Have you heard of the AMP?

One of Australia’s most prestigious (and virtually unknown) music awards is the Australian Music Prize – where an Aussie band or individual’s album has attracted the attention of some Australian music’s most knowledgable and experienced performers, promoters and professionals alike. The AMP gives the winning artist(s) a $30 000 cash grant, as well as $30 000 worth of publicity, and a whole lot more coverage and opportunity. Previous winners include my personal favourites the Drones, the Mess Hall, Augie March and most recently, Eddy Currant Suppression Ring.

The 2009 AMP shortlist was announced in February, and by golly there are some great artists. It’s going to be an interesting outcome:

‘Privileged Woes’ by Oh Mercy
‘As Day Follows Night’ by Sarah Blasko
‘Kid Sam LP’ by Kid Sam
‘Black Across The Field’ by Lucie Thorne
‘Secrets And Lies’ by Bertie Blackman
‘For The Birds’ by The Mess Hall
‘Spitshine’ by Urthboy
‘Call Signs’ by Black Cab
‘Wonder’ by Lisa Mitchell

Stay tuned for more details about the winners coming up in the next couple of weeks….

photos courtesy of AMP

WIN Ok Go tickets!

Youtube sensation (and worldwide music rock hit) Ok Go are hitting our shores next week! Excited?! We sure are.

To celebrate News Unlimited have a double pass to give away to their Hifi Brisbane gig next Wednesday 17th Feb, courtesy of Chugg entertainment. The US rockers will be supported by Brisbane’s love-children Hungry Kids of Hungary as well – talk about a great gig!

To enter the competition, just send us through a link to the best thing you’ve seen on YouTube (not inclusive of Ok Go video clips; that’s cheating, guys!). Send your entries to kate@newsunlimited.com.au – we look forward to seeing your entries!

Check out their new single WTF? here!

Doesn’t matter if you LOL or ROFL, Brisbane Comedy Festival has it all

Josh Thomas will be performing at the second Brisbane Comedy Festival

Brisbane Powerhouse will host the Brisbane Comedy Festival again from February 23, 2010 delivering to locals the best and brightest talent on the comedy circuit. 

Some of Australia’s top comedians including Adam Hills, Wil Anderson, Frank Woodley, Peter Hellier and Josh Thomas will be joined by international jesters Des Bishop and David O’Doherty – just to name a few!

The sides of the Powerhouse will be splitting with Hannah Gadsby, Tom Ballard, Felicity Ward and Melinda Buttle also lining up to provide comedic relief.

For those penny-pinchers Brisbane Powerhouse has brought back their ‘Cheap Arse Tuesdays’ with fantastic deals on tickets.

Tickets are available through the Box Office on 07 3358 8600 or online at www.brisbanepowerhouse.org

Get planning. The Brisbane Comedy Festival runs from Tuesday February 23 – Sunday 21 March, 2010.

Want to be a part of the laughs?

Brisbane Powerhouse is looking for volunteers for their 2^nd annual Brisbane Comedy Festival. If you want to be a part of Brisbane’s funniest, friendliest and most outrageous festival then email comedy@brisbanepowerhouse.org to let the team know you’d like to volunteer and include a little about yourself along with your availability between 23 February – 21 March 2010.

Volunteers will be required to do three shifts, which only last three hours and will be able to friendly assist patrons with directions and program information.

For more information visit http://www.briscomfest.com/becomeavolunteer

Booklovers bag a bargain at Bookfest

It is estimated over 150,000 Brisbane book lovers flocked to the Convention Centre at the weekend searching through over 2million books on 4km of tables to snap up a bargain.

The Lifeline Bookfest is held in Brisbane twice a year and the January 2010 Bookfest marks its 24^th year raising funds to assist Lifeline in delivering programs and support to the local community.

It was expected sales from the opening weekend had raised a total of $700,000 and Bookfest coordinators were confident of reaching their goal of raising $1.5million by the time doors close on January 24.

“The success of the Bookfest events manage to blow me away every year. We exceeded our budget last year and made almost 17 per cent more than the 2008 events,” Bookfest Coordinator Mr Roy Firth said.

“The Lifeline Bookfest is a win-win event for Brisbane – there are bargains to be found for everyone, the money raised goes back into the community, and the event itself creates a community.”

The event, however, would not be as successful without the support of the 600 volunteers it takes to run the 9-day event.

First time volunteer Ms Sara Griffin said she had been a long time visitor to the Lifeline Bookfest and always looked forward to the event for cheap and quality books.

“It is great to be experiencing Bookfest from the other side of the fence this year,” she said. “I believe in the work that Lifeline do in the community and hope they reach their fundraising goal this year.”

The January 2010 Bookfest runs daily (8:30am-5pm weekdays and 8:30am-8pm weekends) until January 24 at the Brisbane Convention Centre, South Brisbane For more information log on to www.lifelinebookfest.com

Movies: Up in the Air

Director Jason Reitman is interested in the idea of likeable male protagonists who are cheerfully committed to their amoral jobs. In Up in the Air, our amoral protagonist is Ryan Bingham, played (of course) by George Clooney, who spends his life on aeroplanes and in hotels, touching down briefly in anonymous offices to fire poor saps whose spineless bosses don’t want to get their hands dirty.

It’s a life Bingham loves so much he rhapsodises at motivational talks about living with an “empty backpack” – without the tiresome anchors of work and family. His only goals are accumulating loyalty points as he travels and the occasional fling – a role which Alex (Vera Farmiga) is happy to play.

Up in the Air, as you would expect, is contemporary, thoughtful, and cleverly written. It’s a movie with a lot on its mind: how do we exist in a society that is so atomised and casual, where our main loyalty is to brands and jobs but not to people, where we struggle so often to make connections with those around us?

At one point in the film, Bingham confidently asserts “I’m surrounded by people”, and it is this line that is at the heart of the film – whether we trivialise them, uphold them or ignore them, our relations with others are what give our lives meaning. The recently unemployed, portrayed in some cases by the actual victims of the US’s still rising tide of joblessness, reiterate a common theme that family is what is motivating them to do better, to realise their dreams.

But as the film makes clear, loved ones can fail us too. Other characters besides Ryan pay considerably more attention to their relationships, with mixed results; we see shaky and failed home lives despite the best of intentions. The characters’ lives are indeed up in the air, but we never really grasp something that helpfully resolves the uncertainty.

Up in The Air is like a late night philosophy conversation in the pub. It’s great fun, but you end up with some astute observations on the meaning of life that you can’t really work out what to do with.

The casting is pitch-perfect. George Clooney is as dry as always, and it’s great to see that as a young ambitious understudy Natalie (Anna Kendrick) receives credit and praise from the film on her own terms without having to knuckle under to the older male’s way of doing things, compared to the situation in say, State of Play. The next step will be to have a woman protagonist in Clooney’s role, without making it a “women’s movie”.

And Jason Bateman’s beard effectively hides the haplessness that we saw in Arrested Development to create Ryan Bingham’s disagreeable boss.

Whether you envy or despise Ryan Bingham, it’s clear that Up in the Air is one of those films that people will look back on as bringing out the spirit of our times. Go see it, and if you can find a “moral of the story”, be sure to let me know.

Up in the Air is in cinemas now.

Painting the town Red

Red: A Choose your own Adventure Musical – The Cement Box Theatre – Saturday 5^th September

The ingredients for a good night out are numerous and varied, but ultimately always include the following: Good music, interesting people, and laughs.  Thankfully all three are supplied by the cast and crew of Underground Productions latest offering.  Musical misfits unite as the Brothers Grimm classic Little Red Riding Hood is given a modern and adult twist.

In the grand and increasingly popular tradition of fractured fairytales the scene is set by a vaudevillian inspired Narrator.  His classic one-liners are delivered with a smile that augurs mischief to come as he’s joined on stage by the Prologue Girls for a witty musical number.

Indeed all the music and dialogue portrays an eclectic mix of satirical, adult witticism and references to popular culture.  Composer Joshua Adams came up with the theme tune ‘We’re off to Grandma’s House’ whilst twinkling the ivories garbed in fishnets.

Henceforth it’s no wonder the production pays homage to the Rocky Horror Picture Show, particularly through the character of The Wolf.  Although the notion of a cross-dressing wolf isn’t new, Josh Pearcy certainly imbued the character with idiosyncratic elements that made it his own.

Julianne Clinch was charming as the 21^st century Little Red, whose performance was reminiscent of a young Judy Garland.  We first meet the heroine of the tale whilst listening to her iPod and being scolded by Ma Red, thus establishing the petulant basis for her quest to Grandma’s house.  Upon the way she is met by a gaggle of characters dependent on the audiences choosing.

Audience participation is what sets this production aside from other adult variations of fairytales.  Although democracy reigns supreme and I was unfortunately denied the chance to witness the Prince slay the Wolf using nothing but his wit, the version I was able to witness was in no way disappointing.  Far from it I’m now aware of how best to brandish a pool cue in defence of a sword.

Jessamy Ross’s performance as Rap’n'Rizzle was another highlight of the production.  Her interpretation of the character seemed effortless and combined with her strong vocals; one wonders if she secretly desires a career as the female Eminem.

Not only was the audience treated to witty repartee between the stage manager and the Narrator, but a horde of pirates with one confused ninja, sensually clad whores, and original musical numbers that had your feet tapping along with the beat.  The chorus were able to seamlessly change character and present several high-energy musical routines without loss of enthusiasm.

Red is playing at the Cement Box Theatre, UQ St Lucia, Wednesday 9^th September to Saturday 12^th September 2009.  To book tickets leave a message at or text 0433809256 or email contactus@undergroundproductions.org.au.

Eskies are doin’ it for the kids.

Words and Pictures: Kate Scantleton

When planning on heading to an Eskimo Joe gig on a Saturday night at the Riverstage, I was pumped for a raucous crowd, stumbling drunks, the typical ‘indie’ kids, and general annoyances and mess. What I wasn’t expecting was a family atmosphere, picnic rugs and small children included. All ages gigs tend to have that effect.

For a show that almost sold out, there was a lack of the usual rock and roll zest. However, good golly Eskimo Joe put on an amazing show. Following up an all-star support line up of Steve Parkin and the always lovely Bob Evans, it was easily speculated that the gig was going to only get better.

Blasting their way onstage, Kav, Stu, Joel and co. blew minds with the first single off their new album Inshalla, Foreign Land. For the time that they had allocated, the band did a nice job of covering their three previous albums for the fans, playing favourites such as From the Sea, Black Fingernails Red Wine, Sydney Song, Pressure, and Wake Up, as well as give a thorough taste of their recent release – they did the ultimate task as crowd pleasers.

The boys have grown over the years, although their stage presence still shows their true personalities. With some style changes, such as Kav’s vest (as seen in all photo shoots and video clips of recent months) and the general incidence of black skinny jeans, the boys are still local Aussie boys who share the same love of music they did when they were first kickin’ around.

In saying this, though, there is a noticeable difference in sound and effects from the Eskie’s debut record Girl to Inshalla. It can be seen that the new album has been formulated to appeal to mass-markets and reach heights in the pop market, which works quite well seeing the band at such a large live show. The ticket sales reflect how well this is working, and it is inevitable for any slightly mainstream act wanting to make it large. This becomes ever more apparent with the presence of backing screens, huge lightshow, and the addition of a studio drummer and keyboard/guitarist. My only question is: Who sold Eskimo Joe out?

To be completely honest, their gig tonight was an absolute blast, and it is great to see that these guys are making a buck for their musical talents. The only thing keeping me awake in a cold sweat at night is the fact that it’s just a waiting game until one of songs from this album will be covered on Australian Idol, and that’s a downright shame.

A bit tipsy, and topsy-turvy

Sitting at a wooden table with mismatched chairs, drinking cups of tea, they plotted out what would occur if three relatively unintelligent guys were trapped on an island and weren’t too concerned about finding a way off. Tummy muscle cramps and a scribbled down masterpiece resulted (the original work unfortunately now misplaced), marking the birth of ‘Some Like It Coconut’.

Co-Writers/Directors Amy-Clare McCarthy, 20, and Micheal Doonan, 21, are the proud parents of this traditionally-structured play, which although sounds like a boring description, is one of the key drawcards in its appeal.

“It’s a light-hearted comedy and we really think it’s something that will appeal to student audiences. Because a lot of the time Vena Cava put on contemporary, post-modern performances that kind of miss the mark of what students want to see,” Amy-Clare says.

She says younger audiences usually go to the theatre to have a few drinks, see their friends perform, and generally have a good time. But for those not studying theatre genres, the regular Vena Cava productions can sweep right over heads. “They don’t understand it and fair enough,” Michael says.

‘Some Like It Coconut’ revolves around a 15 day brain-zapping entrapment of three Australian males shipwrecked on an island. The blokes are Eric, who fancies himself leader, but spends the majority of his time antagonising the others; Fiddle, who means well with his cracks at survival ideas, but always seems to end up two steps backwards and poisoning his companions (played by Micheal); and Al, who can’t remember his sexuality after hitting his head a bit hard in the wreckage. There’s also Jenna, who appears in all three’s dreams… of course, in the naked sense.

“It’s a little bit risqué in its humour,” Micheal says. “If you were watching it with your parents you might be a little embarrassed. It’s kind of like watching American Pie when you were 13, that sort of feeling.” But without mummy-and-daddy-dearest sitting by your side, the conventional sex-driven, alcohol-fuelled youth will cackle and cry at the hilarity of the work, as well as the intertextual references drawn from lyrics and films.

The final year Bachelor of Creative Industries (Drama) students say they’re really happy with the strength of the cast – all second year students in the same degree – and they plan to continue developing ‘Some Like It Coconut’ as well as working on other projects together in the future. “I have faith in it, but if for some reason it just bombs crazy then that’s something I can take away from this and adapt it,” Micheal says. “We both want to work this and other projects further.”

“We’ve worked out quite a nice dynamic and everyone comments we’re a great team,” Amy-Clare says. “People say we look good together in photos.”

And on that note… Fade out.

‘Some Like It Coconut’ is playing at the Woodward Theatre at QUT Kelvin Grove from Wednesday 29th July as part of Fresh Blood 2009, run by Vena Cava Productions. Check out facebook for more details.

Price hike doesn’t deter punters

Words: Alex Fynes-Clinton

Tickets to Byron Bay’s Splendour in the Grass 2009 music festival sold out in record time despite a 25 per cent price increase.

Ticket prices swelled to $249 despite the economic recession, up $50 on last year’s cost.

The price hike appeared not to put off eager punters, who snapped up 17,500 tickets in 75 minutes to secure their place at the two-day festival.

Eighteen-year-old local Sally Edwards, a devoted attendee of the festival since age 12, has hit out at the inflated prices. She believes the culture of the festival is being lost amid public and media hype.

“The line-up just isn’t worth what the organisers are asking, especially with the vast majority of acts having already played the festival previously,” she says.

“I remember paying around $50 for my first Splendour ticket in 2003 and it’s just got bigger and bigger since.”

Second year Splendour ticket holder Laura Noonan says she felt the increased ticket price was justified.

“There’s no doubt the price is very steep, especially when compared to last year,” she says.

“But the culture and bands playing the festival make it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

The Flaming Lips, Bloc Party, Jane’s Addiction and MGMT will headline this year’s Splendour in the Grass.

The festival will take place at Belongil Fields in Byron Bay on July 25 and 26.

Glorious Grass Times

Did you get a ticket? Splendour in the Grass 2009 tickets went on sale at 9am this morning and sold out in 1 hour and 15 minutes. Those lucky enough to log in early skipped the queue on qjump.com.au (despite the name there was defs a queue at 8:50am) and obviously scrapped through before the pile of festival and camping tickets fluttered into the happy inboxes of many Aussies.

SITG is on Saturday July 25th and Sunday July 26th and if you’re cut at the knees because you missed out and the thought of those dates creeping closer is all too much to bear at the moment, don’t mope for too many months because there is a second chance offering. From 9am on June 15th the Splendour-goers-who-slowed-down-our-connectivity-trying-to-get-in-and-now-can’t-make-it’s tickets go on re-sale! Head to www.splendourinthegrass.com/faqs for more info.

Side shows for Flaming Lips, Gutter Twins and White Lies go on sale between now and the end of May, so if you want to double up or not miss out on the Splendour bands’ goodness, get in quick. More sides yet to be announced.

Also stay tuned to News Unlimited’s Splendour coverage for the final line-up to be announced in a few weeks.

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