FOREWORD LINE
NEWS FROM THE FRONT
Ron Peno
HIP TO BE SQUARE
UNDER NEW MGMT Psychedelic pop duo MGMT will play the Palace on Tuesday 8 March, supported by WA rockers Pond. The band, comprising Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden, dropped their debut album, Oracular Spectacular, in 2008. It spawned a string of instant anthems, including Kids, Electric Feel and Time To Pretend. Released in early 2010 to critical acclaim, their follow-up album Congratulations features tracks such as Flash Delirium, It’s Working and the epic highlight Siberian Breaks. Tickets go on sale Monday from Ticketmaster.
A quality line-up of local artists will belt out tunes in QV Square next month as the Square is transformed into a summertime oasis for the free weekend Summer Concert Series. The Verses, featuring Ella and Jesse Hooper, kick off the season with a free concert Friday 4 February. The music continues throughout February as artists perform every Friday evening and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The Square will be decked out with soft green grass and beanbags perfect for lounging on balmy evenings or lazing on sunny afternoons, while QV’s many bars and eateries – including Max Brenner, Della Nonna, Grill’d, 3 Degrees, Duck Duck Goose and Old Town Kopitiam Mamak – will serve quality food and drinks. Music runs on Fridays from 5.30pm to 7.30pm and Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm. The full program is Friday 4 February – The Verses; Saturday 5 – Jess McAvoy; Sunday 6 – Nick Barker; Friday 11 – The Blackeyed Susans; Saturday 12 – Ryan Meeking; Sunday 13 – The Fauves; Friday 18 – Charles Jenkins; Saturday 19 – Custom Kings; Sunday 20 – Bobby Flynn; Friday 25 – Nicholas Roy; Saturday 26 – Red Ink; Sunday 27 – The Hello Morning. QV is located on the corner of Swanston and Lonsdale streets, Melbourne. For further information, visit qv.com.au.
PORT OF CALL
Port Fairy Folk Festival is heading for a bumper 35th year with a stupendous festival line-up of global and local roots music. More than 120 acts will gather by the ocean at historic Port Fairy from Friday 11 until Monday 14 March, serving up a feast of folk roots, blues, jazz, bluegrass, Celtic roots, jazz, crossroads country and rock’n’roll. The top names this year include new additions: Joe Pug, Sally Seltmann, Justin Townes Earle plus Crooked Still, The Waifs, Kasey Chambers, The Dingoes, Mary Black, Lisa Miller, Dan Kelly’s Dream Band, Luka Bloom, Rosie Flores, Darren Hanlon, Tim O’Brien & Two Oceans Trio and Bob Evans in your only chance to see him in ‘Bob’ mode for many moons. As always, the festival is all about discovery and diversity. Four-day passes are still available with free entry for children under 12. The festival sells out every year, so be quick! Find more info at portfairyfolkfestival.com.
DOUBLE HAPPINESS
With the new year underway, there’s no better time for a daytime festival-esque party to celebrate and this Sunday the Royal Melbourne Hotel will be hosting Grouse Party’s Double Rainbow. In what will be an afternoon of bands, rolling into the usual queer party wildness, there will be performances by some of Melbourne’s finest femalecentric acts. Performing in the afternoon sun of the Royal Melbourne’s atrium will be Romy and Jessica Says, followed by the babesome five that are Beaches who will headline as the sun sets. There will also be DJs playing into the evening. The event will go from 3pm ‘til late.
LONG ARM OF THE LAW Even as they moved into more pop punk and dare we say ‘commercial-friendly’ territory, even the purists exhibiting the inevitable backlash have been sucked into an Unwritten Law sing-along or two. The San Diego punk outfit have now been doing this for more than two decades and given that their sixth studio record, Swan, is just around the corner they’re taking the opportunity to come and visit us again. It’s due in March but the exact date’s not confirmed yet. What is confirmed is their tour dates – they play Billboard on Sunday 27 March with yet-to-be-announced guests. A free download of Starships, the album’s first single, is included in the ticket purchase.
T EN S E PR
CAVE PEOPLE Some of Melbourne’s finest musicians will come together at the Forum on Monday 31 January to celebrate 30 years of Skull Cave on RRR, and to lend support to industry stalwart and renowned tastemaker, Stephen Walker. Having worked as RRR program manager for 14 years, Walker has suffered the effects of multiple sclerosis for the past 20 years. Recognised locally as a true musicologist, he has been responsible for launching many radio and musical careers. Now it’s time to give back a little; this special benefit concert will help raise funds for an expensive treatment available in Europe, which will help him regain some independence and walk again. The night’s stellar line-up features The Dirty Three, The Skull Cave All Stars (David Bridie, Peter Lawler, Gary Young and Phil Wales), Gareth & Dan (The Drones), Dave Graney and the Lurid Yellow Mist, Ron S Peno, Sand Pebbles and Max Crawdaddy, as well as special guest performances. All proceeds from the show will go towards Stephen Walker’s medical treatment. Those unable to attend can contribute to the cause via donations direct to Stephen Walker – BSB: 063 002, account: 10009630; or cheque or money order made out to Stephen Walker posted to Stephen Walker C/O Triple R PO Box 2145, Brunswick East 3057 (before Monday 31 January). Tickets on sale now from Ticketmaster.
TRIPLE TREAT
The Soundwave festival has unveiled another bumper Sidewaves triple bill, this one hitting the Hi-Fi on Thursday 3 March. Bands performing are Florida’s Mayday Parade (who formed when Kid Named Chicago and Defining Moment merged), Breathe Carolina (who’ve ridden a GarageBand/ MySpace wave to success) and Every (Michigan pop punks on the way up). Tickets go on sale Friday from thehifi.com.au and Moshtix.
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BABY LOVE
After a hugely successful run in of concerts in 2010, PBS Radio will be working in conjunction with the City Of Yarra again this year to present the Rock-A-ByeBaby Music Sessions. These concerts offer a gig-going experience for carers and children where the music hasn’t been dumbed down or sugared up, providing a chance for families to share the experience of live music in a safe and clean environment. Kicking off this year’s bi-monthly season will be the Madre Monte, with their special blend of Latin and Columbian rhythms. The first Rock-A-Bye-Baby Music Sessions event for the year will be held at Fitzroy Town Hall on Thursday 2 February from 11am-noon. Entry is $5 for adults, but it’s free for children. Noise is welcomed, crawling is encourages and dancing is expected, so get on down to Napier Street with the littlies and get involved.
LUCKY SEVEN
New York a capella group Naturally 7 are not short on admirers. And as such they’ve seen themselves play at Madison Square Garden, the Montreux Jazz Festival and as special guests of Michael Buble on his world tour. They’re Australia-bound now and have their latest album VocalPlay, there’s more of a story to them than just one album. Formed in the late ‘90s, they spent their formative years singing around the neighbourhood and have emerged with soul, Motown, beatboxing and plenty more influences. They support Michael Buble at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday 22, Wednesday 23 and Friday 25 February and return for their own show at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday 30 April.
GOING DUTCH
Dutch club wunderkid Ferry Corsten is all grown up now and an internationally recognised brand at that. With trance, house and electro up his sleeve he’s won more accolades, delivered more memorable tracks and remixed more world class artists that can really be listed here. For the first time since headlining Creamfields Australia, Corsten will be returning to play the Palace on Friday 11 February. His latest releases are the Once Upon A Night mix CD – volume two’s in the works – and the Backstage DVD.
BUSINESS TIME Turning to the weird and wonderful records one can find on eBay (and by hunting through racks old fashioned style) Mark Ronson & The Business Intl offered up Record Collection last year. As you’d expect from one of the most in-demand producers in the modern world, it was slick in its changes and intelligent in its selections – sounding more like a band effort that anything he’d done before. Headlining the Future Music Festival, Ronson and his new band have just announced sideshows. They’ll be playing at the Palace on Wednesday 9 March with support from Zowie. Tickets are $75+BF and go on sale Monday 24 January from Ticketmaster.
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