Page 68 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Observer Showbiz
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Radio Confidential News from stations from around Victoria
CHANGING FACE OF RADIO
Country Crossroads
FOX’S MATT TILLEY SHAPES UP FOR 2013
info@country crossroads.com.au ● Big Breakfast Show. Southern FM 88.3. Tues. 6am-9am.
Ratings due Rob Foenander
NEW EP FOR ADAM
■ The Adam Eckersley Band has release a four-track EP titled Should've Known Better. The five-piece country rock outfit is described as having a musical palette of blues, rock, and gospel and have a healthy disregard for musical genre distinctions, it is said. Adam is the husband of country music star Brooke McClymont and father of two-month-old Tiggy.
● Matt Tilley and Jo Stanley of Fox 101.9 ■ TV commercials featuring Fox 101.9 breakfast show pair Matt Tilley and Jo Stanley show a much changed male co-host. Matt, 43, father-of-three, has lost a considerable amount of weight. He is a keen runner. Matt has raised more than $500,000 for charity through his comedy CDs.
■ Final radio ratings data is being collected until Saturday (Feb. 23) for the first 2013 survey, which is due to be released on Tuesday, March 5. There are eight surveys this year. Other release dates are April 9, May 21, July 2, August 20, September 24, November 4 and December 10.
Nice piece
McCLYMONTS IN VIC.
■ The McClymont sisters Brooke, Sam and Molly will commence a Victorian tour in April. Billed as the Acoustic Harmony tour, the Aria Award winners will perform at York On Lilydale, Shoppingtown Hotel Doncaster, Hallam Hotel,and the Mathew Flinders Hotel. More info at themcclymonts.net.au/tours/
BUNYIP FESTIVAL INDOORS
■ The 24th annual Bunyip Country Music Festival, on Sunday (Feb. 24), will be an indoor event this year. Drainage work that is being done on the main oval at the recreation reserve has necessitated the move to the auditorium for only the third time since its inception. Adam Harvey heads the list of local and interstate artists who will perform on the day.
● Matt Tilley, long ago
● Ross Stevenson and John Burns ■ 3AW breakfast hosts Ross Stevenson and John Burns were interviewed by Noel McMahon for The Age. The Fairfax newspaper did a nice job of promoting the Fairfax radio station.
ASH WEDNESDAY MEMORIES
VERANDAH MUSIC
r Observbei z Show
On WYN-FM
■ Ryan Egan has announced on social media that tormer 3RRR-FM Breakfaster Chris Hatzis will return to Melbourne to be the community station's new Program Manager. ● Observer Editor Ash Long was thumbing through his 1983 photo archives, and found the picture he took 30 years ago when the 3AW team visited the Macedon Hotel after the Ash Wednesday fires. From left: Ron Parker, David Mann, Ray Taylor, David McGee, station technician, Neville Wragg, Bruce Mansfield and Derryn Hinch behind the local publicans, John Blackman, Brian White, Denis O’Kane, Helen Jackson, Graham Walton, the Rev. Alex Kenworthy and musician Nigel Ross
Observer boys on the air
■ Observer movies-DVD specialist Jim Sherlock has added another radio station to his appearances, in addition to 3AW. Jim appears with Ron Bourke on the Get Up And Go Show at 8.30am Wednesdays on 3NRG 99.3FM Sunbury. Editor Ash Long follows at 8.45am. Harness racing expert Len Baker gives his tips at 1.30pm every Saturday on Melton station 97.9 FM, which can be ● Brett Chenoweth ■ There have been board-rom heard on 979fm.com.au divisions about the performance of Brett Chenoweth, CEO of the parent company of the Australian Radio Network, which operates Melbourne stations Mix 101.1 and Gold 104.3. ARN's parent company APN late last week requested a trading halt, due to be lifted yesterday (Tues.) as the Observer went to press. Major shareholder Independent News and Media was reported to have lost confidence in Chenoweth, and sought his removal. INM holds about 29 per cent of APN shares.
RRReturning
■ Country, bluegrass and folk music supporters can enjoy a relaxed afternoon of these styles being performed by local musicians and artists at the Dromana Community Hall. Verandah Music, as it is billed, is held on the third Saturday of each month. The event starts at 1pm and continues until until 5pm. For more info, contact Jack, 59835922 - Rob Foenander ■ Former Today Tonight Executive Producer Craig McPherson could be snapped up by the Nine or Ten networks within months, speculates Nick Tabakoff, Media Editor of The Australian. McPherson left the Seven Network quietly late last year.
No confidence
Vale Haydn ■ Former Brisbane radio announcer Haydn Sargent passed away on Thursday at the age of 77 after a long illness. Sargent became a household name in Brisbane through his talkback program on 4BC and 1970s TV career.
● Rob Richardson ■ Observer reader Rob Richardson is commencing his own weekly radio program on Werribee station WYN-FM 88.9. Rob will host a 3pm-5pm show commencing on Monday (Feb. 25). The station is streamed at wynfm.org.au - although it is not the easiest website to navigate. Rob has previously assisted Observer colmunist Yvonne Lawrence with her Monday afternoon program on Whitehorse-Boroondara community station, 3WBC 94.1 FM. Melbourne
Observer
On This Day
Wednesday, Thursday, February 20 February 21
Friday, February 22
Saturday, February 23
Sunday, February 24
Monday, February 25
Tuesday, February 26
■ Fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt was born in New York in 1934 (89). Actor Sir Sidney Pottier was born in Miami, Florida, in 1927 (86). Football commentator Neil Kerley was born in South Australia in 1934. Actress Lisa Hemsley was born in 1968.
■ Lord Baden-Powell, founder of Scouts, was born in 1857. He died aged 83 in 1941. Australian director and producer Ken G Hall was born in 1901. He died aged 92. US actor Robert Young (Father Knows Best) was born in 1907. He died aged 91 in 1998.
■ Former Australian Prime Minister Sir William McMahon was born in Sydney in 1908. He died aged 80 in 1988. Actor Peter Fonda was born in New York in 1939 (72). English actress Emily Blunt was born in London in 1981 (30). Her work includes Devil Wears Prada and Young Victoria.
■ US actor James Farentino was born in New York in 1938. He died aged 71 in 2012. Australian actor, director and producer Phil Avalon (Philip Holbrow) was born in Newcastle in 1945 (68). English actor Dennis Waterman was born in 1948 (65). He acted in Minder as Terry.
■ Happy birthday YOU! Actor Zeppo (Hebert) Marx was born in New York in 1901. He died aged 78 in 1979. Ian ‘Pee Wee’ Wilson, one of the Delltones, was born in Sydney in 1940 (73). George Harrison, one of The Beatles, was born in Liverpool in 1941. He died aged 58 in 2001.
■ Actor Jackie Gleason was born in New York in 1916. He died aged 71 in 1987. Actor Tony Randall was born as Leonard Rosenberg in 1920. US actress Betty Hutton was born in 1921. She died at 86. Singer Fats Domino was born in New Orleans in 1928 (85).
■ Actor Kelsey Grammer was born in the Virgin Islands in 1955 (58). American actor Christopher Atkins was born in New York in 1961 (52). US actor William Baldwin, younger brother of Alec, was born in New York in 1963 (50). Singer Nina Simone was born in 1933 in Tryon, North Carolina.
Thanks to GREG NEWMAN of the Birthday Bulletin for assistance with birthday and anniversary dates. Find out more at www.birthdaybulletin.com.au