Industrial Strength: December 12

NEW CAREER FOR KYLIE AS WEDDING SINGER!

She’s released hernew movie out for the holidays and promised us an album for 2018. But we could see Kylie Minogue begin a new career as a wedding singer, of a rainbow kind.

Eager same sex couples have been reaching her through social media, friends of friends and pigeon post to ask her to sing at their upcoming nuptials.

As Australian Marriage Equality has acknowledged, “Kylie Minogue has been one of our biggest supporters from the beginning” and was among the first of the international celebs to post her congrats when the law finally went through.

La Minogue hasn’t told us if she’s RSVPd to any of the invites, but she’s in the country to promote her new movie Swinging Safari which was shot on the Gold Coast last year with Guy Pearce.

The premiere is on tonight and Minogue plays a, oh dear, swinging ‘70s housewife.

SPICE IT UP, CALVIN – SAYS A SPICE GIRL

Still on the subject of marriage equality, Emma Bunton of The Spice Girls is among those urging very rich DJ Calvin Harris to remix their track ’2 Become 1’

“It would be fab for Calvin to remix (it)”, she told the London Sun. “It’s always been my favourite Spice Girls song and (this) week it will be 21 years since it was released as a single.

“I’m so happy to be celebrating same sex marriage equality in Australia, as a Spice Girl it’s something I’ve been wishing for forever! Love always wins.”

As the Australian media reported feverishly on the weekend, five years ago at the after-party of Sydney’s Stereosonic festival, Harris told Adelaide-based DJ Filip Odzak that if Australia received marriage equality, he’d do the mix.

A nanosecond after it became law, Odzak took to social media to remind Harris of his comment – and was taken up with enthusiasm by others on social media.

No word from Cal yet.

WHAT COMES AFTER SAINTS’ BRISBANE MURAL?

As Brisbane’s $60,000 three-metre high mural tribute to the 40th anniversary of the release of The Saints’ (I’m) Stranded album was finally unveiled last week at Upper Roma Street, moves are afoot for the next musical landmark.

Go-Between-turned-academic John Willsteed, who was an instrumental voice behind the mural, told TMN that tentative steps are being taken to expand it into a three-year program which will cost $1 million to $1.5 million.

Next month, a group of research teams from various colleges will apply for funding to the Australian Research Council, which finances science, health and cultural initiatives. An answer is expected by end of summer.

Private donations are also promised from eight or nine other sources, including Arts Queensland and live music supporter Scott Hutchinson.

If all the ducks line up, work on the next landmark will start by September, most likely in the Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct.

Obviously it will have to be a group decision. But Willsteed has his own wishlist of ten, including current venues like the Zoo and Triffid, past venues as Silver Dollar and Romeos, as well as warehouses where a myriad of little bands rehearsed and played with gusto.

“It’s important to note that the current scene didn’t come out of nowhere, it was about standing on the shoulders of giants,” Willsteed said.

The Brisbane mural is around the corner from Club 76 where The Saints rehearsed.

Friends and families of Ed Kuepper, Chris Bailey, Ivor Hay and Kym Bradshaw were on hand (Bailey who lives in the Netherlands didn’t make it back) while a lot of nice words were said about the importance of The Saints.

Kuepper, who said he didn’t think they’d be remembered a year after they formed, much less 40 years, was chuffed that mural painters Frank & Mimi had him smoking a cigarette as he was a smoker in those days.

To celebrate the unveiling, Kueper played a set at Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall pulling out toe-tappers from the first three Saints album.

EMILY BURROWS AWARD GOES TO DONNARUMMA

APRA AMCOS’ annual $5000 grant to an up-and-coming South Australian act this year went to indie trio Donnarumma, led by Louis Donnarumma.

The grant goes under the name of the Emily Burrows Award, named after the APRA AMCOS membership representative and compliance officer who worked tirelessly for new South Australian music, and died in a car accident in 2000.

FANS PICK BON JOVI FOR HALL OF FAME

Bon Jovi topped the fans ballot for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in America. Since 2012, fans have been allowed to vote for whom they think should be inducted.

Their vote carries equal weight to those cast by 900 historians, members of the music industry and artists.

The full results of the fan vote are below:

Bon Jovi

Moody Blues

Dire Straits

The Cars

Judas Priest

The Zombies

Eurythmics

J Geils Band

Depeche Mode

Nina Simone

Kate Bush

Radiohead

Rage Against The Machine

MC5

LL Cool J

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Link Wray

Rufus featuring Chaka Khan

The Meters

AMAZON MUSIC UNLIMITED IN 28 MORE COUNTRIES

Amazon Music Unlimited’s streaming service has popped up in 28 more countries.

Starting in the US in 2016 it was followed by the UK, Germany and Japan.

The latest are: Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden and Uruguay.

MAJOR NAMES SING FOR SLAIN ELIJAH

As part of Human Rights’ Day last Sunday, a group of singer songwriters released ‘Song for Elijah (Wrap Our Arms Around You)’ for 14-year old Elijah Doughty from Kalgoorlie, whose death sparked protests last year.

The track features Kutcha Edwards, Archie Roach, Emma Donovan, Radical Son, Ilanna Atkinson, Tjimba Possum Burns, James Henry, David Bridie, Brendan Gallagher and Nao Anza, and its video can be seen here.

According to evidence tendered in the WA Supreme Court, a white man whose identity was suppressed, chased the boy in his vehicle down a gravel track for 100 metres after seeing him ride what he said was one of two bikes stolen from his home the day before.

He two-tonne utility was travelling at an estimated speed of 67 kilometres per hour when he fatally ran over the boy, whom his family remembered as “a young soul whose love of animals, footy and natural knack for bush mechanics is deeply missed in his community.”

The prosecutor said the driver showed “gross negligence” during the 25-second chase. The man denied the serious charge of manslaughter and pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of dangerous driving occasioning death, for which he received a three year jail sentence.

Indigenous communities across the country and their supporters protested with anger and grief at what they considered another example of gross injustice handed out to them.

Kutcha Edwards, who contacted the family to ask if musicians could sing a song about their late boy (all royalties go to the family) said, “We as singer/songwriters have a voice and in times like this I think we need to use it and give hope to those who think that all hope is lost.

“The journey to create a ripple for change started with the call out, so many amazing people came on board and over a six week period Song for Elijah was conceived.”

Archie Roach added, “This song is a prayer for Elijah that his journey into the Dreaming is guided by the ancestors, and that our love will encompass his family through this time of mourning.”

ED SHEERAN PICKS UP OBE

Ed Sheeran took time off from his busy schedule to pop into Buckingham Palace to pick up his Member of the British Empire (MBE) medal for his contribution to music and charity.

Prince Charles, who handed over the medal, was surprised that Sheeran was immediately after the ceremony, heading to the airport to catch a flight to New York where he was playing that night.

Sheeran said he was thinking of his grandfather Bill during the ceremony.

“(He) was a massive royalist,” he said. “He had all the commemorative plates and stuff, and he died on this day four years ago, so it’s actually quite a nice full circle thing, I guess he’d be pretty proud.”

KAPOW! BOOM! POW! GO THE FESTIVALS

* 85 patrons at Subsonic in Monkerai, NSW have to face court for allegedly possessing drugs including MDMA, magic mushrooms, ketamine and cannabis. Thirty six others were lucky they possessed less than 15 gms of cannabis and were let off with a caution.

* Police say that things got fiery at Alison Wonderland’s Scarehouse Project event in western Sydney with 31 charged or cited for drugs, 45 thrown out for drunken behaviour, one hospitalised, 140 needing medical treatment and two heading to court for allegedly assaulting police.

* Yellow Sunshine, the company behind Earthcore which had to cancel some of its events around the country after acts pulled out over payment issues, is set to fold up.

The Herald Sun cited documents lodged with Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in early December.

Sole director of Yellow Sunshine is Spiro Boursinos who’s had a history of collapsed ventures.

CLIENT LIAISON CREATE SOUNDTRACK FOR NYE FIREWORKS

The Victorian Government says this year will see Melbourne’s biggest NYE fireworks display, with 14 tonnes of pyrotechnics launched from 22 rooftops and taking 68 pyrotechnicians around a week to install and prepare.

The midnight fireworks will be synchronised to a specially curated 10 minute soundtrack by ARIA nominated Melbourne dance pop duo Client Liaison, which will be broadcast live on FM 99.7 and Channel 7.

REPORT ON “INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR” IN MUSIC BIZ…

A report released in the UK by the Society of Musicians (ISM), which asked members to share their experiences anonymously, found that 59.61% of the 250 respondents had experienced sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour in their work as professional musicians.

Up to 77% revealed they had not reported the incidents because they did not want to jeopardise future work prospects. 72% were, significantly, self-employed.

ISM called for a code of behaviour to be adopted by the music industry across-the-board, and suggested that education on what was acceptable behaviour start at schools and music colleges.

…WHILE FILM AND TV WOMEN LAUNCH ‘SAFER’ FORUM

The Sydney chapter of Women In Film And Television (WIFT) is today (Tuesday December 12), holding a free forum on ’Safer Workplace Strategies’ at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School in Sydney – to address harassment in the Australian Screen Industry.

More info is available here.

The half day event will also see live satellite venues in Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Hobart, as well as being streamed online.

The Victorian chapter is holding a follow-up panel event in February, focusing on how individuals can spot harassment and how to get help if experiencing it themselves.

TAMWORTH LEVY ON BUSINESSES DURING FESTIVALS?

Tamworth Regional Council will today discuss if small businesses which make a lot of money as a result of music festivals and other events in town, should be hit with a new levy.

The Northern Daily Leader quoted Mayor Col Murray as saying, “It is important that council is proactive in ensuring those who benefit most from the attraction, management and subsidisation of major events are also making an appropriate contribution towards the cost of hosting those events.

“The principal beneficiaries are accommodation providers, hotels, restaurants, cafes and retailers who see an enormous surge in their turnover during this time.”

The Tamworth Country Music Festival, for instance, brings in $70 million into the local economy.

MEDIAWORKS EXPANDS LISTENER NUMBERS

New Zealand’s MediaWorks Radio is claiming “a stellar year” with figures showing that its listeners across nine radio brands now number 2,316,800 – a record for the company.

There’s been an addition of 54,700 from the start of this year.

Most pleasing for its executives was that the company commanded a 56.4% share of the commercially important 25-54 demographic.

This was 24.1% ahead of its nearest competitor.

Leon Wratt, Group Content Director – Music added, “Four of our brands – The Rock, More FM, The Breeze and The Sound – are the top four stations in the same demographic.”

INDIGENOUSHIP HOP DRUMMER GETS FELLOWSHIP

23-year old hip-hop artist and drummer Rhyan Clapham from Western Sydney, was one of 12 sharing in 12 arts fellowships worth $510,000 to push their careers forward.

Clapham, who identifies himself as a Filipino and Aboriginal musician, has a Bachelor of Music from the University of NSW, and an Indigenous Studies Honours focusing on Aboriginal hip-hop music.

The other fellowships, worth $50,000, covered film making, disabilities, choreography, historical research and literary,

NT ARTS HUB TO MOVE

Northern Territory Arts Minister Lauren Mossmet with the eight Frog Hollow arts organisations in Darwin and agreed that their current facilities were now too small, dated and unsafe,

All eight will be moved to Harbour View Plaza in McMinn Street.

TEN COUNTRY MUSIC FINALISTS UP FOR TOYOTA STAR MAKER

Ten emerging country artists will vie to become the 39th Toyota Star Maker on Sunday January 21 as part of the 46th Toyota Country Music Festival in Tamworth.

Thanks to Toyota’s sponsorship, the event will be free for the second time in its history.

The winner’s prize package includes the use of a new Toyota motor vehicle and an unlimited fuel card for 12 months, plus guaranteed performances at major festivals and events throughout Australia.

The ten are Brad Cox (Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains),Cassidy Rae Gaiter (Flagstaff Hill, SA), Emily Joy (Sorrento, WA), Hayley Wilson (Aspley, Qld), Heath Milner (Mackay, Qld), Jake Sinclair (Springhurst, Vic), Tammy Moxon (Hermit Park, Qld), Tanya Cornish (Tintinara, SA), Taylor Pfeiffer (Walkerville, SA) and Chloe Styler (Gold Coast).

Star Maker alumni are Lee Kernaghan, Keith Urban, Beccy Cole, James Blundell, Darren Coggan, Travis Collins, Kylie Sackley, Samantha McClymont, Kirsty Lee Akers and Kaylee Bell.

BEATPORT ADDS AFRO HOUSE

With African rhythms, hand drums and chanting becoming more popular on dancefloors around the world, Beatport has officially added Afro House as one of its genres.

Beatport chief product officer Terry Weerasinghe said that in his travels, South Africa had the biggest passion for house music – with entire families from grandparents down listening to it at BBQs.

Spearheading the movement are African producer/DJs Black Coffee and Culoe De Song, European singers Dixon and Henrik Schwarz, labels a sTribe Records and Keinemusik, and artists including Jimpster, Zepherin Saint, Hyenah and Pablo Fierro.

JOHNNY YOUNG TO HOST ROCKLANDMARK CRUISE

Performer, singer songwriter and media identity Johnny Young is hosting a cruise of Europe on the Baltic Sea, from June 26 to July 16 that covers rock landmarks.

It begins in Stockholm, home of Abba, to Hamburg where The Beatles cut their teeth and then to London. Young will be performing during the cruise and recounting anecdotes from his 50 years in the business.

AND A FEW OTHER THINGS…

Which singer songwriter arrived at his album launch show and told the crowd he’d been arrested en route? Over a road rage incident, apparently.

More on Myf Warhurst’s upcoming ABC Radio show: it’ll cover Australian music, regional artists and music festivals.

Good to be prepared. When cops turned up to close a dance party because of the noise, the promoter merely handed out 1000 headphones to the attending trance-freaks and turned the event into a silent disco.

The ’I Love The ’90s’ 2018 Tour in March with Naughty By Nature, Sisqo, Blackstreet and Montell Jordan went belly-up, due to “international scheduling issues,” according to promoter MJR Presents.

Smiling faces all around when Eskimo Joe attended the first rehearsals with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and heard their songs given the orchestral treatment. The band tours next year with a number of orchestras as part of its 21st anniversary. Their journey began when they wanted to sell 500 copies of their first record; they went on to sell 750,000 albums around the world.

Congrats to Aussie country singer Morgan Evans who married fellow country performer Kelsea Ballerini in Mexico.. They met when they were co-presenters at an awards ceremony in Australia.

On a Beats 1 interview, LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy recalled the time spinning discs at a techno club when, at 3 am on an impulse, he put on The Stooges’ 1970s track ‘Loose’. “A guy was trying to climb into the DJ booth to kill me…”

After being away from Darwin for ten weeks, touring with A. B. Original, and doing festivals and clubs, what was the first thing that singer Caiti Baker did when she got home? Walked along the beach just to get that NT sand between her toes.

A Mackay band had $10,000 worth of musical gear nicked from their jam room.

The Ellington Jazz Club in WA is holding a Jazz Against Parkinson’s fundraiser concert today for Parkinson’s WA. Jazz musician and JAZZWA Treasurer Pete Jeavons put together a bill with traditional jazz from The Gumnut Stompers, neo-soul from songstress Shameem and acoustic modern jazz from Jeavons own quintet.

With snake sightings on the rise throughout Queensland, Brisbane Entertainment Centre has put up warnings in its loos for concert goers to check for the lil’ poisoned ropes before they have a splash or worse

Gold Coast singer Chris Black is heading to Los Angeles tomorrow after making the finals of the world’s first global mobile talent search, Megastar, hosted by Usher. The 25-year old, who was born in New Zealand, has the chance to pick up $1 million in prize money. Megastar is broadcast worldwide via its app and Australia is its second-highest audience behind the United States, according to Sydney-based Megastar co-founder Adam Wellisch.

After being the centre of speculation for 12 months, Rita Oraconfirmed via Instagram to her 12 million closest friends that she is “pitching woo” with musician Andrew Watt.

David Cassidy and estranged daughter Kate made up towards the end but he still left her out of the will. Son Beau gets $150,000 in assets.

Melbourne radio identity Chrissie Swan sold her five bedroom South Yarra home for close to $5.5 million, much higher than what real estate experts predicted it would bring. It was double what she paid for it in 2013.

Speaking oh houses, one of Simon Cowell’s neighbours in the posh London suburb of Kensington threatened him with a golf club after a row following the fact the TV man and his friends kept parking their luxury cars outside his house.

Nile Rodgers, touring here next year with Chic, is completely free of cancer, he says.