Shadow Electric September 19 COSMIC PSYCHOS 170 Russell September 18 TIJUANA CARTEL Max Watt’s September 18 RAE HOWELL MEMO Music Hall September 18 DUSTIN TEBBUTT The Corner September 18 AYAWATAMAYA The Retreat Hotel September 19 TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY The LuWow September 19 THE SNOWDROPPERS Northcote Social Club September 19 SLUM SOCIABLE Shebeen September 19 THE SMITH STREET BAND The Corner September 19, 20 BIG STRONG BRUTE The Evelyn Hotel September 20 A STATE OF GRACE: THE MUSIC OF TIM AND JEFF BUCKLEY Melbourne Recital Centre September 23, 29 CITIZENS OF THE STREETS Shadow Electric Bandroom September 24 LITTLE MAY The Corner September 24 BLIND MAN DEATH STARE Bendigo Hotel September 25, Reverence Hotel November 20 FLYYING COLOURS Hugs and Kisses September 26 HAVE/HOLD Public Bar September 26 PARKWAY DRIVE Festival Hall September 26 JESS RIBEIRO Northcote Social Club September 26 MEG MAC The Corner September 27 DOGAPALOOZA Burnley Park, Richmond September 27 DON FERNANDO The Worker’s Club October 1 LEPERS & CROOKS The Gasometer October 1 SKEGSS Grace Darling October 1
PROUDLY PRESENTS White Fang
Spotted Mallard, Bundoora Park
OCT 1
The Curtin
OCT 24
Howler
OCT 23-25
YOU AM I The Croxton October 1 THE STIFFYS The Tote October 1 LAST DINOSAURS The Corner October 1 THE DRONES AND AUGIE MARCH The Croxton October 2 CHOPPED FESTIVAL Newstead Racecourse October 2-4 MAT MCHUGH The Corner October 2 THE MEANIES The Tote October 2 THE PEEP TEMPLE + BATPISS Yah Yah’s October 2, Cherry Bar October 3 CITY CALM DOWN Howler October 3 TKAY MAIDZA Wrangler Studios (U18), Corner Hotel October 3 BODYJAR Northcote Social Club October 3 TEX PERKINS AND CHARLIE OWEN Ding Dong Lounge October 4 BEN LEE The Corner October 7 THE BEARDS The Corner October 8 COLUMBUS Reverence Hotel October 9 HANDS LIKE HOUSES Northcote Social Club October 9 ÁINE TYRRELL Shadow Electric October 9 PORT FAIRY SPRING MUSIC FESTIVAL Port Fairy October 9 - 11 THE RUBENS The Forum October 9 MAGIC AMERICA The Curtin October 9 AT THE DAKOTA Grace Darling October 9 GOLD CLASS The Tote October 9 HEAVY AND HAMMERED The Tote October 10 GAY PARIS Cherry Bar October 10 BASENJI Howler October 10 OUTLAND BROTHERS The Thornbury Local October 10 KISSCHASY The Corner October 10 VALLIS ALPS Northcote Social Club October 10 KIRIN J CALLINAN Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 11 2015 SEED FUNDRAISER CONCERT Athenaeum Theatre October 12 THE BASICS Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 13, 14 LOON LAKE The Corner October 14 JAY POWER The Toff in Town October 15 THE BOMBAY ROYALE Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 15 GRAND DIVISIONS Arts Centre October 15 – 17 PETE MURRAY Trak Lounge Bar October 16 MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA Prince Bandroom October 16 THY ART IS MURDER The Corner October 16 LIOR The Athenaeum Theatre October 16 WORLD’S END PRESS Howler October 17 FLIGHT FACILITIES & THE MSO Sidney Myer Music Bowl October 17 KATIE NOONAN’S VANGUARD Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 17, 18 LOST RAGAS Caravan Music Club October 18, Flying Saucer Club October 31 LAURA MARLING Hamer Hall October 19 GEORGE MAPLE Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 20 MUSICIANS FOR DETAINEES The Toff In Town October 21 RUFUS The Forum October 22, 23 2015 CARLTON DRY INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS Meat Market North Melbourne October 22 IVAN OOZE The Workers Club October 23 DAREBIN MUSIC FEAST Various Venues October 23 – November 1 THE PAPER KITES 170 Russell October 23 CITIZEN KAY Shebeen October 23 RÜFÜS The Forum October 23 AINSLIE WILLS Howler October 23 THE OCEAN PARTY The Tote October 24
JAMGRASS FESTIVAL
NOV 6, 7
WHITE FANG
DRUNK MUMS
THE FALL
Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival
CUT COPY DJS Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 24 BAD//DREEMS Northcote Social Club October 24 THE WAIFS Palais Theatre October 24 DRUNK MUMS Howler October 24 SWAGGER MUSIC FESTIVAL Wandiligong October 24 – 25 LOVE STREET MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Howler October 25 PONY FACE Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre October 28 CHET FAKER Sidney Myer Music Bowl October 30 PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY Howler October 31 MY FRIEND THE CHOCOLATE CAKE Melbourne Recital Centre October 31 WOODLOCK Northcote Social Club November 1 JAMES REYNE The Corner November 2 DROWNING HORSE The Curtin November 6, The Tote November 7 JOY. Shebeen November 6 MONTAIGNE Northcote Social Club November 6 TUKA The Corner November 6 NORTHLANE 170 Russell November 6, 7 (U18) CW STONEKING Thornbury Theatre November 6, Corner Hotel November 7 MSO BACK TO THE FUTURE LIVE The Plenary November 6, 7 JAMGRASS FESTIVAL Spotted Mallard November 6, Bundoora Park November 7 THE MURLOCS Howler November 7 TAME IMPALA Sidney Myer Music Bowl November 7 MOJO JUJU Max Watt’s November 12, Caravan Music Club November 14 NOT FEST Public Bar November 13 – 15 CRAYON FIELDS Howler November 14 THE BENNIES The Corner November 20 THE BELLIGERENTS Northcote Social Club November 20 PIERCE BROTHERS 170 Russell November 20 COLD CHISEL Hanging Rock Reserve November 21 MY DISCO The Shadow Electric November 21 PANACEA FESTIVAL Riverview, Tatong, November 20-22 BRITISH INDIA The Forum November 27 ROBERT FORSTER Thornbury Theatre November 27 PARADISE MUSIC FESTIVAL Lake Mountain Alpine Resort, November 27-29 HERMITUDE Festival Hall November 28 QUEENSCLIFF MUSIC FESTIVAL Queenscliff November 27 - 29 AC/DC Etihad Stadium December 6 PAUL KELLY PRESENTS THE MERRI SOUL SESSIONS A Day On The Green December 6 LUCINDA WILLIAMS A Day On The Green December 7 UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA Corner Hotel December 8 FRANK YAMMA Melbourne Recital Centre December 11 XMAS EVEN The Evelyn Hotel December 19 – 20 NYE ON THE HILL December 31 – January 1 COURTNEY BARNETT Palais Theatre January 22 BOY & BEAR Festival Hall January 23 MSO PRESENT HITCHCOCK AND HERRMANN Hamer Hall February 5, 6 ST KILDA FESTIVAL St Kilda February 6 - 14
JANET JACKSON, THUNDERBITCH, VIC MENSA = NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
VOTE NOW TO DECIDE THIS YEAR’S WINNER OF MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK - Head to bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank
VOTE NOW TO DECIDE THIS YEAR’S WINNER OF MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK. If you’re serious about your music, vote in the competition that’s serious about helping artists kick-start their careers. Voting closes 27th September at 5pm. Go to bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank. CREATED by
#WeAreForTheMakers
presented by
For full terms and conditions please visit bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank © 2015 Bank of Melbourne – A division of Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFSL and Australian credit licence 233714
BOM 0239 MMB_2phase_MixdownFP_FA.indd 1
28/08/2015 5:18 pm
BOY & BE AR LIMIT OF LOVE By James Di Fabrizio
The third album. It’s a crossroads that can make or break a successful band. Springsteen came forth with Born to Run, Neil Young produced the career-defining After the Goldrush and Bob Dylan rose to cult status with The Times They Are a-Changin’. Undoubtedly, the third album presents an opportunity to define a band’s sound or to further experiment with their songwriting, drawing on all the experience that led up to it. With Boy & Bear’s forthcoming Limit of Love, they’ve managed to do both. A stripped back record that cuts to the heart of what has brought them critical and commercial acclaim, their new album proves the Sydney five-piece are here to stay.
Boy & Bear have traded the lush, stadium sized production of 2013’s platinum-selling Harlequin Dream for a more organic approach. Produced by Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Laura Marling, Kings Of Leon), the group recorded the album the old fashioned way – live to tape, with almost no overdubs or editing. As vocalist Dave Hosking and bassist Dave Symes report, the recording process allowed the group to capture the visceral integrity of their live performances. “We’d always felt that our live side of things had been more honest and effective than our recording side,” says Hosking. His voice is weary from a long day of interviews, but rises with excitement as he recalls the album’s genesis. “The conversations with Ethan moved very quickly to the fact that he likes to record in a very live way. He likes to keep everyone in the same room. Plus, it just had a good energy and vibe about it. Once you have those things lining up, it starts feeling pretty good.” “Ethan has a way of encouraging you as a musician, and encouraging your performance to be the most important thing,” says Symes. “That was a real strength of Ethan. You just wanted to play for him. You wanted to play in the room. He would play with us on nearly every song, whether it be another keyboard or guitar, it really complemented the song and gave us a beautiful energy together with him.” It’s these added elements that bring a layer of surprise to Limit of Love. Lead single Walk the Wire exemplifies this, featuring the driving rhythms and tightly strung melodies the band have become known for, alongside the unexpected addition of shimmering synthesiser lines. While the influence of classic records from the ‘60s and ‘70s is evident, rather than resorting to pastiche, Boy & Bear twist these influences into new territory. As Hosking says, the group are closer than ever to capturing the sound inside their heads. “I don’t actually feel it’s ever a destination we will get to finally. It’s like we’re constantly evolving and changing. What we got closer to on our last record was the love of groove, and the fact that we do have a love of pop formats. I think with this record there was definitely a real need to strip it back more. Just get the grooves right, then let the story and the melody do the work.” Boy & Bear’s infatuation with groove is especially apparent on Limit of Love’s title track. It opens the album with a steady slow burning groove, underpinned by a seductive cowbell loop. It sets the stage for a record of less-is-more compositions. “There’s more space this time,” says Symes. “We’ve enjoyed holding off adding something more to what is already there and trusting that the part that is there is actually enough to hold it.” The creative rapport BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 22
between Hosking and Symes is clearly apparent as they step in to elaborate on each other’s sentiments. “Personally, I would wonder what the next phase is,” says Hosking. “I wonder if there is even more room for that pendulum to swing in the direction of simplicity. I wonder whether it will keep going that way in terms of how much we can keep stripping back before it wants to come back the other way. I’m definitely enjoying the
“WHAT WE GOT CLOSER TO ON OUR LAST RECORD WAS THE LOVE OF GROOVE, AND THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE A LOVE OF POP FORMATS. I THINK WITH THIS RECORD THERE WAS DEFINITELY A REAL NEED TO STRIP IT BACK MORE. JUST GET THE GROOVES RIGHT, THEN LET THE STORY AND THE MELODY DO THE WORK.” idea of how little you need to make a great song.” With an overarching emphasis on simplicity, Limit of Love isn’t just Boy & Bear’s rawest album, but also their most honest. Instead of obsessively fine tuning every last detail, the album is an unvarnished depiction of a band at the top of their game. While the contemporary norm is to polish and quantise recordings to the point of unnatural perfection, the group wanted to embrace the intrinsically human element of music. “I think dynamics are a major part of music that’s potentially been forgotten about through technology,” says Symes. “With our songs, the dynamics are a powerful part of the songwriting. Ethan’s techniques allow those dynamics to actually be real and when you hear the tracks back, there’s room for them. They haven’t been processed to the point of being flat.” You can hear those dynamics take full flight on tracks like Showdown, building from nothing but the drone of a sparse organ before exploding into a dramatic chorus. For Hosking, forgoing the safety net of digital studio technology was liberating. With regards to the lilting Hollow Ground, he speaks of a watershed moment that lifted his confidence to an all time high. “That’s the first song I’ve ever done where there’s no effect whatsoever,” he says. “There’s not a pinch of reverb; it’s stone dry. At least personally, I would have never done that in the past. It’s a really nice feeling to have been able to do that. I think we’ve all had
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
those moments on this record of that simplicity – that vulnerability and honesty.” While the arrangements are pared back, the songwriting process involved more collaboration than any of Boy & Bear’s previous records. For the first time, songs were co-written as a band. Walk the Wire, A Thousand Faces and Showdown were all created from scratch, with Hosking and Symes working alongside guitarist Killian Gavin, keyboardist Jon Hart and drummer Tim Hart. The emphasis on collaboration opened new doors for the band, illuminating fresh perspectives along the way. “Starting from a different point of reference means that the tree can grow in a different direction,” says Symes. “This time we were doing writing sessions – getting out of town, and getting out of Sydney – down south, renting a house. We were playing all day and just allowing ourselves to experiment. At night, we’d be cooking meals and listening back to what we’ve done. It would encourage us to do new stuff the next day, or later again that night because we were in that environment.” It was these writing sessions on the South Coast of New South Wales that allowed the band to refresh and reconnect. Spending the days songwriting and surfing, it was a chance to reset after the biggest tour of their lives – crisscrossing the globe to play 170 shows in a single year. Although a challenging experience, overcoming the rigorous tour pushed Boy & Bear to new heights. “We’ve always been really close, but a year like that, as much as you’re looking forward to time apart by the end of it, it bonds everyone,” says Hosking. “You trust and respect one another too,” adds Symes. “We’re lucky that we came out of it with that sort of energy. There’s a lot of positive trust and respect, and that has to help going into a recording process, doesn’t it? There’s a lot of hours going into that. It’s about understanding each other.” It takes more than just great musicians to make great music, and this sense of trust and respect is palpable on Limit of Love. You can hear it in the dynamic interplay and the endearing mistakes, which define the album as something special. As Hosking says, that’s exactly what Boy & Bear’s third record is all about. “There are keyboard fuck-ups. There are notes that I missed. There are sounds in this record that are hidden because of the way we recorded it. That’s the character, and for people who want to find it, it’s there.” BOY & BEAR’s Limit of Love is released on Friday October 9 via Island/Universal. Catch them at Festival Hall on Saturday January 23.
IRON the music MELB.indd 1
14/09/2015 2:58 pm
This Week: Grrl Fest are back this weekend with their second Provocateur event. Each month Grrl Fest team up with Melbourne’s finest to bring you a night of performance, music, art and women who challenge the status quo, raising funds for a different women-orientated charity/organisation in the process. This month’s event will be raising money for Women’s Health West. The lineup on the night will feature music, circus and burlesque performances from Eden Swan, Erin Will Be Mad, DJ Ruby Slippers, DJ Dino Bitch, DJ Jen Kingwell and more. Provocateur #2 will take over 24 Moons on Saturday September 19. 32 films are lined up for this year’s Lavazza Italian Film Festival including the newest comedies, dramas, fantasy and more. This will be the festival’s 16th year running as it takes over the country spreading the word on Italian cinema. Opening this year’s festival will be box office hit God Willing (Se Dio Vuole), starring Alessandro Gassman, Marco Gillani and Laura Morante. Acclaimed director Bernando Bertolucci’s The Conformist (Il Conformista), which follows the story of Mussolini based from Alberto Moravia’s novel, with will close the festival. Other movies to feature at this year’s festival include, Perez, Black Souls (Anime Nere), An Italian Name (Il Nome Del Figlio), Latin Lover and winner of Best Comedy at the Italian Golden Globes, The Legendary Giulia (Noi E La Giulia). The Lavazza Italian Film Festival will take place from Wednesday September 16 to Sunday October 11. ACMI will host Muppets, Music and Magic: Jim Henson’s Legacy to commemorate the 25th year since Henson’s passing. The program charts a course through Henson’s wonderful experimental films, TV commercials, animations and, of course, his work on probably the most famous and influential of all television programs - Sesame Street. These brand-new package of works come from deep within the Henson Foundation’s vaults. It all also feature guest speaker Martin Baker, who worked with Henson for over two decades. ACMI will host Muppets, Music and Magic: Jim Henson’s Legacy from Monday September 21 - Sunday October 11.
PICK OF THE WEEK The 2015 Melbourne Fringe Festival is shaping up to be a huge one, with over 19 dasys, 401 events, 174 venues and 6,000 artists from nine different countries coming together to make the event the biggest Melbourne Fringe Festival in history. Leading this year’s festival is the centrepiece project Uncommon Places: Instructions from the Fringe, which will see 24 contemporary artists turning run-of-the-mill public spaces into extraordinary artworks. The Fringe Hub will return once again as the heart of the festival, playing host to the infamous Fringe Club. The Fringe Club will offer the best of Australian art and artists, from contemporary dance and comedy to theatre and cabaret. Acts taking over the Fringe Club include an opening night gala hosted by Dash and D’Bree, Prime Cuts Karaoke run by Girls Uninterrupted, the topical satire of Political Asylum, Indigenous storytelling in Wilin Warriors, South American street sensations El Tarro, Shut Up and Dance presented by The Town Bikes, paternal comedy The Dad Show, David Bowie tribute Oh! You Pretty Things and ‘90s nostalgia-party 19921-Oh! Fringe Film returns for a third year with the festival’s program of short screen works and digital media weighing in with its largest ever submission of entries. Exploring the intersection of our personal and digital personas, showcases will screen throughout the festival. If all that wasn’t enough, the 29th Fringe Furniture returns with the largest showcase of Melbourne design since its inception. The Melbourne Fringe Festival will run from Wednesday September 16 - Sunday October 4 in venues across the city. Grab our guide from the very middle of this edition of Beat.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 24
With Tyson Wray. Got thoughts, news, gossip, complaints or cat photos? Email tyson@beat.com.au or send by carrier pigeon before Friday 12pm.
LIMBO
By Liza Dezfouli LIMBO is an extremely multifaceted performance. Featuring circus, cabaret and acrobatics all taking place in the Spiegeltent as part of Melbourne Festival, as creator and producer Scott Maidment states, the spectacle boasts an entertainment value so high that Madonna came twice. “She came once and came back again,” recalls Maidment. “I’ve actually met her a couple of times. In New York, Guy Ritchie came too.” LIMBO’s genesis began when Maidment became so inspired by the music of New York composer Sxip Shirey, that he practically built a show around it. “I’ve known Sxip for a long time,” he says. “His music is great for a Spiegeltent – it has that New Orleans feel to it. The music works really well on its own. We have 50 instruments on stage.” According to Maidment, even unconventional objects can make interesting instruments. Oddball musical inventions featured in the show include a stringed instrument made from 135 amplified steel prongs, alongside a treasure trove of other sound making curios. “Some are small things, like a marble dropped into a bowl,” he says. “The music is my favourite element of the show. Having live performance, it’s not like just putting a CD on. The music is really interesting and it’s not like one instrument dominates the other.” The production’s home in Melbourne will be a brand new Spiegeltent, situated down the banks of the Yarra opposite the Arts Centre Melbourne. Considering the sheer size of LIMBO, the Spiegeltent requires strong direction to make the performance work inside the tent, measuring just under four metres. “I know the space inside out,” Maidment says. “I’ve put on lots of shows in tents. I’ve even built them. The tent is integral to the whole construction of the show. We even have sway poles where the performers dive into the audience.” In a way, LIMBO is actually coming home. Rehearsals originally started in Melbourne when the show was first conceived. “It’s really exciting to be bringing the show to Melbourne,” says Maidment. “We played in London for eight months. We’ve done over 500 shows, so it’s a well-honed machine. The show is constantly evolving and changing over the years. For instance, we’ve recently added a new song to the top of the show
and added a whole new instrumental part. It’s multilayered, and there’s a big fat brass section. We like to keep it fresh.”
Maidment says that the production is different from other spectacles, in that the audience are very close to the performance. “LIMBO immerses the audience in a world,” he states. “You get up close and personal; go on a journey with them. You explore their journeys with the characters.” The title reflects these immersive worlds, acting as a representation of existential purgatory. “It means between worlds, between heaven and hell,” he continues. “You can read more into it if you want to. I thought about the word, about how it’s defined. It relates to the performances. We have feathers to represent heaven, and fire to represent hell. It’s a bit post-modern. What you see is what you see.” Maidment says he’s always been interested in
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
circus and creating spectacle, and in bringing the two together. A key part of fulfilling his vision was to bring together the perfect cast. With extensive experience in show business, he had a large pool of talent to choose from. “I didn’t have auditions,” states Maidment. “I handpicked some of them. Some I’ve worked with before, some are recommended to me, or I’ve seen their shows. We have three Australians in the cast. We have a performer from New York, one from France, one from Canada, one from Berlin. When this cast came together, none of them knew each other. Now they live in each other’s pockets and they’ve been doing this for three years.” The diverse cast comes from all corners of the globe including Heather Holliday, described as a ‘Coney Island fire-breathing, sword-swallowing vintage beauty’, the French ‘gravity-defying master of the Chinese pole and beat boxer’ Mikael Bres, ex-Cirque de Soleil contortionist Tigris, the acclaimed Canadian acrobat and aerialist Evelyne Allard and the ‘astonishing and aggressive’ hand balancer Danik Abishev who grew up performing as a child in Russia where the more dangerous the act, the more money came in. Maidment states that it was putting all these talents under the one tent that guaranteed the show’s success. Garnering rave reviews, there’s no signs of waning of enthusiasm for LIMBO in sight. “People are just loving LIMBO,” he says triumphantly.
LIMBO will run from Friday October 9 – Sunday November 1 at The Spiegeltent as part of the 2015 Melbourne Festival.
THE COMIC STRIP
For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au
Coming Up
THURSDAY COMEDY
Romeo and Juliet
Australia’s funniest puppet, Randy headlines at the European Bier Cafe this Thursday. You know him from the MICF gala, and from ABC’s latest comedy, Sammy J and Randy in Ricketts Lanr. Plus there’s Adam Rozenbachs, Daniel Connell, Jonathan Schuster, Nick Capper and heaps more. There’s been massive audiences the last few weeks, so get down early to get a good seat. It’s all happening this Thursday September 17 at 8.30pm, at the European Bier Café, 120 Exhibition Street, CBD, all for only $12.
Melbourne Festival
Thursday October 8 - Sunday October 25 Various Venues
Jurassica
Friday October 9 - Saturday November 7 Red Stitch Actors Theatre
KINGS OF COMEDY
The Australian Movie and Comic Expo Saturday October 17 - Sunday October 18 Melbourne Showgrounds
MSO: Back To The Future Live In Concert Friday November 6 - Saturday November 7 The Plenary
Bell Shakespeare
Stephen Fry
Monday November 9 Hamer Hall
Bell Shakespeare, Australia’s national theatre company dedicated to the sharing the plays of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries with Australian audiences, have unveiled their 2016 program. This is the company’s first program under the sole Artistic Directorship of Peter Evans. The legendary tale of Romeo and Juliet will open the year, with a cast including Alex Williams (Underground: The Julian Assange Story, INXS: Never Tear Us Apart) as Romeo, and Kelly Paterniti (Bell Shakespeare’s As You Like It) as Juliet. The program will also feature Othello, a play Shakespeare wrote 10 years after Romeo and Juliet, exploring the destructive power of jealousy and whispered rumours and starring Ray Chong Nee as Othello (Bell Shakespeare’s The Dream and MTC’s I Call My Brothers) and Yalin Ozucelik (Bell Shakespeare’s Henry IV and STC’s Cyrano de Bergerac) as the villain, Iago. After 2014’s production of Tartuffe, the company will again return to the work of Molière - France’s answer to Shakespeare. This time with a production of The Literati, a new translation of La Femme Savants by Justin Fleming, bringing the play into 21st century Australia. The program also includes a 10-month Actors At Work tour, taking 50-minute adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays to students in every state, including regional and remote communities. Bell Shakespeare’s 2016 Program will open with Romeo and Juliet at Arts Centre Melbourne on Thursday April 14.
Poppy Seed Festival
Wednesday November 11 - Sunday December 13 Various Venues
Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei
Friday December 11 - Sunday April 24 National Gallery of Victoria
Kings of Comedy are back for another massive week with the legendary Brad Oakes headlining another stellar lineup, presented by Alex Fusca and Simon Hughes. Come and see Thomas McMahon, David Macdonald, Blake Freeman, John Dore, Harrison Engstrom, Joseph Green, Ari Matti, Russell Wigginton, Garry Johan and Samuel Hunter Galloway. It goes down on Friday September 18 at La Di Da.
COMEDY AT SPLEEN Mondays at Comedy at Spleen are always full, and this week will be no different. The only place to be on Mondays will be chockers full of laughs with guests and it’s the place where big names drop in. This Monday Dave Thornton hosts the show, along with guests like Josh Earl, Dilruk Jayasinha, Don Tran, Ben Lomas, David Tulk and more. It’s this Monday September 21, at 41 Bourke Street, CBD, at 8.30pm. It’s free to get in, but they appreciate a good gold coin donation at the door.
Welcome To Night Vale Cult serial podcast Welcome To Night Vale will bring a live incarnation of the series to Australian stages this coming February. The debut Australian shows will see the team perform a never-before-released episode written specifically for the stage starring Cecil Baldwin with live musical accompaniment by Disparition and featuring Dessa as The Weather. Welcome To Night Vale is a twice-monthly podcast that brings listeners stories from the strange desert town of Night Vale in the form of a community radio show. The drama includes local news, announcements from the Sheriff ’s Secret Police, mysterious lights in the night sky and dark-hooded figures with unknown powers. Welcome To Night Vale will come to Athenaeum Theatre on Saturday February 13.
Edmund. The Beginning Arts House has announced a season of Brian Lipson’s latest one man show, Edmund. The Beginning. Throughout Edmund, Brian summons a disordered array of characters from the past and present: some are familiar, some are famous, some are known only to Lipson. Each character both a real person and an imaginary figure. Who is alive? Who is dead? And why? Since moving to Australia from the United Kingdom over 17 years ago, Lipson has worked with Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company and Belvoir; and many independent companies including The Family, Hayloft, Eleventh Hour, ICE, Stuck Pigs Squealing, Chunky Move and GoD Be IN MouTH. Edmund. The Beginning will run at Arts House from Tuesday November 10 until Sunday November 22.
Film Review:
Gilbert & George Acclaimed UK art pair Gilbert & George have announced their first ever Australian exhibition will be held at MONA later this year. Gilbert Prousch and George Passmore have lived and worked together since meeting at London’s St Martin’s School of Art in 1967, with their entire body of work being created in, and focused on, London’s East End. Now both aged in their 70s, the retrospective exhibition will feature 100 of their works, created between 1970 and 2014. In a video announcing the exhibition, the pair explained, “Our pictures deal with the great universals: death, hope, life, fear, sex, money, race and religion.” Gilbert & George: The Art Exhibition will open at MONA on Saturday November 28 and continue until next year.
Everest
Some films are made for the big screen, and Everest is one of them. It’s hard to say how enjoyable the experience would have been on a smaller screen with less wholly encompassing sound, but witnessed in the comforts of the IMAX, it’s an engrossing and nail-biting man vs. nature thriller. It’s 1996, and numerous international agencies are vying to get ambitious travellers to the top of the world’s highest mountain. Veterans Rob Hall ( Jason Clarke) and Scott Fischer ( Jake Gyllenhaal) lead a troupe of climbers to the top, unaware that a storm is brewing that will bring them all to the brink of destruction. The knowledge that the events of the film genuinely occurred perhaps carries more weight than the screenplay by industry vets William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy, but its strength lies in its ability to balance exposure to the huge cast of characters; that is, except for those who are female. Case in point: Robin Wright, Emily Watson and
The Illusionists 1903 The Illusionists 1903 are preparing to transport audiences back to the golden age of magic when they come to Melbourne this January. Featuring brand-new, world class illusionists handpicked from across the globe, they will showcase the origins of some of the greatest and most dangerous illusions ever built, the show also unveils never-seen-before experiments drawn from a treasure trove of long-forgotten mysteries. Inspired by the magicians of yesteryear, including the great Houdini, in this world class spectacular audiences will discover first-hand the spectacles that transformed stage entertainment over 100 years ago. The Illusionists 1903 will come to Arts Centre Melbourne from Saturday January 2. Keira Knightley claim fourth, fifth and sixth billing on the poster respectively, but together share about ten minutes of screen time. Of these, Watson’s have the most gravity, with her maternal figure playing emotional cipher for the audience. Knightley mostly just cries, though her NZ accent is competent; Wright just has nothing to work with. As for the lads, Clarke’s Hall is a broadly appealing, flawed hero whose decisions, though guided by his heart, have tragic consequences. Gyllenhaal entertains and surprises as always, while Josh Brolin’s gung-ho Texan provides balance to the ensemble. There are too many other actors in this film. Frustratingly, one of the film’s more interesting characters, experienced climber Yasuko Namba (Naoko Mori) has her dialogue cut off by journalist Jon Krakauer (Michael Kelly) and so we gain little insight into this fascinating real person. It’s otherwise nearly impossible to keep track of everyone.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Piece for Person and Ghetto Blaster This production tells a story of a man, a woman and a duck. Described as a duet between physical action and spoken language, Piece for Person and Ghetto Blaster blends participatory performance, live art, video and installation in the latest from Melbourne based creator and performer Nicola Gunn. Gunn’s recent production A Social Service recently premiered at Malthouse Theatre which received much acclaim. Piece for Person and Ghetto Blaster premieres at Arts House from Wednesday November 11 to Sunday November 15. But really, the humans are secondary – the true star’s name is in the title, and is captured vicariously through sequences shot in Nepal, Italy and Iceland by cinematographer Salvatore Totino. His eye for landscape will sure see him dominate film epics in the years to come. With dizzying cinematography, moving music and scenes of true tension that had the crowd clutching their armrests in dismay, the world’s biggest mountain deserves the world’s biggest screen. BY DAVID MOLLOY
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 25
For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au
Sizzler 77 By Liza Dezfouli
Sizzler 77, the closing film in this year’s Melbourne Underground Film Festival is kind of an accidental movie, born out of the comedic chemistry between two actors. “I wrote it for Teri Yeboah and Alan King,” says writer and director Timothy Spanos. “I was doing another film, Moonlight Magic, with a couple of cop characters played by Alan (King) and Terry (Yeboah) and they had such chemistry; they were a total laugh together. They had such fun that they asked me to write a spin-off for them.”
Life By David Molloy
“Photography is a good way of saying I’ve been here and you’ve been here,” says photographer Dennis Stock to his subject in the new film by Anton Corbijn, Life. It’s not exactly a dramatic moment – just two men walking through the rain when one takes a snapshot of the other. History remembers it differently, however: it’s 1955, the rain is falling on Times Square in New York City, and the subject of the photograph is up-and-coming actor James Dean. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 26
Which he did. Sizzler 77 is set in the Melbourne underground of the 1970s when platforms, afros and Holden Monaros ruled the roads. As Spanos states, the challenge lied in taking inspiration from the best of an era, while still breathing new life into a tried and tested genre. “I’m not really into cop buddy films,” he says. “There are too many of them. And I think crime stories are a bit of a cop-out: you need the element of drama in a story so the easy way out is to make somebody commit a crime. I had a bash, but I was struggling to write it. I wasn’t getting very far; then I had this light bulb moment – change the era and set it in the seventies and after that I couldn’t stop writing. I had the script finished in three weeks.” Sizzler 77, is the seventh feature film by Spanos and lives in the sweet spot between comedy and drama. An experienced filmmaker, his previous works include Nancy, Boronia Boys and The House Cleaner. Shot throughout Melbourne’s laneways, the story of Sizzler 77 is about a group of sex workers, who are being coerced by violent pimp Bossy Jim to become involved in a profit-share scheme. The cast includes Kristen Condon, Oti Willoughby, Raylene Pearce, Tim Burns (Spanos’ acting pseudonym) and Baby Lemonade Lamarr. As the story unfolds, antics include two detective inspectors deciding to cross-dress in order to infiltrate Bossy Jim’s scheme. In other words, Sizzler 77 presents a wealth of opportunity for glamorous frocks, glitter and hilariously mad-capped schemes. Pulling it all together is a tightly curated soundtrack, serving up deep cuts of funk and glam. The 1970s have long been a source of nostalgia and inspiration. The music, fashion and hedonism of the time are both legendary and enduring. As Spanos states, the ‘70s also marked a less complicated time that came with a rich history to tap into. “The film’s set in the summer of ‘77,” he says. “Life was easier and simpler back then. There’s a lot of colour, a lot of razzle-dazzle. I knew what was happening in Australia at that time. In January, February and March of 1977, there was the Grandville rail disaster, the murders on Easey Street; those girls had been watching a new show called The Sullivans. North Melbourne drew in the grand final that year, the Queen had her silver jubilee, Elvis died, we had Star Wars and Graeme Kennedy started hosting Blankety Blank.”
As well as nailing the aesthetic of the era, Spanos states that gathering the right actors was intrinsic to achieving his vision. “Casting is incredibly important,” he notes. “Casting is 80% of the success of a film; you’ve got to get it right. You see a lot of films where they haven’t got it quite right. I have an idea of the character, of the visual aspect I’m looking for and I go from there. Sizzler 77 is basically a four man cast,” he continues. “I didn’t want any familiar faces. I went to drama school with a lot of different actors and I didn’t want any familiar faces. We had to find younger actors to play the prostitutes. They are colourful and dazzling characters. We have a young transsexual character who’s only 17 years old; she’s a touching and sad character who ends up going to Queensland. As hideous as Joh Bjelke-Peterson’s Queensland was then, it was preferable to live her life in Melbourne.” Spanos had been considering retirement from making feature films before he was persuaded to make Sizzler 77, an experience which may have turned his thinking around. “It’s been a lot of fun,” he says. “I’ve made seven features and making this one was hilarious. It’s a distinct style of comedy and it was non-stop laughter making this film; we were working hard but it was fun. Putting on the costumes, going back in time like that, counting the money - we used real Australian notes: the green two dollar notes. Some of the cast members had never touched paper money before, they had no idea how money used to smell.” Spanos was careful to make sure every sensory detail, along with the dialogue, was authentic. Every dial, button, sound and prop was handpicked with obsessive consideration. “Little things like phones where you stick your finger in and dial, that noise of the number dialling…we used typewriters, record players, televisions from the era. Finding cars was the hardest thing. Whenever we saw a car from the era parked anywhere we’d stop and film against it.”
“Just an iconic image that a lot of people know,” says Corbijn of the original photograph, recreated with painstaking attention to detail in the film. “They don’t know the photographer always, but they know the image. The producers thought I should make this a very big emotional moment, and I said, ‘Well, that’s just not how that works,’ you know?” And he would know – Corbijn has been capturing artists on film for 40 years, lensing everyone from Depeche Mode to Nirvana, Björk to U2, and working with A-list actors to craft his four feature films to date. To him, it is everyday reality. “If you take that picture and it’s raining, you only take a few snapshots – I’ve seen the contact sheets, I know there’s only a few photos taken,” he says. “It’s just one of these pictures you’re taking, and then later on it somehow gains a weight through a variety of reasons, one of which, of course, is that James Dean passed away so early. “I guess he looks like a lonely man, a lost rebel, amidst all the busyness of Times Square. I think when you take that photograph, you don’t experience it as, ‘I’ve just made an iconic image,’ you know? It just doesn’t play like that.” Life is set in the midst of 1955’s dramatic changes in American culture – the great wars were over, exciting new artistic and musical movements were emerging, and the culture was gradually being defined by performers like Dean. “They broke the mould of how these people operated, and I feel the generation that grew up in the war never found a voice until ten years after the wars finished, and then the role became theirs,” says Corbijn. “And James Dean was part of that.” But this is not a film about Dean: the attraction for Corbijn was a story about a photographer and his subject, and the fact the subject happens to be Dean is something Corbijn considers a “nice bonus”. “They share equal screen time, but it’s really about how these people touch each other’s lives,” he says. Sharing the screen are Robert Pattinson as the uneasy photographer Stock, and Dane DeHaan in what may be a career-defining performance as Dean. “It was, I have to say, a pleasure working with both. It reminded me a little bit of the energy we had on Control, because they’re young actors and they’re just energetic,” says Corbijn, referencing his Joy Division biopic and screen debut. “Dane and Robert are quite different actors, and that, in a way, was purposeful for me because the characters they play are also quite different characters … Dane is very analytical and very well prepared – which he had
to [be], of course, because he had to change so much, both physically and to get into the voice and all that. Rob is more intuitive, and so they are both different in their approach, but I love both performances a lot.” As a photographer and filmmaker, Corbijn is well versed in the complexities of artist-subject relations. His stills, including those currently on display in The Hague, are frequently shaped by his relationships with the creatives he captures, and he has shared a long-standing professional connection to industry heavyweights like Depeche Mode and U2. “First of all, I only picked up a camera because I wanted to be closer to musicians, and therefore a camera was a great excuse,” he says. “The attraction to people for me is always what they make. You start building up a relationship, but that’s something that grows over time. “I mean, I have to admit, I was not attracted to Depeche Mode or U2 initially, so that was just a process that grew and, you know, suddenly you’re talking 30 years later and you’re still working together. And it’s fun, and you think for each other what could be the next step for them visually.” As for Corbijn’s own next steps, he’s becoming increasingly engrossed in the world of film – his next, currently shrouded in secrecy, is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel on race relations – which is necessitating a movement away from photography as his primary form. He even refers to his recent museum shows in Holland as “a kind of goodbye”. “It’s so all-encompassing, you know, it takes a lot of your energy making a movie,” he says. “I see photography now as a nice day out: when I do photography, it’s more of a zen moment. The scale of it is so small and it’s so attractive, when you make movies, to go back to this more solitary kind of existence at times.” Perhaps that’s why Life held such a sway over Corbijn – it too has something solitary and sober about it, an intimacy that reflects the scale of his photography. Its core, he says, is “the normality of everything, you know? It’s not hyped up. It’s just normal life and you just go through life and try to make the best of it. “I just make photographs and films and hopefully that’s what people remember.”
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Sizzler 77 premieres at Howler for the closing night of the 2015 Melbourne Underground Film Festival on Saturday September 19.
Life is in cinemas now.
September 16 – October 4
PAGE 2
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
- CONTENTS PAGE 6
Uncommon Places: Instructions From The Fringe Fringe Furniture: Between The Lines Fringe on Film
PAGE 8
Damien Power vs. Anne Edmonds Randy Writes A Novel Stephen K Amos: Welcome To My World
PAGE 10
[The Unholy Body of] Ignatius Grail Big Strong Boy Boys Boys Boys
PAGE 12 - 13
Where The Fringe Am I?: Maps of the Fringe
PAGE 14
Bluethumb Pop-up Art Gallery A Touch of Grace: Shadow Warriors 99 Schnitzels (Veal Ain’t One) That’s Showbiz
PAGE 16
Accio Adulthood The Flame and the Rose Folded Together Bits Of Us As If Inflorescence Emma & the House Special An Intimate Evening with The Architects of Sound The Reality Event
PAGE 18
Fractured Gentlemen Of The Road Gruesome Playground Injuries I Don’t Know Yet In The Nudd People Piss In Here Speaking In Tones Top Spot
PAGE 19
A Bee’s Dick Away ARRRR We There Yet Docklands Blues Music Festival Climamania Le Petit Circus The Dirty Cowboy Torte E Mort: Songs of Cake and Death Woody’s World
PAGE 20
A Lady’s Guide to Being a Wingman Wet Cement Battlefield Blues Be A Man Gender Spanner Ich Bin Ein Belinda Pubaret Ah Yes, The Music
PAGE 21
IMPACT Men/Machine Oliver Downes - At The End Performance Management - In Cabaret Shoot From The Hip The Afterglow Working On A Dream
PAGE 22
Still Want More?
PAGE 4
WELCOME TO THE 2015 MELBOURNE FRINGE FESTIVAL A quick word with Creative Director & CEO Simon Abrahams By Liza Dezfoul Simon Abrahams is super-excited to be head honcho at the Melbourne Fringe Festival this year. Abrahams is probably the best person in Melbourne right now to take on the wonderful hairy mammoth that is Fringe – his diverse background as a creative producer, performer and arts consultant means he knows what it’s like to be at either the pointy or blunt end of a show. Beat remembers him in a little back office at Gasworks Arts Park but since then Abrahams has pretty much popped up everywhere. In 2009 he founded Theatre Network, of which he’s Chair, and he is on the Theatre Panel for the Helpmann Awards, and the Contemporary and Experimental Performance Panel for the Green Room Awards. A few years ago he was in service to literature at the Wheeler Centre. In 2014 he was awarded the CHASS Australia Prize for a leader aged under 35 years was named among Arts Hub’s Top Ten Arts Leaders of 2010. Abrahams says he couldn’t be happier captaining Fringe 2015. “I see a great future for the Melbourne Fringe,” he tells Beat. “I’ve got lots of big plans. My job this year is essentially to deliver the festival that Jayne (Lovelock, last year’s CEO) put together before she left.” Abrahams says he’s asking big questions of the Melbourne Fringe, wondering about things like the actual meaning of ‘Fringe’? “What are we on the Fringe of ?” he asks out loud. “Fringe should be about voices we don’t hear enough of, and I’m keen to increase the diversity of Fringe – to this end we have established a diversity scholarship scheme to hear different viewpoints.” Fringe has come a long way from a festival devoted to performance and Abrahams is keen to see more visual artistic activity taking place in Fringe, preferably involving Melbourne’s more prominent buildings. “My interest is in large-scale public artwork,” Abrahams continues. “What is it to be a citizen of Melbourne? How can we discover and rediscover our city via our public buildings? We can start to answer those questions with an artistic take, with a beautiful art project.” Fringe has always been a platform for young and emerging artists, Abrahams says, but he wants to see established artists come back to Fringe with more experimental works, with ideas that they want to try out, make art for art’s sake. “Fringe is for independent
artists at all stages of their careers. Fringe is about discovery – audience discovery of artists and artists’ discovery of themselves; we want to see artists discover new aspects to their artistic practices. We want to see established artists come back to Fringe and try something new.” He notes that there is a growing trend, especially amongst very successful comedians, to return to Fringe with a show in preparation for next year’s MICF. “One increase is in well-known comedians putting on shows in Fringe – from my perspective that’s great. You can spend one afternoon or evening and go from seeing a free exhibition of public art to the Fringe Hub, see a show staged in the back seat of a car or something, then see a mainstream comedian, and do all of that in four hours or so – that’s the joy of Melbourne Fringe.” Abrahams talks about the core values of Fringe as being access, inclusivity, participation and democracy. “You can get no more democratic than an open access festival. So how can we reflect that?” Beat wonders how much of this year’s Fringe is Abrahams’s doing. “The structure is all set up,” he answers. “My involvement has been curating within those structures, deciding what goes in them, to have a go at playing and deciding in that space, and meanwhile dream up things for next year. I’ve been lucky, I’ve inherited a strong festival, it shifts and changes…we evolve
what we do, bit by bit.” Has he noticed any particular trends in performances or events this year? “There’s an increase in live art and theatre, and an increase in the breakdown of traditional art forms, we’re seeing a lot more participatory work, of hands on immersive participatory experiences involving sensory overload, these shows are designed with that in mind. There is more and more engagement with participants in shorter works. This is a reflection of our shorter attention spans and our changing cycles of attention. At Fringe we can see durational works of 17 hours, or something can go on for 23 minutes. Fringe is a process of discovery: we have a pretty dynamic Fringe Hub program this year featuring live-art participatory events, like The Side Part and the Wilin Warriors – they do a beautiful job; there’s Uncommon Places, where we have commissioned artists to make site specific works in 18 spaces – you can see these beautiful interesting artworks across Melbourne, and there are maps you can download, we’ve got artists from 15 different countries, and this year is the first time we’ve had a curated kids’ program at the Fringe Hub.” Abrahams says the first thing he did when he moved into his Fringe office was to go through decades of old Fringe Festival programs from about 1994. “Everyone who’s anybody has come through Fringe; they’ve all performed in Fringe. It’s astounding. The Melbourne Fringe Festival is such an amazing strong brand. Our philosophy is that anyone can do anything in Fringe.”
i
THE MELBOURNE FRINGE FESTIVAL will run from Wednesday September 16 - Sunday October 4 in venues across the city. Get flickin’ through the pages of our guide and get out there and see some shows.
Top images - from left to right: 1992-1-OH!, Love, Loss and Lattes, As You Like It, No Punchline, Luminous, Old Tech New Decks, They Say She’s Different, The Dad Show, Rachel By The Stream
3 NEWTON STREET RICHMOND, VICTORIA 3121 Phone: (03) 9428 3600 Fax: (03) 9428 3611 email: info@beat.com.au beat.com.au
Editor: Tyson Wray Advertising: Tegan Louise Production Manager/Graphic Designer: Michael Cusack Contributors: Avrille Bylok-Collard, Colette Dallimore, Liza Dezfouli Cover Image: Top Spot
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
Published by Furst Media © 2015 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.
e Op
t ns
400 EVENTS 6,000 ARTISTS 19 DAYS 100% INDEPENDENT
ee sw hi k
Principal Partner
Government Partners
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
PAGE 5
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
PAGE 7
Someone tried to tell me the other day that you seem at peace with yourself. Is that true? No I’ve just become better at dealing with my har-
Where is Toowoomba exactly? No one really knows, it’s actually a state of mind more so than a small regional town in Queensland where I grew up. When you’re in the Toowoomba state of mind you are more inclined to watch rugby league and make casually racist/homophobic comments. DAMIEN INTERVIEWING ANNE: If you didn’t do stand up, what would you do? I guess I still be working in an office with a daily gnawing feeling that something wasn’t right. I worked in mental health before starting comedy. It was actually alright, I enjoyed it, but I had always a sense I wanted to something else. I’m obsessed with expressing myself, it’s painful. I’ve been doing it at family Christmas for
Y O U K N OW W HAT I ’ M L I K E
VENUE: Fringe Hub - Lithuanian Club, 44 Errol St, North Melbourne DATES: September 26 - October 2 (except Monday) TIMES: 8pm (Sunday 7pm) TICKETS: $24 - $26 years. I’m pleased to have a formal outlet now. Why do you like country music? Stop asking me that. It’s OK to like it. I like country music because it’s so simple, beautiful and often sad, which is one of my emotional favourite states. I got into when I lived in the country for a few years and had to drive long distances. It’s appropriate for that activity. I also like the way country music tells someone’s story in a few verses or just gives you a few hints about someone’s life and you can imagine the rest. Gillian Welch does that so well. It’s also very easy to sing and play, often only three chords – I learnt the banjo by playing along to Kasey Chambers, Gillian Welch and Lucinda Williams. What do you like most about your new washing machine? Yes! You were staying at my house the day my new washing machine arrived. What a great day. I had been
RANDY WRITES A NOVEL By Liza Dezfouli Not content with being a comedy god and TV idol, Randy (who doesn’t make distinctions between humans and puppets), is now an author. He’s written a book and is doing a show about it for the Melbourne Fringe Festival, called Randy Writes a Novel. “It’s a thinly veiled concept,” Randy says. “I read excerpts from the novel to fill out half a show.” And the book? What’s that about? “It’s about a guy who walks from the southern-most border of Scotland to Skye in the far north carrying a dead beaver; the beaver dies about three quarters of the way through the novel, glassed in the face in a horrible local tavern bar room brawl, with a bottle of 12-year-old Ardbeg whisky. In the last quarter of the novel the protagonist carries round the beaver, it represents his character, who is having an existential crisis. But no-one cares about the beaver – they only talk about the waste of whisky. People care more about whisky than cruelty to animals. It’s why we’re in such shit.” This sounds serious and conceptual. Randy is thoughtful. “It’s so serious. I spent three years in a wooden shack in the far north writing it. But in the
show I get distracted every time I get serious. For me, writing a book is the only way to get conceptual. The theme is legacy, what we leave behind. Is art only art if
somebody pays attention to it? If a man writes a book in a log cabin and no-one knows, is it still art? It’s pretty amazing; it’s an opus.” Randy has performed the show in Adelaide already. “It’s very funny – I stripped back, telling the audience what I think, staking my claim as the moral compass of the planet. It takes someone with a real sense of moral corruption to tell people what’s right or wrong. I’m not going to listen to someone who’s never done drugs tell me not to do drugs. Randy Writes a Novel will be the greatest comedy show ever done at the Melbourne Fringe Festival and the second best piece of spoken word in the southern hemisphere, topped only by Raymond J Bartholomeuz’s mid-’90s exploration of Phillip Island, by Brian Nankervis. “Every year I do a show revealing the darker, misanthropic aspects of my character, how shit I am, my alcoholism, about the intricacies of having
STEPHEN K AMOS:
WELCOME TO MY WORLD By Colette Dallimore
We wants more more more of the adorable Stephen K Amos, my preciouses, so the UK comic is bringing his warm and fuzzy show Welcome to my World back to Melbourne for Fringe. Everyone wants more of him: he’s just finished a tour where he was performing two shows a day for a month. Beat does a quick Q&A with Amos, who brought Welcome to my World to MICF earlier this year, to find out what one of the world’s least pretentious comedians thinks of us. We ask him what he thinks are the best and worst things about performing in Australia? “The audiences are always up for it, which is a joy,” he answers. “The travelling from Queensland to Perth, then Adelaide and Alice Springs is a bit of a bitch. I come from a country with one time zone.” Amos has recently published his memoir, I Used To Say My Mother Was Shirley Bassey. Does she still tell people his mum was Shirley Bassey? “Not since my mum found out. She kissed her teeth and said ‘Stephen! You could have said Diana Ross!’” We want to know what the best thing is about his PAGE 8
life right now? “Doing a job I love, travelling and finding the funny in every corner of the world,” is his response. What’s the most challenging thing in his life right now? “In my life, hotel room keys clogging up my wallet, especially when I find out that taxi drivers don’t accept them as payment. In the world at large,
U
What were you like at school? I played cricket and football well, so probably a wanker. I was actually bullied a lot because I played up a grade in sport. All the older kids hated me. I always loved comedy and impressions, even during high school. I remember the big thing when I was at school was The 12th Man: the parody of Australian cricket commentators. I remember doing an impression of Max Walker from that show and an older kid threw an apple at my head.
rowing neurosis. Self awareness is the first key. Then anti-depressants. Then getting off them. Then you start listening to Coldplay. That’s the saddest bit.
S
Why did you leave rotten food in my fridge last time you stayed? It was fresh at first, then it started to rot.
VENUE: The Imperial Hotel, Cnr Bourke & Spring St, CBD DATES: September 24 - October 2 (except Monday) TIME: 9.15pm TICKETS: $20 - $24
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICSHKOW AT B
U
I CAN’T BELIEVE I CARED
THI
S
VS.
i ANNE INTERVIEWING DAMIEN:
TO
THI
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICSHKOW AT B
TO
DAMIEN POWER ANNE EDMONDS
all the humanitarian issues, with refugees being at the top of the list. It’s disheartening to see and read some people’s ill-informed opinions and the fear mongering that goes on.” What is Amos sentimental about? “To me, being sentimental is about looking back, and I try not to do that. It’s all about seizing the day, carpe diem, which if I remember from school is Latin for seizing the day, or maybe it’s Greek. I failed them both – you can’t get sentimental about things like that.” Welcome to my World is a show famous for your interactions with audience members: have you ever had any really hairy moments with anyone in the audience? “There was a couple near the front and, clearly referring to the man, I asked if he had bumfluff as a teenager. He shouted out ‘Don’t ask me. You should see her back. She’s Greek!’ I don’t think they’re together anymore.”
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
saving up for it for ages. I had my old one for 15 years and it broke and I knew it was finally time for my first front loader. I love the 30 minute quick wash the most. I have actually watched it from start to finish. It’s also fun and ok to do an ‘everyday’ wash when you’ve got time (50 minutes). I’m entranced by the spinning of the clothes behind the glass and get genuinely excited when I walk past and see it. What can we do as stand ups to contribute more positively to society as a community? Not leave rotting food in each others fridges. No, I often do worry about what I’m contributing to society as stand up. It feels so self indulgent – getting up on stage and talking about yourself for hours on end. But hopefully making people laugh is some sort of small, positive contribution to the world. I guess we can also make a difference by the things we talk about on stage, like pointing out things aren’t fair or right, and getting together and fundraising for causes we believe in. and maintaining relationships – women find that attractive.” The sort of women who write letters to murderers in prison? “Yeah, I’m going for the prison market. No, there’s no Mrs Randy; I am definitely married to my job. I’m nowhere near a relationship. People can mind their own business. I rant at the audience about the things that give me the shits, what we’re doing as a species – there’s enough poisonous vitriol – maybe it will get through. I don’t really give a shit. I don’t even mind if people don’t come. I’ve just made a show I like doing. It’s a very funny show. If people want to come and laugh at me saying words out of my mouth, they are more than welcome. If they’d rather sit at home and ponder the awful life they’ve chosen to live, they’re welcome to do that instead.” Randy says that in the hour her spends on stage he feels most alive. And safest. “You spend your life trying to avoid people who might kill you. We’re a lot more fragile than we think; we’re just bags of water. I spend my life navigating that experience – getting up on stage makes everything else go away.”
i
VENUE: Fringe Hub - Lithuanian Club, 44 Errol St, North Melbourne DATES: September 18 - 25 (except Monday) TIMES: 9.15pm (Sunday 8.15pm) TICKETS: $25 - $28
What is the hairiest moment you’ve experienced in your comedy career to date? “I was unwell and had to leave the stage half way through the show, the audience thought it was part of the show but in fact I had to throw-up backstage – I didn’t reach the toilets so it was in a pint glass. Over the years there have been moments, particularly with drunk people, saying the most outrageous obnoxious things. At a show in South West London, a full on riot broke out when an unfortunate man heckled me with the n-word. Other audience members took umbrage – chaos ensued.” What’s the first thing you’d change about the world? “More compassion, honesty, transparency and also I’d clamp down on corruption and injustice. I’d like to make all these multi-billion pound corporations put something meaningful back into society.” What makes you angry? “All the things I want to change in the world.” What would you be doing if not comedy? “I’d like to think I’d be a barrister. There’s something about the wigs and those gowns that just feels right.” Do your parents secretly wish you were doing something else? “My parents would like me to be a barrister but not for the same reason as above! My dad still says ‘Become a lawyer; you will never lose. If a man is guilty you’ll be paid, if a man is innocent, you’ll be paid and if a man wants to bribe you, you’ll be paid. Twice!’”
i
VENUE: Fringe Hub - Lithuanian Club , 44 Errol St, North Melbourne DATES: September 24 - October 3 (except Sunday& Monday) TIME: 7pm TICKETS: $25 - $30
BOYS BOYS BOYS COMEDY CABERET WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY NICO
SEPT 22-26
LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME You know the moment ladies. The moment you wake up in a foreign bed. You feel that arm tightly strung around your waist. You squint and slowly open your eyes. You realise where you are. The arm slides away once day has broken. You could just get up, get your slutty tube skirt back on and walk home but you know there is a better option. One that will stick around longer than the guy whose bed you have just woken up in... You go to the bathroom. Pace around the room a little, whilst you joke with him and flick your bed hair. You pull out that line - 'Oh god, I don’t want to walk home in my outfit from last night…' - he replies - 'I can drive you.' ... 'Oh no it's fine, I actually like walking- but maybe if you lend me a T-shirt…' He thinks you want to see him again. WRONG, you just want his grey medium sized sloppy joe. It would be perfect for jazz class next week.
1 5 3 G E R T R U D E S T, F I T Z R OY TIX $15 - MELBOURNEFRINGE.COM.AU
Ni brings to life, the trials and tribulations of acquiring the shirts of Tom, Dick and Harry in Nico her cabaret, Boys Boys Boys.
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
PAGE 9
[THE UNHOLY BODY OF] IGNATIUS GRAIL By Liza Dezfouli
“I’ve been writing it for a long time,” says Madeleine Ryan, about her work [The Unholy Body of ] Ignatius Grail, a theatre piece she has written, directs and performs in ‘uniting beauty with the beastly,’ which explores manifestations of power via the body and the lengths one woman will go through to achieve it. Images from Ryan’s early awareness of popular culture and her experiences of being powerful in her own body inform this collaborative piece, the debut by her new theatre company Ginesthoi. “In a personal sense it’s about the different images of power I’ve tried on,” says Ryan. Are there any particular defining moments or incidents that sparked off her exploration? “I see myself as a six-year-old on the couch watching Grease, transfixed by Sandy’s transformation,” she answers. “Then myself wanting to be Buffy in the playground at school, as a 15-year-old at parties imitating the move-
ments of the women in Eric Prydz’s Call on Me video, and as an actor in Robert Meldrum’s voice classes working on Cleopatra.” [The Unholy Body of ] Ignatius Grail challenges the idea of the body as a temple and the notion of perfecting the body being an end unto itself – a radical stance in a culture fixated more than ever on external appearances. “This work sheds light on the idea that we are more than our physical bodies,” Ryan explains. “The body is a tool for expression, not something to be shaped and controlled; it’s not the outcome of
who we are, we’re not dictated to, or defined by, the body. This work facilitates that.” Inherently, with such themes, the work questions feminine identity, and issues of objectification and body image. “It’s accessible for men and women,” Ryan notes. “But yes, there are things I do feel angry about. I had an eating disorder as a teenager and much of this work is about transcending that.” Is there an element of catharsis involved for Ryan in putting the show together? “I’m certainly unearthing a degree of anger. But the show is expressing something about power, what it means to have it, what it looks like. Power is neither a benevolent nor a malevolent force. I do believe we all have power, but it’s something we shape for ourselves. If you underestimate that, it can be dangerous.” Do we witness Ignatius’ power affecting her environment? “There are two other characters who mirror
BIG STRONG BOY By Avrille Bylok-Collard
Victorian poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning once wrote: “tis not in mere death that men die most”. A century and a half later, this quote still resonates; not just because of its powerful allusions, but because of its poignant application to the current lives of men. I’m referring to, of course, toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity is the idea that males can only exist within their prescribed gender role and its associated traits – men are ‘strong’, they’re not victims, boys don’t cry, etc. These adages of what it means to ‘be a man’ emotional short-change our boys, to the point where being a normal, emotional human being is considered emasculating. Dan Pavatich’s newest production Big Strong Boy, will unravel these maxims and reveal how to actually be a man (spoiler: be human). “The idea that anyone should be anything other than
who they are is fundamentally flawed,” asserts the former IT specialist, turned comedian. “For me, these examples [of ‘be a man’ or ‘be a big strong boy’] all seem to suggest that you’re not allowed to express how you feel, and that cannot be healthy.” It’s a discourse that is suffusing our culture, forcing us to reconsider the way we treat our boys, from Buzzfeed’s harrowing piece about male sexual assault, Toxic Masculinity Is Harmful To All Of Us; to articles about Santa Barbara murderer Elliot Rodger and his
deleterious perceptions of manhood; and former Victorian Police Commissioner, Ken Lay, acknowledging that the way we raise boys, in reference to gender, is harmful to everyone. “The hardest one was getting comfortable with sharing some personal details about my life and family,” tells Pavatich, detailing the challenges he faced creating Big Strong Boy. “I had to have a lot of conversations with my family about things that had happened to us. The challenging part was that we’re a family that doesn’t really talk about our experiences or issues to each other. So breaking that habit with the family was really challenging, but ultimately it has led to some really beautiful moments with my family, and I know more about my family, and have got to know
BOYS BOYS BOYS
By Colette Dallimore Every T-shirt tells a story. Cabaret and musical theatre performer Nico uses her collection of T-shirts left behind by ex-lovers as the basis of her Melbourne Fringe show Boys Boys Boys. “At first glance the overall view is that I sleep with boys just to steal their T-shirts,” she tells Beat. “But a T-shirt is something you keep; it’s got a story attached to it. Everything has a memory.” Nico got the idea for Boys Boys Boys when she was packing up to move house and rediscovered her collection of trophies, sorry, T-shirts. “As I was cleaning out I thought that this was a good idea for a show. I’m not a hoarder; I’m just sentimental.” The show’s title comes from a song by Sabrina Salerno and the stories of Nico’s sexual history are juxtaposed with different songs from different styles, from ‘80s ballads to jazz numbers to the occasional big Broadway tune. “I sing PAGE 10
Broadway songs, and songs from singers who are ‘on the same page,’ like Kate Nash and Lily Allen,” she tells us. “This is an honest show; I have to play myself so the songs have to stay true to my ideas. I’m trying to be stylistic without being too stylistic. I’ve changed some lyrics and some arrangements. I don’t need to make a mini-musical out of the show. I’ve made choices with the music that relate to my character.” Boys Boys Boys is a cabaret/comedy and reflects Nico’s
effort to move away from the confines of musical theatre, in which she trained. “The show isn’t a narrative” she explains. “The stories in the show have a narrative but not the show itself.” She’s also keen to not fall into the trap of singing the expected. “I am a fan of the big show time number,” she admits. “But this is a cabaret show and it’s me telling stories in an intimate and entertaining way. I keep my Australian accent when I sing the songs.” Nico’s not going to say what that question was. “I don’t want to give too much away!” Nico reckons she doesn’t hold back with what she reveals. “These things happen to everyone. I don’t need to make up a funny story, people can relate to the stories. The show isn’t melodramatic,” Nico continues. “It’s not one of these shows about a woman who’s had her heart broken.
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
back to her different facets of what she’s creating, of highlighting the bigger perspective while she’s facing her demons,” answers Ryan. “They’re like her spirit guides. Is it an abstract piece? It’s a psychological drama. You do get a sense of impact, what happens to her reverberates through the piece.” Ryan is very keen for the audience to be close to the work. “It’s not like you’re at a safe distance, as if you’re watching TV in your lounge. We’ve picked out all these chairs, so everyone gets a front row seat,” she continues. “But there’s no scary audience participation. We’re not asking anyone to juggle or tell a joke. We’ve painted all the walls in the space; I want it to feel like entering a kind of temple, a childlike world of make-believe. The space creates another world we create with sound, physical theatre, with costume; the script forms a non-verbal communication. I love the audience – I want to take them with me. The other artists involved, the performers, the designer, the costume maker, the musician and composer, all are completely aligned with it; it’s been a lovely collaborative process.”
i
VENUE: Second Story, 159 Sackville St, Collingwood DATE: September 15 - 20, 24 - 27 TIMES: 8pm (Sundays 5pm) TICKETS: $10 - $30
my father better as a result.” Big Strong Boy will be Pavatich’s second solo production – Please Stay debuted at MICF earlier this year – and it’ll be heavily autobiographical, dealing with trials of family bankruptcy, an absent love life and a dissatisfying career with compassion and wit. “I was earning six figures working for one of the top four IT consultancies in the world. I had a team of 200 people across Australia and India. I was successful, but incredibly unhappy. I mean crying into your cufflinks sad,” jokes Pavatich. “I decided to take an improv class and fell in love with it. After about a year of classes I decided that the only thing that was making me happy was Improvisation…so I quit and went to Chicago. I trained with iO Chicago and many great teachers. A man I owe my life to who passed away recently was Jason Chin, he showed me what we can achieve with comedy, that we can say big things, and when we do that’s when comedy becomes art. He also told me that to find that we have to be prepared to be honest, and that’s hard, but that’s how people get to know us. After that I was committed to be a comedian. It’s a humanitarian pursuit.”
i
VENUE: The Improv Conspiracy, 19 Meyers Pl, CBD DATES: September 18 - September 25 (except Monday) TIME: 8pm (Sunday 7pm) TICKETS: $12 - $16
The stories I tell are delivered in a sharp and punchy and funny way.” Nico admits she’s not shy about naming and shaming but she has tempered some of the details to make them digestible to an audience. Would the men she’s talking about in her show recognise themselves? “Some have code names. There’s Chip Boy, who I met when I stole a chip off his plate in a kebab store. There was one fellow who kept asking the same question over and over again. He was weird and inappropriate; he kept asking me, even the next morning at my front gate when he was leaving. I stay truthful I’ve made him into an inexperienced person, changed his entire character so it’s like he’s a nervous person who asks a bunch of questions rather than asking the same question over and over.” Nico has had to find a new pianist at the last minute but the girl is undaunted, so much so that she’s given up her day job. “I did a show in the last MICF (I’m Not Creative, I’ve Got Bipolar) and I noticed the difference in my headspace when I was working fulltime and doing a show at night.”
i
VENUE: The Wilde, 153 Gertrude St, Fitzroy DATES: September 22 - 26 TIMES: 7pm (Sunday 5pm) TICKETS: $10 - $15
Bits Of Us
Travel into the minds of Ben and Alice as they relive the hazy memories of some of the most signiicant moments of their relationship. Expect nothing.
Sept 26, 27, 29, Oct 1-3 THE IMPROV CONSPIRACY LEVEL 1, 19 MEYERS PL, MELBOURNE
FOR MORE INFO & TIX MELBOURNEFRINGE.COM.AU
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
PAGE 11
BLUETHUMB POP-UP ART GALLERY By Colette Dallimore
Freddy Grant is marketing coordinator of Bluethumb Pop-Up Art Gallery, creating opportunities for visual artists in the Melbourne Fringe, and anywhere else. Beat did a Q&A with Grant and curator Janni Fewster about their first Fringe presence, and their Bluethumb phone app. So what is Bluethumb? “Our website is a free-to-join open platform for artists to sell their work directly to buyers. This pop-up show will be a curation of some of our favourites. We also have a first of its kind art app which is pretty cool, so people that come to the exhibition can buy the artwork using the app.” Is this a specifically curated exhibition for Fringe? “The exhibition is specifically curated to present our broad range of artists and their broad range of styles. We will exhibit everything from large abstract paintings to small linocut prints. Artists exhibiting will be
both emerging, like Sarah Gosling who does these awesome pieces that explore our relationships with animals, and established artists like Waterhouse prize winner John Graham, an expressionist with years of exhibitions and professional experience under his belt. Bluethumb is a place where all artists can sell their works.” How has Bluethumb come to be in Fringe? “This is our first Fringe and we’re so excited to be involved and to see what happens. We are always looking for different ways to get our artists’ work out there. At
last year’s Adelaide Fringe urban Indigenous artist Coby Edgar, transformed the Bluethumb ute (a 1985 Land Cruiser) into a driveable artwork. It’s actually just been listed for sale on Bluethumb to raise funds for our iPad app – in case anyone reading this is looking for a ute with a difference. Since moving to Melbourne, Fringe seemed like a natural step. Being at Gasworks means we will be surrounded by great shows and events bringing lots of people to our artists’ work - especially as our pop-up gallery is conveniently next to the bar.” How did you choose the artists appearing at the pop-up gallery? “They were chosen from our curated featured artists page, talented and active artists within our community who sell well. We wanted artists with individual style, for example, local artist Annette Spinks. Her works are very popular - she’s a
A TOUCH OF GRACE:
SHADOW WARRIOR By Colette Dallimore
“I feel this show could touch a lot of people,” says Demi Sorono, about A Touch of Grace: Shadow Warrior, her autobiographical one-woman show featuring physical theatre, dance and song. “Young people, from 16 and over who have struggled with identity, with racism, with sexuality; this show talks about these issues. My journey in dance made me think about lots of different things I’ve been through. I want to create something to inspire people who might be struggling in life; it’s another medium to give people some hope.” Sorono, who some may remember as a finalist from the 2008 season of TV’s So You Think You Can Dance, is keen to share her personal experiences of migration to the west from a traditional culture: she came from the Philippines to Australia when she was seven and grew up feeling a sense of cultural dislocation which contributed to a struggle to find her sense of
self. “It’s really hard to figure yourself out,” she tells Beat. “When I found hip hop it was a massive thing: I found people and music I could relate to; here was my community, this was my family.” Sorono certainly has found her sense of self – not only is she a single mother, she’s one of Australia’s leading break dancers, a b-girl who’s also now exploring her musical voice,
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
U
and Tuesday)
TIMES: 8.30pm (Wednesdays 7.45pm) TICKETS: $25 - $30
S
PAGE 14
i
VENUE: Melba Spiegeltent, 35 Johnston St, Collingwood DATES: September 23 - October 4 (except Monday
i
VENUE: Fringe Hub - Lithuanian Club, 44 Errol St, North Melbourne DATES: September 18 - 26 (except Monday) TIMES: 8.15pm (Sunday 7.15pm) TICKETS: $15 - $25
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICSHKOW AT B
i
VENUE: Tuxedo Cat, 293-299 La Trobe Street, CBD DATES: September 16 - 22, 24 - 27 TIME: 8.30pm TICKETS: $15 - $20
Jazz diva Dee Dee Delore (played by Nichaud Fitzgibbon) and her impresario husband (played by Mark Cutler) have devised a stage show based on her life to revive her flagging career. Against his better judgement and at her insistence, he has hired her former musical partner, lover and now struggling blues musician (Doc White) to play himself in the show. She’s trying to make Mark jealous, and it’s working. Doc finds himself caught in the crossfire. The audience picks up the show one week into rehearsal.
it. The show got a standing ovation. It led to a conversation afterwards which is also a good sign.” For her Fringe debut Sorono has teamed up with music producer MC Julez to present her original music. “These songs come from the heart,” she says. “They’re related to my personal journey. One song is called Spice in Her, about how there’s spice and flavour in this girl, you gotta watch out cos you might fall in love with her.” Beat asks Sorono how she came to hip hop in the first place. “I saw this crazy film clip when I was very young and I was inspired by this girl in this video – she was amazing, doing all these crazy moves, headstands, power moves, windmills, and I wanted to be her. So me and my brothers started practising, started doing their moves, doing the robot dance.” Sorono admits that the hip hop dance scene can still be male dominated but she doesn’t let that hold her back. “It can be intimidating for women. You tell yourself you’re just as good and build up your skills, strengths and confidence. You have to have a ‘just do it’ attitude.” Sorono says she’d love to tour this show and there are already nibbles of interest in her taking it to the Philippines to start with. Who does she like to see perform? “Janet Jackson.”
THI
After a sell-out season at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Josh Glanc brings his cult-hit and critically acclaimed show to Melbourne Fringe. See Glanc inhabit a variety of characters in this masterful melding of sketch, clown and physical comedy. Through music and song, Glanc interweaves moments of pathos and subversive social observation in amongst his silliness, building something unique and incredibly exhilarating. Featuring lactating breasts, a taxidermy cat and a South American pop star. If you love the ridiculous, you’ll love this show.
THAT’S SHOWBIZ
i
VENUE: Gasworks, 21 Graham St, Albert Park DATES: September 22 - 26 TIME: Tuesday 7pm, Wednesday & Thursday 5pm, Friday & Saturday 12pm TICKETS: Free
TO
99 SCHNITZELS (VEAL AIN’T ONE)
writing original songs for her one-woman show for the Melbourne Fringe. “I count my blessings that I can use dance as my career path,” she says. Sorono’s forged a successful career as a self-taught dancer, performer and teacher of hip hop but says she’s nervous about performing in Fringe. Gerard Veltre, Artistic Director of Phunktional Limited, producers of the show, sings her praises. “Demi’s a beautiful dancer,” he says. “This show is a great opportunity for her to use those skills and perform her original songs. She has a lovely interesting voice which is sometimes folk-sounding, a bit ballad, bit jazz-sounding, so she’s an amazing combination of world class dancer and singer. This show has been eight months in development and has already been performed, at the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition’s Mosaic Festival, and they loved
bestseller for sure.” What gave you the idea for the Bluethumb app? “The trend of people spending more time on mobile devices than on laptops or PCs gave us an opportunity. Technology and innovation has always been part of the Bluethumb ethos. We knew a couple of years ago if we did something no other art gallery was doing, it would make an impact. We’ve had a great response from artists who use the app: it allows them to have a responsive portfolio of their work wherever they are and on whatever screen is available. We make it easier to be an artist, leaving our artists to focus on what they do best. We also make it easier to be an art lover: we only accept original art; we offer secure SSL credit card transactions and PayPal, a seven-day money back guarantee and we ship free to any part of Australia. It’s an art gallery on the go. All through the day, new art is uploaded by our 1,200+ community of artists meaning there’s always something fresh on the home screen. You can ‘heart’ your favourite pieces, which curates your own collection of artworks on your favourites page. I use it all the time to keep up with the new art and artists on Bluethumb.”
PROJECTS LEFT UNFINISHED, FOOD HALF EATEN, DOT-TO-DOTS IN WHICH NUMBERS ARE SKIPPED, ALPHABETISED DVD COLLECTIONS THAT STOP AT F; THE TAPESTRY OF AN INCOMPLETE LIFE
24TH-26TH OF SEPT & 1ST-3RD OF OCT at TUXEDO CAT 293 LA TROBE ST, MELBOURNE. TIX FROM MELBOURNEFRINGE.COM.AU
When is the right time to leave your childhood dreams behind? How does one "adult" anyway?
20th, 23rd, 27th, & 30th of September
THE 86 CABARET BAR 8pm, Tickets: $14, $12 (groups 6+). 185 SMITH ST, FITZROY melbournefringe.com.au
N M.A U U
SS
A WINCKETST BEAT.COM. TI A
THI
HOW
HOW
U
U
VENUE: Scratch Warehouse, 271-273 Macaulay Rd, North Melbourne DATES: September 17 - 19, 24 - 26, October 1 & 2 TIMES: 8.50pm TICKETS: $20 - $25
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICSHKOW AT B
S
U
U
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
THI
S
VENUE: Tuxedo Cat, 293-299 La Trobe Street, CBD DATES: September 24 - 29 TIMES: 7.15pm TICKETS: $18 - $26
TO
THI
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICSHKOW AT B
TO
The Reality Event is an immersive performance experiment; a tense and extremely visceral exploration of the ever blurring line between reality and construction. The Suicide Ensemble invites you to indulge in competition and witness grisly acts of violence in two back-to- back theatre events Led by Daniel Gough, The Suicide Ensemble are presenting this performance experiment as the culmination of over a year’s work. Together these seven artists make work which obliterates the boundaries between theatre and its audience with astounding results, from devastating to uplifting.
i
A WINCKETST BEAT.COM. TI A
HOW TO
SS
PAGE 16
SS
THI
A WINCKETST BEAT.COM. TI A
TO
Emma & The House Special is a fresh kitchen sink comedy about the strange transitions from your mid-20s into adulthood. Emma is 25, feeling dissatisfied with her couch-lifestyle in a rank share house. It seems that her thoughts have been answered when she receives a surreal visit from the real estate man, who offers her an opportunity of a life time to live in a perfect house, rent free. In exchange she must share the house with a mysterious man from parts unknown; who has bought with his life savings a chance to live “the Australian dream”. Audiences are encouraged to bring snuggies and blankets and make themselves at home.
AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH THE ARCHITECTS OF SOUND THE REALITY EVENT
i
THI
VENUE: Bluestone Church Arts Space, 10A Hyde St, Footscray DATES: September 18 - 22 TIMES: 7pm (Sunday 2.30pm) TICKETS: $26 - $35
EMMA & THE HOUSE SPECIAL
i
VENUE: Trades Hall, Cnr Lygon & Victoria St, Carlton DATES: September 17 - 19, 24 - 26 TIME: 7.15pm TICKETS: $16 - $20
VENUE: The 86, 185 Smith St, Fitzroy DATES: September 17 - 22 (except Monday) TIMES: 6.45pm (extra show Sunday 9.30pm) TICKETS: $10 - $20
TO
i
VENUE: Various venues across Melbourne, visit melbournefringe.com.au for more details DATES: September 17 - October 4 TIMES: Various TICKETS: Free
An Intimate Evening with The Architects of Sound is a collision of original electronic music, absurd anecdotes spontaneous choreographed dance sequences, and black turtlenecks. Designed as a hard hitting provocation of the current pop culture climate built on the delicate foundation of reinvention, repetition and celebrity, the audience are invited in on the parody and in on the joke that The Architects of Sound cleverly unfold. The audience are allowed an opportunity to openly view their relationship with popular culture as The Architects of Sound present a ridiculous and an absurdly truthful representation of what dominates our social media feeds, and effectively, our lives.
WI CKETST BEAT.CO TI A
VENUE: The Improv Conspiracy, 19 Meyers Pl, CBD DATES: September 26 - October 3 (except Monday) TIMES: 9.15pm (Sunday 8.15pm) TICKETS: $12 - $15
Conceived by pianist Danaë Killian in intimate collaboration with her husband, cellist and flautist Gotthard Killian, The Flame and the Rose Folded Together burns toward the marriage of yin and yang in a creative epistemology of truth and trust, kissing and betrayal, freedom and passion, and the Dao. A performance in music and poetry, The Flame and the Rose Folded Together is an alchemical initiation journey from the I Ching of China toward the Rosicrucian embrace of Beethoven’s distant beloved, inspired by the poetic life-and-death partnership of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.
In the garden four seeds are planted. With some sunlight, water, and time these seeds bloom into beautiful flowers. Inflorescence bloom an improvised theatrical experience full of massive characters, relatable scenarios and bold risks. Inflorescence is made up of six performers: James Brennan, Mike Brown, Megan Budge, Cat Commander, Brittney Crellin and Tim Quabba. Each night Inflorescence will create and perform a show entirely from scratch, featuring short comedic scenes between pairs and the group as a whole. No pre-defined characters. No scripts. No idea what it is until it’s over they discover at the same time as you do.
i
HOW
Over October 2015, the Women’s Art Register, a dynamic slide library holding over 20,000 images and representing over 5,000 artists, celebrates 40 years of persisting and insisting that women’s art matters. To honour this remarkable achievement, the Women’s Art Register will host a curated mini-festival of women’s artmaking, showcasing a dazzling array of women’s artistic contributions to the cultural landscape. All 13 events are free.
INFLORESCENCE
SS
i
VENUE: The 86, 185 Smith St, Fitzroy DATES: September 20, 23, 27 & 30 TIMES: 8pm TICKETS: $12 - $14
AS IF: 40 YEARS AND BEYOND – CELEBRATING THE WOMEN’S ART REGISTER THE FLAME AND THE ROSE FOLDED TOGETHER
i
THI
Our memories aren’t always flawless, detailed imagery; we often remember events as blurred impressions and gut feelings, and over time those imprints become dull and faded. Travel into the minds of Ben and Alice as they relive the hazy memories of some of the most significant moments of their relationship. Expect nothing.
Fresh out of university with a nifty degree in music theatre, Melbourne-based actor Darcy Dann still dreams of attending Hogwarts. In her Fringe Festival debut, Dann demonstrates not only her immense adoration for the Harry Potter series, but also the pressure of growing up, and what the bloody hell that even means. When is the right time to leave your childhood dreams behind? How does one ‘adult’ anyway? Join her for wizardy tunes, laughs, and who knows, you may even score yourself a wicked temporary tattoo.
i
TO
BITS OF US
ACCIO ADULTHOOD
A Bees Dick Away
“A BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED SERIES OF
Wriien & performed by Lisa Harper Campbell
COMPOSITIONS IN WHICH HIGHLY
22-26 Sept -
SOPHISTICATED INSTRUMEN TATION, ARRANGEMEN T AND RECORDING VALUES
GASWORKS -
DIRECTLY ADDRESS T HE STATE OF T HE
e Boardwalk Republic
E CLOVER CLUB - 21 GRAHAM STREET, ALBEE PARK
N ATURAL WORLD” PAUL COSGROVE R ADIO BLUE MOUN TAINS, 89.1 FM
Oliver Downes - AT THE END -
How close did you come to not bee-ing here at all?
SEPT 18-19, 25-26, OCT 2 -3 RUBY’S MUSIC ROOM
is biting comedy lays bare a the agony of being passionately pro-choice but fearfully anti-mistake.
132 LIT TLE LONSDALE ST. MELBOURNE CBD. TICKETS FROM MELBOURNEFRINGE.COM.AU OLIVERDOWNES.COM FACEBOOK.COM/OLIVERDOWNESMUZAK
TICKETS FROM MELBOURNEFRINGE.COM.AU
PRESENTS
THAT’S SHOWBIZ
Hot Blues & Jazz Bodacious Babes
‘A Brilliant Way To Spend an Hour’ Clothesline magazine
23RD SEPT - 4TH OCT THE MELBA SPIEGELTENT 35 Johnston St, Collingwood - tickets from melbournefringe.com.au
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
PAGE 17
N
WI CKETST BEAT.CO TI A
HOW
M.A U
SS
A WINCKETST BEAT.COM. TI A
THI
HOW
U
THI
SS
A WINCKETST BEAT.COM. TI A
TO
HOW
U
i
VENUE: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Pl, CBD DATE: September 29 - October 4 TIME: 10pm TICKETS: $25 - $32
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICSHKOW AT B
THI
S
S
TOP SPOT
TO
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICSHKOW AT B
THI
U
U
PAGE 18
People Piss in Here is a surreal comedy about mental illness that takes place in a windowless women’s toilets on the third floor of an office block. Jo is having a panic attack, and they’ve run out of toilet paper. The play tackles the rarely discussed subject of mental illness, and approaches the taboo topic as a comedy. Jo and Sam (bipolar and schizophrenic, respectively) are both able to see and embrace the humorous side to their illnesses whilst acknowledging the deep seated fears that threaten to engulf them at any moment. It veers from the mundane to the surreal and possibly divine, all the while laughing the sheer insanity that is mental illness.
TO
i
VENUE: Courthouse Hotel, Cnr Errol & Queensberry St, North Melbourne DATES: September 26 - October 4 TIMES: 7.10pm (Sundays 6.10pm) TICKETS: $20 - $25
PEOPLE PISS IN HERE
VENUE: Hares and Hyenas, 63 Johnston Street, Fitzroy DATES: September 18 & 19 TIME: 7pm TICKETS: $20 - $25
VENUE: 75 Reid St, North Fitzroy DATE: September 24 TIME: 7.30pm TICKETS:$15 - $25
TO
i
VENUE: L1 Studios, 1/377 Little Bourke St, CBD DATES: September 21 - 25 TIME: 8pm TICKETS: $20 - $25
In the Nudd is a very silly comedy about a nudist beach. The show pokes fun at hippies, greenies, bookworms and just about everyone else. There are plenty of bad jokes about the human anatony, so come along and have a cheeky giggle.
Speaking In Tones is the latest cross-platform project from filmmaker and musician Agatha Yim. From whale songs to a London parking lot, this mishmash of contemporary music, theatre, and film, explores the possibilities of communication beyond words, and the processes of the creative mind. Featuring the haunting theatrics of George Crumb’s Vox Balaenae (Voice of the Whale), the world premiere of Michael Slayton’s Mirórs inspired by the paintings of Miró, and an Australian premiere of Yim’s own experimental crossplatform radio play Speaking in Tones.
SS
U
So much potential, so little work or grants. Their money went on rent, bills, seeing other shows, head shots, taxis, planes and coffees, therapy, yoga, casting workshops, acting classes and dinner. How will these aspiring artists get the funds to put on the best play ever? How can they write it when there’s no budget and too many ideas? Why don’t I just sell out and get a sugar daddy? So I can focus on my genius self? I don’t know yet but I need to write a play and it’s going to be amazing. I want it to be about love and Britain and other places. Heartache and black panthers. Really physical? Yep I gotta go write now. OK I love you. OK bye.
IN THE NUDD
SPEAKING IN TONES
VENUE: Melba Spiegeltent, 35 Johnston Street, Collingwood DATES: September 17 - 22 (except Monday) TIMES:4.45pm (extra 2pm show on Saturday & Sunday) TICKETS: $14 - $22
I DON’T KNOW YET
as they collect and compare scars of lives in which true love and connection is hard to come by. This is the tale of two small town kids, desperate for each other, but destined only for tragedy.
i
THI
SS
GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES
i
The Chipolatas are set to perform a rare season of their unique and universally acclaimed show ‘Gentlemen of the Road. Finding inspiration in timeless tradition this long-standing troupe use rhythmic squeezebox, break beats and ballads together with spoken word and samples to produce moments of theatrical stillness, physicality and dynamism. The Chipolatas, ambassadors of an evolving tradition bring a show of circus, music and story telling that is suitable for all ages. If you are looking for a show that will hold the attention of the youngest in the crowd whilst thrilling the oldest, you should look no further.
i
VENUE: Club Voltaire, 14 Raglan St, North Melbourne DATES: September 15 – 20 TIMES: 7.30pm TICKETS: $20 - $25
Rajiv Joseph’s spellbinding play Gruesome Playground Injuries will make its Melbourne premiere at this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival, marking the theatrical debut of NewCharacter Productions featuring Katarina Viva Schøller and Nicholas Jaquinot, with direction by David Ward. Sometimes comical and often dark, Rajiv Joseph guides us through events over a 30-year period. It’s the story of Kayleen and Doug, two best friends who often separate, but always find their way back to each other, often in the most bizarre of circumstances,
GENTLEMEN OF THE ROAD
TO
THI
Verve Studios returns to the Melbourne Fringe Festival with a visually stunning new work written by Adam J.A. Cass and directed by Peta Hanrahan. This multi-award winning team are delighted to be bringing the powerful work to Gallery Voltaire in the first week of the festival. With over a decade as one of Melbourne’s most respected actor training centres, Verve Studios prides itself on preparing actors to be ready to work in Melbourne’s vibrant arts industry. The Melbourne Fringe Festival provides one of many opportunities for Verve Studios’ students to showcase their talents to the public and the industry. Fractured promises to be a dark comedy of broken heroes and unlikely courage.
i
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICHKOW AT B
TO
FRACTURED
Step right up to the chopping block as two very sparkly showgirls vie for your adoration, or die trying. Realising that their ‘one woman show’ is now a double bill, these divas are on a mission to prove there is only one lead role. Cue decadent costumes, hilarious banter, high end choreography and an ‘oh so terrible’ magic show. After sell out shows at Adelaide Fringe, Top Spot, featuring Green Room award nominee Elizabeth Dawson-Smith and New Zealand talent Stephanie Marion Wood, has been re-developed for
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
a season at Ruby’s Music Room. Audiences are invited to join in the revelry that is Top Spot, a fun and highly engaging work set to bring out the competitive scallywag in all of us.
i
VENUE: Ruby’s Music Room, 132 Little Lonsdale St, CBD DATES: September 17 - October 4 (except Wednesdays) TIMES: 7.30pm (Sundays 2pm) TICKETS: $15 - $25
WI CKETST BEAT.CO TI A
N
HOW
M.A U HOW
U
A man, a bottle of whiskey, a guitar and a memory of love. In the spirit of Johnny Cash, original country and western songs combine with storytelling to give a blunt, raw and honest account of how greed tears up a town... and one man’s heart. The songs will shake you to your core and break your heart. The story will make you question how much you would risk for love.
VENUE: Fringe Hub - Errol’s Upstairs, 69-71 Errol St, North Melbourne DATES: September 18 - October 3 (except Mondays) TIMES: 9.15pm (Sundays 8.15pm) TICKETS: $20 - $25
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICSHKOW AT B
THI
S
U
U
Woody’s World is a place where alley cats sing and dance, mice invite you in for a cup of tea and farm animals gather together for a bush dance. Children and adults alike will be delighted by fabulous songs, captivating stories and puppets. The Woody’s World show is a special one and features a host of interesting guests, with Woody at the helm. Woody – named after one of his parents’ folk heroes Woody Guthrie – was brought up in a musical family, so it is no surprise to find that he has passed on that music gene to his own children. In fact, Woody’s children also join him as part of his show.
TO
S
WOODY’S WORLD
i
A WINCKETST BEAT.COM. TI A
SS
U
THI
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICSHKOW AT B
TO
TORTE E MORT: SONGS OF CAKE AND DEATH
THI
SS
THE DIRTY COWBOY
i
VENUE: Wonderland Spiegeltent, 120 Pearl River Rd, Docklands DATES: September 22 - October 2 TIME: 1.30pm TICKETS: $16
VENUE: Wonderland Spiegeltent, 120 Pearl River Rd, Docklands DATE: October 4 TIME: 11am TICKETS: Free
TO
THI
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICHKOW AT B
TO
Le Petit Circus fuses acrobatics, hooping, plate spinning, juggling, stunts and dazzling aesthetics. Already a household name on the circus scene, Highwire has produced and toured various multi art form events, both nationally and internationally. Le Petit Circus is their latest offering and is a show for the whole family. Undeniably Australian, complete with familiar colloquialism and humour, the production has been described as a real laugh out loud spectacle. Le Petit Circus been making its way around the country, including coveted performance spots at Adelaide Fringe Festival and The Village. The 40-minute show is recommended for children aged three and over.
i
SS
U
i
LE PETIT CIRCUS
VENUE: The Melba Spiegeltent, 35 Johnston St, Collingwood DATES: September 16 - 20 TIMES: 8.30pm (Wednesday 7.45pm) TICKETS: $15 - $25
THI
SS
The renowned Docklands Blues Music Festival returns in 2015 with a massive event. The impressive festival brings 12-hours of nonstop music featuring 23 bands across four stages. International headliner Chris Cain and a host of Australia’s most revered blues talents, as well as some incredible local Melbourne performers, will ensure there is something for all music lovers. The 2015 festival will not only feature four indoor and outdoor stages within some licenced seated venues, but there will also be good ole Southern style cuisine. Add to that carnival rides and attractions, thanks to the Wonderland Fun Park, the Docklands Blues Music Festival is truly an event for all ages.
VENUE: Metanoia at The Mechanics Institute, 270 Sydney Rd, Brunswick DATES: September 29 - October 4 TIME: 6.30pm TICKETS: $20 - $25
Black-humoured, visually opulent, and dripping with satire, this Spiegeltent cabaret will tempt your sweet tooth and traumatise your funny bone. Anya Anastasia is accompanied by Bec Matthews on percussion to present an electrifying live performance. Witness Anya’s transformation through exaggerated iconic archetypes in the feminine form, deftly evolving through characters from Marie Antoinette to a feisty she-devil. Though darkly satirical, Torte E Mort unashamedly celebrates all these extremes of the psyche and humanity, leaving the audience to work out was a warning, and which was an invitation to indulge in extreme behaviour.
VENUE: Wonderland Spiegeltent, 120 Pearl River Rd, Docklands DATES: September 28 - October 2 TIME: 3.30pm TICKETS: $15
DOCKLANDS BLUES MUSIC FESTIVAL
Soul Theatre will present a mini festival of theatre, poetry, comedy and music about the climate change crisis and what we’re not doing about it. Soul have performing rights to 25 short plays on the climate change crisis, a selection of these: Polarised by Gerald Frape, Hot Hot Pluto Rocks by Jackie Greenland, Climate Change by Mark Andrews and The Last Angel by Craig Delahoy will be presented at Fringe. Join Australian jazz icon Bob Sedergreen, comic master Rod Quantock and the Soul Theatre ensemble as they put a carbon-neutral rocket under our entrenched complacency.
i
For parents and carers looking for somewhere to take your kids the next school holidays, this acrobatic circus is guaranteed to delight. Don’t have kids? That’s cool – you don’t have to be a child to enjoy this all-ages event. The slapstick acrobatic comedy event is perfect for the whole family. The brainchild of Head First Acrobats, the show follows three sailors in pursuit of treasure, love and the perfect cream pie. Turning ship-life upside down, these three characters make for a hopeless crew, fighting one another for captainship.
i
VENUE: Gasworks, 21 Graham St, Albert Park DATES: September 22 - 26 TIMES: 7pm (extra show at 3pm on Saturday) TICKETS: $22 - $25
CLIMAMANIA
i
ARRRR WE THERE YET
TO
THI
How close did you come to not bee-ing here at all? The agony of being passionately prochoice but fearfully anti-mistake is laid bare in A Bee’s Dick Away. This biting comedy, written and performed by Lisa Harper Campbell (a recent graduate of Flinders University Drama Centre), touches on lots of fertile fodder for ‘funny’ - abortion, disability, parenting, gay marriage, any kind of marriage, surrogacy, adoption, private schooling, religion, economic theory, gender politics, climate change and tomato sauce.
i
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICHKOW AT B
TO
A BEE’S DICK AWAY
VENUE: Wonderland Spiegeltent, 120 Pearl River Rd, Docklands DATES: September 19 - 27 TIME: 11.30am TICKETS: $15
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
PAGE 19
M.A U HOW
U
VENUE: Caz Reitop’s Dirty Secrets, 80 Smith St, Collingwood DATES: September 19, 20, 24, 26, 27 & October 1 TIMES: 8pm (Saturdays 6.30pm) TICKETS: $10 - $12
THI
SS
A WINCKETST BEAT.COM. TI A
TO
HOW
ICH BIN EIN BELINDA
U
U
Are you more than the sum of your parts? Belinda Hanne Reid certainly isn’t. In Ich Bin Ein Belinda she invites you to take a peek through the window of the share house inside her head. Serving up the different parts of her personality, raw and uncensored, Belinda will introduce you to the drunken hedonist, the repressed nice girl, the misogynistic man and more as she exposes all in this tell-all hilarious psychological exposé. This dark, clever cabaret brings to life a hugely diverse array of music, helmed by Jamie Burgess at the keyboard. From Nine Inch Nails to Broadway, from pop to dirty blues, all with a delicious twist, the music is gilded by Belinda’s voice with a brilliant effortlessness, leaving audiences sure to beg for more.
VENUE: Dr Sugar, Cnr King & Clifton St, Prahran DATES: September 17 - 20 TIMES: 8pm TICKETS: $18- $22
S
U
Beat Magazine’s Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015 Guide
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICSHKOW AT B
U
VENUE: Tree House, 27 Moore Street, Elwood (Long Play Bar, 318 St Georges Rd, North Fitzroy September 26 & 27) DATES: September 17 - October 3 (except Mondays) TIMES: 7pm (Sundays 5pm, September 26 8pm) TICKETS: $10 - $15
THI
S
Ah Yes, The Music is a stand-up show about love, the cracks of the heart and the nectar point in the middle of giggles and delight. Joseph loves stories and jokes, whether he’s telling them or listening to them being told, he’s delighted to be a part of the equation. You’re cordially invited to attend. Come along, you’ll likely be glad.
TO
THI
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICSHKOW AT B
TO
AH YES, THE MUSIC
i
A WINCKETST BEAT.COM. TI A
SS
Have you ever been told to ‘be a man’? Have you told someone else to ‘be a man’? Well, let’s be more specific. Join James Rankin and Mark McConnell for an evening of tales and laughs as they try to break down what it is to Be A Man, whilst weaving in their own failed attempts at becoming just that.
i
N
WI CKETST BEAT.CO TI A
THI
SS
PAGE 20
VENUE: Dr Sugar, Cnr King & Clifton St, Prahran DATES: September 25 & 26 TIME: 9.30pm TICKETS: $25 - $29
TO
U
THI
A tradesman panting houses by day. Dad by night. Songwriter in the wee hours. Pub gigger on the weekends. Ballroom dancer and keen thespian at any opportunity – Stephen Dorrington somehow manages to pull all this together into a manageable life. And where can one perform original rock ballads and tap dance simultaneously? The answer is in Pubaret – Stephens unique blend of pub rock and cabaret. Using anecdote and song, Stephen invites the audience to join him on the rollercoaster ride of emotions and situations that have inspired his songs. Parenting, car troubles, dating, dancing, sexuality, homelessness and hope all delivered by the quintessential ‘guy next door’.
i
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICHKOW AT B
TO
PUBARET
HOW
SS
VENUE: Scratch Warehouse, 271-273 Macaulay Rd, North Melbourne DATES: September 22 - 27 TIME: 6.30pm TICKETS: $20 - $27.50
SS
U
THI
i
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICHKOW AT B
TO
Gender Spanner is a joyous and empowering hour of burlesque, cabaret and labels that just don’t stick. Jessica McKerlie smashed her way into your hearts earlier this year with Gender Spanner’s tidy debut at the Melbourne Cabaret Festival, now in its filthy pubescence, Gender Spanner is bigger, louder and messier. Armed with a ukulele, spinning plates and an array of costumes that traverse gender stereotypes, McKerlie presents a smorgasboard of original music, burlesque and poetry all with the common thread: are you a man? Are you a woman? Are you sure?
VENUE: Tuxedo Cat, 293-299 La Trobe St, CBD DATES: September 24 - 26, October 1 - 3 TIME: 8.30pm TICKETS: $15 - $20
BE A MAN
i
VENUE: Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford DATES: September 22 - October 3 (except Sunday and Mondays) TIMES: 4pm (extra show at 2pm on Wednesday and Saturdays) TICKETS:$12.50 - $20
THI
SS
A chessboard in peril. A queen missing. A king who just feels like a nap. Battlefield Blues is an interactive, outdoor, roving, comedy adventure show about chess pieces that are alive (yes, alive) for all ages at the Abbotsford Convent these school holidays. Presented in the style of Monty Python with a twist of Horrible Histories and a dash of medieval warfare – you’ve never seen a game of chess quite like this. Using the natural surroundings of the Abbotsford Convent grounds to create an immersive outdoor experience- this will be an hour of fun and intrigue. A family friendly show for 8+ years.
GENDER SPANNER
This wonderfully quirky and relatable show is about Stephanie Teitelbaum’s elaborate plans for her brilliant ideas and how they rarely, if ever, come to fruition. Projects left unfinished, food half eaten, dot-to-dots in which numbers were skipped, alphabetized DVD collections that stop at F; the tapestry of an incomplete life revealed itself. In the show she endeavours to find out who did this to her and how she can live with this impediment, she goes through the traditional waves of grief in a truly erratic fashion. Just under an hour of laughter, songs and an insight into her mind, which is frighteningly much like everyone else’s.
i
VENUE: Dr Sugar, Cnr King & Clifton St, Prahran DATES: October 1 - 4 TIME: 8pm TICKETS: $18 - $24
BATTLEFIELD BLUES
i
A WIN ETS EAT.COM. TICHKOW AT B
THI
i
TO
Girls dressed as boys, using techniques for picking up women to pick up men…while wearing pink beehives - got it? If not, perhaps you’d better consult Melbourne’s hottest cabaret trio The Desperettes in their show A Lady’s Guide to the Art of being a Wingman. Their show will take you on a hilarious and eye-opening night out which includes pickup lines, daggy dancing and that all important first move. In this hilarious show these girls defy gender as they highlight not only how ridiculous the world of dating has become, but also the gender stereotypes associated with it.
TO
A LADY’S GUIDE TO THE ART OF BEING A WINGMAN WET CEMENT
“ e Killian duo’s superb collaboration delivered a thrilling performance.” Basler Zeitung
“Forget commercial comedy and half- baked theatrics. is is Fringe at its wild and spunky best” SUNDAY MAIL
Black humoured, visually opulent opulent, and dripping with satire, this Melba Spiegeltent show is going to tempt your sweet tooth and traumatise your funny bone. Anya Anastasia is accompanied by Bec Matthews on percussion to present an electrifying live performance. Directed by Sue Broadway and Sarah Ward (Yana Alana)
Melba Spiegeltent
CIRCUS OZ
September 16th - 20th CNR JOHNSTON JO & WELLINGTON ST, FITZROY. tix: melbournefringe.com.au ON SALE NOW www.anyaanastasia.com
THE FL A ME & THE ROSE FOLDED TOGETHER Concei Conceived by pianist Danaë Killian in intimate collaboration with her husband, cellist and autist Gotthard Killian, e Flame and the Rose Folded Together burns toward the eudemonial marriage of yin and yang in a creative epistemology of truth and trust, kissing and betrayal, freedom and passion, and the Dao. A performance in music and poetry, e Flame and the Rose Folded Together is an alchemical initiation journey from the I Ching of China toward the Rosicrucian embrace of Beethoven’s distant beloved, inspired by the poetic life-and-death partnership of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.
18–22 September
Bluestone Church Arts Space 10A Hyde St, Footscray tickets from melbournefringe.com.au
For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au
Miss Burlesque Australia
By Colette Dallimore
The Strawberry Siren is disqualified from entering the Miss Burlesque Victorian state final. Not only is she producing it, she’s already won it, twice, in 2010 and 2012. The Siren is this year’s producer for the ACT and Victorian finals of Miss Burlesque. Currently, she’s in Western Australia to judge the finals over there.
Winners of the finals go on to compete for Miss Burlesque Australia which is a title The Strawberry Siren, who has been performing for eight years now, has also held. This year, the National Title finals will be held in Darwin in October. What do the judges look for when judging a burlesque show? “There’s a panel of judges, six entertainment industry professionals, who look for certain criteria in each category,”The Strawberry Siren clarifies. “There’s a classic routine which harks back to burlesque’s golden age of the ‘40s and ‘50s. We have a ‘neo’ routine which is like a modern revival with a story or a parody, then we look at a unique routine where a piece can be old or new, based on anything the participant chooses - her own interpretation - where she brings a special skill to the routine. We have a gown section, which is a parade where they’re judged on that ‘wow’ factor. We’re looking for creativity, for girls who bring something different to their routine, a fresh new idea; come up with new ways to do the striptease. I want to be able to say ‘I haven’t seen that before.’” Burlesque has come a long way from girls in a line wearing army uniforms singing Chattanooga Choo Choo. Australia’s burlesque scene is unique in that it’s relatively new compared to the scene in the US, which came from performers entertaining marines in WWII. Here, practitioners like Moira Finucane, Maude Davey and Imogen Kelly made it their own very quickly. The Strawberry Siren recalls one recent performance in the New South Wales finals that clearly met the judges demands for originality. “This year a performer did an ice queen routine,” she says. “Instead of presenting a glamorous and sexy ice queen, she painted herself in dark blue paint and went bat-shit crazy. It was nice to see a unique take on a character so many people have played; half her routine was her screaming at the top of her lungs. It was definitely scary.” Considering their differences, does The Strawberry Siren see a difference between Australian performers and their American counterparts? “Absolutely,” she says. “Because we don’t have that same history. Australian burlesque comes from a neo background. We don’t have that classic burlesque history from the ‘40s and ‘50s and we are very creative.” She believes burlesque audiences are different here, too. In the Siren’s opinion, American crowds are happy just to see a pretty girl get her kit off. “The audiences here are more wholesome,” she notes. “They’re very demanding, they want to see creativity,
and they want to see a show with a bit of a story. They have high expectations. They don’t want to see a girl just being lazy and taking off her clothes; audiences here expect a show.” In some respects, the burlesque tradition is facing harder times than ever before. As times have changed, so too have audiences’ interests. “It’s been a weird couple of years,” notes The Siren. “Back about three or four years ago, after that terrible movie called Burlesque came out, there was a surge of interest. It became a fad. There were three burlesque venues in Melbourne, but they’ve all closed down now.” However, as the completely Victorian semi-final proves, the art form is still very much alive and kicking up its crystal encrusted heels. As the Siren notes, it’s gone indoors somewhat as increasing amounts of people are wanting to do it for themselves. “The interest has been pushed up again by girls wanting to dance at quirky parties and hens’ nights,” she states. “It’s the new party game. New audiences have really taken to it.” This is the sixth year of the Australia-wide burlesque competition, Miss Burlesque Australia. The Miss Burlesque Victoria state final will be judged by last year’s national winner, Zelia Rose and the night will include a performance from the reigning Mr Boylesque Australia, Charlie D Barkle. This year, as part of the competition, competitors have also had to devote their time and energy towards raising funds and awareness for the MBA Chosen Charity – Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal. So far, the competitors have raised over $5,000 and have helped to raise nation-wide awareness of the charity. When talking things burlesque, inevitably the name of Dita Von Teese comes up. The Strawberry Siren met the world’s most glamorous and revered darling of burlesque in the States several years ago, backstage after a performance. “There will never be another Dita Von Teese; she’s trying to retire from the stage, and no-one will ever get to wear that mantle after her,” she says. “It’s great to meet one of your idols. She was very lovely and down to earth, happy to stay and have a chat for half an hour. I wanted to say thank you to her for leading the charge.” The Victorian state final of Miss Burlesque Australia 2015 takes place at The Forum on Friday September 18.
ONLY SIX WEEKS LEFT!
EXHIBITION — Until 1 November 2015 ACMI Federation Square
acmi.net.au SOUND EXPERIENCE BY
MAJOR PARTNER
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Image: Album cover shoot for Aladdin Sane, 1973. Photograph by Brian Duff y. Photo Duff y © Duff y Archive & The David Bowie Archive.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 51
A STATE OF GRACE THE BUCKLEY SPIRIT REVIVED By Adam Norris A tribute show can be an unruly beast. Though often noble in intention, reinterpreting classic bands or albums means playing with a particularly sentimental fire. Songs become unrecognisable, guest musicians struggle to find a connection. Yet with a production such as A State Of Grace, celebrating the music of both Jeff Buckley and his father Tim, the enlisted talent is of rare pedigree. Gary Lucas, friend and collaborator to the young Buckley, is the music director, overseeing the likes of Martha Wainwright, Steve Kilbey, Camille O’Sullivan and several outstanding others. “I think this is a little bit different to some of the other tributes I’ve done, yes,” Wainwright says. “I think there is more consideration to keep to the spirit in many ways. Especially with certain songs. It’s a difficult balance, and obviously being a female singer it will be different right away. But I really wanted to do this because I think that Jeff and Tim are such great artists, and I’m quite happy to be along for the ride. They’re versatile songs, so we’ll be starting from the original and going from there.” “It’s bittersweet, that’s for sure,” Lucas says. “But that was always a hallmark of the music we did. A lot of songs began as guitar instrumentals I’d composed with [ Jeff ’s] voice in mind. His voice was calling to me in the distance, I could always imagine it there. But those songs are all very bittersweet – they go through these time changes that tell stories full of mixed messages. And I think that’s one of the reasons these songs still endure. They strike a chord that resonates with people.”
Lucas played an instrumental role in Jeff Buckley’s career, co-writing the songs Mojo Pin and Grace from 1994’s iconic Grace LP. Their collaborative relationship was further illuminated on the 2002 release Songs To No One, comprising demo recordings from the early ’90s. Lucas recalls his unexpected meeting with Jeff at a tribute concert honouring his father. “The producer of that tribute, Hal Willner, introduced me to this guy Jeff, who had come forward and wanted to pay respects to his dad on the show. And I was totally surprised. I didn’t know Tim had a son, and neither did they. But it was a great moment, and I have to commend Hal for tremendous foresight. Somehow he intuited that I would be a good creative fit with Jeff.” Wainwright’s first exposure to Jeff Buckley came early in her career, as she left Montreal to develop her musical ambitions in New York City. There, she found a community still reeling from Buckley’s passing in 1997. She, like so many others, quickly grew
enamoured of the virtuosic album, Grace. “His spirit loomed incredibly large,” she says. “Everybody was playing his music, it was almost omnipresent. I was in the East Village, and people were still very much mourning him. He was really a kind of god to them. Still is.” A State Of Grace will arrive at the Melbourne Recital Centre next week as part of its world premiere tour. While both Jeff and Tim were unique, engaging artists, local audiences are likely more familiar with Buckley Jr. Despite this, as Wainwright herself notes, it’s the songs that will capture and engage. “I’m hoping people have that ‘Wow’ moment,” Lucas laughs. “‘Wow, this was a phenomenal, new way of listening to some of our favourite artists.’ Probably they won’t know Tim as well as they know Jeff, but hopefully they’ll see a unity there between father and
son, and that to me is the backstory that has never really come forward before. Not many people know just how connected Jeff was to his father, even though in interviews he tried to disassociate himself. You know – ‘Don’t try and put me in the same boat as Tim, I’m my own artist.’ But I know that he knew his father’s music backwards and forwards, he loved it.”
A STATE OF GRACE: The Music Of Tim & Jeff Buckley, featuring Martha Wainwright, Casper Clausen, Willy Mason, Camille O’Sullivan, Steve Kilbey, Cold Specks and Gary Lucas, goes down on Wednesday 23 and Tuesday September 29 at Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre.
SHIFTING SANDS
LITERARY MINSTRELS By Adam Norris
Geoff Corbett is a funny guy, who also happens to have a knack for writing about the sadder things in life. As frontman for Shifting Sands, his grave, distinctive voice brings to life the melancholia we all feel from time to time. Though, it isn’t all doom and gloom; as evidenced by the band’s debut album, Beach Coma, his compositions are also hugely entertaining. With a second album waving from the horizon, Beat spoke to Corbett about his music, the reception to their debut, and how to prepare yourself for their appearance at next month’s Chopped festival. “[Beach Coma] totally went past my expectations,” he says. “But you know, it’s one of those things. I’ve been in bands a long time now and gone are the days of having delusions of grandeur. I’m happy just to be hanging on by the skin of my teeth. Anything more is a bonus. The fact of the matter is, there comes a point where you need to make that decision, what is it that you like about doing this? If it’s writing music and performing, you should be able to do just that and hang on. I’m happy that I’m able to be able to write some words, play them with musicians who are interested in turning them into songs, and they get heard. People give a shit about them to want to write about them or talk to me. That’s a pretty good thing.” With such hypnotic, haunting songs, it’s little surprise Shifting Sands have found an eager audience.
Between Corbett and backing singer Anna Clifford, the storytelling becomes near-novelistic (just listen to Boyfriend and Other Girls for a sense of the band’s weaving narratives). It’s a significant sidestep from Corbett’s former project, SixFtHick, which he started with his brother Ben back in the mid-’90s. “I wanted to do something polar opposite to SixFtHick,” he says. “I’d always been into the type of music which Sands is drawn from, but it’s just not something that suits SixFtHick. That’s a completely different beast, but I really wanted to give this kind of style a go. And it’s good fun. I get to sit on a chair, I hardly crack a sweat, I get to drink a lot. Actually playing a show sitting on a fucking chair is amazing. Why didn’t I think of this earlier? 18 years it took me to come up with that amazing concept.
“But [Shifting Sands] is like a character we’re making, but one based on something true. We’re much better at just writing a bunch of songs, playing ‘em, and seeing where they take us. I have a constant need to get away and be a hermit, and that’s kind of what Beach Coma was trying to tap into. Either situational or enforced loneliness, the 2am feeling when the pub is shut and no one wants to talk to you, no one to hang out with except your demons. We’ve got songs for the second album, and we’re like, ‘Which way are we going to take it?’ And fuck, I don’t think we can dictate that. We wait until we have enough songs for an album and see how it steers itself.” Until that second album arrives, audiences will have to remain content with catching the band in the flesh. Thankfully there is ample opportunity to do just that,
with their appearance at Chopped coinciding with another gig at The Tote. Just what folks can expect from the festival, though, depends on what they’re willing to give. “It’s in the daytime, which is going to be fucking stressful for everyone involved. But you have to work with what you’re given, so I think everyone should wear dark sunglasses and start drinking early to get the full Shifting Sands effect. Neck a few wines, trust me.”
happened to keep going. The more we played, the more we started to resent that costume, both morally and sonically. So maybe starting in something that could be considered a genre band – that sort of blues revival – all of a sudden, playing outside those genres, yeah, you might start to split your audience. But you might also find a new one.” With two singles from Business doing the rounds – Devil Child and Love Letters – you get a fine sense of how the band has changed over time. Though distinctly different songs in tone and temperament, they’re nonetheless uniquely-Snowdroppers. You feel no matter the vehicle, it’s always going to be pretty clear who’s driving. “This album has had a mixed response so far. Some people have said, ‘Oh, it’s a departure.’ But for me it really bridges a gap. We just want to write good songs,
and who wants to write an album of the same fucking song, you know? I feel like both Devil Child and Love Letters are very representative of us as a band. I know Paulie K [bass] originally wanted to do an album that wouldn’t refer to love at all, to kind of write around it, but never refer to it. But that went out the window pretty quick. I don’t think we’re ever likely to make anything like a concept album. You never know, though. I mean,” he laughs, “No one’s going to buy this record, so we have to try something.”
SHIFTING SANDS will play at Chopped 2015, which runs Friday October 2 – Sunday October 4 at Newstead Racecourse. The lineup includes C.W. Stoneking, The Fumes, James Grim Woodcutters, Mammoth Mammoth and many more.
THE SNOWDROPPERS
N O R E P E AT S By Adam Norris
Day by day our milestones shift, but The Snowdroppers are an act you would be forgiven for thinking had already gone some way to realising their bucket list. After all, they’ve kept it together for eight years now, touring widely across the land and maintaining a healthy following. But with their third album, Business, they’re still taking great strides. That said, moments before speaking with singer Jeremy Davidson (AKA Johnny Wishbone), the lads might’ve reached the apex of their aspirations: they finally performed in front of father figure and personal hero, Larry Emdur.
“You’ll have to forgive me if I’m a little vague, but I’m just speechless,” Davidson says. “It’s a proud moment, you know? We never expected it could go like this. It was ‘Stand here, mic up, three, two, one, you’re on.’ It was only after that we came up with all these cool things we could have said about Larry.” Chances are the lads will get another chance down the road. Even if you’re not a fan of their raucous sound – though, really, charismatic rock numbers siphoned through a bluesy lens, what’s not to love? – you have to give them props for dedication. They just kicked off an album tour that will take them through until at least the end of November, and likely further. While their commitment has been unwavering, they’ve come a long way since their fledgling early days. “I guess things are very different,” says Davidson. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 54
“We’re simply not the same band who made [debut LP] Too Late to Pray. It’s almost eight years later. We aren’t the same people as when we started, and that’s neither a good or bad thing. It simply is. There’s a myriad of experience that has influenced the music since then. That has changed, evolved. I definitely hear a cry of consistency in there. I think we’ve been consistent, it all makes sense to me, but whether we make sense to other people... fuck. Life conspires to make us what it will. Yes, we’re a different band. But you can’t have it any other way.” Again, that laugh. “We really never saw ourselves as just a blues band. We were a bunch of rock musicians who played the blues for a time. Quite honestly, we were wearing a costume. The Snowdroppers came together for a very specific purpose, and then just
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
THE SNOWDROPPERS third LP Business is out now via Four | Four. They’re playing Northcote Social Club on Saturday September 19. They’re also performing at Queenscliff Music Festival, held from Friday November 27 - Sunday November 29.
MICACHU & THE SHAPES HAPPIER SAD By Adam Norris The latest release form British trio Micachu & The Shapes, Good Sad Happy Bad, showcases how the band has progressed since 2012’s Never. First single Oh Baby is a lush, eerie pop number, while its follow-up Sad shines as a quirky, circuitous dream. Disparate as the record is, it was born of a common fount; an evening’s rehearsal that was recorded almost as an afterthought. “We basically decided to commit to this process of working the album from a couple of recordings we had,” says band founder Mica Levi. “That was going to be the beginning of songs, kind of build them, but they ended up just being warts and all. From there I just got into the writing as normal, but I was really excited about doing it like this with the recording already there and was writing [constantly]. It wasn’t like I wrote the song, and then the lyrics developed over time. My job was just to sing the lyrics – I almost didn’t have to think about the song, really.” The fact these fledgling recordings exist at all is due to drummer Marc Pell. With his bandmates unaware he was recording the rehearsal, it allowed a level of creation and inhibition that became the bedrock of
the entire album. Remarkably, Good Sad Happy Bad has great variety without losing any coherence. There is something oddly disquieting about its blend of simple, soothing sounds and unexpected movements, like waking abruptly from a dream. Establishing an overarching, whole-album experience was at the core of deciding which songs would be pursued and included. Yet, as keyboardist Raisa Khan explains, the trick was not to overthink the process. “I think with this record, the reason it was quick and had to stay quick was the more you do to it, the more fraudulent it’s going to become,” she says. “We have to all stand back and make a judgement on it, to see if it feels like it should. To be honest, we made the decisions based on the flavours of songs more than
anything. More than whether if it [felt] finished, it was more … what kind of feeling it could have. If we kept working, it might take it to the wrong mood. “A song like Oh Baby stands on its own two feet quite well, but a lot of the other songs need to be seen as part of the record. Sometimes the ones you originally would like to sit in that means not going with your favourite at all. It has to be about the whole thing.” “I find [a song is] great at first,” adds Levi. “But if there’s just one thing wrong with it, like there’s a little smudge, you start looking at that, try to fix it, and you just fuck everything up, and spend the rest of your time trying to get it back to where it was originally. The beginning is always the best bit. The hard part is taking it through to the end – that’s the work. I think
there’s something that feels really pure in doing that. It’s like you’ve got to practice in your own time to get a performance together. By the time that you press record you should have your shit together enough that you trust what you’re going to do. In my mind that’s ideal, in terms of a performer. “You can’t polish a turd,” she finishes matter-offactly, and Khan chuckles. “You’ve got to know if it’s punching above its weight. If you’re fucking around with it too much, it just becomes a different thing.”
supporting. So I’d really like for them to get to know me as much as possible. Being an artist like me, you don’t get to pick and choose what people know about you, and you have to accept that.” Getting to the heart of Halsey in one short interview is impossible. Listening to Badlands provides insight into her sensibilities and tone, but to gain a truer perspective, it is necessary to look larger – to assemble her online features and engagements, to connect the spheres of her influences with the protean artist she is still aspiring to be. She claims to “write songs about sex and being sad,” but that sells her content short, perhaps deliberately so. Across each song, she is attempting to elicit almost physical connections, and so it is no surprise that her literary heroes are renowned for doing just that.
“Camus, Burroughs, Kerouac. Hunter S. Thompson, Palahniuk. I like stream-of-consciousness perspectives. All the writers I love are the ones who took me out of my body and put me in another world – those who almost make you feel uncomfortable, whose writing seems so real and bizarre. It’s like, you can’t believe it and can’t help but believe it. That’s how I want people to feel when they hear my lyrics. I want them to feel there’s something kind of unsettling about them.”
things Defron took away from the trip was how to present himself as a brand. It’s one thing to know you’re talented, but convincing everyone else is an entirely different battle. “The thing that being around New York taught me was how other artists hustle, how to push themselves. The thing that’s both endearing and very annoying is that there’ll be rappers on street corners flogging mixtapes, really in your face. The thing they’ll do is they’ll say, ‘Here’s a copy of my mixtape, here’s a gift… but I need a donation. I can’t give it for free,’ which isn’t how a gift works. They grift. They hustle. It’s inspired me in terms of being able to push yourself. “I got to meet some people who were affiliated with big names. One guy called Final Outlook who’s associated with Joey Bada$$, his music was really cool. I told him I really liked his stuff, he was selling tapes.
I didn’t have any money, but he whipped out a card with all his information – and that’s something that I do now. For years people would say to me, ‘I really like your stuff,’ and I’d say, ‘My name’s Defron, look me up on the net’. Nowadays I hand out a card with all my Spotify, Bandcamp and other info on it and they don’t have to buy anything. I’m doing that as an in-between to what all the hustlers do on street corners and how music works here.”
MICACHU & THE SHAPES new album Good Sad Happy Bad is out now through Rough Trade/Remote Control.
HALSEY
THE TIME OF HER LIFE
By Adam Norris You’re unlikely to meet anyone quite so open and verbose as indie-pop trailblazer, Halsey. Speaking to her is like discovering a vast reservoir of searching sentiment and raw, brutal words; speech comes flooding, and the initial difficulty is establishing just where in this torrent of insight and information the real person stands. You soon realise, however, that this is entirely who she is – someone sharing her world in deep draughts, whirring across the globe to her own strange rhythm. With her debut LP, Badlands, out now, Halsey’s life is about to get even faster. “Honestly, things are completely out of hand,” she laughs. “I am in a blur, a daze. It’s been really crazy for me, because all of this has happened in the course of a year. I’m so fortunate and also very confused. That combination of confusion and excitement is basically my everyday, especially with the record coming out. “Record companies have a certain way of doing things, and they’ve been doing it for years. Like, ‘Artists have to go to a country, people need time to get to know them, and only then we’ll put out your music.’ For me, it was like, ‘Well fuck you, that’s not how it goes, welcome to 2015 and the Internet.’ You can kick off in London, in Australia, places where I’ve yet to tour even once, and it’s because people are ready.” For an artist who’s only just released her debut album, Halsey’s career has seen an incredible trajectory. Her online presence is huge, with fans so committed to sharing the New Jersey songwriter’s journey they even
share tattoos with her. Having launched her career in 2014 uploading covers to YouTube, last October her Room 93 EP appeared, ushering in a talent now renowned for straight-talking and intelligent lyrics. But while her directness is refreshing, it developed as something of a shield. “I think I’ve always been someone who gave away too much information, who tells people too much,” she says. “I’ve always been very open, but I think a lot of that also stems from insecurity, to be honest. There’s this sense of wanting to give people so much, hoping that they’ll like some part of it, rather than be afraid of not giving them enough and have them dislike me. It’s definitely how I functioned as an adolescent. “I pride myself on being honest, and your fans aren’t stupid. You can’t feed them bullshit – they need to know who they’re listening to, they want to know who they’re spending all this time and money and energy
HALSEY joins the likes of Foals, Disclosure, Bloc Party, Django Django and many more at Falls Festival 2015/16, which runs from Monday December 28 – Friday January 1 in Lorne, Marion Bay and Byron Bay. Badlands out now through Astralwerks/EMI.
DEFRON BURGUNDY UNAFRAID TO HUSTLE By Thomas Brand About two years ago, Melbourne-based MC Defron left his full-time job to focus on releasing his debut EP, Invalid. However, fate had other ideas, and due to a burglary Defron lost the entire EP. But rather than admitting defeat, he viewed this misfortune as an opportunity to refresh his creative vision. He then decided to take a five-week trip to New York in order to lodge himself in the centre of the hip hop universe. While there, Defron soaked up enough culture and knowledge to re-do the EP completely. Retaining the title Invalid, Defron’s debut EP arrived in late July. Ahead of next weekend’s launch show, Beat speaks with the 26-year old about the winding path that brought him here. “I spent five weeks in Brooklyn last year as a respite from working on the EP,” he says. “When everything got lost, the engineer said I could jump back in and re-record everything, but I was super doubtful about the project anyway. So before I went back into it, I took a break.” Given the EP’s second single Montblanc (feat. Niamh) recently peaked at #5 on the triple j Unearthed hip hop charts and #22 on their overall chart, Defron’s decision to take stock has proved beneficial. “I had some money set aside and it worked as an inspirational holiday – taking a lot in, going to a lot of New York underground hiphop and slam poetry,” BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 56
he says. “I actually saw Michael K. Williams from The Wire at one of these things. He got up on stage and started rapping Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Lower East Side was where that whole scene came from, and the Nuyorican Poets Café was the historical spot – all the big people went through there.” During his stay, Defron was surprised to discover several parallels between the New York and Melbourne music scenes. “It’s not too dissimilar to our [scene] which was super helpful,” he says. “I’ve been attending open mics in Melbourne since I was 18, and the atmosphere was very similar. The turnout was also similar, which is great since New York is huge. Melbourne’s starting to get that way. I really see Melbourne starting to knock on the door in terms of not just culture but also how much culture there is, along with cafes and things.” Along with creative inspiration, one of the biggest
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
DEFRON will launch his debut EP Invalid on Friday September 25 at Rubix Warehouse. He’ll be joined by live band Kilamari, while Mr Ruckman, 1/6, Kwasi, Manix, Codix and DJ Rellik are supporting.
Clint mansell eternal li g h t
By Matthew Tomich You mightn’t know Clint Mansell’s name, but you’ve probably heard his music. Perhaps you know him from Pop Will Eat Itself, the off-kilter, hip hop-inflected, industrial rock band he fronted from 1986 until their disbandment a decade later. But if you’re a fan of quality independent cinema, you’re more likely familiar with his work on Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream. That’s right, he’s the guy responsible for that dreadinducing score of piercing violins, which accompanies the mental and physical collapse of the film’s four characters. In fact, Mansell has been working with Aronofsky for nearly two decades, scoring everything from the director’s 1997 debut, Pi, through to the high drama of Black Swan, and last year’s biblical epic, Noah. Along the way, Mansell’s also provided music for works as varied as the video game Mass Effect 3, Duncan Jones’ directorial debut, Moon, and the 2014 screen adaptation of the Irving Welsh novel, Filth. “When I was back in Pop Will Eat Itself, I could never imagine I would’ve written the body of work that I’ve written,” Mansell says from his home in Los Angeles. “I just wasn’t that way inclined back then, or hadn’t found the medium to do it in. “But when it came to film – the weird thing about it is the film’s there, you’re restricted. You can’t do anything you want. It has to be in sync with the film, it has to
speak with the film and it has to support the film, so your choices actually are quite narrow. But within that, you can kind of do anything you want. I always think it’s like, you know, if you’re going to write some music and you walk into a studio and it’s just chock-stock full of loads of gear and loads of instruments, you don’t know where to start. But if you only have two keyboards, you pretty much know where you’re going to start – that one or that one. And that forces your creativity in a certain way.” Mansell’s body of work possesses remarkable diversity – from the trip hop and drum’n’bass discomfort of Pi to the melancholy drama of The Fountain and the uneasy tension of Moon. If there’s any consistent thread, it’s the resonance of small motifs. For instance, the painful string interplay in Requiem for a Dream centrepiece
Lux Aeterna is arguably more iconic than any of the film’s dialogue, while the versatile piano riffs heard in Moon are central to depicting the character’s sense of comfort, curiosity and danger. Mansell is in town next month for Mebourne Festival, playing two shows of his cinematic material at the Melbourne Recital Cinema, accompanied by a microorchestra he’s recruited during his tenure in Los Angeles. These performances are something of a rarity – although Mansell returned to the stage close to a decade ago, he’s given only a dozen or so performances since. “I suppose it probably had something to do with my ego,” he says of taking his cinematic work to the stage. “I missed playing live, but I didn’t miss playing live in the way I would have when I was 25 or 30. I’m 52 now
so the last thing I want to do is be the oldest swinger in town, like getting out there in the cat suit and pulling the shapes and the moves and trying to rock the house. But I did like playing live and I like that interaction with the audience. “At the end of the day, playing music is great fun. I just wanted to enjoy it and interact with the audience. When you write – particularly a film score – it goes off with the film and you kind of never see it again. Playing it live, you get to rediscover it and get to own it again. It comes back to life for you and it’s exhilarating.”
ten demos that I’d written and I just said ‘Take them wherever you want, don’t just plonk all along a bass or guitar,’ which I knew they wouldn’t do anyway.” With his time split between writing, performing and finalising the release of the first instalment of The Go-Betweens’ boxset, it took another four years before Forster reconvened with his ensemble to record Songs to Play. True to the original vision, Songs to Play is an album of upbeat tracks and whimsical lyrical exploration. The opening track, Learn to Burn, has shades of Talking Heads, Modern Lovers and Roxy Music (“I didn’t plan it that way, but I love all of those artists”), while on Let Me Imagine You, I’m So Happy for You and Love is Where It Is, Forster is the romantic poet, casting a rose-coloured glance at the world and people around him. “Personally, I guess I am [a romantic] – I’m 58 years old and I’m a practising songwriter. I have to be
romantic – there’s no other way for me to exist. It is a very romantic profession once you get to my age, and that’s what I’ve done.” As a variation on a theme, Forster uses I Love Myself (and I Always Have) to explore his own sense of selfworth, and to play with audience perceptions of the song’s meaning. “The first two lines of the song are the song title, but then it changes, and you realise it’s not going to go off with a lot of silly one liners, but goes off into different territory that relates to the title.”
CLINT MANSELL plays the Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday October 10 and Sunday October 11.
Robert Forster
P layin g aro u nd By Patrick Emery
It’s been seven years since Robert Forster released his last solo album, The Evangelist. At the time Forster was still grieving the death of his long-time friend, musical partner and fellow founding member of The Go-Betweens, Grant McLennan. Sensing the need for a break, Forster envisaged a gap of five years before releasing his next album. But in music, as in life, things don’t always go to plan, and it’s taken until now for Forster to release his new solo record, Songs to Play. “I’d done The Evangelist in 2008, and I knew that that album marked the end of an era, and that whatever I did next would be a new step,” says Forster. “I thought the best way to mark that would be the passage of time. So it was planned to be five years, but it pushed out to seven.” Forster wrote The Evangelist in the wake of McLennan’s death, with the sombre tone of many of the songs reflecting his state of mind. “That 18 months [after McLennan’s death] was quite intense,” Forster says. “I was in a very different place. I was dealing with a lot of grief obviously – fog is the wrong word, but a different state of mind. I was attached to these feelings, and I was attached to these particular songs. And they all spilled out on that album.” After recording The Evangelist, Forster had a strong sense of where he wanted his next album to go, and how he wanted to record it. “I wanted to work with a
different producer, I didn’t want to record in England, I wanted to record in analogue not Pro Tools, I wanted to work with new musicians,” he says. The change in personnel and production style, Forster felt, would help him create songs “that maybe flew off the guitar a little bit better – that there would be a bit more upbeat material”. In 2011, Forster assembled his supporting cast: Scott Bromiley and Luke McDonald of the John Steel Singers (whose 2010 album Tangalooma was produced by Forster), drummer Matt Piele from Forster’s touring band and Forster’s wife Karen Baumler on violin and vocals. “They all contributed enormously – I really gave the album over to people,” he says. “Scott and Luke especially – they’re master instrumentalists and have a great feeling for instrumentation and production ideas. When we started practising back in 2011, I had
heart of st kilda
Songs To Play, the new album from ROBERT FORSTER, is out Friday September 18 via EMI. Catch him on Friday November 27 at Thornbury Theatre.
Q&A
A con v ersation wit h simon b u rke of t h e meltdown As has been the case every year since 2008, later this month the Palais Theatre will host the Sacred Heart Mission’s Heart of St Kilda Concert. With each successive instalment, the lineup grows increasingly impressive, which indicates the philanthropic spirit that pervades the Australian entertainment industry. This year’s event brings together the likes of Kasey Chambers, Tim Rogers, Arj Barker, The Black Sorrows, Col Joye, Denise Scott, British India and more. Melbourne soul/blues collective The Meltdown will occupy house band duties on the night, so Beat checked in with frontman, Simon Burke, to find out his perspective on the event. Why are you giving your talents and time to Sacred Heart Mission’s Heart of St Kilda Concert? Having lived in the St Kilda and Elwood area for over 25 years, I’ve seen the great work done by Sacred Heart Mission in the community and consider the services provided vital to many members of the community who might not get the support through other channels. It’s a no brainer to get involved. What’s the best thing about being involved in
a fundraising concert with so many big names from Australia’s entertainment industry? Having played at this event a few years ago, it’s a lot of fun, and tends to be something that showcases the great talent we have, and for a great cause. How do you think a concert such as this can highlight the work of the Sacred Heart Mission and the issue of homelessness in our community? It’s a way to share information, and highlight the issues, but at the same time, hopefully give
everyone a great night out. What can the audience expect from you on the night? We’re very honoured to be the house band for the night, and look forward to playing with all the great artists from the night. So you can probably expect us to have a lot of fun. Who are you most looking forward to seeing on the night and why? There’s so many great artists on the night it’s hard
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV
to pick, but Emma Donovan is a star, and I love the songwriting of Kasey Chambers. HEART OF ST KILDA CONCERT goes down on Tuesday September 22 at the Palais Theatre, with MC Brian Nankervis, house band The Meltdown, and performances from Kasey Chambers, Tim Rogers, Arj Barker, Luke McGregor, The Black Sorrows, Col Joye, Denise Scott, British India and more. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 57
G AY PA R I S
MASTERS OF THE DARK ARTS By Augustus Welby “I’m very difficult, I apologise,” says Gay Paris frontman Luke Monks. It’s an unusual way to commence an interview, but Monks’ self-appraisal goes some way towards explaining the furious demeanour of the band’s new LP, Ladies And Gentlemen, May We Present To You: The Dark Arts, which is out this week. While it’s not an overwhelming head-thump, it promises to fuel some unruly onstage scenes and the record is steeped in hearty aggression. “We end up doing things we think aren’t heavy, and people just think everything’s heavy,” says Monks. “We think we’ve written a pop song, and apparently it’s not. If you talk about primal energy, maybe we’re talking about the natural state of the band. We’re a better live band than we are anything else, I think. That said, I feel like we’ve been quite ambitious in some of the things we’ve done that I worry about how to replicate live. “We got the Bad Bitch Choir to come in and help us out. We got Nerdlinger and Rick Dangerous and The Silkie Bantams to come and do some vocals. I think on Sackcloth [The Sackcloth Saint Of The Cornfield], there are 72 vocal tracks, so we got a bit histrionic with vocals.” In support of Monks’ earlier statement, for the most part the album circumvents anything that remotely resembles the pop sphere. However, that’s not the case with the record’s lead single, the aforementioned Sackcloth, which is easily the most accessible song in Gay Paris’ three-album catalogue.
“We tried to put some other vocals over the chorus, and then I was like, ‘I’m just going to sing the guitar riff,’ and we were like, ‘Actually, we’ve got a hook.’ But then the first road test it got was on tour with Sleepmakeswaves. We were playing wedged in between math-rock instrumental bands on either side of us, so I don’t know if their audience is a good way to judge how it goes live. “We’ve got a lot of friends that have heard it who are like, ‘It’s the song man.’ What’s the song for Gay Paris? I just think it’s a catchy rock’n’roll song.” The album recording and release was made possible by a crowdfunding campaign; a strategy Gay Paris also used to finance 2013’s The Last Good Party. In the unstable contemporary music world, crowdfunding has become an effective DIY outlet, giving some power back to the people. However, it’s rarely a stress-free exercise, and it’s probably not guilt-free either. “I said, after we crowdfunded The Last Good Party,
that I wasn’t comfortable with doing it again. I put my trepidation and my moral concerns on hold because the band is a democracy and the other three guys were up for it. It is fraught, it’s perilous, I don’t think that it’s great, and I do see a drop off in the success of it. Or maybe people are asking for more.” Despite having executed two successful crowdfunding campaigns, Gay Paris’ relationship with listeners isn’t always quite so positive. It seems the blatant accessibility of Sackcloth has confused some newcomers. “People who got to hear it as their first taste of Gay Paris, just through some YouTube comments, were like, ‘I heard you were going to be like Clutch. This is weak.’ Or, ‘This is hipster cunts trying to be metal.’ I just thought, ‘This is great. If you still think that’s trying to be metal, what
fucking metal are you listening to?’ It must be either the greatest or the worst metal in the world.” The ‘metal’ tag is often thrown around in discussions about Gay Paris. The validity of this claim is debatable, but it’s of no great worry for Monks. “I’ve got no beef with being called metal or hard rock, or hipster for that matter. We are the band that we are. I think us doing the tagging, it’s quite false, because I don’t see there being picket fences that you can’t jump over or kick down.”
I’ll always be a Victorian boy at heart. If I had to say one thing that sucks about here, it’s that we don’t have a good beach. But at the end of the day, this is home.” Blind Man Death Stare’s first official EP, Born a Centimetre From the Finish Line, has received a mixed response. While they’ve garnered ecstatic praise from lovers of honest punk music, the politically motivated cartoon cover art has ruffled a few feathers. “Yeah, Vagina the Hutt might piss some people off,” says Parker. “Same deal with the Pope and Tony [Abbott]. But they’re all idiots. We’ve had posters for our shows and EP taken down in heaps of places because people complained. At least people are talking about it though. We’ve been compared to everything from NOFX to Hot Water Music to Rancid. All of those bands are great, but at the end of the day we’re just doing our thing and hoping people enjoy it as much as we do.” Parker says three vital ingredients went in to making
the EP: “Lack of practice, a good combination of beers and weed, and abstaining from the cocaine until the last track was down.” It’s this ballsy attitude that distinguishes Blind Man Death Stare from their peers. For this reason, they’re a band you’d be foolish to not see at least once. Their high-energy approach is contagious, recapturing the audacious spirit many thought was dead in the Australian punk scene. “We’re playing at The Bendigo on Saturday September 25 with Jerkbeast, Kmart Warriors, Cosmic Kahuna and D.I.C.K. It will be a gnarly night, come down for a beer and some sweet bands.”
We just wanted to chill with it a bit.” Lyrically, Blood draws on some rather unorthodox sources. Case in point: the track Lizard Baby. “The lyrics for that song were inspired by our weird, fucked up royal family,” Hudson says. “There’s a dude called David Icke who does all these talks about the all-seeing eye and the Illuminati and stuff. He’s got a theory that the whole of the British royal family, and people that are in power, are lizards. When we wrote that tune the new royal baby thing was happening, so Lizard Baby came from that. Just sort of taking the piss really.” The band are currently in the process of writing new material and have around “six or seven” rough song ideas worked out. Though, it’s unlikely any of these will be ready when they tour Australia in October. The inflection in Hudson’s voice indicates he’s genuinely
excited to get back to our shores. After all, he cites the band’s set at Golden Plains in 2011 – where they received the coveted Golden Boot from a majority of the crowd – as one of their career highlights. “I remember loads of people started holding up one of their shoes and our tour manager told us that was a sign they do at the festival when they’re really into a band,” Hudson says. “But when we were playing we didn’t have a fucking clue and we were just like, ‘Are we about to get pelted with shoes?’ But then we realised everyone was smiling, so we were like, ‘Oh, this is cool’.”
Ladies And Gentlemen, May We Present To You: The Dark Arts is out Friday September 18 through MGM. Catch Gay Paris at Cherry Bar on Saturday October 10.
BLIND MAN D E AT H S TA R E
R U F F LI N G F E AT H E R S By Bel Ryan
You can’t hang out with a guy who formerly played in a band called The Pints without enjoying a few cold ones. And that’s exactly what went down when Beat caught up with Yo Yo Parker, drummer and vocalist from Blind Man Death Stare. Though, a lot has changed since those days, which were essentially about having a few beers and a laugh. Life has a tendency to turn to shit sometimes, but the best response is to keep pushing forward. Blokes like Parker swear by this mentality. “You know it’s also BDSM, right?” he laughs, as he explains the new name and lineup for the band. “Blind Man Death Stare does sound a bit more serious I guess, even though at the same time it’s this impossible situation, a joke. Like the name The Pints was a joke too, but we didn’t want our name to sound like an Irish pub band anymore. We’ve grown up, we’ve lived. Some of it’s been bad, some of it’s been good. You get perspective. We’re still the same, but we’re different too.” While Parker and guitarist Mitch Man remain, bass player and vocalist Immi Kutsnake is a new addition. “Mitch and I have this thing where we’re just on the same level,” says Parker. “He’ll come up with a riff, or I’ll have some lyrics or a beat, and we’ll just write
something, play it, and that’s what we record.” Regarding Kutsnake, Parker says, “He’s just a really great dude and fit in with us straight away. Plus, he’s the kind of guy that can hear a song once and then play it, which rules.” Another major change for the band is their relocation from Brisbane to Melbourne. “Obviously one of the best parts about Melbourne is the food,” says Parker. “But from a musical perspective, there’s so much happening in Melbourne. There’s a shitload of great bands to play with, crowds are more into it and people seem to genuinely like music. It’s also heaps easier to tour down this end. You can get to Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide or Hobart basically just by driving. And playing shows are what being in the band is about. Plus
That’s right, help BLIND MAN DEATH STARE celebrate the release of their debut EP Born a Centimetre From the Finish Line at the Bendigo Hotel on Saturday September 25.
P U L L E D A PA R T BY HORSES
LONG LIVE THE LIZARD QUEEN By Jack Pilven It’s a bitter cold night in Leeds when Tom Hudson answers the phone. The Pulled Apart By Horses frontman has just watched a friend’s band, Department M, play a gig in town. With a couple of beers under his belt, he’s eager to share his thoughts on the show. “They’re a local band from just up the road,” Hudson says. “Our new drummer [Tommy Davidson] plays drums for them. They were really good. It’s quite different to what we’re doing. It’s a lot more electronic.” A well-known musician amongst the Leeds scene, Davidson joined PABH after original drummer Lee Vincent announced his departure in February this year. Vincent had been with the band for three albums, including their most recent effort, 2014’s Blood. “It was like breaking up with a girlfriend,” Hudson says. “He was like, ‘It’s not you, it’s me. I need to go on to do other things.’ But it was all totally cool and we’re still good pals and stuff. It was up to him to make the call and change it up and we totally supported it.” Despite the lineup change, Pulled Apart By Horses haven’t lost any momentum. Since forming in Leeds in 2008, their knack for delivering high-energy shows has allowed them to travel to all pockets of the globe. The BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 58
band’s 2010 self-titled debut packed a devastating posthardcore punch, loaded with bruisers like Back To The Fuck Yeah and I Punched A Lion In The Throat, and they returned with even more sonic ammunition on 2012’s Tough Love. But given their track record, LP number three, Blood, may have surprised a few fans. Drawing on everything from psychedelia to stoner rock, Blood sees PABH transcend the post-hardcore label for something far more diverse. “With the first two albums, every song we had at the time made the album,” Hudson says. “It was more of a document of what we were doing and everything was 100 miles per hour. With Blood we just wanted to take a bit more time to craft an album rather than going, ‘Oh fuck, we’ve got these songs. Let’s record them and then go tour again.’ I think we just wanted to take a bit more time with it really, without going into the super overindulgent double album, concept album or something.
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
PULLED APART BY HORSES play Ding Dong Lounge on Friday October 30 and Saturday October 31.
It’s been an absolutely epic week for metal fans since Megadeth announced they were touring in October. Since then Black Sabbath have booked in their last ever Australian tour for April 2016 (Melbourne on April 19). And this week Iron Maiden have revealed that their Book Of Souls world tour will stop by Rod Laver Arena on May 9. Tickets to the fun go on sale on September 24. One of Melbourne’s most trustworthy folk punk institutions The Go Set will release their seventh studio album Rolling Sound on October 16 via ABC’s Four|Four imprint. The band will then tour heavily in support, hitting Warrnambool on October 30, Barwon Club on October 31, and Northcote Social Club on November 3. Tickets are available now. Bring Me The Horizon have successfully secured #1 spot on the ARIA charts this week for their new album That’s The Spirit. And just as word of their impressive chart peak broke, the band confirmed that they would return to Australia to play Soundwave 2016. The band noted that their appearance would be “exclusive to Soundwave”. There are a couple of really exciting footy-related gigs going on around Melbourne for Grand Final weekend. One of my hot tips is The Peep Tempel and Batpiss’ double-header that hits Yah Yah’s (with Spinning Rooms and Devil Electric) on Friday October 2 then Cherry Bar (with Mutton) on Saturday October 3. Schedule in a solid bender, then. Thy Art Is Murder are kicking up controversy in style, again. This time they’ve pissed off Disneyowned venues in the US who have banned them from joining Parkway Drive on their headlining dates. Who knows which part of Thy Art’s storied career the group of “narrow minded, corporate censoring goons” have taken offense to, but the band have announced a limited edition run of t-shirts to commemorate the occasion. They’re nothing if not really, really clever. A couple more names have been added to next year’s Soundwave Festival as they continue the drip feed of announcements throughout September. Finnish metal band (and previous Eurovision winners) Lordi will fill a Gwar-shaped hole in the bill while Northlane beef up the local contingent. There are now seven bands in total announced for January’s shows.
CORE GIG GUIDE Wednesday September 16:
• Slowly, Slowly, Sans, Elliot Friend at The Old Bar
Thursday September 17:
• The FckUps, Sexgrimes, Ferocious Chode, Dixon Cider at The Bendigo • Little Lamb & The Rosemarys, Camp Cope, Pepper Jack at The Old Bar • The Playbook, Sonder, Once Were Lost, Stan Dunlop at Next
Friday September 18:
• Cosmic Psychos, The Peep Tempel, High Tension, WOD at 170 Russell • Buried In Verona, Hand Of Mercy, Void Of Vision, Polaris, Atlantic at Evelyn Hotel • Gravey, Bottlecaps, The Shorts, As A Rival, Northwood at The Reverence Hotel • My Left Boot, Swidgen, Muscle Car, Drifter, Terminal Wally at The Bendigo • Pitt The Elder, The Girl Fridas, Raxchel Maria Cox, Ess-Em at The Old Bar
Saturday September 19:
• The Smith Street Band, Andrew Jackson Jihad, The Sidekicks, The Sugarcanes at The Corner Hotel • Ambleside, The Evercold, Disasters at Bang • Buried In Verona, Hand Of Mercy, Void Of Vision, Polaris, Pridelands, Ambleside at the Evelyn • Cosmic Psychos at Westernport Hotel, San Remo • Internal Rot, Sick Machine, Culture Of Ignorance, Midwife, Desperate Pigs, Impact Zone at The Reverence Hotel • Laura Palmer, Fear Like Us, Summer Blood, Maricopa Wells, Shadow League at The Old Bar • Black Aces, Doubleblack, Kill Dirty Youth, Hypermania, Murder Rats, Organ Donor, The Balls at The Bendigo
Sunday September 20:
• The Smith Street Band, Andrew Jackson Jihad, The Sidekicks, Flour at Corner Hotel, Richmond
Tuesday September 22:
• Sleeping With Sirens at 170 Russell (arvo + evening)
IRON MAIDEN AUSTRALIAN TOUR ANNOUNCED
In May the mighty Maiden are hitting Australia and New Zealand. It’ll be their first Australian tour since 2011, with five arena shows going on sale Thursday September 24 via Ticketek (check ironmaiden.com for fan club presale info). And yes, they’ll be bringing their new Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet (once again named Ed Force One), piloted by vocalist Bruce Dickinson and carrying band, crew and stage production and equipment. Bruce says, “Maiden thrive on touring and getting out to our fans, it’s what we do best, so it will be a great feeling to board our new Jumbo Ed Force One with the crew and the gear and head round the globe and get back on stage for you guys. We haven’t played in Australia and New Zealand for a number of years so it will be a pleasure to play for our Antipodean cousins again, irrespective of who wins the dates with destiny at Twickenham in a few weeks’ time.” Catch them with special guests The Raven Age on May 9 at Rod Laver Arena.
MUSCLE CAR BIRTHDAY BASH
It’s time to celebrate the birthdays of Muscle Car’s very own Poodle and The Bear and what better way to celebrate than with the awesomeness that is My Left Boot, Swidgen, Drifter and Terminal Wally. Muscle Car will also be playing a set and showcasing some of their new material from their upcoming record. It all kicks off at 8pm at the Bendigo Hotel and with a door price of just $10, that’s a lot of rock for not a lot of bucks.
DANGER FEST AT THE BENDIGO
There’s an epic lineup at the Bendigo Hotel on Saturday September 19 for the first Danger Fest, covering rock, hard rock, rockabilly, punk, psychobilly, burlesque and DJs. Only $10, with doors opening at 6pm. The lineup features The Balls, Organ Donor, Murder Rats, Hypermania (Danger band reunion), Kill Dirty Youth, DOUBLEBLACK, Zia Electric and Black Aces.
feeling helpless, and I think the video captures that in a unique way. I’m getting more involved in the ideas for our videos and I really enjoy that part.” Catch them at 170 Russell on Tuesday September 22: the early allages show is sold out but there are still tickets for the 18+ show.
DON FERNANDO LAUNCH HAUNTED VINYL
Don Fernando have been on a whirlwind ride with the release of their third recording Haunted By Humans. European record company HeadSpin Records personally approached Don Fernando on hearing the release, saying they wanted to represent this delectable album throughout Europe. Having received much support from peers and media, this balltearing album is full of hard, edgy, dark, doomy lyricism, demanding guitar riffs and head crunching beats and rhythms. On Thursday October 1, Don Fernando take the stage at The Workers Club to launch the vinyl edition of the album with support from three talented bands out of Melbourne, The Ugly Kings, Drifter and Two Headed Dog. Doors at 8pm, tickets are $12.
UGLY KID JOE RELEASE TWO SONGS TO AUSTRALIAN RADIO
Ugly Kid Joe’s first full-length album in nearly two decades, Uglier Than They Used Ta Be, is out now, and the first two singles have hit radio: She’s Already Gone and Hell Ain’t Hard To Find. The album was recorded at JT Studios and Balance Studios in Louisiana by a new seven-member line-up including Whitfield Crane (vocals), Klaus Eichstadt (guitars), Sonny Mayo (guitars), Shannon Larkin (drums), Zac Morris (drums), Cordell Crockett (bass) and Dave Fortman (guitars).
SLEEPING WITH SIRENS TOUR
Sleeping With Sirens released their new album Madness earlier this year and have now unveiled a new music video for Better Off Dead, a powerful track that touches upon topics very dear to Sleeping With Sirens’ hearts – depression and suicide. “I think this video does an amazing job at capturing the concept of the song,” Kellin Quinn says. “I thought it would be interesting to look at the idea of depression as being trapped and
60 SECONDS with
k id s i n co n t ro l
Define your genre in five words or less: Pure, catchy, pop punk. So, someone is walking past as you guys are playing, they then go get a beer and tell their friend about you…what do they say? “Just watched this band play, they were called Kids In Control. Awesome live band, extremely catchy songs and excellent dancers.” Which band would you most like to have a battle/showdown with? 5 Seconds Of Summer. Aussie versus Aussie, pop punk versus pop punk. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? Watching other artists live and more and more great releases from our favourite bands.
Do you have any record releases to date? What? Where can I get it? We released our debut EP mid last year. It can be downloaded for free via kidsincontrol.bandcamp. com. We are also releasing a new EP late November and will be undertaking a small release tour through November and December. Why should everyone come and see your band? Catchy tunes, beer, and five strapping lads pretending to play instruments.
KIDS IN CONTROL are playing at the Brunswick Hotel Saturday September 19, with Stuck Out, The Innocence and Dear Laura.
What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed? Record/write great music, gig and tour as much as possible, build up that fanbase, repeat. CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 59
Meth research D O YOU USE ICE, SHARD, SPEED? Rese arch study in Melb ourne recruiting adults who use methamphetamines You will need to participatE in a 90 minute interview at a location near you, and will receive a $30 voucher for your time.
Interested? Contact us on 0405 915 995 or Saru6@student.monash.edu to find out if you are eligible. Conducted by Monash University & Turning Point
MUSIC NEWS
Q&A
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au and The Young Saviors. Look into Hypno Sex Ray’s eyes at Yah Yah’s this Thursday September 17. Doors open at 6pm. Entry is free.
SPLIT SECONDS
T H E R E T R E AT H O T E L
Deep in the midst of recording their much anticipated second album, Split Seconds pop their heads out for a special Thursday night at The Retreat in Brunswick. The award winning songsmiths - best known for their tunes Halfway There, Top Floor and All You Gotta Do are preparing their new material for 2016. You’d better pop your head into The Retreat this Thursday September 17 before they head back out to the studio. Doors open at 8.30pm, entry is free.
THE FCKUPS
THE BENDIGO HOTEL
The Fckups are fucking up The Bendigo Hotel this Thursday September 17, and joining them on the night are Sexgrimes, Ferocious Chode and Dixon Cider, with the small chance of some open mic jammage from birthday boy Brett Evans afterwards. Thursday is still a good night to get fucked up, right? Do it with The Fckups this Thursday September 17 at The Bendigo Hotel. Entry is $8, doors open at 8pm.
LITTLE LAMB & THE ROSEMARY'S THE OLD BAR
One Girl is hosting a charity event at The Old Bar this Thursday September 17 with the aim of giving girls in Sierra Leone the opportunity to get an education and break the cycle of poverty, dependence and inequality. Should you choose to nip out to The Old Bar that night, be prepared to catch some punk sounds coming from Little Lamb & The Rosemary’s, Camp Cope and Pepperjack. Sink some beers, dig some tunes and save some lives. It all goes down at The Old Bar this Thursday September 17. Entry is $8 and doors open at 8.30pm. All profits go towards charity.
moods and pulse-shifts soaked in sixties grooves on the night. Be sure to get spooky with Pink Harvest this Thursday September 17 at The Reverence Hotel. Doors are at 8pm, entry is $7.
THE TRIED
W H O L E L O T TA L O V E
Powerful three-piece The Tried have been quietly bubbling under the radar, honing their exciting alt-rock since late 2010. Joined by the infectious pop rock of Genghis Can’t Swim and newcomers The Traitors, this Thursday night will be your best chance to catch The Tried play live since earlier this year, taking to Whole Lotta Love from 8pm. Three acts for free, pretty good deal.
her songs are grounded and personal insights into human nature, romance, money, dogs and weather…lots of dogs and weather for some reason. She’s shared stages with some of Melbourne’s favourites including Lucie Thorne, Zoe K, Kira Puru and Mojo Juju, and also knows a few good jokes so you know you’ll be in for a cracker of a show. All the jokes are free as is the music, and she’s on at 8.30pm. FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18
REPOST
THE COSMIC PLAYGROUND
GRACE DARLI NG
Melbourne’s nu-soul hip hop collective 30/70 presents The Cosmic Playground, serving up some sonic exploration to expand human consciousness, transcend the everyday perception of reality and discover pure love vibrations this Thursday September 17. Featuring the hit lineup of Another Batch, Oliver Paterson Beat Project, Tiaryn Griggs and Allysha Joy, this 30/70 Presents isn’t one to miss. Catch them all at The Grace Darling from 8pm onwards. Entry is free.
PINK HARVEST
THE REVERENCE HOTEL
After gaining momentum with the release of their debut EP Big Fancy Modern Architecture last month, Pink Harvest are showing off the fruits of their labour this Thursday September 17 at The Reverence Hotel. The Footscray locals will be revealing an array of sounds,
Australia’s only Entertainment Media Conference, Repost, is launching in Melbourne’s CBD on Thursday September 17. The conference features an intensive evening of industry-led panels, Keynote Q&As, networking drinks and a live music showcase. First announced on the panellist line up is Tacey Rychter, Editor of Broadsheet Melbourne. She’ll be accompanied by the likes of Chris Wirasinha (Pedestrian. TV) Jennie Sager (Twitter Australia), Josh Gardiner (Vice AU/NZ), Mikey Cahill, Jake Cleland, Sarah Bahbah and many other big names in the Australian entertainment media scene. Repost will be held at Level 1, 55 Swanston Street and tickets on sale now via Eventbrite.
ALICE WILLIAMS
T H E YA R R A H O T E L
Alice Williams is a local singer/ songwriter, with roots stemming from the rural far south coast of NSW. Williams is eclectic, lyrical and wry,
SUN GOD REPLICA
THE POST OFFICE HOTEL
Melbourne’s Sun God Replica are ripping The Post Office Hotel a new one when they take to the stage this week. Head down to Sydney Rd on Friday September 18 and catch some punk rock tunes from some of the town’s finest musos, belted out by frontman Linsay McLennan (Link Meanie of The Meanies). Doors kick open 9.30pm with free entry.
MILLION DOLLAR PONY CLUB
THE WORKERS CLUB
Melbourne Fringe Festival has descended upon our fair city, and for one night at The Workers Club, Million
Gilligan Smiles
Define your genre in five words or less: Psychedelic pop waffle rock beats. How long have you been gigging and writing? As the current collective group about a year, but the Gilligan Smiles music making started at the end of 2011. Which band would you most like to have a battle/ showdown with? Maybe The Flaming Lips and Miley Cyrus collaboration, mainly because it would be the most ostentatious show ever. We wouldn’t win, but hey we’d get to play with the Lips. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? I’d say the more widely accepted DIY approach to recording songs these days, and artists who are able to do everything themselves. There’s something refreshing about Mac Demarco and Kevin Parker’s approach to production that is really cool, and that I think has opened up people’s views on what a recording should, or could, sound like. Why not have a flanger over the whole mix? What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed? Write good, honest, original songs and play as much as possible. But then again, success is all relative to that artist. What someone may achieve and view as being successful may not be success for someone else. Just have fun I guess. Why should everyone come and see your band? Because we’re a bunch of lovely chaps who, if you boogie to our music performance, will probably buy you beer. GILLIGAN SMILES play The Workers Club every Tuesday in September. On Tuesday September 22 they’re launching a music video and projecting it live during the show.
COMING UP FRIDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER
BROADS + MATT WALKER $5 ENTRY FROM 8:30PM TUESDAYS IN SEPTEMBER
FACT HUNT TRIVIA $5 TACOS + $16 JUGS OF THUNDER RD
Hosted by RRR’s Tristen Harris, this is a comfortably dumb trivia for music fans and couch potatoes, no sport, no politics and no book-learnin’. QUIZ FROM 8PM - RESERVATIONS - SAMANDA@SPOTTEDMALLARD.COM. NO COVER
SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER
SHACK SHAKERS: FT. MADRE MONTE + MISS JANE DOE + DJ KNAVE KNIXX $5 ENTRY FROM 8:30PM
WEDNESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER
COTTON CLUB PRESENTS:
BLUE EYES CRY BEGINNER BLUES DANCE LESSONS 7:30PM $15 P/P SHOW TIME 8:30PM (NO COVER)
FRIDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER
MINIBIKES + THE SCOUTS SHOW TIME 9:00PM, NO COVER
SATURDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER
ELECTRIC WALLPAPER + SCRUB WRENS + THE CONCLUSIONS SHOW TIME 8:30PM , NO COVER
SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
KERRYN FIELDS
‘RASCALS’ ALBUM LAUNCH + KATE BURKE, LAUREN GLEZER, SAMARA CULLEN + BROOKE TAYLOR
$8 Pints Craft Beer 4pm-6pm Daily
NEW WINE LIST! KITCHEN HOURS
Tues-Fri open 4pm till you’re full Sat & Sun open 2pm till you’re stuffed
TICKETS
For ticket sales visit www.spottedmallard.com 314 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
$10 ENTRY FROM 4PM
VOTE NOW TO DECIDE THIS YEAR’S WINNER OF MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK - Head to bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 61
PURSUED BY BEAR PRESENTS
chapel off chapel : september 18-27 music : andrew lippa lyrics : tom greenwald book : tom greenwald & andrew lippa starring jaclyn devincentis & brenton cosier
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20
their second album Separation Street at The Catfish this Sunday September 20. The night is sure to be jam packed, Blues Mountain playing with a full ten piece backing band, as well as special guest appearances from Iseula Hingano, Chiara Browne, and supports Justin Yap Band. Tickets are $10, or $25 with a signed copy of the album. Music kicks off from 4pm.
LILITH LANE
THE REVERENCE HOTEL
JOHN DOWLER’S VANITY PROJECT
T H E L A B O U R I N VA I N
Legendary frontman of The Zimmermen and Young Modern, John Dowler is heading to The Labour In Vain this Sunday September 20. The night comes as a rare occasion for Dowler and attendees alike, as he plays songs from his 30 year career with his new band The Vanity Project. Expect an afternoon of power pop tunes and extra aural surprises as John Dowler’s Vanity Project takes over The Labour In Vain this Sunday September 20. Doors open from 5pm.
CHERRY BLUES CHERY BAR
If you’ve got those end of weekend blues, head on down to Cherry Bar and catch another smooth set of Cherry Blues. This afternoon’s assortment of blues tunes comes from The House Wreckers - the brain child of legendary bassist Greg Trenney with a vision to build a three piece band that could rock with the best and break out some soulful blues. Before you wreck your demeanour with your weekly dose of Mondayitis, get on down to Cherry Blues this Sunday September 20. Live blues starts from 3pm, entry is $5.
JACK COWELL
EMP T Y GALLERY
With his new single Don’t Cry Those Tears gaining traction at radio nationally, Jack Colwell is presenting the song at Empty Gallery this Sunday September 20 for your listening pleasure. Expect an intimate set at the brand new Melbourne venue, accompanied by bass and cello. Rising star Olympia will provide support on the night. Make sure you catch Jack Cowell when he hits the Gallery on Sunday September 20. Doors open from 6pm, tickets are $10 on the door.
SIME NUGENT
THE POST OFFICE HOTEL
Sime Nugent is used to the praise now, releasing music with indie folk duo Sweet Jean and bluesgrass party band The Wilson Pickers, as well as under his own name to critical acclaim. He travels with an extensive repertoire as a soloist, band leader and band member, and this Sunday September 20 he’s heading back to the Post Office Hotel. He plays two back to back sets from 4.30pm onwards, with free entry.
Lilith Lane is continuing her month long residency at The Reverence Hotel this Sunday, still performing after coming off the back of an international tour and a vinyl release. This marks the third of a series of intimate solo shows from Lilith, featuring three of her full band albums on piano and guitar being played over the course of the night. Be sure to catch Lilith Lane at The Reverence this Sunday September 20. Doors open at 3pm, entry is free. MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21
MUNDANE MONDAYS Mondays are always a good time at The Old Bar, and this week is no exception to the rule. Mundane Mondays and Ladyz In Noyz have come together to host this one, rocking Marlo Eggplant, Rosalind Hall, Aux Assembly, and Carolyn Connors & Fjorn on the bill. $5 entry, $15 jugs of Mountain Goat. Get there by 8pm.
T H E C AT F I S H
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 64
Ghost Dick are gearing up for the next round of their month long residency at Public Bar, continuing the tradition of turning September into their official month of dicking around. With Public Bar slapping hot potato gem nachos and cold beers onto tables around the venue, make sure you pop in for a beer, a belter of a meal and Ghost Dick’s usual handgrenade subtlety. Catch an earful of Ghost Dick at Public Bar this Tuesday September 22. Doors open at 7.30pm, entry is $6.
CIRCA SURVIVE 170 RUSSELL
Philadelphia’s finest rock outfit will hit our shores this week for the first time since 2013. This time around, they’ll showcase songs from across their 10year catalogue, including their 2005 debut, Juturna and last year’s Decensus. This Monday September 21, Circa Survive will play a special under 18 show at 170 Russell, and’ll be joined by PVRIS, who have been enjoying the success of their 2014 album, White Noise. Tickets on sale at the venue.
TASTE OF INDIE COLLECTIVE PRINCE PUBLIC BAR
THE GARDEN
The John Curtin Hotel Thursday September 24
BILAL
CITIZENS OF THE STREETS
PONY FACE PRESENT NEBRASKA
The Shadow Electric Thursday September 24
Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre Wednesday October 28
CANCER BATS
PULLED APART BY HORSES
The Bendigo Hotel Thursday September 24
BIG K.R.I.T
DREAMWAVE
In celebration of their fourth album, Madness, post-hardcore band Sleeping With Sirens will make their way to our shores for a hotly anticipated return. Last appearing in Australia over two years ago, Sleeping With Sirens have been holed up in the studio working with producer John Feldmann (Good Charlotte, The Used, Panic! At The Disco) on their new material. Currently finishing up their tours throughout the States and Europe, they’re gearing up to unleash upon Melbourne. Catch Sleeping With Sirens at 170 Russell on Tuesday September 22.
Luwow Friday September 25
CORMEGA
Max Watt’s Friday September 25
F100S
The Drunken Poet Saturday September 26
THE DAVE TICE BAND
The Reverence Hotel Saturday September 26
JASPORA
Luwow Saturday September 26
HAVE/HOLD
Public Bar Saturday September 26
BOBBY VALENTINE
The Flying Saucer Club Saturday September 26
DRUNKEN POET BIRTHDAY SPECTACULAR
WANT YOUR GIG LISTED IN MUSIC NEWS? EMAIL A PIC AND SHORT BLURB ABOUT THE GIG TO music@beat.com.au
DRUNK MUMS
Howler Saturday October 24
MIDNIGHT WOOLF
SLEEPING WITH SIRENS
JAI WOLF
Howler Thursday October 22
Prince Bandroom Thursday September 24
The Reverence Hotel Friday September 25
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 22
Peny Bohan is taking to The Retreat Hotel this Tuesday for a night of smooth urban folk tunes. She’ll deliver music that will make you want to stay, buy her a drink and wrap yourself up in her melodies. Sweet, strong and insightful, she sings her way through heartbreak, good times, and extrapolations of her introspections, always leaving her spectators with a smile. Turn that frown upside down with Peny Bohan this Tuesday September 22 at The Retreat Hotel. Doors open at 7.30pm and entry is free.
LOOKING FORWARD
Max Watt’s Thursday September 24
170 RUSSELL
T H E R E T R E AT H O T E L
Finally following up from their 2013 self-titled debut, Jesse Valach Presents Blues Mountain are launching
GHOST DICK
THE PUBLIC BAR
THE OLD BAR
PENY BOHAN
JESSE VALACH PRESENTS BLUES MOUNTAIN
Public Bar this week, bringing on the fan favourite Duo Trio night this Tuesday September 22. This week the stage will be graced by new multi-instrumentalist duo Estrala Noir, the ever laidback sounds of the Lounge Detectives and Born ‘N Bred with a taste of their red dirt country tunes. Taste of Indie Collective have all your tastes covered, so pop in this Tuesday September 22 for some live original music. Doors open from 7.30pm, entry is free.
The Drunken Poet Sunday September 27
INTO THE MYSTIC – THE MUSIC OF VAN MORRISON
Ding Dong Lounge Sunday September 27
REEL BIG FISH/LESS THAN JAKE
Prince Bandroom Thursday October 1
WHITE FANG
The John Curtin Thursday October 1
LIZ STRINGER
The Flying Saucer Club Thursday October 1
CITY CALM DOWN
Howler Saturday October 3
LOON LAKE
Corner Hotel Sat October 14
The Taste of Indie Collective are back at WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Ding Dong Lounge October 30 31
JAMES REYNE
The Corner Monday November 2
DROWNING HORSE
The John Curtin Friday November 6
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
Forum Theatre Saturday November 7
THE STRAIN
The Brunswick Hotel Friday November 13
CRAYON FIELDS
Howler Saturday September 14
THE BEACH BOYS
Palais Theatre Wednesday November 18
THE BENNIES
The Corner Hotel Friday November 20
HANK MARVIN
Memo Music Hall Saturday November 21, 22
GOAT & KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD
The Croxton Friday December 4
THE EXPLOITED
Max Watt’s Sat December 12
ALBUM
OF THE
WEEK
TOP TENS
PBS FM TOP TEN
1. A Century In The Curse Of Time PYOGENESIS 2. Didn’t He Ramble GLEN HANSARD 3. Vertigo THE NECKS 4. The Great Mixtape SAMPA THE GREAT 5. Happiness in Every Style NICOLE WILLIS AND THE INVESTIGATORS 6. Each Time The First Time KIMBA GRIFFITH SEPTET 7. Brace The Wave LOU BARLOW 8. Outsiders HEATH CULLEN 9. It’s Not Me, It’s You THE MEANIES 10. Black Feeling Three VARIOUS ARTISTS
HEARTLAND RECORDS TOP TEN 1. Berlin LP/CD KADAVAR 2. The Night Creeper LP/CD UNCLE ACID 3. Lucifer CD/LP LUCIFER 4. Live At Liberty LP SONIC YOUTH 5. Bad Magic BOX SET MOTORHEAD 6. Angel Dust 2LP FAITH NO MORE 7. Stuff Like That LP YO LA TENGO 8. Four X Four LP/CD BACKYARD BABIES 9. Book Of Souls 3LP IRON MAIDEN 10. What Went Down LP FOALS
SAINT JUDE Saint Jude III (Love & Theft)
Saint Jude III is as an adventurous, sprawling collection of well arranged and organically produced gems. Touching on elements of soul, country and rock, the Melbourne band’s latest release is a love letter to sounds of the ‘60s and ‘70s, infused with their own sense of melodic hooks and cohesive vision. As Deep as the Sea opens the album with a slow burning, floating ambience that unlocks a vault of musical treasures lying ahead. Once the rollicking Until kicks the record into second gear, it’s clear Saint Jude aren’t willing to be shackled to a singular influence. Rather, they shift from one mood to the next with ease. The jangly In My Dreams furthers their pop sensibility, throwing back to the psychedelic blues-pop of The Yardbirds. After the hook-laden openers, the album takes an introspective turn as the band unfurl a string of cathartic, soulful rock songs. Choruses come crashing in, often propelling the songs into infectious singalongs, such as the anthemic I Wont Let You Down. The tender Please Let Me Stand mirrors The Rolling Stones at their sweetest, with Brooke Penrose’s soulful vocals
lifted higher by a gospel choir. It’s a hard hitting and touching album highlight. The shuffling Waiting for You goes on to explore similar territory, with a lamenting chorus and evocative storytelling. Throughout the album, the production introduces myriad surprises, which highlight the album’s complexity with each successive listen. Harmonica, lilting fiddle, pedal steel and haunting synth lines all appear at one point or another to complement their respective tracks whole-heartedly. When the psychedelic St Clare arrives as a spiraling trip, the band take the opportunity to reach even higher. A track of epic proportions, it opens with entrancing sitar before working through gritty violin drones, ethereal vocals, explosive guitar solos and a dramatic final climax. When the track finally comes back to Earth, Saint Jude have spent close to ten minutes generating an engrossing sonic journey. Innovative, diverse, and downright loveable, Saint Jude III is extremely ambitious. Luckily for us, the band are talented enough to pull it off. JAMES DI FABRIZIO
SINGLES
NICHOLAS ALLBROOK Blanket 3072 (Spinning Top) Giving Preston its second major musical titular shout-out in 2015, Pond frontman Allbrook basks in a whispery wash on the spacious Blanket
S
I
N
G
L
E
3072. Melodic awareness holds together the watercolour tones, mixing up in a diluted, shimmering pool. There’s not much to grasp, but Blanket 3072 does possess incredibly calming properties. Good for your headspace. PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY Crashing & Burning Pt II (Inertia) When it came to unexciting jjj-oriented indie fucken rock, Philadelphia Grand Jury were one of the most exciting, eventually fizzing out into a breakup three years ago. Now they’re back, sounding exactly the same as they left off. There’s no nostalgic demand for the era of their peak – hopefully there never will be – so it’s difficult to see the point here. Throughout Crashing & Burning Pt II, there’s every chance to blow out into Liam
O
F
T
H
C A R LY R A E J E P S E N
Finn-style weirdness, but instead we’re left with something that leans towards insipid, if competent. They’re a capable band, and you could go worse in terms of mid-tier summer festival scheduling, but you can’t help but sense diminishing returns for winning over a new crowd TAME IMPALA Let It Happen (Soulwax Remix) (Universal) Soulwax don’t mess with the original formula of Let It Happen too much, highlighting the drums at the fore, taking the track into a more rhythmic groove. If anything, the dance aspects of the original have become muted. Not overly different, not overly interesting, but still a nice twist of seasoning for those craving another serving of Currents.
E
W
E
E
K
Warm Blood (Universal) Make no mistake, there is not a single dud (even accounting for the expanded deluxe edition tracklist) on Carly Rae Jepsen’s E•MO•TION. The hardest part is picking a favourite. Warm Blood is my favourite. Produced by Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij, the density of ideas is insane, without overcooking any of them. The pitched down vocal is the only instance the effect has sounded fresh in recent years, and it only makes a cameo for one line. Jepsen’s main vocal feels immediate and real, sitting in the mix well above a driving beat that is somewhere, or nowhere, between organic and EDM. Masterful pop, a sheer joy. A highlight from one of the year’s best albums so far. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 66
1. Illegals In Heaven BLANK REALM 2. High ROYAL HEADACHE 3. Depression Cherry BEACH HOUSE 4. Sub-lingual Tablet THE FALL 5. What The World Needs Now PIL 6. Stuff Like That There YO LA TENGO 7. Kill It Yourself JES RIBEIRO 8. Julia/Spring 7” LOWTIDE 9. Good Sad Happy Bad MICACHU AND THE SHAPES 10. Key Markets SLEAFORD MODS
COLLECTORS CORNER MISSING LINK TOP TEN
BY LACHLAN
Many thanks to my body’s biological systems for keeping it together at the G on Saturday night. Bring on 2016. #bemorebulldog. ANDRAS & OSCAR Looking Back (Tornado Wallace Dub) (Chapter Music) A winning duo in Melbourne’s underground/electronic scene welcomes a triumvirate for a rework of the charming Looking Back, with Tornado Wallace taking Andras & Oscar’s mellow Café Romantica cut from last year into heavier club territory. He gives it a banging house pulse while meditating on the original’s chiming refrain, injecting a tasty bassline that’s greasier than an early-AM pizza.
RECORD PARADISE TOP TEN
1. Black Age Blues LP GOATSNAKE 2. High LP/CD ROYAL HEADACHE 3. Plastic Surgery Disasters LP DEAD KENNEDYS 4. Meliora LP/CD GHOST 5. Blokes You Can Trust DVD COSMIC PSYCHOS 6. Dead Wish LP DEAF WISH 7. You Suck CD MASTER BLASTER 8. A Love Supreme LP JOHN COLTRANE 9. Foundations Of Burden 2LP PALLBEARER 10. Monster Planet LP STEVE MAXWELL VON BRAUND
BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS ABOUT BOYS 1. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) YOKO ONO 2. Street Boy RODRIGUEZ 4. Beautiful Boy JOHN LENNON 5. If I Were A Boy BEYONCE 6. Mannish Boy MUDDY WATERS 7. Broken Boy Soldier THE RACONTEURS 8. Sexy Boy AIR 9. Blue Boy MAC DEMARCO 10. The Boy Is Mine BRANDY
VOTE NOW TO DECIDE THIS YEAR’S WINNER OF MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK - Head to bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank
ALBUMS New music in review this week - For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews
ATREYU
CIRCULAR KEYS
Long Live
SLAYER
Sorry!
(Spinefarm/Caroline Records)
Repentless
(Bedroom Suck)
Long Live is a triumphant return to form for metal trailblazers Atreyu. Their hotly anticipated sixth album comes off the back of a three-year hiatus, during which each member of the five-piece actively pursued other musical projects. In 2014, guitarist Dan Jacobs took the first steps to reuniting the band by calling a meeting to discuss their future. Those initial meetings exposed the fact that vocalist Alex Varkatzas wanted to focus primarily on perfecting his hard vocal technique and do away with any clean vocals going forward. At that point, drummer Brandon Saller stepped up to the plate and offered to take on the challenge of singing while he played. Now with everyone on board, Atreyu got to work in their Orange County rehearsal space and Long Live began to take shape. The title track opens the album with Saller’s characteristically ferocious double-kick drumming, before Varkatzas launches into a full-throttle vocal assault to the senses. Do You Know Who You Are has stadium anthem written all over it, while Moments Before Dawn showcases their ability to exercise subtlety in order to set an overall tone. Long Live closes with Reckless, a hard-hitting track that highlights Jacobs’ experience as a rhythm guitarist and Varkatzas’ willingness to experiment with his vocals. Not since 2004’s The Curse have Atreyu produced such a fine body of work. Long live the mighty Atreyu.
On the debut album from Dennis Santiago and Philippa O’Shea, Santiago ramps up the dub element of his band Absolute Boys but pulls back on the guitars. There are still guitars on here, though anything organic has been processed to the point of sounding synthetic, then reduced right down to provide a backdrop for O’Shea’s vocals. O’Shea tends to starts with a simple refrain, but then allows room to let the vocal undulate around the anchoring ambience of the music. “Bring out the child in me,” she sings over a dubbed-out house beat on the hypnotic Child (Eurogrand); a collision of nostalgia and dystopia that will appeal to fans of Peaking Lights. On the title track, the pleading refrain of “Somebody help me,” is soulfully complemented by lethargic strums of guitar and the tapping and clicking of spliced beats. The repetition of the instrumentation only compounds the desperation of the vocal, but it’s a beautiful place to be trapped in. Midway through, Sorry! drops deeper into ambient sounds, but the one track that really resonates is the echo-chamber closer, Possessed. The eight minutes of looped lushness make you wish for more songs of a similar running time, so you could get fully lost in their sonic soundscapes. Still, this enigmatic, magnetic debut is a tantalising entry point into the duo’s escapist wonderland.
(Nuclear Blast)
This is a Slayer album, plain and simple – the type they’ve been releasing for three and a half decades. So if you know the band, you’ll know exactly what you’re in for. These guys experimented briefly with their sound in the ‘90s, but apart from that, they never mess with the formula. Slayer pretty much invented thrash metal – or maybe co-invented it with Metallica – in the early ‘80s. And what that means is fast, pounding, violent songs, with some grooves thrown in for good measure. Vocalist Tom Araya howls and screeches about war, blood, death, violence, hatred and serial killers. He’s not glorifying or celebrating those things, and not condemning them either. Rather, he’s just reflecting on the fact that they exist in our society. While other old school bands have had their edge blunted by the passage of time and bulging bank balances, these Californian masters have lost little of their fire and intensity. They still slam out their relatively simple thrash metal with great vengeance and anger, and their legions of fans love them for their consistency. BY ROD WHITFIELD
BY CHRIS GIRDLER
BY NATALIE ROGERS
THE BASICS
ROSS DE CHENE HURRICANES
The Age of Entitlement
FIDLAR
Too
Lowlights
(The Three Basics Pty Ltd)
(Warner)
(Off the Hip) Six years since their last release – during which time the band members variously lived in Kenya, experienced devastating break-ups and rose to worldwide fame (Wally De Backer/Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know) – The Basics are back with their fourth studio album, The Age of Entitlement. Despite being recorded at the famous Abbey Road studios in London, The Age of Entitlement is undoubtedly a love letter to Australia. Albeit a confusing and difficult love conveyed through a mash-up of blues, folk, indie and Caribbean sounds that reflects the band’s diverse personalities and experiences. Does it work? Well, sort of. Bassist Kris Schroeder sums up their undefinable genre best, “We’re moody people. We do not have a particular sound.” This genre-bending character means the album’s capable of both starting a riot and placating one. The Basics have a complicated relationship with Australia. Throughout The Age of Entitlement they confront social inequalities with similar passion to Midnight Oil, encouraging the need for deeper reflection. Amid short, hard riffs, Time Poor reflects on Andrew Bolt, asylum seekers and the Australia’s environmental apathy (“Climate Change? I haven’t got time for that”); while Working Class could easily be an ode to Joe Hockey: “Whatever happened to the working class/ We have politicians sitting on their arse.” The album alternates between political rants and chilled-out beachy sounds that feel like sunshine prickling your skin. Ashleigh Wakes and Roundabout are fast, feel-good tracks telling the listener, “You can do anything you want.” Final song, Feels Like Love Does, is a bit of a melancholic downer that dampens the sunshine parade of the preceding tracks. Ultimately, The Basics have produced an experimental album that’s enjoyable, but also confusing. BY SHANNON MCKEOGH
The cover insert to Ross de Chene Hurricanes’ new album, Lowlights, includes pictures of ‘90s footballers Wayne Weidemann and Clive Waterhouse. With their defiantly bogan appearance and old school style, Weidemann and Waterhouse are examples of a lost era of footballing innocence and thuggery. All that’s needed is a picture of Adam Saliba in ambling flight and you’d have the perfect Adelaide footy triptych. With their tough as nails garage rock attack, Ross de Chene Hurricanes proudly celebrate the tradition of garage punk. You can hear the attitude in the Black Lips-ish Sun Don’t Set When You’re Cool – what’s youth for if you can’t muscle through the toughest situation with a bulletproof sneer and a casual wink? Then there’s the specious culinary analysis of TV Dinner, all post-Ramones simplicity and domestic banality; the Digger and the Pussycats-like introverted pop psychology of Personality Disorder; and the King Khan inspired career counselling of In a Rut. If you want to sit back on the couch and gaze into the distance thinking fondly of Sick Kidz’s LSD, then cop a listen to I’ve Been Thinking and get your life in some sort of chaotic mess. Then comes ADHD, nominating a psychological condition to explain everything stupid you’ve done in your life, just in time for the Weezering musing of Getting Old to remind you that bigger shit’s going to happen sometime soon. Maybe that’s what the LA punk spiked Everything is about; a white flag in the face of unavoidable psychological and vocational complexities. But then comes the band’s eponymously titled track, a Ted Nugent-in-a-garage slice of rock’n’roll comfort that makes you realise garage rock is and always will be where it’s at.
FIDLAR are no longer getting drunk with their friends and writing garage punk songs about not giving a fuck. Sure, they’re still singing about drugs and refusing to do what they’re told, but Too explores these pastimes from a totally new angle. While 2013’s self-titled debut was an exhilarating 36-minute collection of songs about teenage excess, Too focuses on what happens when that lifestyle becomes boring and even toxic. Too isn’t lacking catchy pop songs, but it’s a dark journey. 40oz. On Repeat opens proceedings; a punchy pop punk track that features frontman Zac Carper satirically whining about being misunderstood, broke and loveless. Punks, an earlier FIDLAR track revamped for the album, showcases the band’s dirtier, heavier side. Carper’s self-examination continues on Leave Me Alone – you can practically hear him grit his teeth in anxiety and frustration whilst singing about feeling “Fucking crazy.” Overdose evokes images of a dishevelled street musician playing a selfscathing lament at two in the morning. Carper takes a trip down memory lane, his hushed, aching vocals detailing the horrors of his past drug addiction over jangly guitar lines and an unsettling organ melody. It’s the most stripped back and intimate we’ve ever heard FIDLAR. While punchy drums, raging distorted guitar lines and soaring melodies are still there, the inclusion of keys, acoustic guitars and tambourines, and tender, raw lyricism, makes Too an obvious expansion of FIDLAR’s sound. While listeners connected with the band’s debut via feelings of hedonism and resentment towards the world, with Too, listeners can connect to the rollercoaster of emotions associated with self-growth. BY JESS ZANONI
BY PATRICK EMERY
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 67
GIG GUIDE
WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK
For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC • ADAM RUDEGEAIR TRIO Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15.00.
• BAT COUNTRY Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $5.00.
• BIG EASY SOUL SESSIONS Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
• BOPSTRETCH Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
• DIZZY’S BIG BAND WITH PETER HEARNE Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $10.00.
• JC LITTLE BIG BAND 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.
• RUBY & THE CRYSTAL SET Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $12.50.
• STARR-SCHULZ & FRIENDS (MUSICAL
CONVERSATIONS) Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. • TELEK + CHARLES MAIMAROSIA Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $25.00.
• THE ROOKIES The Rooks Return, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
• MASON BOYS Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10.00.
• MT WARNING (PETRIFIED HEART LAUNCH) +
AQUILA YOUNG Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.20.
• NEXT - FEAT: THE PLAYBOOK + SONDER + ONCE
WERE LOST + SEAN DUNLOP Colonial Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $10.00.
• ONE GIRL FUNDRAISER - FEAT: LITTLE LAMB &
THE ROSEMARYS + CAMP COPE + PEPPER JACK Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $8.00.
• PINK HARVEST + SPIRAL ARM + THE BLACK
HEART DEATH CULT Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm.
$7.00.
• PLURAL Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.
• SHOWCASE NIGHTS Purple Emerald, Northcote. 8:00pm.
• THE FCKUPS + SEXGRIMES + FEROCIOUS CHODE +
DIXON CIDER Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
• THE INTERCEPTORS + THE TRANSITIONS +
COLOUR DAZED Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
• THE MONA LISA’S & FRIENDS Laundry Bar, Fitzroy.
• MISS MISS + PALE TRIP + ASTRUDS Public Bar, North
• THE OVER EASYS Claypots Evening Star, South
• NATIONAL CAMPUS BAND COMP (STATE FINAL)
• THE TRIED + GENGHIS CAN’T SWIM + THE
Melbourne. 7:30pm. $6.00.
- FEAT: MALACHI + TWO QUIRKS + DIRTLAND + COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD + ERIC’S TOWN + PRAIRE Bar Open, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. • OPEN MIC + HOSTED BY MARK GARDNER Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 6:00pm.
• PALACE OF THE KING + THE VENDETTAS +
AUDEMIA Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $5.00. • SHIT SEX + TANKERVILLE Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm.
• SLOWLY SLOWLY + SANS + ELLIOT FRIEND Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00.
• TETRAHEDRA + WHEN WE WERE SMALL + TIARYN Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $5.00.
• THE NEW SAVAGES John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm.
• THIRSTY MERC St Kilda Memo, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $30.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK • ALISTER TURRILL & THE VAGABOND BROTHERS
+ DEC MCKINNON & THE KNOCKABOUTS Workers
Club, Geelong. 8:00pm. $5.00.
• CITRONELLA CANDLES + ELEVATOR TALK Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
• COTTON CLUB + BLUE EYES CRY Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 7:30pm.
• GRETTA ZILLER Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm.
• HOUSEMATE OF MINE + NOAH EARP + KEVIN
MURPHY Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $5.00.
• MELBOURNE UKULELE KOLLECTIVE BEGINNER’S
CLASS Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 6:00pm. • OPEN MIC Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 8:00pm. • OPEN MIC Yacht Club Hotel, Williamstown. 7:30pm. • OPEN MIC NIGHT Purple Emerald, Northcote. 8:00pm. • OPEN MIC NIGHT Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:00pm. • ROVIANA LAGOON + THE PEEKS + 1891 + NEW MELBOURNE JANGLE Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00.
• RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE - FEAT: JOEY ELBOWS The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
• WINE WHISKEY WOMEN - FEAT: SLIM DIME +
LEISHA J Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 17
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS • 30/70 COLLECTIVE PRESENTS - FEAT: ANOTHER
BATCH + ALLYSHA JOY + OLIVER PATERSON BEAT PROJECT + TIARYN GRIGGS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
• A RIOTING MIND + TREES FOR RURU + PRAIRIE
WESSMAN Carters Bar, Northcote. 8:00pm. • HYPNO SEX RAY + WOO WHO + THE YOUNG SAVIOURS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. • JUNK MNEMONIC - FEAT: DEEP LACUNA E + T.MORIMOTO + TLAOTLON + REFUND + XENOSINE Catfish, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00.
• KINGS & QUEENS (COFFIN CAROUSEL LAUNCH) +
EVOLUTION OF SELF + MUSHROOM GIANT + ROXY WIFI + CONJURER + SIDEWAYS Prince Bandroom, St
Kilda. 7:00pm. $14.30.
8:00pm. $10.00.
Melbourne. 8:00pm.
TRAITORS Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.
• THE WHITE TREE BAND Big Mouth, St Kilda. 7:00pm.
• VINTAGE RUIN + MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENT +
TWISTED FATE + FALSE PROPHET Mr Boogie Man Bar,
Abbottsford. 8:00pm.
NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH + REIKA + BARRY TONES + YASUMO The Shadow Electric, Abbotsford.
7:30pm. $10.00.
• YOUNG POETS + MILD MANIC + THE GORDONS Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $10.00.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC • ANNA POWELL & SCOTT GRIFFITHS Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $12.50.
• ARTHUR PENN & THE FUNKY TEN + UP UP AWAY +
ALEX LAHEY Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8.00. • BEETET - FEAT: BELINDA PARSONS Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $20.00.
• BOHJASS + SANDWICH JESUS 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. • KYLIE AULDIST + DJS VINCE & PIERRE Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00.
• LA DESCARGA Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.
• MELBOURNE IMPROVISERS COLLECTIVE Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
• MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - FEAT: PREQUEL + EDD
FISHER + BABICKA Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm.
• MOZART’S SYMPHONY NO.40 - FEAT:
MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Melbourne
Recital Centre, Southbank. 8:00pm. $57.00.
• SOUL REVUE - FEAT: THE STAX BROTHERS + DJ
ROY + DJ DEL Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm.
$10.00.
• TANGRAMS + THE TROPES + GIRL CRAZY + HI-TEC
EMOTIONS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. • THE GOOD EGG THURSDAYS - FEAT: HENRY WHO + TIGERFUNK + LEWIS CANCUT Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.
• THE GUMBO CLUB - FEAT: THE BLUES BASH Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 5:30pm.
• THE NEW IMPROMPTU QUARTET + ALEXANDER
NETTELBECK Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm.
$10.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK • ALICE WILLIAMS Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm. • BACKSTAGE BLUES NIGHT - FEAT: MIKE
ELRINGTON + THE SHAKE SHACK BOOGIE HOUSE BAND + DJ BARRY MAXWELL Musicland, Fawkner.
7:30pm.
• CLOSET STRAIGHTS + SHORES Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 8:00pm.
• DARYL ROBERTS Wine Larder, Brighton. 6:00pm.
• DAVY SIMONY (LAYERS LAUNCH) + AMISTAT +
JAYDEN REID Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm.
$10.00.
• JACKSON MCLAREN Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.
• JAYNE WEST Charles Weston Hotel, Brunswick. 6:30pm. • MICK TURNER + THE ELECTRIC GUITARS +
Melbourne. 7:30pm. $8.00. Northcote. 7:30pm.
• OPEN MIC Station 59, Richmond. 8:00pm.
• LUNA + SAND PEBBLES Northcote Social Club,
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 68
CIRCA SURVIVE
Ever toeing the line between post-hardcore and prog-rock are Circa Survive, flying back into Oz this week to rock new material from their latest release, Descensus. Along with fellow Ameri-friends PVRIS, check out Circa Survive this Sunday September 20 at 170 Russell, with an all ages gig the following night.
• YOU ARE HERE! LAUNCH PARTY - FEAT:
CAROLINE NO Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. • NEWS FROM NOWHERE Melbourne Recital Centre,
• KITTEN CLUB + BULL DOG RADIO Public Bar, North
GIG OF THE WEEK!
Southbank. 6:00pm. $28.00.
• OPEN MIC NITE Inkerman Hotel, Balaclava. 7:30pm.
• SMALL HOUR SONGS - FEAT: RYAN J DOWNEY +
TIM HAINES The Rooks Return, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
• SPLIT SECONDS + OLIVERS ARMY + GEM BONES Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
• STRINGS FOR BELTS + COSMOS + TEX NATIVES +
SLIM PICKINS Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.
• THE CLAREMONT STREET SINGERS + KINEMATIC Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
• THE RAILWAY GANG STRING BAND Railway Hotel, Fitzroy North. 8:30pm.
• TINGY CELESTINO Yacht Club Hotel, Williamstown. 8:00pm.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS • 3 ON THE TREE Inkerman Hotel, Balaclava. 8:00pm.
• 80’S MANIA - FEAT: PAUL YOUNG + NIK KERSHAW
+ GO WEST + CUTTING CREW Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:30pm. $94.65.
• 80’S NIGHT Karova Lounge, Ballarat. 10:00pm. $5.00.
• BURIED IN VERONA + HAND OF MERCY + VOID OF
VISION + POLARIS + ATLANTIC Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy.
8:00pm. $22.00.
• CALAMITY LANE + ROSIE AND THE MIGHTY KINGS
+ THE LOVELIES + JOSH NOVAK Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:00pm. $10.00.
• CAPTAIN SPALDING Customs House Hotel, Williamstown. 9:30pm.
• CLAIRE BIRCHALL & THE PHANTOM HITCH-
HIKERS + JAMES MCCANN & THE NEW VINDICTIVES + GARY GREY & THE SIXTH CIRCLE + DRONGO & THE DRONGOS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
$13.00.
• COLD IRONS BOUND Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 8:00pm.
• COSMIC PSYCHOS + THE PEEP TEMPEL + HIGH
TENSION + UV RACE + WOD 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $30.00.
• DARCY BAYLIS + LEISURE SUITE + AMATEUR
DANCE (DJ SET) Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $10.00.
• DUSTIN TEBBUTT (HOME LAUNCH) + JESSE
DAVIDSON + CAITLIN PARK Corner Hotel, Richmond.
8:30pm. $26.00.
• EINSTEINS TOYBOYS + MADE IN PURPLE Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10.00.
• EMPRA Workers Club, Geelong. 8:00pm. $5.00.
• FINISHING SCHOOL Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 9:30pm.
Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $5.00.
• GRAVEY + BOTTLECAPS + THE SHORTS + AS A
RIVAL + NORTHWOOD Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 7:30pm. $5.00.
• HEY HEY IT’S FRIDAY - FEAT: ASTRO BOYS Royal Hotel, Essendon. 10:00pm.
• HIPPIE DEATH STAR + COSA NOSTRA Public Bar, North Melbourne. 4:00pm.
• INSTROMANIA - FEAT: INTOXICA + HOT WINGS
+ BARBARA BLAZE DJ + GOGO GODDESSES The
Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00.
• LA DANSE MACABRE + BRUNSWICK MASSIVE
RESIDENT DJS Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
• LOWER PLENTY + SWEET WHIRL + MIRAGE Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
• LUCKY 13 GARAGE - FEAT: CITY SHARPS +
SUBURBAN PROPHETS + SWAMP DONKEY + STRANGERS IN TOWN Lucky 13 Garage, Moorabbin. 8:00pm. $10.00.
• MARICOPA WELLS + SANS The B.east, Brunswick East. 9:30pm.
• MIDNIGHT WOOLF Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 9:00pm.
• MORNING MELODIES - FEAT: AURORA: LADIES OF
THE SILVER SCREEN Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 10:00am. $17.00.
• MY LEFT BOOT + SWIDGEN + MUSCLE CAR
+ DRIFTER + TERMINAL WALLY Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
• PAUL MCMANUS & THE MAYBLOOMS + ALANNAH
WEIR & THE HALF TALLS Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm.
• PIRATE PARTY - FEAT: MONKEY’S PIRATE +
REDEMPTION RD + SFORZANDO + RUM RUNNER Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 6:00pm.
• PITT THE ELDER + THE GIRL FRIDAS + RAXCHEL
MARIA COX + ESS-EM Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00.
• SEAN MOLLOY + BJ MORRISZONKLE + LOVERS
OF THE BLACK BIRD + DJ RICHIE 1250 Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
• SUN GOD REPLICA Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm.
• THE EMERSON ROOFTOP (LIVE BAND) The Emerson, South Yarra. 4:00pm.
• THE EXPERIENCE (45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
PASSING OF JIMI HENDRIX) + PALACE OF THE KING Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong. 8:00pm. • THE NAYSAYERS + UNCLE BOBBY + LIEUTENANT JAM + THE SOLICITORS Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $9.50.
• THE RIFLEBIRDS The Eastern, Ballarat East. 8:00pm. $15.00.
$10.00.
• THE ROLLING STONES (SOME GIRLS REVIVAL)
Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm.
• THE STARKS (THE EARTH & THE EGO LAUNCH)
• FOREST FALLS + HOOPER CRESCENT + DJ KEZBOT • FRIDA + PLASTIC + TULLY ON TULLY Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00.
• GENERAL MEN + MESSED UP + OVERTIME Grace
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $28.00. Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm.
• THE SUICIDE TUESDAYS + LUKE SEYMOUR BAND
SAINT JUDE
After releasing their second studio album II about a year ago, Saint Jude have come back to launch their third offering, the aptly titled III. If you’re on the prowl for some country soul and rock’n’roll this Saturday September 19, head to Shadow Electric and let Saint Jude slide you into Sunday.
+ GLADSTONE + THE FLYING SO HIGH-O’S + BRODOWN Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:00pm. $10.00. • TIJUANA CARTEL Max Watt’s, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $25.00. • TORK Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:00pm. • WATT’S ON PRESENTS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:30pm.
• WOODLOCK + DES CHIO + XURE + DYNAMIC +
FANCY DRESS PARTY Glen Waverley Community Centre, Glen Waverley. 7:00pm. $10.00.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC • CARMEN St Kilda Memo, St Kilda. 3:00pm. $23.00.
• CHRISTOPHE GENOUX + ROGER CLARK QUARTET Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $16.00.
• DANA CZARSKI Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $10.00.
• DJ FUNK MCRUMP The Rooks Return, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. • HARMANIAX Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm.
• LEIGH BARKER & THE NEW SHEIKS Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $25.00.
• MAX TEAKLE Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm. • RAE HOWELL + NEW MUSIC NETWORK St Kilda Memo, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $27.00.
• SIMONE YOUNG & BRAHMS - FEAT: EMMA
MATTHEWS Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm.
THE SMITH STREET BAND
You live in Melbourne, these guys live and breathe Melbourne. They’ve just come back from touring Europe and if their Poison City Weekender appearance is anything to go by, The Smith Street Band are fucking pumped to be back. They play The Corner this Saturday September 19 and Sunday September 20, along with The Sugarcanes, The Sidekicks and Andrew Jackson Jihad. Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $18.00.
• STEVE LUCAS Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 5:00pm. • THE ALLEGED ASSOCIATES + ZERAFINA ZARA Smokehouse 101, Maidstone. 7:00pm.
• THE FLAMING MONGRELS + OWEN THOMAS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS • 8 FOOT FELIX & THE COASTBUSTERS +
CAPTAIN BLACK HEAD + SYE SAXON DJ + GOGO GODDESSES The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00. • AYAWATAMAYA + LITTLE MURDERS + THE STONEAGE HEARTS + JODY & THE JOY RIDERS
Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $15.00.
• BURIED IN VERONA + HAND OF MERCY + VOID OF
VISION + POLARIS + PRIDELANDS + AMBLESIDE Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 2:00pm. $22.00.
• DANGER FEST! ‘15 - FEAT: BLACK ACES
• THE 2015 HARMONY GOLDRUSH Hamer Hall (arts
• ESC (HINTERLAND LAUNCH) + LEISURE SUITE +
Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $25.00.
9:00pm.
Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 9:30am. $25.00.
• THE 2015 HARMONY GOLDRUSH Hamer Hall (arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 7:30pm. $25.00.
• THE BAMBOOS + DJ CHRIS GILL Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm.
• THE BAND WHO KNEW TOO MUCH Open Studio,
9:00pm.
Prahran. 8:00pm. $10.00.
THE GALAXY FOLK + JAMIL ZACHARIA Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $10.00.
• EVIL TWIN Catfish, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
• HAVE YOU EVER BEEN LONELY? - LORETTA
MILLER SINGS PATSY CLINE Caravan Music Club,
Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $23.00.
Northcote. 8:30pm.
• HOLY SERPENT + CEMENT PIG Tote Hotel,
Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $20.00.
• HUGO RACE & THE TRUE SPIRIT Post Office Hotel,
West Melbourne. 6:00pm.
• INFERNAL BLISS + THE SHORTS + AVORA + AGENT
• THE PULFORD/MULDER NONET Paris Cat Jazz Club, • TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION Drunken Poet, • WHAT THE FUNK FRIDAYS Purple Emerald, Northcote. 9:00pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK • ANDY PHILLIPS & THE CADILLAC WALK Black Hatt, Geelong. 8:00pm.
• ANNA CORDELL Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. • CHRIS WILSON Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 5:00pm.
• DARYL ROBERTS + HEY GRINGO Mordialloc Sporting Club, Mordialloc. 7:00pm.
• DAVEYS FRIDAYS - FEAT: ROB & TARQUIN +
SUPERFLY DJS Daveys Bar & Restaurant, Frankston.
9:00pm.
• FOX COMPANY + THREE QUARTER BEAST + WILD
VIOLET + TWIN AGES Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm. $13.00.
• FRIDAY LIVE MUSIC - FEAT: MICK PEALING Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 8:00pm.
• JULES BOULT Catfish, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
Collingwood. 5:00pm.
Coburg. 9:30pm.
37 Karova Lounge, Ballarat. 8:30pm. $8.00. • INTERNAL ROT + SICK MACHINE + CULTURE OF IGNORANCE + MIDWIFE + DESPERATE PIGS + IMPACT ZONE Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 7:00pm. $10.00. • JOHN KENDALL & THE SHOT GLASSES Inkerman Hotel, Balaclava. 8:00pm.
• JUKAI FOREST DUO Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.
• KIDS IN CONTROL + THE INNOCENCE + STUCK OUT
+ DEAR LAURA Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. • LAMA + PURPLE TUSKS + DAVE ADAMS THREESOME Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. • LAURA PALMER + FEAR LIKE US + SUMMER BLOOD + MARICOPA WELLS + SHADOW LEAGUE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00.
• MIDNIGHT ALIBI (LOVE YOURSELF SICK LAUNCH)
+ SISTERS DOLL + DARCEE FOX Cherry Bar, Melbourne
• MISS WHISKEY Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:30pm.
• RODGER DELFOS BEATRIDERS Pascoe Vale Rsl, Pascoe Vale. 8:00pm. $8.00.
• ROYMACKONKY - FEAT: ROY MACKONKY + VI +
WHOOPIE CAY Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:30pm.
• SOUL SACRIFICE (THE MUSIC OF SANTANA) Flying
AGONHYMN + ABRE OJOS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 6:30pm. $18.00.
• SAINT JUDE (III LAUNCH) + HOWL AT THE MOON +
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC • ALLAN BROWNE + MARC HANNAFORD + SAM
PANKHURST Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
• FISTFUL OF SOUL - FEAT: FULTON STREET + DJ
Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $10.00.
FIRST TIME LAUNCH) Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne
• THE GROOVETONES Harts Hotel, Footscray. 8:30pm.
FEAT: CLAYMORE + COCHEOL + JANETTE GERI + NICOLAS LYON + SADIE MUSTOE Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 6:00pm. $18.00.
• THE PRAYER BABIES Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
• THE SENSATIONAL HURRICANES + THE BIRDS &
THE BEES Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm.
• THE SNOWDROPPERS + FOOD COURT + TOOTH &
TUSK Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $17.00.
• VAN WALKER Charles Weston Hotel, Brunswick. 6:00pm.
• ZOE RYAN & THE DANDY LIONS + RACHEL CLARK
+ JEN KINGWELL Workers Club, Fitzroy. 1:00pm. $7.00.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20
Cbd. 8:00pm. $35.00.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
Brunswick. 5:00pm.
• CELTIC WOMAN Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne.
• MORELAND CITY SOUL REVUE Union Hotel, • MOZART’S SYMPHONY NO.40 - FEAT:
7:30pm. $90.74.
MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Melbourne
Recital Centre, Southbank. 6:30pm. $69.00.
• PANORAMA BRASIL + JACQUELINE GAWLER Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $25.00.
• PHILA PARA Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 6:00pm. • REFLEJOS Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.
• REVERSE SWING Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00.
• SARAH MACLAINE - FEAT: SARAH MACLAINE &
THE ROGER CLARK QUARTET + ROGER CLARK QUARTET Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $16.00. • SIMON HUDSON BAND + DIANA MAY CLARK & THE SUNNY SET + DOMINI FORSTER + O’ZIRIGUIDUM SAMBA SCHOOL. Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:30pm. $12.00.
• SIMON HUDSON BAND (EARTHMAN LAUNCH)
+ DOMINI FORSTER + DIANA MAY CLARK & THE SUNNY SET Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:30pm. $15.30. • THE 2015 HARMONY GOLDRUSH Hamer Hall (arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 8:00pm. $25.00.
• THE 2015 HARMONY GOLDRUSH Hamer Hall (arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 10:00am. $25.00.
• THE OFFTOPICS & RED EAGLE + CROSSFIRE
HURRICANE + FUNK RABBIT + THAT GOLD STREET SOUND Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00. • TUXEDO + MAYER HAWTHORNE + JAKE ONE Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $37.75.
• YASUKAZU KANO & A.YA Open Studio, Northcote. 5:00am.
• YOLANDA INGLEY II BAND Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK • BETTER LATE THAN NEVER (CANCER
FUNDRAISER) Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:00pm. $50.00.
• BLUE EYES CRY + ZEVON HILTZ Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:30pm.
Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
• JOHN GUNN & FRIENDS Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.
• JOSH MCDONALD & ROYAL PARADE + LOST
WOODS + THE TEALEAVES 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.
ALI E The Shadow Electric, Abbotsford. 7:30pm. • SATURDAYS R COVERED - FEAT: RADIO STAR Royal
• KARAOKE WITH ZOE Customs House Hotel,
• SLUM SOCIABLE Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm.
• THE BERKELEY HUNTS + GEORGIA MAQ Old Bar,
Hotel, Essendon. 10:00pm.
EMPIRE Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. $10.00.
• THE MALDON FOLK FESTIVAL SHOWCASE -
• DREAMBOOGIE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm.
• RUINS + VYRION + GRAVIER + MAR MORTUUM +
8:30pm.
Fitzroy. 3:00pm.
• THE ENGAGEMENTS + BELOVE + BRASH THE
OHHS Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00.
Geelong. 9:30pm.
• MINIBIKES + THE SCOUTS Spotted Mallard, Brunswick.
Get some Aussie tunes into you this Friday night. Cosmic Psychos have been stumbling down the east coast to wrap up their Bum For Grubs tour, but it doesn’t just end there. The Peep Tempel, High Tension and W.O.D are all confirmed to play, so what’s stopping you? Friday September 18, 170 Russell.
Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm.
• TINY GIANTS + WHITE BLEACHES + GONZO + DARE
• DR. RICS DISHONOURABLE DISCHARGE Brunswick
• PHONETICS + K!NGS AND ALTITUDE Black Hatt,
COSMIC PSYCHOS
• THE GROOVETONES Harts Hotel, Footscray. 8:30pm.
Cbd. 5:00pm. $13.00.
• MATT DWYER & THE MAGNATONES Big Huey’s Diner, South Melbourne. 8:00pm.
JIHAD + THE SIDEKICKS + THE SUGARCANES
• KIMBA GRIFFITH’S SEPTET (EACH TIME THE
• EMPRA (REBECCA LAUNCH) Revolver Upstairs,
Town, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm.
• THE SMITH STREET BAND + ANDREW JACKSON
• BRITISH STEEL + MADE IN PURPLE + COVERDALE
Theatre, Thornbury. 7:00pm. $35.00.
• TASH SULTANA + ANNA O Penny Black, Brunswick.
+ RICHARD KELLY + HYSTERIC + K HOOP Toff In
• THE BLACK ALLEYS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 2:00am. $7.00.
• BOWIE UNZIPPED - FEAT: JEFF DUFF Thornbury
Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
• STEVE SEDERGREEN (POINTS IN TIME) Paris Cat
• SLEAZY LISTENING - FEAT: STEELE BONUS + ARKS
Tijuana Cartel grab flamenco guitar and drop it into a vat of synth drenched dance, obviously producing some pretty sick stuff. They’re dropping their latest album, Psychadelicatessen, this Friday September 18 night at Max Watt’s. Don’t miss out.
VINCE PEACH + JEREMY ROBERTSON + DJ LADY SOUL Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $7.80. • JAMAICA JUMP-UP #6 - FEAT: JESSE I + MOHAIR SLIM + STRYKA D + RUDI POWELL + WALLY WALLY + PAT POWELL & JUMP-UP ALL-STARS Gasometer
+ DOUBLEBLACK + KILL DIRTY YOUTH + HYPERMANIA + MURDER RATS + ORGAN DONOR + THE BALLS Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm. • DIAMONDS OF NEPTUNE + NEON QUEEN + MACHINE GUN SUNRISE Penny Black, Brunswick.
$70.00.
TIJUANA CARTEL
$10.00.
Williamstown. 9:00pm.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 69
GIG GUIDE
WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK
THE PUSH PRESENT
ACCESS ALL AGES
For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au • GALIT KLAS CABARET & TAMARA VASILEVITSKY Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $10.00.
• HETTY KATE QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm.
JIHAD + THE SIDEKICKS + FLOUR Corner Hotel,
Richmond. 7:30pm.
• JANET ROSS FAHY & THE ABSOLUTE BAND Milano’s
• THE WINNEBAGO LOUNGE - FEAT: THE SKA
• KATCHAFIRE Pier Live, Frankston. 7:00pm. $39.00.
• THIRSTY MERC + THE LOVELY DAYS Karova Lounge,
Tavern, Brighton. 1:30pm.
• KELLY AUTY BAND Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East.
VENDORS + DR PUMP St Kilda Memo, St Kilda. 5:00pm. Ballarat. 7:30pm. $30.00.
5:30pm.
• WALLFLOWER + NONIE + THE TWOKS + EMILEE
Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:30pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
• MARTHA WAINWRIGHT + MICHAEL BURROWS • MENINA FLOR Open Studio, Northcote. 9:00pm.
WITH RUTH MIHELCIC
Thornbury. 5:00pm.
• THE SMITH STREET BAND + ANDREW JACKSON
SOUTH Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $10.00.
KATCHAFIRE
New Zealand’s premiere reggae and soul act Katchafire are boogying their way across Australia this September, and we’re the only city that gets two dates. Eat shit Sydney. Catch a Katchafire this Saturday September 19 at Max Watt’s, or Thursday October 1 at Brunswick Hotel. Or just go to both.
• MUSICAL THEATRE OPEN MIC NIGHT Ruby’s Music
• A BLONDE MOMENT Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale.
• ONOMATOPEIA - FEAT: ROBERTA LOVE + MERVE +
• BILLY MILLER (AUSTRALIA LAUNCH) + REBECCA
MOSES BROWN Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. • SOUL SUNDAYS - FEAT: THE SHUG MONKEYS + KARATE BOOGALOO Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. • SOUVENIR DE FLORENCE - FEAT: AUSTRALIAN OCTET Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 2:30pm.
• CHRIS WILSON Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4:00pm.
• MASCO SOUND SYSTEM + PETER LUBULWA
• ELWOOD BLUES CLUB Prince Public Bar, St Kilda .
• MONDAY NIGHT MASS - FEAT: BREVE + HIDEOUS
• STANDING TALL Open Studio, Northcote. 4:30pm.
• EZRA LEE & THE HAVOC BAND Gem Bar, Collingwood.
Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10.00.
$31.00.
• SUNDAY SOUL SESSIONS Purple Emerald, Northcote. 9:00pm.
8:00pm.
BARNARD + PAUL KELLY + ANDREW DUFFIELD Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 3:00pm. $18.00.
• COLD HEART Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. 8:00pm.
8:00pm.
• FENN WILSON Union Hotel, Brunswick. 3:30pm.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
• FIELD + SEE + MASON Royal Oak Hotel, Fitzroy North.
• ANNAN BLIX + DUOUX + FRANK SOCIETY Grace
• JAMES MARK 303, Northcote. 7:30pm. $5.00.
Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm. $5.00.
• BANG - FEAT: AMBLESIDE + THE EVERCOLD +
4:00pm.
• JESSE VALACH BLUES (MOUNTAIN LAUNCH) Catfish, Fitzroy. 3:30pm. $10.00.
DISASTERS Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd.
• JOHN DOWLER VANITY PROJECT Labour In Vain,
• BEERSOAKED SUNDAYS - FEAT: MALLEE SONGS
• KEN MAHER + TONY HARGREAVES Lomond Hotel,
7:00pm. $20.00.
+ ZIG ZAG + SLEEP DECADE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
Fitzroy. 5:00pm.
Brunswick East. 9:00pm.
Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $3.00.
TOWNS + THE ZEBRAS + JIMMY CHANG Northcote
Social Club, Northcote. 8:00pm.
• MUNDANE MONDAYS - FEAT: MARLO EGGPLANT +
ROSALIND HALL + CAROLYN CONNORS & FJORN + AUX ASSEMBLY Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. • SLUM SOCIABLE Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $12.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK • ISAAC DE HEER & JESS LOCKE Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 22
$5.00.
• KERRYN FIELDS (RASCAL LAUNCH) Spotted Mallard,
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 2:00pm. $12.00.
• LILITH LANE + EMILY ULMAN Reverence Hotel,
• ANNA’S GO-GO ACADEMY Bella Union Bar, Carlton.
• LILITH LANE + EMILY ULMAN + JENNY & THE
• BERNADETA GLOW & SCOTT GRIFFITHS Ruby’s
• BIG STRONG BRUTE & BEN SALTER + HALF/CUT • CIRCA SURVIVE + PVRIS 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $49.50.
• CREPES + CIGGY WITCH + GREGOR & REUBEN +
RIVER YARRA + PAULY C PAULY DO + JAMESY Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 3:00pm. $10.00.
• EASY RIDER SOUNDTRACK - FEAT: BRIAN
NANKERVIS & THE DING DONG ALL STARS Ding
Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm.
Brunswick. 4:00pm. $10.00. Footscray. 3:00pm.
CLIFTON HILLBILLIES Scratch Warehouse, North
Melbourne. 7:00pm.
• LIVE & KICKING WITH SAMMIGOLD + ACE
BRICKLAYING Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:30pm.
• LOW RENT + JIMMY DOWLING + IAN COLLARD Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 2:00pm.
• JAM AT MUSICLAND SUNDAYS Musicland, Fawkner.
• MATT GLASS + JANE MCARTHUR Gasometer Hotel,
• MINIMUM WAGE - FEAT: SARAH MARY CHADWICK
• MICHELLE GARDINER Customs House Hotel,
7:30pm.
+ GUY PARKMAN BAND + SWEET WHIRL Public Bar,
Balaclava. 4:00pm.
4:30pm.
• THE ETHER + ASSETSTRIPPER + SKIM THE RIM Bar Open, Fitzroy. 7:30pm.
• THE EXPERIENCE (45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
PASSING OF JIMI HENDRIX) + NAT ALLISON & THE TOUCH RESPONSE Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $12.00.
• THE FAQS + BEYOND VEGAS + WHIR Tago Mago,
• OSCAR LUSH Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.
BOB HUTCHISON TRIO + CIARAN BOYLE + SPACEMONKEY MAFIA 303, Northcote. 3:00pm. • RYAN VAGER + LALIC Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm. • SEB MONT Big Mouth, St Kilda. 7:00pm. • SIDESHOW BRIDES Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. • STREAMLINERS Big Huey’s Diner, South Melbourne. 4:00pm.
• SUNDAY SESSION - FEAT: BRUNSY Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 2:00pm.
• SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm.
• SYNCHRONICITY SEPTEMBER 2.0 - FEAT: CARL
DUNAI + BRETT CLARK + THE HUNTERS EXPRESS + PETER CALVERT Carters Bar, Northcote. 6:00pm. • THE HOUSEWRECKERS + MISS WHISKEY + DJ MAX CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 2:00pm. $5.00.
• THE LUAU COWBOYS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC WANTED ACTS WANTED FOR SUNDAY ROCK SHOWS contact: mark@gunnmusic.com.au BANDS/DUOS/SOLO ACTS WANTED for Acoustic/Indie Fest - contact: mark@gunnmusic.com.au ROCK/METAL ACTS WANTED for local rock shows - contact: mark@gunnmusic.com.au SOLO RECORDING ARTIST SEEKS BACKING: bass, drums & guitar for album launch. Style is power pop punk rock. Text or leave a voicemail: 0424 099 059. This is a paid gig. FOUND ELDERLY GENTLEMAN with a Myki and a troubling song about the life and times of the roller coaster operator with one hand. Answers to Fandangles but he doesn’t like it. If you have any information please send it to Locked Bag 11, Crows Nest, NSW, 2065 via carrier pigeon. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 70
• SASSY SISTERS + RACHEL CAMERINO Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $10.00.
• THE SLIPDIXIES 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.
• PAT BRUCE & THE BACCHANALIANS +
• SIME NUGENT & THE CAPES Post Office Hotel, Coburg.
6:00pm. $10.00.
• RACHAEL COMTE DUO Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm.
Williamstown. 3:00pm.
Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $8.00.
• RATTLIN BONES BLACKWOOD Inkerman Hotel,
11:00am. $44.00.
• PETER VOGLIS Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd.
• THE SENEGAMBIAN JAZZ BAND + STAV Toff In Town,
• OPEN MIC SUNDAY Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 6:30pm.
• MUD PEAS Black Hatt, Geelong. 4:00pm.
Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $12.50.
• ORAVA QUARTET Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank.
Collingwood. 6:00pm. $12.00.
North Melbourne. 4:00pm.
• MOMENTUM - FEAT: THE FOREIGN BROTHERS
6:30pm. $10.00.
• 303 JAM 303, Northcote. 8:15pm.
Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10.00.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS • FRESH INDUSTRY SHOWCASES Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm.
• GHOST DICK + DICEY’S PIZZA HOUSE BAND +
HUNTING DOGS Public Bar, North Melbourne. 7:30pm.
$6.00.
• GILLIGAN SMILES + BEARS + SUN BAZEL Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $7.00.
• HEART OF ST KILDA CONCERT - FEAT: BRIAN
NANKERVIS + KASEY CHAMBERS + ARJ BARKER + THE BLACK SORROWS + COL JOYE + MANY MORE Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:00pm. $79.00.
• KOOYEH + KARATE BOOGALOO + JAMIL ZACHARIA Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $7.00.
• NIRVANA NIGHT Tago Mago, Thornbury. 7:00pm.
• SHERLOCK + YASMIN SUMNER + DARK FAIR +
CABLE TIES Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $6.00.
• SLEEPING WITH SIRENS + STORM THE SKY 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 2:00pm. $55.90.
• SLEEPING WITH SIRENS + STORM THE SKY 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $55.90.
• SUPER SALOON + STONE REVIVAL + WILD VIOLET Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
• CHARLOTTE ROBERTS (VARIETY NIGHT) Open
• LAKYN Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
• MATTEO MOTTO Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd.
• TASTE OF INDIE TUESDAY - FEAT: ASPIRING
Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm.
6:00pm. $10.00.
• PANORAMA - FEAT: PLEXUS Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 6:00pm. $28.00.
• PENY BOHAN + BOADZ Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.
SONGWRITER SESSIONS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda .
8:00pm.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS • CHERRY JAM Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
• CIRCA SURVIVE + PVRIS 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 1:00pm. $49.50.
• DECLAN MCKINNON & THE KNOCKABOUTS +
ALTITUDE + PLOTZ Public Bar, North Melbourne. 7:30pm. $6.00.
• JARROW + FOREVER SON + PIGEON BOY + DAVID
O’CONNOR Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $6.00. WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Face The Music and FReeZA are pleased to announce up to 25 scholarships for young people who have participated in the FReeZA Program and are committed to developing a career in the contemporary music and entertainment sectors. Successful applicants will receive a complementary pass to Face The Music conference, workshop opportunities, and reimbursement for V-Line travel. If you’re aged under 25 and have been involved with FReeZA in any way (as a volunteer or musician) or in your local community, then you’re eligible. Get more info at www.thepush. com.au and apply by October 12. Attention Victorian songwriters: Push Songs’ innovative and inspiring songwriting mentoring program continues throughout October and November and again it’s free. To develop your songwriting skills, successful applicants will take part in three one-on-one songwriting workshops alongside Charles Jenkins and mentors Jess Cornelius (Teeth & Tongue), Hayden Calnin, Phoebe Baker (Alpine) and Fraser A. Gorman. Participants will also be invited to join the Tuesday Night Song Club and meet and share ideas and live performance opportunities with fellow songwriters. Push Songs is open to anyone from anywhere in Victoria of any age, and the program is based in Brunswick. Apply at www.surveymonkey.com/r/R4PS2015 by October 5. If you’re aged between 16 and 22 and live outside the big cities, enter the Heywire competition to be heard. Tell your story using video, audio, photos or text. Winning stories will be featured on the ABC. Entries close September 16 and more info is at www.abc. net.au/heywire The New Palm Court Orchestra is seeking an energetic ‘go getter’ for a three month, part-time Public Relations and Marketing Intern position, joining the Marketing and Communications team. The purpose of the position is to support communications campaigns to promote performances of the orchestra and to focus on client relations, social media and marketing. Submit your CV and cover letter discussing the selection criteria to Andy Lee, Non-Executive Director, The New Palm Court Orchestra at info@npco.com.au. Applications close September 21. The Darebin Music Feast Songwriters’ Award is an annual songwriting competition that seeks to recognise, showcase and promote the talents of local songwriters. Over 100 entries are received each year with finalists performing before a panel of distinguished local musicians as part of the Darebin Music Feast. There’s an amazing prize package to be won including cash and studio time. Past winners include Jordie Lane, Sal Kimber, Ben Mason, Dan Flynn and Maddie Duke. For more info on to apply go to www.musicfeast. com.au/take-part and enter by September 23. In other news, SYN Media are hosting a free one day workshop this month for young people from regional areas to build their skills in radio. If you’re under 26 and living outside metro Melbourne and are keen to learn how to present or produce a radio program, join them for the sessions taking place at the House of Syn (16 Cardigan St, Carlton) on September 24. Places are limited so book early by emailing national@syn.org.au.
ALL AGES GIG GUIDE
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18 • Spring Sounds Underage - Invite Only w/ Elli Madison, Corey Smith, Jo Jo, Future Not Found, Alavate, Alex M at Epping Memorial Hall, 827 High St, Epping, 5pm10pm, $10, www.baselinewhittlesea.com, U18 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20 • Loddon Mallee Hume Skate Series Wodonga Heat at James Scott Memorial Skate Park, Willow Park, Wodonga, 10.30am-5pm, Free, www.wodonga.vic.gov. au, www.facebook.com/wodongayouth, AA • Ownlife Skate Workshop w/ Richard Flude, Rachel Delphin at Warrnambool Skate Park, Pertobe Rd, Warrnambool, 10am-4.30pm, Free, www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au, AA MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21 • Skateboarding Workshop at Casterton Skatepark, 10am-3.30pm, Free, www. glenelg.vic.gov.au/FReeZA, AA
Wed 16th September
W I N E , W H I S K EY, W O M E N 8pm: Leisha J 9pm: Slim Dime (duo) Thurs 17th September
Kinematic 9pm: The Claremont Street Singers 8pm:
Fri 18th September
6pm: Traditional
Irish Session
Miss Whiskey Saturday 19th September 9pm: Dreamboogie Sunday 20th September 2pm: Jimmy Dowling 4pm: Ian Collard 6.30pm: Low Rent 8:30pm:
Tuesdays
weekly trivia The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (directly opposite Queen Vic Market), Phone: 03 9348 9797. www.thedrunkenpoet.com.au
WEDNESDAY 16TH 7PM
MELLOW DIAS THUMP FEAT.
CAZEAUX O.S.L.O & GUESTS THURSDAY 17TH 7PM
THE BURN OUT FRIDAY 18TH 7PM
RAW WAX + TSUBA SATURDAY 19TH 7PM
CALYPSO OF HOUSE FEAT.
PAUL JAGER + FRIENDS SUNDAY 20TH 7PM
SAM HEATLEY + FRIENDS
KIndRED STuDIOS 13 REHearsal ROOMS $65 FLAT RATE* *$65 ex. deluxe rooms
v s
IN YARRAVILLE
FULLY EQUIPPED LICENsed Live Venue BACKLINE for Hire
a
s
STORAGE AVAILABLE Booked bands drink at HAPPY HR PRICES
kindredstudios.com.au
03 9687 0233
PA HIRE Comprehensive PA systems delivered, set up and operated with crew. Compact, easy, sound systems you can pickup and assemble yourself.Components such as microphones, speakers and effects are also available separately. Lights also available. For details phone Mark Barry on 03 9889 1999 or 0419 993 966
www.bssound.com.au bssound@bigpond.com
18 DUFFY ST BURWOOD WWW.HYDRASTUDIOS.COM.AU
HYDRA REHEARSAL STUDIOS BOOK A ROOM! CALL: 0417 000 397 • 2000 WATT HK AUDIO/MACKIE PAs • TEN CLEAN, 30M2 ROOMS • STORAGE • DRUMKIT/AMP HIRE • AIR CON
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP
With Christie Eliezer * Stuff for this column to be emailed to <celiezer@netspace.net.au> by Friday 5pm
SUICIDE, DEPRESSION, PLAGUES ENTERTAINMENT BIZ Suicide and depression plague the Australian entertainment industry, in a report conducted by Victoria University and released through Entertainment Assist. People in the industry considering suicide were five to seven times more than the general population, roadies were almost nine times more. The report found that intake of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and speed was much higher than that of most Australians, worsened by low pay, erratic working hours and limited social contact. See beat.com.au and entertainmentassist.org.au for full figures. Her Majesty’s Theatre will host the Out From Under fundraiser on Monday September 21 for awareness and dialogue about mental health issues in the entertainment industry. It is organised by artist manager Matthew Henderson, hosted by Julia Zemiro and directed by Kelley Abbey. Confirmed acts include iOTA, Daniel MacPherson, Dami Im, Debra Byrne, Silvie Paladino and Michael Cormick. Tickets at www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849.
AIR AWARDS PERFORMERS Some impressive acts have been named to perform at the Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards. They include Airling, Bad//Dreems, Dead Letter Circus, Frank Yamma and Harts. The tenth awards are on October 22 at Meat Market, North Melbourne.
PALACE THEATRE VCAT HEARING NOW IN FEB The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)’s Palace Theatre hearing, set for September 28, has been rescheduled for February 22. The reason is that the heritage expert to give evidence was on holidays. Meantime, site owner Jinshan Investments submitted a new plan where the facade of the 103-year-old building is retained above the ground floor but the rest demolished for a 12-storey hotel. The Save The Palace group retorted, “What the developer is failing to understand still is the cultural significance of this building as an entertainment venue and the importance to the people of this state. The Palace Theatre is a three dimensional building, not a movie set.” See beat.com.au for full story. In December the Council’s Future Melbourne Committee will review submissions in response to a recommendation by the Heritage Council of Victoria that the Bourke Street site could be of local heritage significance and Planning Scheme Amendment C241 could provide more heritage protection to it,
FKA TWIGS, ALL TIME LOW, WIN AT INDIE AWARDS Winners of the AIM Independent Music Awards in London included FKA Twigs (track of the year for Two Weeks), All Time Low (best live act), Enter Shikari (album) Young Fathers (difficult second album), Swans (hardest working band), Wolf Alice (breakthrough) and Erased Tapes (small label).
BON SCOTT STATUE HITS TARGET AC/DC fans have raised the required £45,000 for a Bon Scott statue in Kirriemuir, Scotland, where he was born. But they’re still taking donations for an “extraspecial” garden around the statue, made by sculptor John McKenna. Kirriemuir already has Bon Scott Place, a memorial plaque, an AC/DC section in the local museum and the annual Bonfest.
SONGWRITERS TAP INTO MELBOURNE’S PAST Darebin Music Feast presents I Feel Like Going Back on Friday October 23 at Northcote Town Hall. Eight songwriters from the area will work with Darebin libraries to write eight new songs inspired by historical images from the Darebin Heritage Archive, and perform them at the show. Mick Thomas (Weddings Parties Anything) has written two. Charles Jenkins, who’s long written about Melbourne (including the Dennis railway station) says, “I was always very jealous of the fact you could sing your way across America, from Georgia to Galvaston. To have the focus on the neck of woods where I live, that’s very enticing.” Also involved are Cat Canteri and Justin Bernasconi (The Stillsons), Jemma Rowlands ( Jemma & The Clifton Hillbillies), Sean McMahon (Sean McMahon & The Moonmen), Brooke Russell (Brooke Russell & The Mean Reds) and Rich Davies (The Devils Union/King Wolf ). BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 74
THINGS WE HEAR • Which promoter’s plans to revive his festival event are being scuttled by disgruntled creditors? • Which Melbourne club is set to launch a sister venue on the Gold Coast? • Which retired entrepreneur, when hearing about promoter Andrew McManus’ legal problems, rang a music author and told him, “There’s your birthday present, write your next book on him.”
MELBOURNE TALENT WIN AT GLOBAL CONTESTS Melbourne talent shone at the Nashville-based Unsigned Only Music Competition, which drew 7,000 entries from around the world from which 28 had wins. The Gold winners were Brisbane’s Jared Porter and NZ’s Kaylee Bell. The Pop/Top 40 category was won by this city’s Rita Satch, who also got a Honorable Mention in Vocal Performance. Honorable Mentions went to Jeremy Drakeford in Pop/Top 40 and Brooke Allan in the Teen category.
• In the wake of the high calibre of the semi-finalists of The Voice, is Universal Music planning to also sign up Joe Moore, Nathan Hawes and Liam Maihi?
KISS, WANDERERS, TEAM FOR T-SHIRT
• At the end of The Preatures’ set at Cairns’ Tanks Arts Centre, during Is This How You Feel?, the crowd showed its appreciation by showering the stage with undies and bras. Meantime, on Megan Washington’s tour, she not only came out during opening act, Simon Relf of The Tambourine Girls’, set for some songs, but later covered his song Townes Van Zandt during her own set.
Kiss and the Western Sydney Wanderers FC teamed up to produce a range of Kiss Red And Black Army T-shirts available at www.wandershop.com.au until October 9. It follows the launch of the KISS Magpie Army T-shirt in Victoria last month.
• The folks at Disney don’t seem to like Thy Art Is Murder. They were refused permission to play two shows at House of Blues (owned by Disney) in the US with Parkway Drive. It could be the band’s name, it could be the title of their new single Holy War or it could be… well, the band don’t know either. • Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson told Canada’s Le Journal de Montreal he regrets not punching Axl Rose over a 1988 incident in Quebec City when Guns N’ Roses opened for them. Rose dissed French-Canadian fans for speaking French to him. “I should’ve come on stage and given him a punch. How could he dare speak to my audience in this way? I always regretted not having done so.” • Rogue Traders, again fronted by Natalie Bassingthwaighte, did their first show in seven years at a corporate gig at Jupiters on the Gold Coast. A source told us more shows are planned but new recordings are not on the list as yet. • Skyhooks have denied reports in a Wollongong newspaper they’re playing there next month. • Despite being made bankrupt, 50 Cent uploaded a video to Instagram of a mansion he’s building in Africa, where he says he’s moving to. • Metal fans strike back: when EDM festival Stereosonic lands in Adelaide on December 5, a hard rock festival is being held at Fowler’s Live to counteract. Dubbed F@#K Stereo’s // Let’s ROCK, it features Shihad’s Jon Toogood, The Love Junkies, Flyying Colours, Lepers & Crooks and SA acts. • Anti-Nazi German punk band Die Ärzte are heading to the top of the German charts with Schrei Nach Liebe (Cry For Love), their 1993 track which they re-released in protest against refugee arson attacks. • Federal Nationals MP Andrew Broad has joined the chorus against the AFL’s non-use of Australian acts at the Grand Final at the MCG. He wants Arts Minister George Brandis to talk to the AFL. “We’ve seen what foreign artists provide with some very untasty Meat Loaf over the years,” he said in Canberra. “A great Australian event should have great Australian music.” • Melbourne’s King Parrot are on their sixth North American tour in the past 18 months … 5 Seconds of Summer’s first major show in New York, at Jones Beach Nikon Ampitheater, was a sell-out.
MALUMA GETS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Melbourne reggae artist Larry Maluma got a Lifetime Achievement Award from Zambian music video TV show Born N Bred, on ZNBC. Maluma received a royal reception when he returned to Zambia – his song Punzisani Aana was used in a documentary on children’s blindness. Driving fast from Zimbabwe into Zambia to get to the border before it closed, he almost crashed into an elephant. In Zambia, narcs spotted his foreign number plates and searched him for drugs. When he replied, “I just got here, I don’t know any dealers yet”, they laughed and let him go. Rather than stay in the city, Maluma went to stay on his parents’ farm and revived his skills at traditional African cooking and lifestyle, calling the experience “enlightening.”
‘STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON’ TOPS AUSSIE BOX OFFICE The NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton repeated its US success in Australia by going straight to #1 at the box office, pulling in $4.528 million on 323 screens. Zac Efron’s EDM turkey We Are Your Friends has managed $335,000 so far.
MELBOURNE HOSTS FOLK ALLIANCE CONFERENCE Folk Alliance Australia’s annual conference is on October 9 – 11, at the Urban Camp in Melbourne. 45 panellists will discuss topics including acts as businesses, touring, agents, marketing and media, management and creating a community. See www.folkallianceconference.org for all details.
HOW COOL ARE YOUR A&R INSTINCTS? Want bragging rights to how cool your A&R instincts are? Spotify’s new web app, Found Them First, crunches your data and comes up with the first 15% who discovered an act before they broke into the mainstream. The acts must have 20 million streams accumulatively and a growth rate of 2000% between January 2013 and June 2015. Some like James Bay, Vance Joy, Sheppard and Years & Years have even recorded thank you videos for those who helped push them into the mainstream. Maybe you could demand a cut of their royalties?
OXJAM RAISES “THOUSANDS” OF DOLLARS The inaugural Oxjam Festival is declared a success by organisers. It drew 12,000 to 12 industry events and 170 grass roots shows throughout Australia raising “thousands of dollars to help Oxfam fight poverty around the world.” MTV kicked it off with a bash at its Sydney headquarters with DJ sets from Yolanda Be Cool, Cosmo’s Midnight, Set Mo and more. Gigs by I Oh You Records and tour agency UNDR sold out, each donating $2500. Other industry crews were Noisey, One Day, Goodgod, Heaps Gay and dance collective Purple Sneakers, who ran parties in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
LIFELINES Ill: Brit keyboard maestro Rick Wakeman, 66, has cancelled all gigs for the next 12 months due to ill health. By the time he was 25 he’d had three heart attacks. Ill: US sax-player Steve Mackay (Violent Femmes, Stooges), 65, is in intensive care in California with sepsis, an infection that can lead to organ failure. In Court: The Major Fraud Squad charged a 34-year old Perth man over the non-existent Mark Ronson gig where some punters paid up to $1,100. The man allegedly claimed to be a Ronson representative to the Matisse Beach Club and booked him for a DJ set at its Winter Funk Fest, July 24. Ronson who on that night was in Byron Bay playing Splendour In The Grass warned fans about this “BS” show. Fans were told after the doors opened that Ronson couldn’t play for “logistics” reasons. The man appears in Perth Magistrates Court on October 1. Suing: Melbourne law student Joshua Findley took action against Curtin House for gender discrimination, because he was refused entry into Cookie for having “too many guys” in his group. The venue rejects his accusations. Died: Rico Rodriguez, 80, trombonist with The Specials. Died: a 22-year woman was struck by a car while crossing the highway after an AC/ DC concert in Canada. Died: US guitarist Don Griffin (The Miracles, Anita Baker), 60, in a car accident in Denver.
SFX NOW 1% VALUE OF LIVE NATION Things have gone pear-shaped for SFX Entertainment, set up as a global electronic dance empire of festivals, websites, online stores and clubs. Its shares have tumbled to such a level that SFX has lost half a billion dollars in value in just 12 months, and is now less than 1% of the worth of its rival Live Nation.
TONE CONTROL RETURNS TO C31 The half hour Tone Control show returned to C31 (Digital 44) for its third season last Saturday, featuring live sets and interviews from Melbourne’s indie scene. Produced by the same team behind The Pinoy Lounge, guests include Lung, The John Flanagan Trio, Sol Nation, Mike Waters, Once Were Wild, Lisa Crawley and Charles Jenkins & The Armature Historians.
CABARET FESTIVAL CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS The fourth Ballarat Cabaret Festival (which opens on October 6 for six days) is looking for volunteers for its 23 shows. If you’re interested, email info@ ballaratcabaret.com or call 5364 2371.
NEW CEO FOR ARN The new CEO for the Australian Radio Network, which runs the KIIS and Pure Gold network, is Tony Kendall, current Director of Sales at Bauer Media. One of his roles is to expand the iHeartRadio platform in Australia.
VOTE NOW TO DECIDE THIS YEAR'S WINNER OF MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK - Head to bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank