New Signings & Team-Ups: Jan 27
Image: NZ artist Kane Strang will see his music released in Australiaand the US
Three more acts for Wild Thing
Melbourne based touring, bookings and management company Wild Thing Presents has added three more acts for bookings.
They are Perth prog-metal band Chaos Divine who tour in April with Caligula’s Horse behind new single Badge Of Honour; Melbourne hardcore merchants Jack The Stripper currently working on their second album; and Adelaide metal act Dyssidia who released an album Children Of Aether And Earth last year and with another record due in 2016.
Other Wild Thing bands include Caligula’s Horse, AlithiA, Glass Ocean and Orsome Welles.
Kane Strang picks up two label deals
New Zealand guitar-based psychedelic pop musician Kane Strang (pictured)will have his debut album Blue Cheese released on physical format in New Zealand/ Australia and the United States. The 23-year old college student is a third-generation Dunedin musician (his father Richard was bassist with punk band Runt). He recorded Blue Cheese in his parents’ lounge room and issued it online last April.
Flying Nun then signed him up. At the same time, New York-based Ba Da Bing Records heard his stuff on a Dunedin compilation it distributed (Selections From Dunedin’s Pop Underground 2011-2014) and got in contact. Blue Cheese will be issued in these territories in late February. Strang will tour the US midway through 2016, says Ba Da Bing.
New World Artists aching for Adelaide punk duo
New World Artists announced Adelaide “slacker punk” duo The Hard Aches as their latest roster signing. Drummer Alex Upton and guitarist Ben David are currently touring with Camp Cope and Laneway Festival. They released their debut album Pheromones on Anchorhead Records. According to New World, they “surged forward on a relentless touring schedule for the past few years, playing in venues as diverse as car parks, backyards, bedrooms and record stores” and were 12th most played act on triple j unearthed.
Dune Rats’ Ratbag welcomes new “bong bro”
Ratbag Records, the label set up by Brisbane stoners Dune Rats, officially welcome “a new bong bro” from the UK, Rat Boy. The 19-year-old from Essex (Jordan Cardy) has been creating waves in the UK. He was nominated for Best New Artist at the NME awards and made the MTV Brand New for 2016 shortlist. His debut single Sign On was about life on the streets of Essex and the insecurity of unemployment. New single Move is out in Australia in March.
Craig David returns to Sony
After a five-year hiatus, the iconic R&B singer Craig David’s recorded return to action will be out through Insanity/Sony Music. The album is “R&B, garage”, he revealed. David took time off after his second album Slicker Than Your Average sold less than half of the expected 8 million units, following the 7 million sales of his debut.
Imagem flies in with Steve Miller
Imagem Music signed a multi-year publishing administration deal for Steve Miller’s Sailor Music and Silk Stocking Music, which includes such classic Miller songs as Fly Like An Eagle, Jet Airliner, The Joker, Abracadabra and Space Cowboy. The deal is a global arrangement, excluding North America. Miller, who has sold 60 million albums worldwide, will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year.
Russell Watson now at FOD Records
British classical music singer Russell Watson, the only act to top the Classical Charts in the UK and US simultaneously, has signed with Toronto-based FOD (Field Of Dreams) Records.
Watson, whose The Voice and Encore have sold about 750,000 units each in Britain, will record his next record at Ennio Moricone’s Forum Music Village Studios with producer Bob Rose (Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Julian Lennon). The album will feature Blondie bassist Nigel Harrison, Portishead drummer Clive Deamer, keyboardist Mikey Rowe (Oasis, High Flying Birds), guitarist Dani Robinson (The Jimi Hendrix Foundation) and pianist Gregory Darling.
ANZ sponsors Twilight at Taronga concert series
ANZ Bank signed on as presenting partner for the Twilight at Taronga concert series as the Sydney zoo celebrates its centenary year. It draws 1.5 million viewers a year.
According to organisers, “In what is fast becoming the most successful season in the series’ 21-year history, more than half of the Twilight at Taronga presented by ANZ performances have already sold out, with remaining tickets to Courtney Barnett, Far From Folsom featuring Tex Perkins and James Morrison Big Band in such hot demand that several more Twilight concerts are set to sell out in advance.”
All proceeds from Twilight at Taronga series go toward the Taronga Conservation Society Australia – a not for profit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation, scientific research and environmental sustainability.
Human Nature extends Las Vegas stay
Human Nature first went to Las Vegas six years ago, expecting to stay for 12 months. Now they have extended their three-year deal with The Venetian for a further three. They’ve abandoned their Motown-themed show and will on March unveil a new show called Jukebox at The Venetian’s 740-seat Sands Showroom.
It is based on their Australian album of the same name from 2014 (and to be released shortly in America), which include songs from The Beatles, Steve Winwood, The Beach Boys, Taylor Swift, Boyz II Men and the Bee Gees.
BMG acquires legendary rock and roll classics
BMG has, by acquiring the publishing arm of the legendary Chess Records, has acquired the rights to classic songs as Johnny B. Goode, Surfin’ USA, Roll Over Beethoven, See You Later Alligator, Mannish Boy, Road Runner, I’m A Man, Susie-Q, At The Hop and Smokestack Lighting. The ARC catalogue was previously owned by Fuji Music and administered by BMG since 2010. BMG plans to buy more early rock catalogues. It already owns the catalogues of Willie Dixon, Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly.
Aussie Sound Of Music yodels charity partner
The Australian production of The Sound Of Music has made the Cancer Council its official charity partner. Bucket collections and proceeds from final dress rehearsal performances will go towards the Cancer Council’s work in cancer support, research, advocacy and prevention.
The Sound of Music is playing at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre until February 28, then travels to Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre from March 11, Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from May 13 and the Festival Theatre Adelaide from August 9.
Tasting Josh Pyke
Josh Pyke’s new beer The Summer, based on an original homebrew recipe and named after the song, was launched in Sydney at collaborating brewer Young Henry’s Newtown plant. Pyke played live and the fermentation tanks were overflowing. “It tastes as good as Josh sounds!” was the pervading review.
Resonate Broadcasting repped by SCA
While Resonate Broadcasting’s new eight regional states in Queensland gives it a near 40% reach in seven regional markets, Southern Cross Austereo regional sales is now providing sales services for the 12 Resonate stations. These are 4GC and HOT 95.9 Charters Towers, 4LG and West FM Longreach, 4LM Mt Isa, 4HI and 4EM Emerald, 4SB Kingaroy, 4DB Dalby, St, George/Goondiwindi and Roma, 4ZR Roma, 4VL and West FM Charleville.
SCA’s Head of Regional Media, Rick Lenarcic, said the Resonate tie-up “(takes) our full sales portfolio to 122 stations, making it easier for clients and their businesses to better access well established radio communities and consumers in these regions.”
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