Industrial Strength: Drive for Molly Meldrum laneway; Hoods fan in court; Fourth Aussie up for Grammy

Aussies dominate triple j listeners' list

Australian acts dominated triple j listeners’ Top 10 albums of 2014. The list was topped by Chet Faker’s Built On Glass. Then came Ball Park Music’s Puddinghead, alt-J’s This Is All Yours, Hilltop Hoods’ Walking Under Stars, Sticky Fingers’ Land of Pleasure, Flight Facilities’ Down To Earth, Royal Blood’s Royal Blood, Vance Joy’s Dream Your Life Away, Thundamentals’ So We Can Remember and The Preatures’ Blue Planet Eyes.

The fact Built On Glass also won the J Award for Australian Album of the Year marks the fourth time that the two events’ winners have synchronised. This follows Tame Impala (2012), Gotye (2011), and Wolfmother (2005). Faker, Flight Facilities, Vance Joy and The Preatures were all debut acts.

Drive for Molly Meldrum laneway

In Melbourne, a petition with 500 signatures was presented to Lord Mayor Robert Doyle to name a laneway after Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum. The Moll’s friends in the music biz said that given his profile and contribution, he should actually get something larger like Meldrum Road or Meldrum Parade.

McAlister Kemp to take break in 2015

The country music duo have announced their hiatus on Facebook this morning. "We both want to explore some solo projects, so from March next year we will taking an indefinite break from MK," the post reads.

Funding dries for Adelaide Critics Circle Awards

The back-slapping at this week’s Adelaide Critics Circle Awards were curtailed somewhat by news that after cutting funding from $10,000 to $7,000 this year, Arts SA advised it will stop all funding in 2015. The winners are picked by 20 South Australian music, theatre and visual arts critics. Arts SA has offered to help find new sponsorships to keep the awards going.

Hilltop Hoods fan lands in court

An excited and, according to police, inebriated Hilltop Hoods fan landed in court after getting swept away by the music. 27-year old plasterer Richard Moroney was spotted by bouncers at Mackay PCYC twirling his (Cosby) sweater over his head and flinging it at the stage. He copped a $500 fine after pleading guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to disorderly conduct.

Yarra Council sound-proofing two venues

As part of its new Live Music Venues Grants scheme, City of Yarra in Melbourne provided $1400 to Some Velvet Morning to install double glazed windows and add insulation to a door frame to help contain its noise, and $2,000 to The Old Bar to replace its bi-folds doors with a heavier system.

Fourth Aussie up for Grammy

Aside from Grammy nominations for Iggy Azalea, Sia and Keith Urban, let’s not forget NSW-based composer, singer and pianist Fiona Joy Hawkins whose track Grace from her Winds of Samsara album is a finalist in the New Age category. Another Australian link (yes, this a stretch) is Pink’s The Truth About Love Tour: Live From Melbourne being up for Best Music Film.

Final longlist announced for10th Coopers AMP

The final six LPs added to the 65-strong list of albums up for the 10th Coopers Amp award are:Bertie Blackman'sThe Dash,Daily Meds'Sour Milk,King Gizzard & The Wizard Lizard'sI'm In Your Mind Fuzz,Krakatau's Water Near A Bridge,Lanie Lane'sNight Shade andShiny Joe Ryan'sShiny Joe Ryan & The Cosmic Microwave Background.

Jazz Bell awards ring open for nominations

The 2015 Australian Jazz Bell Awards are calling for nominations for their 13th year. They are held in Melbourne on Thursday April 30. The categories, which share a prize pool of $40,000 to $50,000 per category include jazz vocal, modern jazz, contemporary avant-garde jazz and trad jazz albums, as well as song, ensemble and young jazz artist of the year. The celebrations include the Graeme Bell Hal of Fame to recognise an outstanding career. “I have never failed to be impressed by the exceptional talent of the jazz community in Australia,” said awards founder Albert Dadon AM. Nominations close Wednesday February 11, info at www.bellawards.org.

Three musicians get Australia Council Fellowships

Three musicians were among 12 talents from seven artforms who received Australia Council Fellowships. Each are worth $100,000 over two years. Electronic and rock experimentalist Oren Ambarchi will use the Fellowship to complete compositions. Kate Neal will extend her works incorporating design, light and dance with a series of collaborators. Rosalind Page whose work covers electronica, theatre and orchestra, will create new works for performance with collaborators in Australia, the UK and Europe.

The National gets 2am knock back

Fremantle live music venue The National was denied its application to extend trading until 2am. Authorities attributed the thumbs-down to “high level of alcohol-related harm in Fremantle". The National owner Karl Bullers said the decision made no sense as Beer Works Tavern in Northbridge was given the go-ahead last month, and is taking the issue to the Supreme Court.

Music SA relocating

South Australian association Music SA will spend its holidays relocating to its new home at St Paul's Creative Centre on Pultney Street. It returns on Monday January 5, lead by newly appointed General Manager Lisa Bishop.

Vale

A funeral service was held last Friday for John Moulton, OAM who passed in Sydney aged 72. He worked for a number of arts and entertainment organisations including stints as Deputy Technical Manager at the Sydney Opera House and Operations Manager for the Sydney Festival.

Melbourne dancer and promoter of Bollywood music nightclub nights, Rehmat Sandhu, 21, accidentally slipped off the balcony railing of an apartment building and fell 20 floors to his death.

Derringer shoots out the blues

Winners of South Australia’s 7th Derringers Music Blues Awards were announced at the Deep South Blues & Roots Festival. They were Zkye Compson-Harris (outstanding female performer), Mick Kidd (male performer), Mick Kidd & Dave Blight (solo/duo), Lazy Eye (group), Chris Finnen (instrumentalist) and Benny C and The Associates (rising talent).

Vanfest set for 2015 return

Vanfest will return in 2015 after the inaugural festival last Saturday drew 7,000 to Forbes Showgrounds (NSW) for Chet Faker, Matt Corby, Savage, British India and local bands. Festival director Matt Clifton reported, “The energy all day was electric! As someone who grew up in Forbes and knew the limitations that living in the country had on experiencing quality entertainment it was amazing for me to see how everyone embraced the event with so much spirit.”

The rebranded Majors Creek Festival (NSW) also announced its 2015 return after better-than-expected crowds at its inaugural event.

Sia named iTunes Best Artist for Australia

Sia was named Best Artist for Australia in iTunes’ Best of 2014. Best Album was Chet Faker’s Built on Glass, Best Song was Sam Smith’s Stay With Me while 5 Seconds of Summer took Best New Artist. The Best Of selection also included top selling apps, games, books and television show.

Go directly to jail

John Forbes who killed Katie Louise Broadbent after reversing over her tent at January’s Got Milk festival in Rochester, Victoria, got four years. Prosecutors said he was drunk and drug-affected. Ms Broadbent worked at Melbourne venues the Standard, The Public Bar and The Old Bar.

One time soldier Matthew Cox got a life sentence at Brisbane Supreme Court for murdering Gold Coast nightclub singer Tony Williams with a hammer at his Mermaid Waters apartment in December 2011. The court heard Cox was jealous of his girlfriend Sarah Davis’ affection for the Sex ‘N’ Chocolate singer. She and Williams had a child together but she’d told Cox it was the result of Williams raping her.

80,000 attend Leederville festival

Over 80,000 turned out for the annual Light Up Leederville Carnival (WA) last Sunday. Aside from live acts Cosmic Drama, Ladywood, Kid Tsunami, Charlie Bucket and DJ Silence, there were 800 doing a Santa Claus run, snake dancers, fireworks, latte art competitions and 250 food stalls.