Industrial Strength: Part 1
Image: Bliss N Eso
BLISS N ESO RESPOND TO VIDEO SHOOT DEATH
Group members Bliss, Eso and Izm released a statement on Facebook last night over the death of 28-year old Johann Ofner during the video shoot for their Friend Like You at Brisbane’s Brooklyn Standard bar.
“We were not on set at the time and our management team are currently working with the police and the production company filming the video to get more details,” they said.
“The three of us are extremely upset and shaken up by this and our hearts and prayers go out to the victim’s family and friends as well as the cast and crew who were involved in the clip today.”
Ofner, a martial arts exponent and carpenter by trade, had performed stunts in feature film Under The Deep and short films Blade, Gun Bust and 10 Percent. He was set to feature in Channel 9’s big-budget Australian Ninja Warrior.
Police are investigating how the father of one came to be fatally shot in the chest, and if the firearm props used in the shoot used live bullets.
JIMMY BARNES EXTENDS BOOK TOUR
With the hard cover version of his Working Class Boy book spending seven weeks at #1 on the national Bookscan charts and being the #1 adult title in 2016, it was not surprising that Jimmy Barnes’ An Evening of Stories & Songs shows are being expanded into 2017.
Just announced are regional March dates in Mackay, Cairns, Darwin, Newcastle, Penrith and Geelong, with encore shows in Sydney (State Theatre) and Melbourne following sell outs at the Sydney Opera House and Regent Theatre at the end of 2016.
THE VERONICAS FOR MARDI GRAS PARTY
The Veronicas are performing at the official Mardi Gras Party in Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter and Playbill venues on Saturday March 4.
Also added to the bill are DJ Dan Murphy, New York Mixmaster DJ Corey Craig and Sydney DJ,/remixer DJ Mickey making their Mardi Gras Party debuts. Last year’s Party sold out, and organisers say this year’s Pool Party and Diamond Club have already hit capacity.
DEADLINE FOR ART MUSIC FUND
The official deadline for the APRA AMCOS Art Music Fund is February 21. It offers a total of $10,000 for new works by Australia and NZ songwriters and composers, with the aim of getting their work to a wider national and international audience. The work must have committed partners to ensure it is presented multiple times.
Last year, upon the first presentation of the prize, 45% of funding was awarded to women. One of them, Erkki Veltheim, used the grant to create The Ganzfeld Experiment which has its premiere on February 5 at the Musica nova Helsinki festival in Finland. Another, Lisa Illean, says the fund has afforded her the space to produce thoughtful new work.
CROWDFUNDING EXCEEDS TARGET FOR FIRE VICTIM MUSO
A crowd-funding campaign set up for award-winning WA musician Joni Hogan of Joni In The Moon and her partner Toby Mack has already exceeded its initial target. The couple lost their rented house in Boya in a bushfire last Wednesday.
Director and producer Dimity Magnus began the fund-raiser (https://www.gofundme.com/house-fire-relief-for-joni-toby) to tally an initial $15,000 after the couple were up for $400,000 worth of damages as they had no insurance. After it clicked to $15, 795 last night, the target is now been raised to $20,000.
A Facebook group is coordinating food, shelter and various items to be bought for the couple, as well as further fund raising activities.
SUPERJESUS, JOHN BREWSTER, TO BE INDUCTED…
The next round of inductions into the Adelaide Music Collective’s SA Music Hall of Fame on Friday March 3 are Sarah McLeod and Stuart Rudd of The Superjesus and Angels guitarist and songwriter John Brewster. It takes place at the Mortlock Library. Performing are The Baker Suite, Julian Ferraretto String Quartet and The Yearlings.
On Tuesday March 7, Grace Emily will be inducted into the SA Venue Music Hall of Fame, following platitudes for The Gov and The Wheaty, for its long time support of live music. The ceremony starts at 7:00pm at the venue, with Taasha Coates of The Audreys presenting the plaque on behalf of thousands of musicians who got gigs there.
HONOURED AT TAMWORTH
As part of the current Tamworth Country Music Festival, Amber Lawrence, the Davidson Brothers (Hamis and Lachlan), Ginger Cox and Garry Ellis are the 2017 Hands of Fame Recipients. They will be officially inducted into the Hands of Fame Park on Saturday, January 28 at 10:30am.
Inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame for their many years presenting country music on local community radio were Brendon T. Moylan of Curtain FM 100.1 Perth and Floreena Forbes from Phoenix FM, Bendigo.
FANGIRL DOCO FUNDED
Among seven documentaries receiving a total of $1.6 million of funding from Screen Australia (through its Documentary Producer and Commissioned programs) is I Used To Be Normal – A Boyband Fangirl Story. It looks at the phenomenon of boy bands and the obsession that is shown by devoted fan-girls.
Producer Rita Walsh is collaborating with emerging filmmaker Jessica Leski who will produce, direct and write the feature-length documentary to be distributed by Madman Entertainment, with support from Film Victoria.
BOX SET, STREAMING, FOR ICEHOUSE 40TH
Icehouse’s 40th anniversary celebrations includes the release of a ten-album box set and their entire catalogue available for streaming from yesterday.
Icehouse – The Complete Collection is out on February 17 and includes all their albums. These sold nine million around the world and 3 million in Australia. They achieved 28 platinum album sales in Australasia, eight Top 10 albums and more than 30 Top 40 singles.
The group’s availability on streaming is currently confined to Australia and New Zealand (where they’re touring) with global markets to follow “imminently”.
AUSTRALIA DAY TV
Ten Network will broadcast the Australia Day concert from the steps of the Sydney Opera House from 7:30 pm. It features Tina Arena, Dami Im, Guy Sebastian, Human Nature, The Wiggles and indigenous dancers from Barangaroo.
Foxtel is screening the 30th anniversary edition of the classic tour Australia Made on the Main Event Channel from 6:00am, replayed every two hours.
ASIAN MIXTAPE DISTRIBUTOR EYES AUST., NZ
Hong Kong based Geek Gang Music Group’s new mixtape publishing and distribution project is available in Australia and New Zealand among other countries. There are only 20 slots for all styles, the company says, with the mixtape to be sent to thousands of DJs, stations, bloggers and mags around the world, More info here. As with any commercial dealings, always do your homework first.
SINGER RETURNS TO THY ART IS MURDER
Sydney deathcore outfit Thy Art Is Murder have been rejoined by singer C.J. McMahon. He left a year ago after what guitarist Andy Marsh described as “finally reached his breaking point – the physical, emotional and mental stresses of touring, and the lifestyle had taken its toll on him.” The band continued to tour abroad during his absence with guest singers and broke into the US charts for the first time with Holy War peaking at #62, issued through Nuclear Blast Entertainment.
The band have released a new single No Absolution which Marsh describes as “a rich tapestry, intertwined in faith, scripture and doctrine, and a story about the process that we have endured throughout the last year.”