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Showing posts from December, 2014

Ross Wilson Comes In Peace.

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I Come In Peace,  is the title track from Ross Wilson's recent album.  Since its 2010 release, two of the video's cast have shot to stardom; guitarist/singer Laura Wilde who is rockin in the USA, and Ross's daughter, actress Olympia Valance, currently creating disturbances in Oz & the UK as the latest & hottest addition to the 2014 Neighbours cast, vivacious 'Paige Smith'.  ROSS WRITES IN HIS BLOG " November 2015 has somehow become the time when everything I've done seems to be converging. Solo gigs around Melbourne flow into a huge show for Mondo Rock Nov 7 (One Electric Day, Werribee Park) followed by a set with Daddy Cool at The Age/Music Victoria Awards Nov 19 as part of our induction into the Music Victoria Hall Of Fame.   There is also the Warner Music release of a double CD '(When The Sun Sets Over) Carlton' featuring lots of music I either produced, published or performed in the exploding Melbourne music scene of

Judy Stone Goes Down Memory Lane.

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Judy Stone (born 1 January 1942) is an Australian pop and country singer from Sydney, who came to national prominence in the late 1950s through her regular TV appearances on the Australian pop music show Brian Henderson's Bandstand and her many hit records.  Major national hits were '4,003,221 Tears From Now' (1964), 'Born a Woman' (1966), '(Would you Lay With Me) in a Field of Stone' (1974), 'Mare Mare Mare' (1974), 'Hasta Manana' (1976) and 'Silver Wings & Golden Rings' (1976). In 1963, she recorded "It Takes a Lot (To Make Me Cry)" on which the Bee Gees (Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb) sing backup vocals, and the song was released as a single in July. Judy Stone was a pioneer of popular music and became the golden girl of television. A regular on Australian Bandstand with Brian Henderson and often appearing with Col Joye, Judy became a household name in the early sixties.Appearing on most television

Renee Geyer Gets In The Swing For The New Year.

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Renée Geyer  is an Australian Music Legend, Her music spans four decades of award winning jazz, blues, and soul.  From Countdown royalty, through the pages of pop and reggae hits, to her days in L.A. working with Stevie Wonder, Sting, Joe Cocker and Chaka Kahn, and back with her return to Australia and homegrown projects with the likes of Paul Kelly -  Ren e has followed her musical dream through to its end and beyond. She performs with the grace of experience, the power of conviction and the musicality of vision. Renée Geyer is a singer, a songwriter, producer and author.  In true tradition we welcome back Renée Geyer to present her highly renowned concerts to end the year with  on Monday December 29 and Tuesday December 30. Book NOW . The Basement Sydney. To end of year with Renée Geyer's much loved Christmas concerts is the best way to usher in the new year. Though a "difficult woman" she knows better than most the meaning of "a man's world&q

Jerry Lee Lewis + Little Richard = Jade Hurley

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Jade Hurley  is a much sought after live performer and can be booked through   Westside Talent , In America, Jade Hurley was billed as a cross between Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Liberace. Jerry Lee, because of his energetic piano antics like jumping all over his piano and kicking the keys with his feet (like Jerry Lee used to do but this Aussie rocker still does) ... Little Richard because just like Richard, (Jade Hurley always makes a great and controversial headline) ... and Liberace, because of his flamboyant and glittery sequin stage outfits combined with $250,000 worth of diamond, sapphire, and ruby jewellery … and the energy with every show many critics describe as “breathtaking” and wonder how he does it performing so many shows. In the "Flashback" segment from an episode of the 1970's Daryl Somers remake of "Bandstand", here's "Whole Lotta Shakin".  One respected American journalist wrote,“Every time y

Tina Arena's Love helps Breast Cancer Foundation

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"I'm the voice of David Jones!"   Tina Arena, whose smooth vocals and endearing persona has carried her to great success here and overseas for so many years, has put her voice to DJ's TV campaign this season.  David Jones' roots remain firmly planted in Australia. The store has enlisted Tina to record a special Christmas theme song this year which will spearhead the retailer's marketing strategy over the next two months and raise some serious funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. "Christmas time is all about the family coming together. Each year we do our best to be with our parents – we come together, the siblings and the grandchildren. Our traditions are simple … we cook, we eat and we always have a good laugh! Our French Christmases are usually spent at our home – lots of friends pop in during the day. It’s still about family and food, though the weather and the menu is different… The food is vast and rich … from oysters a la natur

The Black Sorrows, Certified Blue.

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Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows have become to be one of Australia's most successful touring bands. They have played all round Australia and all over the world. In 1990 The Sorrows won the ARIA Award for Best Band. The Black Sorrows albums Hold On To Me (1988), Harley and Rose (1990) and their greatest hits compilation The Chosen Ones (1993) each amassed triple platinum sales with the bands other releases collecting gold and platinum sales.  Don't miss the chance to see The Sorrows live at Lizotte's, Dee Why on Saturday 20 December, and Lizotte's Newcastle on Sunday 21 December, 2014. Their brand new CD Certified Blue is was released in April this year so  Bluesfest was be among the first to hear it rock LIVE!   The irrepressible Joe Camilleri, leads The Black Sorrows from the front. Whether it be leading one of his band incarnations - Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons, The Black Sorrows, Joe Camilleri, is one of the most committed and successful musicians this c

The Starfish Bring Christmas to Outback Australia.

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Chocolate Starfish  certainly rocked the Indian Pacific Christmas train last week, sharing the joy and Christmas spirit  with the local communities.  There are more pics on their site, but here is one of Adam with the Yalata/Oak Valley kids practicing Bring on Christmas Day.   All proceeds from itunes sales go to Royal Flying Doctor Services. Chocolate Starfish were acclaimed as simply 'The best live band of their era'. It was the 1990's and the Starfish were very busy. Selling 250,000 records locally and selling out countless tours of the country's biggest venues whilst subverting radio and TV with their many hit songs.  Led by the charismatic front man and vocalist Adam Thompson, the band is back! Having recently released an acoustic record Born Again Versions the band are now set to perform their new show in a not to be miss intimate setting. With a set list containing all their hit singles and a selection of their favourite covers, Chocolate

Col Joye says "The Bandstand "family" is still there".

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"I still keep in touch with the Bandstand family. I guess I talk to most of them. When I talk about Sandy Scott, Little Pattie and Judy Stone and Brian Henderson , I speak to them probably once or twice a week. It's still a family. That family thing is still there. The entertainment industry is a very strange fraternity. Even though a lot of times you don't see a lot of people for maybe 12 months, I have a group of people that are very close friends".   Source: A recent ATN 7 interview. Col Joye, is an Australian popular entertainer and entrepreneur. Joye was the first Australian rock and roll singer to have a number one record Australia-wide, and experienced a string of chart successes in the early Australian rock and roll scene. Recording as a solo artist and with his backing band The Joy Boys, which included his brothers Kevin and Keith, he enjoyed a string of hits on the local and national singles charts of Australia beginning in 1959.  Col's sing

Wendy Matthews, Listen To One of The Finest Voices Ever.

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Wendy Matthews has a sublime, effortless delivery and a voice that never fails to move us.  She is appearing at Lizottes, Dee Why, NSW on December 13 and Lizotte's Newcastle, NSW,  December 14, 2014. Wendy Matthews moves gently through her songs. Her music is an unhurried journey of clean melodies, and simple grace. Wendy proves that beauty, artistry and expert vocalisation is still applauded by her audience.  Her performance here with "Amelia" testifies to that. Wendy Matthew's music is now in more than 1 million homes in Australia - all her albums to date have reached multi-platinum status.  Wendy captures and defines a diverse range of styles in her music. She takes songs from every genre and makes them her own, from jazz to blues, from rock to gospel, from soul to pop and the beautiful ballads. Simply put, Wendy Matthews has one of the finest voices ever.  See Wendy Matthews at Lizottes - Book Now

Normie Rowe. A Headline Act

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Normie Rowe  is a much sought after live performer and can be booked through  Westside Talent ,   Normie Rowe had already sung in the local church choir and performed in a high school band, when at the age of 14, he appeared at his music school’s concert and was spotted by the concert’s compere, prominent Melbourne radio personality Stan Rofe.   Impressed, Stan made the appropriate introductions to dance promoters. By the time he released his first single, Normie already had several years of experience behind him, in the traditional dance circuit where, (as in the Big Band era), several featured singers stepped up to perform in front of the house band.  It Ain't Necessarily So The Beatles era changed all that, but Normie had served his apprenticeship that way. At the same time, he was one of the first Melbourne entertainers with the ‘long hair’ of the new Beatles-influenced music era. Famously, Normie had to choose between his hair and his job with the PMG (now Te

Glenn Shorrock, Little River Band Frontman, live at Lizotte's!

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Don't miss your chance to see an Australian Music Legend, Glenn Shorrock live at Lizottes DeeWhy Friday, 9 January 2015. Glenn, a self-confessed child of rock and roll, began singing in 1962 with a vocal group called The Twilights . By 1965, the Twilights became a six piece group based in Melbourne  scoring hits with Needle in a Haystack, Bad Boy, and If she finds out.  The Twilights won the 1966 ‘Hoadleys National Battle of the Sounds’ which gave them the opportunity to record in England at the famed Abbey Road Studios. That session produced  further hits “Whats wrong with the way I live” “Young Girl ” and “9/50 ”. Axiom with Brian Cadd followed shortly after The Twilights disbanded, and went on to produce hits including Arkansas Grass and Little Ray of Sunshine. Axiom disbanded soon after moving to London in 1970. Glenn chose to remain in London as a session singer and songwriter joining a twelve-piece rock orchestra named Esperanto Rock Orchestra,

Donna Greene - Western Australia's Zeppelin.

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Donna Greene  (AKA Donna G), made her reputation as a great singer and brilliant front lady with Lady Zeppelin , Western Australia's own unique salute to the heavyweight champions of rock'n'roll, Led Zeppelin. After the late 2012 release of the Resonance Project digital EP, Rise And Fall, Graham Greene, and Donna G  released the 2014 EP Tale Goes On .   You can sample songs from this EP Sample Donna G's new EP on iTunes   Mesmerizing. Captivating. Dynamic. Exceptional.  Classic Rock and Zeppelin nostalgia at its finest.   These quotes were noted on Lady Zeppelins Website: When Donna Greene steps up to the microphone and starts belting out some of the greatest songs ever written, magic happens – Lady Zeppelin are simply the most authentic tribute band I’ve ever heard – and we’re talking serious spine-tingling stuff..." - Shane Pinnegar  "...Added to the dynamic combination of Graham's virtuoso guitar work and lead singer Donna's incredi