Norman Brumby, drummer for Utju Band , will attend workshops and the Showcase at the 2009 Island Vibe Festival, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, October 30 - November 1st, 2009, with fellow Willowra musicians. The workshops will be run by ska/reggae/world music exponent Nicky Bomba who's also performing at the Festival on November 1, forming an 'Allstar Band' for the occasion. Word on the street (ie MuNT Forum member Matt Hill!) is that Nicky "is gonna share the love 'round with his All Star Band, and Norman will be invited to play a track or two with him!" Says Matt, "it will be an awesome experience,” and that Island Vibes is looking at initatives to develop "partnerships and relationship between desert bands and 'coastie' festivals." More news soon.
The Australian Music Office is encouraging Australian artists and bands to apply for the 2010 South by Southwest Festival, with the deadline for artist submissions November 6th, 2009. SXSW "...is a prime opportunity for artists and bands to showcase in front of - and network with - key US and international music industry representatives." More than 30 Australian artists performed at the 2009 SXSW! All submissions will be processed through Sonicbids. More info here and FAQ.
The Flame Awards 2009 is s nationwide competition to highlight and reward schools with great music programs. Three NT schools have been shortlisted: Bees Creek Primary School, Jingili Primary School and Larapinta Primary School. The Awards are run by Music - Play for Life in partnership with ABC Classic FM. There is a $15 000 prize pool and 38 schools have made the shortlist. Congratulations and good luck to the NT schools! More here.
The New Music Network (NMN) is calling for proposals for their Mini Concert Series, 2010. The Mini Series involves artists from the ‘the next generation’ of new music ie individuals and/or groups that are just starting out in their performing careers, are not full NMN members, within contemporary new music practice: electronic, improvisational or composed. Proposals are welcome from interstate. For further information please contact Philippa Horn on nmn@newmusicnetwork.com.au or 0411 606 077. Closes November 30.
Word just though from Amrap: their new Australian music portal AirIT (pronounced "air it") went live on September 30 and has met with overwhelming support from Australian record labels and community radio. They report there are currently over 150 broadcasters/music directors on board accessing over 460 new release Australian tracks. For more information visit the AirIT website.
Arnhem Land band Yilila will travel to Copenhagen to play a showcase gig at the 2009 Womex World Music Expo on Friday October 30. They will play a one hour set from 10.30pm, on the Foyer Stage of the prestigious Copenhagen Concert Centre. More here. Congratulations!
In what can only be called a bumper year for CD releases in the NT (30 and counting so far!), news that four more NT bands have new releases up their sleeves... Electro-pop trio Cooperblack officially launched new EP 'Malaysia' at their Darwin Festival Lighthouse show. Desert ska "funkle tube fusion" exponents Dr. Strangeways are on the verge of releasing 'Strange New World', their debut album. The CD will now be available early-November. Crassic Park are also recording an as yet "untitled" EP, due out November with hard-rock outift Terracotta Pigeons set to release their debut album ‘Ever-Forever-Never’ on October 15. And The Bone Collectors' song It'll Come To Pass was featured during an episode of ABC-TV's Australian Story, entitled 'Her Beauty and Her Terror' about the Black Saturday bushfires.
