The Sky's The Limit perform at the Backyard Jam final in Alice Springs. Pic: Helene Delahunty

The national Red Bull Backyard Jam final was held in Alice Springs Saturday May 7, featuring Central Australian band, The Sky’s The Limit.

They competed in the Final against three other young Australian music acts: Scott Boyd, Welcome Wednesday and Jagged Lies.

The ultimate winner of the “battle of the bands-style” competition on the day was Welcome Wednesday.

From all reports it was a very close contest between local heroes The Sky’s The Limit and interstaters Welcome Wednesday, with both delivering competitive music performance.

Interstate profile band British India also performed at the Backyard Jam as the headline act. Reportedly they were so impressed with The Sky’s The Limit’s set that they invited the band to support them in Melbourne.

Red Bull Bedroom Jam is an online music talent competition which “searches Australia for bands with members aged between 14 – 19 years.”

The Sky’s The Limit members  are Mason Bland (guitar), Michael Little (vocals), Cameron Bartels (drums), Lani Breedon (keys/synth) and Michael McGuirk (bass).

The band won the right to stage the Final in their home town of Alice Springs, after winning the online voting poll of the Red Bull Bedroom Jam competition held on April 14, 2011.

The band were clear winners in the voting of the Buzz Chart Competition over the three other finalists, after a professional film crew travelled to Alice Springs to broadcast the band’s set live across the internet as part of the competition.

The 2011 Backyard Jam grand final was held Saturday May 7, 2011 at the Old Telegraph Station in front of a live Alice Springs audience and a panel of music “industry experts” who judged the overall winner.

The event was ticketed with seats were allocated through the Red Bull Bedroom Jam website.

Out in the street... The satellite dish used to broadcast The Sky's The Limit April 14 Bedroom Jam performance on the 'net! Pic: Facebook

The Sky’s The Limit band members are all studying in the Certificate III VET Music Course  at Charles Darwin University in Alice Springs, coordinated by CDU Music Lecturer and musician, Cain Gilmour.

Cain says the band members should be very proud of their gig, and “gave their best set” on the day. “Getting the gig to Alice was a great thing… I think this will just make them more determined to succeed”.

He adds that they “absolutely rocked the house” and that the local crowd “loved every minute”.

The band spent the week preparing for the final “fine tuning” their sound and performance with Cain, rehearsing in the “recently-opened” CDU professional music studio.

They also had great support from family, friends, the local community and members of the NT music community.

See the photo gallery of The Sky’s The Limit performing at the Backyard Jam Final here.

Or visit the official Bedroom Jam website.

Words: Megan Spencer. Additional Source: Cain Gilmour, CDU media release.

The Music NT Alice Springs annual program launch was held on Friday April 8 in Alice Springs.

With a raft of major events and developments included in this year’s calendar, Music NT’s Central Australia Coordinator Milyika Scales ushered in the programme at the ‘Watch This Space‘ venue in Alice Springs.

She presented a summary of Music NT’s 2011 Programme to the local music industry crowd.

The evening was relaxed and enjoyable, the result of the combined efforts of Music NT and Watch this Space board members, vollies and coordinators. Live music and a free barbie for Music NT members were also on the agenda, with the audience commenting that it “was a rare and appreciated opportunity to sit down and listen to a diverse range of talented live and local original music”.

The local performers were selected to represent the diversity of music that Music NT supports in Central Australia. They included:

• Dazzling Arrernte-Maori band Minority Sun, who will perform an acoustic set;
• West-African kora player and songstress Bec Matthews;
• Contemporary opera composer Tammy Brennan, and
• Emerging musician and lyricist, Ronja Moss

The 2011 program includes a diverse range of exciting music events, workshops, and skills and industry development programs.

Some of the major Music NT projects this year include:

• Bush Bands Business – skills and industry development for Bush Bands Bash participants.
• iNTune Alice Springs music industry conference
• Songwriters Retreat in Alice Springs
• Sista Sounds regional plan for the development of Indigenous Women’s Music in Central Australia.

An exciting year is on the way for Central Australian music!

View the full gallery of photos from the 2011 Launch on the Music NT Forum.

And visit this link for full event details.

Words: Megan Spencer &  Milyika Scales.

You are invited!

Music NT’s Alice Springs office is launching its program of activity for 2010 with an event at Annie’s Place. It’s also your chance to meet Milyika Scales, the new Alice Springs Coordinator, and to find out what Music NT is up to this year!! Plus check out some great local music. Details below – or email Milyika milyika@musicnt.com.au