Contemporary Music - September 2008
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Contemporary Music Panel Approvals – September 2008
24 out of 46 applications were approved to a total of $256,163. (total request: $534,794)
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
2/7 applications supported to a total of $30,140 (Total request: $112,203)
The Yabu Band $15,000
To promote and market the release of The Yabu Band’s album ‘”Gundulla – We Dance” to a national audience. This will be done through uniformed branding, hiring a publicist, radio plugger, a professional photo shoot and online marketing campaigns. This activity is timely for The Yabu Band following on from their performance on Telethon, a live performance for the home coming Olympians, securing distribution with Skinny Fish Music and consistent album sales. The album was recorded at Woodstock Studio’s in Melbourne and will be released on Australia Day 2009.
Fairbridge Festival Inc. $15,140
Fairbridge Festival will be showcasing WA regional original folk/roots artists at their 2009 Festival including Peter Brandy, Naomi Pigrim, Sue Cunningham, Xave Brown, Ashleigh Rodier and the Wise Family Band. The festival is in its 17th year and is a weekend long family oriented celebration of roots, world music and folk music incorporating both contemporary and traditional aspects of each of these genres. The 2009 Festival theme will be Roots and Branches.
MENTORING & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
6/6 applications supported to a total of $66,133 (total request: $73,590)
Ken Watt $7,457
Ken will undertake a three month mentorship with Jeff Martin (Canadian musician and producer ex- The Tea Party – now based in Ireland) and producer/engineer Rob Grant (proprietor of long running Perth recording studio, Poons Head and winner of multiple WAMi awards). This mentorship with give Ken a unique opportunity to learn international level commercial production skills in one of Australia’s best equipped studios.
Benjamin Vanderwal $5,631
Ben will undertake a two month mentorship to study Latin American Jazz Music in New York by three highly acclaimed Latin American musicians Adam Cruz, Adriano Santos and Romero Lubumbo. Ben is a professional drummer who has worked in the music industry for fourteen years. Ben performs in some of Australia’s cutting edge ensembles (TRUNK, Cisco, Ben Winkelman Trio, Jamie Oehlers Quartet) recorded numerous albums and currently lectures in the drumset at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Steven Richter and Josh Hogan $10, 714
Taal Naan (Josh Hogan and Steve Richter) will spend two weeks of skills development in May 2009 with respected Australian composer/musicians Michael Askill (Synergy, Sydney Dance Company) and Greg Sheehan (Circle of Rhythm, Utungan), culminating in a performance, live recording, and a workshop presentation at the Brisbane Conservatorium of Music. The focus areas will be composition, logistical and stage craft, utilizing small percussion instruments and subtle electronic sound manipulation to hand drum and kalimba playing. Josh Hogan is also in other WA acts (Mukti, Tetrafide Percussion) and Steve Richter also performs in Mr Sister with Mel Robinson.
Daniel Moore $11,761
Dan Moore will be mentored by mastering engineer Dave Cooley from Eylsian Masters in his LA studio. Dave is the main engineer for Stones Throw Records, the world’s largest and most respected independent hip hop label. Dan is a well known DJ, Producer and recording engineer in Western Australia. He owns and runs Cardboard City Records, a locally based record label with an international focus specialising in hip hop and dance music. Dan will also be DJing at numerous LA club-nights in order to promote Cardboard City records.
Next Big Thing $22,700
The Next Big Thing will record 14 bands/artists with the use of professional studios and producers. This project has been supported by the Department of Culture and the Arts for five years and in that time has provided skills for over 150 acts and utilised numerous producers and studios. This project gives unsigned musicians the opportunity to record in professional surroundings and the songs will be marketed and available online to further expose the unsigned WA artists.
Jamie Oehlers $7,870
Jamie will be heading to New York to undertake a period of study with some of the world’s leading saxophonists: George Garzone, Dave Liebman and Joe Lovano. Jamie will be working with George on his unique triadic concept for jazz improvisation. His study with Dave will be from his book “A Chromatic Approach to Jazz Harmony and Melody” and with Joe he will explore the technique that involves the use of large interval leaps along with a rhythmic flexibility uncommon to the saxophone. While in New York Jamie will have the opportunity to experience the latest developments in the jazz art-form, through the attendance of live performances and jam sessions as well as meet new musician contacts and reaffirm associations with colleagues he has developed over the past 17 years of his music career.
PRODUCTION
8/21 applications supported to a total of $74,805 (total request: $225,283)
The Sure-Fire Midnights $10,000
To record and launch a full length album with producer/engineer Matt Voigt at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne and mastering at 301 in Sydney. They have recently secured a song on a compilation from Swedish label Bootleg Booze titled Up North/Down Under and have performed in front of 15,000 people at the Bon Scott Celebration Concert two years in a row. The band has also toured with well known Aussie acts such as Airbourne, The Casanovas and The Spazzies.
Natalie D-Napoleon $10,000
The recording and launch of a full-length album by singer-songwriter Natalie D-Napoleon. The album will be recorded in Santa Barbara at Corporate Nightmare Studios. Natalie has released three recordings over the past ten years in various bands, Cable Thing (with Bloom), Fear of Falling (with Flavour of the Month) and After the Flood (as a solo artist). Natalie has been performing solo since 2006 and in that time has toured the east coast twice and the United States three times. In the US she supported American artists such as Todd Snider and Devon Sproule, showcased twice at South by Southwest and played the Australian Festival in Florida.
Sneaky Weasel Gang $6,000
Record a six track EP for release and distribution. The EP will be recorded in Sydney with producer Tony Buchen (Macromatics, Blue King Brown, John Butler, Kahn Brothers). Sneaky Weasel Gang hail from the Peel Region and have ended up on radio all over the country with their reggae-funk and rock influenced roots music. They have performed at the Rollercoaster Festival and both the West Coast and East Coast Blues and Roots Festival.
Blue Shaddy $10,000
To record and release their fourth CD following on from the success of their last release Bury My Ghost which has sold in excess of 3000 copies since November 2007. They will be recording at Monk Brothers Studio with band percussionist and studio owner, Arun Satgunasignam and mastering at Couch Studio. Blue Shaddy have performed at numerous Festivals over Australia including Woodford, Blues at Broadbeach and Great Southern Blues Festival.
Sugar Army $10,000
Rock four-piece Sugar Army to record their full length album following on from their extremely successful Where Do You Hide Your Toys debut EP. Sugar Army received high rotation on triple j and have been on numerous national tours with Little Birdy and a 35 date, 7 week tour with Gyroscope and Shihad. Sugar Army performed at the 2007 Big Day Out and supported bands such as Interpol, Wolf and Cub, Children Collide, Something for Kate to name a few. Pre-production will be done with Sam Ford of the band The Silents and production will be handled by Dave Parkin at Blackbird Studios. The album will be released by Good Cop Bad Cop/Inertia.
Homebrewe $10,000
Young four piece high energy rock band Homebrewe that formed in Albany but now reside in Perth, will be recording and releasing a full length album. Recording will take place at Poons Head Studio with Rob Grant. Homebrewe were scouted in November 2007 by Hollywood based 272 records to have their track “Never” put on a US rock compilation, this label searches for the best up and coming talent around the world. They are also currently receiving radio airplay on 100 US college radio stations.
Arons Crusade $8805
South West Band, Arons Crusade to record and release a full length album following on from their successful EP Life.Love.Work. Dreams. Arons Crusade will record at Studio Couch and launch their CD in March 2009 at Vancouver Arts Centre in Albany. The band has performed at 64 venues over the past year and opened the “Union of Soul” tour with The John Butler Trio, The Waifs and Claire Bowditch and the Feeding Set. The band members rise from previous bands: The Flaming Sheilas, Ulsta Road and Froggy Style.
College Fall $10,000
College Fall to produce, release and launch their album Keep Your Promises. The album will be a guitar pop record and logical progression for their successful debut album Eleven Letters. They will release the album for sale primarily on USB stick with a limited edition CD. They will record with acclaimed Sydney producer Michael Carpenter (Youth Group, The Vines, 78 Saab) who will fly to Perth and record at Underground Studio’s with sound engineer Matthew Giovenangelo.
TOURING
8/12 applications supported to a total of $85,085 (total requested: $123,718)
Injured Ninja $5,274
Post punk experimental band, Injured Ninja to undertake a promotional tour of Japan to promote their current EP release. The tour will consist of 10 shows with 7 dates in Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto and three in Tokyo. They will be touring with a popular experimental improvisational two-piece from Japan called Psychedelic Dessert. Injured Ninja’s EP Circuitboard is to be promoted and distributed on-line in Japan through Shalestone Music, DISCO, Disk Union and CD Baby.
Eleventh He Reaches London $7,561
Tour Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide in support of the release of second full length album in 2009. Eleventh’s previous east coast tour was the support slot for US band, Coheed and Cambria in 2006 with sold out shows to around 6,000 people. The band has recently signed to Perth label, Good Cop Bad Cop and plan to release 7” vinyl of two songs and a film clip to support the release of their album.
Rocket to Memphis $10,940
Swamp/rockabilly outfit Rocket to Memphis will undertake a national tour to launch their new album Hip Shakin’ Voodoo in March 2009. The tour will take in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Rocket to Memphis has received positive feedback from their previous tours and have a steadily growing niche fan base on the east coast.
Streetlight $9,698
Tour of Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide in support of their new 6-track EP Wolf Notes. Streetlight have become a live staple of Perth playing over 100 shows in the past few years, supporting countless acts around the country including Gyroscope, Karnivool, Van She, Wolf &Cub, Youth Group and Big Day Out 2007.
Grace Barbe $9,935
World music fusion artist Grace Barbe will undertake a 17 day tour of the East Coast of Australia to promote her debut album Kreol Daughter. Her music is the combination of afro-funk, island roots and reggae sung in Creole, English and French. Grace has shared the stage with Ben Lee, The Wailers, UB40, Ernest Ranglin, The Black Seeds and has performed at WA’s prestigious festivals such as Perth International Arts Festival and Fairbridge.
West Coast Blues Club $16,677
The West Coast Blues club will be taking over 3 WA blues acts to showcase at the ‘National Australian Blues Music Festival’ in Goulburn, NSW for the third time. The WA artists showcasing will be the Nervous Investors (from the Albany Blues Club), Home Brew (from the Southwest Blues Club in Bunbury) and the Andrew Winton Duo (from the West Coast Blues Club). The national festival is now in its 12th year and attracts key industry and Blues performers from all over Australia.
Eskimo Joe $15,000
Eskimo Joe plan to tour the UK and Ireland following on from positive US attention. The achievements of the band’s last album, Black Fingernails, Red Wine have provided solid platform on which to enter these new and crucial territories. Well respected booking agency, International Talent Booking has invited Eskimo Joe to the UK and has secured the support of Live Nation and MCD, leading concert promoters. Eskimo Joe hope to secure touring opportunities and a label release for these new territories.
Freya Hanly $10,000
Singer-songwriter Freya Hanly to undertake a tour of Australia with her band and then a solo tour of New Zealand to promote her newly released album, Quiver. The tour in Feb/March 2009 includes five capital cities and two regional centres within Australia as well as two cities and two regional centres in New Zealand. This tour will be a follow up to her national tour in Sept/Oct 2008.
