Industrial Strength: May 3
Image:Aston Merrygold, Jon Hume and Morgxn atSongHubs in LA this week
APRA AMCOS, ASCAP and Capitol Studios partnerfor 2016 SongHubs LA Edition
11 artists will take part in APRA AMCOS initiative SongHubs in LA, with has co-funding from the Australian Federal Government. They are:Reece Mastin, London-based Australian Tonino Speciale,Penelope Austin, Nathaniel Willemse, Hook N Sling (Anthony Maniscalco), Tushar Apte, Thief, Josh Moriarty (Miami Horror), Dennis Dowlut (Deutsch Duke),Jon Hume (Evermore) and Darren Cordeux (Kisschasy).
Taking place this week (May 2 -6)at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California theSongHubs LA Editionwill be curated by Darrell Brown. Darrell, an ASCAP member, has written, produced and managed big name artists includingKeith Urban, Neil Young, Bon Jovi and Dolly Parton.
Aston Merrygold & Morgxn
The 11 artists will collaborate with industry figures including US writer and producer Morgxn, Mr. Hudson (aka Ben Hudson), who has worked with Kanye West, Jay-Z, Duran Duran and more; Franc Tetaz, whowon an ARIA for his work on Gotye’s Making Mirrors album in 2011, and a Grammy in 2013 for his engineering and mixing work on Somebody That I Used To Know;Stuart Crichton (Kylie Minogue, Delta Goodrem, Elton John); Leann Rimes;Aston Merrygold and Natasha Bedingfield.
Tushar Apte
“I’ve had many successes with music creators from Australia and I wouldn’t have any success in my life it wasn’t for the support of ASCAP, “ said Darrell Brown. “Saying ’yes’ to ASCAP and APRA to curate at SongHubs at Capitol Studios was a no-brainer. It is going to be an out-of-this-world great experience. I couldn’t be happier to be joining this amazing group of songwriters, producers andartists.”
Ticketmaster cuts queues for Aussie, NZ, concert-goers
Ticketmaster in Australia and New Zealand now allows fans to order their food, drink and merchandise online via the Ticketmaster website or app, avoiding lengthy queues at live events. It is part of an overseas deal with ecommerce platform Preoday, and has also rolled out in the UK and Europe.
“This partnership with Preoday signals a huge milestone in our strategy which is focused on delivering innovative solutions for our clients, whilst improving the event going experience for fans,” said Ticketmaster President Mark Yovich. “We look forward to working with Preoday to pioneer this service across our international markets.”
The partnership will deliver customer insights to venues with detailed consumer behaviour, allowing venues to target exactly what will provide customers with a better event experience.
Arts Party begins Pozible campaign for Federal election
With the Federal election expected to be called for July 2, the Arts Party is getting ready to make the supporting of the arts and the creative industries a major issue and aiming at getting 1 million votes. It has begun a crowd-funding campaign at http://www.pozible.com/project/204920 until May 11.
The Party said: “The last 18 months have been a complete disaster for small and medium sized community organisations across the country and is only getting worse as the funding cuts keep biting. Arts in education has been equally sidelined by our current government and threatens the potential of an entire generation. Our museums, galleries and libraries are also being seriously defunded.”
Hiatus Kaiyote win UK radio award
Grammy nominated Melbourne band Hiatus Kaiyote won Album Of The Year at the JAZZ FM Awards in London. The band, currently on a UK and European tour, recently released the Recalibrations Vol 1 EP featuring remixes of songs from their two albums Tawk Tomahawk and Choose Your Weapon. They also make their debut at the Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid Live on May 31.
ArtsLink Queensland collapses
ArtsLink Queensland, which delivers a range of programs in youth, education and regional arts, has gone into voluntary administration. The organisation, previously the Queensland Arts Council says it is unable to meet its financial obligations.
Its programs includes schools touring, the week-long performing arts residency MAD camp in September and Animated Spaces which provides cultural activities for regional and remote communities. It also manages the Federal Government’s Regional Arts Fund in Queensland.
The fate of these will not be known until administrator Oldhams Advisory Pty Limited provides a report, at a date yet to be set. Callers to the ArtsLink Queensland office only receive a recorded message. Artistic Director Arthur Frame who ran the organisation for 30 years, retired last year.
Angus Stone’s new project
Honey Bones, an album from Angus Stone’s new project, Dope Lemon, is due out on June 10 through EMI. The project, tracked with his best friend Rohin Brown (The Walking Who) on guitar, began three years ago. Sessions began on Stones’ farm, at his personal recording studio, Belafonte Studios.
According to EMI, “It was at Belafonte Studios that Angus & Rohin, set out on a musical adventure of the mind; through sleep deprivation unplugging the artistic dam to explore the deepest recesses of maniacal creativity. The making of Honey Bones became the ultimate reflection of Angus’s existence, a world where reality and fantasy, creativity and practicality flow together unobstructed, to form things tangible but that feel like a dream.”
North Byron Parklands open to community events
North Byron Parklands, home of Splendour In The Grass, can stage more smaller events, the Planning Assessment Commission has decided. So far it could only hold eight events a year. Now school and community groups can host their events to between 1500 to 2000 people. Parklands GM Mat Morris said they’d been approached for years by these groups and glad the PAC decision could fill a void.
Work begins on Sydney’s Green Square hub
Construction of the City of Sydney’s $18 million creative hub at Green Square is now underway at the former South Sydney Hospital site in Zetland. It is expected to be ready mid next year. The heritage listed buildings will become creative facilities for the 61,000 people who will soon live in Green Square. Former World War II nurses dormitories in the three-storey Esme Cahill Building will be refurbished as artist studios, gallery spaces and workshops where creatives can collaborate, as well as classrooms, and spaces available for the fast growing community to hire.
ACT’s 2017 Project Funding round is now open
ACT-based artists and musicians and arts and community groups and organisations have until Friday June 10 to apply for ACT Government support for arts projects that take place within the 2017 calendar.
Among music-orientated recipients (out of 53 programs in total) for the 2016 fund were Music for Canberra, the Canberra International Music Festival, ArtSound, Art Song Canberra Inc, the ‘#epinaday’ recording sessions, a concert series using restored historic instruments, a New York-recorded album by Witchskull, a variety show of performers with disabilities, Sparrow-Folk to record comedy songs showcasing Canberra and funding for the Llewellyn Hall concert venue.
Applications must be made through the artsACT online grants portal. A public information session will be held on Tuesday 10 May 2016 from 5:30-6:30pm at the Ainslie Arts Centre, Elouera Street Braddon, for those interested in applying. More info, contact artsACT on (02) 6207 2384.
Digital community radio an election issue?
Senator Nick Xenophon announced that he wants to make the future of digital community radio an issue in the July elections. Speaking on current affairs program The Wire, he said community radio was more important than ever with the changing media landscape.
Xenophon, one time volunteer at 5UV, said community radio provided an access that streaming did not. “[Online] is not the same – you’ve got to pay access fees, there’s buffering issues depending on where you live, it does cost money to access it….[Community radio is] an incredibly open, democratic, accessible for of knowledge, information and entertainment.”
The Cat Empire, B2M, to headline Territory Day concert
The Cat Empire will headline the Mindil Beach Territory Day event in Darwin on July 1 as part of their world tour behind their Rising With The Sun album. “They are renowned for their uplifting and entertaining shows, which force people to get up and dance,” Chief Minister Adam Giles said.
In Alice Springs, Territory Day is at the Alice Springs Show where the headline artist for Alice Springs is B2M from the Tiwi Islands with more announcements to follow.
In Katherine, K-Town Dance Massive returns after a huge response last year, and in Tennant Creek local artists including Rayella join Opera Australia.
Sydney Prince mural to be repeated in Paisley Park?
The huge Prince mural created on a wall at Street University in Liverpool could be recreated in Paisley Park. NZ-born Sydney based artist Mr G (Graham Hoet) started work for six hours after his death, citing how his music and album artwork inspired him. The mural went viral, and there were calls from America to repeat the tribute in Paisley Park in Minnesota. Mr G has apparently contacted the Mayor of Minnesota and started a crowd funding campaign to get him there to spend three days creating a 5-storey high tribute.
NSW Central Coast venue assaults down
Assault rates in licensed premises on NSW’s Central Coast have more than halved (50.6%) since 2008 and by 32% in the past 12 months, say data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). The Australian Hospitality Association NSW explains the drop to measures as venues working with cops, and banning troublemakers from all venues to send the message they’re responsible for their own behaviour – with no need for lock-outs or early closing,
New venues for Perth, Melbourne
Just after the launch of Badlands in Perth comes the news that Rechabites will be turned into a multi-entertainment complex which also includes a live music venue in the basement. Involved are Artage and Fringe World CEO Marcus Canning (who also ran the now-defunct Bakery) and the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority.
In Melbourne, COLLARTS (Australian College of the Arts)’s new Fitzroy campus will host a public space for live music and art, along with seven recording and rehearsal rooms. The new space, at 209 Brunswick St, is designed by architect Louis De Silva alongside ultrafonic and acoustic consultant Andrew Steel. It opens on Monday May 30, with a public launch party on Saturday July 30.
More Venue Updates: comeback, renovations, new owners
* As noted here earlier this year, Sydney’s Paddington RSL, which nurtured the likes of INXS and Hunters & Collectors way back then, is cranking up live entertainment again. Its first program is the NSW Battle Of The Bands. Prizes include $5,000 cash, a recording and production package, a $1,000 equipment voucher, support slots with major acts and more. It will host the finals series heats from May 22 and the state final. Earlier heats will cover regions around the state.
* Wollongong’s Palm Court Hotel is now owned by Peak Investments which last year bought Parramatta’s Rose and Crown Hotel. Previous owners, the Denmeade family, continue with Unanderra Hotel and Shellharbour’s Central Hotel.
* The East Village hotel in Darlinghurst, Sydney, which showcases music and comedy, is now owned by Locky Paech and James Bodel’s new Goodtime Hospitality. It launched West Village in Petersham in 2015.
* Police are investigating an incident at Mermaid Beach Tavern when an armed robber held a sharp object to a female staffer’s throat after approaching her from behind. He fled after being given cash. The woman was not physically hurt.
* Having bought Newcastle’s historic Victoria Theatre, Sydney’s Century Venues – it also owns/ operates Enmore Theatre, Metro, Vanguard, Comedy Store, The Factory and Fusebox – is planning to turn it into a 1200-capacity contemporary music, dance and comedy venue.
* The Morven Hotel in southwest Queensland burned to the ground in an early morning blaze.
* The Foundry in Brisbane is hosting a Tony Hawk’s pro-skater tribute night, which will include sets from local garage punk outfits Hound, Deluso and Deeds.
Bon Scott’s Scottish statue unveiled
Coinciding with the year he’d have turned 70, Bon Scott’s statue in the Scottish town of Kirriemuir was finally unveiled. It took a few years’ campaigning, during which fans from 32 countries raised £45,000. Ayrshire sculptor John McKenna, who names himself an AC/DC fan, created the statue as the center-piece as the town’s memorial garden, which is also dedicated to Scott. It has the message “And the music was good and the music was loud, and the singer turned to the crowd and said ‘Let there be rock.”
Attending the unveiling with an estimated 4000 others were former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans, close friend Mary Renshaw who co-wrote a recent Bon-book and drummers Tony Currenti and Bob Richards. Evans said, “The statue has captured his essence, right down to his tattoos.”
Technorama 2016 back in Sydney
Technorama 2016, which brings together community radio broadcast engineering and management each year, is this year held in Sydney. It will be in Campbelltown July 22 to 24 after being held six times from 2009 in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra.
Technorama offers attendees topical discussions and hands-on practical sessions showcasing latest broadcasting equipment and techniques. The conference program focuses on technology drivers and best practice in community radio, and provides an overview of technical and regulatory issues impacting stations in the digital era.
Fortitude Valley to also become tech start-up precinct
Brisbane’s music precinct Fortitude Valley will also become a tech start-up hub. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a $4 million Start–Up Precinct in the historic TC Beirne Building which will reopen in October after a revamp as the Queensland Startup Precinct. It could house 500 start-up businesses. Premier Palaszczu said, “Research indicates that high-growth technology companies can contribute up to $109 billion to the Australian economy and create more than half a million jobs by 2033.”
Calls for campervan ban spreads
The campaign to ban Wicked campervans has started to spread around NSW and Queensland… and also hit New Zealand. Wicked Campers have artwork and slogans as “shaven not furred”, “two things smell like fish, only one of them is fish”, “a blow job a day beats an apple” and “In every princess, there’s a little slut who wants to try it just once.”
It kicked off with a message from Splendour In The Grass which advised on its website, “If you’re booking a campervan, please steer clear of sexist slogans! You know who you are. It’s 2016, get with the program!!”
That lead to calls by Byron Bay Shire councillors Duncan Dey and Ballina Shire councillor Robyn Hordern to have them banned from council caravan parks and force the hire company to drop the slogans, which they say are sexist and offensive. Tweed Shire Council could join the move.
The Australian Christian Lobby wants the Queensland and NSW Governments to introduce legislation to impose fines on businesses that flout ASB directions or make the vans “unroadworthy.” But NSW Premier Mike Baird rejected the calls, saying, “I don’t think it’s something that the State Government should be getting involved in.”
In Tasmania, Bruny Island Cheese Co has banned the vehicles from his car park and its owner Nick Haddow is encouraging other businesses to do the same.
The backlash has extended to New Zealand. Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett, Minister for Women Louise Upston and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry are finding ways to stop Wicked Campers. Queenstown Council promises to slap the company with $300 fines every time the vans are seen on its streets. The popular Kaiteriteri Beach Motor Camp in Nelson Bays has banned them.
Department of Conservation’s tourist information and the Lonely Planet Guide have dropped Wicked Campers from listing. There’s even a push for petrol company Z Energy to stop its staff from fuelling these vans.
US start-up Tilt sets up Australian office
Successful US start-up Tilt is launching in Australia after it raised US$67 million. Since launching in Silicon Valley it has seen a 41% monthly growth, popular with college students because of its social and mobile approach to payments and crowd-funding. Valued at $400 million, it set up in Canada, UK and France last year and been available on beta in Australia. Tilt’s Sydney office launched with two staffers, with plans to expand that to five, and has 250 ambassadors in Australian universities. Sydney will be the gateway to a move into the Asia-Pacific. An office in New Zealand is also in the pipeline.
Dolphin Awards turning 25
The NSW North Coast Entertainment Industry Association (NCEIA)’s Dolphin Awards celebrates its 25th anniversary in December with a gala night at the Ballina RSL Club on December 6. It has dedicated a page on its website (nceia.org.au) for people to upload old photos with a caption describing their experience with NCEIA through the years. Some of the pix will also appear in a one-off magazine available on the night.
Emerging bands are also invited to perform on the night by uploading their music on the website. Ten will be chosen by the NCEIA board to audition at the Ballina RSL Club on June 18, from which two will be chosen for the big night by a panel of judges.
Entries for the awards themselves are open on June 20. There’s a minimal cost to enter, which goes towards putting on the awards ceremony.
Shihad’s first gets vinyl, digital release
To coincide with Shihad’s June/July run with Adelaide’s Grenadiers, their 1996 debut breakthrough album is re-mastered and re-issued both digitally and on vinyl. The self-titled album has become affectionately known as The Fish Album after its cover image.
Last Sunday, Shihad kicked off New Zealand Music Month with three shows on the same day around the country. They started at midday in Christchurch. After a 50 minute set, they were on their way to Wellington, arriving at 4.30 pm at the Meow club. They made it to Auckland in time for the 9 pm set at the Powerstation despite their flight being cancelled at the last minute, leading organisers to rush around getting them into another flight.
Fundraiser for Colin Cook
14 names from the 1960s and 1970s are playing a fundraiser for Melbourne singer and saxplayer Colin Cook who is undergoing therapy for a severe throat cancer. He was in bands as The Sapphires and The Thunderbirds before a series of solo hits in Australia and the UK, and was in the London productions of Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar. The May 15 event at the Trak Lounge includes appearances by the likes of Normie Rowe, Mark Holden, Marcie Jones, Marty Rhone, Ross D. Wyllie, Issi Dye, Buddy England, Jeff Phillips and Bobby Bright.
Applications open for Creative3 Pitch
QUT’s Creative Enterprise Australia (CEA) has opened applications for Creative3 Pitch until June 30. It is aimed at those with startup ideas they want to pitch to investors, and creative entrepreneur who want to engage in discussions with groundbreaking thinkers about the challenges and new ideas in the creative industries. Eight will be selected to audition in July, and four for the Pitch in September. The four will qualify for the Creative Business Cup in Denmark.
Quickflix in voluntary administration
The Australian operations of SVOD Quickflix has gone into voluntary administration after negotiations with rival and main stakeholder Stan, Nine/Fairfax’s streaming service, failed to come to come to an agreement. Quickflix, which has low cash reserves, had tried to restructure Stan’s 83 million preference shares to bring in new investors. But Stan demanded either a $4 million payment or $1.25 million and the transfer of all of Quickflix’s streaming customers.
Quickflix said that neither options were acceptable, as the company is not “in a position to fund its unsecured creditors nor with capital necessary to take the business forward.” It is business as usual with administrators Ferrier Hodgson. Quickflix’s NZ operations is not in administration. Stan bought into Quickflix in 2014 to ensure Netflix didn’t enter the Australian market via Quickflix.
Acts announced for final Jazz in the Vines
After 24 years, the Hunter Valley’s Jazz in the Vines is coming to an end this year. It is held on Saturday October 29
It also includes market stalls, local wine makers, restaurants and produce. Organisers are planning to “go out with a bang”, with sets by James Morrison, Leo Sayer, Mental as Anything, Lisa Hunt, Emma Pask, John Morrison’s Swing City Big Band, Monica Trapaga, Dale Barlow, Bob Barnard and George Golla.
Early bird tickets have sold out, General Admission on sale now. The festival also has two VIP sections. The Alfresco Jazz Club is a marquee area with reserved seating and private dining and toilets. The $275 VIP Jazz Club has a greater food and drink selection and aimed at corporate brands wanting to entertain clients and staff.
More Festivals Updates: CMC Rocks QLD returning
* Promoters Chugg Entertainment and Rob Potts Entertainment Edge announced that CMC Rocks Queensland is returning next year to Willowbank, Ipswich, on March 10, 11 and 12. CMC Rocks is the southern hemisphere’s largest international country and roots festival, and over the years played host to top names as Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Alan Jackson, Faith Hill and Taylor Swift as well as Aussie high flyers as Lee Kernaghan, John Williamson, Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers and Adam Brand.
* In regional tour Groovin’ The Moo’s dates on the weekend, a 20 year old woman was hospitalised with suspected spinal injuries at the sold-out Bendigo show. However her condition was later changed to “minor injuries”. There’s a possibility that the Townsville show on Sunday may have also been a sold-out at the last minute. It winds up in Bunbury this Saturday, hitting its 15,000-capacity.
* This year’s Charters Towers Country Music in Queensland has been its most successful, organisers say. Final official figures are tallied yet but most nights drew double the figures, with the opening night attended by almost 1000. Next year it celebrates its 40th anniversary.
* After launching in October 2013, inner city Sydney music night Visions will host the first edition on June 4 as part of Vivid Sydney. Curated by Deep Sea Arcade in conjunction with Chugg Music and Rare Finds with support for Jack Daniels, “the event aims to put together progressive line-ups that showcase exciting local acts who are pushing boundaries in psychedelia, garage-rock, electronic and everything-alternative.” Visions has hosted over 15,000 in its first two years across a number of 250-500 capacity venues, and last September was invited to curate the opening slot at Small World Festival.
* Female themed Sad Grrrls Fest lands this year on October 1 at Melbourne’s Reverence Hotel and Sydney’s Factory Floor on October 8. Organised by DIY record label and booking agency Sad Grrrls Club, the lineups and tickets are at sadgrrrlsclub.com.
* Lost Highway Bluegrass Music returns for its eighth year from May 6 in Aliceton Reserve, Engel Avenue, Karuah, and headlined by Catherine Britt and Bill Chambers. Artistic Director Gleny Rae says the idea of the festival is for fans to see acts over three stages, share ideas with acts and learn new skills at workshops. This year, new attractions include morning bluegrass yoga and a shamanistic medicine wheel.
* Inner city Sydney’s Surry Hills Festival returns for its 14th year on Saturday September 24. Gold donation entry is for the community programs of the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre. Applications for bands, DJs, performers, vendors and local businesses to get involved are open until June 3.
* Darwin’s dry season EDM festival season kicked off on the weekend with the third Seaside Sounds drawing 3000.
Number Crunching
$1 billion posted by US performance rights society ASCAP, boosted by strong domestic growth.
56% drop in takings by Australian cinemas are due to soaring streaming and demand for 4K Ultra High Definition TVs, according to Panasonic executives when they launched their new TV range, 4K Native Blu Ray recorders and sound gear.
300 people applied to Star Albury’s Tom & Olly’s offer of a pop up wedding package.
Vale
* One of Australasia’s best radio voices Chris Parkinson was one of the original pirates of New Zealand’s Radio Hauraki. Fifty years ago this December, he and three other 20-somethings co-founded the pirate radio station, broadcasting in international waters from the good ship Tiri in the Hauraki Gulf and introducing the latest groovy sounds from swinging London’s Stones, Hendrix and Zeppelin. It broke the NZ Government’s radio monopoly and forced it to open up to other stations. Parkinson went on to talk station Radio Pacific and also worked in the Australian radio industry for a time, winning awards. He died a week out from his 75th birthday.
* Greg Thompson was a Melbourne sound monitor whose technical skills were much in demand by acts around the country. A keen fisherman, he also had a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. “He was a gentle and intelligent man,” says long time events and tour manager Howard Freeman, who gave Thompson his first job, doing sound for Broderick Smith’s Big Combo before working at Instant Stages and Gig Power. Greg Thompson was 54.
* David Page was music director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, composing 27 scores for its ground-breaking works. He was the eighth of ten children born to a Brisbane based family descended from the Nunkul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh tribe. The family included Bangarra’s Artistic Director Stephen, and lead dancer Russell who died in 2002.
Page studied saxophone, voice, composition and song at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music at Adelaide University before joining Bangarra in 1991.He also contributed music to events including Opening Ceremonies of the Sydney Olympic Games, the Sydney Olympic Arts Festival, the Sydney Dreaming Festival, the Australian Ballet’s Alchemy, TV shows for the ABC and SBS, and the movie Spear. He won four Deadlys, two Helpmanns, an ARIA nomination and in 2000 was the inaugural winner of the Indigenous Artist Award for The Sidney Myer Foundation. David Page was 56.
* Darwin heavy metal musician Pedro Swift also worked as a sound technician various venues around the city. He died after his motorbike crashed into a traffic bollard on Tiger Brennan Drive in the early hours of Sunday after working at the Hotel Darwin. Singer songwriter Leah Flanagan posted, “It was always fun playing live when you were behind the desk” while Chippo’s club plans to install a mural near the sound desk in tribute. Pedro Swift, 43, is survived by his wife and two children.
And A Few Other Things
Among the tributes paid to Prince was Alice Cooper who remembered he kept trying to steal away Adelaide guitarist Orianthi in the three years she was with him. Orianthi these days is based in Los Angeles and recording with her boyfriend, former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora.
After 21 years, Melbourne hip hop store and legendary creative hang-out Obese Records in Prahran is closing on May 7. The store also expanded to a number of record labels (which gave early exposure to Hilltop Hoods, Drapht and Bliss N’Eso), artist management and TV production.
Meantime, Perth lifestyle magazines publisher Scoop Publishing closed its doors after 19 years blaming WA’s falling economy.
The chorus of exasperation that Brisbane needs more commercial theatres has risen since the producers of The Seekers’ musical Georgy Girl announced it would not be making it to Brisbane after national stops because an appropriate sized venue was not available.
‘80s indigenous reggae pioneering band No Fixed Address has started a crowd-funding campaign to raise $14,000 so its members can make it to Adelaide to play at the induction on June 3 at the South Australian Hall of Fame by the Adelaide Music Collective. The funds will cover rehearsals and a camera crew to film the reunion for a documentary. The band’s 1982 song We Have Survived was a milestone in the growth of contemporary indigenous rock music.
New Zealand born dancer Lance Savali has notched up another triumph. He’s been asked by Rihanna to join her team for US and European dates. Savali got his break in 2014 when he successfully auditioned in Los Angeles for Chris Brown, and was then tapped by Jennifer Lopez and Brandy.
Charles Kennell, one time videogame retailer who organised Tropicon and Townsville Comic Con, has been jailed for 18 months by Cairns Magistrates Court. Last October after being arrested over a warrant, the 36-year old UK national took to social media alleging police corruption and brutality. He posted photos of one cop on Facebook and rang another 50 times day threatening his family.
Jerome Borazio, co-founder of the Laneway Festival, was fined $40,000 after staff at his former Melbourne bar Sister Bella’s kept its kitchen filthy and rodent-infested.
Award winning country music artist Jasmine Rae has done a cover of the late NSW singer songwriter Karl Broadie’s If She Calls (changing its title to If He Calls) as a new single to raise funds for his family. She first sang it at a recent fund-raiser for Broadie, who died last month from cancer.
NSW singer songwriter Ilona Harker reports she had her Facebook account deleted 20 minutes after she posted a photo of a woman giving birth in water, with the caption “Do you want to see my pussy do something amazing?” Harker said it was a tongue in cheek response to the men who asked her to post nude photos of herself.
Sunshine Coast metal bands Blackened, Holistic and The Honourable Members are this Saturday playing a fund-raiser at The Shed at Aussie World. It is for the Miles For Miracles charity and, in particular, research into stillbirth.
The legacy of Billy Thorpe is celebrated in a new play Billy Thorpe & Leigh which makes its debut in Melbourne at Alex Theatre May 18 – 29. Written by playwright Neil Cole, it is about real life fan Leigh Farnell who came to grips with his father’s illness through Thorpe’s music.
Executives at Adelaide’s community radio station Fresh 92.7 will be among those at the Fast Movers Presentation Breakfast on Friday May 6 after being announced in the Top 25 of the Fast Mover 2016 Program which acknowledges South Australia’s most innovative, smart and fastest growing small to medium enterprises.