Music News Australia: 01/16/13

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Rolling Stone Awards: Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

The Rolling Stone Awards: Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia...

The Rolling Stone Awards, celebrating the best in Australian entertainment in 2012, will be hosted by legendary Cruel Sea/Beasts of Bourbon/the Dark Horses frontman Tex Perkins. The evening will feature performances by Melbourne's Owl Eyes and DJs MINX and Leah Mencel (winners of the She Can DJ comp 2011 and 2012).

Having enjoyed one of the most successful years of their career in 2012, Hilltop Hoods look set to continue their good form into 2013 and lead the nominations for the fourth annual Rolling Stone Awards. The Hilltop Hoods are up for three gongs: Album of the Year (Drinking From The Sun), Video of the Year (I Love It) and Best Live Act.

Sharing two nominations each are Melbourne up-and-comer Chet Faker, Sydney quartet The Jezabels, Perth rockers Tame Impala, Sydney MC Urthboy, Byron Bay metalcore kings Parkway Drive, Menangle outfit The Rubens and instrumental heroes the Dirty Three.

Some of the nominees include:

* Album of the Year: Sarah Blasko (I Awake), Hilltop Hoods (Drinking From The Sun); Dirty Three (Toward the Low Sun); Paul Kelly (Spring and Fall); Tame Impala (Lonerism); and Urthboy (Smokey's Haunt).

* International Act of the Year: Frank Ocean, Bruce Springsteen, The Black Keys, Jack White and Neil Young.

* Live Act of the Year: 360, Dirty Three, Hilltop Hoods, Parkway Drive, Tame Impala, The Jezabels and The Living End.

* Best New Talent: Alpine, Chet Faker, Flume, San Cisco, The Medics and The Rubens

News...

Tame Impala win at Rolling Stone Awards...

Tame Impala have taken out the Rolling Stone Award for Album of the Year thanks to their second album Lonerism.

The Perth psych-rockers collected the award for a second time in their short career, having won in 2011 with debut album Innerspeaker.

The latest accolade, presented at a star-packed music industry bash in Sydney, adds to the international clamour around the band and its frontman Kevin Parker.

Lonerism made history as the first Australian album to be hailed an album of the year by music bible NME and topped several end of year lists, while at home it was worthy of Triple J's coveted J Award.

Australian music promoter and The Mushroom Group founder Michael Gudinski received the other major honour in the annual Rolling Stone Award, which recognises an outstanding contribution to popular culture. Past recipients have included Cold Chisel and Paul Kelly.

Other winners on Wednesday night included Melbourne singer/producer Chet Faker who claimed best independent release for his acclaimed Thinking In Textures EP.

In a good year for rock music, Byron Bay metalcore band Parkway Drive were named best live act, while Cairns four-piece The Medics got the nod for best new talent.

The Presets scooped best single for their inventive electro-shanty Ghosts, while Gotye's single Easy Way Out was awarded the music video of the year thanks to the direction of Darcy Prendergast.

Held at Bondi's Beach Road Hotel, the fourth annual Rolling Stone Awards were hosted by Beasts of Bourbon and Dark Horses frontman Tex Perkins and featured a performance by rising starlet Owl Eyes.

The guest list included bands visiting for the Big Day Out festival tour, such as Vampire Weekend, Band Of Horses, Alabama Shakes and Crystal Castles.

Websites

Rolling Stone

www.rollingstone.com

Rolling Stone Australia Facebook

www.facebook.com/rollingstoneaustralia

Beach Road Hotel

www.beachroadbondi.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

KillRockStar Big Dog Entertainment, FasterLouder, inthemix & Street Press Australia present: Happy Mondays

KillRockStar Big Dog Entertainment,

FasterLouder, inthemix & Street Press Australia present:

HAPPY MONDAYS

For the first time in Australia- the definitive original line-up!

KillRockStar Big Dog Entertainment are thrilled to present Happy Mondays for the first time in Australia- the definitive original line-up!

Fusing the euphoric elements of acid house and rave with joyous indie guitar pop, Manchester's Happy Mondays became one of the most influential UK bands of the later 20^th century. Instigating a cosmic psychedelic shift that is still being felt in music today, the Mondays delivered a salvo of classic tracks and club anthems that were not only highly danceable, but contained enough visceral emotion and raw chemical energy to continually excite and engage a generation. Tracks like Step On, 24 Hour Party People, Wrote For Luck, Loose Fit and Kinky Afro showcased the band's unique ability to unify the divide between dance music and rock 'n' roll.

With an original line-up that included Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, drummer Gary Whelan and the legendary Mark "Bez" Berry on dance and vibes, the Mondays released their classic debut Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out) in 1987 to widespread critical acclaim. The albums that followed, 1988's Bummed and then Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches in 1990 were received as instant classics and cemented the Mondays at the forefront of the UK scene the press had dubbed as 'Madchester'.

The band's 4^th album Yes Please! was released in 1992 after which various incarnations of the band followed as did the 2007 release of Unkle Dysfunktional which saw continuing to tour the globe to much acclaim. In 2012 Shaun Ryder announced that the original Happy Mondays line-up would be reuniting and a sold out UK tour quickly followed. 2012 saw the release of Double Double Good and more sold out shows around the planet. The band recently reconvened in the studio for the first new album with the original line-up in 20 years which is due for release in 2013.

KillRockStar Big Dog Entertainment,

FasterLouder, inthemix & Street Press Australia present:

HAPPY MONDAYS

For the first time in Australia- the definitive Original line-up!

Tickets On Sale Wednesday 23^rd of January

Friday 3 May Brisbane. The Tivoli

www.ticketek.com.au

Saturday 4 May Sydney. UNSW Roundhouse

www.ticketek.com.au

Sunday 5 May Melbourne. Palace Theatre

www.ticketek.com.au / www.oztix.com.au

Wednesday 8 May Perth. Capitol

www.oztix.com.au / www.heatseeker.com.au

www.krbde.com | www.happymondaysonline.com

Twining's Australia tea endorsed by former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd; Picnic and afternoon tea at Sydney University

Twining's tea endorsed by former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd; Picnic and afternoon tea at Sydney University

The secret is out - Kevin Rudd really enjoys Twinings tea, and is a big supporter of the RSCPA.

This was the political message at Sydney University's Quadrangle Building's Lawn.

Mr Rudd's award-winning campaign has gone down the commercial path and the big sell is on.

After emerging as "master blender" at a Twinings nationwide competition to create the perfect cup of Australian tea, Mr Rudd - a self-confessed tea lover - won the right to have his own special flavour sipped by the nation on Australia Day. Mr Rudd had the tea tasted to perfection by members of his department and Abby and Jasper (Mr Rudd's household pets) in an online viral video.

As the winner of the challenge, Mr Rudd chose the RSPCA as the charity to receive 10c for each Australian Afternoon Tea packet sold.

"It was a cocktail of Irish Breakfast, Russian Caravan and Orange Pekoe. The guinea pigs were my staff," said Mr Rudd. "The win is a win for Australian animals.

"It's good to know you've had a cup of tea, when you've had a cup of tea," said Mr Rudd, who wanted the tea to be strong and drinkable with milk.

"I entered the competition because I thought it was a great opportunity to raise some extra cash for the RSPCA.

"I hope people like it.

"I certainly do."

Mr Rudd was part of 65 Australian celebrities who participated in the challenge. Broadcaster Alan Jones, TV host Kerri-Anne Kennerley and her husband John, former world surfing champion Layne Beachley and singer John Williamson were among the finalists.