News

After taking out a classical music award with their innovative sound series Scale Variable and the now iconic Club Zho, Tura New Music are all set to reinvent the local scene with the remarkable Crossing Roper Bar Tour. This concert series brings together the best of Wagilak Gujarra/Nyilapidgi musicians from Ngukurr in East Arnhem Land with the Australian Art Orchestra, led by composer and musician Paul Grabowsky and featuring special guest, the legendary vocalist, Ruby Hunter. The collaboration has led to modern interpretations of ancient songs, valuable as both musical and cultural offerings. (more…)

Busy busy busy… June is all about the buzz of being busy as an array of international, national and local acts flutter into town. A hip to the hop with soul sister to the stars, Ms Mary J Blige at The Burswood Dome on June 10. A few days later, on June 15, R&B boys of yore, Boyz II Men, play at Metro City.

On the national scene, Modular are sending some of their Aussie heavy weights our way. Those boys in ‘ghost colours’, Cut Copy, hit Capitol not once but twice as they play up a storm on both June 13 and 14. Not to be outdone, leery larrikins The Presets weigh in with a two night wonder on June 18 and 19. (more…)

Throw out the red carpet in June because it is a winter wonderland of musical events…

The Rosemount Hotel and WAAPA combine forces every week for Friday Evening Jazz from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Yes, glide into the weekend with some of the smoothest and sultriest sounds around as the Rosemount Hotel explodes with a cavalcade of New York inspired notes shaking this legendary pub to its very roots.

Get your highbrow on as the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) bring you A Hero’s Life on June 13 and 14 at the Perth Concert Hall. This night will see both Strauss and Wagner belt out across the hall. Australian soprano Nicole Youl joins WASO for Wagner’s delicate song cycle of love, Wesendonck. (more…)

Ministry of Sound, have come through with the goods yet again with ‘We Love Ministry of Sound’ at Metro City and The Bakery on Sunday, June 1. You won’t be feeling the love from Mix Master Mike (Beastie Boys) Cassius, The Potbelleez and Resin Dogs, unless you grab tickets, so get cracking.

But back to May, and The Bakery is importing some great talent. On Friday May 2, experience New York mixmaster Eli Escobar and his pulsating live show and crafty mixing. Then, on May 17, Don Letts, the UK award winning BBC DJ & Big Audio Dynamite member screens docos from the original punk movement before hitting the decks for a dub reggae set reminiscent of 1977 London at the Roxy where he introduced a generation of punks to reggae. (more…)

May heralds an array of auditory treats. On Friday May 9 and Saturday May 10, be seduced by WASO and the passionate tangos of Argentinean master Astor Piazollo conducted by the equally beguiling and dynamic Kristian Järvi. Järvi conducts a program of exciting virtuosic showpieces for large orchestra, including the rarely performed Night of the Mayas.

Down to Fremantle and over to Kulcha, which is splitting at the seams with May events, including a bohemian bit of fun with distinguished violinist Ernie Gruner and accordionist/singer Phil Carroll on Friday May 2 at 8pm. The duo will present a night of traditional klezmer and Middle Eastern music using mandolin, ney and duduk to raise funds for the Young String Player’s Foundation. (more…)

In less than 5 weeks one of the world’s biggest superstars will make history when he performs in Australia’s Top End for the first time.

Today Sir Elton John dispelled the rumours and confirmed that he will play Darwin’s TIO Stadium on Saturday 17th May. Tickets for the unprecedented history-making concert event go on sale at 10am on Tuesday 8th April through Ticketek, online at www.ticketek.com.au or phonecharge on 132 849. The Darwin Entertainment Centre will be the only local outlet where people can purchase tickets in person. Patrons will also be able to buy online, over the phone or from Ticketek agencies across Australia. (more…)

Where to begin, where to begin? April brings internationally renowned guests to WASO and UWA’s Keyed Up, while Kulcha keeps bringing the world to Perth’s doorstep and cabaret continues at Downstairs at the Maj

Bach fans, alas, WASO’s April 4th performance, The Bach Project at St George’s Cathedral has sold out. Let that be a lesson for later in the month and get tickets now for Paul Daniel Conducts the Symphony, April 18-19 at Perth Concert Hall; Elgar’s Cello Concerto, April 24 and 26 at Perth Concert Hall; and – wait for it – An Evening with Neil Sedaka (of ‘Breaking Up Is Hard to Do’ fame) on May 2-3 at Riverside Theatre. (more…)

Ah, summer, where have you gone? If you find yourself lamenting the colder weather, get to V Festival on April 6 on the Esplanade for the last hurrah of the festival season with Smashing Pumpkins, Duran Duran and The Presets. Other, fingers crossed, outdoor offerings this month include Kate Miller-Heidke April 6 at The Quarry Amphitheatre, sultry butch songstress kd lang April 19 at Kings Park, and RTRFM’s In The Pines musical finale to the UWA Festival Films on April 20 at Somerville Auditorium, UWA. Note: Past In The Pines have featured such acts as John Butler Trio and the Panics before they were big, so get down and see the local talent while it’s still local. (more…)

With the countdown to the 2008 Olympics underway, singer Amy Pearson’s song ‘Ready to Fly’ was selected as the song for Channel 7’s Olympic promo spots. Recently returned from China, where Amy filmed the commercial for Channel 7, we took the chance to ask her just why ‘Ready to Fly’ was the perfect choice as an Olympic anthem. (more…)

‘I make music to fuck to,’ Seany B declares.

And there’s no question, Seany B’s tracks are downright sexy. But just how the songwriter fuses electro and hip-hop to generate sex appeal is a bit of a mystery even for Seany B.

‘I guess I’m a sexual person. I don’t try to lace anything in my lyrics or my songs. I’ve tried so many times in my youth to sit down and write something groundbreaking or sexy or funny or clever or deep, but once you try to get deep, you’re no longer getting deep because you’re using your head and not your heart… Writing a good song is like falling in love with someone. If you’re looking and you’re making that person into what you want them to be, you’re going to turn around six months later and realize that person is not real… The only things that come out of me are stuff that I’ve recorded in a moment of clarity.’ (more…)