Outstanding talent and tight competition in this year’s prestigious Grand Final of the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards on Friday 27 August at QPAC, Brisbane.

Three of Australia’s hottest young talents will meet to compete for the ultimate title of 2010 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane on Friday 27 August, 7pm with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marko Letonja.

The 2010 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year will receive a $20,000 cash prize, a professionally-
produced promotional recording of their winning performance, a recital program and a concert engagement with a major Australian symphony orchestra. The Grand Final will be also telecast on ABC1 on Sunday 31 October, 4.30 – 5.30pm.

All of the contestants are winners of their respective instrumental categories: violinist Richard Pollett, 24, from Brisbane won the ‘Strings’ Final; pianist Oliver She (pronounced ‘Shay’), 18, Brisbane, won the ‘Keyboard Final’ and Melbourne clarinettist Ashley William Smith, 25, won the ‘Other Instruments’ Final.

“Each of the three Grand Finalists has won many prizes in their respective fields and represents the best of Australia’s emerging musical talent. Their extraordinary abilities will mean that the Awards judges will have a very difficult task in selecting the winner,” says Kate Lidbetter, CEO, Symphony Services International.

“These Awards give musicians both the unique opportunity of playing with a major symphony orchestra and a career launching pad, both here and overseas.”

2010 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards Grand Final
Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Marko Letonja
Friday 27 August, 7pm, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Grey Street, South Bank, Brisbane
Tickets: Free, but bookings required, tickets to be collected from QPAC. Bookings: call 136 246 or www.qpac.com.au
www.symphonyinternational.net

“Sometimes The Stars” is the  3^rd record by The Audreys and will be Released Friday October 8^th Digital, CD and Vinyl, and to coincide with this, The Audreys will be taking “Sometimes The Stars” on the road playing all states and many regional areas across Australia throughout October, November and into December.  It’s been over 2 years since Australia has seen the band playing many of these cities and towns, and with a new touring band backing Taasha and Tristan,  these are shows not to miss.

Fri 15^th October:   GEELONG, VIC – THE BENDED ELBOW
www.bendedelbow.com.au  Oztix –  1300 762 545  www.oztix.com.au  Moshtix – 1300 438 849  www.moshtix.com.au

Sat 16^th October:  ADELAIDE, SA- THE GOVERNOR HINDMARSH
www.thegov.com.au  (08) 8340 0744   www.venuetix.com.au
Moshtix  1300 438 849  www.moshtix.com.au

Fri 22^nd October:  CAIRNS, QLD – TANKS ARTS CENTRE
tanksartscentre.com  Ticketlink 1300 855 835  www.ticketlink.com.au

Sat 23^rd October:  TOWNSVILLE, QLD – THE VENUE 
www.thevenuetownsville.com.au  Oztix – 1300 762 545  www.oztix.com.au

Thu 28^th October:  GOLD COAST, QLD – THE SOUNDLOUNGE
thesoundlounge.com.au   07 5534 7999

Fri 29^th October:  BANGALOW, NSW – A & I HALL
Tickets from Barebones Bangalow, Mullum Books, All Music and Vision Stores – Byron, Lismore and Ballina. Ku Promotions Ph: 026619 0494 / 0421 705 145

Sat 30^th October:  NAMBOUR, QLD – JOE’SWATERHOLE
Ph: 07 5442 8144  www.musicliveatjoes.com

Sun 31^st October:  BRISBANE, QLD – POWERHOUSE
brisbanepowerhouse.org   ph: 07 3358 8622

Thu 4^th November:  NEWCASTLE, NSW – LIZOTTES
www.lizottes.com.au  02 4956 2066

Fri 5^th November:  SYDNEY, NSW – THE BASEMENT CIRCULAR QUAY
Sat 6^th November:  SYDNEY, NSW – THE BASEMENT CIRCULAR QUAY
www.thebasement.com.au  Ph: (02) 9251 2797

Sun 7^th November:  CRONULLA , NSW – BRASS MONKEY
brassmonkey.com.au  (02) 9544 3844

Thu 11^th November:  BELGRAVE, VIC – RUBY’S LOUNGE
www.rubyslounge.com.au  03 9754 7445

Fri 12^th November:  RICHMOND, VIC – THE CORNER HOTEL
www.cornerhotel.com  03 94279198

Sat 13^th November:  CASTLEMAINE, VIC – THEATRE ROYAL
www.theatreroyal.info  03 5472 1196

Fri 19^th November:  LAUNCESTON, TAS – HOTEL NEW YORK
Oztix – www.oztix.com.au  hotelnewyork.net.au  (03) 6334 7231

Sat 20^th November:  HOBART, TAS – WRESTPOINT CASINO
wrestpoint.com.au   countryclubtasmania.com.au/shows  ph: 1300 795 257

Thu 25^th November:  EAST PERTH, WA – FRIENDS RESTAURANT *
www.friendsrestaurant.com.au  ph: 08 9221 0885

Fri 26^th November:  PERTH, WA – FLY BY NIGHT
www.flybynight.org  08 9430 5976

Sat 27^th November:  MARGARET RIVER, WA – SETTLERS TAVERN, WA
www.settlerstavern.com  (08) 9757 2398 / Oztix – 1300 762 545 www.oztix.com.au

Fri 3^rd December:  ADELAIDE, SA – ADELAIDE ZOO ALL AGES SHOW
www.zoossa.com.au

www.theaudreys.com.au
www.facebook.com/theaudreys

ARIA award-winning songwriter Clare Bowditch is back with her latest and fourth album Modern Day Addiction, and it surely does the trick when it comes to addictive behavior.
It will make you want to push that repeat button on your CD player over and over again.

The record is nicely structured, and the songs swim from jazzy-disco-pop to sweet ballads, without assaulting your ear holes from one track to the other.
The first half of the album invites you to dance around on pop rhythms and catchy lines, while the second draws you into a state of reflection with calmer tunes and emotional songs.

Opener The Start Of War and its church organ intro (but don’t let it fool you) is not what you would ordinarily hear on a Sunday morning mass, when the drums kick in and bring forth head shaking and foot-tapping automatisms. This song is hot and it gives you a taste of what to expect next.

Consumerism, cosmetic surgery and every day addiction… this is what Modern Day Addiction‘s title track is all about, and it is one of those songs oneself can easily affiliate with. So true!

Bowditch also tackles today’s parenthood in Lucky life, “we want to give you a lucky life, not just ice-cream cones, shoes and mobile phones”, and as a mother of two she knows what she’s talking about.

Her next radio hit? Prinz Willy, perhaps.
Starting off with stomping barrel beats, followed by a brilliant mixture of keyboard, scratching electric guitars, strong piano and special effects makes it the ultimate standout from this album.

On a different note, the following track Your Own Kind of Girl is a beautifully written piano solo about self image and being kind to yourself.
“…that there’s some simple answer to the complex life, it’s only $29.99″ she sings.

Love songs fans will be pleased with the closing tracks The Most Beautiful Lies, Break My Heart and A Little History an homage to her father.

The appealing melodies, thought-provoking stories and angelic harmonies from this album instantly hook you in and get you to sing out loud, without even knowing the lyrics.
It is elaborated, thought trough, and no blame if it took Clare two and half years in the making because it was worth the wait.

Australia’s got talents. It has Clare Bowditch.

www.clarebowditch.com

By Arno Billard

Note: Read through the booklet and you’ll find here and there some funny, informative and touching personal notes from Clare throughout the lyrics.

From front man of The Clash to his work with The Mescalero’s, Joe Strummer was, and still is a massive influence to so many bands and people’s lives worldwide.

Joe sadly passed away at his home in December 2002.

To pay respects to the great man a night of homage happens annually in Sydney and this year the night is taking place at The Annandale Hotel, Sydney on Saturday 28^th August.  

Year on year this show has been a great success and 2010 sees the fourth annual event for Revolution Rock.

In 2009 it took only half an hour from doors opening for the event to be sold-out and was one of the very last shows to be held at the iconic Hopetoun Hotel.

Bands paying homage for 2010 are: The Domnicks (WA) featuring Nick Sheppard from The Clash, The Rumjacks, The City Lights, Madonna (VIC) and The Tearaways (VIC)

Revolution Rock – A Joe Strummer tribute night is now an annual event for Sydney and is in its 4^th successful year in bringing alive Joe’s music and spirit amongst his fans.

2010 will also see Revolution Rock expand into Melbourne with a Revolution Rock tribute night happening at The Birmingham Hotel on Saturday 4th September.

All proceeds from the event every year go to Strummerville, The Joe Strummer Foundation for New Music. Strummerville are not involved in the organisation of this event.

Strummerville is a registered charity that aims to create new opportunities for aspiring young musicians.

Set up by the friends and family of Joe Strummer in the year after his death, the charity seeks to reflect Joe’s unique contribution to the music world by offering support, recording resources and performance opportunities to artists who would not normally have access to them. For more information go to www.strummerville.com

Tickets are now on sale at: www.annandalehotel.com

Presented by Bombshellzine.com, 2SER and Renegades Empire

Having just completed work on his second EP “Talking in My Sleep”, singer/songwriter Matt Walters returns for 3 very special Melbourne shows every Wednesday in August.

Matt has been busy putting the final touches on his long awaited debut longplayer with producers Paul Mckercher (Augie March, Josh Pyke, Sarah Blasko) and Francois Tetaz (Lior, Gotye) which will be available early 2011.

Recently Matt has opened for Ben Folds, Jenny Lewis, and Paul Kelly on their national tours.

The “Talking in My Sleep” EP including the single “Die For You” (Featuring Washington) is available in September through Mercury Records / Universal.

Download Matt Walters – Die For You (ft. Washington)
 

GIG DATES:
Wed 11th August: The Grace Darling, 114 Smith St, Collingwood
Wed 18th August: Wesley Anne, 250 High St, Northcote.
Wed 25th August: The Workers Club (Melb), 51 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

www.myspace.com/mattwaltersmusic

Festival of the Sun 2010 is set to blow Port Macquarie half way to Auckland. Sundowner Breakwall Tourist Park will this year host Platinum selling artists, multiple Aria Award winners and nominees, internationally acclaimed funk/soul revivalists and the absolute cream of national and local talent. So be your penchant for roots, indie, rock, blues, acoustic or everything in between, you’re going to have to be quick to snap up tickets for this year’s killer line-up. It is easily the biggest yet!

Drum roll please and set the volume to 11… the FOTSUN 2010 line-up is…

Xavier Rudd, Regurgitator, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, British India, Calling All Cars, That One Guy, Dallas Frasca, The Gin Club, The Seabellies, The Chemist, Barrel House, Slow Down Honey, Sierra Fin, Mojada, Ebb n Flo, Lee Rosser, The McMenamins, Bob Corbett, Lissa, Mojo Bluesman, Minnie Marks, Fans DJ’s plus one lucky triple j Unearthed Winner to be announced.

FOTSUN is now firmly established as Australia’s coolest, most intimate, BYO music festival where all ticket holders are a VIP. December 10 and 11, 2010 is the date and with still only 3000 tickets available for a place front of the beachside stage, the need to get in early is vital to ensure you don’t miss out on one of the country’s favourite two day music experiences. This year there is only one ticket release, there is one outstanding line-up announcement, and there is definitely only one Festival of the Sun. 

Festival of the Sun is an 18’s + event and children under 10 are free accompanied by an adult, BYO rules still apply, strictly no glass. General admission tickets go on sale from 10am, September 1^st for $145 + BF per person and include two nights free beachside camping. Various on-site cabin accommodation/ticket packages are available in conjunction with Sundowner Breakwall Tourist Park.

WE WANT YOU to be part of the FOTSUN family for 2010, so get your tickets quick,  and strap on your thongs/gummies and stack that esky. It’s going to be BIG!  

For more information on Festival of the Sun 2010/ticket purchase www.fotsun.com
Facebook: Festival of the Sun | Twitter @fotsun

Sydney Chamber Choir joins forces with New Holland Brass to perform glorious Renaissance repertoire with Giovanni Gabrielli’s appraised work Jubilate Deo on 26 September at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. 

First heard in St Mark’s Basilica, Venice, towards the end of the 16th century, the hushed awe of Giovanni Gabrieli’s O magnum mysterium and the exultant joy of Jubilate Deo shine with the same burnished gold as the mosaics that bore witness to the world premiere performance.

Baroque choral specialist, music educator and popular ABC Classic FM broadcaster Graham Abbot will conduct this performance with special guest organist Amy Johansen, and Sydney-based brass ensemble New Holland Brass. 

Formed in 1975, Sydney Chamber Choir is among Australia’s finest performers of Renaissance and Baroque music.  From the crystalline purity of 16th century polyphony to the exuberant energy of new Australian works, Sydney Chamber Choir sings the very best of choral music in all its freshness and beauty. 

GIOVANNI GABRIELI – Jubilate Deo, O magnum mysterium, In ecclesiis, and selected canzonas for brass
HEINRICH SCHÜTZ – Die mit Tränen säen
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI – Exultent caeli
ANTON BRUCKNER – Selected motets for choir, brass and organ
Conductor: Graham Abbott
Guest artists: Amy Johansen (organ), New Holland Chamber Brass

Sydney Chamber Choir
Jubilate Deo
Sunday 26 September 2010, 3:30pm
Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Macquarie Street, Sydney
BOOKINGS: www.sydneychamberchoir.org,
1300 661 738. Tickets: $30-$45, buy 3 tickets, get one free

After three years in the wilderness, Dan Kelly has finally released his new record ‘Dan Kelly’s Dream’ on July 16 2010.

The new ATP festival celebration single ‘Hold On, I’m Coming On’ has just followed ‘Bindi Irwin Apocalypse Jam’ onto the national radio waves and Dan has a fab new Dream Band ready to roll after spending the start of the year on the road touring with Eagle and the Worm and Paul Dempsey.

Dan Kelly and his Dream Band launch Dan Kelly’s Dream Presented by Triple J and Street Press Australia.

Friday 13 August – The Corner Hotel (Melbourne)
Venue: 03 9427 9198; www.cornerhotel.com 

Sunday 15 August – Old Hepburn Hotel (Hepburn Springs) *solo show*
Venue: 03 5348 2207

Thursday 09 Sept – Spiegeltent (Brisbane)
Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849); www.moshtix.com.au
www.brisbanefestival.com.au

Saturday 18 Sept – Republic Bar & Café (Hobart)
Venue: 03 6234 6954; www.moshtix.com.au

Friday 24 Sept – Rosemount Hotel (North Perth)
Star Surf: (08) 93216230
Planet Video: (08) 9328 7464
Mills Records: (08) 9335 1945
www.heatseeker.com.au

Saturday 25 Sept – Wave Rock Weekender (Hyden)
Oztix: 1300 762 545; www.oztix.com.au
www.soulhighway.com.au

Sunday 26 Sept – Mojo’s Bar (Fremantle)
Star Surf: (08) 93216230
Planet Video: (08) 9328 7464
Mills Records: (08) 9335 1945
www.heatseeker.com.au

Friday 01 Oct – Edinburgh Castle Hotel (Adelaide)
Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849); www.moshtix.com.au
www.venuetix.com.au

Saturday 02 Oct – The Loft (Warnambool)
Capricorn: 03 5568 2803

Thursday 07 Oct – The Maram (Canberra)
Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849); www.moshtix.com.au

Friday 08 Oct – Northern Star (Newcastle)
Venue: (02) 4961 1087
www.bigtix.com.au

Saturday 09 Oct – Annandale Hotel (Sydney)
Venue: 02 9550 1078; www.annandalehotel.com

Friday 15 Oct – Karova Lounge (Ballarat)
Venue: 03 5332 9122
New Generation: 03 5333 2444
Oztix: 1300 762 545; www.oztix.com.au

www.dankelly.com.au

When Ben Harper invited Jon Farriss onstage last Friday night at Splendour in the Grass everyone knew that music magic was about to be created. The pair belted out an extended and spine tingling rendition of ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ at the end of Harper’s set. The powerful song has long been an anthemic tribute to the INXS and Michael Hutchence but took on a whole new meaning with this reinterpretation at the Queensland music festival.

“Ben is giving everything he’s got and he’s putting his stamp on it…By the time we got to that second verse, every time I had tears in my eyes”, Jon Farriss said of the star moment.

August 6^th 2010 will see the worldwide release of this stunning rendition by man of the moment Ben Harper,  “Covering Never Tear Us Apart is like covering Dock of the Bay. I am not here to make grandiose statements – it’s just a fucking fact – that’s one of the greatest soul songs ever written”, the artist said.

The single will be part of a collectection of INXS covers by contemporary bands.Famous singers from Australia and overseas will be contributing to the back catalogue of hits, including tracks by Rob Thomas [MatchBox 20,] Pat Monahan [Train] and Perth band Eskimo Joe. Farriss is the executive producer and the rumour is, the album might hit the shops before the end of the year.

Hit-making creative powerhouse INXS defined the music of their time over and paved the way for many more Australian artists overseas.  The band sold well over 30 million records, produced multiple No. 1 records and singles, hundreds of GOLD and Platinum albums, along with a swag of industry awards world-wide including ARIA and APRAs.  One of only two Australian bands to play to a heaving crowd of 75,000 people at Wembley, it comes as no surprise that contemporary musicians such as Ben Harper hold the band in iconic esteem.

Also coming up next week is the release of INXS greatest hits album entitled “PLATINUM” featuring singles from 1987 – 1993 . This will be the first time in two years an INXS greatest hits album will be available in Australia. PLATINUM features 16 tracks on the album performed by the original lineup with Michael Hutchence on lead vocals. 

Distributed throughout Australia by MGM, Two Flat Whites is excited to giveaway the Platinum album which has gone to Number 1 in 8 countries already to 6 lucky readers.

To be in the running simply tell us the name of the gorgeous naked model on the front cover of the album email your answers to estelle {at} twoflatwhites(.)com

www.inxs.com

Article by Estelle Pigott

Creating a new musical genre is a feat to which few musicians can lay a genuine claim. But when the talents of a pop diva were merged with one of Australia’s leading operatic tenors, a new category of ‘Orchestral/Pop’ was born and with it, an exciting one-of-a-kind musical act with a truly epic new album.

Factor in that they are brother and sister, and it’s easy to see why  occupies such a unique place in the international recording arena.

After forging successful musical careers independently over the past decade, Anna-Maria and Rosario La Spina have come together for their debut album, ALWAYS YOU.

Co-written and co-produced by Anna-Maria with her musical arrangements made in partnership with a Hollywood-based film arranger, this album is emotionally overwhelming and of cinematic proportions. One listener described it as being “like the Empire State Building in music!”

Backed by the 65-piece Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and a support band that toured with Savage Garden, the two sibling-singers have melded their respective pop and operatic flairs to create an epic sound, taking their Orchestral /Pop genre to a whole new level.

For more info check out their website at laspinamusic.com