BSide Magazine #25

ISSUE 0025 / April 2nd - April 8th 2015

IT’S FREE - www.bsidemagazine.com.au

Donavon Frankenreiter ALSO INSIDE: Justin Townes Earl, Frank Turner, Z-Star Shaolin Afronauts, Echo Drama, Blenheim Festival Plus BOB’s BITS, TOUR GUIDE & LOCAL MUSIC NEWS

Prospect, with the next one being held on Thursday 2 April. Registration is from 6pm and the festivities conclude at 9pm. Pop along.

Sound & Vision is a quite stunning exhibition of live music photography by Kristy Delaine and Andreas Heur who helm AK Photography that is currently on display in the dining room of the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, where it will remain for a number of weeks.

The Sloe Ruin have organised a free entry Rock Vs Country gig on Thursday 2 April at the Grace Emily, 232 Waymouth St and invited Koral & The Goodbye Horses to play some rock. Also playing will be the appropriately named The Last Supper seeing as the following day marks the very beginnings of Easter.

Presented by Ramblin’ Promotions, the rootsy Ramblin’ On The Riverbank inaugural event will feature The Hushes, The Heggarties and The Cherry Pickers and will take place from 8pm on Saturday 25 April at The Adelaide Rowing Club (on the riverbank behind Adelaide Convention Centre). Tickets are now available via Moshtix.

Crown & Sceptre, 308 King William St, is hosting a free entry Easter Party on Thursday 2 April which will have Funk Latin Union, Phat Panda and Boneseed along with Tweed DJs and drink specials all night.

The Toss, Pigsteerer and Soberphobia will be playing a punk rock show at Gaslight Tavern, 36 Chief St, Brompton, on Saturday 25 April to ask the question, “What is more Aussie than going to a pub and watching three bands on ANZAC Day?” Club 5082 will present four quality local metal bands in the form of Seraphim, Soul Harvest, Behold The Sea and Oceans Wake at a free entry, all-ages affair from 6.30pm at Prospect Town Hall, 126 Prospect Rd, on Friday 3 April thus making it a very good Friday.

Sunday Vibes is a brand new, free entry, music event organised by Music SA and Riverbank Precinct which takes place at the newly restored Elder Park rotunda from high noon fortnightly on Sundays with several acts performing each week. Grab a picnic basked and get set for The Timbers, Banjo Jackson and Paige Renee Court on Sunday 14 April and Mr Goodnight, Lazy Eye and Vincent’s Chair on Sunday 26 April. There will also be food and drink vans as well.

Adelaide trio The Beggars will be undertaking a free entry show at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton, from 9pm on Saturday 4 April, while Emily Davis and friends will be doing likewise from 4pm on Sunday 5 April.

Courtney Robb, who is hinting at a live album, has also chosen the salubrious inner suburban venue at which to celebrate her next birthday and also play a few tunes with Mary Webb on Friday 10 April from 9pm.

Adelaide-based singer songwriter Christian Andrew has announced his national November Rain tour that will kick off in his hometown on Sunday 12 April at Tenth & Gibson which is conveniently located on the corner of Tenth and Gibson Sts, Bowden.

If you’re young and looking for some fun, then the SLAM Youth Event at the Northern Sound System is just for you. City Of Playford’s Mayor Docherty said the free event is part of national Youth Week festivities, which is the largest celebration of young people within our communities.

The free SLAM Youth Event is on Saturday 18 April from noon until 5pm at Northern Sound System, 73 Elizabeth Way, Elizabeth.

There will be heaps of cool activities including rock climbing, a Velcro wall, three point shoot‐out, henna tattoos, sumo suits and an aerosol art display which has been created by some of the local young artists.

Food vendors will also be available for people to purchase food and non‐alcoholic drinks.

Renowned Adelaide hip hop crew The Funkoars have announced their national tour for their In Case Of Emergency album with an all-ages hometown show at the

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Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Friday 12 June with special guests being US DJ Total Eclipse and Perth MC Mathas alongside Melbourne up and comer Eloji.

Tickets are available from the venue or OzTix. Award winning rootsy multi-instrumentalist Craig Atkins is set to launch his Fall Or Fly CD at The Jade Monkey, 160 Flinders St, on Saturday 4 April. Tickets will be $10 at the door with Tara Carragher, Jupiter and Benny C & The Associates as the three very special guest acts.

The next AMC (Adelaide Music Collective) Session will take place from 7.30pm on Friday 10 April at Goodwood Institute, 166A Goodwood Rd, Goodwood and will feature Archie Roach, Mark Holden, The Yearlings and Max Savage with Archie, Mark, Ruby Hunter, Paddy McCartney and Peter Brideoak to also be inducted into the Hall Of Fame during the course of proceedings. Tickets, and be quick, are now available via <trybooking.com.au>.

Award winning local lass Julia Henning has announced a huge national tour that will take her right around the country with her band before she comes home to wind it all up with shows at The Bluebee Room, 131 Pirie St, on Thursday 7 May, McLaren Vale’s The Singing Gallery on Friday 8 May and The Soul Box, 252 Hindley St, on Saturday 9 May. Local rockers Ricochet Pete will play their final three shows as part of a free entry Friday evening residency at the Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St, from Friday 10 April which will have them playing with La Bastard. On Friday 17 April, they will be joined by punk rockers Standard Union, while the very final night of the three shows will have Ricochet Pete saying a very final farewell alongside Killerbirds and The Villenettes.

World music collective Gypsyjunkies will be playing Brompton’s Organic & Sustainable Markets, Fifth St, Brompton, from 9am until 1pm on Saturday 11 April and also Saturday April 25.

The Good Questions, comprised of Marta Bayly and Simon Frank, are all set to release their 10-song debut, Light Place, and will do so at The Jade Monkey, 160 Flinders St, from 2pm on Sunday 12 April.

Helping them out will be Courtney Robb, while Marta’s harmony-driven duo with Andy Armstrong, Andy & Marta, will also be playing.

Local songstress Kelly Brueher is hosting an already successful open mic evening every fortnight at Café Komodo, 118 Prospect Rd,

Songs Of Awakening will be an intimate musical gathering featuring Heather Frahn, Chris Finnen and The Rising Lotus and will take place at Unfold Yoga & Wellbeing, 26 Hack St, Mt Barker, from 7pm on Friday 24 April. To book tickets, go to <therisinglotus.org/events>.

Hotel Metro, 46 Grote St, has lots of varied musical goodness happening in its band room with Vintage Violence, Regional Curse, Second Sight and DJ Tony Of The Past playing the band room from 9pm on Thursday 2 April, Toxic Shock, Fear & Loathing and Cock on Saturday 4 April and Vic Conrad & The First Third, Tom Redwood Band, Gypsyjunkies and Ben Searcy on Sunday April 5.

As well as Uncorked, National Wine Centre’s Friday evening event every fortnight, the North Tce establishment now has announced Sunday Sessions from 2pm on Sundays with live acoustic music from an array of local performers and a particular local winery showcased at each event.

The Old Bush Inn, 51 High St, Willunga, will host a deluxe evening of blues on Saturday 4 April when Blues Deluxe perform at the pub. Free entry too!

Before heading off on an Australian tour, award winning local blues outfit Lazy Eye are set to launch their third album, Single Malt Blues, at The Promethean, 116 Grote St, on Saturday 18 April. Tickets are now available via OzTix and doors will swing open at 8pm.

Chunky Custard, who seem to have been around for ages, have announced their 25th Anniversary show which will have them performing at the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Saturday 13 June. Put your spandex in the wash, book tickets via OzTix or the venue and prepare to boogie the night sway.

Adelaide-based hip hop act Allday should really be recording his next album but instead has announced a huge national tour that in his hometown will have him performing at HQ on Friday 29 May. As his shows usually sell out quick smart, grab a ticket as soon as you can from OzTix. Put your red dress on. Award winning blues band Benny C & The Associates have an album launch coming up for Red Dress which was mixed by Andrija Tokic (who works with Alabama Shakes) and it will take place at the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Saturday 11 April. Entry is a mere $5 and Charles & Joy Starling will be among the many special guests.

OUR PHILOSOPHY Created by veteran Adelaide music guru Rob Dunstan, BSide Magazine is a weekly magazine totally focussed on what’s going on in the Adelaide Music Community.

Every week we will be bringing you the latest news and up-to-date information.

Our goal with BSide Magazine is to help rebuild the Adelaide Music Community, to refocus the emphasis on local music and uniting the different tribes encouraging and further enhancing a prosperous live music industry for all.

We want BSide Magazine to be like Gaffa Tape. The thing that will hold everything together.

IN THIS ISSUE Page 2 Around The Traps Our Philosophy Page 4 Heading To Town Page 5 BSide Tour Guide Page 6 Feature Article: Donovan Frankenreiter Page 7 Echo Drama Blenheim Festival Page 8 The Clothesline Page 9 Shaolin Afronauts Frank Turner Page 10 Music SA CD Reviews Page 11 Bob’s Bits Justin Townes Earl Page 13 ThreeD 20+1 Chart Z-Star Page 14 BSide Gig Guide Page 15 The Bizzo BPlus: Throwing Flowers

Advertising Enquiries Ph: (08) 8346 9899 sales@bsidemagazine.com.au

ISSUE #0025 April 2nd April 8th, 2015

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Huge Race, once a member of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Wreckery and Hugo Race & The True Spirit, will be playing another of his enchanting shows at The Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton, from 4pm on Sunday 3 May. Tickets via OzTix. Urban troubadour Darren Hanlon is on a national tour to launch his new vinyl album, Where Did You Come From?, which will have him heading to Jive, 181 Hindley St, on Thursday 2 April. Book at Moshtix.

Lanky Melbourne person Stan Skyscraper is heading to town with his band, The Commission Flats, to launch their rootsy new album, Last Year’s Tune, at the Grace Emily, 232 Waymouth St, on the evening of Saturday 4 April.

Andrew Strong & The Commitments have announced another Australian jaunt after selling out shows around the country last October. Catch them kick off their next tour at the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Thursday 7 May with tickets available via the venue or OzTix. Central Coast duo James and Jordan, collectively known as Winterbourne, have been making music for almost a decade.

They have now announced a national tour that will bring them to our town to play The Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton, on Thursday 2 April. Tickets can be bought online via OzTix for $12.

Germany’s premier post metal act, The Ocean, are returning to Australia to play their highly acclaimed 2013 record, the 53-minute Pelagial, in full for the very first time in this country. Get set to experience The Ocean when they play Jive, 181 Hindley St, with Caligula’s Horse on Thursday 16 April. Book at Moshtix.

Sun Rai is a jazzy duo featuring Rai Thistlethwayte of Thirsty Merc fame playing bass and synthesiser at the same time and noted jazz drummer Ben Vanderwal from Perth and they will play COMA Sessions at The Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton, from 8pm on Monday 20 April. Also performing at COMA Sessions from 8pm on Monday 13 April will be Vulkan, a jazz combo made up of players from Denmark and Sydney.

This year’s Blenheim Music & Camping Festival will feature the huge international line-up of USA music legend Tony Joe White the UK’s Z-Star and Kiwi Marlon Williams as well as Timberwolf, Jay Hoad, The Shaolin Afronauts and so many, many more. It takes place over two stage at Blenheim (Clare Valley) on Friday 3 April with tickets now available via <events.ticketbooth. com.au/event/3911458/listing>.

The rather infamous Mobb Deep has announced a 20th anniversary tour which will have the New York hip hop duo performing at HQ Complex, cnr North and West Tces, alongside New York’s DJ Skibeatz, Delta, Dialect & Despair and more. Book via OzTix. Noted Canadian songstress Serena Ryder, who has collected multiple awards during her career, will play the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Sunday 12 April at which she’ll have sensational Canadian blues guitarist Matt Andersen with her as special guest. Tickets via OzTix or at the venue.

It’s been a long time between drinks but Carus Thompson is heading to town to play no less than two sets of his engaging folk rock music from 4pm until 6.30pm at the Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St, on Sunday 17 May. Expect new songs alongside many old favourites.

Melbourne’s Dave Graney & The

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mistLy will return for two big shows at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton, from 9pm on Anzac Day and from 4pm on Sunday 26 April to promote a new album, Play mistLY For Me. Book via OzTix. Country outlaw Justin Townes Earle will make a welcome return to the Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St, on Thursday 9 April and will have very special guest Sam Outlaw from the US with him. Tickets are available now via Moshtix.

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff is set to play the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Monday 6 April with tickets available via OzTix and the venue.

APIA Good Times Tour is making a return and will feature Joe Camilleri, Brian Cadd and Glenn Shorrock with Kate Ceberano as a special guest at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Thursday 30 April. Book via Ticketek.

Heck yeah! Launceston-based indie rockers The Saxons are heading to Adelaide for the very first time and will play a free entry affair from 9pm the Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St, on Saturday 11 April with local bands The Monikers, The Motive and Mad Maxman & The Heck Yeahs.

American band Counting Crows are bringing their Somewhere Under Wonderland tour to Australia which will have the rootsy rock group performing at Grote St’s Her Majesty’s Theatre on Sunday 5 April following their appearance at this year’s Bluesfest. Ben Salter, of The Gin Club, will be their special guest and will also play a free entry gig at The Exeter Hotel, 246 Rundle St, on Monday 6 April.

Bookings for the Counting Crows show can be made via <livenation.com.au> or at BASS. Originally hailing from The Blue Mountains, hip hop crew Hermitude will drop a new album, Dark Night Sweet Light in May and then take it on the road which will bring them to HQ Complex, cnr West and North Tces, on Thursday 18 June where they will be joined by Sydney’s Basenji and Newcastle’s Jayteehazard. Tickets on sale now via Moshtix.

To promote her new album, Sometimes I Sit & Think & Sometimes I Just Sit, Northcote songstress Courtney Barnett has announced that she will play the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Thursday 30 April and also Friday 1 May (which is now sold out) with Teeth & Tongue as special guests. Tickets for the just announced Thursday evening show are now available at OzTix or via the venue.

May day, may day. Delightful Victorian duo Victoriana Gaye are heading back to town to play a free entry show with Adelaide’s Brillig from 9pm at The Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton, on Friday 1 May. US punks Guttermouth have announced a quick return to Australian soil but on this occasion will be playing in sweaty, intimate mode when they hit Crown & Anchor, 196 Grenfell St, on Thursday 2 April. Tickets via the venue.

The Great Australian Tailgate Party will come to the car park of Hahndorf Old Mill, 96 Main Sto, Hahndorf, on Sunday 12 April and will feature Australian country music artists Adam Brand, Wolfe Brothers, Jasmine Rae, Matt Cornell, Nathaniel O’Brien and Gary Daniel and will also support and honour fire fighters from the recent Adelaide Hills fires. You can book tickets by calling 08 8388 7888 and children under 10 will be admitted free if accompanied by an adult.

UK punk minstrel Frank Turner will be bringing his band, The Sleeping Souls, to Adelaide Uni Bar on Wednesday 8 April as a sideshow for their Byron Bay Bluesfest appearance. Opening acts will be Jon Snodgrass (of US band Drag The River) and local lad Luke Carlino with tickets via Moshtix or OzTix.

Brian Kennedy, one of Ireland’s finest singers and one who has worked with Van Morrison and Bob Dylan, is bringing his acclaimed Joni Mitchell tribute show to Trinity Sessions, Church Of The Trinity, 318 Goodwood Rd, Clarence Pk, on Wednesday 3 June. Book via <dramatix. com.au>.

The mighty King Parrot have just announced a huge national tour to promote the release of new album, Dead Set, and will hit Fowler’s Live, 68-70 North Tce, on Friday 15 May with special guests High Tension and Coloosvs.

Perth metal band Voyager are making a voyage around the country with French heavyweights Klone as special guests. Catch ’em at Jive, 181 Hindley St, on Thursday 21 May with tickets via Moshtix.

Perth-based progressive rockers Karnivool will celebrate their 10th anniversary by touring their now classic debut album, Themata, and will do so in Adelaide at the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Tuesday 19 May with Cairo Knife Fight as special guests. That show is now SOLD OUT but another has been added for Monday 18 May so book quickly via OzTix or the venue.

Jeff Martin, of Canada’s The Tea Party, has announced a show at Jive, 181 Hindley St, on Sunday 22 April. Book very, very quickly via Moshtix.

Clint Boge is quickly returning to our town for another solo acoustic tour and you can catch the former frontperson of The Butterfly Effect when he plays some songs of a delicate nature at The Royal Oak, 123 O’Connell St, North Adelaide, on Thursday 7 May, Slug & Lettuce, 130 Martins Rd, Parafield Gardens, on Friday 8 May and Ramsgate Hotel, 328 Henley Beach Rd, Henley Beach, on Saturday 9 May. Pre-sale tickets at Moshtix or the venues.

Melodic Swedish death metal band At The Gates have announced their At War With Reality tour of Australia and will play Adelaide Uni Bar on Thursday 29 October.

Tickets via Moshtix or OzTix. Expect things to go up in smoke when American legends Cheech & Chong come to town on their greatest hits tour and hit Thebarton Theatre, Henley Beach Rd, Torrensville, on Sunday 21 June. Book quickly at Ticketmaster.

Californian hip hop legends Jurassic 5, with Cut Chemist back in the fold, are heading to Byron Bay’s Bluesfest at Easter but have unfortunately cancelled their scheduled show at HQ Complex, cnr North and West Tces, on Thursday 2 April. Refunds are now available via point of purchase.

Nexus Arts, located at North Tce’s Lion Arts Centre, has announced its eclectic lineup for its Nexus Live series which kicks off on Friday 17 April with The Joseph Tawardros Quartet with Oscar Key Sung and Swimming on Friday 24 April, Paul Grabowsky and Gian Slater Trio on Friday 1 May, Emma Donovan & The Putbacks and Kylie Audist & The Glenroy Allstars on Friday 8 May and Beat Spacek (Steve Spacek of Ninja Tune), Julien Dyne and Inkswel winding up the series on Friday 15 May. Fresh from supporting Kingswood last week, Melbourne’s Lurch & Chief have announced their own national tour which will have the chaotic indie rockers playing Rocket Bar, 142 Hindley St, on Friday 19 May. Sarah Carroll, the ukulele queen of the Bellarine, has teamed up with Aine Tyrell and The Peppercorn Queen as The Elles Have It and will play Naracoorte Hotel, Naracoorte, on Friday 10 April, The Manse, Norwood on Saturday 11 April and Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton, from 4pm on Sunday 12 April with The Yearlings as special guests.

WA’s Jebediah are celebrating a 20th anniversary by leaving home and heading out on a national tour with a new compilation album, Twenty, that will have them playing tunes from it at HQ Complex, cnr North and West Tces, on Thursday 25 June with Red Jezebal as special guests.

Tickets via OzTix. Kasey’s dad, Bill Chambers, will undertake a show at the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Sunday 26 April as which he will be joined by his old band, Four Crying Out Loud, for the first time on stage in over 20 years. Tickets via OzTix or the venue.

Sydney band Fenrir are coming to town to play an all-ages show at The Gaslight Tavern, 36 Chief St, Brompton, from 7.30pm on Saturday 18 April. The metal band, deeply rooted in Nordic folklore, will be joined by local combos Stoved, Sedulous Rouse and Isolation Valve all for an entry free of only $15.

Sydney duo Uncle Jed are heading back to town to undertake a very special early evening farewell show at the Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St. The gig, will which mark their final tour, will happen from 7.30pm on Sunday 19 April with tickets on sale now via OzTix or the venue.

No bull! Sydney’s Andy Bull, who had three entries in triple j’s recent Hottest 100 and who sold out his late Adelaide show, is embarking on a national tour to further highlight his most recent album, Sea Of Approval, which has won a sea of approval from fans and critics alike. Catch him when he plays the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Thursday 15 April. It will also mark Andy’s last big tour before he begins work on a new studio album. Tickets are now available via OzTix or at the venue.

Popular British artist Ed Sheeran has announced that UK singer songwriter Jamie Lawson, who has previously shared the stage with Martha Wainwright, Damien Rice, Van Morrison, Glen Hansard and Katie Melua, and up and coming Aussie singer Conrad Sewell will be his special guests when he plays Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Thursday April 2.

Decimatus and Envenomed, two ferocious metal bands from Melbourne, are joining forces to spread chaos and evil across the nation and will do so at Enigma Bar, 173 Hindley St, on Saturday 30 May. Extra tickets have now been released for US singer Taylor Swift’s upcoming sold out shows with Vance Joy at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Monday 7 December and Tuesday 8 December. Book swiftly via Ticketek.

Melbourne hardcore outfit Deez Nuts are now based in New York but have announced a return to our shores to play Fowler’s Live, 68-70 North Tce, on Thursday 11 June with New Zealand’s Antagonist AD as well as Relentless and Earth Caller. Tickets via OzTix.

Fowler’s Live Courtney Barnett (Melbourne) & Teeth & Tongue at Governor Hindmarsh (SOLD OUT) Baby et Lulu (Melbourne) at Trinity Sessions Victoriana Gaye (Victoria) and Brillig at Wheatsheaf Hotel SATURDAY 2 MAY The Australian Doors Show (Sydney) at Governor Hindmarsh SUNDAY 3 MAY Hugo Race (Melbourne) at Wheatsheaf Hotel

THURSDAY 2 APRIL Ed Sheeran (UK), Jamie Lawson and Conrad Sewell at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Darren Hanlon (Sydney) at Jive Winterbourne (Central Coast) at Wheatsheaf FRIDAY 3 APRIL Blenheim Music & Camping Festival: Tony Joe White (US), Z Star (UK), Marlon Williams (NZ), Echo Drama, The Kite Machine, The Shaolin Afronauts, Local Revolution, Zeequil, Voice Of Trees, Nuvo, Abbey Howlett, Chris Finnen Los Trios Bentos, Jay Hoad, Kaurna Cronin, Headphone Piracy, Alice Haddy, Ciaram Granger, Littlefish, Carpy, Urtekk and Gorilla Jones at Blenheim (Clare Valley) SATURDAY 4 APRIL Skyscraper Stan & The Commission Flats (Melbourne) at Grace Emily Captives (Melbourne), Release The Hounds, Mayweather and Young Offenders at Crown & Anchor Echo Drama (Melbourne) at Casablabla SUNDAY 5 APRIL Counting Crows (US) and Ben Salter (Brisbane) at Her Majesty’s Theatre Horrorshow (Sydney) and MC Tuka (Blue Mountains) at Governor Hindmarsh MONDAY 6 APRIL Jimmy Cliff (Jamaica) at Governor Hindmarsh Ben Salter (Brisbane) at Exeter Hotel TUESDAY 7 APRIL Mariachi El Bronx (US) at Governor Hindmarsh WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls (UK), Jon Snodgrass (US) and Luke Carlino at Adelaide Uni Bar THURSDAY 9 APRIL Justin Townes Earle (US) and Sam Outlaw (US) at Grace Emily Mobb Deep (US), DJ Skibeatz (New York), Delta, Dialect & Despair and more at HQ Complex FRIDAY 10 APRIL Jake Shimabukuro (Hawaii) and Daniel Champagne at Governor Hindmarsh Architects (US), Stick To Your Guns (US), Being As An Ocean (US) and Stories at HQ Complex Moonfaker (CD launch), Destrends (Melbourne) at Valkyries at Pirie & Co Social Club The Kill Devil Hills (WA), Timberwolf and The Sloe Ruin at Crown & Anchor The Elles Have It (Victoria) at Naracoorte Hotel (Naracoorte) SATURDAY 11 APRIL Miss Quincy (Canada) at Governor Hindmarsh The Saxons (Launceston), The Monikers, The Motive and Max Madman & The Heck Yeahs at Grace Emily John Farnham (Melbourne) and Olivia Newton-John (Sydney) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Gypsy Kings (US) at Thebarton Theatre Norma Jean (US), Louis Blanc, A Ghost Orchestra, Life Pilot and Disaster Path at Fowler’s Live The Elles Have It (Victoria) at The Manse (Norwood) SUNDAY 12 APRIL The Elles Have It (Victoria) and The Yearlings at Wheatsheaf Hotel Blues On The Parade: Donavon Frankenreiter (US), Dusty Lee’s Wasted Wanderers, Gab Hyde, Craig Atkins and China Doll at Norwood Live Serena Ryder (Canada) and Matt Andersen (Canada) at Governor Hindmarsh

The Great Australian Tailgate Party: Adam Brand, Wolfe Brothers, Jasmine Rae, Matt Cornell, Nathaniel O’Brien and Gary Daniel at Hahndorf Old Mill Car Park MONDAY 13 APRIL Vulkan (Sydney/Denmark) at Wheatsheaf Hotel TUESDAY 14 APRIL Taylor Henderson (Sydney) at Governor Hindmarsh THURSDAY 16 APRIL Andy Bull (Sydney) at Governor Hindmarsh Nana Mouskouri (Greece) and Alfredo Malabello (Sydney) at Festival Theatre (Adelaide Festival Centre) The Ocean (Germany) and Caligula’s Horse at Jive Marlon Williams & The Yarra Benders (Melbourne/NZ) at Grace Emily

MONDAY 4 MAY Opeth (Sweden) at Governor Hindmarsh TUESDAY 5 MAY Ricky Martin and Delta Goodrem at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Metalum Manifestatione MMXV: Suffocation (US) and Decapitation (Poland) at Governor Hindmarsh WEDNESDAY 6 MAY Ace Frehley (US) at Governor Hindmarsh THURSDAY 7 MAY Everclear (US) at Fowler’s Live Clint Boge (Brisbane) at Royal Oak Andrew Strong & The Commitments (Ireland) at Governor Hindmarsh

FRIDAY 17 APRIL Atilla (US) at Fowler’s Live Super Best Friends (Melbourne/ACT) at Crown & Anchor Joseph Tawadros Quartet (Sydney) at Nexus Arts Centre

FRIDAY 8 MAY Microwave Jenny (Sydney) at Wheatsheaf Hotel Anastacia (US) at Festival Theatre The Angels at Governor Hindmarsh Red Fang (US) and Beastwars (New Zealand) at Fowler’s Live Lurch & Thief (Melbourne) at Rocket Bar Clint Boge (Brisbane) at Slug & Lettuce Emma Donovan & The Putbacks (Melbourne) and Kylie Audist & The Glenroy Allstars (Melbourne) at Nexus Arts

SATURDAY 18 APRIL The Rumjacks (Sydney) at Crown & Anchor Laura Jean (Melbourne) and Aldous Harding (New Zealand) at Wheatsheaf Hotel British India (Melbourne), Grenadiers and Tired Lion (Perth) at Governor Hindmarsh Fenrir (Sydney), Isolation Valve, Sedulous Rose and Stoved at Gaslight Tavern

SATURDAY 9 MAY Silverstein (Canada), Dream On Dreamer and Young Lions at Fowler’s Live The Angels at Governor Hindmarsh Tragic Earth (Melbourne), Burn Collect, Letters To Amy, Mind Remover, Azzurra and Puritan at Bridgeway Clint Boge (Brisbane) at Ramsgate Hotel

SUNDAY 19 APRIL Citizen (US) at Adelaide Uni Bar Short Stack (Sydney) at Governor Hindmarsh Jeff Martin (Canada) at Jive Benny Walker (Melbourne) at Wheatsheaf Uncle Jed (Sydney) at Grace Emily

SUNDAY 10 MAY The Spoils Duo (Melbourne) at Wheatsheaf

MONDAY 20 APRIL Sun Rai (Perth/Los Angeles) at Wheatsheaf Hotel

MONDAY 11 MAY America (US) at Thebarton Theatre THURSDAY 14 MAY Paloma Faith (UK) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre

THURSDAY 23 APRIL Funeral For A Friend (Wales) and Vices (Sydney) at Fowler’s Live

FRIDAY 15 MAY Beat Spacek (UK), Julien Dyne and Inkswel at Nexus Arts King Parrott (Sydney), High Tension and Coloosvs at Fowler’s Live

FRIDAY 24 APRIL Oscar Key Sung (Sydney) and Swimming at Nexus Arts

SATURDAY 16 MAY Infinity Broke (Sydney), Matthew Hayward and Blush Response at Hotel Metro

SATURDAY 25 APRIL Mick Pealing’s Stars (Melbourne) at Governor Hindmarsh Groovin’ The Moo: A$AP Ferg, Ball Park Music, Broods (NZ), Carmada, Charli XCX (UK), The Delta Riggs, DMA’s, Flight Facilities, Hermitude, Hilltop Hoods, Hot Dub Time Machine, Meg Mac, Northlane, One Day, Peace (UK), Peaches (Canada), The Preatures, RL Grime (US), San Cisco, Saskwatch, Sticky Fingers, Tkay Maidza, Wolfmother, Timberwolf and You Me At Six (UK) at Oakbank Racecourse Dave Graney & The mistLY (Melbourne) at Wheatsheaf

SUNDAY 17 MAY Riblja Čorba (Serebia) at Governor Hidnmarsh Carus Thompson (Melbourne) at Grace Emily

SUNDAY 26 APRIL Dave Graney & The mistLY (Melbourne) at Wheatsheaf Bill Chambers (Sydney) and Four Crying Out Loud at Governor Hindmarsh

WEDNESDAY 20 MAY Enter Shakira (UK) at HQ Complex

THURSDAY 30 APRIL Courtney Barnett (Melbourne) & Teeth & Tongue at Governor Hindmarsh APIA Good Times Tour: Joe Camilleri, Kate Ceberano, Brian Cadd and Glenn Shorrock at Adelaide Entertainment Centre FRIDAY 1 MAY Paul Grabowsky (Melbourne) and Gian Slater Trio at Nexus Arts Sam Smith (UK) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre Thundamentals (Blue Mountains) at

MONDAY 18 MAY Nickelback (Canada) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Karnivool (Perth) and Cairo Knife Fight at Governor Hindmarsh TUESDAY 19 MAY Karnivool (Perth) and Cairo Knife Fight at Governor Hindmarsh (SOLD OUT)

THURSDAY 21 MAY Mötley Crüe (US) and Alice Cooper (US) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Brad Butcher (Mackay) at Grace Emily Hotel Voyager (Perth) and Klone (France) at Jive FRIDAY 22 MAY Shaggy (UK) at HQ Irish DeMent (US) and Pieta Brown (US) at Governor Hindmarsh SATURDAY 23 MAY Diesel (Sydney) at Governor Hindmarsh Nick Barker & The Heartache State (Melbourne) at Grace Emily

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DONAVON FRANKENREITER

By Robert Dunstan Singer, songwriter and surfer Donavon Frankenreiter is heading back to Australia to perform at Byron Bay’s Bluesfest and also do a few club dates as well as headlining Blues On The Parade in Norwood, South Australia.

Donavon begins the interview by saying he’s looking forward to once again hitting Australia as it’s been a while since his last visit.

“Yeah,” he says from home in Hawaii. “The last time I was down there was on a solo tour opening up for Xavier Rudd. And prior to that it was just acoustic shows in Australia, so I’m really looking forward to heading down with my band this time.

“So I’m pretty excited that I get to play Bluesfest again and have a full band with me this time.

“And I have the same bass player I’ve had with me forever, Matt Grundy, but we’ve been playing for the last six months with a drummer as a three-piece after playing as a five-piece and also a six-piece.

“But it’s now just the three of us but it’s been really fun because we’ve really got it down,” Donavon continues. “Matt plays with a double necked instrument and the bottom neck is like a six-string electric guitar and the bottom neck is like a fourstring bass.

“So, if we are doin’ one of my songs such as Move By Yourself, he can set the bass up and kinda loop it and then move onto the electric guitar.

“And my drummer has all this percussion stuff and I play an electric guitar that has the body of a guitar but it’s also something else.

“Gee, this is real hard to explain,” Donavon then laughs, “but what I play is called a Guitorgan, so it can sound like a Hammond B3 or a Gibson 335. It’s just insane what it can do. It’s a real trip because, while there are just the three of us, it sounds like a sixpiece band.

“So touring this way is a complete blast and a real trip,” he enthusiastically continues.

“And, as I said, because we’ve been touring for the last six months, we’ve got it down although it did take a while to figure out how to do all that.

“So it’s been a real blast and we’ve also

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been writing a bunch of songs as well,” Donavon adds.

Donavon was born in California and his companionship with fellow surfer and musician Jack Johnson let to the latter releasing Donavon’s self-titled debut album on his Brushfire Records label just over 10 years ago.

Prior to that, Donavon had been the lead guitarist in a rock band known as Sunchild who released a live album – which boasted covers of songs by The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison and The Allman Brothers Band – and a studio recording, California Honey, of originals before disbanding in 2001.

The musician now has 10 albums to his credit, including some live recordings and assorted compilations, with the latest being the 2012 studio affair, Start Livin’, which he recorded with long-time bassist Matt Grundy as his studio.

What’s in store after Australia?

“Well, straight after the Australian tour we’re going into the studio to make a new record,” Donavon responds.

“And I’m super excited about that because there’s going to be a link on all my social media sites which people can click on and actually watch us making the new record in the studio.

“And we’re doing that just outside of Austin, Texas, in a little place called Wimberley and people will be able to click on the link for 10 hours each day and watch us.

“So this is not going to be like any other record I’ve ever made because we are going to be uploading photos and letting people ask questions all day long and upload each of the songs to 12 channels and ask people to remix them.

“So it’s going to be really fun stuff because we are also going to be giving away a Martin guitar each day,” he reveals. “So I may use the Martin on a song on the new album and then that will be the guitar that’s given away.

“It’s all going to be super interactive and a lot of fun,” Donavon indicates.

Donavon says the idea came about when he undertook an hour-long concert at the Wimberley studio.

“People could just click on the link and watch the concert online,” he says. “And then I was having dinner with the guy who

runs the studio, which is called Blue Rock, and we came up with the idea of doing an album that way over a 10-day period.

“And he was like, ‘Wow! I don’t think anyone has done that before’.

“The other thing is,” Donavon considers, “it could turn out to be a complete disaster. It could turn into the best reality show ever with lots of people tuning in and asking, ‘What in hell are you guys arguing about now?’

“Because, ‘y’know, that kind of thing can happen when you’re doing an album,” Donavon laughs. “It only takes one little thing to go wrong and it can ruin the whole thing.”

“It can be something simple like the drummer is not quite workin’ out or your songs aren’t quite coming together like they should and it can derail the whole recording,” Donavon adds. “You need a good vibe in the studio and want it to happen naturally.”

Donoavon goes on to say that he has built up a lasting friendship with multiinstrumentalist Matt Grundy over the last decade or so.

“It’s funny because until Matt joined my band 12 years ago, I didn’t know him at all,” he says. “And he’s such an incredible musician and he plays so many instruments I’ve kinda lost track of how many he does play.

“He plays great bass but can play bitchin’ guitar as well,” Donavon says. “I can sing and play guitar but don’t really know anything about harmonies. But Matt can harmonise with me really, really well. And I reckon I’d be a hard singer to harmonise with but, because we’ve now been playing together for so long, we just know each other so well. And I know when he’s going to finish a solo.

“And you can’t learn that kind of stuff over a couple of weeks,” he then considers. “It’s not like playin’ with a brand new guy who you’ve only known for a week otr so, so what I have goin’ with Matt is something to be cherished.

“And he’s got his own studio as well which is where we recorded the last album, Start Livin’.

“Hey, can you excuse me for a second?”

Donavon asks before returning to the phone just a few seconds later.

“That was my 12-year-old kid,” he laughs.

“He’s wanting a nine volt battery for his guitar pedal. Can you believe he’s got his first real concert coming up this Friday?

He started up a little three-piece band and three weeks later they got The Black Keys’ song Tighten Up totally wired.

“So they have a rehearsal tonight for the school talent show and I’m already beginning to feel like I’m his roadie,” Donavon laughs. “So where were we?”

You were saying that Matt had his own studio. Were the many unusual instruments used on Start Livin’ all at his studio?

“Yeah, Matt’s got a lot of stuff at his studio,” he says.

Donavon, who tries to get in a bit of surfing whenever he’s in Australia, concludes by saying how excited he is to be doing two shows at Bluesfest.

“That’s going to one of the highlights of the tour,” he suggests. “For me, as much as I love playin’ and singin’, I really love watching other bands play.

“And when you are doing a lot of touring and are on the road so much you kind of get into this little bubble and don’t get to break away and see other stuff.

“But when you are at a festival and you’ve finished doing your set, you can check out the other acts,” Donavon says. “You find yourself saying, ‘Who’s on next?’ or ‘Who’s on one of the other stages?’ I get really inspired watching other people play.”

Donavon is therefore pleased to hear that Blues On The Parade, the second such blues-orientated event to be held at Norwood Live, also offers an opportunity to see some other acts.

“Oh, cool,” he says. “That sounds as if it’s going to be great. Right on. Sounds exciting.

“And maybe I’ll catch a wave while I’m down that way,” he concludes.

Blues On The Parade at Norwood Hotel, Norwood, will take place from 4pm on Sunday 12 April with US act Donavon Frankenreiter as the super guest headliner with Dusty Lee’s Wasted Wanderers, Gab Hyde, Craig Atkins and China Doll also on the bill. Tickets via Moshtix or at the venue.

ECHO DRAMA

By Libby Parker Melbourne-based dub reggae hip hop outfit Echo Drama will be hitting the main stage at Blenheim Music & Camping Festival this weekend and causing a wonderful ruckus.

The nine-piece band will introduce South Australia to their unique musical fusion as we introduce them to the beautiful surroundings and fare of our Clare Valley.

Thando Sikwila (vocals), Alex ‘Sinks’ Sinclair (vocals), Jeremy Schiftan (drums), Steve Phillips (keyboards), Duncan Schmoll (guitar), Stephen Lane (bass), Cam Stark (trombone), Jay Scarlett (trombone) and Dorian Broomhall (trumpet) are first timers to SA and drummer Jeremy says they are thrilled to be on their way over.

“It’s our first time in South Australia so that will be cool. It’s also nice we’re playing a late spot. We’re a real festival band and we’ve done quite a few over the summer,” he says.

“We’ve often done afternoon slots, which are nice because the sun is shining and you can see everyone, but I also like doing the late ones where people are a bit looser and you can really get into the party vibe. I’m really looking forward to that at Blenheim. I think we’re closing the main stage, so by then I hope everyone is ready to go hard.”

As well as looking forward to sampling the great beers BlenheimFest has to offer, Jeremy says he’s also keen to check out our live music scene.

“Shaolin Afronauts are at the top of my list. And Timberwolf, his name’s been around a bit at the moment. Z-Star and the internationals; it’s nice to have international bands you haven’t seen before so it’ll be good to check them out. I didn’t know a lot of the bands on the bill because I think a lot of them must be South Australia based, but I’m looking forward to hearing the South Australia scene because I haven’t had much exposure to it,” he says.

Echo Drama was born three years ago from an idea Jeremy Schiftan had to play reggae music; since then, the band has grown and evolved into the urban roots, new ragga sound it is now.

“I’m a songwriter and guitarist so I had material I was really desperate to play. I had been drumming in other bands but always wanted to play this kind of music. I was looking for opportunities and realised the only way I was going to get them was if I put together a project myself,” he says.

“I pieced it together one by one. I knew the instrumentation I was looking for so I just tried every source I could for each person. I found keys player Steve at a gig playing with his old band who were a live dub band, and it was kind of like that with most people.

I either found them through ads online, through recommendations from friends or people I’d met through other projects. Then I started the jazz course at VCA and I met a lot of people there too.”

The group have released a debut EP, Bury The Weapons which is available to purchase, and Jeremy says there is an album on its way, eventually.

“We haven’t started the album, but we have a lot of material for it. There are probably about nine songs at the moment that we know we want to put down and the idea is to write three or four others. I guess being a band for three years and we’ve often done two-set shows, we’ve probably got about 22 songs in our repertoire. We only put down five songs in that first EP but naturally, as the years go by, you don’t want to record everything you’ve ever played and some

songs have lived out their full life on stage,” he says.

“The majority of songs, I write in full, but the vocals I never do. The vocals come from Thando and Sinks. Then the horns; I write single lines or two part horn section stuff and our trumpet player Dorian is quite involved in fleshing out the horn section so he’ll rechart that and make alterations to fill it out.

“Our keys player, Steve, has started writing more songs for the group which I really like playing because they’re really distinct from my style. He brings the more straight reggae tunes we do. Mine is probably more fusioned and maybe bastardised but his is strictly roots which is good.”

After they play BlenheimFest, Echo Drama will be heading into Adelaide to play a gig at Casablabla on Easter Saturday and Jeremy says they’ve heard great things about the venue, the vibe and the pizza.

“Our trombone player played at Casablabla last year with his band Frankie Wants Out. I’ve heard it’s a pretty consistent dance vibe so it will be cool. We’ll roll in pretty early from Blenheim, check into our hostel, dump our gear at the venue, maybe get around the city during the day to have a look, have a pizza dinner at Casablabla and then we play a midnight set,” he says.

Echo Drama bring their Nowhere To Fall Easter Tour to Blenheim Music & Camping Festival (Clare Valley) on the main stage at 11.30pm on Friday 3 April and Casablabla, 12 Leigh St, from midnight on Saturday 4 April.

BLENHEIM MUSIC & CAMPING FESTIVAL

By Robert Dunstan

“Anything that’s got a bit of a funky rhythm or some nice reggae or a bit of blues, is going to get people in the mood and dancin’ around,” he reasons.

Blenheim Music & Camping Festival, which takes places at Blenheim in the picturesque Clare Valley on Friday 3 April, is now only in its sixth year but has great evolved since its humble beginnings.

“So, as much as we all love the rock and punk rock scene, as festival organisers we’ve kinda drifted away from that kind of thing,” John says. “It’s always hard to program the bands but we’ve found that rock bands playing original music often don’t quite generate as much excitement as we thought they might, especially if people are hearing them for the first time and are not familiar with their stuff.

“It initially eventuated because there was an old bluestone building sitting at the back of someone’s property and we decided to build a skate ramp,” John Castine, one of BlenheimFest’s chief organisers, committee members and also one of the many hard working volunteers, says.

“We were all adrenalin junkies so we built a small half-pipe in this 150-year-old building and when that was finished, which was November of 2009, we ended up doing a few other bits and pieces,” he continues.

“And then we built a bit of a jam room to muck around with music over a few beers,” John reveals further. “And then we thought we’d invite a few friends up the day before going to the Clare Races, which is a bit of a tradition up this way, at Easter. So it all evolved from there with about 150 friends and family being there the first time,” he says.

“It was really just a big party back then and we didn’t have to worry too much about public liability insurance or licensing and all that. And, y’know, it’s funny because Damon [Satenek] from Lady Strangelove, who played one of the first festivals, is now in Urtekk [who were recently at WOMADelaide] and they are playing at this year’s festival,” John states.

“But I think the organic way the festival has grown has been good. And, from what I’ve gathered, the thing that makes it a bit different, is that we never began it as a way to make money.

“And we don’t have a music and camping festival in this state which I think is just crazy given how strong the local music scene is here,” he sighs.

“But we really just wanted to have a bit of fun and make a bit of money for charity which is going to New Hope Cambodia,” John then says.

This year’s line-up will feature Tony Joe White from the US, Z-Star from the UK, Kiwi Marlon Williams and Melbourne’s Echo Drama alongside The Kite Machine, The Shaolin Afronauts, Local Revolution, Zeequil, Voice Of Trees, Nuvo, Abbey Howlett, Chris Finnen Los Trios Bentos, Jay Hoad, Kaurna Cronin, Headphone Piracy, Alice Haddy, Ciaram Granger, Littlefish, Carpy, Urtekk and Gorilla Jones and it marks the first time the festival has boasted international acts.

“People tend to just stand there watching rock groups, but when a band such as Voice Of Trees comes on with all their percussion, people won’t be able to stop dancing and moving around even though it might be the first time they are hearing them. And that’s the kind of vibe we want to create in much the same way as that kind of thing happens at WOMADelaide “And,” John then announces with a cheeky laugh, “we’ve found that if you use terms like ‘folk music’, ‘love’ and ‘community’, you tend to ward off any people you don’t really want at the festival. And it is the type of festival we have because there is a lot of folk music, there is a lot of love and a really good sense of community.

“And it’s great to see some of the oldies there and also people with young families and their kids running around. It just gives it such a perfect vibe and seems to make people less likely to misbehave.”

The eco-conscious event, which boasts two stages, has gained strong local support with the two bars stocking some fine local beverages including those from Mitchell, Claymore, Taylors, Skillogalee and Kirrihill.

There will also be a market place with a variety of stalls, a games area and a chill out area and John says this year’s festival will also have some live art.

“Yeah, people want a bit more from a music festival then days – we’ve found they want to interact a bit more – so we’ve got some live art from Jack Hodges and Henry ‘Jock’ Walker who is a very interactive artist with some throwaway paint, a water pistol and a leaf blower.

“We are not sure quite what’s going to happen with all that,” John laughs, “but the reason we’ve chased them up is because we wanted to add something to the festival other than music.

“And there is also going to be an eight-metre in diameter dome that’s being brought over from Melbourne by Emma Leak and some of her friends that will be an art installation that people will be able to go into and chill out.

“We had some interstaters play last year but, yeah, this is the first festival with international acts,” John confirms.

“And at the top of the hill there will also be a cinema room,” John quickly adds. “We had a cinema last year but my housemate and her friend have taken over running it this year.

“So we are pretty happy to have Tony Joe White on the bill, he says of the swamp music legend who has had his songs recorded by everyone from Tina Turner through to Elvis Presley, Joe Cocker, Boz Scaggs, Brook Benton and even Australia’s The Cruel Sea and Celibate Rifles.

“They are both very artistic so that’s going to have some kind of hour-long show which is going to cater for all the senses. Once again, I’m not exactly sure quite what’s going to happen, but I am definitely very excited about it,”

New Zealand’s Marlon Williams has been kicking around the place for a while now and winning new fans everywhere he goes.

“So at BlenheimFest there is definitely more than just the amazing live music,” he concludes.

“And that’s also going to happen with Z Star,” John emphatically states. “She’s going to blow everyone away and that’s one thing we’ve tried to do with the festival programming and that’s to get artists that will get people’s feet moving even if they are hearing them for the first time.

This year’s Blenheim Music & Camping Festival takes place over two stage at Blenheim (Clare Valley) on Friday 3 April with tickets now available via <events. ticketbooth.com.au/event/3911458/ listing>. Please note, tickets must be purchased prior to the event as there will be no gate sales.

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ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL 2015 PROGRAM LAUNCH Compiled by Catherine Blanch The news is out and it’s on the streets.

Barry Humphries is putting the ‘F’ back into Festival with his 2015 Adelaide Cabaret Festival Program and this year’s catchcry is There ARE NO Rules!

Other ‘F’ words within cooee of this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival are fabulous, funny, frisky, fantastic and, of course, Fedora!

Sensuous sirens, charismatic crooners, scandalous storytellers and jovial jesters who are hilarious, naughty, sexy, addictive, outrageous and dangerous are featured throughout the 14 days and nights this June.

In his debut as artistic director, Australian comedy legend Barry Humphries promises “beauty, wit and astonishment” in an outstanding program of music, story-telling, comedy and incredible talent. There may even be a bit of love from his alter-ego Dame Edna Everage!

Proudly presented and produced by the Adelaide Festival Centre, the 2015 program features more than 350 artists in 152 performances over 14 days and nights.

There are 50 international artists from across the world as well as the best from Australia, with 300 Australian artists and 192 South Australian performers. The 2015 Festival showcases 18 World premieres, six Australian premieres, 15 Adelaide premieres as well six Adelaide exclusives. The dynamic program also features 11 international shows.

Opening on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend on Friday 5 June and running until Saturday 20 June, Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival is now in its 15th year and is the largest Cabaret Festival in the world. The Adelaide Cabaret Festival programming team has worked long and hard alongside Artistic Director Barry Humphries to create this very special Festival program, which they see as a shining light in the dark of Adelaide’s winter.

“Adelaide Cabaret Festival goes into overdrive under the direction of the great Barry Humphries,” Douglas Gautier, Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director says. “Our loyal audiences are in for a feast, with a wide-ranging program that includes not only international stars of Cabaret, but many home grown performers – including some that began their careers with the Adelaide Cabaret Festival many years ago”

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“I’m thrilled to be able to present to you the 2015 Adelaide Cabaret Festival program, which I do hope will excite and titillate your senses,” Adelaide Cabaret Festival Artistic Director, Barry Humphries, adds.

“Adelaide Cabaret Festival Artistic Director, Barry Humphries, says. I’m delighted to be presenting some of the best local, national and international artists on the Cabaret scene – some are very good friends of mine – Sir Les Patterson, whom I manage, will be making an appearance, while gigastar Dame Edna will make the trip over from Moonee Ponds.”

remarkable show includes music and songs from the Great War, as well as classic Glenn Miller hits, including Chattanooga Choo Choo and In The Mood.

Returning Adelaide Cabaret Festival favourites include American Cabaret star Storm Large, who will grace the Adelaide stage again with the Australian premiere of Taken By Storm – a seductively brilliant collection of tortured and titillating love songs.

of Bourbon, Tex Perkins is back with fellow Dark Horses – Charlie Owen, Joel Silbersher, Murray Paterson, Stephen Hadley and Gus Agars, to perform some of the finest moody grooves your ears will hear in 2015.

Fresh from international appearances at Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival, London’s West End, New York, Berlin and Singapore Frisky & Mannish make a triumphant return to Adelaide Cabaret Festival with their veritable cornucopia of musical mayhem.

Eddie Perfect presents Songs From The Middle, a performance of heart-breaking and hilarious songs about coming of age, binge drinking, failed romance and mind-numbing normalcy. It’s a contemporary song-cycle set in the middle of Port Phillip Bay that is equal parts nostalgia, peace-making and personal exorcism.

Adelaide’s own West End sensation, Daniel Koek, appears in Bringing Him Home with His West End Story, a series of personal songs and stories from a decade in musical theatre on the world stage. Daniel will perform highlights from his leading roles including West Side Story, Chess, South Pacific and his second studio album HiGH.

Opening this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival is the perennially popular Variety Gala Performance on Friday 5 June, where the program will include a selection of highlight performances from international and local Cabaret Festival artists. Hosted by the fabulous Meow Meow and backed by the Adelaide Art Orchestra, this curation of spectacular performances will open the Festival with a bang.

Trevor Ashley will return with his divinely decadent production, I’m Every Woman, as he channels the world’s legendary divas and their cavalcade of smash hit songs.

Buckle up for a final raucous night of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival featuring a selection of handpicked visiting cabaret chanteuses, charmers and jesters by Sir Les Patterson’s friend and manager Barry Humphries. Love Songs For Sir Les is a one-off event that has been especially created for the 2015 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Other highlights of Adelaide Festival Centre’s 2015 Adelaide Cabaret Festival program include the world premiere of Peter & Jack, curated and narrated by Barry Humphries and starring world-renowned baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes, a cappella sensations The Idea of North and South Australian soprano Greta Bradman. Accompanied by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, this remarkable production pays tribute to two legends of Australian music, Peter Dawson and Jack O’Hagan.

Also returning to what may soon become his second home, Michael Falzon along with fellow Swing On This crooner Luke Kennedy performs Painted From Memory as they revisit the 1990s when Burt Bacharach teamed up with Elvis Costello in what was the beginning of many beautiful songs penned together. This song-cycle of reimagined tunes are brought to life along with an incredible 9-piece orchestra.

“Other artists I look forward to meeting for the first time, having admired them from afar,” Barry says. “I look forward to seeing my Adelaide friends in June as we spend the month devouring everything Cabaret.”

For one night only, we welcome back one of Australia’s biggest stars and a truly global comedian, Adam Hills, to the Festival Theatre stage with his hilarious new show, Clown Heart.

Bernadette Robinson is reunited with Simon Phillips to deliver a virtuoso performance in the Adelaide premiere of Pennsylvania Avenue, a wonderful celebration of iconic singers who have been deeply connected with the White House – as performers, friend or something more intimate.

Two of Australia’s finest opera singers, Antoinette Halloran and Dimity Shepherd, join Cabaret star Ali McGregor and Burlesque performer Imogen Kelly in Opera Burlesque, an evening of allure, humour and exceptional singing.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra will come together with the Moonlight Serenade Singers and the Broadway Swing Dancers to honour the ANZAC centenary with an unforgettable evening of nostalgia. This

The Tap Pack will present their spectacularly energetic stage performance when they make their Adelaide premiere, showcasing some of Australia’s finest slick suited tap performers complete with swing favourites.

At the personal request of Adelaide Cabaret Festival Artistic Director, Barry Humphries, the ultimate Weimar doyenne, Meow Meow, will present an on-the-edge, intimate cabaret performance and world premiere that features songs from the sirens, transgressors and tragi-grotesques of Weimar Germany.

My Vagabond Boat features the music of displaced composers Friedrich Hollaender, Kurt Weill and Cyndi Lauper to present an evening of songs, sketches and dazzling debauchery.

Direct from New York, the Karrin Allyson Quartet are set to win hearts with their astounding versatility – with a spirited musical repertoire that includes bebop, Brazilian, blues and ballads.

Alan Brough and Casey Bennetto are back as The Narelles, presenting the hilarious musical hits and misses of a band that never was.

Front man for legendary outfit The Cruel Sea and the hard-edge pub rock of The Beasts

Adelaide Festival Centre’s youth arts membership program GreenRoom have a range of special offers to Adelaide Cabaret Festival for 16 to 30 year olds, including heavily discounted tickets to a variety of shows. For more information on the GreenRoom program visit www. adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/greenroom.

Full program and tickets are now on sale to subscribers and the general public through BASS 131 246 (select 2 at the prompt for Adelaide Cabaret Festival bookings) or online www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au.

Program details are available in the Adelaide Cabaret Festival brochure. Get one free by calling BASS 131 246 or log onto the Cabaret Festival website.

Download the Adelaide Cabaret Festival App, like us on Facebook and follow the Festival on Twitter @adelaidecabaret #adcabfest and Instagram @AdelaideCabaret to stay informed with the latest news on performances and artists.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2015 runs at Adelaide Festival Centre, King William St, from Friday 5 June until Saturday 20 June.

Book at BASS.

SHAOLIN AFRONAUTS

By Libby Parker Shaolin Afronauts, the 10-piece, interstellar, futurist Afro soul outfit from Adelaide is keen to make your Good Friday even better at Blenheim Music & Camping Festival this weekend.

The festival in the Clare Valley, now in its sixth incarnation, is boasting another great line-up and more of the same great times we have come to enjoy from our local friends.

Contributing to the feel good atmosphere of the camping fest, Shaolin Afronauts are keen to get to Blenheim to check out the line up and play for the festive revellers.

“Blenheim is a great festival. It’s important for South Australia to have music festivals like it and we’re excited to play. We’ve played the festival under different guises, we’ve played as other bands we’ve been involved with, but it’ll be great to get down there and play again. There’s a great line up this year.

There’s tons of good bands involved so it’s a pleasure for us to be on the bill,” bassist Ross McHenry says.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Max Savage & The False Idols, and Tony Joe White is on the bill which is pretty cool; he’s a legend of the game in many ways. I’m impressed by the scope of the line up. Marlon Williams is amazing, Timberwolf -you’ve got to love Timberwolf! Kaurna Cronin, I’m going to definitely check him out. I’m looking forward to checking out everything!”

Not only is the line-up appealing to Ross, so too is the gorgeous setting, in fabulous South Aussie wine country.

“It’s in a stunningly beautiful location. I love the wine that comes from there. One of the great things about living in South Australia is the access to many different types of beautiful landscape and Clare Valley region – or Blenheim, which is a separate area – is very, very beautiful,” he says.

The Adelaide band who have been together since 2008 are made up of Ross McHenry (bass), Kevin van der Zwaag (drums), Jarrad Payne (percussion),Tim Bennett (percussion), Dylan Marshall (guitar), Lachlan Ridge (guitar), Adam Page (tenor saxophone and flute), Stephen McEntee (trombone), Jason McMahon (baritone saxophone) and Chris Weber (trumpet).

Ross says they came together out of another band and a desire to do something a little more loose and interpretive.

“Shaolin Afronauts started out of the core of another group, which was a band called The Transatlantics. The whole band were into a lot of different styles of music, particularly the music of West Africa and East Africa; predominantly Nigeria, Ghana, Mali and Ethiopia,” he says.

“After doing The Transatlantics for a few years, we wanted a different outlet because the music was very highly arranged and very set in the way it was performed and delivered. We wanted a musical vehicle that was soulful in a similar way but explored our love of these other styles of music in a way that was open to the interpretation of the moment.

“We started Shaolin Afronauts to fulfil that desire in our collective consciousness. It was one of those things that started out as a side project but then just worked from the very beginning.”

Since their beginnings, the Afronauts have played some remarkable gigs and festivals, which Ross says make up some wonderful moments he’s had with the band so far.

“I really feel that some of the most special experiences I’ve had musically have been with this band and some of those have been in the studio and some have been on the stage. We did a performance at the Adelaide Festival Centre in 2013, just before we recorded our second album. It was with an expanded ensemble of 18 people.

That performance, which was a massive undertaking, was a real highlight for the whole group,” he says.

“We’ve also been really fortunate to play a number of great festivals like WOMADelaide, which was early on in the group’s existence and an amazing moment. Last year we played Glastonbury and toured Japan and they were amazing times for us as well!”

The third album from Shaolin Afronauts is Follow The Path, a double album showcasing what Ross says is their best work so far.

“Last year we released our third album. I think it’s our best work to date; the one we feel most accurately represents different sides to the group. One of the records is quite upbeat and representative of what our live shows are like and the second record is more introspective; more visual in a lot of ways and gets to the heart of what we’re about as a group so it was great to get that out there in the world,” he says.

“We’ll definitely be doing another album and it’ll probably be recorded by the end of this year or the beginning of next year. It won’t be out until about mid next year but there’s a plan afoot. There might be a sneaky EP in there as well; we’re always recording.”

Meanwhile, on social media, Shaolin Afronauts are clocking up YouTube views like nobody’s business; their song Kilimanjaro has had over 1.2 million listens.

“That was the first song I ever wrote for the band and I definitely didn’t anticipate it would be viewed that many times,” Ross says. “But I think it goes to show what you can achieve from little old Adelaide if you love it enough to give it a crack.”

When they’re not playing BlenheimFest or jet setting across to overseas and interstate gigs, Shaolin Afronauts are playing at home.

“We play pretty often in Adelaide, at least once every couple of months. We’re playing in Melbourne on April 10 and we have some other festival dates but I can’t say anything because the programs haven’t been released. Stay tuned though and check us out on the interwebs if you’re interested in more shows by Shaolin Afronauts!” Ross says.

Shaolin Afronauts play the main stage of Blenheim Music & Camping Festival at 5.20pm on Friday 3 April.

FRANK TURNER & THE SLEEPING SOULS

By David Robinson For the best part of the last decade, Frank Turner has kept himself busy. He’s taken his urgent, engaging music around the world, playing hundreds of concerts in a host of countries. In that time he’s also released a series of increasingly popular albums, played the opening of the 2012 London Olympics, released a memoir and produced three concert DVDs. We catch up with Frank on the eve of his Australian tour, as he begins his day in London, and ask about his memories of Adelaide.

“I’m pretty sure that the last time we came through we were on a tour with Dropkick Murphys,” he begins. “That tour, as a whole, was a blast. I’ve been to Adelaide a bunch of times before, on other tours, and I’ve always had a good time.”

You’re touring with a full band, so will we hear the music we’ve enjoyed on your last few records?

“Very much so; the boys (The Sleeping Souls) are in tow for this one. We’ve also just finished making a new record; it’s not going to be out before we get to Australia but we’ll be dropping some of the new songs into the set.”

It seems like you are constantly touring.

Does this drive to perform come out of desire or necessity?

“It’s a combination of different things,” Frank says. “As a kid growing up, the bands I was in love with were generally hard-touring bands like Black Flag. Touring is part of the job for a musician; it always has been. It’s how you make a living, these days especially.

“I don’t think the ‘sitting at home, earning money off record sales’ model is really that viable any more, but even if that was the case I think I’d still be on the road.

“I love touring and the fact that I’ve been to Adelaide before and I’m coming back again; it’s a wonderful thing. I’m from suburban England and to have the ability to travel around, seeing the world, playing music and meeting new people is a privilege.”

You’re currently doing a series of shows promoting your book, The Road Beneath My Feet. How has that been working out?

“It’s been really great. I’ve never done a book tour before; I’ve never written a book before!” he laughs. “I’m doing book signings and shows; this has been a new chapter for me, but it’s going surprisingly well.

“Every night we get to discuss the book and life on the stage, while hanging out with people and playing a few songs. Audiences seem to be enjoying themselves, so that’s good.”

Abba’s Dancing Queen, You Are My Sunshine, On A Plain, Flanders and Swann’s Slow Train…

What leads you to cover particular songs?

“I think that when you do covers you’ve got to kind of contribute something to the song,” he replies. “There’s no point in basic replication. I love playing a good song and I’m always learning ones.

“Many years ago I was reading an interview with Evan Dando, one of my favourite songwriters, and he was saying that the term ‘singer-songwriter’ has two parts to it – you are a singer and a songwriter, and you don’t necessarily have do both simultaneously. I thought that was a very interesting way of approaching it.”

The conversation turns towards Frank’s influences and he discusses how the music he admires pervades his writing processes and performances in many small ways.

“There will always be shades of other songs that filter through what you are doing,” Frank explains, “even in things as simple as playing a drum break or the way you melodically move from a middle-eight to a chorus.

“I spend a lot of time thinking about artists such as Springsteen, Loudon Wainwright III and people like that. I think as long as you’re not trying to copy one person or one thing, it’s fine.”

You have a side project, the hardcore Möngöl Hörde. What was the reason for you returning to that kind of music?

“It’s me letting off a bit of steam, really,” Frank admits. “Ben, the drummer, and I grew up together, playing in bands like Million Dead. Then, there was an eight-year period where we did our own separate projects. I missed playing with him during that time, he’s one of my best friends, and I just wanted to get back into it.

“It’s a lot of fun; I think that’s the main thing with Möngöl Hörde for me. If there’s ever anything we do that starts feeling onerous, I’ll just pull the plug on it.”

It looks like you are continuing with the touring. Do you have any other plans?

“It’s both natural and healthy to be always thinking about other ideas. I haven’t got anything that’s about to happen because the new record I’m about to release is going to eat up the next two years of my life!” Frank says.

“There are a couple of irons in the fire, and of course I’m always writing my own stuff, thinking about where that might lead,” he concludes.

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls play at Adelaide Uni Bar from 7.30pm on Wednesday 8 April with special guests Jon Snodgrass and Luke Carlino.

Book at OzTix.

What can you tell us about the new record?

“I’m not allowed to reveal the title yet, and we are still arguing about release dates but it’s going to be out in the [English] summer,” Frank says. “The album is basically finished.

It’s a kind of raw, punk rock record; a little bit more direct and in-your-face than the last one I made, and I’m very excited about it.

“I’m very happy; it’s a good album, and I hope people like it.”

The selection of covers you choose to record and perform is eclectic, to say the least.

The traditional English folk of Barbara Allen,

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CD REVIEWS

A-DUFF The Ghost Music Reviewer: Tom Gaffney 3.5/5 If you’re not yet familiar with A-Duff (the moniker for local beats producer Aaron Duff), it might not be a bad idea to become acquainted with his take on electronica.

The artist has recently released “The Ghost Music”, an expansive, synth-laden track that provides a perfect amount of energy for anything from cleaning the house to getting ready for a big night out.

There’s a whole lot to focus on in this release, each with their own merits. Duff’s hypnotic composition of percussion instruments is a perfect example of this, seamlessly creating foundation for a multitude of synth pads, leads, and interesting bass elements to the mix.

While you can’t really ask for a whole lot of outside the box creation in relation to the genre that Duff is trying to channel, “The Ghost Music” still shows promise for future releases. It would have been nice to have a little more of a ‘wow’ factor, potentially through more vast experimentation or varied composition throughout.

Music SA and BSide Magazine proudly bring you reviews of new releases by South Australian artists.

If you’re a local act and have a new single, EP or LP, visit musicsa.com.au for details on how to submit it.

GORILLA JONES Third In The First World Reviewer: Matt Saunders 4.5/5

SKYTHIEF Shot Me With Your Eyes Reviewer: Craig Atkins 3/5

The debut album from Gorilla Jones is energetic, danceable, and irresistibly fun.

Combining soul, funk, rock, lounge, and more, this ensemble comes to party and won’t leave until your feet are sore and your spirit is replenished.

One of the pleasures of being a reviewer is discovering bands within Adelaide I haven’t heard of before, with this week’s act being 5 piece rockers Skythief, consisting of Adam Barnett-Pierce (Vocals), Brett Benham (Bass), Jamie Korte (Drums), Simon Andrew Aberlé & Wolfgang Haak (Guitars).

Musicianship is the key here, with all seven members and a special guest distinguishing themselves repeatedly throughout, but it’s no collection of ego trips; this is first and foremost a group effort. Expect big hooks and deep grooves as guitar, bass, drums, percussion, keys and horns all lock in and rock out together.

Third in the First World starts off strong with three stand-outs: First is the rapid-fire, downbeat-heavy soul jam “Work It Out”, which gets bonus points for the unexpected show-stopping outro. Then there’s “Who Is They?”, a bouncing dub chug with playful lyrics about society’s boogeymen and an Orleans-style a cappella finale. Third in line is samba breath-catcher “LMFAO”, a blissedout rejection of modern-day immaturity.

While a full inventory of individual contributions would crowd out this review, special distinction is earned by guitarist/ vocalist Cane Goldsworthy, whose voice is a perfect storm of sandpaper and soul; he’s got cool to spare and owns the frontman role in a group that’s stacked with talent.

Other highlights include the rollicking calland-response funk of “Grand Scheme of Things”, the wah-heavy rocker “Is This It”, and the vintage R&B closer “City Where You Live”.

If there’s a knock here, it’s that sometimes there’s too much of a good thing and the strongest tracks resist that extra solo or breakdown, but don’t let that deter you.

Third in the First World sounds like an incredible live show committed to tape, and it’s a delicious genre jambalaya that you won’t regret sampling at Bandcamp.

The band’s new single “Shot Me With Your Eyes” was recorded at Sodypop Studio in Adelaide, produced/engineered/mixed by Ben Ehrenberg, and mastered by Jack the Bear’s Deluxe Mastering. As a result, the production of this track is tight, solid and extremely well crafted.

There is definitely a big stadium rock quality to this single as evidenced by the musicianship of this band. In fact, the first 20 seconds initially gave me a kind of ‘Franz Ferdinand’ vibe in terms of the arrangement of the track, which has definite commercial appeal. Fans of the arena rock sound will find something in this track.

VANE OF BARBS Fell Reviewer: Tristan Newsome 2.5/5 Yet another wintery summer day and the latest review couldn’t have been more appropriate Vane of Barbs new EP Fell.

Beautifully packaged with an intriguing winter themed artwork…I had to put a jumper on.

First track “Science Without Humanity” is slightly polarising. It is easy to see where the inspiration lies and it seems to have a bit of an avant-garde jazz sound going on. I’m guessing it is meant to be a little loose hence the slightly hiccupy drums, something that continues throughout all the tracks.

At the conclusion of the first track I went on the line to do a little more research about Vane of Barbs and it appears their live shows are intertwined with some pretty spectacular visual accompaniment, which helps to understand this release a little better in terms of the musical direction.

The title track “Fell” stands out as the more radio friendly of the five songs, being really well constructed with some very lush vocals from Bianca Carbone. Very cool and flowing bass lines help you to feel this one, and it would make a great background track for a café or the like.

It seems that Vane of Barbs have gone to great expense in creating this release, and whilst it looks stunning and has some great elements, I can’t help but feel they missed the mark a little on this one. With an understanding of the overall package including visual elements it’s easier to see how this release would sit alongside the visual; to me this package would have benefited from being released in a DVD film format.

By the quality of the release, a lot of money has been put into making it and it may have been worth waiting a little longer or trading some of this expense off to incorporate the two (music and visuals), which ultimately seem to be an integral aspect of what Vane of Barbs are trying to achieve.

Seeing this live would be a great experience and I think that with all the elements together it would be an awesome live show to witness. Or maybe it’s just me and I need to find some jazz cigarettes.

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JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE

By Robert Dunstan Justin Townes Earle is returning for a solo acoustic tour which will have him playing Byron Bay’s Bluesfest and then hitting the Grace Emily Hotel with special guest Sam Outlaw, who is also from the US. Justin, son of country music renegade Steve Earle, comes armed with two new highly personal albums, Single Mothers and Absent Fathers, which he originally intended to be a double release.

“I did, yeah,” Justin says from home in Nashville where it was early evening. “So the initial idea was a double album because it had been a while since I last released a record and I had plenty of songs. So the idea sounded good to me.

“But then I began to think about my attention span and wondered if I wanted to listen to an entire double album,” he laughs.

“My albums are conceived as one thing and I also looked it up and found that the average commute time for an American was 30 to 40 minutes. And that’s how long each album goes for.”

The albums have also been released on limited edition vinyl.

“They originally pressed up 500 on 180gm vinyl as a limited edition,” Justin reveals. “But you can now get them on just the normal vinyl.”

The Australian version of Absent Fathers includes Justin’s version of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams recorded when he was a guest on Stuart Coupe’s FBI Radio program Tune Up on which artists play cover songs.

“I love being on that show,” Justin enthuses.

“You are supposed to play a cover of someone’s song, but Stuart always lets me also play one of my own as well.

“Stuart is very accommodating in that way,” he then says of Tune Up’s presenter who was, a very long time ago, involved in Adelaide street press magazine Roadrunner.

“But, y’know, no one in the Australian media has even been disrespectful to me and I really appreciate that,” Justin adds.

I note on Facebook that you recently played a version of Billy Joe Shaver’s I’ve Been To Georgia On A Fast Train with Sam Baker.

“Fast Train is a song I used to do many years ago but haven’t done it for a while now,” Justin says. “But my wife requested that we do it.”

Have you ever met Billy Joe, one of the original Texas country outlaws, on your travels?

“Oh, sure, several times,” Justin says. “He’s a very approachable figure because he’ll step off stage and go have a drink at the bar and talk to people. I’ve always found him a pretty amazing character.

“His original roots lie with Lance Lipscomb and Lightnin’ Hopkins and Texas blues, so it’s a return to all that,” he adds. “It’s what my dad does best.”

Do you know if your dad has had a listen to Absent Fathers?

“Aw, c’mon,” Justin then snaps causing me to think I may have overstepped the boundaries of investigative music journalism.

“Sorry,” he then says. “I was just talking to a dog. Well, I don’t know if my dad has heard my album in the same way he wouldn’t know if I’ve bothered to listen to his new one.”

Justin played his first ever Adelaide gig at the Grace Emily some years ago and is looking forward to making another return.

“I’ve played there a few times now,” he says, “and [former operator] Clanger was always very supportive. I know Clanger has moved to Melbourne now, but the Grace Emily has always been a great place to play.

“It’s a tight, intimate place and it’s often good to go back to those more intimate place and not be so… Hey, it’s not that I don’t like to hang out with my fans so, y’know, it’s good to be up close to them in a room and not be separated by a whole bunch of lights and a huge stage.

“And I’m also looking forward to Bluesfest because I’ve played there a couple of times now,” Justin adds. “And the number of times I get to come back to Australia speaks well of how well I do down there. I love it there and it’s a great market for me.”

Justin admits to not knowing too much about his touring partner, California’s Sam Outlaw, who appears to be an old school honky tonker with songs such as Friends Don’t Let Friends Drink & Fall In Love to his credit and whose next album is set to be produced by Ry Cooder.

“I know nothing about Sam apart from listening to a couple of his songs,” Justin says. “He was chosen to tour Australia with me by BT [Brian Taranto of Love Police] but he does a good job picking those. So it’s going to be just as interesting for me as it is for everyone else. And I’m sure he won’t suck.”

Justin says he rarely uses a set list.

“I’ll usually just have a few songs written down off a few records so I don’t draw a blank in the middle of a show.

Hip hop hippity hop.

Over the last 25 years or so I have had the opportunity to interview, either over the telephone, face to face or even occasionally via email, hundreds – nay, it would be thousands by now – of performing artists of all genres but rarely have I had occasion to undertake an interview with a hip hop acts.

In fact I could count on one foot the number of hip hop acts I have interviewed over the years unless you take into consideration Mike Skinner of UK act The Streets, Canada’s Buck 69 or Jewish rapper Matisyahu.

So it was with some trepidation that I agreed to take on a telephone interview with MC Akil (known to his mum as Dante Givens) of American alternative hip hop collective Jurassic 5 about them returning to Australia to ply their wares at Bluesfest as well as undertake several sideshows.

As I was not what you might call a big J5 fan, although I knew that those in the know hold the collective in high regard, I know it would take some extensive research on my part before the interview.

This I did and thus, armed with a healthy set of questions, I took a call from MC Akil and away we went. And it went well and I was duly pleased. I had somehow gotten away with it.

And thus, one of my very few interviews with a hip hop act was set to go to print. That was, of course, until Jurassic 5’s upcoming Adelaide show at HQ Complex was cancelled for reasons unknown.

Dang!

During the course of my research, however, I came across the fact that Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na (known to his dad as Charles Stewart) had once worked with Adelaide hip hop crew Hilltop Hoods on the song Speaking In Tongues.

Indeed, my extensive research methods enabled me to find a YouTube clip of Hilltop Hoods’ Pressure and DJ Debris chatting to Radar Music about how they got Chali 2na involved in Speaking In Tongues.

So I could not help but tell J5’s MC Akil about when I was at a music conference many, many years ago and a young gentleman had approached me and said he was managing a hip hop group from Blackwood.

And I remember looking at him and stating, ‘Aussie hip hop? I’m not sure that’s going to work’, before giving him the advice I would give to any other act just starting out.

I felt a tad silly some years later when I discovered that the group in question was Hilltop Hoods.

“And they blew up, right?” MC Akil had laughed. “That’s a funny story. And being in an America hip hop group, when you go to other places, you get to see people in other countries doin’ hip hop.

“And people may diss ’em and say stuff like, ‘Oh, you sound too American’, and stuff like that but there are some people out there, like Hilltop Hoods, who are creatin’ their own thing.

“And that’s what hip hop has always been about,” he’d added. “It was always about doin’ your own thing. It doesn’ have to sound American. It’s your expression from wherever you are at no matter what country you are from.”

MC Akil then went on to say that before getting into hip hop – he was a solo artist before joining Jurassic 5 – that he’d wanted to be a American football player.

“And then when I started touring with J5 and going to all these countries, I thought to myself, ‘Hey, if I had been a football player, I would have never been able to go to all these interesting places and tour around the world like I do’.”

I then mentioned to ı that there has been some talk of American football team Dallas Cowboys coming to Adelaide and playing some kind of exhibition match at the newly refurbished Adelaide Oval.

“Really,” MC Akil said with a laugh. “Well there you go. You see, I could have been a football player and then come down to Australia after I’d retired and be an American football commentator.”

MC Akil was then interested to hear about Australian Rules Football.

“Hmm, that sounds kind of weird,” he says following my rather futile attempt to explain how it worked. “Maybe I can check out a game while we’re down there.”

Jurassic 5 were set to play HQ on Thursday 2 April. Those still with tickets can procure a refund at point of purchase.

“That can happen sometimes,” he concludes with a laugh.

Justin Townes Earle and Sam Outlaw play the Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St, on Thursday 9 April with tickets via Moshtix.

“I mean how many people do you know who can shoot someone in the face outside a bar and not end up in jail?” Justin says of the 2007 incident in Lorena, Texas, between Billy Joe and Billy Coker and which was later immortalised by Dale Watson in the song Where Do You Want It? Talk then turns to Steve Earle’s new album, Terraplane Blues.

“What I’ve heard of it I really like,” Justin announces. “I think it’s the best thing he’s done in a while – not that I don’t like other stuff he’s done – because it’s what he does best.

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12

Z-STAR

By Libby Parker UK blues, rock and soul musician Z-Star has been playing her way around Australia and will wind up on the doorstep of Blenheim Music & Camping Festival in the Clare Valley this weekend.

The London-born, Brighton-based singer, songwriter and mad guitarist has been living it up, playing it up and soaking it up on our fair shores since early February but is set to return home after Blenheim.

Being her debut voyage down under, Zee Gachette has been falling in love with the place and rocking it senseless.

“This is my first time in Australia. It’s been a whole series of cool things happening: Brisbane, Surfers Paradise, Django Bar in Sydney, jamming with Jay Power, Chinese New Year celebrations with the Terracotta Warriors with the Opera House in the background; that was really nice.

“Also, I did a workshop for Hampton High School. That was really cool. Really lovely kids,” she says.

Speaking to BSide Magazine from Lorne, Zee says she’s keen to get to Adelaide and check out our festival vibe.

“I’m looking forward to Adelaide! I do love my white wine, red wine and rosé. But I found the beer I love the most: Stone & Wood from Byron Bay. It is number one on my list. I don’t know what they put in that beer. It must be some kind of trippy, hippy love; little molecules of happiness!” she laughs.

“I’m really looking forward to just being there at Blenheim Festival. I don’t know what it’s going to be like. I heard there’s going to be camping, which I love doing and I love playing festivals so I think it’s going to be lots of good people. I imagine it’s going to be great music, great food and great sunshine.”

And there will be a stellar line-up, not excluding herself; a woman who has received praise and a standing ovation from legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.

“Jimmy Page is my guitar god. He’s an iconic guitarist. He’s been a huge influence on me.

Pretty much any guitar-wielding musician is going to love Jimmy Page. Performing to a room with him, Roger Daltry, and a whole lot of other really great musicians was one thing but getting a standing ovation was another thing all together!” she says.

became friends and I’ve been to the house and met his kids. He’s such a great guy.”

Following her 2013 EP 16 Tons will be full length album 16 Tons Of Love, which Z-Star is currently working on, when she’s not jetsetting, playing gigs and rubbing shoulders with rock royalty, that is.

“It’s definitely going to be coming in my summer/autumn. The inspiration for it is blues. I am in my blues rock period. The last couple of records I was playing more acoustic and more singer songwriter. This album I decided to do even more writing with the band to make it a more collective feel, as opposed to me writing all the songs,” she says.

“The inspiration behind it is that I wanted to have fun and I wanted to make music that everyone else has fun playing as well and that’s basically it. I wanted to play some fuzz guitar; get my telecasters out on the road! Having said that, while we’ve been on tour I’ve been doing two types of shows; I’ve been doing the full band show, which is the electric show and the acoustic duo show which is as uplugged as you can be but I can’t resist the fuzz!”

Although she’s hoping to check out a bit of Adelaide while she’s here, Zee will be locked down in rehearsal for some of the time; however, she’s keen to check out our music scene, particularly our blues rock.

“I probably won’t be able to see much of Adelaide itself. I’m coming over for a long rehearsal but I want to try and have a look around Adelaide while I’m over there and get to the beach. It’s hard on tour because the only time you get to see things is on your days off and then on your days off, you’re knackered.

“We’ve been pretty good with getting out there though. What should I see in Adelaide?

What’s your blues rock like? I’d like to check that out,” she says.

Luckily, we get to check Zee’s music out by grabbing a ticket to Blenheim Music & Camping Festival and getting down to Z-Star and heaps of other great acts.

Blenheim Music & Camping Festival opens its gates at 10am on Friday 3 April and Z-Star takes to the main stage at 9.05pm.

“It was an awards ceremony so I got the award for best live act and so I had to perform. I was doing a song of mine which is on the new record. When I finished playing that, they got on their feet and made some noise and that was just awesome. Then afterwards we were hanging out and I got to talk to him for quite a long time and that was just great. He’s such a great guy.”

But this story, which is quite possibly living the dream of every guitarist, doesn’t end there.

“The craziest thing happened after that.

I totally believe in synchronicity and laws of attraction because later, I was doing a festival and I’d just got off stage and this woman came up to me and said it was a really cool gig and she wanted to know more about me and what I was doing and my whole CV!” Zee laughs.

“So I started telling her this and that and then I kind of mentioned Jimmy and she was like, ‘Jimmy Page?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah’ and the next think I know, she’s on the phone and has called up Jimmy Page who just happens to be her ex-husband! Then we

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APRIL 2ND - APRIL 8TH THURSDAY 2 APRIL Adelaide Entertainment Centre – Ed Shereen (UK), Jamie Lawson and Conrad Sewell Arkaba Hotel – The Incredibles, NTT Easter Reunion Austral – SCALA (free entry) Bridgeway Hotel – Northern Exposure (allages rock event) Crown & Sceptre – Free Easter Party with Funk Latin Union, Phat Panda, Boneseed and Tweed DJs THE FUNKY FINGERS + JAM FUNK/SOUL/RNB COVERS GASLIGHT TAVERN 36 CHIEF ST BROMPTON Gilbert St Hotel – live music from 7pm Governor Hindmarsh – Front Bar: Gumbo Room Blues Jam with host Billy Bob Grace Emily – Rock VS Country: Sloe Ruin and Koral & The Goodbye Horses Hotel Metro – Vintage Violence, Regional Curse, Second Sight and DJ Tony Of The Past Jive – Darren Hanlon (vinyl launch) La Boheme – Mike Bevan Trio THE PUBLISHERS 110 FRANKLIN STREET LIVE ACOUSTIC MUSIC (8pm) LIVE ACOUSTIC MUSIC Vinyl – The James Muller Quartet ($5 entry from 8pm) Wheatsheaf – Winterbourne (Melbourne) Whitmore – Rainbow Jam FRIDAY 3 APRIL Blenheim Music & Camping Festival: Tony Joe White (US), Z Star (UK), Marlon Williams (NZ), Echo Drama, The Kite Machine, The Shaolin Afronauts, Local Revolution, Zeequil, Voice Of Trees, Nuvo, Abbey Howlett, Chris Finnen Los Trios Bentos, Jay Hoad, Kaurna Cronin, Headphone Piracy, Alice Haddy, Ciaram Granger, Littlefish, Carpy, Urtekk and Gorilla Jones at Blenheim (Clare Valley) British Hotel – Acoustic Blonde Port Adelaide & Semaphore RSL Club – Adam Cocca and guests from 2pm Prospect Town Hall – Club 5082: Seraphim, Soul Harvest, Behold The Sea and Oceans Wake (free entry and all-ages from 6.30pm) SATURDAY 4 APRIL Arkaba Hotel – New Romantics Easter Party Cadell Harvest Festival – Lily & The Drum Crown & Anchor – Captives (Melbourne), Release The Hounds, Mayweather and Young Offenders Crown & Sceptre – Geno ‘80s pop and ‘80s indie rock with DJs Marc Morrelle and Mark Yusef Wilson Emu Hotel – Bulls On Parade (RATM tribute Show) & Fuse (Tool Tribute Show) THE HOPE OF AFRICA BAND AFRO CUBAN REGGAE GASLIGHT TAVERN 36 CHIEF ST BROMPTON Governor Hindmarsh – Latino Festival Grace Emily – Skyscraper Stan & The Commission Flats (Melbourne – CD launch) Hotel Metro – Toxic Shock, Fear & Loathing and Cock from 9pm Jive – DIG Marion Hotel – Franky F (5.30pm), Flaming Sambuccas (8.30pm) Old Bush Inn (Willunga) – Blues Deluxe (free entry) Pretoria Hotel (Mannum) – The Incredibles Easter Party Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL – In The Red (7.30pm) The Jade Monkey – Craig Atkins (CD launch), Tara Carragher and Benny C & The Associates

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Tonsley Hotel – Platinum Plus (Barry Ion & Andy Upton) Wellington Hotel – Mick Kidd Wheatsheaf Hotel – The Beggars (free entry from 9pm) SUNDAY 5 APRIL Arkaba Hotel – DJ Groove Terminator Barmera Easter Festival – Lily & The Drum Crown & Anchor – Sunday Rubdown Crown & Sceptre – DJ Samnation from 3pm Franklin Hotel – The Tinsmiths from 3pm Gaslight Tavern – The Jazz Hands free entry jam evening from 6pm Gilbert St Hotel – live music from 2pm Governor Hindmarsh – Horrowshow (Sydney) in acoustic hip hop mode.

Grace Emily – Shit Disco Great Eastern Hotel (Littlehampton) – Mick Kidd Nook Nosh – live acoustic music from 5pm Pretoria Hotel (Mannum) – Ben Vidic (1.30pm) Semaphore Workers Club – live blues from 4pm Thebarton Theatre – Counting Crows (US) and Ben Salter (Brisbane) Tonsley Hotel – Az Kerwin (Chrysler Bar) Wheatsheaf – Emily Davis and friends (free entry from 4pm) MONDAY 6 APRIL Exeter – Ben Salter (Brisbane) Governor Hindmarsh – Main Room: Jimmy Cliff (Jamaica) and Balcony Bar: Lord Stompy Grace Emily Hotel – Billy Bob’s BBQ Jam The Lion Hotel – Brian Ruiz and friends Wheatsheaf – COMA Sessions (jazz) TUESDAY 7 APRIL Exeter – Bitches Of Zeus DJs Gaslight Tavern – Blues Lounge Blues Jam with special guests Gilbert St Hotel – The Airbenders Governor Hindmarsh – Main Room; Mariachi El Bronx (US) and Front Bar: Adelaide Ukulele Appreciation Society Hotel Metro – Acoustic Club Tuesday WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL Adelaide Uni Bar – Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls (UK), Jon Snodgrass (US) and Luke Carlino Brecknock Hotel – Open Mic Night Crown & Anchor – DJ Tr!p Exeter – DJ Oisima Gaslight Tavern – SCALA’s Midweek Melt Governor Hindmarsh Hotel – Front Bar: Open Mic Night Kensington Hotel – Uke & Play @ The Kensi The Lion Hotel – Proton Pill

THE BIZZO

MUSIC MARKETING CHECKLIST #3 - POSTERS AND FLYERS

By Corey Stewart Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been talking about music marketing initiatives that happen primarily online (your website and your social media).

Today I’m going to touch on the importance of having all of your stationery sorted out for marketing you and your music in the real world.

Today, a lot of musicians fall into the trap of thinking that with the advent of the Internet and social media, spreading your message in the real world using posters and flyers has become an obsolete and irrelevant activity.

Not so…

More than ever using offline marketing tactics like putting up your posters and personally handing out flyers needs to become a regular part of your music marketing activities.

The reasons are: - You get out and about - Its really good exercise - It’s a great way for your band/team to bond over a common goal - You’re interacting more directly with the general public Sometimes going a little old school in your marketing efforts will pay big dividends because at the end of the day, no amount of website and social media presence will ever replace the direct, face-to-face communication you can have between two or more people.

Posters Still a great way to get your message across, you can either get you and your (band) mates together and seek out strategic places to put up your poster or, you can hire a third party distributor such as Passing Out or Poster George who will charge you a fee to put them up on your behalf.

If you are going to put up your own posters, putting them up in a pre-determined radius around the venue you’re promoting is a great way to start the marketing campaign.

to work too hard to find out what you’re trying to say and therefore will switch off from your message.

Flyers Normally your flyers are A5 size (½ of an A4 piece of paper - 148mm x 210mm) and really effective when handed out to others personally. This is the activity that most musicians don’t (or won’t) do either through fear of rejection from the general public or, thinking that the Internet should take care of things for them.

As mentioned, flyers are at their most effective when handed out personally to others however, one trick that seems to work is to put your flyers under the windscreen wipers of cars parked at the venue you’re trying to promote.

This gives the receiver of the flyer a point of reference and a reason to receive it (by being at the venue) and therefore is more likely to take note of the information rather than just put it in the bin.

BSide Media can also print your flyers at a very reasonable cost to you so if you’re wanting to find out what we can do for you, just call us on 8346 9899 or email us at info@bsidemagazine.com.au and we can do the rest for you.

BPLUS: THROWING FLOWERS

By Libby Parker This week’s BPlus feature band is Throwing Flowers, a five-piece pop rock outfit who met at high school and have continued with the band as university students.

Harry Baulderstone, Jerry Filipinas, Jordan Lennon, Marcus Ryan and Harrison Visintin have formed a fun, party band with some great original songs.

Hailing from different schools, the five found each other through mutual interests and a desire to play some live gigs.

“Me, Marcus and Harrison went to school together. Then we met two of the other guys through a mutual friend at a music festival and through a teacher so we all came together through that scenario and started writing,” Jordan Lennon says.

“Jerry the keyboardist went to Cabra, Harry went to Mercedes College and me, Marcus and Harrison went to Christian Brothers College.”

Although the five have always played together, Throwing Flowers didn’t originate until recently; but their initial cover band plays on.

It may seem like a bit of work getting your posters and your flyers out and about but if you get your crew together and make the exercise a bit of fun at the same time, you’ll be surprised how many posters you’ll put up and how many flyers you’ll hand out and who knows…

“We had other bands when we were at school. Four of us are in another band called Breezin which is a cover band and we still play around town. That was put together while we were in school, but Throwing Flowers got together early this year or late last year,” Jordan says.

You might meet some nice people along the way.

Currently, two of the band members are studying music at Adelaide Universtiy, one is taking a gap year before studying law, one is an entrepreneur starting his own business and one is a full time musician.

Going to school full time and working at making and maintaining a successful band is tough going, and Jordan says students should use the school resources to help them and get that music out there.

“Get in contact with other musicians, even other musicians from other schools. Use the teachers and get them to contact other music teachers from other schools and put bands together and play. Email venues and promoters, get your music heard. Promote, promote, promote online! Don’t be afraid to show your music and what you’re doing in your online presences,” he says.

Now they are all finished with secondary school, Throwing Flowers are looking to the future, which will see them releasing a debut single and video.

“We just went into the studio. We’re doing pre-production for our single Shine On. We’re about to record and release that and do a music video for it. That will be our first release as Throwing Flowers so we’re really looking forward to it,” Jordan says.

Until the release of Shine On, you can check out Throwing Flowers around town, in particular at the Exeter this weekend for an all-ages gig.

“On the fourth of April at the Exeter Hotel on Rundle Street at 9pm we are playing with a band called The New Yorks. It’s an all-ages gig and free entry.

“Come down for a good time,” Jordan says.

With all members working towards successful careers, Jordan attributes the success of his musical beginnings to Christian Brothers College who allowed him to pursue his music while he was at school.

“It was good because school let me take music as my main subject, so everything I was doing outside of school related to everything I was doing at school. It was a good balance between the two because music was my work. So everything I did in terms of music, I could use for research projects and assignments,” he said.

Printing posters doesn’t have to be an expensive exercise but make sure you shop around first before committing to anything as printing prices may vary. The price variation may come from the different paper stock you might use, the size of the poster (our suggestion is to at least go for an A3 size - 297mm x 420mm) and the amount of colours that are used.

One suggestion to help you in your shopping around is to give BSide Media a call as we can print your posters at a very reasonable price. The best thing to do is to call us on 8346 9899 or email us at info@ bsidemagazine.com.au and we can do the rest for you.

Your poster needs to be direct, straight to the point but at the same time allowing your personality and artistic flair to shine through.

Remember, if the poster is too busy then the general public might not absorb the information. If the poster has not enough information then people are going to have

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