Monday, March 26, 2007

Contrary to popular belief

I haven't died, it has been some time since I have posted though. Rest assured that I have been saving stories for a mega-post when I finally re-join the blog world. Here goes (please click the headings for links to more info):

  • Essential Festival (Sydney) - Very pleased to hear that it has returned to fill a weekend otherwise filled with two-up and drunken chats with old diggers.
  • Bluesfest (Byron Bay) - Final Announce has finally been made (shame about Dave Matthews pulling out). Timetable is up now too.
  • Cold War Kids - coming to Oz in May/June.
  • Little Barrie - coming to Oz in April.
  • Pitchfork Music Festival (US) - First announce.
  • Garage to V - One of the best organised band comps I've seen in years. Congrats to The Seabellies, but keep an eye on all the finalists.
  • The Fratellis - new single released on USB memory stick.
  • MyTickets - new ticket outlet for Australia.
  • Virgin Festival (US) - First announce.
  • Roskilde (Denmark) - I'm not sure if I love or hate Roskilde's method of announcing a couple of bands each week. We are finally nearing the end - but my has it been a long journey.
  • MTV Kickstart 2007 - Another great national band comp - Winner announced 29th March.
  • Softlightes at The Hoey - I am very excited about this gig! Even so far as to say that it is my most anticipated gig of the year thus far.
  • Roadrunner Records - One for all you metal heads. If you want to see Channel V bring back a regular metal show then send an email here for details on how to join the campaign: emarketing@roadrunnerrecords.com.au
  • New Found Frequency - Listen to live gigs from venues around Australia
  • Bloc Party - impressively sell out oz side-shows in less than 30 mins. Hordern & Festival Hall - thats what? 10,000 tix?
  • Common People - finally the indie rock DJ phenomenon (done so well by Death Disco & then Purple Sneakers) has made it to Brisbane, albeit lacking exposure by technology...
  • Pela - I know it has only been 3 weeks since my last post about these guys - but that means 3 great new tracks up on their E-card.
  • V Festival - Maps/Timetables are now up.
  • UncharTED - Tooheys Extra Dry have got in on the act, following closely down the path paved by Triple J Unearthed, and the current trend by alcohol companies to get more publicly involved in the music industry.
  • Carling Weekend (UK) - Leeds & Reading Festivals
  • Isle of Wight (UK) - Rolling Stones & Echo and The Bunnymen headlining
  • ATP vs The Fans (UK) - I love the concept of this festival - letting the fans choose the line-up (and what a good one it is this year). In fact I love all the concepts that All Tomorrow's Parties (ATP) come up with.
  • Jack Awards - To be held 15th May 2007 at a new venue: Luna Park Big Top
I think that might do for now. It's good to be back!

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Fuji Rock 2007 - 1st Announce

Ash, The Ataris, Blonde Redhead, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Fountains of Wayne, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Iggy and The Stooges, The John Butler Trio, Jonathan Richman, Justice, Kaiser Chiefs, Kemuri, Less Than Jake, The Shins, Simian Mobile Disco

28th-29th July 2007

Official (english) Site

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - here in May

21st May: Melbourne - Hi-Fi Bar
22nd May: Melbourne - Hi-Fi Bar
23rd May: Sydney - Enmore Theatre
24th May: Brisbane - The Z00
25th May: Brisbane - The Z00

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah website

Come Together 2007 - 1st Announce

Saturday June 9 2007: Every Time I Die (US), Norma Jean (US), Against Me! (US), The Draft (US), Something With Numbers with support from Mindsnare, Carpathian, Antiskeptic, Trial Kennedy, Mach Pelican, Bagster, Avalon Drive, Casino Rumblers, Los Captaines, Kiai Academy, Rex Banner, Furcurve, The Valley, The Riot and the Trauma plus many more.

Sunday June 10 2007: Grinspoon, Shihad, Cog, Karnivool with support from Mammal, Blindspott, Psycroptic, Hell City Glamours, Ink, the Follow, Regular John, Kill The Capitol, Repeat Offender, Smithtown Riot, Black Level Embassy plus loads more.

Tons more info on the website: http://www.cometogether.com.au/

It's funny how it has morphed from an indie-fest into a punk-rock-hardcore bonanza.

Splendour announce dates

4th and 5th of August 2007

Check website for (not many) details.

Thursday, March 01, 2007

February 2007

Top 15 international tracks most listened to in FEB-07:

Pierre Aderne - Cristalina
The Band of Heathens - Bumblebee
Sparrow House - When I Am Gone
Pela - Lost To The Lonesome
Cloud Cult - Chemicals Collide
The Parson Red Heads - Punctual As Usual
Eleni Mandell - Girls
The Silent Years - Someone To Keep Us Warm
Field Music - Working To Work
Air Traffic - Never Even Told Me Her Name
Margot & The Nuclear So And So's - Skeleton Key
Psapp - The Words
The Maccabees - Lego
Damien Rice - Dogs
The Format - Dog Problems

Top 5 Australian tracks most listened to in FEB-07:

Teenager - Pony
Mr Speed - Everybody Needs Somebody
Angus & Julia Stone - What You Wanted
The Hate Game - Too Many Days
Iron Bar Hotel - Whisky Song

Best Live Performance of FEB-07:

Expatriate @ The Globe, Brisbane

Fastest Mover of Last Month (Based on MySpace Hits):

Andrew Bird

Previous Months:

January 2007

Garage to V

So the State Finals commenced last night (with The Goverment taking it out in Perth) to determine which unsigned band is going to play the V Festival. It looks like they have some pretty good bands in the finals, as opposed to the mix you usually get at band comps.

See State lists below:

The Vans more...
The Government more...
The Flairz more...
The Plastik Scene more...

The Hopes more...
Cardboard Castle more...
Butcher Birds more...
The Greys more...

The Seabellies more...
Hancock Basement more...
The Mania more...
Wallspace more...

The Capitals more...
Young Divorcees more...
Ouch My Face more...
The Inkrements more...

The Grand Final will be held at The Gaelic Theatre in Sydney on March 15th.