Double-timing... DT-3.

Darwin hip hop trio DT-3 have made it to the Top 50 of the SupaFest Search for a Supastar Competition.

Presented by MTV, the SupaFest Search for a Supastar Competition is billed as a “national urban talent competition in serach of a raw, unsigned undiscovered artist”.

Entrants upload audition videos to You Tube and invite the public to vote for them.

Winners of the overall competition will be given a performance spot in the 2012 Supafest concert – “Australia’s largest urban music festival” – which travels to Brisbane Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in April.

They will also have the chance to sign with record label “TOTW/Paper Chase Records”.

Headline acts announced so far in the 2012 line up include P-Diddy, Ice Cube, Lupe Fiasco and Kelly Rowlands.

With the ultimate shortlist of ten decided by popular vote, DT-3 are hoping to recruit as many as possible for their audition video, in order to make it through to the next round.

Band member Liam Devine (aka Devine1) is keen to recuit votes. He says that “first voting is from January 5th-19th”, to decide the Top 25. Another round of votes will then determine the Top Ten.

He says the “Top 10 will fly down to Sydney perform in front of a judging panel”.

“Unsigned and un-managed” hip hop and R&B artists and bands are eligible. According to Liam, DT-3 is “the only NT entrant” to have made it to the Top 50.

Promoter of Supafest Dwayne Cross says “I feel there is a lot of raw undiscovered talent across Australia that don’t have the means or know-how to get their music to record labels.”

“We would love to give these talented urban youths the opportunity of a lifetime to perform live on stage in front of over 100,000 people, and alongside some of the world’s biggest rappers and artists.”

DT-3 were one of three Territory hip hop acts to support US rapper Xzibit at his December 2011 concert at Darwin Convention Centre.

DT-3′s other members include MCs Zac Calma (Big-Z), and Nathaniel Polkinghorne (Creepa), and DJ Mitchell Russell (R-Faktr).

Visit this link to view DT-3′s audition video for Supafest. Voters need to sign up this link.

Visit DT-3 on Facebook and read more about their Supafest quest in the NT News.

Words: Megan Spencer.

Sources: Phil Eaton, Liam Devine, Supafest, Vulture, NT News.

Ollie MC, pictured on the cover of his CD, 'Navigate the Crosswind'.

Music NT sends heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ollie MC, at the devastating loss of such a talented, adventurous and inspiring human being.

Ollie passed away in a car accident in Victoria, late in 2011.

Ollie wasn’t in Central Australia long, but in the time he was, he made a lasting impression.

Simultaneously able to charm people and challenge assumptions, he was an inspiring artist not afraid to stand up for his beliefs.

In 2011, Music NT’s Milyika Scales brought Ollie in to work on the annual Desert Divas professional development and music mentoring workshops.

She says “Ollie was a huge part of Music NT’s 2011 Desert Divas program, stepping in at the last minute to mentor and accompany the girls in their songwriting and performance workshops.”

“Ollie was amazing. He slotted in so well, and his beautiful personality, tenacity, and fantastic musical ability mentored and supported the younger girls in particular, to arrange and perform their original songs on stage.”

Ollie MC on stage with Desert Divas Jacinta Price & Rita Tomlins at the 2011 Alice Desert Festival. Pic: Megan Spencer

She adds “for many it was their first performance, and Ollie’s musical legacy will live on as these young Indigenous women grow into experienced talented performers.”

“Words can’t express the shock and sorrow felt in Alice Springs at hearing the news, and our thoughts and love go out to you, in particular Izzy and Basey, at this terrible time.”

– Milyika and the team from Music NT

More of Ollie at work with the Desert Divas here and here.

Heats for Mission Australia’s youth music talent program Urban Quest will be held around the NT early in 2012.

• Alice Springs heats – 24 February at 10am and 25 February at 9am at Youth Hub
• Darwin school heats – 2 March from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at Palmerston Community Room, Darwin Middle School & Malak Theatre.
• Darwin community heats – 10 March from 3pm to 5pm at Palmerston Community Room & Malak Community Theatre.
• Katherine – 9 March at the Training Centre from 4pm to 6pm.

Please note that Mission Australia can only provide sound equipment at the semi-finals and finals. For heats, acts are encouraged to sing unaccompanied or accompanied by acoustic music. Practice amps can be used but must be supplied by the act.

Download and fill in the registration form at this link and email the completed and signed copies to urbanquest@missionaustralia.com.au

You can also post your entries to: Urban Quest Committee Mission Australia,
PO Box 2498, Palmerston, NT 0831.

It costs $10 per contestant to enter Urban Quest.

Mission Australia says it first first developed Urban Quest as way of using music to connect with young  people living in and around Dandenong in Victoria.
Urban Quest is now also a celebration of young Territorian talent, music and community.

When Mission Australia introduced the talent competition to the NT in 2011 it was embraced  by schools, students and communities across the NT.

In 2011, Darwin High School’s Tevita Moala took out the competition title after performing a moving rendition of John Legend’s ‘I Won’t Complain’ at the Urban Quest Final at the Darwin Entertainment Centre. The night attracted around 2,000 people, including guest hosts Mark Holden and Deni Hines, as well as local media.

More recently, the competition has attracted the attention of the producers of Australia’s Got Talent, who were interested in showcasing local talent uncovered at Urban Quest 2011.

In 2012 Urban Quest heats will be held in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs in late February and March. The top performers will then go through to the 13 April semi-final at Darwin’s Casuarina Square and Alice Springs Youth Hub on 10 March.

The semi-finals will also  kick off Youth Week 2012.

The finalists will then take to the Darwin Entertainment Centre stage on 15 April to impress MA’s ‘star’ judges – Mark ‘Touchdown’ Holden, soul singer Deni Hines and country singer-songwriter Paul Costa (a Mission Australia Ambassador).

Tickets to the final are $20, with the sales use to cover the costs of staging the event, and to help fund youth services in the NT. Tickets will go on sale in March.

• Read about the 2011 Urban Quest in the NT News, and more info about entering here.
• Download the registration form here.

Source: Mission Australia media release

It’s been a whopper of a year for independent original music in the Northern Territory – maybe even the biggest ever!

Our music activity is constant, busy, progressive and, at an all time high..  We now have a Territory Anthem; our Indigenous music awards – the NIMAs – went national for the first time, and one of our biggest music stars, Gurrumul Yunupingu, not only met and played for the Queen, he also played for the US President!

As you read this, The Tableland Drifters are preparing to head to Woodford to play their first Dreaming Festival (Frank Yamma will perform as well), with other NT artists also scheduled to play throughout the Australian music festival season.

The Sandridge Band is gearing up for the February release of album Brolga Dreaming, as are East Journey for their debut Gawuk, due to come out in March 2012.

Pushing forward with an aggressive digital release strategy Roymackonkey are about to embark upon their latest East Coast tour, as single Sleep Tonight continues to get airplay in the NT and beyond; while Alice Springs songwriter Colin Lillie has just signed a publishing deal, even before the official release of his debut EP.

The profile of Territory music is on the rise nationally and internationally, with the continued touring and/or chart success of many NT artists, like Leah Flanagan, Jessica Mauboy, Shellie Morris, Iwantja Band, eMDee, Worldfly and Gurrumul, who not only took Europe by storm but won a ton of awards for his second album Rrakala, which also reached platinum sales.

The Song Peoples Sessions project and CDs – featuring Territory treasures Warren H. Williams and Shellie Morris – also brought national attention to the Barkly region’s fertile cultural ground, with major media outlets covering the unique collaborative music project, as it progressed throughout the year.

Thanks to the perseverance and efforts of our Indigenous artists – and many of those who collaborate with them – it’s becoming  more common now to hear songs on radio sung ‘in language’, sometimes even on commercial stations and networks.

Territory artists receiving regular airplay on local radio also continues to the rise, with some radio programmers – beyond the ABC -  finally opening up their playlists more often to support homegrown music (TerritoryFM is one).

triple j Unearthed is also a space where more and more NT artists are making their presence felt to a national audience. At one point this year, Darwin high school band Skarlett was sitting atop not one but two Unearthed charts!

An increasing number of independent NT acts are also programmed on AirIt, while new CD releases from NT artists have been a constant throughout the previous 12 months.

To name but a few: Kris Keogh, Black Can Clan, Gurrumul, Tracy Bunn, eMDee, Unbroken Expanse, Iwantja Band, Seldom Party, Warren H. Williams, with compilation CDs from Red Sand Culture and Black Wreath.

Promised for 2012 is a Desert Divas CD – with solo outings for both Catherine Satour and Jacinta Price on the way – Worldfly, Shellie Morris, Roymackonkey, Lanrae and the long-awaited, as yet untitled debut album from Tennant Creek musician/producer, Dr. Fluoride. And that’s just for starters.

A strong touring circuit within the NT is also developing, with artists such as Reggae Dave, Tjupi Band and Seldom Party all receiving touring grants to take their music around the Territory and beyond borders.

Artback/Music NT’s Music Touring Manager Vanessa Hutchins reports that the NT Music Touring Program – which included artists such as Tjupi Band, Iwantja and Reggae Dave – played to approximately 15,000 people in 18 venues and communities across the Territory in 2011.

“Momentum is growing as the program develops for 2012″, she adds.

Other bands like Tennant Creek’s Unbroken Expanse, punched two fists in the air, independently embarking upon NT touring circuits of their own – and off their own bat.

Not to mention the success of the Long Way To The Top End II tour to the Fuse Music Festival & Conference in February, which saw 13 NT bands travel to Adelaide, to play across 6 nights at 4 venues.

NT acts are exploring new technologies to distribute, market and fund their music (Roymackonkey have recently embraced the free DIY phone App Songpier). Both Worldfly and Sietta ‘crowdfunded’ projects in 2011 through pozible.com, with the latter making it to an international showcase in Singapore as a result, and the former working hard to reach their $20 000 target by the end of January 2012, to support the recording of their new album.

Musicians are also banding together to launch music collectives (Black Wreath), music magazines (Shamzine), hugely active online Forums (Darwin Music Scene, ReviewsNT),  gig guides (Darwinlive) and new music promoters are emerging, bringing international acts to the Territory at a rate of knots…

Then there were the two iNTune Music Conferences, Bush Bands Business, national media coverage for the NIMAs…

The above ‘end-of-year round up’ only scratches the surface… Suffice to say that, yes, it has been a mighty year in Northern Territory music.

Music NT would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a hearty congratulations on amazing work. It’s just getting bigger and better every day. We look forward to working with you in 2012 – stay safe, and all the best for the New Year.

- The Team at Music NT: Mark, Phil, Lisa, Milyika, Vanessa, Fiona & Megan

If there’s such a thing as ‘national treasures’ in Territory music – and there is! – Shellie Morris certainly qualifies…

Big voice, big talent, big heart: Shellie has all three in spades.

And a smile that goes on for days..

Shellie’s reputation as one of the hardest working musicians in Australia – let alone the Territory – also precedes her.

Anyone who follows her many journeys knows that at any given moment she could be rehearsing for a show with the Black Arm Band; on stage with Sinead O’Connor at the Melbourne International Arts Festival; taping an episode of RockWiz; being filmed for a French TV documentary in Arnhem Land with a famous Brazilian singing star; recording in Tennant Creek in language for a groundbreaking collaborative CD; on her way to sing at a delegation in Japan; giving workshops to kids ‘out bush’ in the outback, or on stage at the Sydney Opera House singing up a storm with her Yanyuwa family to a national TV audience…

It can leave you breathless trying to keep up, such is the length and breadth of her travels and music accomplishments.

Alongside NT musicians and performers such as Gurrumul Yunupingu, Leah Flanagan and Jessica Mauboy, Shellie Morris is another of our incredibly talented Indigenous artists – music ambassadors if you will – busily flying the flag for NT music and culture, moreover NT Indigenous music and culture, by exploring ways to entertain, inspire and ultimately educate local and international audiences, at the highest level.

Carefully considering gigs and opportunities, Shellie is still self-managed and fiercely independent. She has spent her life in music, honing her craft, songwriting and powerful, soulful singing style.

This year in particular has been a big one for the artist. She worked in music with her family  from Borroloola for the first time, singing in her grandmother’s language, via the Song Peoples Sessions, a project run through Winanjjikari Music Centre. (Shellie also appeared in award-winning music documentary murundak – songs of freedom, about The Black Arm Band).

So.. ’Bout time then that Music NT spoke to Shellie Morris, about her mammoth year in music, personal growth as an artist, and what’s on her (already) busy horizon for 2012.

We managed to track down Shellie traveling between interstate shows for the 2011 Christmas RockWiz  Tour…

On the red carpet... Shellie with Jack Thompson at the 2011 Deadlys. Pic: Tito Media

Music NT: So Shellie, the busiest lady on the planet! What are you up to at the moment?

Shellie Morris: At the moment I am on the road with the Rockwiz Christmas Tour with Jon English, Ross Wilson, Josh Pyke, Patience Hodgson, Lanie Lane and Rebecca Barnard. It’s been awesome and then when I get back Darwin I go bush for a couple of days helping write a lullaby with the Ladies from Barunga.

The next few months I will be recording a new album for myself, an acoustic one. I’ve also got some gigs in January in Melbourne, and also maybe a quick trip to India for a couple of gigs!

MuNT: How would you describe this year for you? What were some of your musical highlights?

SM: I think this year has been one of the best yet, so many opportunities. I think the biggest highlight was singing with Mavis Staples and Joss Stone at the Melbourne Myer Music Bowl (in Notes From The Hard Road, closing night event of MIAF).

Also meeting some of the most amazing people this year that have really helped me in so many ways.

Performing at the Opera House with my family from Borroloola, and working on the Song Peoples Sessions album together, Ngambala Wiji Li Wununu (Together We’re Strong). I believe this truly has been a dream come true. [The CD is due for release early in 2012].

MuNT: Can you tell us about some of your plans for next year?

SM: Over January-February I’ll be doing some bush work with the Fred Hollows Foundation and record a new album.

I am going to Wales in March for a collaboration with some Welsh musicians for the London Olympics.

Then there’s the launch of the Song Peoples Sessions CD in Borroloola. I have a 6 week Australian musi  tour, Shellie’s Story.

Then I have a 3 week tour with [Brazilian world music star] Gilberto Gil through 10 countries in Europe; London Olympics performance; Wales Performance; back to Australia for the Darwin Festival; then in August off to Toronto…

Then I will be singing at a 100the birthday party! LOL

MuNT: Reckon you would be be racking up a fair few frequent flyer points – where have you travelled to this year?

SM: I stayed in Australia this year so that was nice. Plenty of trips to the Red Centre and major cities, and rural work also. And yes – got some miles clocked up now! LOL

MuNT: You seem so very busy – how do you find time to write music?

SM: Well I am always writing with projects so this never stops. I like to write as I feel I need to. I still have many songs that need to be recorded and released. I keep a note pad handy for planes, trains, trams and buses – lol – so always ready!!

MuNT: Can you give us a bit of insight into your writing process – what inspires you, your ‘routine’ if you have one..

SM: I think that people and life really inspire me.. How I write? There isn’t a real ‘process’ or way to write.. It just happens as it happens. I never try to force it and I really enjoy the collaboration with songwriting at the moment. I have a few projects coming up this next year..

Song Peoples on stage.. Shellie Morris with the Yanyuwa Women Singers from Borroloola at the Sydney Opera House, for the 2011 Deadly Awards. Pic: Vibe Australia/Deadlys

MuNT: The Yanyuwa Song Women CD through the Song Peoples Sessions has been a big part of 2011 for you. Can you please give us a bit of background about how it came about? What has come from that project and where it is moving to?

SM: The idea was from dear friend [music producer] Patrick McCloskey. He sourced the funding and also Vanessa Hutchins [Artback NT/Music NT music touring manager] suggested that I go back to my grandmother’s country to record.

The album – or the project – is about language and keeping our culture strong. Also for me I had to go back and learn from my grandmothers, and aunties; they were my guide throughout the whole recording and songwriting process. We did the album together the whole way. Not a note was recorded without their approval.

Where is the album moving to? Hopefully all over the globe,! LOL, but you know we are so proud as a family. We are just happy that we made something beautiful together.

Ans as soon as people have heard this album we have been offered gigs all over Australia and now all though Europe. But I think with this project we will take little steps at a time and carefully choose where we will go.  As you can imagine, I have to take good care and have a responsibility to the women. We have been offered a tour through Europe which I am carefully looking at with the family and this will take many months of work in preparation.

Also we have documentary-makers wanting to come and record our story so there is so much to do! But as I said we will take small steps together.

MuNT: Do you think the Song Peoples Sessions is important and/or unique in Australian music?

SM: This project is amazing and wonderful, but it’s truly Australian music – not world music! Also this is a Womans’ Project, and that is quite rare and precious.

No words really can express this journey together. I am proud that we can share our culture with the rest of the world and we are very proud and strong people. This is what I think is the most important. There are so many wrong and no-good stories, we want to share a good story of strong and proud women who have much to give.

MuNT: And the Black Arm Band – do you think it is changing Australian music? What’s it like to be a part of that group for you?

SM: AWESOMENESS! We’re not changing Australian music at all; we just trying to make a difference for our people in standing strong in our culture.

7 Songs To Leave Behind.. Shellie Morris (left), with Sinead O'Connor & Lou Bennett, Leah Flanagan, Melbourne International Arts Festival, 2010. Pic: CarbieWarbie/MIAF

MuNT: You were on RockWiz this year, you performed at Melbourne Arts Festival in 2010/11, you have done so much this year and your profile is very much national.. Do you feel as if the hard work is paying off in your career?

SM: Well I am slowly getting there but really I am just stoked to be able to be heard and to share my music.

I think it’s about so many things.

Black Arm Band has helped a lot and of course being on Rockwiz now has opened up so many doors also.

I think the main thing is I have always tried to remain true to myself and belief in my own style; I have tried not to be pressured into what I would feel would be wrong [for me]. I’m just just happy to get gigs really! LOL.

MuNT: What do you love most about making music in the Northern Territory?

SM: I think that the NT has so many things to offer – not only Australia, the world. We have of course our Aboriginal culture, but also so many wonderful people in the NT.. Great bands have emerged from smaller cities and towns.

I think it’s laid back nature and the warmth of the people have really made an impact in the industry just because of who we are – people from the NT.

I think we all have a great sense of humour and a gentle, humble nature. As I travel so many people of the bigger cities have so much more to deal with – the business and the stress of the city – we are so lucky in a way. Sometimes it’s harder but a journey that’s not hard doesn’t get the same results.

Shellie singing at BAMFest, Tennant Creek, 2011. Pic: Megan Spencer

MuNT: The best thing about 2011 for you? The hardest?

SM: The best is the album with my family from Borroloola [Ngambala Wiji Li Wununu (Together We’re Strong)].

The hardest has been more personal issues and trying to find myself in all of that has been extremely hard, and I still have a long way to go with it all.

But I am looking forward and enjoying each moment with gratitude.

MuNT: And will you share with us the one thing you’ve learned in the ‘business’ – or life – that keeps you inspired and moving forward?

SM: One thing I have learned is to be humble and not expect too much from others; to try and stay positive, to be a nice and kind person to others in the industry – don’t get offended and try not to hold grudges. To wish others well on their jouney.

I think the main thing is find where you fit into the industry, and to undestand that being unique is a good thing!

MuNT: Can we expect a new CD from you soon?

SM: YES YES YES – been a bit distracted with so many other things in my life! Like finding myself and my identity; that has been at the forefront of my life.

Now I can get onto the making of albums and forging forward that way. I have so many things to learn but I am ready now to hit the studio, and I am looking forward to having some surprise guests on my album and part-producing it myself.

READY NOW! LOL!

To stay up-to-date with Shellie’s news and gigs, visit

• Watch Shellie Morris on the RockWiz Christmas Special, Saturday December 24, at 9.30pm on SBS!
  
• The Shellie Morris official website
• Facebook fan page
• Song Peoples Sessions
• Flickr for more MIAF pics
• Watch Shellie perform with the Yanyuwa Ladies at the 2011 Deadlys
• Watch Shellie at work with kids in Kintore on the CAAMA website
  

Words: Megan Spencer. Many thanks to Shellie Morris for the interview!

]]> http://musicnt.com.au/2011/12/19/territory-treasure-shellie-morris/feed/ 1 http://musicnt.com.au/2011/12/16/music-sector-meeting-a-success/ http://musicnt.com.au/2011/12/16/music-sector-meeting-a-success/#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:30:59 +0000 Music NT Staff http://musicnt.com.au/?p=9945

Music NT and Artback NT held a music sector meeting in early December bringing together some of the key music sector figures to connect, talk about their activities for 2012 and work to providing a greater level of coordinated support for music in the Northern Territory.

The meeting was a great first step and followed a similar gathering as part of the first iNTune Music Conference in 2009.

Areas of discussion included programs, special projects, festival opportunities and sharing work plans for 2012; sharing resources, personnel, skills and training, common goals; promoting greater collaboration and support amongst organisations, and potentially setting up an Education Advisory Committee.

Representatives across Independent, Private, Education, Government & NGO sectors were present.

There was a strong base of support to continue this discussion and work to make the group an ongoing reference point for the NT Music Sector.

Stay tuned to the Music NT website in 2012 for further updates and news!

Words: Mark Smith & Megan Spencer.

On February 23rd 2010, the SLAM rally saw 20,000 people march through Melbourne to the tune of AC/DC’s definitive Long Way to the Top, in protest against the Victorian Government’s policy link between live music and violence. Out on the streets thousands showed their support for live music, and the community who support it.

It made national news and became the “largest cultural protest in Australia’s history”.

Now all of Australia has the opportunity to participate in a national event that celebrates local musicians in small venues.

Music communities around Australia – including the Northern Territory – are now invited to unite in support of our thriving live culture by hosting their own National SLAM Day gigs on February 23^rd 2012. It will be a national day to celebrate live music in Australia!

It’s easy to get involved:

• Venues can register their gigs on the SLAM website. It’s free to sign up.
• Musicians can join with their local venues to curate a National SLAM Day gig.
• Gig-goers can celebrate live music and local musicians in their own neighbourhood.
• Community groups can host their own National SLAM Day gig.
• ‘Like’ SLAM on Facebook and keep up with news on live music.

SLAM (Save Live Australia’s Music) is a collective of non-politically aligned, independent, local music-loving citizens.

In early 2010, the SLAM Rally swept through the streets of Melbourne in protest against over-arching Victorian Liquor Licensing policies that unfairly linked live music to high risk activity.

SLAM representatives, the lobby group Fair Go 4 Live Music (FG4LM) and the then newly established Music Victoria, all co-signed the Live Music Accord on the eve of the rally and then spent a further seven months negotiating the Live Music Agreement, where it was officially announced that live music does not cause violence.

Since then, SLAM has successfully negotiated important changes within a number a number of other key music reforms in Melbourne. It has many high profile supporters spokespeople from the Australian music industry, including Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, Dan Sultan, Nick Cave and many more.

Support your local artists and venues by getting out and experiencing the spontaneous excitement and intimacy you can only get at a small venue, on National SLAM Day.

Support a National SLAM Day event in your town – any style, any genre! Sign up here now!

Source: SLAM. Edited by: Megan Spencer

The Sandridge Band have released a new music video, ‘The Right Way To Go.’ The video has been released in the lead up to their forthcoming new album, ‘Brolga Dreaming’.

Shot in stark black and white – and in the band’s community in Borroloola – the song is about the ‘old days’ when the local culture was strong and lead by elders. It is also a cautionary tale about being role models for the younger generation, and features the band, family and community members, with scenes of traditional dance.

Brolga Dreaming was also recorded in Borroloola with assistance of the WADOP (Winanjjikari Artist Development Outreach Program), and will come out in February 2012. It was produced by ‘Dr. Fluoride’ Jeff McLaughlin, who used a mobile recording studio to complete the album.

It’s been a busy year for The Sandridge Band; in addition to recording the CD they have been busy making music videos,and performing at Northern Territory music festivals such as BAMFest in Tennant Creek.

Lead singer Gadrian Hoosen was also a speaker at the prestigious 2011 Australasian World Music Expo (AWME) in Melbourne in November.

Gadrian was a panellist in the AWME conference program’s first session, ‘Skills Development and Transfer in Indigenous & Remote Communities‘. He spoke with Sunshine Reggae’s Jeffrey Zimran and Mark Grose (Skinnyfish Music).

Brolga Dreaming includes eleven tracks, and also features single Cultural Ways, one of the band’s most popular live songs, guaranteed to get the crowd up and dancing from the first few bars!

Stay tuned to the Music NT website for an interview with The Sandridge Band early in 2012, and news from Dr. Fluoride about his new album, also due for release in 2012!

• Visit The Sandridge Band on Facebook
• MySpace
• See pics from BAMFest

Words: Megan Spencer. Source: Dr. Fluoride.

The Black Wreath logo..

Following the national launch of The Black Wreath record label on 11.11.11, the Alice Springs metal collective has released its first EP.

Made up of members from three Alice Springs metal bands and the local arts and music community, the collective had a label launch at music venue Annies’ Place in Alice Springs, simultaneously streaming it live to seven music venues around the country.

The EP they have produced to accompany the label launch is available at 6 outlets in Alice Springs: Rock City Music, Stay True Tattoo, Paul’s Variety Store, Cam’s Coffee Shop, The Rock Bar and Horny Devils.

Or order the CD from the collective’s ‘store’ on the official Black Wreath website.

The Black Wreath bands Miazma, Uncreation and The Horror have also announced their first interstate gig in Adelaide on December 30, at the Squatters Arms Hotel. They will perform alongside local bands Gorebottle, Lacerated Soul and Maniacal.

The Black Wreath garnered national media attention with their label launch, claiming the multi-state, simultaneously-streamed joint EP and label launch event “the first of its kind in Australia”.

Read more about the 11.11.11 launch on the Music NT website and follow The Black Wreath on Facebook.

Words: Megan Spencer. Source: TBW Facebook page, Milyika Scales

Blackstone Band, one the acts at the 2011 Bush Bands Bash. Pic: Oliver Eclipse

Tammy Brennan has been announced as the new New Bush Bands Bash Project Manager.

Tammy has been involved in music and community arts in Central Australia for a number of years, most notably as the coordinator of Alice Springs cabaret group Cat’s Meow Cabaret, and producer and manager of her own music project ‘Confined’.

Tammy has a background in music business management, entertainment & community cultural development, and has been involved in the music industry both nationally & internationally.

Bush Bands Bash is the annual music showcase of Indigenous ‘desert’ bands from the Alice Springs region and beyond. Eight previous concerts have been held as a major event at the Alice Springs Desert Festival in September. The event has a national profile, with bands performing to upwards of 4000 people each year.

Tammy Brennan. Pic: Cameron Boon/Alice Now.

It has grown into a major music event on the Northern Territory music calendar and has featured bands such as Iwantja, Sunlight Reggae, Tjupi, South East, The Tableland Drifters, Alunytjuru Band, Desert Mulga, Yatulu Yatulu and many, many more.

In recent years special guests such as Narbalek and Manuel Ngulupani Dhurrkay (Saltwater Band) have also performed at Bush Bands Bash, touring from up north, and mentoring many of the younger bands and musicians.

An initiative of Music NT – and in 2011 supported by The Seed – Bush Bands Business is also now a major aspect of the yearly Bush Bands Bash.

Bush Bands Business is a mentoring and professional development program – or ‘bandcamp’ – for the participating bands, in the week leading up to the Bash concert in Alice Springs.

Tammy is excited to be part of the Bush Bands Bash team, and is “looking forward to helping to grow this important event”.

• Contact Tammy for more info about the Bush Bands Bash: info@bushbandsbash.net.au
• Visit the official Bush Bands Bash website
• Visit Tammy Brennan’s website, and read more about her in Alice Now.
  
• Watch out for Bush Bands Bash ‘call for applications’ around April 2012.

Words: Megan Spencer. Source: Milyika Scales