Industrial Strength: April 13

13 April 2011

by Christie Eliezer

This week: The Living End finish new album, Mason becomes Classic Rock MD, Tame Impala go gold, Basement Birds fly back to individual projects and more.

Tamworth turns it on for Urban
Country music capital Tamworth turned on the celebrations for Keith Urban when he played there this week for the first time in ten years. Its main thoroughfare Peel Street was closed to traffic and dubbed Urbanville, with buskers, a street concert, a live broadcast by FM92.9, and images of Urban flashed onto buildings.

Mayor Col Murray and musician Lawrie Minson cut a guitar shaped cake and handed pieces out to the crowd. “If a town I didn’t come from can feel like home, it’s Tamworth more than any other town anywhere in the world,” Urban declared onstage. He later brought on Troy Cassar-Daley to duet on People Get Ready.

Supafest shows off its heart
At most stops on the urban Supafest tour, selected indigenous kids were invited backstage to hang with their heroes. In Perth, two rival groups of bikies were moved on after an argument erupted. After that show, a fan tried to take a shortcut through a nearby lake, and was stuck up to his neck in the mud for seven hours before being rescued. When he was finally rescued, police arrested the 21-year old on an unrelated issue.

Funding for Tasmanian organisations
The funding round of Arts Tasmania’s Assistance to Organisations program has opened. It is for organizations that employ professional arts practitioners and engage the community in arts activities. These include concerts, festivals, magazines, industry and/or audience development, and exhibitions. Deadline is April 30, more information from www.arts.tas.gov.au/organisations.

Gold Impala
Tame Impala’s Innerspeaker album has gone gold, says Modular Records.

Rockeby Records closes
Rockeby Records in Perth’s Subiaco is closing on April 21 after 27 years. Owner Greg Milby said sales were affected, first after the local Pavilion Markets closed, then by a lackluster Christmas. Last December, U2 sent a production staffer there to buy every U2 CD and DVD to give as presents to those who helped out on their two Subiaco shows.

Mentors needed for Fremantle musos
As part of its new Hidden Treasures series, the City of Fremantle is looking for five musicians or bands (aged under 25) to take part in a four-session mentoring program to create links and exchanges between different generations of Fremantle musicians. The idea is to develop music, performance skills and knowledge. Successful applicants will be paired with experienced musicians including Jim Fisher, Dom Mariani and David Hyams. Applications close Friday 22 April. Send bio, demo, contact details (or links) to Karen Lee - Lucky Projects, PO Box 36 North Perth WA 6906.

104.7 continues to top Canberra
104.7 remains the top rating station in Canberra with a market share of 18.8%, according to a survey by Neilsen Media Research. ABC 666 was second with 15.9% share, followed by MIX 106.3 (15.8%), 2JJJ (10.9%), ABC FM (8.4%), 2CC (7.4%), 2RN (6.9%), 2CA (5.6%) and News Radio (4.6%).

INSIDE TRACK

Living End finish sixth album
The Living End has finished recording their sixth album, due out in July. Sessions were at Melbourne’s Red Door Studios, which is co-owned by guitarist Chris Cheney. The album has no title, but they’re hoping to come up with one at a meeting this week. It is currently being mixed by Brendan O'Brien, of AC/DC, Pearl Jam and Rage Against The Machine fame.

Basement Birds back to individual projects
The Basement Birds played what was advertised as their last gig at the Artbar in Perth, in front of 700. It probably isn’t their last gig. But its members are working on their own projects. Kevin Mitchell is back in Jebediah mode. Kav Temperley is working on Eskimo Joe’s album, recording in their just-finished studio (things got delayed when a fire broke out) while they kick off an acoustic tour in late May. Steve Parkin’s Mighty Big Light album is out this month. Josh Pyke’s follow up to Chimney’s Afire is due later in 2011.

Evanescence back in studio
After a three year sabbatical, Evanescene were back in the studios this week. Singer Amy Lee says they’ve been “experimenting with things we've never done before and at the same time embracing the things we love most about Evanescence.” Producer is Nick Raskulinecz, whose recent producing credits include Foo Fighters, Rush, Stone Sour, Deftones and Alice in Chains.

Taking a trip
The hilarious new On The First Time video by Sydney’s The Trip is added to Channel [V] and MAX. But its parent album almost didn’t get made. First they scrapped a record they made in California. When they started again in Sydney, wild storms flooded the studio They were almost killed, all their hard drives and backups erased, and producer Mike Sinclair lost $30,000 of gear.

Denzal Park get Wynter gig
Aussie duo Denzal Park have been asked to remix Wynter Gordon’s next single “Till Death”. Only two years ago Kam Denny and Paul Zala introduced themselves to the scene with a bootleg remix of Ce Ce Peniston’s hit “Finally”.

Veterans take country road
Brian Cadd and Russell Morris return to their country roots with a joint album called Wild Bulls & Horses set for a May release. Morris has also started work on an acoustic blues CD called Sharkmouth, named after a 1920s Sydney petty crim. In the meantime, Russell Hitchcock of soft pop duo Air Supply has cut a 2-CD country album called Tennessee: The Nashville Sessions.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

DMG names Mason as Classic MD, brings in Perso
DMG Radio Australia appointed Kate Mason as Music Director for Classic Rock 91.5FM and 95.3FM effective immediately. She worked with DMG’s Melbourne stations for the past five years, and was MD and APD for Triple M for eight years. Meantime, veteran Mike Perso joins Classic Rock 91.5FM’s More Music Breakfast Show from Wednesday 27 April.

Grigoryan to direct Guitar Festival again
Classical guitarist Slava Grigoryan has been reappointed as artistic director of the Adelaide International Guitar Festival, which is held August 9 to 12 at the Festival Centre. He directed the event last year, which “took the event to a whole new level,” according to Centre’s CEO Douglas Gautier, who points out that 13% of tickets were bought by intestate and overseas patrons.

Brandel GPD for NTB
Phil Brandel becomes Group PD for Northern Territory Broadcasters replacing Louise Poole. NTB operates Hot 100, Mix 104.9 and Top Country in Darwin.

Whitnall to helm 2SER
Melanie Whitnall becomes Managing Director of Sydney community station 2SER in mid-May. She was a journalist and documentary producer before entering radio at 2UE, 2GB and ABC 702. She lectured at the Australian Film Television and Radio School and the University of Technology Sydney.

Smith signs SBS deal
Former Channel [V] programmer Matt Smith will produce the PopAsia Show and the 24hr digital service SBS PopAsia for SBS Radio.

Hamel becomes PD
Mark Hamel is new PD of Bundaberg Broadcasters, which operates 4BU, Hitz FM and KIX Country.

Clarke reporting entertainment at WA Today
Jenna Clarke joined WAToday.com.au as entertainment reporter at. She was publicist at 92.9 and MIX 94.5 Perth, and replaced there by Jillian McHugh.

McKay to head Experimental Art Foundation
Peter McKay takes over as Deputy Director of Adelaide’s Experimental Art Foundation from Ken Bolton. He was Curator at the Contemporary Art Centre.

Green exits ABC Digital
Liz Green has exited ABC TV where she was Digital Marketing Manager.

Pernechele moves behind scenes
Darwin Hot 100's breakfast program The Entourage’s co-host Amanda Pernechele is now Marketing and Promotions Manager with Southern Cross.

SCM’s Bartlett back on air
Paul Bartlett, GM of Southern Cross Media’s Gold Coast Media Centre, is back on air. He’s on the syndicated School of Rock as Fred Zeppelin.

TRIPPING

What major announcement is Modular about to make for Tame Impala?

Who’d imagine, seeing him run around onstage during his shows, that Keith Urban had put his back out before the tour?

Was Iva Davies’ call through Facebook to hunt down Flowers’ original keyboard player Anthony Smith a prelude to Flowers doing a gig or two around the re-release of Flowers’ debut album? No, they say. They just want to send him a copy of the CD and advise him he’s got some royalties waiting.

Following its success last month with Michael Buble, the new live music venue at Sandalford Estate in WA’s Margaret River is negotiating with a major international superstar to play at next year’s March Labor Day long weekend.

Territory FM breakfast presenter James Perrin, 29, has qualified for this year's Arafura Games in Darwin, in the open men's 100m and 200m sprints.

LIFELINES

Born: son, Oxley Thomas Harry Young to Sam Cameron from Melbourne publicity firm Beat Broker and Jason Young from therapcella.com/jasmatuph Creations.

Born: daughter Sadie May, to Nova 100 Melbourne’s Dave Hughes and wife Holly Ife.

Recovering: Paul Cashmere, CEO of the Undercover site, after a mild heart attack.

In Court: Judge Paul Rice of SA’s Liquor Licensing Court allowed John Richard Pike, former operator of Adelaide’s Heaven nightclub to work there as a consultant. Pike was banned from operating a licensed premises in 2006 after alleged links to bikie gangs. Police wanted Pike banned from entering the club. Judge Rice deemed this "unnecessary and unreasonable".

In Court: Foo Fighters fan Jonathan Samuel Kirkpatrick, 23, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrate's Court of jumping the fence at the band’s benefit show. He explained his friend was inside with his ticket. Magistrate Liz Hall gave no penalty as he’d spent five hours in custody.

Sued: DMG Radio by former South Australian Jockey Club CEO Steve Ploubidis. He says he was defamed by two of its presenters and then-racing minister Michael Wright in October 2009.

Died: ABC Queensland broadcaster Bruce Short, aged 84. In his 32-year career, he hosted its breakfast show and its jazz-orientated Saturday night show Short And Sweet, and presented the TV news.

NEW SIGNINGS

Stop Start lands Pluto
Stop Start has signed Sydney artist Pluto Jonze (aka Lachlan Nicholson). His self-titled debut EP is due for release May 6.

Two for Future Classics
Sydney indie-dance firm Future Classics signed two deals. Its publishing arm pacted with Kobalt Music Australia to continue expanding into music licensing for ads and TV/film. Their record label inked Perth band Scenic.

AliKat launches Sweet Baby James model
Adelaide guitar firm AliKat launches its first signature model, the SBJ TeleKat. It’s named after Adelaide blues and session guitarist Sweet Baby” James Meston. It will be unveiled at Weston’s May 1 show at the Whitmore Hotel.

Opera House faces first environmental sponsor
The Sydney Opera House entered an environmental sustainability partnership with Origin Energy, to help increase its GreenPower to 10% by August 2012.

360 Agency adds two
Melbourne dance orientated 360 Agency added Sydney DJs Tenzin and Timmy Trumpet to its books.

NUMBER CRUNCHING

1 - Drapht is the first Australian solo rapper to have a #1 ARIA album. And the first Aussie #1 for the year.

200 - crew members treated by Kylie Minogue to a lavish party in London to celebrate the success of her Aphrodite – Les Folies tour.

1,320 - concerts by foreign artists cancelled in Japan after the earthquake.

1.8 million - hits received by the Splendour In the Grass website in the 45 minutes after it revealed its artist lineup this week.

$600,000 - what the Australian Football League paid Lionel Richie to sing half time at its Grand Final last year, its CEO Andrew Demetriou revealed.

230 - clicks in the first hour in a Facebook campaign for the Yo Gabba Gabba tour to include Adelaide.