Oz bands centre stage

Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett (above in a previous life as Oils frontman) has released a discussion paper on the Foreign Music Act Certification Scheme. It outlines a proposed approach to implement the election commitment to “ensure Australian musicians get to share the spotlight with international acts touring the country.” Mr. Garrett urges "musicians, promoters, tour organisers and interested community members to comment on the discussion paper.”

The closing date for submissions is February 12, 2010. Read the paper here.

A Christmas star from the NT

NT singing star Jessica Mauboy has contributed a track to the 'Stars of Christmas' album. The album features 15 other popular Australian artists including John Farnham, Delta Goodrem, Human Nature and and Anthony Callea. She performs the track 'Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)' and the CD was released in time for Christmas. More here.

Skinnyfish take Europe

Skinnyfish Music and Dramatico Entertainment UK have entered into an agreement for the release of the Skinnyfish Music catalogue across Europe.

Following on from the growing success of the Gurrumul release, Dramatico have now taken on the entire Skinnyfish Music catalogue. The first release that will

benefit from this partnership will be the debut album by Ego Lemos titled ‘O Hele Le’. For more on the Skinnyfish website.

Red Plum & Snow power up.

"Sweet distortion..." After playing in Darwin and Adelaide earlier this year, NT supergroup (yes, "supergroup", the NT has more than one!), Red Plum & Snow have finally released their first album, '20 Power Hits'. Made up of Darwin-based musicians Kris Keogh (formerly Blastcorp), Gretchen Ennis (Straight Skirt, Crimplene) and Ruben Maher (ex-The Weathermen, Scarlet Revenge, Fairweather Dolls), Red Plum & Snow have chosen to release their album direct to online. Find it at Band Camp. And check out a cool gig pic here.

Garrett breaks through with further funding.

Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett has announced a second round of Breakthrough funding for Indigenous artists. Breakthrough is a pilot initiative of the Cultural Ministers Council  which aims to "take Indigenous contemporary music to a wider listening audience". NT act Leah Flanagan Band (above) was one of Breakthrough's successful recipients in 2009.

The Minister has announced a continuation of Breakthrough for a further 12 months. The fund makes available up to $25 000 to successful applicants to assist with the high quality recording of a CD. This can include studio/equipment hire, mixing fees, CD manufacture and so forth. Applications will be available mid-December. You can register online to be sent the application kit by emailing contemporary.music@environment.gov.au  or phone the Project Officer on 02 6275 9615.

WAMi open to non-WA acts

Artist submissions are now open to non-WA acts to play at next year's West Australian Music Industry Festival (WAMi) Showcase. The WAMi Festival will run from 19-23 May, 2010. Submissions close on Friday 15 January. WAMi Festival Director Sarah Norton says that in addition to local WA acts being programmed at next year's festival, "A couple of acts from outside WA will also be given spaces".

Sounds like a good opportunity for NT artists! Download a "WAMi10 Non-WA Application Kit", and/or visit the WAMi website.

Apra Christmas party

Robbie Collins the NT Apra rep is kicking off the festive season with the Apra Christmas party on Friday afternoon at browns mart. All members are welcome.


- Musicnt -

NT artists go to Band Camp.

In a world swamped by online music, downloads and the rules n' regs that go with it, a new website promises artists freedom and choice when it comes to selling their tunes online. Band Camp allows artists to choose how much they want sell their music for, and asks music fans to pay what they can afford... Artists can choose between "giving away" their music for free, "setting a price" or "letting folks name their price." So far three Territory artists are known to have gone to Band Camp: Blastcorp, Red Plum & Snow and Cooperblack. "It's only been one day and already 12 people have bought stuff" says Blastcorp's Kris Keogh. "The free/pay what you want model works!"

Check out Band Camp and let us know what you think on the Music NT Forum.

CAAMA releases 'Desert Pop Lock & Drop'.

Alice Springs-based CAAMA Music have released a brand new compilation CD, “Desert Pop, Lock & Drop”. Proving just how versatile music from the Northern Territory can be, local singers Cassandra Williams and Mei Lai Swan came up with a sound that CAAMA says it’s been "heading for". Other tracks range from hip hop (courtesy of 13 year-old Darlyhne Lillico) and pop rock (Tom Ghea, 'Falling Star'), to lush ballads by Jessica Laruffa ('Feelin' This') and Kirra Voller ('The Ending'), and reggae from the Yuendumu Community. Find out more at the CAAMA website.

Santa's little helper: Music NT & Fuse Festival

Are you planning to attend the Fuse Festival in Adelaide in 2010? If so let Music NT know NOW as we are working with the Fuse Festival on securing venues.

This year the "Long Way To The Top End" Showcase firmly put Northern Territory music on the map so there is strong interest in anything from the NT. Fuse Festival is one of the leading music industry events in Australia and a great opportunity for showcasing your band. Email Mark Smith: manager@musicnt.com.au

Plus! Fuse Festival is also offering members of Music NT and the MuNT Forum (artists and bands), a 20% discount on registration for the Ignition Music Industry Conference, held as part of the annual Fuse Festival. Just make sure you write 'Music NT Band' on the registration form to receive your discount.

And! Artist Registrations for the 'Ignition Open Access Live Showcase' close December 16. For your chance to play at Ignition, make sure you visit the website before the closing date - not too far away!

The In Sound From Way Out

iNTune Music Conference speaker Nick Crocker has developed an interactive project with EMI music, designed to answer the questions independent artists might have for a major label. 

Every month A&R managers will answer questions directly to camera or via blogs on the site. Called the 'In Sound From Way Out', check it out here, and leave comments and questions of your own in the Comments box on on the blog!

New CD from Ngapartji Ngapartji!!

There was much rejoicing in the Alice Springs office of Ngapartji Ngapartji last week. The big hART/Pitjantjatjara Community project announced the release of a nineteen-track compilation CD entitled 'Wanti Watjilpa' or "Don't Be Lonely".

Project officer and Music NT Forum member Beth Sometimes says that "forty-five musicians from Ernabella, Amata and Fregon contributed to the diverse range of sounds and songs on Wanti Watjilpa – kungka, nyitayira, wati, minyma tjuta! Girls, boys, men and women!" She says that "the compilation explores the experimental side of the music scene in Ernabella, which has a long history in harmony singing, ceremony and a recent dynamic engagement with contemporary musical genres." The CD will be available from December 16. More details here. 

Dave Garnham is in the Grand Final!

Local musician & Music NT Forum member Dave Garnham (The Moving Targets, above) has sung his way into the Grand Final of the Telstra 'Road To Tamworth' national talent search competition! 

Performing last Saturday at the V8 Supercar Championships in Sydney, Dave will perform alongside and nine other finalists at the Tamworth Country Music Festival on January 19th 2010, to win the chance to record in Nashville Tennessee, the 'home of country music'. Singing his original song 'Thought I Knew Him', the judges were quoted as saying, "Great song, great performance - David is another of the Territory's well-kept secrets revealed." Congratulations Dave!!

Vale Blastcorp.

"Goodbye. It’s time for me let go of this Blastcorp project. I think I've got creative differences with myself… "

Word through from the Blastcorp camp... After ten years of making "glitch noise, ambient calmness, washing machine music" and "acoustic love songs", NT musician Kris Keogh is finally putting his solo electronic project Blastcorp to bed. Thanking a myriad of  friends, fans, collaborators, supporters and more in a group email, his parting gesture is to release a compilation album of 20 songs of work made from 2000-2009. Download it from here. 

Of the future, Kris says, "I’m not sure what’s next, but expect a new project soon…" Best of luck Kris.

Happy Yess needs your help!

Happy Yess co-founder Kris Keogh is asking Territory music fans to sign a petition to help the venue... Happy Yess is currently undergoing negotiations to relocate to the Courtyard Room at Browns Mart. There are many benefits to the plan, including a stable lease arrangement for the venue (currently on month-to-month) and developmental benefits, including staging larger gigs - thus supporting original music in the Territory on a larger scale - and an increased audience capacity.

Happy Yess is one of the few NT venues entirely dedicated to supporting and fostering original music - and artists - in the Territory. Visit the online petition.

New 'Music Clip' Award for NT's Fist Full of Films

Spread the word! Fist Full Of Films Festival has announced it will add a new 'Music Clip' award category to its 2010 Competition. Project manager Dixi Joy says that the entries "must be produced wholly within the Territory" with the majority of the crew NT residents. Clips should be 4 mins or under,  with the deadline for entry May 4, 2010. The clips will be screened during the Fist Full of Films Festival June 3-6, 2010 with the winner announced June 5. More info at the Fist Full of Films website or email Dixi on fistfullofilms@bigpond.com.au

Nominate your favorite NT music vollie!

Regional Arts Australia have sent out an early announcement about their 2010 Volunteer Awards, with nominations to open early in 2010. The Awards are supported by the Australia Council for the Arts.

The Regional Arts Australia Volunteer Awards recognise, reward and encourage regionally-based artists and cultural volunteers who have made a substantial contribution to the arts in regional communities in Australia. Nominate yourself or someone you know who has made a difference in your community. Young people are particularly encouraged to apply. Nominations open 19 February and close 26 March 2010.  Visit the website for more info.

Three NT bands to play at Woodford

The 2009 Woodford Folk Festival (Dec 27 - Jan 1) will play host to three Northern Territory bands this year: Leah Flanagan Band from Darwin,  Dr. Strangeways  from Alice Springs and  Iwantja Band (pictured) from the Indulakana Community 360 kms south of Alice Springs. (Although technically from NW SA, the ties to the NT are close and Territorians like to claim Iwantja Band as their own! See this year's Bush Bands Bash at this year's Alice Desert Festival.) 

Iwantja Band reckon NT singer Shellie Morris might have had something to do with their selection, spruiking their talents after the Dreaming Festival. They write on their MySpace "Iwantja were invited to the Dreaming Festival and became a 'must have' item for this year’s Woodford Folk Festival. Shellie Morris reckons they were her favorite act at the [Dreaming] Festival."

Crassic Park to launch EP

"I like to think that we are vulgar or raw" 

- Lachlan (above), Crassic Park

Music NT Forum members Crassic Park will launch new EP this Friday December 4 at Brown's  Mart. Supports include a veritable royal roll-call of heavy-duty Darwin bands including Slaughtertoall, Semishigure, ZEDMAJOR, newcomers Hooch (ex-Moses) and Blastcorp. Read an interview about their CD launch in this month's Off The Leash online, and also a feature article about this young NT band on the Music NT Forum.

Gurrumul keen to come home

Fairfax newspapers published an article this week about Gurrumul's tour to Europe. Having had his biggest international touring year yet, Gurrumul's friend, musician Michael Hohnen (both pictured), told Fairfax the Elcho Island superstar is homesick and wants to come back to the NT and his family. While the tour has been incredibly successful - boosting sales of Gurrumul's debut album to in excess of 250 000 copies - Hohnen says Gurrumul prefers "sitting eating stingray, singing songs, telling stories, just being social".  A recent duet Gurrumul recorded with Sting of the Police hit 'Every Breath You Take'  will air on French television on December 16. More here. 

Read more about the duet by The Oz music writer Iain Sheddon, here.

Wiya Angela Pamela! single launch

Alice Springs band Super Raelene Bros will team up this Friday December 4 with Western Arrarnta and Luritja musicians known as  "The Little Sisters Collective", to release single 'Wiya! Angela Pamela'. The song is performed in Luritja and Western Arrarnta, with a smattering of English scattered across a  deeply funky dance groove reminiscent of 90’s hit, ‘Treaty’. 

The single launch will take place on the Alice Springs Council Lawns. The free event is supported by the Arid Lands Environment Centre and will feature performances by various local artists, speeches,  information stalls and a Nuclear Free BBQ. More here.