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Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited - The Lion of Africa to tour Australia in April ROOTS NATION - feat. HORACE ANDY, LUCIANO, MIKEY GENERAL and Jack Scorpio the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP! - OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK and Ensemble Pink Martini comes to Melbourne PBS106.7fm Live Music Week Launch World-Renowned expert ROGER STEFFENS with The Life of Bob Marley Luaka Bop lands in Australia Roy Paci and Aretuska - New Album SUONOGLOBAL out now through Shock Records dDub from NZ - Touring Australia's East Coast the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP! - INDONESIA ROCKS with KUA ETNIKA Andy Alberts CD Launch Oi Va Voi - New Album out now! So Frenchy So Chic New Zealand’s explosive dub masters dDub - TOURING AUSTRALIA APRIL/MAY 2007 ZIGGY MARLEY SIERRA LEONE’S REFUGEE ALLSTARS LEE SCRATCH PERRY – WITH FULL BAND! DUB SYNDICATE – 1st Ever Australian Tour! Dili Allstars CD launch - Geelong and Belgrave THE 17th BOITE SINGERS' FESTIVAL DAYLESFORD ‘SHARE THE SPIRIT’ INDIGENOUS MUSIC FESTIVAL – 2007 Terrasphere Productions presents LUCIANO – 1st Australian Tour! SERGIO MENDES - The timeless sound of Brazil returns to Australia DILI ALLSTARS 'Increase the Peace' CD launch The Boite presents World Music at the Edge featuring ZULYA AND THE CHILDREN OF THE UNDERGROUND The WANTOK MUSIK FOUNDATION presents SING SING at the Corner the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP - OUR BACKYARD PBS RADIO presents 200% DUB the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP - VISIBLE the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP - THE MIGHTY SPARROW The Boite presents The STIFF GINS with SUADE The Arts Centre in Association with Multicultural Arts Victoria present "Vive La Fiesta" The Boite Presents Mare Profondo The Arts Centre in Association with Multicultural Arts Victoria present In Pulse Heart Beat The Boite presents, World Music at the Edge the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP SING SING 2 AFRICA'S finest hip-hop group DAARA J comes to Melbourne The Blues & Roots Festival side shows in Melbourne SHARE THE SPIRIT MUSIC FESTIVAL – 2006 Reggae Legends Third World & Big Youth in Concert TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Presents DANCEHALL FIRE, ROOTS AND CULTURE TRANSMITTER RECORDS & TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS present THE RETURN OF THE MIGHTY MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA JASLYN HALL proudly presents DIRECT FROM SOUTH AFRICA VUSI MAHLASELA HEART & SOUL TOUR 2005 TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS presents DIRECT FROM LIVE 8 CANADA FRENCH/CANADIAN AFRO-WORLD FUSION GROUP DOBACARACOL STUSSY & TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS present LEE “SCRATCH” PERRY & MAD PROFESSOR The Boite presents AZADI Songs of Liberation The Boite presents SOUTH AFRICAN PERFORMER JOE MALATJI DINDELA CD LAUNCH LEGENDARY INDIGENOUS PERFORMERS VIC SIMMS AND JIMMY LITTLE ON TOUR JULY 2005 SONGLINES MUSIC FESTIVAL 2005 PBS 106.7 FM REAL RADIO PRESENTS 100% DUB RED STRIPE, CHANT DOWN & TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS PRESENT REGGAE LEGENDS THIRD WORLD & LUCKY DUBE SHARE THE SPIRIT MUSIC FESTIVAL WEDNESDAY 26 JAN 2005 (Australia Day) SUPER RAIL BAND DE BAMAKO FROM MALI AFRICA COME TO MELBOURNE PLAYING WEDNESDAY 12 JAN 2005 FRANK YAMMA & PIRANPA GIGS 2005 Terrasphere Production's at WOMEX 2004 THE DUB WARRIORS VISIT AUSTRALIA 10 April 2008 The ANOUSHKA SHANKAR PROJECT - the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP! By: The Anoushka Shankar Project Heralded around the world for her unique sound and style, award-winning sitar player Anoushka Shankar is set to make her Australian and New Zealand debut in June 2008. Often connected by the media with her father, the legendary sitar virtuoso and composer Ravi Shankar (who inspired The Beatles in the 1960’s) and her half-sister, pop star Norah Jones, Anoushka Shankar has shown herself to be a hugely successful artist in her own right. Anoushka is also not someone afraid to speak out. The first Indian ambassador for the United Nation’s World Food Programme and an extensive campaigner in India for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, she is fast becoming a role model for young independent minded women, not just in her native Delhi but around the world. Schooled in the Indian classical music tradition by her father, Anoushka’s unique style of music cleverly fuses classical Indian, electronic and world music, and while her name may have brought her to the stage for the first time as a young girl, it is her talent and vision that have kept her there. Anoushka has played with some of the world’s biggest name artists including George Harrison, Herbie Hancock, Elton John and Sting. She has received critical acclaim throughout the world, received two Grammy nominations and also became the first Indian to perform at the Grammy Awards. In this, her first Australian tour, Anoushka will be performing classical Indian as well as her own fusion of eastern and western style music from her most recent albums, Rise and Breathing Under Water. She is joined on stage by a band of leading western and eastern musicians featuring Ravichandra Kulur (Indian flutes and vocals), Tanmoy Bose (tabla and vocals), Leo Dombecki (acoustic piano), Nick Able (tanpura) and Barry Phillips (tanpura and cello). A rare opportunity for world music lovers, Anoushka arrives in Australia on the back of extensive touring in the United States, Europe and Asia. From 2pm onwards enjoy a spice trail of Indian food plus live music and stalls throughout the foyer areas of Hamer Hall. The Anoushka Shankar Project is part of the Arts Centre’s MIX IT UP! program, which celebrates the cultural diversity of Victoria through music, dance, art and theatre from around the world. This year’s program is all about music. the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP! THE ANOUSHKA SHANKAR PROJECT Sunday 15 June 2008 | Free activities from 2pm. Show at 5pm. the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall | Tickets: $35 - $50 Premium tickets also available. Bookings: theartscentre.com.au*, 1300 136 166*, the Arts Centre Box Office or Ticketmaster outlets *Transaction fee applies Media enquiries: Simon Raynor on 03 9314 0272, 0413 007 602 or tsphere@bigpond.com 27 March 2008 Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited - The Lion of Africa to tour Australia in April By: Press Release 27 March 2008 Zambezi Promotions presents Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited The Lion of Africa to tour Australia in April In April Australians get a rare opportunity to hear in concert Zimbabwe’s Thomas Mapfumo and his full 10-piece band. Mapfumo is a cultural and political icon in Zimbabwe, the country from which he is exiled due to his outspokenness against Prime Minister Robert Mugabe and his betrayal of the fight for independence. Like Nigeria’s Fela Kuti and Jamaica’s Bob Marley Thomas Mapfumo has been forthright in his out spokenness on behalf of his people and like Marley and Kuti has been a leader in creating a distinctive style of music copied by many. Fela Kuti never toured Australia and Bob Marley only came once. Mapfumo’s tour is an opportunity that should not be passed up. His tour is timely with Zimbabwean Independence Day falling on April 18 and elections imminent. Over a 40-year career Thomas Mapfumo has released 30 albums. From early covers bands he refined a style that was based on the traditional stories, music and instrumentation of Zimbabwe’s Shona people. Central to this music is the mbira or thumb piano. Over time Mapfumo and his guitarist Jonah Sithole emulated the staccato sound of the mbira on electric guitar. This sound evolved into what became known as chimurenga (revolution) music and its variant jit. The reference to revolution is because prior to independence Mapfumo would regularly play for liberation soldiers and villagers in all night music and politicisation sessions known as pungwes. Songs that translated into “Mothers send your children to war” made clear Mapfumo’s allegiance! However Mapfumo also put out records ostensibly traditional parables but often with a political message that was lost on the Rhodesian government and radio broadcasters. After independence in 1980 Zimbabwean music hit a high point. From the day that Marley appeared at the independence ceremony with Prince Charles in attendance the optimism of the people and the stories of the struggle for independence spawned many songs, new bands and venues. Travel became easier, greater affluence assisted attendances and greater airplay assisted awareness. Throughout this period Thomas Mapfumo and his Blacks Unlimited remained the premier band in Zimbabwe. Shows starting in the early evening would continue until the early hours of the following morning. During this period Mapfumo continued to perform and write songs in support of the new government of Robert Mugabe. Mapfumo was widely referred to as the Lion of Zimbabwe. Over time Mapfumo became disillusioned with political events in Zimbabwe. Inequitable land distribution, political repression and increasing corruption were all seen as a betrayal of his struggle. His outspokenness was unusual and feared by a government that recognized his influence with the people. Government resentment came to a head with the release of his album “Corruption” in 1989. The title track was sung in English …something for something, nothing for nothing went the chorus. Needless to say the record was banned by the government-controlled radio. Mapfumo had come full circle from being banned by the Rhodesians to being banned by the new post independence government. In 2000 after an electoral setback for the Government, increasing intimidation forced Mapfumo to leave Zimbabwe. He now lives in Oregon USA and has continued to release albums and perform in concert. Recent efforts often have a softer feel incorporating traditional mbiras along with or instead of electric guitars. For more info visit: http://www.myspace.com/thomasmapfumoandtheblacksunlimited www.zambezipromo.com.au MELBOURNE - Thursday 17 April 2008 Supported by Chris Gudu & DJ Systa BB The Prince Bandroom 29 Fitzroy Street, St. Kilda 8.00pm til late Tickets: The Prince Bandroom | www.princebandroom.com.au or call (03) 9536 1168 SYDNEY - Saturday 19 April 2008 Supported by Chris Gudu & DJ Scrim The Gaelic 64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills 8:00pm til late Tickets: The Gaelic | www.thegaelic.com/home/ or call (02) 9211 1687 ADELAIDE - Wednesday 23 April 2008 Supported by Musiki Manjaro The Gov 59 Port Road, Hindmarsh 8:00pm til late Tickets: The Gov | www.thegov.com.au/contacts.htm or call (08) 8340 0744 PERTH - Friday 25 April 2008 Supported by Shangara Jive & DJ Ulli Fly By Nite 1 Holdsworth Street, Fremantle - Entrance off Parry Street 8:00pm til late Tickets: Fly by Night - www.flybynight.org | Heat Seeker - www.heatseeker.com.au or call (08) 9430 5976 or (08) 6210 2850 18 March 2008 ROOTS NATION - feat. HORACE ANDY, LUCIANO, MIKEY GENERAL and Jack Scorpio By: MEDIA RELEASE 5 MAY 2008 the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria and Terrasphere Productions presents as part of MIX IT UP! ROOTS NATION Strictly Roots & Reggae Music from around the world! Featuring direct from KINGSTON, JAMAICA International Reggae stars: HORACE ANDY, LUCIANO & MIKEY GENERAL all with FULL BAND plus JACK SCORPIO (Black Scorpio Sound) SUPPORT BY AUSTRALIA’S INDIGENOUS & REGGAE MASSIVE – BANDS, MC’S & SELECTORS INCLUDING: MISTA SAVONA, THE RED EYES, BART WILLOUGHBY (No Fixed Address, Mixed Relations) Chant Down Sound, Natty Sistren Sound, Heartical HiFi Crew, Tjimba Possum-Burns, Redda Red, Ranking Yoni, Troublemaker, Deline Briscoe, MC Stick Mareebo and RuCL From Kingston Jamaica to the bass driven music lovers of Melbourne comes Roots Nation 2008, taking audiences on an inspiring cultural and artistic journey experiencing the amazing food, sights, music and art forms that are part of the incredible genre of Reggae Music. Roots Nation 2008 will feature the mighty Jamaican music legend HORACE ANDY, whose unique voice is adored by reggae fans the world over, and carried hip-hop and soul into a new era through his collaborations with Massive Attack. Also headlining will be the brilliant LUCIANO, the most universally revered, iconic figure to emerge in reggae over the past decade. Not only is he a consummate songwriter, a wonderful singer but also a spellbinding live performer. Luciano will be joined by fellow reggae stars MIKEY GENERAL & JACK SCORPIO Local acts will include Australia’s own Indigenous reggae star Bart Willoughby, front man of the legendary No Fixed Address and Mixed Relations, plus The Mighty Red Eyes and Mista Savona. There will also be a massive line up of Melbourne’s reggae selectors and MC’s including Chant Down Sound, Natty Sistren Sound, Heartical Hifi and many more. Prior to the Roots Nation concert in Melbourne a series of workshops will be held in Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory with visual footage of Jamaica and Australia to accompany the main concert. HORACE ANDY is now regarded as one of Jamaica's most distinguished and loved vocalists; Horace is blessed with one of the finest voices in Reggae Music. His classic recordings from the '70s with producers such as King Tubby, Prince Jammy and Bullwackie remain crucial listening, while his more recent work with trip-hop heroes Massive Attack has introduced the singer to an entire new generation of devoted fans. www.myspace.com/horaceandy1 LUCIANO as the Messenger is an emissary whose work contains important teachings for humanity and who peacefully strives for the betterment of society. As such, his songs have the power to touch the soul, to communicate spiritual truths and uplift our hearts to an unprecedented degree. Jamaican reggae music hasn't produced such a well-loved figurehead since the days of Bob Marley and Dennis Brown. New Album Jah Is My Navigator out now through Hardwax www.lucianoreggae.com MIKEY GENERAL is well known in and around reggae circles for his conscious lyrics sung in melodious tones and after twenty years in the music business boasts the stamina of a veteran soldier. This British-born Jamaican, whose family migrated to Jamaica when he was two, has spent two decades honing his craft with the best producers and studios, both in the United Kingdom and in Jamaica. www.myspace.com/mikeygeneral JACK SCORPIO is appraised worldwide as one of Jamaica's top veteran music producers and selectors as well as credited for discovering many hit singers and djs. Maurice "Jack" Johnson got involved in the competitive sound system business with the likes of Kilimanjaro, Stone Love and Metro Media, winning sound system clashes and gaining numerous awards along the way, becoming a master-mind in the sound system business. www.myspace.com/blackscorpiorecords From 2pm onwards enjoy the food from Sassy’s Jamaican Kitchen, free live music, stalls and the Oz Reggae Roots and Culture stand selling music, DVD’s and merchandise. www.ozreggae.com ROOTS NATION is part of the Arts Centre’s MIX IT UP! program, which celebrates the cultural diversity of Victoria through music, dance, art and theatre from around the world. This year’s program is all about music. the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria and Terrasphere Productions presents as part of MIX IT UP! ROOTS NATION Sunday 25 May | Free activities from 2pm. Show at 5pm. the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall, Melbourne | Tickets: $35 - $50 Premium tickets also available. Bookings: theartscentre.net.au*, 1300 136 166*, the Arts Centre Box Office or Ticketmaster outlets *Transaction fee applies Media enquiries: Simon Raynor on 03 9314 0272, 0413 007 602 or tsphere@bigpond.com NATIONAL TOUR DATES Friday 16 May Luciano, Mikey General & Jack Scorpio ONLY - Soundsystem Show Maningrida Community Hall Maningrida, Arnhem Land - Northern Territory FREE ENTRY Supported by APRA, Music Bound & the BHP Billiton Corporate Community Program Sunday 18 May Luciano, Mikey General & Jack Scorpio with local support Wild Water + more - Soundsystem Show The Darwin Ski Club, Vestey's Beach Darwin - Northern Territory Doors open 4pm Tickets $15, Concession $10 Family $40 Tel: 0423 209 743 Supported by APRA, Music Bound & the BHP Billiton Corporate Community Program Monday 19 May Luciano, Mikey General & Jack Scorpio with local support Sunshine Reggae Band - Soundsystem Show Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association - CAAMA Studio www.caama.com.au 101 Todd Street, Alice Springs - Northern Territory FREE ENTRY Supported by APRA, Music Bound & the BHP Billiton Corporate Community Program Tuesday 20 May Luciano, Mikey General & Jack Scorpio with local support Rising Wind Band - Soundsystem Show Yuendumu Community Central Australia - Northern Territory FREE ENTRY Supported by APRA, Music Bound & the BHP Billiton Corporate Community Program Saturday 24 May WITH Horace Andy, Luciano, Mikey General all with FULL BAND & Jack Scorpio + more Metro Theatre 624 George Street, Sydney Tickets $50 + BF Doors open 8pm Bookings call : Tel : 02 9550 3666 or www.metrotheatre.com.au or Ticketek 132 849 Sunday 25 May ROOTS NATION WITH Horace Andy, Luciano, Mikey General all with FULL BAND & Jack Scorpio plus supports the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall, Melbourne 100 St Kilda Road Free activities from 2pm. Show at 5pm Tickets: $35 - $50 Premium tickets also available. Bookings: www.theartscentre.com.au 1300 136 166*, the Arts Centre Box Office or Ticketmaster outlets *Transaction fee applies For further information and interviews please contact Simon Raynor on 03 9314 0272, 0413 007 602 or tsphere@bigpond.com 22 February 2008 the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP! - OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK and Ensemble By: OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK and Ensemble Live in Concert! The guru of Sufi and Turkish Music returns to Melbourne – featuring for the first time in Australia his own full ensemble. Supported by Melbourne’s Unified Gecko Experience internationally acclaimed virtuoso OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK and Ensemble in their only Melbourne performance of traditional Sufi, folk and contemporary music from Turkey and the Middle East. Tekbilek weaves traditional Arabesque and Turkish melodies with distinct traces of folk and flamenco to create sublime ambient soundscapes. Honoured as a peacemaker and virtuoso, Omar Faruk Tekbilek is now one of the most sought-after Middle Eastern performers in the world, whose work transcends political boundaries while maintaining traditional sensibilities in a way few artists can manage. A multi-instrumentalist par excellence, he has collaborated with a number of leading musicians of international repute such as jazz trumpeter Don Cherry, keyboard player Karl Berger, ex Cream rock drummer Ginger Baker, Hosam Ramzy and Bill Laswell among others. Born in Adana, Turkey Omar Faruk’s music is rooted in tradition, but has been influenced by contemporary sounds. He views his approach as “cosmic” and his commitment to music runs deep. The four corners of his creativity emanate mysticism, folklore, romance, and imagination. Like Omar Faruk himself, his music symbolizes diversity-in-unity. www.omarfaruktekbilek.com ‘He sings mournful songs in a thick, horn-like voice, heavy with ritualised lament and evoking the ancient chants that fed East and West’ Sydney Morning Herald 2003 ‘Tekbilek’s haunting vocals cutting through the overlapping layers of marimbas, gongs and frame drums with almost transcendental power’ The Age 2006 Arrive early and discover the Grand Bazaar celebrating Turkish culture in Australia with music, dancing, backgammon and free workshops from 2pm. Special performances by DJ Aysu and her band The Aysu Cogur project. OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK is part of the Arts Centre’s MIX IT UP! program, which celebrates the cultural diversity of Victoria through music, dance, art and theatre from around the world. This year’s program is all about music. OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK and Ensemble Sunday 16 March | Free activities from 2pm. Show at 5pm. the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall | Tickets: $30 - $45 Premium tickets also available. Bookings: theartscentre.net.au*, 1300 136 166*, the Arts Centre Box Office or Ticketmaster outlets *Transaction fee applies Media enquiries: Simon Raynor on 03 9314 0272, 0413 007 602 or tsphere@bigpond.com 17 December 2007 Pink Martini comes to Melbourne By: Pink Martini Pink Martini has a style which famously eludes concrete description! Enjoy the sound of Latino beats dipped in ice cool orchestral clarity, and symphonic pop tempered with smooth salon elegance. Completing the scene is sultry lead singer China Forbes and a band that could have been plucked straight from a Parisian lounge in the 1930s! Founded in 1994 in Portland, Oregon, this 12-strong ensemble shares an eclectic mix of cultural backgrounds giving the repertoire an intriguing variety of themes as well as music styles. Despite album sales of 1.3 million worldwide and songs in use by hit small screen shows such as The Sopranos – the real luxury is in their live performance. “…utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious” The Washington Post 10 January, 8pm the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall Tickets: $75 - $85 Ticket price includes a voucher for a glass of house wine, beer, soft drink or a pink martini! BOOKI NOW! theartscentre.net.au*, 1300136166*, the Arts Centre Box Office or Ticketmaster outlets. To hear tracks online: myspace.com/pinkmartinionmyspace 26 November 2007 PBS106.7fm Live Music Week Launch By: PBS 106.7fm Live Music Week Launch Concert - Sunday 2 December Brought to you by Carlsberg Bringing Australia’s finest indigenous, roots and world artists to Federation Square PBS 106.7fm kick-starts its seventh annual week-long celebration of live music with a massive free concert in Federation Square on Sunday 2 December. From 11am to 7pm Fed Square will be rocking to the sounds of Australia’s finest indigenous roots, hip-hop, r’n’b and reggae artists alongside icons of Australian music like Paul Kelly, David Bridie, Shane Howard and Adam Harvey. This years PBS 106.7fm Live Music Week launch concert is about showcasing some of Australia's leading Indigenous performers with a focus on emerging hip-hop artists like Brothablack, Wire MC, Konect A Dot and Tjimba & the Yung Warriors alongside Indigenous Community legends like Archie Roach, Bart Willoughby (No Fixed Address and Mixed Relations), Kutcha Edwards and Lou Bennett (Tiddas). PBS 106.7fm General Manager Adrian Basso said, “It’s great to present a line-up like this. All these acts together on one stage has never been done before. Simon Raynor, presenter of our indigenous music program Big Mob presented the programming concept to us and we were very excited about the possibilities and delighted with the response from the indigenous performers as well as leading Australian performers. It promises to be a great day of music – highlighting that indigenous music fits across all genres of music.” Simon Raynor, along with David Bridie, is also co-founder of the Wantok Music Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation and music label representing indigenous artists from Australia, Melanesia and the Pacific region. Its aim is to develop long-term social, marketing and promotional strategies to raise the local and international profile of indigenous and world music groups based in the region, to provide greater economic opportunities and long-term career sustainability for artists. It's a family friendly day of entertainment, featuring giveaways and the chance to see a radio station in action broadcasting from the Square. Following the live concert PBS 106.7fm broadcasts a week of wall-to-wall live music across all genres of music. Jazz, hip-hop, roots and blues, hard’n’heavy, punk, metal, soul, world, country, latin, indie, rock and more. 70 live acts live-to-air in 7 days - it's the biggest week of live music on radio anywhere in the world! Performance Schedule: Sunday 2 December 11.00am Deline Briscoe 11.15am Adam Harvey 11.45 am Lou Bennett & the Sweet Cheeks 12.15pm Tjimba & Yung Warriors 12.40pm Konect-A-Dot 1.00pm Wire MC 1.45pm Archie Roach joined by Shane Howard 2.20pm Paul Kelly 2.40pm Paul Kelly joined by Archie Roach, Lou Bennett, Bart Willoughby & Kutcha Edwards 3.10pm David Bridie, Bart Willoughby & Kutcha Edwards 3.50pm Brothablack 4.15pm Natty Sistren Sound 4.25pm Grrilla Step, DJ Dexter with guests Deline Briscoe and Bart Willoughby 5.05pm Natty Sistren Sound 5.15pm Mista Savona DJ set with Jornick 5.50pm The Red Eyes 6.30pm Heartical Hi Fi Outernational Major sponsors of Live Music Week and the Sunday 2 December Launch are Carlsberg, APRA, Federation Square, Transport Hotel, Terrasphere Productions and the Wantok Music Foundation, Music Bound, The Australia Council and The Age. www.pbsfm.org.au or 03 8415 1067 PBS 106.7fm Live Music Week Launch Concert Brought to you by Carlsberg Sunday 2 December 2007 Fed Square Melbourne 11am – 7.00pm ABSOLUTLEY FREE and Live on PBS 106.7fm Media Enquiries: Simon Raynor: 0413 007 602 or tsphere@bigpond.com or Tracy Routledge: 0412 223 221or tracyr@pipeline.com.au 11 October 2007 World-Renowned expert ROGER STEFFENS with The Life of Bob Marley By: Jaslyn Hall Presents ROGER STEFFENS with THE LIFE OF BOB MARLEY Twenty five years after Bob Marley’s one and only visit to this country in 1979, Roger Steffens brought his acclaimed “Life Of Bob Marley” show to Australia for the very first time. Roger enthralled audiences with hours of unreleased films and videos and his own unique observations and insights. That was 2004 and now some three years later Roger is returning with a series of brand new audio visual shows (every one is different!), packed with some remarkable new footage and of course his own brilliant and highly entertaining personal anecdotes about the reggae singer and freedom fighter. World-renowned expert on the life and music of Bob Marley, Steffens narrates live the definitive history of the reggae legend with a 2-hour show of previously unreleased rare film. Clips include the earliest known footage of Marley in rehearsal, tapes from live concerts, videos, interviews, personal stories and anecdotes told in his imitable style. If you missed out in 2004 don’t miss it this time. Roger Steffens is a Brooklyn, New York born actor, author, lecturer and editor but is perhaps best known for his Reggae Archives which are housed in six rooms of his home and is the largest repository of Marley memorabilia in the world and includes hundreds of hours of unreleased video and film. “Every show I do is different,” says Steffens. “I’m constantly learning new things about this extraordinary man who is considered to be The Artist Of the Century”. Clips include the earliest known (black and white) footage of Marley in rehearsal, before his locks had grown and he’d became internationally known, stunning moments from live concerts filled with once in a lifetime performances, a long suppressed documentary on the assassination attempt on Marley’s life in 1976, intimate interviews and Marley’s final rehearsal in 1980. In June of 2001, Roger presented this programme in Jamaica for the very first time at the University Of Technology, and received a standing ovation from an audience that included dozen’s of Marley’s friends, associates and relatives. In October, Steffens presented a companion piece “The Life Of Peter Tosh” as part of an all day Tosh symposium at The University Of The West Indies, again garnering a standing ovation. The performances helped lead to an agreement with Jamaica to acquire Steffens’ massive collection as the basis of a new museum of Jamaican Music. A radio host, dj, writer and lecturer Roger has spent much of his life as an apostle of Bob Marley whom he met twice before Marley’s death from cancer. His Reggae Archives currently include a staggering 300,000 titles on tape, record and CD and have been valued at well over a million dollars. As well as co-authoring a number of definitive books on Marley and researching many others, he was co-founder of Beat magazine and is a regular contributor to publications such as Rolling Stone, Spin, The Village Voice, NY Times, LA Times and High Times and has recently co-authored “Bob Marley And The Wailers – The Definitive Discography” with Leroy Jodie Pierson which received rave reviews. Roger's radio career began in New York in 1961, and was host of the award-winning Reggae Beat on KCRW in Los Angeles which was syndicated on over 100 stations worldwide in the 1980s. Roger also produced the highly acclaimed CD/CD-ROM “Soul Almighty Bob Marley, The Formative Years” which spent 56 weeks on Billboard’s reggae chart. He is also a frequent voice-over actor who had bit parts in Forrest Gump and The American President and narrated the Oscar-winning documentary The Flight Of The Gossamer Condor. “Every time I see your show, I learn something new about my son” - Cedella Booker Visit Roger’s Archives at: www.hermosarecords.com/marley/arcintro.html www.jaslynhallpresents.com Roger Steffens with The Life of Bob Marley Thursday 8 November 2007 Northcote Social Club 301 High Street, Northcote Doors open: 8pm $25 +bf ($30 at the door if still available) Tickets: 9486 1677 or www.northcotesocialclub.com 21 September 2007 Luaka Bop lands in Australia By: Luaka Bop lands in Australia The groundbreaking World Music label headed by visionary David Byrne Now available in ALL GOOD MUSIC OUTLETS Distributed through SHOCK RECORDS Luaka Bop established by David Byrne, former guitarist/singer/songwriter of the art rock/new wave band Talking Heads. The label, started in the late 1980’s has been responsible for putting together several renowned series of compilations representing eclectic sounds from around the world. Brazil Classics kicked-off the label and has been followed by a popular set of 7albums surveying eras and artists ranging from Samba to Tropicalia. Ventures into Afro-Peruvian and AfroPean music unearthed the talents of Susana Baca and Zap Mama. World Psychedelic Classics is made up of 4 albums and includes artists such as Shruggie Otis, Os Mutantes, Tim Maia as well as West African artists of the late 60's. In addition to Byrne's solo records, Luaka Bop has also released Cuba and Asia Classics as well as albums by Los Amigos Invisibles, King Changó, Jim White, Shoukichi Kina, A R Kane, Tom Zé, Os Mutantes, Zap Mama and Cornershop, amongst others. Byrne took the phrase "Luaka Bop" for his record label from the inner packaging of a specialty tea which is sold in England. (Luaka is the name of a tea importer. Luaka's "Broken Orange Pekoe" is packaged in a silver foil block; when the sleeve is removed, it reveals a white label stuck to the foil, reading "Luaka BOP") David Byrne is well known as the musician who co-founded the group Talking Heads in New York. On record and in concert, the band was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike; more importantly, however, they have proven to be extremely influential. Talking Heads took popular music in new directions, both in terms of sound and lyrics, and also introduced an innovative visual approach to the genre. Everything is Possible: The Best of Os Mutantes “The late ’60s in Brazil produced an explosion of new sounds and ideas that still reverberate throughout the world. During that time, Os Mutantes’ creative cannibalism produced psychedelic gems unlike anything else in the world. They were exactly what their name implies: a mutant genetic recombination of elements of John Cage, The Beatles, and Bossa Nova. A creature too strange and beautiful to live for very long, yet too strong to ever fade away. It lives again.” - David Byrne In terms of their status and influence Os Mutantes (the Mutants) are often referred to as the Brazilian Beatles. So how did 1960’s Brazil produce the wildest, most psychedelic rock'n'roll group of them all? And why, four decades on, has the rest of the world gone crazy over them? As the Daily Telegraph put it 'people talk about cult bands, but there should be a separate category for Os Mutantes, who have had a fanatical following among music lovers for years.' Kurt Cobain, Beck, Super Furry Animals, The Bees, Stereolab, L7 and David Byrne are just a few of the musicians that have flown the flag for Os Mutantes Endorsements by Cobain and others are not lost on group founder Sergio Dias, who has continued playing solo since Mutantes' final dissolution in 1978. Luckily, in this compilation you will hear Os Mutantes at their best and most humorous phases of their career - a surprisingly creative rock band that is still as influential and relevant today as it was forty years ago. www.luakabop.com www.davidbyrne.com www.myspace.com/osmutantes66 Luaka Bop Catalogue Including Everything is Possible: The Best of Os Mutantes Compiled by David Byrne Now available in ALL GOOD MUSIC OUTLETS Distributed through SHOCK RECORDS For further press information and interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au 21 September 2007 Roy Paci and Aretuska - New Album SUONOGLOBAL out now through Shock Records By: Roy Paci and Aretuska New Album SUONOGLOBAL out now through Shock Records Featuring MANU CHAO, RAIZ, COR VALENO, PAU, ERRIQUEZ, CAPAREEZA & SUD SOUND SYSTEM With rich Latin brass sections fused with reggae, hip hop, cumbia, mestizo and salsa comes the latest album ‘Suonoglobal’ by Roy Paci & Aretuska instantly hitting you fair between the eyes with passion and rhythm lifting the soul and mind to far-off exotic lands. Its mission is stated from the beginning; the title SUONOGLOBAL is an Italian pun on ‘Global Sound’ and ‘No Global’ and mixes and melts different sounds, languages and worlds together. Sound has no country, nor religion. After 3 albums with the band Aretuska and an infinite number of collaborations with a range of diverse artists, Sicilian trumpeter Roy Paci has gathered together his friends: the enthralling Manu Chao, Erriquez from Bandabardò, Pau from Negrita, Cor Valeno, Raiz, and Caparezza & Sud Sound System. “All the musicians involved in this project have contributed in their own unique way. Each of them has brought in something fundamental, and the general atmosphere has always been laid back and relaxed” - Roy Paci Roy Paci & Aretuska, formed in 2000 initially as a solo project where Roy surrounded himself with young Sicilian musicians. Their first release ‘Baciamo Le Mani’ (typical mafia expression meaning “kissing your hands”) was a mighty fusion of rocksteady, ska, soul, funk and Mediterranean melodies. Paci creates his own record label Etnagigante and releases the second album ‘Tuttapposto’ (All Fine) featuring calypso, rocksteady, swing and Caribbean sounds, brand new songs and rearrangements of Sicilian traditional songs and includes the collaboration with the great Tony Scott. End of 2004 sees Roy Paci & Aretuska’s third album ‘Parola d’Onore’ (word of honour). Its sound can be summed up in one word, which is also the title of one of the songs “superreggaestereomambo”! The album is received with enthusiasm by both critics and the public displayed by Roy Paci & Aretuska appearing in the UK at Womad Reading Festival, where the band plays in front of 10,000 people! Roy Paci was born in Sicily in 1969. Trumpet player, composer and music arranger, Roy Paci started playing the piano then turned to trumpet at the age of 10 when he joined his town’s local marching band. Paci’s first project was a 7-piece outfit called As Sikilli with who he appears at his first national and international Festivals. In 1990 he moved to South America and played with the national Argentina Big Band and Musica Popolar Do Brasil together with Selma Reis. From this period on Roy goes on to play and collaborate with several major Italian groups including ska band Persiana Jones, Qbeta, Mau Mau and more. Roy Paci’s enormous talent is showcased on diverse productions as he works for other artists as trumpet player and music arranger; from reggae (Africa unite) and ska (Fratelli di Soledad) to ethnic (Lou Dalfin) and rock-folk (Parto delle Nuvole Pesanti). www.myspace.com/roypaciaretuska www.roypaci.it Roy Paci and Aretuska New Album SUONOGLOBAL Now available in ALL GOOD MUSIC OUTLETS Distributed through SHOCK RECORDS For further press information and interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au 25 July 2007 dDub from NZ - Touring Australia's East Coast By: Press Release 25 July 2007 Direct from Auckland - New Zealand’s explosive dub masters dDub - TOURING AUSTRALIA August/September 2007 NEW ALBUM ‘AWAKE AT DAWN’ OUT NOW ! THROUGH SHOCK RECORDS AVAILABLE AT ALL GOOD MUSIC OUTLETS Following massive sell-out East Coast shows in April this year, dDub are back to play Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne - spreading their unique blend of roots, rock and reggae. Renowned for their 'cranking and skanking' live shows, the band delivers non-stop party vibes to their audiences and have become firm favourites on New Zealand’s festival circuit, sharing stages with other high-profile acts including Fat Freddy’s Drop, Salmonella Dub, Cornerstone Roots, The Black Seeds, Katchafire and Kora. Their critically acclaimed album ‘Awake At Dawn’ is jam-packed full of tunes complete with heavy basslines, lush horns, rolling guitar and sweet vocal harmonies that compel you to move. Combining authentic roots music with a fresh contemporary approach to create a distinct conscious sound, dDub draws its musical influences from the heart of rock, roots, reggae and dub, resulting in a fusion of flavours distinctly dDub in sound and style! The band has cemented their position as one of New Zealand’s best-loved live acts. Engaging and uplifting, the dDub crew propel their way seamlessly through a powerful and non-stop roots explosion. Horns, harmonies and hands-high tunes combine to create an elevating musical experience not to be missed. In June this year dDub played a huge New Zealand Winter tour, including a triumphant return, for the 5th time, to the Queenstown Winter Festival, where they played to a 10,000 strong crowd in subzero temperatures. The band has recently performed at WOMAD NZ 2007, one of the few local acts to be accepted into this international festival and have also had a track included on the Australasian WOMAD compilation. The debut long player from dDub, Awake at Dawn, is the culmination of years of hard work and the realisation of a long-held dream. “This album is a milestone in the dDub journey,” says band guitarist and lead vocalist Derek Browne. “To finally have the songs recorded and set in time for people to actually take away with them is fantastic.” “From the first note the huge party vibe that dDub carried onto the stage bathed the crowd in a wave of positive energy. dDub’s accomplished lead singer/guitarist Derek Browne steered a massive groove and ska-hot brass to take the party through an explosive journey of high-hands roots, rock and reggae.” – Marcus Graham – Inpress Magazine, Melbourne “Sophisticated arrangements, sweet tones, subtle poetic lyrics and good playing make dDub's Awake At Dawn (Shock) a pleasant addition to the growing category of New Zealand reggae. Swift tempo changes, a mariachi-influenced horn section and squeaky-clean riddims -… show this band is a finely-tuned vehicle capable of running full throttle straight through your town” The Beat Magazine – USA “…A long awaited recording for their substantial fan base, it loses none of the magical essence of a dDub live show. Pumping out a raw roots Pacifica aural experience with bold brass and unapologetic passion.” Real Groove Magazine March 06 * * * * 4 Stars - Sharyn Croft “The opener…suddenly erupts into a boiling sub dub melee of pounding drums and sky high horns” Jonathan Alley – The Age, Melbourne dDub - TOURING AUSTRALIA August/September 2007 SHOW DATES Friday 24 August 2007 – Melbourne Gershwin Room, The Esplanade Hotel 11 Upper Esplanade, St. Kilda with Roger That, DJ Dubwise, DJ AlleyKat DOORS OPEN 9pm, TIX $13 + BF Doorsales $15 Info & Tickets: 03 9534 0211, www.espy.com.au, Espy bottleshop 03 9534 8878, www.inthemix.com.au, Missing Link & Polyester record stores Saturday 25 August 2007 – Melbourne The Evelyn Hotel 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy with Roger That, DJ Humdrum, DJ AlleyKat DOORS OPEN 8.30pm, TIX $13 + BF Doorsales $15 Info & Tickets: The Evelyn Hotel 03 9419 5500, www.inthemix.com.au, Missing Link & Polyester record stores Thursday 30 August 2007 – Canberra ANU Bar Corner North Rd and University Ave, Canberra with Rastawookie (Syd), Dahahoo DOORS OPEN 8pm TIX: Presales: $15 + BF Doorsales: $20 Info: 02 6125 2446 Tickets: Landspeed records 02 6248 9220, ANU Bar 02 6125 3660 Friday 31 August 2007 – Blue Mountains Triselies 287 Bathurst Rd, Katoomba with Rastawookie (Syd) DOORS OPEN 9pm TIX: Presales $15.00, Doorsales $20.00 Info & Tickets: 02 4782 1217 Saturday 1 September 2007 – Sydney Beach Road Hotel, Bondi 71 Beach Rd - Bondi Beach Doors open 8.30pm FREE Info: (02) 9130 7247 www.myspace.com/ddubnz www.ddub.co.nz For further press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob: 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au 24 July 2007 the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP! - INDONESIA ROCKS with KUA ETNIKA By: INDONESIA ROCKS with Kua Etnika Live in Concert Indonesia’s finest music ensemble - Kua Etnika tour Australia for the first time From the lush tropical islands of the Indonesian archipelago, with its incredibly rich and diverse cultural landscape comes Indonesia’s most popular and prolific gamelan (ensemble), Kua Etnika, performing in Indonesia Rocks at the Arts Centre, Fairfax Studio, on Sunday 12 August. The 13-piece gamelan, featuring front man Djaduk Ferianto, will fill you with vivid imagery of the fabled spice islands as they effortlessly fuse traditional and contemporary Indonesian music forms into ethereal soundscapes creating the finest global music from our region. Balinese, Javanese, Kalimantan, jazz, reggae and many other influences are combined in a concert that truly represents the vibrant music and arts scene of Indonesian society today. Described as a “big band” sound, atmospheric Indonesian string, wind and percussion instruments and the pulsating bonang (a collection of tuned deep gongs) are infused with guitars, violins and keyboards creating intensely complex rhythms. With a background in traditional music the ensemble use the strengths of a variety of specific regional Indonesian sounds, reinterpret it into new forms with wider room for appreciation, while retaining the original cultural nuances of the music. Front man and composer Djaduk Ferianto draws on his considerable mastery of diverse Indonesian music and theatrical traditions to create Kua Etnika’s unique sound. Djaduk has established several music and theatre groups, toured throughout Europe, North America and Asia, and has received recognition and awards of excellence for his work. Kua Etnika take audiences on a wonderfully rich and culturally diverse journey, that breaks down the stereotyped perception of contemporary Indonesian society, revealing an incredible music culture that exists right on Australia’s door step. Before the show there will be cultural displays from Indonesia and showcase performances. INDONESIA ROCKS is part of the Arts Centre’s MIX IT UP program, which celebrates the cultural diversity of Victoria through music, dance, art and theatre from around the world. This year’s program is all about music. the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP INDONESIA ROCKS with Kua Etnika Sunday 12 August | Free activities from 3pm. Show at 5pm. the Arts Centre, Fairfax Studio | Tickets: $30 - $55 Bookings: theartscentre.net.au*, 1300 136 166*, the Arts Centre Box Office or Ticketmaster outlets *Transaction fee applies Indonesia Rocks is programmed with Brisbane Powerhouse. Media enquiries: Simon Raynor on 03 9314 0272, 0413 007 602 or tsphere@bigpond.com 24 July 2007 Andy Alberts CD Launch By: One of Victoria’s leading Indigenous songwriters launches his latest album ANDY ALBERTS – ‘Life and Land’ CD LAUNCH With support by DAVE ARDEN & special guests! Aboriginal Singer/Songwriter Andy Alberts is passionate about five things, HIS CULTURE, HIS LAND, HIS PEOPLE, HIS FAMILY AND HIS MUSIC. Andy is inspired to tell the stories of his people, their struggles, their celebrations and their histories. Although most artists tend to not look back, Andy is the exception, that’s one of the qualities that endears him to everyone that meets him, he will never forget where he came from and when he looks back, it’s his moment to reflect and pay respects to all that he holds dear. A Gunditjmara Man, Andy is proud of his heritage and draws on the strength of the spirits of his ancestors. New album “LIFE AND LAND” boasts collaborations with Shane Howard and Robbie Bundle with guest vocals by Archie Roach and many great local musicians including Lee Morgan, David Arden and Andy’s band the Walkabouts. Produced by Pete Bird and Andy Alberts the CD was recorded in Warrnambool at Pete Bird’s YELP Studio. Andy’s first album “GUNDITJMARA LAND” was released independently in 1998 and his EP “CLOSE TO HOME” also received a great deal of attention, with the first song on the EP, “GET OUTTA JABILUKA” being picked up by the Australian Greens on a double compilation CD. Andy has supported Tiddas on their farewell tour in Warrnambool and Portland in 2000 and has performed as support act for Indigenous singer/songwriter Archie Roach. Andy has performed at various events, including; Port Fairy-Victoria, Woodford Folk Festival-Queensland, Tamworth Country Music Festival-New South Wales, Melbourne Fringe, Queenscliff-Victoria, Apollo Bay Festival-Victoria, Port Campbell Blues & Roots Festival-Victoria, Flinders Island-Tasmania and The Brunswick Music Festival-Victoria, to name just a few. Andy’s album “Life and Land” is available at Capricorn Records in Warrnambool, The Last Record Store – Smith Street Collingwood and Blue Moon Records – Johnson Street Fitzroy SPECIAL GUESTS: Dave Arden is a Gunditjmara man from Victoria. As a singer song writer he performed for several years with Archie Roach and is now following a solo career. Dave's next album is to be produced by Shane Howard and due for release in late 2007. ANDY ALBERTS – ‘Life and Land’ CD LAUNCH SATURDAY 4 AUGUST 2007 Northcote Social Club – MELBOURNE 301 High Street, Northcote WITH SUPPORT BY DAVE ARDEN & SPECIAL GUESTS DOORS OPEN 8PM Tickets: $12 at the door only Info NSC - 03 9489 3917 www.northcotesocialclub.com For further press information and interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob: 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au 24 July 2007 Oi Va Voi - New Album out now! By: Oi Va Voi - NEW SELF-TITLED ALBUM out now through Shock Records Available at all good music outlets Having fought their way through a series of trials and tribulations that would have finished off a lesser band, the long-awaited second album (Oi Va Voi) takes their unique mix of global rhythms and club-friendly beats to new heights - bigger, bolder and with more attitude than anything even their most ardent fans could have imagined. The band's acclaimed 2003 debut album "Laughter Through Tears", vibrant live shows and festival appearances made them everybody's tip for the top. Then, due to circumstances beyond their control, it all started to go wrong. A terminal dispute with their record company was followed by the loss of a band member and a serious illness within the band, initial attempts to record a follow-up album had to be put on hold. Twelve months on and Oi Va Voi have regrouped and regenerated on a new label with a new producer and the addition of exciting new recruits. Out of potential disaster they have fashioned a second album that expands Oi Va Voi's core sound with a whole new range of subtle yet vivid new hues and striking primary colours. Recorded in Israel and London, the songwriting is more crafted, the playing more fluid, and the diverse elements of their sound more fully integrated. If the last record left people wondering if Oi Va Voi were an electronic dance act, world music worthies or a rock'n'roll band, the new album renders such questions irrelevant by trampling the fences of genre and simplistic categorisation out of sight. Oi Va Voi came together in the late 1990s when trumpeter Lemez Lovas, drummer Josh Breslaw, bassist Leo Bryant, clarinettist Steve Levi, guitarist Nik Ammar and violinist Sophie Solomon pooled their diverse musical backgrounds in left-field jazz, hip-hop, rock bands, drum n bass and Jewish klezmer. With the addition of K.T.Tunstall on guest vocals, their debut album fused modern dance music, singer-songwriter sensitivity and their Jewish cultural heritage with global rhythms drawn from Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and beyond. ‘Laughter Through Tears’ received rave reviews and won two nominations in the BBC Radio 2 awards for world music. Yet anybody who saw Oi Va Voi's spectacular live shows was left in little doubt that they were far more than a world music act with an enviable ability to rock a crowd and get a dance floor heaving. Then in late 2004, KT Tunstall left the live set-up to become a million-selling, multi-platinum solo artist. The rest of the band congratulated her on her success, the search for a replacement was on. Their claim to have "auditioned every female vocalist in London" is only a slight exaggeration. Several were tried live, but none was quite right. Next Sophie Solomon signed a solo deal that ultimately proved incompatible with continued membership of the band. Meanwhile, the band and its record company were at odds over their future direction and to cap it all, illness within the group further hampered their progress. When they attempted to begin recording their second album in 2005, sessions were soon abandoned. There was far too much uncertainty in the air for them to focus fully on the task at hand. Then slowly the realisation dawned that out of the ashes of their trials and tribulations, new possibilities could arise: not a chance to make a fresh start exactly, but certainly the opportunity to explore new spaces and expand their horizons. First they found the right singer in Alice McLaughlin, whose stunning voice combines the English purity of early Marianne Faithfull with something of the otherworldliness of Bjork. Next, producer Mike Spencer came on board. Best known for producing top ten hits for the likes of Jamiroquai and Kylie Minogue, his less celebrated recordings of traditional music in Sudan and Cambodia made him the perfect fit for Oi Va Voi's own unique eclecticism. More recently, virtuoso violinist Anna Phoebe has been added to the extended Oi Va Voi live family. With a new record deal in place, band and producer decamped to Tel Aviv. The change of scene proved to be a tonic and the second album began to fall into place. Work continued back in London and the result is an album that thrillingly realises all of the possibilities opened up by their debut album. Black Sheep, the first track recorded in Israel, represents a manifesto of all that is best about the band, the skittering beats perfectly counter-posed by thrilling Arabic strings played by members of the Nazareth Orchestra and a vocal by Alice that announces her as a memorable successor to KT Tunstall. Described by the band as "a kitsch space song”, Yuri, sounds like the French electronic duo Air kidnapped for the night by a bunch of crazed Russian gypsies in a Moscow vodka bar. Worry Lines and Dry Your Eyes illustrate how far Oi Va Voi have come as songwriters. The former features an aching vocal by lyricist Steve Levi, while the latter is as beautiful and dysfunctional a love song as you're likely to hear. Dissident is another tour de force with a stunning vocal by Hungarian folk singer Agi Szaloki offset by Levi's haunting cantor, while the instrumental Balkanic reminds us that Oi Va Voi were championing East European beats long before Gogol Bordello or Basement Jaxx. Oi Va Voi have not only survived in the face of adversity. They've returned with an album of startling ambition and breathtaking audacity that triumphantly defies everything fate has conspired to throw at them. Welcome back. For further press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au 5 June 2007 So Frenchy So Chic By: So Frenchy So Chic Nourvelle Vague & Emilie Simon Live in Concert Loose yourself in a contemporary French musical landscape as two of France’s most influential artists Nouvelle Vague and Emilie Simon, come together for one alluring concert Friday 6 July, 8pm at the Arts Centre’s Hamer Hall. Playing songs from the unofficial soundtrack to the French Film Festival – So Frenchy So Chic this concert is not to be missed! The masters of reinterpretation Nouvelle Vague have gained worldwide success for their rearrangements of 80s post-punk tracks from various artists such as Bauhaus, New Order, Billy Idol, Echo and The Bunnymen, Blondie and more. Exploring trip hop and electronica combined with percussion, acoustic guitars, accordions, steel drums and topped off with sensually sassy feminine voices. Nouvelle Vague encapsulates the very essence of the contemporary French music phenomenon. 'Melodic, sophisticated, a stroke of genius... one of the years most interesting albums". The Telegraph Making her Australian debut is one of Frances more successful artists, Emilie Simon. Ranked with the likes and popularity of Daft Punk and Air, Emilie’s music features a sophisticated electrotonic mix combined with a flirty, alluring, vocals in both English and French. Renowned for her collaboration with Tricky, Emilie composed the French soundtrack to the worldwide smash hit March of the Penguins. Emilie is a multi- award winning artists in France winning Best Electronic Album of the year for her self titled album in 2003 and Best Original Film/Television Soundtrack of the Year March of the Penguins in 2005. Emilie’s complex, flirty and sultry vocals have earned her the reputation of the “French Bjork”. "It's a subtle record (The Flower Book) with sophisticated electronic elements and a flirty vibe". Paper Mag Get to the show early for petanque, pastis, French cars, French lessons and more. Programmed by Jean-Francois Ponthieux, Label Manager for Filter Music The Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP SO FRENCHY SO CHIC 6 July, 8pm the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall Tickets: $30 - $55 Media enquires: Christy Bicknell on 03 9281 8198, 0403 539 235 or christy.bicknell@theartscentre.net.au 18 April 2007 New Zealand’s explosive dub masters dDub - TOURING AUSTRALIA APRIL/MAY 2007 By: Press Release 13 April 2007 AlleyKat Records and MC Creations present Direct from Auckland - New Zealand’s explosive dub masters dDub - TOURING AUSTRALIA APRIL/MAY 2007 NEW ALBUM ‘AWAKE AT DAWN’ OUT NOW ! THROUGH SHOCK RECORDS AVAILABLE AT ALL GOOD MUSIC OUTLETS Combining authentic roots music with a fresh contemporary approach to create a distinct conscious sound, dDub draws its musical influences from the heart of rock, roots, reggae and dub, resulting in a fusion of flavours distinctly dDub in sound and style! Renowned for their 'cranking and skanking' live shows, the band delivers non-stop good vibes to their audiences and have become firm favourites on New Zealand’s festival circuit, sharing stages with other high-profile acts including Fat Freddy’s Drop, Salmonella Dub, Cornerstone Roots, The Black Seeds, Katchafire and Kora. Their critically acclaimed album ‘Awake At Dawn’ is jam-packed full of tunes complete with heavy basslines, lush horns, rolling guitar and sweet vocal harmonies that compel you to move. dDub have cemented their position as one of New Zealand’s best-loved live acts. Engaging and uplifting, the dDub crew propel their way seamlessly through a powerful and non-stop roots explosion. Horns, harmonies and hands-high tunes combine to create an elevating musical experience not to be missed. The band have recently performed at WOMAD 2007, one of the few local acts to be accepted into this international festival and have also had a track included on the Australasian WOMAD compilation. The debut long player from dDub, Awake at Dawn, is the culmination of years of hard work and the realisation of a long-held dream. “This album is a milestone in the dDub journey,” says band guitarist and lead vocalist Derek Browne. “To finally have the songs recorded and set in time for people to actually take away with them is fantastic.” “Sophisticated arrangements, sweet tones, subtle poetic lyrics and good playing make dDub's Awake At Dawn (Vunderchick) a pleasant addition to the growing category of New Zealand reggae. Swift tempo changes, a mariachi-influenced horn section and squeaky-clean riddims -… show this band is a finely-tuned vehicle capable of running full throttle straight through your town” The Beat Magazine – USA - “…A long awaited recording for their substantial fan base, it loses none of the magical essence of a dDub live show. Pumping out a raw roots Pacifica aural experience with bold brass and unapologetic passion.” Real Groove Magazine March 06 * * * * 4 Stars - Sharyn Croft - “Polished and complete, the album brings together a range of influences, including reggae, dub, ska, roots, and even a touch of flamenco, all performed with assured musicianship. dDub shows on this album it unequivocally holds its own, with some standout tracks sure to stamp its name firmly on the NZ dub circuit.” Otago Daily Times 25 02 06 * * * * * 5 Stars - Sophie Hazelhurst - For further press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au dDub - TOURING AUSTRALIA APRIL/MAY 2007 SHOW DATES Thursday 26 April 2007 – Brisbane The Columbian 14-20 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley, 4006 with DUBDOUBT DOORS OPEN 8pm, TIX $12 + BF Info: 07 3257 3851 Tickets available from www.etix.com.au, 1300 762 545, Rocking Horse, Skinny’s, Butterbeats, MoshPit, Music Mania, Sunflower, Great Northern Hotel & www.oztix.com.au Friday 27 April 2007 – Gold Coast Beenleigh Tavern Pacific Highway, Beenleigh, 4207 with DUBDOUBT DOORS OPEN 8pm, TIX $10 + BF Info: 07 3287 4777 Tickets available from www.etix.com.au, 1300 762 545, Rocking Horse, Skinny’s, Butterbeats, MoshPit, Music Mania, Sunflower, Great Northern Hotel & www.oztix.com.au Saturday 28 April 2007 – Byron Bay Beach Hotel Bay Street, Byron Bay, 2481 DOORS OPEN 8pm FREE Info: 02 6685 6402 Sunday 29 April 2007 – Sydney The Landsdowne Hotel Cnr City Rd & Broadway , Chippendale DOORS OPEN 7pm Early gig - finish 10pm FREE Info: 02 9211 2325 Friday 4 May 2007 – Melbourne The Northcote Social Club 301 High Street, Northcote with The RED EYES, DJ AlleyKat, SYSTA BB (PBS Planetary Chaos) & DJ DELAY DOORS OPEN 8.30pm, TIX $18.50+ BF ($21 at the door) Info & Tickets: 03 9486 1677, www.northcotesocialclub.com, www.inthemix.com.au, Missing Link, Polyester & Greville record stores Saturday 5 May 2007 – Melbourne Gershwin Room, The Esplanade 11 Upper Esplanade, St. Kilda with The RED EYES, DJ AlleyKat & DJ Glen Irie DOORS OPEN 8pm, TIX $18.50+ BF ($21 at the door) Info & Tickets: 03 9534 0211, www.espy.com.au, Espy bottleshop, www.inthemix.com.au, Missing Link, Polyester & Greville record stores For further press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au 2 March 2007 ZIGGY MARLEY By: MEDIA RELEASE 1 MARCH 2007 The East Coast Blues & Roots Festival presents DIRECT FROM JAMAICA – 2007 GRAMMY AWARD WINNER ZIGGY MARLEY AUSTRALIAN SIDE SHOW TOUR TICKETS ON SALE NOW! A native of Kingston Jamaica, Ziggy Marley first sat in on recording sessions with his father, the legendary reggae master Bob Marley, when he was 10 years old. Later joining his three siblings to become The Melody Makers, Ziggy crafted his own soulful blues, R&B, hip-hop and reggae. After two decades as the creative force behind The Melody Makers, a triple Grammy-winning act which included brother Stephen and sisters Sharon and Cedella, Ziggy released his debut solo album in 2003, ‘Dragonfly’, which featured such guest artists as Flea and John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Mike Einziger and DJ Kilmore (Incubus). In 2006, Ziggy released his second solo album ‘Love Is My Religion’ a true Ziggy Marley experience featuring, among other flavours, reggae peppered with African percussion. ‘This album is from my heart,’ says Ziggy. Embracing both the spiritual and emotional side of life, Ziggy has definitively come into his own as an artist. The twelve-track album showcases Ziggys tightly rolled talents as a songwriter (writing all cuts), musician (playing most of the instruments) and producer (shepherding all dozen tracks, with three co-produced by Grammy winner Ross Hogarth). ‘Love is my religion’ won the 2007 Grammy award for Best Reggae Album. He has also contributed to a variety of soundtracks including 50 First Dates and Shark's Tale, in which he delved into acting for the first time, playing the character of Bernie, the Jamaican jellyfish. In addition to his skills as a singer, songwriter and producer, Ziggy founded U.R.G.E. (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment), a non-profit organization that benefits a wide range of charitable children's causes in Jamaica, Ethiopia and other developing nations. More recently he has thrown his support behind the Youth AIDS campaign. www.ziggymarley.com TUESDAY 3 APRIL 2007 The Prince Bandroom - MELBOURNE 29 FITZROY STREET, ST.KILDA WITH NATTY SISTREN SOUND, ANDY ITES + NICKY BOMBA DOORS OPEN 7.30PM TIX $75.50 + BF Info & Bookings: Ticketek - 132 849 www.ticketek.com or The Prince – 03 9536 1168 www.princebandroom.com.au Or Polyester, Missing Link & Greville record stores For further press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au 2 March 2007 SIERRA LEONE’S REFUGEE ALLSTARS By: MEDIA RELEASE 1 MARCH 2007 The East Coast Blues & Roots Festival presents DIRECT FROM AFRICA SIERRA LEONE’S REFUGEE ALLSTARS AUSTRALIAN SIDE SHOW TOUR TICKETS ON SALE NOW! With a spirited fusion of traditional West African music, roots reggae and rhythmic traditional folk, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars craft music that transforms and uplifts. The collection of songs on their debut album Living Like A Refugee (2006), decry the insanity of war and call out for social justice while instantly compelling you to get on your feet and dance. They have lived through unimaginable tragedy and yet have become an inspiration and a symbol of the healing power of music. The band formed in a refugee camp in the West African nation of Guinea, and Living like a Refugee was recorded throughout the production of the award-winning documentary film The Refugee All Stars, between August 2002, and October 2005. Each song is an original composition written during their years in exile and, taken as a whole the album serves as a musical document of the bands incredible journey. Backed by the likes of Keith Richards, Sir Paul McCartney, Ice Cube, Angelina Jolie and executive producers Steve Bing and Shelley Lazar - the resulting documentary film, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, has won thirteen major awards, including the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the AFI Film Festival 2005 and the Audience Favourite Award at the Miami Film Festival 2006. And while the film has been busy conquering the hearts of festival goers (including Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, who told Billboard "I was just so overwhelmed by the movie and the message of hope they're carrying. Their music is so buoyant and joyful.") it is the music of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars that is now winning over legions of new fans. Lauded for their infectious sound and engaging performance, the All Stars are, as Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times says, "establishing an identity based as much on skill, imagination and charisma as on their undeniably touching story." To date the band has been featured on CNN and CNN International, PBS and CBS Sunday Morning, as well as having performed live on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Their sound is also finding new avenues of exposure including a song in the film Blood Diamond and two upcoming humanitarian relief compilations, which they recorded in the studio with Joe Perry and Steven Tyler. For a group that started in a remote Guinean refugee camp and only started touring outside of West Africa less than a year ago, they have come a long way. In the past year the band has appeared at some of the most prestigious music festivals worldwide including Bonnaroo, The Montreal Jazz Fest, The Ottawa Jazz Festival, The Folk and Roots Festival in Chicago, The Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, as well as headlining at Central Park Summer stage. In November 2006 the band opened for Aerosmith at the Mohegan Sun Arena and most recently performed for an international audience at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. www.rosebudus.com/refugeeallstars SUNDAY 1 APRIL 2007 The Prince Bandroom - MELBOURNE 29 FITZROY STREET, ST.KILDA DOORS OPEN 7.30PM TIX $40.00 + BF Info & Bookings: Ticketek - 132 849 www.ticketek.com or The Prince – 03 9536 1168 www.princebandroom.com.au Or Polyester, Missing Link & Greville record stores MONDAY 2 APRIL 2007 The Basement - SYDNEY 29 REIBY STREET, SYDNEY DOORS OPEN 7.30PM TIX $55.00 + BF Info & Bookings: 02 9251 2797 or Moshtix – www.moshtix.com.au www.thebasement.com.au For further press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au 2 March 2007 LEE SCRATCH PERRY – WITH FULL BAND! By: MEDIA RELEASE 26 FEBRUARY 2007 The East Coast Blues & Roots Festival presents FROM JAMAICA ONE OF REGGAE’S TRUE ICON’S LEE SCRATCH PERRY – WITH FULL BAND! AUSTRALIAN SIDE SHOW TOUR SUNDAY 1 APRIL – WEDNESDAY 4 APRIL 2007 SHOW DATES BELOW TICKETS ON SALE NOW ! Elemental reggae revolutionary LEE SCRATCH PERRY returns to Australia with FULL BAND in April to play club shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide as well as the East & West Coast Blues & Roots Festival’s. Following sell-out concerts to our shores in previous years, these Australian shows by Mr. Rainford Hugh ‘Scratch’ ‘Pipecock Jaxxson’ ‘The Upsetter’ ‘Super Ape’ Perry will feature a complete live element with his entire band coming on tour. The much respected and revered Jamaican producer, recording artist, performance artist and shaman will be dropping old skool sounds and classic cuts dug up from his infamous Black Ark period right through to the latest album. Throughout his vast and important life the archetypal court jester who masks his might in madness, has massively influenced reggae, dub, hip-hop, electronica and beyond. His magical musical career spans almost five decades, instructing and collaborating with the likes of Coxsone Dodd, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley to The Clash, Zodiac Mindwarp and Adrian Sherwood. Lee was born in a Jamaican village in 1936, and by the 1950s was discovering the sounds of Kingston. In the early 60s he made his first recording, Chicken Scratch, which gave him his famous nickname. Perrys 1968 release People Funny Boy was the first Jamaican pop record to use the loping, lazy, bass-driven beat that would soon become identified as the reggae riddim and signal the shift from upbeat ska to the pulsing, throbbing languor of roots reggae. Lee went on to record and produce some of the finest moments of the movement, including works with Bob Marley. www.upsetter.net/scratch/ SUNDAY 1 APRIL Fowlers Live – ADELAIDE 68 NORTH TCE, ADELAIDE DOORS OPEN 8.00PM TIX $55 + BF Info & Bookings: 08 8225 8888 Over 18’s only www.fowlerslive.com.au MONDAY 2 APRIL The Prince Bandroom - MELBOURNE 29 FITZROY STREET, ST.KILDA DOORS OPEN 8.30PM TIX $71.50 + BF Info & Bookings: Ticketek - 132 849 www.ticketek.com or The Prince – 03 9536 1168 www.princebandroom.com.au Or Polyester, Missing Link & Greville record stores WEDNESDAY 4 APRIL Metro Theatre - SYDNEY 624 GEORGE STREET, SYDNEY DOORS OPEN 8.00PM TIX $71.10 + BF Info & Bookings: 02 9550 3666 or Ticketek - 132 849 www.ticketek.com For further press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au 24 January 2007 DUB SYNDICATE – 1st Ever Australian Tour! By: MEDIA RELEASE 16 JAN 2007 Prince Bandroom in association with Bass Nation presents The Legendary Dub Masters - Direct from JAMAICA DUB SYNDICATE – 1st Ever Australian Tour! THE GREATEST DUB REGGAE BAND OF ALL TIME! WED 21 FEB and THURS 22 FEB 2007 - MELBOURNE & SYDNEY SHOW DETAILS BELOW OVER TWO DECADES IN THE REGGAE BUSINESS AND STILL GOING STRONG! EX-SOLDIER AND RENOWNED DRUMMER FROM ROOTS RADICS AND DUB SYNDICATE ‘STYLE’ SCOTT MARCHES ON TO HIS OWN BEAT.... Lincoln 'Style' Scott is one of reggae music's most prolific musicians, composers and producers, and the leader of both the seminal `80s session group Roots Radics and Adrian Sherwood's expansive Dub Syndicate project. A virtuoso drummer, Scott is in league with other Jamaican legends such as the Skatalites' Lloyd Knibbs, Sly Dunbar, the Wailers' Carlton Barrett and the Burning Spear band's Nelson Miller. Dub Syndicate is probably the most futuristic roots dub band around since Scott and U.K producer Sherwood started collaborating in England in the 1980s. The pair produced a brace of great albums (Pounding System, Tunes from the Missing Channel) on Sherwood's own esteemed On-U Sound label with a sort of genre crossover feel, but with definite reggae roots. The 45-year-old Scott, who hails from the Jamaican parish of Clarendon, was exposed to music both at home (where his mother played piano) and at church (and later by watching hotel and night club bands and practising at both the Mo' Bay Boys Club and in the army drum corps) Scott would play on any kit he could get near. 'I usually left out of the army barracks every night after work and went down to the Channel One studio to watch and see what was going on, 'cause Channel One was the studio that was kicking during them days,' he explains. Between the years 1978-79, Scott met up with a number of Kingston musicians and began rehearsing, calling the group Roots Rock. Eventually the rehearsals turned into studio work, and the band was soon backing singers like Gregory Isaacs, Peter Broggs and Don Carlos. The rhythms that the Roots Radics produced during the Channel One period with producer Junjo Lawes represent one of the most creative periods for Jamaican music. Roots Radics was one of the bands that lay the foundation for contemporary dancehall but it was when Scott toured Europe in 1978 with the late, great gravel-voiced DJ Prince Far I that he met Adrian Sherwood and the foundation of Dub Syndicate and On.U Sound was formed. As he gained more of the direction reins, Style Scott set about creating his vision of Dub Syndicate as a semi-vocal band and that has largely been to the fore in many of their albums since the early 1990s. With brilliant guest vocal performances by rootsy dancehall chart-toppers Capleton and Luciano, as well as the impeccable old-school toaster Big Youth, Scott's vision and music are as impressive as ever. 'He was just eating it up,' exclaims Scott proudly of the rhythm track he produced for the vaunted Jamaican roots vocalist Luciano. That tune, 'One In A Billion,' went on to be one of 2001's biggest reggae hits and is testament to the drummer's musical ingenuity. Dub Syndicate have gone on to become a more roots vibed act, drawing heavily on Rastafarianism while keeping a forward movement concept to their sound. Their list of collaborators reads like a who’s who of dub: Bim Sherman, Jah Wobble, “Deadly” Headley Bennett, Flabba Holt, Prince Far I, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Michael Franti, Cedric Myton (The Congos), Gregory Isaacs, Big Youth, Capleton, Luciano and Junior Reid. Dub Syndicate's 13 albums have been highly influential on bands around the world. 'Most of the things myself and Adrian Sherwood done in the past was really ahead of its time,' Scott rightly asserts. Forward ever, backward never. This phrase commonly heard in Jamaica is a perfect motto for the things Scott has accomplished in his ongoing career. As he continues to tour, produce and create music, Scott has hit upon a simple formula to keep himself going: 'You have to come new each time, come with something exciting. It's a combination that makes all of this work.' American music journalist Bart Platenga said this of the Dub Syndicate live experience: “...the evening was sanctified pyrotechnica with speakers emitting deep, swelling, subterranean tremors – trenchant, dilated, and insistent like a train pregnant with 100 bass instruments rumbling through a dense fog into the cauldron of the solar plexus...” DUB SYNDICATE LINE-UP FOR AUSTRALIAN SHOWS WILL BE: Drums - Lincoln “Style” Scott: Founding member of the legendary Roots Radics, Jamaican backing band to an entire history of reggae music. You name it and there's a good chance he played drums on it e.g. Gregory Isaacs “Night Nurse”, Barrington Levy's “Under me Sensi”. Keyboards/electronics - Franklyn “Bubbler” Waul: Roots Radics’ keys man. Featured on Culture's “Two Sevens Clash” album, two Abyssinians LPs and played synths on Barrington Levy's “Here I Come”. Again, the list could just go on and on. Bass - Lloyd Parks: started as a vocalist working with the likes of Jackie Mittoo at Studio One under Sir Coxsone Dodd. Parks has gone on to be one of reggae's biggest names in bass. Working at Joe Gibb's Channel One studio he played bass on Althea and Donna's classic “Uptown top ranking” and Dave Barker and Ansel Collins' “Double Barrel”. Keyboards/electronics – Alon Adiri: U.K-based founder of Fresh Records who has produced Primal Scream, the Cure and Bim Sherman. Guitar - Vince Black: recorded with Black Uhuru, Sly Dunbar, Peter Tosh etc. SHOW DATES WEDNESDAY 21 FEBRUARY The Prince Bandroom - MELBOURNE 29 FITZROY STREET, ST.KILDA WITH THE RED EYES, UPTIGHT SELECTION (PBS FM- Heartical Hifi) SYSTA BB (PBS FM) + MORE DOORS OPEN 8.30PM TIX $44 + BF or $50 on the door Info & Bookings : Ticketek - 132 849 www.ticketek.com or The Prince – 03 9536 1168 www.princebandroom.com.au Or Polyester, Missing Link & Greville record stores THURSDAY 22 FEBRUARY Factory Theatre - SYDNEY 105 VICTORIA ROAD, ENMORE WITH KINGTIDE, NASTY TEK SOUND & TIMBO (Dub Conspiracy) DOORS OPEN 8.30PM TIX $44 + BF or $50 on the door Info & Bookings : 02 9550 3666 or Moshtix – 02 9209 4614 www.factorytheatre.com.au or Red Eye Records 02 9299 4233 For further press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au 13 January 2007 Dili Allstars CD launch - Geelong and Belgrave By: MEDIA RELEASE 12 JANUARY 2007 FUNK REGGAE MONSTERS THE DILI ALLSTARS LAUNCH THEIR LATEST CD in Geelong and Belgrave Dili Allstars, the high-energy seven-piece funk, ska, rock, and reggae group head for Geelong and Belgrave to launch their latest CD ‘INCREASE THE PEACE’. The band includes members originally from East Timor and are fronted by the smooth vocals of Paulo Almeida and complemented by wild man Paul Stewart. The Dili’s have toured East Timor five times, Europe (appearing most noticeably at Portugal’s Avanta Communist Party Festival) and the length and breadth of Australia. The group began in 1996 when Indonesian forces captured East Timorese resistance leader Xanana Gusmao. The act was formed by Gil Santos and Paul Stewart both whom lost family members when Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975.The band has used music to highlight the problems faced by the people of East Timor to push for International justice on their behalf. What makes the Dili Allstars different is that they play songs in English, Tetun (East Timorese language) and Portuguese. It is because of their unique history and line up that they have attracted interest from Asia, Europe and South America. However Gil Santos stresses the band is not just a political vehicle, stating, “We are also long time musicians and know that most crowds do not want to be battered with political messages. We play music to get people dancing”. DILI ALLSTARS CD LAUNCH - GEELONG FRIDAY 19 JANUARY 2007 NATIONAL HOTEL SPECIAL GUEST RHYS CRIMMIN 191 Moorabool Street, Geelong Doors Open 8.30pm Entry $10 or $15 with CD Info : Phone 03 5229 1211 www.nationalhotel.com.au DILI ALLSTARS CD LAUNCH - BELGRAVE SATURDAY 20 JANUARY 2007 THE AZTEC BAR 7-9 Bayview Road, Belgrave Doors Open 9.00pm Entry $10 or $15 with CD Info phone: 03 9754 1004 www.theaztec.com.au East Timor’s Prime Minister has taken time out from his hectic political activities to praise the new CD by Melbourne based band The Dili Allstars. Dr Jose Ramos Horta was quick to praise the funky hip-hop track ‘INCREASE THE PEACE’ saying it would be invaluable to help keep calm and promote peace and unity. “This is really a great song that is certain to help heal the wounds among the people in East Timor,” he said. “The Dili Allstars are very determined and dedicated, generously giving their time, year after year, to help the people of the world’s poorest country,’’ said Dr Jose Ramos Horta. He praised Victorian Premier Steve Bracks on supporting the band going to play a series of peace concerts in East Timor early next year. “It is great that for every copy sold in Australia one gets sent to East Timor to be distributed amongst the communities. The band is well known and loved by the people up there.” Dr Jose Ramos Horta. The Dili Allstars are a testament that music can influence the struggles of oppressed peoples The exclusive limited edition CD ‘INCREASE THE PEACE’ is available NOW from www.diliallstars.com For press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mobile: 0413 007 602 Email: tsphere@bigpond.com Web: www.terrasphere.com.au 2 January 2007 THE 17th BOITE SINGERS' FESTIVAL DAYLESFORD By: MEDIA RELEASE 15 DECEMBER 2006 THE BOITE PRESENTS THE 17th BOITE SINGERS' FESTIVAL DAYLESFORD 12 - 14 JANUARY 2007 Featuring Kristina Olsen, Tali White, Liz Frencham, Sue Johnson, Grace Vanilau, Andy Rigby, Monica Weightman, Jane Thompson, Dean Frenkel, Phil Melgaard, Tony Vaughan, Carolyn Connors, Stella Savy & Dani Fry (Sweet Mona’s). Join us for a weekend of luscious harmonies in a blissful environment. Choose from 40 workshops, five concerts and a great range of restaurants, cafes, galleries, spa centres, masseurs, forests, lavender farms and two beautiful lakes in historic Daylesford, the heart of Victoria's spa region. On the second weekend of January for the past 17 years, hundreds of singers have gathered in Daylesford to enjoy a weekend of inspiring music. This intimate festival, suiting singers of all ages and skill levels, is based at the acoustically brilliant Daylesford Town Hall with a series of workshops & concerts programmed in nearby halls and churches all within easy walking distance of each other. The Friday night features the opening concert at the Daylesford Town Hall. On Saturday there are two choir concerts and a blackboard concert starting 6.30pm, moving on to the Town Hall Concert at 8.15pm and the Town Hall dance featuring the Festival All-stars at 11.00pm. The festival winds up on Sunday afternoon with a finale featuring absolutely everyone, followed by a barbeque at Jubilee Lake. For those dedicated souls there is a Thursday evening concert at the Convent Gallery Chapel featuring Daylesford Musician Annie Coyne and friends. On Friday Kristina Olsen Kicks off the music making workshops and Tony Vaughan will be exploring the beauty of Gregorian Chants. This years workshops include: Song writing (beginners and more experienced), Gregorian chant, Vocal technique, Vocal percussion, Split tone singing, Pacific songs and body percussion, Gospel, Blokey songs, Kids songs for parents and teachers, Getting the best out of your choir, Song accompaniment, Contemporary indigenous songs, Kwela, Singing with your ukulele! Singers of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Choirs are especially welcome. Each year we are joined by about 15 choirs who participate in the daily workshops and are invited to perform at the Saturday night choir’s concert. Tali White will lead the Festival Youth Programme. Phil Melgaard will hone his circus skills taming the children and a crèche is also provided. Discounts apply to families and under 25's. The Boite SINGERS FESTIVAL DAYLESFORD 12-14 January 2007 Venues across Daylesford Registration at Daylesford Town Hall Bookings & Enquires : 03 9417 1983 or www.boite.com.au For press information, interviews and further details of artists & workshops please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mobile: 0413 007 602 Email: tsphere@bigpond.com Web: www.terrasphere.com.au 2 January 2007 ‘SHARE THE SPIRIT’ INDIGENOUS MUSIC FESTIVAL – 2007 By: MEDIA RELEASE 29 DECEMBER 2006 Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation presents, ‘SHARE THE SPIRIT’ INDIGENOUS MUSIC FESTIVAL – 2007 VICTORIA’S LARGEST ANNUAL ALL INDIGENOUS MUSIC EVENT Featuring a massive line up of Victoria’s finest Indigenous performers including : DAN SULTAN, BRISCOE SISTERS, BOMBA, CHRISTINE WARD, GRANT HANSENS BIG CITY COMBO, THE GRENADINES, DANIEL JAMES BAND plus food stalls & handcrafts. FRIDAY 26TH JANUARY (Public Holiday) TREASURY GARDENS Corner Spring St & Wellington Parade – MELBOURNE 12 midday – 6pm Free Entry, General Enq : 03 9471 2929 Media Enq : 0413 007 602 Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation is pleased to announce that the annual Indigenous Music Festival ‘Share the Spirit’ will be held again on Friday 26th January 2007 in Melbourne’s Treasury Gardens. This year’s concert brings together an awesome line up of fresh new talent that is creating great waves of excitement across the music industry of Australia. Rising stars such as the Briscoe Sisters, Dan Sultan and The Grenadines will play along side crowd pleasers Bomba and music veterans Grant Hansen’s Big City Combo. From folk roots, blues, funk, R & B, reggae to rock, ‘Share the Spirit 2007’ showcases Victorias finest Indigenous performers across all music genres. MC’s on the day include Den Fisher and Peter Grace. ‘Share the Spirit 2007’ starts at 12.00pm running through to 6.00pm, there will also be a great range of food stalls, clothing and handcrafts available for purchase in the market area. ‘Share the Spirit’ is the only event in Melbourne produced by indigenous people to celebrate Survival Day. ‘Share the Spirit’ is for everybody, interstate and overseas visitors included. The festival is a day when all Australians of all cultural backgrounds can come together and celebrate, whilst recognising the history and enjoying the culture of Indigenous Australia. ‘Share the Spirit 2007’ is proudly supported by the City of Melbourne and Indigenous radio station 3KnD. This Concert is a drug and alcohol free event. For further press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of Terrasphere Productions M : 0413 007 602 E : tsphere@bigpond.com 7 December 2006 Terrasphere Productions presents LUCIANO – 1st Australian Tour! By: MEDIA RELEASE 6 DEC 2006 Terrasphere Productions presents Today’s Undisputed King of Roots Reggae - Direct from JAMAICA LUCIANO – 1st Australian Tour! Alongside the conscious sounds of MC Mikey General (UK/JA) & the Mighty Selector Ricky Trooper (Previously of Killamanjaro Sound – JA) SUPPORT BY AUSTRALIA’S REGGAE MASSIVE - SOUNDSYSTEMS, MC’S & SELECTORS AUSTRALIAN SOUNDSYSTEM TOUR SAT 20 JAN – SAT 27 JAN 2007 SHOW DATES BELOW Luciano is the most universally revered, iconic figure to emerge in reggae over the past decade, combined with MC Mikey General and the feared selector Ricky Trooper, Luciano’s first tour of Oz is set to be a scorcher. Luciano is beyond doubt, the greatest cultural artist of his generation. Not only is he a consummate songwriter, a wonderful singer but also a spellbinding live performer. As the Messenger he is an emissary whose work contains important teachings for humanity and who peacefully strives for the betterment of society. As such, his songs have the power to touch the soul, to communicate spiritual truths and uplift our hearts to an unprecedented degree of modern popular music. Jamaican reggae music hadn't produced such a well-loved figurehead since the days of Bob Marley and Dennis Brown, both of whom Luciano quotes as being central influences upon his own career. Born Jepther McClymont in 1964 in Davey Town, the future Luciano started singing in the church before moving to Kingston and cutting a series of recordings for a number of producers and indie labels. It wasn’t until Luciano teamed with Burrell in 1993 that his career truly kicked in, first with a handful of singles and then with a series of consistently fine albums. Luciano’s work has appeared on numerous labels among them Island, VP, Ras, Shanachie, Jet Star and Burrell’s own Xterminator. Mikey General was born to Jamaican parents in London in 1963 and at the age of 2, the family moved back to Jamaica. Born to sing, according to Mikey, at the age of 7 he joined the church choir and also sang in his school choir for 5 years. In the early 80s, General returned to England and began singing with sound systems like Saxon Sound. He ended up working for Fashion, the dub plate studio, for almost four years, where they specialized in “sound boy, sound clash tunes.” General returned to Jamaica in 1992, where he soon met his close brethren, Luciano, and became a devout disciple of Rastafari. Mikey is well known for his conscious lyrics sung in melodious tones with great releases out such as “Rastaman Stronger “ and “Spiritual Revolution”. The name Ricky Trooper is associated with a man who is revered around the world in the Dancehall Reggae genre as a talented sound killing machine. The word war fits in very nicely with Ricky Trooper as he is highly skilled in the art of sound clashing and has won most of his battles. Born Garfield McKoy in St. Mary, Jamaica, Ricky Trooper (commonly referred to as just Trooper) joined Killamanjaro (commonly known as Jaro) as a DJ working alongside people such as Junior Cat. By the time Trooper joined, the sound had already been through many phases and viewed as the number 1 sound system in the world. In 1999 Ricky left Killamanjaro and formed his own Sound Trooper. He has since gone on to win various titles including just recently 'Death Before Dishonour 06'. SHOW DATES BELOW – ALL TICKETS ON SALE NEXT WEEK SATURDAY 20TH JANUARY Great Northern Hotel - BYRON BAY 35 – 43 JONSON STREET, BYRON BAY WITH RAZ BIN SAM & THE LION I BAND, RHYTHM COLLISION SOUND & KRAZY DAYV DOORS OPEN 9.00PM Info 02 6685 6454 Bookings thru: www.byronbayentertainment.com ABC Shop Ballina, Music Bazaar Lismore or at venue. FRIDAY 26TH JANUARY Factory Theatre - SYDNEY 105 VICTORIA ROAD, ENMORE WITH FIREHOUSE SOUND, BASS LINES & DJ BENDEM DOORS OPEN 8.30PM Info & bookings 02 9550 3666 www.factorytheatre.com.au or Red Eye Records City 02 9299 4233 SATURDAY 27TH JANUARY The Esplanade Hotel, Gershwin Room – MELBOURNE 11 THE ESPLANADE, ST.KILDA WITH JESSE I & DAMAJAH, NATTY SISTREN SOUND & RANKING YONI DOORS OPEN 8.30PM Info & Bookings : Ticketek - 132 849 www.ticketek.com or The Espy - 03 9534 0211 Or the Prince – 03 9536 1168 www.princebandroom.com.au www.espy.com.au or Polyester, Missing Link & Greville record stores For further press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au 26 October 2006 SERGIO MENDES - The timeless sound of Brazil returns to Australia By: Sergio Mendes The Timeless sound of Brazil returns to Australia For Release: Monday 16th October, 2006 Legend of Brazilian music, Sergio Mendes, is set to hit Australian shores in November for the first time in 21 years to give three very special performances with his stellar 9 piece band Brasil ‘06. Following the release of his acclaimed new album Timeless, the King of bossa nova will bring the beat of Brazil to Hamer Hall, Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne on Tuesday 14 November, Sydney Opera House on Friday, 17 November, and QPAC’s Lyric Theatre, Brisbane on Saturday, 18 November. Sergio Mendes is the most internationally successful Brazilian artist of all time. From the mid 1960s to the late ‘70s, Mendes established his legend by taking numerous albums and singles, such as ‘Brasil 66’, ‘Fool on the Hill’, ‘Mas Que Nada’ and ‘The Look of Love’ to the top of the US Billboard charts. Mendes’ hits still fire the dance floor with samba and bossa rhythms that remain perennially hip, and the 21st century Sergio seamlessly blends the sounds of urban Brazil with hip-hop and rap – his new album, Timeless, produced by Will.I.Am of Black-Eyed Peas fame, features the likes of Stevie Wonder, India Arie, John Legend, Erykah Badu and Justin Timberlake and is the perfect sound for Summer. It was the Sergio classics that won the heart and mind of Will.I.Am. On the making of the new album Sergio says, “It turned into a wonderful marriage of rhythms, because it’s all African rhythms and haunting melodies. It’s all about the same beats that we inherited from Africa. It’s that same common denominator that brought Samba to Brazil and brought jazz to America. We had a ball.” Alongside the success of the new album Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’06 have given a series of concerts in the US and Europe to great acclaim: A celebration of past and present; a retrospective of the past 40 years - taking in the silky, sexy Brasil '66 period, Mendes prescient experiments with the exotic rhythms of Brazil's interior, and his championing of composers like Jorge Ben, Gilberto Gil, Joao Donato and the inevitable A.C. Jobim (Hollywood Bowl concert) Variety review - 26 June 2006 The Godfather of Brazilian pop performing the very best of Brasil ’66 defies the passing years. Some things really are timeless (Barbican Centre concert) – London Times review - 26 July 2006 Sergio Mendes and Brasil ‘06 Bookings: Tuesday 14 November Hamer Hall, Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne Tickets on sale Friday 6 October Tickets from $99 *Booking fees apply Ticketmaster on 1300 136 166 - www.ticketmaster.com.au Friday 17 November Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House Tickets from $99 *Booking fees apply Tickets on sale Friday 29 September Sydney Opera House 02 9250 7777 - sydneyoperahouse.com & Ticketek www.ticketek.com.au Saturday 18 November Lyric Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre Tickets from $99 *Booking fees apply Tickets on sale Saturday 30 September Qtix 136 246 - www.qtix.com.au Timeless out now on Universal Music Australia www.sergiomendestimeless.com www.mgpresents.com For further information please contact: Ferris Davies PRM on 02 9555 5807 E-mail: rina@ferrisdaviesprm.com.au or Katie@ferrisdaviesprm.com 26 October 2006 DILI ALLSTARS 'Increase the Peace' CD launch By: MEDIA RELEASE 24 OCTOBER 2006 FUNK REGGAE MONSTERS THE DILI ALLSTARS LAUNCH THEIR LATEST CD East Timor’s Prime Minister has taken time out from his hectic political activities to praise the new CD by Melbourne based band The Dili Allstars. Dr Jose Ramos Horta was quick to praise the funky hip-hop track ‘INCREASE THE PEACE’ saying it would be invaluable to help keep calm and promote peace and unity. “This is a really great song that is certain to help heal the wounds among the people in East Timor,” he said. Dili Allstars, the high-energy seven-piece funk, ska, rock, and reggae group are getting ready to release their latest CD. The band includes members originally from East Timor and are fronted by the smooth vocals of Paulo Almeida and complemented by wild man Paul Stewart. The Dili’s have toured East Timor five times, Europe (appearing most noticeably at Portugal’s Avanta Communist Party Festival) and the length and breadth of Australia. DILI ALLSTARS CD LAUNCH FRIDAY 8 DECEMBER 2006 NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB 301 High Street, Northcote Doors Open 9.30pm $12 presale with CD or $15 at the door Tickets from the NSC box office at 301 High St, Northcote (Mon - Sat 3-7), Phone 94861677 Online at www.northcotesocialclub.com “The Dili Allstars are very determined and dedicated, generously giving their time, year after year, to help the people of the world’s poorest country,’’ said Dr Jose Ramos Horta He praised Victorian Premier Steve Bracks on supporting the band going to play a series of peace concerts in East Timor early next year. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Fretilin, Alex Tilman also welcomed the new song. “Our party has shown great restraint in expressing non-violence in the past even when provoked so this fits in with our philosophy.” “I love the song because it also features the first East Timorese rapper on a top quality CD.” The Dili Allstars feature Australians and Timorese who like East Timor itself; all hold different political views. “It is great that for every copy sold in Australia one gets sent for free up to East Timor to be distributed amongst the communities. The band is well known and loved by the people up there.” The exclusive limited edition CD ‘INCREASE THE PEACE’ is available NOW from www.diliallstars.com For press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mobile: 0413 007 602 Email: tsphere@bigpond.com Web: www.terrasphere.com.au 26 October 2006 The Boite presents World Music at the Edge featuring ZULYA AND THE CHILDREN OF THE UNDERGROUND By: MEDIA RELEASE 26 October 2006 The Boite presents World Music at the Edge Featuring Zulya and the Children of the Underground BMW Edge, Federation Square Friday 3 November 2006 “What strikes you immediately is not just the confident purity of Zulya’s voice, but the quality of writing and arranging.” Songlines, UK Their current Russian inspired CD ‘The Waltz of Emptiness’ stayed in the Top 20 of the European World Music charts for months, something no other Australian album has achieved and has been acclaimed across the globe ! Zulya’s extensive recording career reflects a musical and cultural journey. From the medley of enriching influences here in Australia, the re-interpretations of the Tatar songs of her heritage - learned from her grandmother, to her most recent CD of Russian inspired originals. Her songs are engaging and dynamic and their appeal crosses boundaries. Devotees follow her concerts with dedicated enthusiasm, rejoice to hear her singing in their language and fall in love with her voice, her songs and her music. Zulya has developed a totally original approach to her music as an affirmation of her unique identity, which takes her Tatar and Russian background to totally new places in completely new ways. Zulya's work has repeatedly been featured on national radio and television to high acclaim and has been described as "a remarkable singer, who is not merely versatile..." by Doug Spencer of ABC Radio National. She was also awarded ‘Female Artist of the Year’ at the World Music Awards (2001) and ‘Best World Music Artist’ by Australian Live Music Awards (2002). The Children of the Underground is a collection of some of Melbourne’s finest musicians. Anthony Schulz “plays accordion like it should be played-as a reed instrument” -Cara Rosehope. Lucas Michailidis is a fine guitarist and recording artist in his own right having released two solo CDs and winning a German award for his work. Andrew Tanner, bass and Justin Marshall on drums complete an ensemble of awesome finesse and sensitivity. In this concert at BMW Edge, the group will move beyond The Waltz of Emptiness repertoire to offer the audience a taste of other songs and some solo, duo and trio work to add to the richness of the menu. Don’t miss it ! Zulya and the Children of the Underground BMW Edge, Federation Square Friday 3 November 2006 8.00pm. Doors open at 7.30pm Bookings and enquiries: 9417 1983 or info@boite.com.au This series is supported by the City of Melbourne, BMW Edge, Federation Square, Arts Victoria and the Australia Council For information, interviews or photos contact Therese Virtue 9417 3550 or therese@boite.com.au or go to www.boite.com.au 13 October 2006 The WANTOK MUSIK FOUNDATION presents SING SING at the Corner By: MEDIA RELEASE 2 OCTOBER 2006 The Wantok Music Foundation presents SING SING at the Corner A NIGHT OF OCEANIA MUSIC, FILM AND DANCE Launch of the WANTOK MUSIK FOUNDATION and a Melbourne welcome to the West Papuan refugees Featuring direct from Rabaul, PNG – GEORGE TELEK plus the BRISCOE SISTERS, HEIN ARUMISORE, DAVID BRIDIE, KING KADU and THE PINAIA & MERAUKE STRINGBANDS. SING SING at the Corner brings together the Melanesian and Indigenous threads of music culture from the highlands of Papua New Guinea, West Papua through the Torres Strait Islands to mainland Australia. Following the success of Sing Sing 2 performed at the Sydney Opera House and the Arts Centre Melbourne, Sing Sing at the Corner celebrates the traditional and contemporary culture of these three areas. The stories, heritage and experiences of the people and the land will be linked together through song, dance and film. SING SING AT THE CORNER SUNDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2006 CORNER HOTEL - 57 Swan St Richmond Doors open 7.30pm, Tickets $27 + $2 BF or $30 on the door. All tickets are on-sale at the Corner Box Office (57 Swan St Richmond 12-8 Mon-Sat), phone bookings on 9427 9198, online bookings www.cornerhotel.com FEATURE ARTISTS George Telek has been at the forefront of the Pacific music scene for the last 20 years. Amette is Telek’s third album and marks 16 years of international recording and touring. His list of international accomplishments is impressive: an MBE for services to the music industry in his home country, ARIA awards in Australia, praise from the likes of David Byrne, Yossou N’Dour and Peter Gabriel. Yet Telek remains a grassroots man. He comes from the village of Raluana, near the volcano-ravaged town of Rabaul in the Papua New Guinean island province of East New Britain. His songs and his hauntingly beautiful voice traverse many musical styles. Few musicians straddle the range of styles that Telek does while capturing the spirit of the Tolais people of Papua New Guinea. David Bridie, of acclaimed bands Not Drowning, Waving and My Friend the Chocolate Cake, released his debut solo album in May 2000. David has also worked closely with Indigenous and PNG artists for many years producing albums for Archie Roach, George Telek, Christine Anu and recordings of music from the Torres Strait Islands. He has also produced events such as the Sing Sing concerts that have toured Australia. In April 2003, David released his second solo album, Hotel Radio, on the evening David will also be performing songs from the Sound of the Morning Star Album. King Kadu is originally from Mer (Murray Island) in the Torres Strait, Ricardo Idagi (King Kadu) has been living in Melbourne, for the past five years. His performance is inspired by his ancestors and the recent history of the Torres Strait, incorporating authentic Merian music and traditional instruments such as the Warup - a traditional drum, and the Gor - a rattle made of seeds. Briscoe Sisters are one of Australia’s hottest new roots acts (Nick Mills - Event Producer ‘MusiCairns’). The sisters Naurita and Deline generate stunning harmonies; their songs are a delightful roots mix of downbeat acoustic soul, funky riffs and tear-jerking ballads. Hein Arumisore is a skilled performer from Manokweri in West Papua, the purity of Hein's voice and his amazing traditional dancing make for a powerful show. Hein is also one of the 42 Papuan asylum seekers who have recently been given visas to stay in Australia. The Pinaia & Merauke String bands This exciting hybrid musical style was developed throughout Melanesia in the post-WW2 period when Samoan and Tongan missionaries brought their choral harmonies to PNG. This, combined with Australian and US soldiers teaching local Papua New Guineans songs on guitars, and the influence of country and blues music in pre-independence PNG, developed string band music as a bright and zippy style, played on guitars and ukuleles, with soaring harmonies. The Pinaia & Merauke Stringbands of West Papua are fine examples of this style of music, members of the group are from the 42 West Papuan Asylum seekers now based in Melbourne. Black Paradise – Not performing but one of the albums being launched by the Wantok Music Foundation on the night. The West Papuan cultural music group, Black Paradise, celebrates Melanesian dignity and identity, and draws together songlines from the region. Most members of Black Paradise work with the Institute for the Study and Advocacy of Human Rights (ELSHAM), the leading human rights organisation in West Papua. The defence of human rights is an integral part of Black Paradise's music and work, as part of the long and bitter struggle for self-determination. Wantok Music Foundation has been established to foster greater cultural exchange between Australia and our neighbours throughout the Oceanic and Australasian region. The Foundation will also act as a not-for-profit Music Label representing indigenous and world music groups of these regions with the objective to: • Record, release and promote music from Indigenous Australia and Melanesia, • Raise the local and international profile of Indigenous and world music groups based in the region, • Distribute royalties / profits through equitable and culturally appropriate mechanisms, • Provide greater economic opportunity as well as long-term career sustainability for artists. For further press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob 0413 007 602 E: tsphere@bigpond.com W: www.terrasphere.com.au 2 October 2006 the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP - OUR BACKYARD By: Our Backyard… like you’ve never experienced before See the next big thing in local music as the Arts Centre brings you Our Backyard - a non-stop day of DJs, breakin’ crews, dub and reggae, contemporary cabaret and a colourful, bustling market place on Sunday 29 October 12pm - 6pm at the Arts Centre. “After being involved in music at the Arts Centre for over 20 years, I am really excited to be able to give these young performers such a great opportunity to showcase their amazing skills. I have always wanted to program a mini music festival at the Arts Centre and I am ecstatic, that it’s really happening”, said Arts Centre Program Manager David Anderson. In the style of a mini Big Day Out, come and experience…….. DJs and breakin’ crews from The Push Hosted by MC Mantra, the Fairfax Studio will be pumping with the sounds and rhythms of Illzilla, The Movement Crew, JezRoc, DJ Mzrizk, Hollabak, Beatphonik, Rewind and The Vikings. Performers will also battle-it-out for over $400 worth of cash and prizes with emcee, beatbox, breakin’ and hip hop dance, freestyle battles. Anyone can register on the day or online or by visiting www.thepush.asn.au Dub and reggae Getting down in the Playhouse with; Agency Dub Collective, Dili Allstars, Natty Sistren, Jesse I, Top Ranking Sound, Heartical HiFi, Redda Red and Rastafari Rhythms, hosted by the one and only, Systa BB. The Spiegeltent Come and see contemporary European-influenced cabaret by the Stiletto Sisters, Babaganoush, Cosmo Cosmolino and DJ Delay, in the famous Spiegeltent. Market place The George Adams Gallery will house a colourful, vivid and bustling marketplace. Experience art and craft stalls from Ethiopia, South and Central America and an exhibition of paintings from four local artists. Don’t miss audio visual displays, a screening of Latcho Drom, which traces the lives of the Romany people. Activities include banner painting workshops, and free Turkish delight! Behind the scenes collection tours For more information and bookings please call (03) 9281 8754 Checkout the amazing local talent and diverse music styles, in the final MIX IT UP concert. One day only… be there!!! the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP Our Backyard - a FREE non-stop music festival Sunday 29 October, 2006 the Arts Centre 12pm - 6pm Contact the Arts Centre on 03 9281 8000 or visit www.theartscentre.net.au for more information Media: For more information please contact Christy Bicknell on 03 9281 8198, 0403 539 235 or christy.bicknell@theartscentre.net.au 21 August 2006 PBS RADIO presents 200% DUB By: PBS RADIO presents MEDIA RELEASE 14 AUGUST 2006 200% DUB PBS benefit MELBOURNES HEAVIEST DUB SELECTORS AND BANDS COME TOGETHER FOR ONE MASSIVE SHOW FEATURING DUBWISE SOUNDSYSTEM HEARTICAL HIFI plus THE RED EYES, AGENCY DUB COLLECTIVE, MELATONIN, PROJECT SATURN, JESSE I, RAS CRUCIAL, DJ TOMMY (Japan) & MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED. SATURDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER 2006 The Corner Hotel 57 Swan Street, Richmond DOORS OPEN 8PM TIX $15 or $5 for PBS Members Enquires 03 9427 7300 TIX @ THE CORNER HOTEL PH 9427 9198 www.cornerhotel.com Spear headed by Dub selector Uptight aka Derek M and showcasing Melbourne’s leaders in the Dub & Reggae scene, PBS presents 200% DUB featuring Dubwise Soundsystem Heartical Hifi, The Red Eyes, Agency Dub Collective, Melatonin, Project Saturn, Jesse I, Ras Crucial, DJ Tommy (Japan) & more to be announced. PBS Radio has just released the compilation album titled ‘Melbourne Yard’ featuring the states finest Dub and Reggae outfits on offer. A selection of world-class tunes and artists on the one album and all from Melbourne. Last years PBS’s 100% Dub was a sell out and this years show aims to repeat that featuring artists from the compilation “Melbourne Yard”. For more Dub & Reggae tune in to PBS shows : Heartical, Chant Down Babylon and Planetary Chaos. 106.7fm www.pbsfm.org.au After 25 years of broadcasting PBS has ensured that under represented music be heard across Melbourne’s airwaves. With specific genre focused programming from folk, roots, blues, jazz, reggae to hardcore PBS has become known for its obsession and presentation of great music not heard on other stations. Dub & Reggae has always received strong support from PBS. With an increasing underground movement and interest in reggae around the world PBS continues to deliver the finest in dub, roots, and dancehall tunes from Jamaica, UK, and France to Africa. The 200% Dub benefit concert confirms PBS announcer’s passion to reggae music, the station and those groups making the sounds. Heartical Hifi/Uptight aka Derek M hails from Liverpool UK and migrated to Australia just over three years ago. A keen defender of dubwise, reggae and dancehall he has played across the UK and now works consistently within Melbourne’s underground music scene and reggae movement. Outernational UK style Uptight brings the heaviest bass sounds that Britain can offer. Uptight also presents Heartical, Sundays 8pm-10pm on PBS 106.7 Red Eyes Formed in Melbourne in July 2002 as a collective that came together to jam with an experimental dub/drum‘n bass/reggae flavour. Supporting 1200 Techniques in late-2002 led to a weekly residency at Fitzroy’s Evelyn Hotel, which became the worst kept secret in Melbourne, as the band consistently played to packed houses. By this stage Red Eyes had completed the transition from a mellow, improvised dub collective to the incendiary, foundation-shaking live show that they are today. Agency Dub Collective While still in love with all kinds of groove, from hip-hop to dancehall to drum n bass, Agency Dub Collective have reclaimed their deep roots and continue to tap the vein of dub, always with a synonymously deep lyrical wandering. Haunting grooves dabbed in melodica, no-bullshit rhymes over intense dub and a jamming spirit of spontaneity have increasingly hit marks in good folk at shows. ADC regularly play around Melbourne. Melatonin formed in 1999 and produce groundbreaking live electronic dub. They played their first live show at Tranceplant Easter 2000. They have received airplay and played numerous shows at festivals, residences in Melbourne's clubs, at crazed warehouse parties and environmental protest events. Their EP's have been well received by dub heads and lovers of fine electronica around the world. Jesse I & Ras Crucial play roots reggae, dub and dancehall. As DJ’s they have been on the reggae scene for several years and are the founders of the Chant Down Sound System. Jesse I also hosts reggae show Chant Down Babylon on PBS radio. On this night the duo will be selecting a heavy set of early Jamaican Dub and Studio 1 classics. For further press information & interviews please contact Simon Raynor of TERRASPHERE PRODUCTIONS Mob 0413 007 602 Email : tsphere@bigpond.com Web : www.terrasphere.com.au 21 August 2006 the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP - VISIBLE By: 10 August, 2006 Open House at the Arts Centre featuring Visible: a showcase of great local African and Indigenous talent Come face to face with some of the hottest Indigenous and new African performers Melbourne has to offer, on stage for one electrifying show – Visible, at the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall, as part of Open House weekend, Sunday 3 September, 2006. A long time in the making this vibrant concert reveals the rich layer of artistic talent bubbling away in our city. It draws artists from two cultural projects initiated by Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV), Visible and Black Harmony Gathering. The Visible project is a mentoring scheme that teams new and emerging African performers with established artists also from migrant or refugee backgrounds to help them develop their art form. Black Harmony Gathering is an annual event that brings together local Indigenous artists and African performers who have recently migrated to Australia. The groups have focussed on exploring their cultural heritage by reinterpreting popular and traditional songs and dances, as well as creating original compositions. These projects have been instrumental in giving a voice, face and expression to these new and emerging performers and this concert is a fabulous opportunity to celebrate how much they have achieved. “Because of MAV believing in me, now I strongly know what I want to do in the future and have confidence to follow it. The benefits and opportunity that came my way through this mentorship are endless for me and people in my community”. Khaled Abdulwahab, Visible performer Artists performing in the concert include: The Koori Youth Will Shake Spears, Little G, Joel Ma, Monica Weightman, Sudan Azza, South Sudan Musica, Sudanese Catholic Choir, Diafrix, Jali Buba Kuyateh, Ethiopian Circus, Dave Arden and more. A compilation CD created through the Visible project will also be launched at the concert. Get to the show early for free entertainment from 12.30 – 3.30pm • Discover the talents and culture of African and Indigenous artists at the marketplace • Join in a coffee ceremony, get a henna tattoo or get your hair braided • Indigenous face painting • Experience the food from the regions the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP VISIBLE, Sunday 3 September, 2006 the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall Show from 1pm - 3pm, foyer activities and entertainment from 12.30 – 3.30pm A FREE EVENT Contact the Arts Centre on 03 9281 8000 or visit www.theartscentre.net.au for details Media: Christy Bicknell 03 9281 8198, 0403 539 235 or christy.bicknell@theartscentre.net.au 21 August 2006 the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP - THE MIGHTY SPARROW By: Wednesday 9, August 2006 The Mighty Sparrow The Calypso King of the World comes to Melbourne Singer Slinger Francisco, better known as The Mighty Sparrow and described as The Calypso King of the World makes his Australian debut in Cariba! with his 8-piece band The TNT Troubadours at the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall, Sunday 10 September. “There have been several remarkable epochs in the history of Calypso, and the talents that have emerged have been tremendous. But no Calypsonian has so dominated his period as the Mighty Sparrow has done.” Vaneisa Baksh – Calypsonian Of The Century. The kingdom of Caribbean calypso is rich in kings, princes and other nobles but one name stands out above all others. As the undisputed “King Of The Calypso World” The Mighty Sparrow has defeated every other competitor and pretender to his throne with an incredible career spaning over 40 years and counting. A sensational singer, lyricist, composer and all round entertainer, The Mighty Sparrow is an eleven time Calypso Monarch and has won the King of Kings competition (where every monarch in the Calypso world is invited to compete against him). Sparrow has produced more then seventy albums and has a string of international awards to his name. At 20 years of age, Sparrow emerged as the leading Calypsonian with his record breaking hit, Jean and Dinah. Sparrow continued to climb the ladder of success whilst becoming the most popular Calypso artists of all time. Songs such as First Black Miss Universe, Kennedy & Kruschev, Capitalism Gone Mad, Give The Youngest A Chance, What The Use of Getting Sober, The Rebel, Shake & Brake Your Bam Bam, and literally hundreds more have endeared him to audiences worldwide for both his humour, his humanity and constant desire to build a better world. Please find The Might Sparrow’s full biography at: www.mightysparrow.com Experience the vibrancy of carnival with free activities from 1-5pm in the Hamer Hall Foyer. Why not learn how to limbo, make a traditional Caribbean mask, listen to the renowned Jamaican storyteller and dancer Jigzie Campbell or join in a Sunday Soapbox discussion on the secrets of how musicians communicate during performance or sample the fare of the Caribbean food for purchase. the Arts Centre in association with Multicultural Arts Victoria presents as part of MIX IT UP Cariba! - Featuring The Mighty Sparrow & The TNT Troubadours Sunday 10 September, 2006 the Arts Centre, Hamer Hall Show starts at 5pm, Tickets $30.00 - $45.00, foyer entertainment & Caribbean food from 1pm Contact the Arts Centre on 03 9281 8000 or visit www.theartscentre.net.au for more information Bookings at ticketmaster.com.au*, 1300 136 166* or outlets *Transaction fee applies Media enquires: Christy Bicknell on 03 9281 8198, 0403 539 235 or christy.bicknell@theartscentre.net.au 25 July 2006 The Boite presents The STIFF GINS with SUADE By: MEDIA RELEASE 25 JULY 2006 The Boite presents The STIFF GINS with SUADE Thursday 3 August 2006 The Cornish Arms Hotel 163 Sydney Road, Brunswick The beautiful soulful voices of the Stiff Gins return to Melbourne with an intimate performance at the Cornish Arms Hotel, alongside local act Suade. After three long years Stiff Gins have released their second album. KINGIA AUSTRALIS is a return to the band's musical roots, an acoustic album, organic in concept & process & featuring guest appearances from family & friends. The Stiff Gins have recently returned from Egypt and Cyprus where they performed at the Cairo Opera H | ||||
