New Signings & Team-Ups: June 21

DESTRENDS KNOW RIOT FROM WRONG

Golden Robot Records’ sub-label Riot Records – set up after the Sydney-based label expanded into Europe and the US, has signed its second act, after electro-rock She Shinjuku.

Melbourne trio Destrends, inspired by late ‘70s and goth and with a theatrical live show, formed in 2014 and have been around the country a number of times already.

They’re made up of a rhythm section of brothers Matt and Nathan Savage (vocals/bass and drums respectively) and guitarist Billy Watts, son of the late Cosmic Psychos axeman Robbie ‘Rocket’ Watts.

Golden Robot chief, Mark Alexander-Erber says, “I’ve had my eye on Destrends for a while and love them” but admits they have a vibe that’s different to GRR acts.

“So we created Riot Records (which) will take care of those bands and have a dedicated team working it while still using the might of Golden Robot’s distribution, PR and marketing networks across the globe.”

Said Destrends, who’ve finished work on their debut album due 2018, “We’re so stoked to be joining the family at Riot Records!

“It’s refreshing to find a label that’s forward-thinking, artist-friendly, and involved in all aspects of the music-making process. Full steam ahead.”

GOOCH PALMS SWAYING AT RATBAG

Newcastle duo The Gooch Palms took to social media to announce that they’ve now hitched their star to Dune Rats’ Ratbag Records.

Their new single ‘Busy Bleeding’ featuring Kelly Jansch, guitarist and singer with label mates Wollongong trio TOTTY, comes just as the Palms join The Bennies for their Natural Born Chillers tour.

JAY-Z CREATIVE CONSULTANT FOR PUMA BASKETBALL

As Puma becomes involved in basketball again, it’s brought in JAY-Z will be joining as a creative consultant.

Puma has been working with JAY-Z’s Roc Nation on other projects for years.

Its return to the game sees Puma applying the art of music and fashion to the game, which is where JAY-Z comes in.

COLIN LILLIE SIGNS TO HARBOUR AGENCY 

Award-winning Northern Territory singer-songwriter Colin Lillie has assigned his booking to Sydney-based Harbour Agency. He’s managed by Brisbane-based Footstomp Music and Kadence Group.

Heading to the east to work on his second album with producer Jamie Trevaskis (Robert Forster/The Gin Club), Lillie is doing two Brisbane shows – the Triffids’ Americana sessions (June 23) and the Teneriffe Festival (July 7).

Lillie got a higher profile this year when he appeared on Nine’s The Voice and tapped by Boy George but missed out on the finals.

NEW CHAPTER FOR LITTLE UGLY GIRLS

It’s taken them 20 years, but ‘90s Tasmanian riot grrls Little Ugly Girls have finally released a record.

Centred around high-kicking vocalist Linda Johnston and guitarist brother Dannie “Bean” Johnston, they moved to Melbourne in the ‘90s.

Tracks from that era were left stranded on a damaged hard drive while the siblings went on to form The Dacios and The Bulls, often with LUG bassist Mindy Mapp.

Little Ugly Girls features the distantly recorded tracks with some newer cuts, bringing in Mapp and drummer Brent “Sloth” Punshon.

FLEET FOXES DONATE SONG FOR AUSSIE WILDLIFE

A campaign by the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife to buy 229 hectares of available land on the edge of the beautiful Woomargama National Park has been given a boost.

Fleet Foxes have donated their song ‘Your Protector’ from their 2008 debut self-titled album royalty-free, as has their publishing company, Kobalt.

They also green-lit Sydney band Lines of Flight to cover the song for the campaign’s video.

The FNPW campaign is trying to raise $229,000 by getting the public to be “park protectors” with donations of $100 upwards, so far $141,353 has been raised.

Woomargama National Park, three hours south-west of Canberra, is home to 25 endangered or vulnerable animal species.

These include koalas not sighted for 30 years, the Eastern Pygmy-possum, squirrel glider, the Greater Longeared bat, Southern Bell frog, Regent honeyeater, Superb parrot and the Gang-gang cockatoo.

FUNDRAISING CONCERT FOR SOUND LIFE

An international name is to be announced to headline a fundraising concert for A Sound Life, a charity which transforms lives through the power of music (and songwriting sessions), yoga and meditation for people facing hardship in hospitals, aged care, refugees, mental health and disability facilities

The lineup will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

A Sound Life has been given a permanent home in the n 18-metre diameter geodesic structure known as The Dome, with plans to move into the 300-capacity office later in the year.

TEG ANNOUNCES ESPORTSPARTNERS

Tour promoter and event company TEG has so far struck commercial multi-year partnerships for the inaugural Melbourne Esports Open (Melbourne Park, September 1 & 2) with video games publisher Riot Games and electronics and music retailer JB Hi-Fi.

CLASSICAL DASH

British classical performer Katherine Jenkins has extended her deal with Decca Records.

Together, they have established Jenkins as best selling classical artist in the past 25 years, and seen her land twelve #1 albums in 12 years.

$10M EXTRA FUNDING FOR MADE IN NSW

The NSW government has pumped an extra $10 million into the Made In NSW program, which was set up in 2016 to attract movies and TV series production to the state.

It has been responsible for 12 international productions and 21 Australian television productions.

They include Peter Rabbit (now set for a sequel), Pacific Rim Uprising, Alien: Covenant, Spider-Man: Homecoming post-production and Mandarin-language miniseries Chosen.

ABORIGINAL WORKSHOPS IN CAMPBELLTOWN

APRA AMCOS, along with Create NSW, is inviting Aboriginal musicians to a free two-day Starting Ground workshop at Campbelltown Arts Centre in Sydney.

Held June 27 and 28, it covers songwriting, music production, artist management, touring and performing, marketing and promotion.

Mentors include Microwave Jenny, Radical Son, publisher/manager Rob Scott of Source Music, and Belles Will Ring frontman and producer/engineer Liam Judson.

The sessions are facilitated by APRA AMCOS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander national rep Michael Hutchings.

PHARRELL WLLIAMS TO CELEBRATE END OF SLAVERY

Pharrell Williams teams with Black-ish creator Kenya Barris for a musical about Juneteenth.

Juneteenth is the holiday honouring the final day of slavery in the United States.

The plot will deal with families in modern times and in the Civil War era.

“I dream about projects like this,” Williams said. “Juneteenth will change culture and change history.”

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AT DARWIN FESTIVAL

Darwin Festival (August) will launch a new skills development program called Front Row for NT’s early and mid-career artists, arts workers and writers who are looking to develop their creative, social and professional skills.

During the festival, selected participants will attend shows, contribute to critical conversations and take part in workshops with festival artists. Through the program, participants will expand their networks, increase their knowledge of the Australian arts landscape and develop their critical thinking skills.

MASTERCARD, ROADSHOW PARTNER

A new deal between Mastercard and Village Roadshow will see new exclusive experiences for card users across Village Entertainment theme parks, cinemas and entertainment properties.

SBS COMMITTED TO GREATER DIVERSITY

SBS teamed with five screen agencies— including Film Victoria, Create NSW, Screen Queensland, Screenwest and South Australian Film Corporation – to set up the Short-Form Content Initiative to increase the career development opportunities within diverse and underrepresented groups, including those from multicultural, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island and LGBTIQ+ communities.