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Tago Mago announces fundraising show for soundproofing – Saturday 2nd August

Opened in 2010 by two local self-confessed ‘music nerds’, Calvin Hillis and Peter Malbourne, as an answer to the ‘black hole’ of live music in the area, Tago Mago has been at the forefront of the rejuvenation of the upper end of High St in Thornbury and has developed into an important local live music and arts hub, garnering the support of many Australian musical legends.

 

“Tago Mago has been an excellent backdrop and environment for artists, musicians, performers and audiences alike for almost four years. Their agenda is to simply have an arts and music venue where artists and musicians would not just perform, but also want to hang out at in their spare time. This has become the case for me. Melbourne cannot afford to lose yet another music venue, let alone one as sympathetic to creative process and eclectic tastes as Tago Mago are. This is a venue well worth supporting.” 
– Spencer P Jones

In 2013, Tago Mago received a noise complaint from a new resident who lived over 50 metres from the venue. Although acoustic reports indicated Tago Mago, which is on a main arterial road and in a major commercial district in the area, was not significantly contributing to environmental noise in the area, owners Calvin and Peter made significant investments to ensure the environment around the venue was not affected by the venue. These measures seemed to alleviate the complaints for 18 months.

 

Several weeks ago, one further complaint was received, and strangely a notice to quit on the 8 year lease on the building that they have invested well over $400,000 in in the last 3 years, highlighting the noise complaints as the reason.

For a small, local music venue in an area dearth of live music and arts venues, the financial burden of continual acoustical testing and improvements, solicitor fees and structural improvements weighs heavy on a break-even business that was started purely to provide the local area with a much needed social and artistic hub.

 

Local level venues of this size are becoming a rarity in modern Melbourne. Swallowed up by concrete apartment blocks and commercial interests that seems to be the priority for state and local governments. The owners of Tago Mago are at a financial dead end if they wish to continue supporting live and local arts and music. Council support has been non-existent.

 

The venue requires $23,000 in acoustical improvements to keep the venue operating compliantly.

 

Band booker Harley McLeod states, “We’re in a position where the only support we get for continuing to operate as a venue supporting local music and arts is from patrons, local artists and bodies such as Music Victoria and SLAM. Sadly, when faced with situations such as these, in today’s climate of laws designed with property development placed well and truly above the wellbeing of the community that is not simply enough. We were extremely hesitant to ask for the financial support of the wider community to continue to operate, but it has become a choice between a crowd-funding campaign and shutting up shop, and we refuse to let the local Thornbury area regress back into an artistic black hole. The residents of the area need to have a local venue putting these things on.”

 

Music Victoria CEO, Patrick Donovan, said “Victoria owes so much to our small venues – described by Paul Kelly as musician’s universities – and its operators, who run on passion and small margins. They are the heart and soul of our music scene and for too long the odds have been stacked in favour of the residents and developers. After three years of advocacy work through the live music roundtable, we are hoping the government will redress the imbalance soon. In the meantime, we urge music fans to get behind Tago Mago’s funding campaign to help secure the future of one of the north’s great venues.”

 

On Saturday 2nd August, Tago Mago will be having a fundraising show to help pay for these soundproofing improvements, with a bill that includes over ten of Melbourne’s finest musical acts donating their time to keep this venue open and supporting live music and arts.  T-shirts will also be available for sale on the day.

Tago Mago Fundraiser
Saturday 2nd August 2014

Featuring:

Spencer P Jones & Escape Committee

Sons of Lee Marvin

Submarines

Fiona Lee Maynard and her Holy Men

The Annie Crooners

Suzie Stapleton

Tex Napalm and Gary Gray

Brian Hooper

Skyscraper Stan

Tom Dockray

Plus more to be announced

Tickets $20 on the door
Doors open 12.00pm

Photo: Brian Hooper by Liz Reed

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Ray Danes debuts his new single ‘Falling’ tonight, 24 July at The Grace Darling in Collingwood!

 

Ritzland Records is proud to introduce Ray Danes and present his debut single ‘Falling.’

 

A newcomer to Melbourne Music City, Ray launches ‘Falling’ on Thursday 24th July at The Grace Darling, 114 Smith Street, Collingwood.  Doors open at 7.30 and tickets are $5 on the door or available online at www.trybooking.com/93497.

 

Having just relocated from the local Cairns and Townsville music scene with his self-penned songs – mostly relating to relationships and female troubles from his first self produced EP “The Fog”, Ray has quickly found a home in the local scene, amassing a fantastic collection of players for his launch including:

 

Gareth Thomson/Drums  (Sex On Toast, Big Creature, Demian)

Phoebe Nielson/Bass (Ella Hooper, Sean Kirkwood, The Staffords)

Rachael Kim/Electric Violin (Bombay Royale, Grand Salvo, Sunwrae Ensemble)

Tamil Rogeon/Electric Viola (True Live, The RAah Project)

and Chris Pettifer/Guitar (Screen Composer / Guitarist ‘The Secret Life Of Us’)

 

Rays says most of his songs “are about someone else who is in a situation.  ‘Falling’  is kind of a stalker song.  i knew this nerd kid who couldn’t get a girlfriend, He wrote letters to the beautiful girl and he just followed her around, wishing she’d fall in love with him.  He’s just a sad lonely guy, probably not a shooter, even though the object of his affections might not know that.  Stalkers –  they walk amongst us – hopefully we meet the gentle ones if we have to meet any of them at all.”

 

The son of a singer and piano player, Ray inherited his mother’s ear for a tune and is a natural performer with a gift for narrative.  Though i’ts early days in his career, Ray was spotted by Ritzland Records, who promptly offered to put his music out to a wider audience and offer him management services.  So far Ray has.supported Ash Grunwald  and won a slot at The Tablelands Folk Festival where he recorded a “Van Jam” film clip.

 

In his spare time lately Ray enjoys his unique status as a ginger (only 2% of the world’s population are natural redheads), Judo and listening to Ben Howard, although he makes a sound all his own.

 

Ray Danes launches ‘Falling’ on Thursday 24th July at The Grace Darling, 114 Smith Street, Collingwood.

Follow Ray at https://www.facebook.com/RayDanesMusic

 

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FULL WEEKEND OF GIGS FOR SIDESHOW BRIDES @LEAPS AND BOUNDS MUSIC FESTIVAL! #lbmf

The Sideshow Brides will be playing a full weekend of shows as part of the City of Yarra Leaps and Bounds Music Festival 18-20th July. 
 
Friday night kicks off at the lush Some Velvet Morning with a stripped back acoustic trio show.
Friday 18th July 8pm / Free Entry
123 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill
 
This intimate acoustic event will be followed by a full on blazing country rocking band mode performance at The Yarra Hotel.
Saturday 19th July 8:30pm / Free Entry
295 Johnston St, Abbotsford
 
The Sideshow Brides are sisters Layla and Rhianna Fibbins who craft a unique blend of country/rootsy/folk with haunting harmonies and captivating melodies…
 
 
 
 
Leaps and Bounds Music Festival is proudly presented by City of Yarra, Music Victoria, Beat Magazine & PBS 106.7 FM with the support of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.sideshowbrides
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ALL AGES GIGS IN PUBS RETURN AFTER 20 YEARS! CLIENT LIAISON AND ANIMAUX AT LEAPS AND BOUNDS MUSIC FESTIVAL

 

Attention Gigsters of All Ages!
In a special afternoon event at Collingwood’s Gasometer Hotel on Sunday July 6, Client Liaison and Animaux take to the stage for the first all ages gig in a Victorian pub for over 20 years.
 
From July 1, amendments to the regulations of Victoria’s Liquor Control Reform Act means that our renowned live music venues can now host all ages-gigs by simply notifying the Victorian Commission of Gaming and Liquor Regulation a week before the show. 
 
There are no fees and no application process, making it much easier for venues to host shows for young people, opening up opportunities for young musicians and audience members alike. Bar staff will just lock away the alcohol for the event. 
 
Previously, some under 18-only shows could be held in licensed venues under limiting circumstances, after licensees paid a fee and went through a long application period.
 
This reform brings Victoria into line with other states, and comes after two years of work by the music community, led by Music Victoria and the Push, on the Victorian government’s Live Music Roundtable.
 
Patrick Donovan – Music Victoria

‘’So many people now playing or working in the music industry first got the bug seeing an all ages show in the 80s and 90s, so Music Victoria is thrilled that today’s generation of youngsters will be afforded the same opportunities. It makes sense that young people can experience the joys – and responsibilities – of a live music experience with the support of older siblings and parents in a safe, supervised environment.
 
Peter Chellew – The Push

“Victoria has oodles of young musical talent and our youth music scenes are thriving. But young people needed access to safe venues and equipment to play and share music. I’m sure we are going to see an explosion of great new music, creativity and young enterprise coming out of our amazing live music venues.”
 

Come and celebrate with Client Liaison and Animaux  

Sunday 6th July from 2.30 to 6pm

 
At the Gasometer Hotel, 484 Smith Street, Collingwood (on the corner of Alexander Parade) 

Bring your brothers and sisters and your mums and dads!

 
Tickets $10+ booking fee through Oztix, or at the door.
 
Supported by Leaps and Bounds Festival, Music Victoria, The Push, City of Yarra, Beat and PBS.
 
Find the best live music venues, record stores, gigs and festivals near you with Music Victoria’s free Melbourne Music City app.
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Sex On Toast – ‘the Tonay Tour’ is coming to a venue near you! #SexyToasty

Since the release of their debut album of synth-funk, soul, slow-jams and hard-rockin’ shuffles and subsequent sell-out launches in both Melbourne and Sydney, Sex on Toast have been laying low in Melbourne and doing their thang…They’d now like to proudly announce ‘the Tonay Tour’ – another sexual exploration up the East Coast culminating in Melbourne with two evenings at the Toff in Town.
Frontman Angus Leslie said, “A lot of people want to know…
What do we mean when we say ‘tonay’?
To us tonay is an essence… A life-force… a beautiful woman… a stank bass line… a damn good time…
Tonay.”
Catch Sex On Toast burning down the house live at the following venues:
June 8 at The Loft in Warrnambool
July 2 at The Vanguard in Sydney
July 3 at The Bunker in Coogee
July 4 at Turner Bowls in Canberra
July 5 The Toff In Town in Melbourne
July 6 The Toff In Town in Melbourne
 
See the video clip for their latest single ‘Hold My Love’ here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPjJeA7UaqE
 
SEX ON TOAST
Sex on Toast
★★★★
How to explain Sex on Toast? Is it a condiment? A dodgy carnal practice? Or one of Melbourne’s freshest bands? The answer is C. The outrageous stage antics of this sexually charged nine-piece band have been thrilling Melbourne for the past couple of years.
Incredible musicianship, raw, nipple-in-a-skivvy-stroking sexuality, party jams, ’80s synth and sax, and lead singer Angus Leslie’s enormous charisma are all part of the mix, and they regularly pack out Melbourne venues, even on Tuesdays.
Their songs are tight, their musical knowledge is incredible, and they know how to have a good time with it. Sex on Toast plunder every musical aspect of the ’80s. Leslie’s impossible falsetto meanders through the single Hold My Love, a cruisy slow jam, but they are just as astute with jazz, R&B, synth-funk sexy jams, and ’80’s yacht rock jams. 
Kate Kingsmill – Sydney Morning Herald online, Canberra Times
 
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THE MYTH BEHIND THE RIFF – MUSIC VICTORIA WORKSHOP #lbmf

 

Leaps and Bounds Music Festival and Music Victoria presents

 

The Myth Behind The Riff – metal and hardcore workshop

 

What do you need to do to take your band to the next level? Join some of the most dynamic players on the Victorian metal and hardcore scene in this not-to-be-missed information session. Topics cover everything you need to know about: getting a gig, making the right contacts, what Soundwave Festival is looking for in a local band, getting airplay, streaming, sponsorships, social media, artwork, media coverage, and touring overseas.

 

Moderator:

Stu Harvey – radio presenter, short.fast.loud

 

Speakers:

Matt Young – musician, King Parrot

Phoebe Pinnock – musician, Heaven the Axe

Chris O’Brien – General Manager, Soundwave Festival

Cael Johnston – National Events Manager, Destroy All Lines

Guy Palermo – publican, The Bendigo Hotel

 

Venue: Fitzroy Town Hall Reading Room

201 Napier St Fitzroy

Date: Wednesday 9th July 2014

Time: 6.00-7.30pm

 

Cost: Music Victoria members free, non-members $10

 

Bookings via TryBooking – trybooking.com/87936

 

Leaps and Bounds Music Festival is proudly presented by City of Yarra, Music Victoria, Beat Magazine & PBS FM with the support of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.

www.leapsandboundsmusicfestival.com

Twitter: #lbmf

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Kelly Menhennett releases ‘Small Dreams’ – a big album – through MGM / The Planet Company – 6 June

South Australian singer songwriter Kelly Menhennett is excited to present her big, beautiful new twelve-song album ‘Small Dreams’, out through MGM The Planet Company on the 6th of June and launching on the 31st of May at The Promethean, Adelaide and followed by more national tour dates in July and August.

After early days performing at a local club in South Australia where she called out meal orders between songs, Kelly left her job as a winemaker for busking in Europe and eventually found her way back to Oz, where she performed gigs small and large, including Woodford Folk Festival.  She went on to win the national 2011/12 “Telstra Road To Discovery Songwriter” award and performed at the 2012 Americana Music Festival in Nashville.

The resulting album, ‘Small Dreams’ was recorded at Mr Lemons Studio, Nashville, by producer, Neilson Hubbard (Mathew Ryan, Kim Richey, Mathew Perryman Jones) with an all-star Nashville band featuring Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket on electric guitar, Michael Rinne on bass, Evan Hutchings on drums, Kris Donegan on electric guitar and lap slide, Dan Mitchell on the keyboard and flugelhorn, Eamon McLoughlin playing the violin and David Henry on cello.

Kelly said, ‘Small Dreams’ was recorded live in the studio over 3 days and most songs were recorded within 2 or 3 takes but some songs such as ‘Small Dreams’ were recorded in one take, which is pretty impressive considering that these musicians had only been introduced to the songs 20 minutes prior!  I just gave them the charts, played it to them, we discussed it and then we went to our positions to give it a go. It was a terrific experience.”
 
Kelly’s critically aclaimed debut album ‘World Of Mine’ quickly established a devoted audience and found critical acceptance. The songs on the album were all self-penned, including ‘Spanish Harlot,’ which was lifted from the album and used on the ‘Sounds Like Cafe’ compilation album.  ‘World Of Mine’ was named one of the top 10 albums for 2011 by Rhythms magazine’s Sue Barrett. Kelly’s songwriting and performance skills  also won multiple SCALA (Songwriters, Composers And Lyricists Association) awards, in 2010 alone taking out 4 awards.
 
Over the past 4 years Kelly has discovered her love of co-writing, especially, she says, ” …working with artists I admire.”  Of the 12 songs on the album, ten are co-writes with fellow artists including the title track, which was a co-write with Charles Jenkins.  Felicity Urquhart, Sarah Humphreys, Neilson Hubbard, Harry Hookey, Kevin Bennett and Kim Richey also contributed to songs throughout the album and Richey shines on background vocals on her contribution to the album, the lovely, wistful “Fly Away”.  
 
Four years, two trips to Nashville, inestimable work hours and a fair few bottles of red wine later, Kelly is finally ready to launch her big new album ‘Small Dreams’.

You can catch Kelly launching at these upcoming shows:

 

Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide, SA
Sunday June 29th.
Tickets $10 at the door.
 
Banrock Station Wine & Wetland Centre, Kingston-On-Murray, SA
Friday July 4th
Contact Banrock Station on (08) 8583 0299
House Concert, Byron Bay, NSW
Thursday 10th July
The Treehouse, Byron Bay, NSW
Friday 11h July
The Clarendon, Katoomba, NSW – with Felicity Urquhart
Sunday 13th July
Tickets $20, http://www.clarendonguesthouse.com.au/whats_on.html
The Vanguard, Sydney, NSW – with Sarah Humphreys
Tuesday 15th July
Tickets $15/$20, http://www.thevanguard.com.au/shows/2014/07/15/kelly-menhennett/12241
The Front, Canberra, ACT – with Alice Cottee
Wednesday 16th July
Tickets $10 at the door.
The Pizza & Wine Club, Kyneton, VIC
Northcote Social Club, Northcote, VIC – with Monique Brumby
Saturday 19th July
http://northcotesocialclub.com/
Darwin Railway Club, Darwin, NT
Sunday 20th July
Visit Kelly at www.kellymenhennett.com/ or on facebook at www.facebook.com/kmenhennett
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MELBOURNE BODY ART XPO 2014

mbaxBody Art aficionados rejoice! The annual non-profit MBAX Melbourne Body Art Xpo is back for their 6th huge year in 2014 with the theme “Out of the Ashes.”

Artists are invited to share their creative visions by painting whatever associations they make within the “Out Of The Ashes” theme onto human canvases.

It’s free to watch the artists work during the day time and sponsor stalls will also be open for business.

Competitors will have a maximum of six hours to paint their models and this year’s categories include airbrush, brush and sponge, special effects and a novice and fluorescent section.

Medals and certificates are presented for all artists and trophies for victorious participants as well as special prizes for best model performance.

Like other grass roots forms of creative expression such as cosplay, body modification, tattoo art and street art, body art is at the cutting edge of the cultural revolution that has come from our people, from our cities and from our sensibility of the world today.

And yet, its roots are ancient. Indigenous people the world over have been decorating their bodies in ritual and celebration since before recorded history.

Founder and director Ria Clauss started the inaugural showcase in Melbourne at “The Spot” in Brunswick in April 2009.

After such an amazing response to the first competition, in subsequent years

it was held at the Carlton Brewhouse in Abbotsford. This year the event has morphed into the Melbourne Body Art Xpo, hosted by the underground venue Revolt in Kensington.

“I’ve changed it to an expo because it’s become so huge and we’ll be having terrific local live music this year, so we want people to be able to move around a bit, dance, socialise.” Ria says.

Applications are now open for both performers and artists through the website or by emailing ria.clauss@bigpond.com

The 2014 Melbourne Body Art Xpo

Saturday 16th August at Revolt, 12 Elizabeth Street, Kensington, from 10am to midnight.

Tickets for the public are on sale from 12 May at Revolt Art Space website from www.revoltproductions.com

Entry: $50 Family of 4 Single $30 Concession $25 Early Bird tickets $5 off

For more information please visit

www.mbac.net.au

 

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JO MEARES RELEASES ‘KING OF THE CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN’ – TOURING OZ & EUROPE!

Jo Meares is pleased to announce a string of live performance dates to celebrate the release his latest album ‘King of the Crystal Mountain.’

Produced by Charles Jenkins, ‘King of the Crystal Mountain‘ features the sublime work of guitar virtuoso Jeff Lang and ethereal backing vocals recorded in a church in Finland by an all-girl choir.  Reuben Alexander‘s eerie harmonica and Kari Pihl’s majestic piano work feature throughout this haunting album, telling stories of outsiders, loss, confusion, love and hate.
This is Jo’s third solo album. His first collection of words and sounds ‘A Handful of Smoke‘ was awarded Australian album of the year on the highly respected “Outpost” show on Radio 2SER. Jo’s second solo album ‘One More Time‘ was made with The Honeyriders with a sixteen piece string section, layered backing vocals and lush guitar sounds.
Clem Bastow described his music as “The melancholia of wide open plains and corrugated iron, caressed by occasionally passing heavenly choirs of grievous angels and chain gangs.”
Jo will be performing at his Sydney album launch, June 6 at The Vanguard with a six-piece band featuring Madelaine Lucas and Robert Irish, two members of the Sydney outfit Devotional. Support on the night will be provided by one of the finest songwriters on the planet, Charles Jenkins.
Jo plays most years in France, Spain and Finland and is gradually building his following there. His June 2014 release of the album ‘King of the Crystal Mountain‘ in Australia will be followed by an extensive tour of Europe throughout France, Spain, Holland, Finland and Germany.
Tour dates:
Friday May 9th – Crate Records, Sydney, album preview and limited edition vinyl release with full band
Friday May 23 – The Armidale Club, Armidale (solo)
Thursday June 5th – The Vanguard, Sydney, album launch with full band, support Charles Jenkins.
Friday June 13th – The Spotted Mallard, Melbourne, album launch with full band
Sunday June 15th – Pure Pop Records, 4pm
Sunday June 22nd – Club Liberte, Helsinki, Finland
Thursday June 26th – Henrys Pub, Helsinki, Finland
Wednesday July 2nd – Ben’s Café, Paris, France
Saturday July 5th – Trinkete, Gernika, Spain
Wednesday July 9th – Wharf 73, Madrid, Spain
Thursday August 14th – Django Bar, Sydney
Sunday Sept 7th – Brisbane Powerhouse, 3.30pm
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