OPINION Opinion
Howzat!
Local Music By Jeff Jenkins Here We Go Again It’s the Year of the Rooster, which had Howzat! thinking of that classic Rolling Stones lyric, “Once upon a time I was your little rooster/But am I just one of your cocks?” Not sure what that means for the coming year, but here are our predictions, hopes and wishes for 2017:
The Turnbull government reversing its decision and allowing Channel 31 to stay on air forever.
A new edition of Ian McFarlane’s seminal The Encyclopedia Of Australian Rock . Alex The Astronaut
A tonight show on free-to-air TV, showcasing live music. The triumphant return of Midnight Oil.
Nimmervoll and artists Normie Rowe, Lynne Randell and The Thunderbirds.
After the Civil Dusk comes the Brutal Dawn. And if Bernard Fanning’s sequel is as good as the original, it will be a classic.
A musical by one of our most intriguing pop stars, Darren Hayes.
A restored and resurgent Palais Theatre.
Stardom for Alex Lahey, Alex The Astronaut and Gretta Ray.
A Died Pretty tour with Radio Birdman.
The long-awaited second album by The Ronson Hangup. It’s been eight years since the band’s debut. Will it happen in 2017? “I promise,” singer Steve Pinkerton said at the band’s Christmas gig at The Workers Club.
Deluxe reissues and a Hall Of Fame induction for Mondo Rock, making Ross Wilson our first triple Hall Of Famer.
The return of The Espy. More homegrown hits in the charts, after just 12 Aussie singles reached the Top 10 in 2016 - the fewest in living memory.
The Australian Music Vault showcasing Melbourne pioneers such as DJ Stan Rofe, studio boss Bill Armstrong, journalist Ed
Nothing to do this weekend? Don’t worry, The Music has you sorted.
A new Michael Hutchence album, 20 years after his untimely death. It’s already been much hyped, with the 1999 posthumous album seemingly forgotten. What more can there be? Well, apparently there’s a new album, doco and book. The Nylex Clock switched back on by Paul Kelly, revealing it “says 11 degrees”. Plus new albums from Perry Keyes, Missy Higgins, Helen Shanahan, Kasey Chambers, Sophie Koh, Colin Hay, Ruby Boots, The Woodland Hunters, Tina Arena, Bad//Dreems and The Fauves.
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Head to events.themusic.com.au to see what’s coming up. Search for ‘The Music App’ on
34 • THE MUSIC • 11TH JANUARY 2017