Warp Magazine November 2016

MUSIC & ARTS • NOVEMBER 2016 WARPMAGAZINE.COM.AU | FACEBOOK.COM/WARP.MAG

REMI +

Deborah Conway Kat Edwards Matt Andersen Paige Turner The Mean Times The Monkeywrench

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FREE

Thundamentals Thursday 17 November

Tkay Maidza Saturday 19 November

Matt Anderson Wednesday 23 November

LTJ Bukem Friday 25 November

November 2016 Friday 11th 10pm 4 letter fish Saturday 12th 10pm Kid Kenobi + Guests $15pre/$20door Sunday13th 3pm The great anticipators and Soul Sunday Sessions (Beer Garden) 9pm Ben Salter + Emma Angelsey + Seth Henderson $5 Monday 14th 5.30pm MONA Staff Music & Art Night Tuesday 15th 8.30pm Billy Whitton Wednesday16th 8.30pm The Fabulous Bluecats Thursday 17th 9pm Thundamentals With Special Guest PEZ $30pre/$35door Friday 18th 10pm Bad Pony + Chase City + Maddy Jane $12pre/$15door Saturday 19th 9.30pm Tkay Maidza $30pre/$35door Sunday 20th 2.30pm Beer Garden Party With Whole Roasted Pig On The Spit, Crispy Roast Potatoes, Toss Salad And Gravy, Music By Dean Stevenson - IT’S ALL FREE 8.30pm The Blue Flies

Tuesday 22nd 8.30pm Montz Matzumoto Wednesday 23rd 9pm Matt Anderson $20pre/$25door Thursday 24th 8.30pm Rory Ellis Friday 25th 10pm LTJ Bukem + Guests $20pre/$25door Saturday 26th 10pm Ivan Ooze + Lyall Moloney $15pre/$20door Sunday 27th 2.30pm Jodi Martin Arvo show Sunday 27th 9pm Mike Elrington (Album Launch) $10 Monday 28th 8.15pm Quiz Night Tuesday 29th 9pm National Live Music Awards $5 (Free with RSVP) Wednesday 30th 8.30pm The Outfit

December

Friday 2nd 10pm Maddy Jane and The Jane’s (‘Drown It Out,’ Single Launch) + Sumner + Leo Creighton $10 Saturday 3rd 10pm Yacht Club DJs $30pre/$35door

Secret Sounds Presents

The 24th Annual Music & Arts Festival

marion BAY tas man ia

29 dec • 30 dec • 31 dec

New Acts Just Announced!

CHILDISH GAMBINO (NO SIDESHOWS) • LONDON GRAMMAR (NO SIDESHOWS) • THE AVALANCHES • VIOLENT SOHO MATT CORBY • ALISON WONDERLAND • CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN • FAT FREDDY’S DROP • TA-KU THE RUBENS • YOU AM I • THE JEZABELS • BALL PARK MUSIC • DOPE LEMON • GROUPLOVE • BERNARD FANNING JAMIE T • BROODS • TKAY MAIDZA • GRANDMASTER FLASH • ILLY • MØ • HOT DUB TIME MACHINE • DMA’S KINGSWOOD • ALUNAGEORGE • BOOKA SHADE • CLIENT LIAISON • VALLIS ALPS • NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE PARQUET COURTS • CITY CALM DOWN • L D R U • MODERN BASEBALL • TIRED LION • REMI • RY X MARLON WILLIAMS • LEMAITRE • SHURA • SPIT SYNDICATE • MOONBASE COMMANDER • MALLRAT

Tas s i e Lo cal s Ti c ke t s

CENTERTAINMENT HOBART • COLLECTORS CORNER BURNIE • MOJO MUSIC LAUNCESTON • RED HOT MUSIC DEVONPORT

tickets on Sale now fallsfestival.com

BILLIONS AUSTRALIA PRESENTS

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2017

FRIDAY 1 3 J ANUARY DERWENT E NTE RTA IN M E N T CENTRE | HO B ART TICKETS FROM NICKCAVE.COM

News

News in Brief ASTLEY BUT NOT EASTLY After extensive touring of the UK over the last few years, eclectic Australian pop singer Simon Astley has returned home to release a catalogue of new music, including the recent singles “Temptation” and “All Falls Down” which were produced

by Sam Panetta (Kylie Minogue, Crowded House). Astley had recent success with his hit song “London” played as part of the Queens Diamond Jubilee outside Buckingham Palace in the UK. Due to the response the “London” song received, including over 225,000 views on you tube, Astley toured the UK again playing shows around the country, including the famous Troubadour music venue. Astley will be releasing his EP titled Blue Eyes on Monday November 14. Keep an eye out for it!

PATRICK TOPPING THE CHARTS 2015 was the year Patrick Topping cemented his status as one of the most in-demand names in dance music, securing his 5th Beatport tech-house number 1, tirelessly touring the world’s biggest festivals, from Creamfields in South America to Stereosonic in Australia, to the main stage at Movement in Detroit, whilst completing his second summer as resident at DC10 in Ibiza for Paradise.

Now, one of the biggest acts in tech-house is returning for his most comprehensive tour yet. Unfortunately there’s only one Tasmanian date on his tour, but it promises to be a doozey. He’ll be playing at Our House in Launceston on Friday November 18. Check your facebook feed for more details!

To make the party even better, the folks at the Granada have decided to make it a free gig, yep, that’s right, entry is FREE. It doesn’t stop there, with cheap shots, cocktails and schooners to help get you in to the groove. After the boys have finished, the Fun Bus will even be in attendance to take you straight in to town. Rockin. Doors open at 8pm, DJ’s will be kicking off at 9pm. All you have to do is rock up and get amongst it. Tell your mates, aye bro.

SHADY Say hello to summer with the fourth Standing in the Shadows: a free, soulfilled sing-along-of-sorts on the Mona lawns, featuring the Southern Gospel Choir and friends both old and newincluding up-and-coming folk-rock artist William Crighton, and Mona’s very own Brian Ritchie and Maria Lurighi. Also performing will be Andrew Legg, and the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts, Brisbane + more. This time around, it’s all taking place on Sunday December 4, kicking off at 2pm. It’s all happening at the Mona Lawns, and it’s a free event! Sweet!

Free stuff rules. For more information, head over to www.mona.net.au/standingin-the-shadows-of-mona.

SPACE BONG. YEP. SPACE BONG.

OH WHAT A NIGHT

The Death of Utopia live at the Northcote Social Club accompanied by a cacophony of grotesque, hyper-obscure visuals, excruciatingly dispatched by Liam of Capital Waste Pictures. Space Bong will be joined by local acts Morton Stone, AXE GIANT, Weak As Piss, The Dreggs and Crypt Vapour. You can embrace all of this mayhem at the Brisbane Hotel on Saturday December 10.

RAIDERS OF THE LOST BAGS

Because apparently Falls Festival wasn’t big enough already, they’ve just gone ahead and added another 29 acts. Yes, 29.

29 acts. That’s a festival’s worth of music in its own right. Granted, that’s spread out over the three different Falls Festival locations, but hey it’s still good! What that means for us Marion Bay attendees is that we’ll get to see seven additions to the bill, all of which are completely awesome.

First up, are the legends, You Am I. One of Australia’s most iconic rock bands.

Joining them will be Dope Lemon - Angus Stone’s new musical project. Kingswood is also on the bill, we all know who they are.

Northeast Party House are back, alongside Spit Syndicate, Moonbase Commander and Mallrat. Epic, epic, epic.

35TH TIMES A CHARM!

While LA-based Australian electronic pop duo Bag Raiders hone their production and song writing craft to develop album #2, they continue to make club music in tandem. Being a strong part of Chris Stracey and Jack Glass’ DNA, these repetitious meditations are a deeply satisfying process. The immediacy and excitement of two lethal tracks has prompted a standalone EP, breaking their release drought with cross-continental dance floors in the crosshairs. If you want to catch some of these dynamic dance floor bangers, you only get one chance to do it (well, unless you’re rich enough to just follow them around the country on tour). They’ll be playing a DJ set at the Waratah Hotel in Hobart on Saturday December 17. Tickets available now.

The Cygnet Folk Festival is back for a monumental 35th time from January 6 to January 8 in beautiful southern Tasmania. The festival has long been known for attracting world class acts both internationally and throughout Australia; and the small Tasmanian town of Cygnet hums palpably with Festival fever over the second weekend of January each year. The 2017 line-up includes over 100 artists and some of the best names in Folk and traditional music, including American Grammy award winning country and bluegrass instrumentalist Tim O’Brien, young traditional Irish band Four Winds, Hothouse Flowers’ ex-lead singer and instrumentalist Liam O’Maonlai, Irish/Canadian five piece band The Outside Track, the legendary Andy Irvine with mandolinist extraordinaire Luke Plumb, and the irrepressible Jaron Freeman-Fox and the Opposite of Everything. To view the complete list of over 100 acts and buy tickets, check out www.cygnetfolkfestival.org.

CAVED IN

FALLING UP(SIZE).

Joel Fletcher and Ed Colman are coming to Tasmania! They’ll be playing at the Granada Tavern on Saturday December 3. What a way to kick start your summer!

Warp Tasmania NOVEMBER 2016

Space Bong are playing in Hobart! Yep, Space Bong. Seriously. Space. Bong.

They’re touring to promote their new release on VHS (Ha Ha! You can’t watch it because you don‘t have a VCR any more!

Sucker!), titled The Death of Utopia LIVE, released via New York based VHS label, Videopunks. It captures the raw dirge of

Editor Nic Orme nic@warpmagazine.com.au

ART LUCY HAWTHORNE hawthorne.lucy@gmail.com

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Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are one of the biggest names in Australian music, having

Writers Mark Acheson Shane Crixus Lisa Dib Rachel Edwards Stephanie Eslake Lucy Hawthorne Shayne McGrath Nic Orme Mackenzie Stolp COVER IMAGE Michelle Grace Hunder NEWS Submit your press releases plus publicity images through to the appropriate editor for consideration.

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News

sold over 5 million albums worldwide to date. Their most recent studio album Skeleton Tree - their 16th studio album, topped the charts in eight countries and gained the band their second #1 album in Australia. To celebrate the success of Skeleton Tree, they’re heading out on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, and luckily for us, they’ve included us on the list, in fact we’re first on the list, they’re kicking off the tour right here in Hobart.

On Friday January 13, you’ll be able to see Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at the Derwent Entertainment Centre. Tickets are available now from Ticketmaster or www.nickcave.com.

MOFO, MOFO’s!

January 26. They’ll be joined by HARTS and Ocean Alley, and tickets are available now, via Oztix.

JIMMY BARNESTORMING After a record breaking fifteen #1 albums, Barnesy can now also say he’s a chart topping author. His acclaimed childhood memoir Working Class Boy was officially Australia’s top selling book a few weeks back according to Bookscan. In fact, its debut was the biggest for this sort of title in over five years. What better way for a singer-slash-author to celebrate the success of his latest book than to head off on tour. The “Jimmy Barnes - Working Class Boy: An Evening of Stories and Songs” tour will make three stops in Tasmania. On Thursday February 2 he’ll be appearing at the Country Club Showroom and on following the night Wrest Point Entertainment Centre in Hobart. On the Saturday night he will be back at the Country Club – but tickets for this have already sold out!

PARTY PADDOCK PADDOCK PARTY

Awwww yeah! It’s MOFO time again, MOFO’s! And as usual, it’s typically epic and massive and awesome! Featuring more than 200 artists from a dozen countries (including Azerbaijan, Canada, France, Germany, Korea and Niger) and taking place across Hobart from Wednesday January 18 to Sunday January 22. Highlights include tetema (AU/USA), Puscifer (USA), Peaches (CAN), Moses Sumney (USA), Pantha du Prince (DEU), Circuit des Yeux (USA), DJ Z-TRIP (USA), Rainbow Chan, Kev Carmody, Mdou Moctar (NER), Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith (USA), Foundation IHOS Amsterdam (AN/NLD), and Regurgitator re-interpreting The Velvet Underground debut album. That’s not even mentioning all the awesomeness of Faux Mo. Tickets are already on sale, and selling fast, so jump on to www.mofo. net.au to get amongst it!

HELLO HELLO!

From Friday February 10 to Sunday February 12, the hills of North East Tasmania will once again echo with the sound of killer tunes, campers, and all the good things, when Party in the Paddock returns for its fifth birthday with a huge all Australian line-up! Acts such as Sticky Fingers, Hermitude, The Smith Street Band, Tash Sultana, OPIUO, REMI, Kim Churchill, Vera Blue, Montaigne, Luca Brasi, Boo Seeka, The Bennies, Sampa The Great, Skegs, KLP, Lyall Moloney, Planet, and Guthrie, will appear alongside the PITP Allstars, Sheriff, Denni, Chase City, Elegant Shiva, The Saxons, Sumner, The Bad Dad Orchestra, Banquet, Bad Beef, Isla Ka, The Sleepyheads, Sundaze, and Sofala. Tickets are already on sale and selling fast, so get over to Oztix to make sure you don’t miss out!

THE BEGINNING OF THE ENDLESS

The Cat Empire will forever be famous (in my mind, anyway) for that infectious “Hello Hello” tune, but really, their back catalogue of awesome tunes runs deep. As does Xavier Rudd’s discography. On top of that, both acts are known as being some of Australia’s finest live performances.

So why wouldn’t they join forces, hit the road, and blow some socks off? It makes sense. It makes so much sense that they’re actually gonna do it. They’re gonna start doing it in good ol’ Hobartia. That’s pretty rad, and it’s an outdoor gig in the city, that’s even radder! They’ll be playing at St David’s Park in Hobart on Thursday

January 13, but you can already get a taste of the first single House, which is doing the rounds. If you’d like to catch the Grafton sisters live on stage, you can do so on Friday February 17 at the Country Club in Launceston, or on Saturday February 18 at Wrest Point Entertainment Centre in Hobart. Tickets are on sale now from tixtas.com.au and will set you back around $50 a piece. Get along and get your boot scoot on to one of Australia’s finest country music groups!

RUN QSP

AUSSIE AS I’ll put this right out there, Torana Dreamin could be the most Australian name for an album ever. If there’s an album title more bloody too-right, true blue and grouse than that, I don’t know it. It’s the second record from Sydney stalwarts Zeahorse, and it’s available now. It’s a very different album to their psych-drone debut, 2013’s Pools. It’s more vicious, and it proves that they definitely haven’t suffered the sophomore curse. They’re hitting the road to promote the new 10-tracker, and they’ll be making one very special stop in Tasmania. You’ll be able to catch them at the Brisbane Hotel in Hobart on Saturday February 18. Keep an eye on all those social media feeds for supports and ticketing details.

With a career now spanning over 50 years of performing, it’s “one more time for Suzi” as she returns in February 2017 for a national tour starting on the Gold Coast on February 3 and finishing in Darwin on March 4. With 31 Australian tours under her belt, for this tour, Suzi Quatro will bring Andy Scott from THE SWEET on guitar and vocals, and Don Powell from SLADE on drums. They will perform as “QSP” for the opening act. The trio have recorded an album QSP which will be released in January. Suzi will have an eight-piece band, performing the hit program for the second half of the show, in her leather jumpsuit of course. The one chance Tasmanians have to see Suzi on this tour will be at the Wrest Point Entertainment Centre in Hobart on Tuesday February 21. Tickets are on sale now.

BE AN ANGEL AND SAVE THE DEVILS

at The Taste of Tasmania New Year’s Eve party Get your friends together, transform yourself into an angel (or a devil) and join us for one hell of a party at this year’s The Taste of Tasmania.

• Special guests Kate Ceberano and Bustamento, plus local acts • VIP entry upgrades and early bird bonus available • Prizes for the best dressed Tickets on sale early November: thetasteoftasmania.com.au or the Theatre Royal on 6233 2299.

Proceeds from ticket sales go to the Save The Tasmanian Devil Appeal to support key research and conservation programs.

The McClymonts are ready to set off on “The Endless Tour”, which actually will end, at some point. I mean, it has to.

The McClymonts are cool but they aren’t immortal. C’mon. Anyway, the tour is in support of their fifth album, titled Endless.

The album will be released on Friday www.facebook.com/warp.mag 7

IMAGE: Michelle Grace Hunder

Music

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND MELBOURNE HIP-HOP COLLABORATION REMI AND SENSIBLE J (KNOWN TOGETHER AS REMI) ARE BUSY AS HELL. AFTER WINNING LAST YEAR’S AUSTRALIAN MUSIC PRIZE FOR THE DEBUT ALBUM RAW X INFINITY (RECORDED MOSTLY IN J’S SPARE ROOM AND RELEASED ON THEIR NEW HOME-GROWN LABEL HOUSE OF BEIGE RECORDS), THEY’VE DROPPED NEW SINGLES AND VIDEOS, TOURED OVERSEAS (SHARING STAGES WITH DE LA SOUL, BLACKALICIOUS AND JOEY BADA$$) AND ANNOUNCED A NEW NATIONAL TOUR TO CELEBRATE.

Oh, and REMI had four nominations at the Rolling Stone Australia Awards- winning for Best Independent Release- and nabbed an Australian Independent Record Association $50K Global Music Grant, designed to help musicians boost their status overseas. So, not too shabby.

Their new album Divas and Demons is already currying that good favour back around, hitting #10 on the ARIA album charts. Fans have flocked to the release for its powerful songwriting, covering race, depression and the challenges of art. As well as these aspects, the guys got a number of sweet guests like Hiatus Kaiyote’s Simon Mavin and Lorry, Cazeaux O.S.L.O. (Man Made Mountain) and Tom Scott (Average Rap Band.)

Remi and J chat about how it came to be.

Remi: “It was two years of writing on the road while we were away, coming back and collecting our thoughts in short stints in Melbourne. We had a lot of long drives in Europe between places, which wasn’t too distracting, the same scenery repeatedly.”

J: “It was more of necessity; we had two and a bit years between albums.”

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R: “We go a bit insane if we don’t do music (laughs). Music is like jogging, but less healthy.

It’s like crack.”

House of Beige now has a decent roster with artists like Hau, N’fa, Billy Hoyle, DJ Mz Rizk and Syrene, and the guys do other collabs (Remi teamed up with Sampa The Great for the For Good single), but generally stick to this dynamic duo setup that’s been working so well. The guys talk about how it is to work together. I mean, obviously the result is great tunes, but what goes on behind the curtain?

R: “You don’t spend this much time with someone in your life without coming up with ways to make things as exciting as possible. You work around each other’s differences. Musically, we definitely love the same shit; there’s stuff that J loves that I don’t but generally it’s the same. Our working styles are very different, but again, I think that’s why it works.”

J: “Our studio is set up in my spare bedroom, so there’s no time constraints. I can go out and Rem can record while I’m out! Like, ‘you know what you’re doing, I’ll go out and get some groceries’ (laughs)”

Remi and J were the first hip-hop act to take out the AMP, pushing it into the Aussie mainstream.

J: “I’ve always thought it was a legit art form. It’s the most expressive art form out of the genres, it’s so direct, with MCing and songwriting.”

Rem: “Hip-hop has now gotten to the point where it’s got every genre, it’s the most influential globally. It’s very hard for us to comment on what an award means; all we did was receive it, we hope if anybody doesn’t feel like hip-hop is legitthat changes it. It’s important, especially when dealing with any issue, you can break that shit down through rap. I find it ridiculous explaining my lyrics to people: with rap, I literally gave you a thesis on what I think!”

J: “Rem doesn’t really write abstract (laughs)” R: “That’s a huge part of rap, overembellishment. These are the struggles. I feel like hip-hop is the one genre where you can diversify the most. You can rap over pretty much anything.”

J: “We have eclectic record tastes. That’s what we try to do, represent what we listen to.”

LISA DIB

Remi and Sensible J play the Republic Bar in Hobart on Saturday December 10 and return to play Falls Festival at Marion Bay over December 29 – 31. Divas and Demons is out now on House of Beige Records.

Image: Justin James Photography

THE DUKE

Change is in the air at The DUKE Our freshly upgraded kitchen is now set up to take you on a flavour journey Change is in the air at The DUKE With all our classic wood fired pizzas, new mains plus our all new bar snack menu Our freshly upgraded kitchen is nOw set up tO take yOu On a flavOur jOurney with all Our classic wOOd firedCome pizzas, new taste themains changeplus Our all new bar snack menu Open Monday to Friday 11:30am till Late Come taste the change Saturday 5pm till late till late Open monday to friday 11:30am saturday 5pm till late This month at The Duke

this– Wahbash month at Avenue Live Music Tuesdays - 1st Nov – BLUES CLUB

the duke

Live Music Tuesdays 1st nov – blues club – wahbash avenue nov – duke Open An opportunity for Up and coming mic students to Jam with a professional band 15 Nov - JAZZ JAM JAR – 8th (acts book at dukeopenmic@gmail.com) 22 Nov – LOCAL ACT – Ben Ross 15th nov – jazz 29 jam – an opportunity Novjar – LOCAL ACT - Kat Edwards for up and coming students to–jam with band 6 Dec BLUES CLUBa– professional Ross Sermons & band The Duke Quiz22nd every nov Wednesday from 7:30 – lOcal act – ben ross -Beaker StlOcal Science act Pub talk 1st Nov Upstairs 29th nov – – kat edwards –6th Professor Miller –- ross MONA curator & band dec – Geoffrey blues club sermons

8th Nov – DUKE OPEN MIC (Acts book at dukeopenmic@gmail.com) th

nd

th

th

The duke Quiz every wednesday from 7:30

The Duke Macquarie Hobart 1st nov192 upstairs – beakerst street science pub talk – Professor03 Geoffrey Miller – MONA curator 6223 5206

The Duke

192 Macquarie St Hobart 03 6223 5206

Music

THE BEGINNING AND THE END DEBORAH CONWAY IS NO STRANGER TO THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE, IN FACT SHES BEEN MAKING MUSIC FOR WELL OVER 30 YEARS. I HAD A CHAT WITH DEBOARH ABOUT HER CURRENT TOUR WITH PARTNER WILLY ZYGIER.

Ask your parents who Deborah Conway is and they will be singing Do-Re-Mi’s top 5 hit ‘Man Overboard’ in a matter of seconds. Deborah Conway has achieved a lot in the 30 years it’s been since she fronted the 80’s alternative band Do-RéMi. Conway is currently touring Australia with partner Willy Zygier celebrating not only the 25th anniversary of Conway’s String of Pearls but the duo are also launching their ninth album Everybody’s Begging. The celebratory combining of these two albums was an in-genius way to please old fans whilst also enticing fans to listen to her new work.

“The two albums sit very comfortably back to back and I think that people are enjoying being challenged by the new work, or not so much challenged but because it’s new there’s more concentration involved with that and then sinking in to the warm comfortable bath that familiarity can bring with ‘String of Pearls’“.

Conway says that Everybody’s Begging is a continuation form their previous album Stories of Ghosts.

“We are exploring the same spiritual area of the human condition and talking about the sacred and the profane and trying to do it in a thought-provoking way, with a good backbeat.”

One particularly special aspect of Conway and Zygier’s music is the depth of their relationship, both personal and their songwriting relationship. Conway admits how this relationship changes the mood of the music and how it adds an “extra depth’ to their music, but understand how important it is to make sure each individual is working as hard as they can.

“I think there’s a lot of trust that’s been built over that time, particularly because were in a personal relationship as well, but I would say that’s the same with any long-term song-writing partnership, but I guess there’s an extra depth when you are in a personal relationship as well. I think that as long as we’re tough on each other, that’s the most important thing, that we expect the absolute best from each other and being able to say “that’s not good enough”. We have to continue to push ourselves more, to make the work better.

That’s the most adventitious aspect of being in a intimate relationship because there is no fear that that is going to impact another area of our partnership” Conway and Zygier are touring this truly special show across Australia currently and have collected a great number of musicians to preform with them at each show. Great musicians are a crucial part of an entertaining show and The Beginning and The End is bound to be a

The Monkeywrench IT’S BEEN LONG TIME BETWEEN DRINKS FOR MUDHONEY/THE MONKEYWRENCH’S STEVE TURNER; INDEED, THE MONKEYWRENCH, HAVE NEVER EVEN TOURED AUSTRALIA. SO, REARRANGING HIS SCHEDULE AND GETTING THE MATES IN THE VAN AGAIN, MARK ARM GOT THE MONKEYWRENCH BALL ROLLING AGAIN. BUT WHY?

brilliant show not only due to the unique and interesting tone of the music being preformed, but also because of the sheer talent of the musicians involved.

“We’ve been playing with Niko Schauble since we started touring with Stories of Ghosts, we’ve played with a lot of musicians over our decades long career so this is another alliteration of this band.

Clio Renner we’ve been playing with recently, we have a long relationship with her too, not necessarily a professional one but she’s someone whose been in our lives for a while; and same with Simon

“The short answer is: our drummer Martin [Bland] is from Adelaide and, after we got practising, we got back together to play the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in England, played a show in Seattle and it seemed anti-climactic for all the work we put in. Martin said, “I would like to play Australia again before I die” (laughs), he’s in no danger of dying but a little melodrama doesn’t hurt. It’s a long journey, but it’s worth it. Hope some people remember us.”

The Monkeywrench’s last record was 2008’s Gabriel’s Horn; what started as a one-off idea has become a long-running band that burst onto the scene with their 1992 debut album, Clean as a Broke-Dick Dog. It’s been easier than expected to manage several musical projects at once, though, explains Turner.

“The good thing is, the other guys in Mudhoney, they’re the guys who are happy to do something else” he says.

“We’re old and we just juggle stuff as best we can. Three of us have kids. It’s been that way with Mudhoney; in the late nineties, we started working jobs again and Dan [Peters, drummer] started having kids...we just do what we can and if someone can’t do something, we don’t sweat it. We all like doing it, so the needs of one outweigh the needs of the group.”

In the current pop-cultural climate, the nineties is back with a vengeance. Any and all trends have come bustling back onto the mainstream. But that’s just the way the ball rolls, says Turner.

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Starr, he’s someone whose been in our lives for a long time but this is the first time that we’ve actually played together and it’s been a fantastic process, I’ve really enjoyed playing with this band live”.

MACKENZIE STOLP

Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier will preform at the Theatre Royal on Thursday December 1. Tickets available from www.theatreroyal. com.au.

“I think that’s always been the case in post-war pop culture; twenty years ago, it was fascinating for the next generation. I meet so many people, kids in their early twenties are fascinated with the nineties, because they missed it. It seems to always happen: in the eighties, I was totally fascinated with everything from the sixties.

Nirvana and grunge, that resonates the same way the big stories from the sixties do. In context, some of the bands are just cooler than some of the other eras. Seems like the grunge bands resonate with kids ‘cause it’s more authentic” “You would think we’d be sick of each other (laughs)” Turner says, on his long-running personal and professional relationship with co-conspirator Mark Arm. “We get irritated with each other... but we go on tour for six weeks at a time, we do it because we still enjoy each other’s company, but we don’t do it as much as we used to. We don’t have as much opportunity to get sick of each other, things change as you get older- you settle in with family, quite natural. We don’t go out to clubs all the time either... we’re good.”

LISA DIB

The Monkeywrench play The Brisbane Hotel in Hobart on November 23.

Music

“I’M REALLY NOT IN TUNE WITH POPULAR THOUGHT” EIGHTIES SYNTH-POP DANDY HOWARD JONES ADMITS HE ISN’T EASILY SWAYED BY TRENDS. ALTHOUGH HE LIKES TO BE INTRODUCED TO NEW MUSIC, HE’S TAKING HIS OWN PATH IN TERMS OF WHAT HE LISTENS TO THESE DAYS. “I’ve always had a very broad taste, I love all kinds of music, I was brought up learning classical music. One of my favourite bands of all time is the Beach Boys. I don’t really listen to much eighties music! I’ve noticed with myself and my friends, what people tend to do now is... you can listen to an artist’s entire career, from the early albums and right through. I usually go on recommendations of things that I might like that are contemporary.”

“I’m a big fan of Kanye West; all my friends think I’m crazy but I think he’s amazing.” Jones states proudly. “It’s what you come across now. When I do listen to pop radio, I can’t really distinguish the artists, they don’t have a strong identityexcept people like Beyonce and Kanye, who you just know.”

Jones was an eighties-pop darling in the mid-to-late years of the decade, even into the early parts of the nineties. Arguably his most successful tunes have been from that era (“What Is Love?”, “No One Is To Blame”, “Like To Get To Know You Well”), and he speaks with a tremendous fondness for the time.

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Jones is on the board of directors for FAC, the Featured Artists Coalition. He cares deeply about the rights of artists and their abilities to make a living wage doing their jobs.

“I was there right when it was formed, that must be about five years ago now.

You think about the whole way the music business has changed. Artists, especially young artists, they really are forced into a position of having to have another job to keep their music going, which is a shame for all of us. Even when they get millions of downloads and streams, they still can’t make a living to keep them and their family going.”

“That’s what young artists are presented with these days. The focus can’t be on your recorded work anymore; it’s important to keep writing, but the things people still value and wanna be part of is live, being at the gig, the artists’ focus has got to be more on live work. Historically, that’s what people used to do; I mean, the recorded medium is relatively new, people having been doing live music since the beginning of time. It’s about getting back to that live experience. Communal enjoyment.”

PIG ON THE SPIT

“It’s a bit easier now to look back on it, but it was a great time for pop music.

Electronic music, the explosion of technology going on, also indie rock, heavy metal, ska, reggae, different genres that people could throw their allegiance

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behind, the diversity of things going on.

People cared about what music was in the charts, cared about the artists they loved and followed. The emphasis was not just on the music, but the videos and the fashion. It was a very colourful and interesting time, with something for everyone. Real positive energy.”

LISA DIB

Howard Jones is touring with fellow eighties kid Kim Wilde, playing at Wrest Point on November 10. Tickets available from www. tixtas.com.au.

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Music

AN HONEST MAN POWERHOUSE BLUESMAN MATT ANDERSEN IS RETURNING TO AUSTRALIA TO ENTHRALL YOU GUYS ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME ON THE BACK OF HIS TENTH RELEASE, HONEST MAN (OUT NOW), PRODUCED BY COMMISSIONER GORDON (KRS-ONE, AMY WINEHOUSE, JOSS STONE); HERE, ANDERSEN DISCUSSES THE CONTENT OF HONEST MAN AND HOW GORDON CHANGED HIS STYLE. “I’ve never put a particular thought into album concepts; I just get together and try to find the best songs I can. I do a lot of co-writing. I worked with Commissioner Gordon, there’s a lot of musical similarities in the stuff we listen to. He pulled some things out of me that I wouldn’t have on my own. We used drum loops on the recording. I’m a puristI would have used real drums- but I loved doing it, arranging ideas, he put me out of my comfort zone.”

The album also has some political writing that Andersen might usually stray away from.

“As I get older, you can’t really escape it. It’s affecting me and I am definitely starting to realise those decisions can have a pretty hard swing of control on how your life goes, you can’t get away from politics. The access people have with communicating with each other is different; you didn’t talk about politics and religion, now people say whatever on their mind. The filters are pretty much completely off.”

Although Andersen has been to Australia several times, his latest tour will be his debut jaunt to Tassie. He likes Oz because, as he mentioned, it reminds me of home.

“I try to reach new people. People were telling me to go there and check it out.

I feel like I’m at home in Canada when I am in Australia. We’re in the shadow of bigger countries, people have full-blown career in Australia, same as in Canada.

We both have that British connection, about the same age, fairly young countries. We were growing up in the same time, the laid-back attitude, it feels a lot like home.”

Although, it can be said that Canada’s head honcho (the fab Justin Trudeau) is a much better example of leadership than ours as well as being, let’s admit, incredibly handsome.

“Apparently he cuts a fine figure” Andersen laughs. “He’s definitely got a better grasp of social media. It’s a fresh approach, he’s not from the ‘boys club’, not just repeating the same things.”

Andersen has always been called a blues singer, but tries to resist the label. He maintains that the definition is probably too restrictive.

“I’ve never made a blues album (laughs), some songs are straight-up blues, the last album was all over the place: soul, r&b, all jammed in there. When I approach music, I never try to fit into a certain category, never worry about genres, and it can be a struggle. Some people say it’s too mellow for the rock stations, but not mellow enough for the blues stations.

You just write what you write. Personally, I grew up on different kinds of music. I can’t imagine doing the same thing over and over again.”

LISA DIB Matt Andersen plays The Republic Bar in Hobart on Wednesday November 23 and Red Hot Music in Devonport on Thursday November 24.

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Music

SWEAT IT OUT

hopefully all that’s behind us. The line-up was previously all Tassie people- I’m from Tassie myself- people I grew up playing music with, and they’ve gone onto other things. Now it’s just me as the Tasmanian representative.”

IT’S BEEN A ROCKY ROAD, TO SAY THE LEAST, FOR MELBOURNEBASED, TASSIE-BORN THE MEAN TIMES. SINGER/GUITARIST TOM MORGAN IS THE LAST REMAINING ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE BAND, AND THE CHANGES AND SHIFTING FACES HAS PUT STRAIN BUT, ULTIMATELY, A SENSE OF DEDICATION AND RESOLVE ON THE BAND.

The band describe themselves as “everyday man’s rock”- I was curious to know what this meant.

“To me, it means there’s nothing pretentious about it. A lot of the lyrical themes are kind of what goes through the head of your normal bloke. There’s nothing too ‘indie’ about it, it’s indie rock but in terms of lyrical themes, it’s just about stuff people can relate to, things that go through your head when you’re sitting down not talking to anyone. It’s observational. The latest single and new songs are a bit more personal, from my point of view anyway.”

So, with their new single Right Thing, Wrong Time, their 2014 debut EP You’ve Got the Wrong Guys (“self-produced, recorded in various locations around Melbourne: bathrooms, bedrooms. It started out as demos and we realised we were onto something, so we gave it a good crack”) and a renewed sense of purpose behind them, on tour they go.

The video for their single Crossing The Line became something of a viral hit for the band. Having notched up over 21,000 views at time of writing, no doubt the viewing audience really enjoyed watching Morga and the boys sweat themselves to near-death in a Bikram Yoga studio. It is kind of fun to watch.

“We’ve actually been around for a little while in various formats. You lose someone along the way and it’s hard to get back into it- it took almost nine months at one time. In the process of recording this single, we had to let our drummer go and start from scratch. We were lucky enough to find our current drummer pretty quickly, he picked everything up quickly.”

“We decided to put ourselves through a bit of stress.” Morgan explains, on why the band did this to themselves. “Real heat.

It was hard work because it took a good day in that room, drinking beers along the way. Alternating between beers and Gatorade (laughs) but that video did really well for us in terms of awareness. We’ve played a lot of gigs off the back of that.”

“In the past, it’s been all mates of mine, but you can’t get too soft with people.”

Morgan explains. “If they decide to leave for personal reasons or whatever...I’m pretty happy, I’ve been able to push on with it. We’ve got a solid base now,

THE SONGBIRD SESSIONS HOBART’S MOST INSPIRING NEW MUSICAL PROJECT IS SET FOR ITS FIRST EVENT THIS 11 NOVEMBER. THE SONGBIRD SESSIONS IS THE BRAINCHILD OF HANNAH MAY, WHO IS BRINGING TOGETHER THE STATE’S FINEST FEMALE SINGER-SONGWRITERS FOR EVENINGS OF INTIMATE SONG. THE PREMIERE WILL FEATURE HANNAH ALONG WITH THE TALENTED MADELENA, LASCA, AND SUSANNAH COLEMAN-BROWN. Soul-inspired singer-songwriter Hannah May has spent the past few years going it solo.

She’s performed alongside Clare Bowditch, supporting Cold Chisel’s Ian Moss, and is currently recording her crowdfunded debut album The Little Things set for 2017 release.

But Hannah now feels it’s the perfect time to expand her horizons and team up with other like-minded singer-songwriters to present new music in a “supportive” space.

LISA DIB The Mean Times play The Homestead in North Hobart on November 19.

And so, The Songbird Sessions was born, and its premiere will feature Hannah and Madelena, Lasca, and Susannah Coleman-Brown at the Founders Room this month.

“Being a solo artist can be lonely work and it takes a lot of motivation to push yourself out there: working together has just been so much fun!” Hannah says.

has been fantastic working with someone who is as passionate about creating music and sharing the experiences of being a musician”.

“All three artists performing for the premiere are musicians I admire and are working hard at their music.”

Madelena’s background is in jazz and pop, and after seven years of live performance across the local music scene she’s just released her anticipated debut single My Lightest Shade. The single is inspired by “summer love and the natural beauty of Tasmania”.

Hannah explains the idea behind her new venture was to provide an initiative “that gives female artists a space to perform at their very best with no distractions”. You won’t rock up to these sessions to have a few beers while watching the TV in the bar and chatting loudly with your friends.

The aim of these sessions is for all eyes to be on the performer; all ears to listen to the music. It’s about showing respect, and each set will run for half an hour to allow the musicians “to perform a short but sweet set of their original music”.

Hannah May and Madelena’s friendship goes back a few years, when they first met in 2011 as students at the Conservatorium of Music and are now gigging together across the local scene.

“We encourage each other in our solo endeavours but are choosing to do certain gigs together that mean we have more to play with and can bounce off eachother on stage,” Hannah says.

For Madelena, the journey to performing with Hannah has been similar: “As we both have been solo artists for a while, it

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“Working as a duo opens up the possibilities with each other’s songs and gives us more colours vocally and instrumentally,” Madelena says.

Also appearing at the premiere is Lasca, and Susannah Coleman-Brown.

Susannah has written music from a cosy Cornwall cottage after spending eight years expanding her creative output in Melbourne until 2010. The Victorian College of the Arts student has performed across venues from Hamer Hall to MONA to Italy – and you may have seen others in her musical family such as Christopher and Jonathon Coleman.

Lasca grew up in Ulverstone and started out on flute and violin before turning to singing, and has supported the likes of Paul Dempsey, and performed at the Falls Festival as part of her band The Habits.

STEPHANIE ESLAKE See these four musicians at the launch of The Songbird Sessions, from 7pm on Friday November 11 at the Founders Room, Salamanca. Tickets available from www. trybooking.com.

Music

A CASE OF WATCH THIS SPACE KAT EDWARDS IS NO STRANGER TO THE TRIPLE J AIRWAVES, NOR THE APPRAISAL FROM THE STATION’S MOST RENOWNED STAFFING NAMES. The Tasmanian indie/roots artist has left fans and critics weak at the knees with her renowned single, Stranger In My Room. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Bon Iver and Angus & Julia Stone, Edwards’ music has been described as “spellbinding” and “heartbreaking”.

The young Tasmanian is one of three Tasmanian artists who will perform at Flow Mo, a charity concert held at Hobart’s Room For A Pony on Sunday November 27. She’ll join DJ duo Sumner and nationally acclaimed artist Christopher Coleman, all who are generously donating their time in a bid to raise the profile of Movember.

It’s a month where men commit to growing moustaches for a darn good cause.

In collaboration with the Mobart Mo Bros and Room For A Pony, Flow Mo will look to raise funds and awareness for men’s health, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

Edwards’ latest single, Darling, is a small taste of what’s install for the artist’s forthcoming debut EP. The young lass talked with Warp Magazine about inspiration, recording and her take on mental health.

Talk us through the creation of your forthcoming EP. How long have you been collating songs for, when/where are you recording, and when can we expect to hear new music?

The creation of this EP is funny because I had never planned to make one. I had just been writing songs for myself until two friends of mine, Callum Metcalfe and Oscar Bosch recorded me in a dancing studio at a local college. We released the song the next afternoon as a demo. It was pretty surreal when it started getting attention from people, we hadn’t been expecting that. From there we just decided to create something bigger, an EP! For every song my vocals and guitar have been recorded in the same dancing studio, but as for everything else it’s been recorded in lots of locations: Vans, beaches, living rooms. It’s really fun experimenting with natural sounds. It’s been a real learning curve for all of us and so much fun at the same time, it’s actually going to be kind of sad when we finish it!

I can’t confirm an exact date just yet as to when it will be out, but I’m hoping it’ll be before Christmas.

Your expectations (maybe even nerves) must be high, as it’s your debut release outside of a single. Does this make the writing process/ choosing songs even more gruelling?

Yeah definitely. I think I had an expectation of what I wanted to happen or how I wanted people to react when I released it. When I was in that headspace of creating the EP for others it

added so much unnecessary stress on everyone involved. I’ve more recently realised that as long as I’m happy with what was created and I like it then it doesn’t really matter what happens after it gets released. If other people like it too then I guess it’s just a bonus!

Do songs that feature on the EP sit close to the style and feel of your single, Stranger In My Room? Have you tried experimenting with different sounds or have you found a writing recipe that works for you?

Yeah I think all the songs fit together really nicely, some are a bit more upbeat but I think they’re still all linked by the same kind of feel/ style. The way I write is working for me right now so I haven’t really felt the need to experiment with my sound as much. That’s not to say I won’t experiment in the future, I have a heap of projects/ideas I want to create with my music within the next few years.

How’s it feel to be selected by Allday as one of his top five picks for Triple J Unearthed? On top of this, you’ve received accolades and radio play from the station. What does a platform like Unearthed mean for you as an upcoming artist?

It was really nice to see that. It’s quite a surreal feeling to be noticed by someone who has already found success with their music. I think Unearthed is such a great platform for artists just starting out. It can reach such a wider audience than if they were just playing locally.

I think it’s awesome that a radio station is so willing to help new artists find their feet and get some kind of recognition for their work.

Do you believe there’s enough opportunities here in Tasmania for young artists to chase their musical dreams, or if you had your time over would you base yourself somewhere else like Melbourne or Sydney?

I don’t think I would want to be based anywhere else. I really do love the Hobart music scene, all the musicians are all out to help each other which is such a nice environment to be in when you’re first starting out. Everyone’s really friendly with each other and there is so much support that I just don’t think I would get in a bigger city.

There are so many people and businesses that are passionate about live music down here so I’ve been really happy with the opportunities I’ve been given so far.

Flow Mo is a charity gig raising awareness around mental health, particularly in men.

Do you feel the stigma around depression and anxiety is diminishing thanks to greater awareness and more people talking about the matter?

Mental health is getting talked about quite openly now and more and more people are speaking up about depression which is great.

Problems need to be addressed and spreading awareness has (finally) started to break down the idea that men are meant to be strong and shouldn’t cry/show emotion. We forget that sometimes gender doesn’t make them any less of a person, we all have emotions regardless good or bad. It’s great to see a shift is happening, but we need to keep spreading awareness.

What’s your advice for those who may be feeling sad or isolated?

My advice would be to talk about it. It is so important to talk about your issues and not just push them away. There are so many great organisations that have been created solely for the purpose of listening and helping someone who’s feeling down.

MARK ACHESON

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, you can seek help at www.headspace.org.au or lifeline.org.au.

Mo Flow will be held on Sunday, November 27 at Room For A Pony from 5pm onwards. Tickets are $20, with all proceeds going to Movember. For more information search ‘Flow Mo’ on Facebook and look for the event page.

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Arts REVIEW

THE UNCONFORMITY THE UNCONFORMITY IS A CELEBRATION OF THE COMMUNITY AND ITS PEOPLE, THE REGION’S INDUSTRIAL HISTORY, THE UNIQUE LANDSCAPE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND ITS RESILIANCE. IT’S FUN, IT’S ODD, AND IT’S A FESTIVAL THAT TRULY DOESN’T CONFORM.

On one hand, Queenstown is an unlikely place for one of Tasmania’s most interesting and unconventional arts festivals, but then again, the unlikeliness is probably why it’s so successful. The festival’s themes are unsurprisingly the very things that make the town unique: geology, mining, and community. They’re the same themes that have shaped the previous two festivals, and yet the performances, exhibitions and other events seem to be increasingly more diverse and wonderfully unpredictable.

This year’s participating artists were a mix of Queenstowners, Tasmanians, mainlanders and a couple from overseas, resulting in creative interpretations of place from multiple viewpoints. The British artist Lindsey Seers, for instance, created an installation that examined the life and work of a reclusive Queenstown resident, Leo Albert Kelly, whose incredible paintings, collections of religious ephemera, rocks, and other objects were only discovered a couple of years before his death (refer to my separate article on his work).

An old limestone quarry was used for a rolling series of Flux performances, featuring artists like Pip Stafford, Omahara, Rob Thorne, and Jacqui Shelton. Now converted into a magical garden complete with a natural waterfall, pond, ferns, and bridge, not to mention the dramatic deep cliffs, it proved itself an ideal music bowl, roving performance space and, on the Saturday night, a canvas for Jason James’ light installation. The garden

proved a perfect setting for Shelton’s monologue, for instance, during which she wandered over the grassy knolls and snaking stream, musing “perhaps I am the moon, looking in from outside, always circling the situation but never arriving. Perhaps this landscape, this moonscape, is circling something much larger than itself, pointing me towards something I can’t see.” Although references to the Queenstown ‘moonscape’ have become a little clichéd through overuse (particularly now that the plants on the once-naked hills have long started growing back), Shelton’s words seemed like a quaint and considered response to the oft-used term.

Like Flux, many of the performances incorporated significant sites or landmarks, including mines, mountains, lookouts, and heritage buildings. In Dark Water, the audience physically travelled by train from Queenstown to Lynchford station before ending up in one of the former mines at Mount Jukes near midnight. We Are Mountain similarly transported the audience up the mountains – this time to the famous Iron Blow lookout.

Being on Tasmania’s West Coast, the audience was also joined by howling wind and freezing rain – a discomfort somewhat made up for later with tea and a massive cake in the shape of the Iron Blow landform.

The Singularity also required a hike up a hill. The narrative sound work, which recalled an individual’s experience growing up in Queenstown, was designed to be listened to from the top of the Spion Kopf Lookout.

It provides a 360 degree view of the township and the surrounding mountain ranges, and I spent most of the time speculating as to which house the storyteller might have lived in. Originally planned as an iPhone app that would activate based on a user’s location, the soundtrack was instead available via a website (good news for Android users). The narrative reminded me of the walking works of Janet Cardiff, and I wonder if The Singularity (or iteration of) should be expanded to multiple sites for future festivals.

The Unconformity Art Trail was an inclusive event and thus a little variable in quality and theme. I particularly enjoyed Chris Wilson’s digital prints of marbled polymer clay, which she had manipulated to resemble the local rock forms. They reminded me of Chinese Dreamstones where marble is sliced into thin tablets, revealing extraordinary ‘paintings’ of mountains thanks to a variety of natural minerals. Hidden within Wilson’s ‘landscapes’ are silhouettes of trees, or sometimes a lone figure or a mining structure, providing a surprising sense of scale.

In all, The Unconformity is an extraordinary event in an extraordinary town. I’m eagerly awaiting the next one in 2018.

LUCY HAWTHORNE

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Images: 1. Dark Water. Photo credit: Jack Robert-Tissot 2. We Are Mountain cake. Photo credit: Andrew Ross 3. Performer in the Flux Quarry. Photo credit: Andrew Ross

Montaigne plays at the Hobart Brewing Company on November 12. Glorious Heights is out now through Wonderlick Records.

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Arts MY OPINION AND YOUR OPINION

THE CITY OF HOBART ART PRIZE

In response to a couple of heated public forums, the council has reopened the online survey (you can find it on the Arts and Culture section of HCC’s website). It’s a selfselecting poll so it’s hard to say how reliable the statistics are, but with lots of free text boxes, it’s nonetheless the opportunity to give much-needed feedback on the prize and council arts funding in general.

HOBART CITY COUNCIL IS CALLING FOR COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON THE FUTURE OF THE COUNCIL-RUN CITY OF HOBART ART PRIZE.

Personally, I don’t think the art prize is a great investment. I loathe the art prize exhibition model. Art prizes are expensive for entrants, most of whom will not even be accepted into the final exhibition. They also tend to favour easy-to-install traditional mediums, particularly

painting. Additionally, with acquisitive prizes, there’s a perverse incentive to award the prize to established artists whose work is worth more.

In the initial public forum last month, the council left off artist entry fees from the art prize budget – a significant oversight. At the second forum, there was a push from the audience to include artist labour in the budget as ‘in-kind support’, the rationale being that if the TMAG’s in-kind support was formulated and included, why not the hours of application writing and artwork production invested by artists. It goes back to the ‘creative economy’ farce, where artists are expected to work for free (AKA ‘exposure’) while arts administrators and gallery cleaners get paid, and other industries, such as tourism and hospitality, ultimately reap the rewards.

While the forums were intended to discuss the art prize alone, they both descended into a much-needed discussion about HCC arts funding in general. There was a consensus that the council’s arts funding needs to be more transparent, for instance, as well as a call for a breakdown of the budget with specific examples of the projects/events that were funded.

Following the closure of the council’s gallery a couple of years ago, Hobart has suffered from a lack of public art spaces, particularly those catering to mid-career local artists. The councils surrounding Hobart run successful arts spaces, such as the Moonah Arts Centre and GASP in Glenorchy City Council and Clarence Council’s Schoolhouse Gallery. So why are they able to support galleries while HCC can’t? This year HCC decided not to hold the annual art prize, citing not only the unavailability of exhibition space at the usual venue - the TMAG - but also the fact that they’d run out of storage space for art acquisitions. What a shame they don’t have a council-run art space available…

LUCY HAWTHORNE

Image: Hobart art is more than just Stephen Walker sculptures.

The Tasmanian Arts Guide is your guide to the best creative places and top things to do in the arts across Tasmania.

There’s over 100 places to go, feature articles, artist profiles and a what’s on guide with all the insider tips you need to plan your week or weekend.

www.tasmanianartsguide.com.au

Image credits: The Collector 9 Cutting and Grafting (detail), Mish Meijers and Tricky Walsh; The Embers, photographer: Alia Coates Black Plate Photography; Grave Listening, Dylan Sheridan, photographer: Daisy Noyes.

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Music

CREATIVE HOUSES HAUS CREATIVE IS AN EXCITING NEW BEAST ON THE TASMANIAN ARTS SCENE. IT IS THE BRAINCHILD OF KATE VON ROCK AND IT IS IN DEVONPORT, A CITY WHICH IS NOT OFTEN CONSIDERED AN ARTS HUB, THOUGH ALONGSIDE A GROWING ARTS SCENE AND AN ESTABLISHED REGIONAL GALLERY, KATE IS SEEKING TO TURN THIS NOTION ON ITS HEAD.

Kate has been running, online, Von Rock Art Auctions and Sales and has decided to step it up and provide a physical home where works can be viewed offline. She aims to provide a venue with caters to visual, performing, literary and cinematic arts, with an exhibition space, as well as a regular Haus Creative Artist Market. They also have a reading lounge filled with works by Tasmanian writers and plans to host launches, poetry slams, music and other performances. An artist herself, Von Rock recognizes the need to make holding artistic events affordable to individuals based on their personal situations.

In a recent interview Kate said “art is all I have ever been and what I choose to surround myself with. From my early teens I was fortunate to have been surrounded by likeminded, mid-career and professional artists, who guided me into the arts and I hope to provide similar guidance to local emerging talent.” She noted that the North West of the State seems to have a gap between the arts and the community, with only a select few having access to showcase their art forms and usually on a level that isn’t creatively or financially viable.

Once Haus Creative gains momentum they will put in place a series of community programs that are aimed at creativity and are interactive, with a view to breaking down the notion of an ‘us and them’. The school holidays programs in art, writing and music will be up and running this summer. Kate feels that Haus Creative will “create platforms for local artists to exhibit their works but also expose locals to art from outside the region, with artworks coming in from across Australia every week.”

“With several mainland artists flying in to attend our launch and discuss potential future exhibitions and workshops, we hope we are already contributing to Tasmanian tourism,” she said.

Amongst all of this she is also finding the time to complete a series of 20 oil paintings for a solo exhibition, based on the beauty of home and personal space.

Haus Creative ran their first artist market in September and are excited to be holding their official launch on November 11, 6.30pm at The Devonport Showgrounds in Gunn Street with an after party at the Alex Hotel. Let them know you’ll be there, either on their Facebook page or call/text Kate 0437 474 570.

RACHEL EDWARDS

PREVIEW

ON THE ORIGIN OF ART OPENING WEEKEND MONA’S NEW SHOWCASE EXHIBITION OPENS THE FIRST WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER WITH A TWO-DAY MUSIC PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES C.W.STONEKING, ROB THORNE, GEORGIA LUCY, AND KATE MILLER-HEIDKE. On the Origin of Art addresses the question: ‘why do we make art?’ Four scientists and evolutionary theorists - Steven Pinker, Brian Boyd, Geoffrey Miller and Mark Changizi - have been invited to guest curate the exhibition, with each theorist presenting their theory through works of art.

The exhibition includes over 230 objects, including artefacts dating back 800,000 years, French Impressionist paintings, Japanese ukiyo-e prints, as well as works by contemporary art superstars like Takashi Murakami and Yayoi Kusama. David Walsh notes, “I’m not trying to show that art is this or that thing, and I’m not trying to show that we make art for this or that reason. For the moment I’m just trying to show that art is a complex thing and its characteristics multifarious.”

On the Origin of Art, Mona, November 5, 2016 – April 17, 2017.

Opening weekend celebrations: 10am – 10pm Saturday November 5 & 10am-6pm, Sunday November 6, 2016.

Ryan McGinley, Anne Marie (Iguana) (2012). ©Ryan McGinley. Courtesy of the artist and team (gallery, inc.), New York.

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Arts

LEO ALBERT KELLY AND THE THREE DAYS DARKNESS A FEW YEARS AGO, THE BRITISH ARTIST LINDSAY SEERS AND QUEENSTOWN-BASED RAYMOND ARNOLD VISITED THE RECLUSIVE LEO ALBERT KELLY IN HIS QUEENSTOWN HOME, VIDEOING THE TOUR OF HIS EXTRAORDINARY SELF-BUILT CORRUGATED IRON HOME, COMPLETE WITH CIRCULAR CHAPEL AND OBSERVATORY. DURING THEIR VISIT, KELLY REVEALED A GREAT NUMBER OF PAINTINGS AND HIS COLLECTION OF FOUND OBJECTS – THE FULL EXTENT OF WHICH WAS ONLY DISCOVERED ON HIS DEATH SHORTLY AFTER.

The resulting video was shown as part of Seers’ installation, Suffering, at The Unconformity festival last month alongside Kelly’s many paintings and collections of memorabilia, rocks and other ephemera. It was exhibited in the Queenstown’s Uniting Church building and Country Women’s Association Hall. While the once devoutly Catholic Kelly would have probably rolled in his grave at the thought, the hall provided the perfect architectural environment for Seers’ replica iron house and video, which looked like it was shoehorned into the main hall. Kelly’s paintings also suited this humble environment perfectly, hung against the roughly hewn, white-painted wooden interior of the rear hall and kitchenette. Seers’ creative edit of the video (which included interviews with local residents, images of the landscape, and even the building that burnt down next to the CWA only three weeks before the opening) was interesting, but it left me wanting more information on Kelly’s life and work.

Kelly left the church when Catholicism “didn’t match his opinions” (such as the rapture that’s supposedly due to occur in 2018), and he had a falling out with a local priest.

His rumoured plans to join the priesthood fell through following a mental breakdown, and it’s assumed he had psychological issues and autism. He was described as ‘very reverent, very humble, and very quiet and private’, and at one point he worked as the town’s postman.

While the exterior of his house indicated an eccentric individualism, there was little known about his creative pursuits until just recently.

Kelly’s paintings are a mix of mystic Catholicism, religious figures, and Queenstown landscapes – both built and natural. They feature rainbows, planets, angels, the Virgin Mary, and magic purple landscapes with glittering temples. But many of them also include the relatively banal streets, cars and houses that made up his everyday physical environment.

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The paintings are individually numbered and hand-framed with offcuts from doorframes and other scrap wood.

Number 36 is painted on Masonite with handwritten notes roughly screwed to the top. It portrays a group of people and their cars at the edge of a lookout, seemingly oblivious to the looming storm. The sky is ominously split in two, with the clear blue sky (with an oddly bright moon) on the right threatened by stormy grey clouds on the left (albeit with an accompanying rainbow). Number 35 depicts a central angel wielding a bloody sword, with a line of angels descending from the sky behind her - the mystical scene countered by the Queenstown townscape in the foreground. The recognisable grid of streets, complete with central roundabout, traffic and houses, are painted in flattened, map-like style. The paper tags attached to the frame echo this conflict between the everyday and the mystical: a couple of notes read “The Holy Trinity. The father. The Son. The holy Spirit” and “They will seek God’s face in there (sic) misery”, while another identifies the subject of the painting as “The Greate (sic) Red Cut Back”.

Number 29 is a little more grounded, but again, mixes Catholic iconography with a depiction of Kelly’s everyday surroundings. A walled house and garden sits in the foreground of an expansive natural landscape, its isolation exaggerated by the contrast between the flattened grid of the domestic plot and the illusion of depth in the surrounding landscape. An angel (or Jesus?) tends to a small bush, while a nun (or is it Mary?) works in the garden. Another painting (no.4) is captioned “Inviting Leo to look into Her stone”, recalling the time he was “given a gift” of a rock in the shape of the Virgin Mary while wandering along a beach. The rock, which is framed in a glass and wooden pod with doorstoppers as supports, does indeed look like the Virgin Mary.

No one seems to know what is going to happen to this incredible body of work, and a few people I spoke to assumed it would just go back into the church’s basement. There are no plans to keep it together as a collection, and the local museum hasn’t committed to taking it. I’d love to see it acquired by our State Museum.

Kelly’s work was never intended for exhibition or public display. They were created for himself and for his God, which is why they’re so intriguingly personal and revealing. It would be a great shame if his work suffered a death by neglect, damp and decay.

LUCY HAWTHORNE 1. The engraved caption on one of Leo Kelly’s watercolour paintings: “Jesus and Mary Greeting Leo”.

2. Leo Kelly’s ‘gift’: the Virgin Mary rock.

3. Leo Kelly’s paintings in the CWA Hall, October 2017.

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Photo credit: Lucy Hawthorne

Music

PAIGE TURNER JOURNALIST SVETLANA ALEXIEVICH WON THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE LAST YEAR. SHE IS A JOURNALIST FROM BELARUS WHOSE BOOK, SECONDHAND TIME, THE LAST OF THE SOVIETS, TRANSLATED BY BELA SHAYEVICH, IS A TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE READ. FOR DECADES ALEXIEVICH HAD PUT HER TAPE RECORDER ON THE TABLE AND IN THE BOOK SHE PRESENTS THE DEVASTATING PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE USSR. THIS YEAR’S NOBEL LAUREATE OF LITERATURE IS, CONTROVERSIALLY, THE MYSTICAL POET OF THE PEOPLE, BOB DYLAN.

Closer to home there is a great selection of events happening around Tasmania in November, wherever your noble affiliations lie. The Story Island Project is a new organisation that celebrates the power of a story, and the people of an island. They are having a public celebration at the Moonah Arts Centre on November 24 at 6pm.

Australian of the Year Local Hero and Sydney Story Factory co-founder Cath Keenan will speak at the event.

Visit: www.storyislandproject.org.

Red Parka Designer Jennifer Crossins is releasing a gorgeously illustrated book called A-Z of Endangered Animals (pictured here). The launch will take place at the Red Parka Shop on Criterion St, Hobart in the afternoon of November 2. For further information, see www.redparka. com.au. 10% of the profits will be donated to the World Wildlife Fund.

will yarn about his book Tasmanian Trail. All of this on a single Sunday November (the 13th).

In Hobart, Fullers have some good looking events including Robyn Williams from ABC’s The Science Show discussing his book In Love with Betty the Crow, on November 8, Melissa Ashby on November 10 discussing The Birdman’s Wife, and Briohny Doyle will be chatting about her dystopic fiction (is it dystofiction?) The Island Will Sink, on November 18. Captain Blueberry strikes again – and The Journey of Admiral Bolognaise will be launched on November 12, the day after the launch of Margaretta Pos’ new book Shadows in Suriname. Make sure you RSVP!

Wetlands are slimy and amazing places and to celebrate their unique habitat, Tasmanian students are invited to submit a poem into a poetry competition. For more information – www.worldwetlandsdaypoetryprize.org/.

The Hobart Bookshop is hosting the launch of Tony Brennan’s A Beauty That Catches, a collection of poetry on November 3. On November 9 Jen Gibson will launch Meanderings by Betty Mckenzie-Tubb and on November 24th, Dianne Coon, secretary of the Volunteer Ambulance Officers Association will launch Ro Evelyn’s first novel, The Volunteer.

This year’s Sustainable Living Festival will feature a poetry slam and a story slam where you have a chance to get on stage and delight, astound or murder a poem or story.

While I will not judge you, I am a judge for the story comp and the incomparable Storyteller Spinks is MC. For more details head over to www.slt.org.au/festival_slam.

Matthew Evans and Nick Haddow will be having a hearty yarn about cheese and tucker and their array of books, including Nick’s new one, Milk Made, a book about cheese, at the State Cinema in Hobart on Monday, November 7.

For further information and to book tickets go online at www.statecinemabookstore.com.au.

The Adam and Eve ABC Guide to the Art of Ageing Disgracefully is being launched at Petrarchs in Launceston on November 25, 6pm. This is a slightly risqué stocking filler about some of the challenges we face as we age. It’s a quick read that will give you a few laughs and some excellent food for thought about how you might like to age...disgracefully.

Tony Fenton spent a lot of his childhood roaming around Melaleuca and Port Davey with his grandfather, the legendary Deny King. His book, Fleeting Hopes, an immaculately researched history of the area is complete and ready to go to print. He’s crowdfunding to make this happen. I’ve pledged and am busting to read it. You should pledge too at www.pozible.com/project/publication-offleeting-hopes.

Also at Petrarchs in November, country girl and bestselling Tasmanian Ruro (rural romance) writer extraordinaire, Rachael Treasure will be signing copies of her new book Down the Dirt Roads on November 5 at 11am. Photographer Owen Hughes will be signing copies of his latest book Love This Island Tasmania on November 12 at 11am instore. Owen successfully captures the diversity of our cities and regions, our strong sense of community and the pleasure we take in joining others to celebrate and play.

Two of my favourite things are flowers and books and I may head north for Woolmer’s Festival of Roses, especially as Petrarchs will be on site hosting the book side of this floral event. The following authors will be speaking; Janice Sutton on her book, Garlic Feast 11am, Karen Hall, about Wychwood, Indira Naidoo will discuss The Edible Garden and The Edible City and Ben Milbourne

The Tasmanian Writers Centre are hosting a Twitch Celebration at the Centre’s Reading Lounge on Tuesday November 22 at 6pm. This will feature readings from some of the young writers involved in this excellent program. They have a workshop called Perfect your NonFiction Book Proposal with Mary Cunnane on November 20. The centre has also extended the deadline for Young Writers in the City, Devonport until November 7. Get on it. www.taswriters.org.

RACHEL EDWARDS

If you have some book news or events you would like to share, email me at racheledwards488@gmail.com.

EXHIBITION PREVIEW

HOLIDAY INN CAMBODIA JOSEPH GRACIA COMBINES WIT AND CUTTING POLITICAL COMMENTARY IN HIS UPCOMING EXHIBITION, HOLIDAY INN CAMBODIA.

The work is inspired by the artist’s travels through South East Asia, and aims to draw attention to the power and influence Australia holds within the region. The exhibition is a collage of objects and ideas: “offshore detention centres, media manipulation, deaths at sea, death penalties, self-immolations and landmines exist alongside five star hotels, sitcoms and soap operas, luxury cruises, diplomatic immunity, barbeques and fireworks.” Gracia observes, “the situation would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious.”

Joseph Gracia

Holiday Inn Cambodia Top Gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart.

Friday November 4 - Tuesday November 29 Opening: 6pm, Friday November 4 Artist Talk: 12-1pm, Tuesday November 15 Image: Joseph Gracia, Holiday Inn Cambodia (2016).

Image courtesy of the artist.

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Arts

Gallery

performing arts

Guide

Guide

South

NORTH

146 Artspace Until Nov 24 Design Tasmania

QVMAG Until Nov 24 ArtStart: The Seahorse’s Garden Until Jan 29 Udo Sellback - And Still I See It

Bett Gallery Until - Dec 2 Peter James Smith - For the Call of the Running Tide

Nov 25 - Dec 12 Sara Maher Nov 25 - Dec 12 Rosie Hastie Colville Gallery November 4 Chen Ping November 25 Stephen Lees Handmark Gallery Until Nov 28 William Rhodes - Crepusculo - New Paintings Nov 25 - Dec 5 Hilton Owen - New Paintings Rosny Barn Schoolhouse Gallery Until Dec 4 A Stitch in Time: Biennial Textile and Fibre Exhibition Despard Gallery Until Nov 20 Glen Clarke - The Last Missile Installation Nov 23 - Dec 18 Peter Prasil and Sebastian Galloway

Handmark Evandale Until Nov 30 Emily Blom - Bound and Finely Woven Burnie Regional Gallery Until Dec 11 RACT Insurance Tasmanian Portraiture Prize Until Dec 11 Burnie Athletics Club : 130th Anniversary Exhibition Devonport Regional Gallery Until Nov 13 Shapeshifter: 3D Printing the Future Until Nov 13 Susan Quinn: Arcane Floriography November 25 - Jan 01 Tidal: City of Devonport National Art Award Gallery Pejean Until Dec 3 Kate Piekutowski : Midnight in Paris

Salamanca Arts Centre Lightbox Until Nov 30 Oneness Top Gallery Until Nov 29 Holiday Inn Cambodia Studio Gallery Until Nov 13 Ensemble 3 Sidespace Gallery Nov 15 - Nov 30 HIP Mini-print Exhibition and Sale Long Gallery Nov 17 - Nov 28 Anton Holzner: Paintings 1993 - 2016

SOUTH

NORTH

COMEDY

COMEDY

The Polish Corner Nov 23 Darren Casey Nov 30 David Quirk Dec 16 Judith Lucy & Tony Martin Special Event

Princess Theatre Nov 11 Bill Bailey

Republic Bar Nov 17 Josh Earl

Burnie Arts Centre Nov 23 Jimeoin - Yeehaa!

Theatre Royal Nov 23 - 26 Jack and His Giant Stalk Dec 8 Alex Williamson - Open Up

THEATRE

THEATRE Theatre Royal Nov 24 - Dec 3 The Bull, The Moon, And The Coronet of Stars Moonah Arts Centre Nov 18 Transcendence. Darkness into Light Nov 19 Burlesque After Dark - End of Year Spectacular Nov 26 Exploring. Chaos and Creation

Devonport Entertainment Centre Nov 24 Jimeoin - Yeehaa!

Princess Theatre Nov 13 Melissa Wimmer’s School of Theatrical Dance Annual Concerts Nov 17 Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Nov 18 A Dancer’s Showcase Nov 19 Bravo 2016 Nov 25 Esk Bands Extravaganza Concert Burnie Arts Centre Nov 26 Burnie School of Irish Dance Devonport Entertainment Centre Nov 19 The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery Nov 30 Beyond the Watergate Peacock Theatre Nov 18 - Dec 3 Assassins FILM Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery Nov 17 - 20 Tasmanian Eco Film Festival 2016

Moonah Arts Centre Until Nov 19 Mande Bijelic’s Plugholes and Other Paintings Nov 15 - Nov 26 Not Knowing: Accepting Ambiguity Nov 24 - Dec 17 Decoding Visual Excess TMAG Until Nov 20 Tempest

WARP RECOMMENDS

OPEN HOUSE HOBART GET YOUR CAMERA PHONES READY FOR ONE OF THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE EVENTS OF THE YEAR: THE ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE HOBART.

The usual suspects will be open once more, such as the incredible 1930s Colonial Mutual Life building complete with gargoyles, multi-coloured tiles, and a spectacular view over the Hobart waterfront from its rooftop. It’s also worth seeing Hobart’s synagogue. Dwarfed by its modern neighbours, the 1845 Egyptian Revival building is Australia’s oldest synagogue, and features convictmade benches and a beautifully decorated interior.

A more recent place of worship will also be opening its doors for the first time. Considered Australia’s first Modernist Church, the Pius X Catholic Church in Taroona was built by Esmond Dorney – the Tasmanian architect whose former house will also be open to the public over the weekend. If underground spaces are more your thing, there’s also the option of exploring the 1883 Hill Street Reservoir and Pump Station, the newly redeveloped basement in the Victorian Regency building in Hobart’s CBD, or the Princes Park Magazine.

Snap happy Instagrammers can use the hashtag #oh_ hobart, with prizes awarded to the most eye-catching photographs.

Open House Hobart Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 November 2016 Visit www.openhousehobart.org for program information.

Image: Dorney House. Image credit: Ray Joyce

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One Show Only-One Time Only

AT THE REPUBLIC SATURDAY DECEMBER 3RD 10PM $30PRE/$35DOOR (PRE RELEASE $25. LIMITED NUMBER) TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM REPUBLICBAR.COM

R Y A R B A U N C I A J L F B O U H T P 6 RE FRIDAY OR O M P D 5 0 1 2 $ / E R P $20

299 ELIZABETH STREET NORTH HOBART