Links City

I've been doing heaps of research (hours and hours of it) just recently on music related stuff and thought it would be good to share some links.

General Stuff

Open Directory or DMoz - this is a european-based site that is edited by volunteers (like Wikipedia) There's a lot of music links here but some of the pages are now sadly out of date.
MusicMoz - this is the same deal as the Open Directory but specialising in music. As its newer it's not as advanced but I think will eventually outstrip the dmoz site in terms of focus and specialist info. (I've applied as a volunteer editor here.)


Victorian Sites

I'm looking at going over in the next few months so a lot of my current research is based around this and also breaking venue sites into Melbourne Metro and Victorian Country files. The following are mostly media-related and I've got an emphasis on gig guides

Indie Initiative - is a national site but has a weekly gig at The Greyhound Hotel in St Kilda. The mailing list is good and quite informative.
Beat Magazine - was one of the first free street-zines all the way back in the 80's. Still very good for Melbourne news.
Buzz Magazine - covers Tasmania as well as Vic/Melbourne Metro. I write for this mag ocassionally and Peter the editor is very approachable if you're a Vic/Tas muso with something to say.
Ballarat Indie Music - very informative and lots of other info such as podcasts, venues & artists.
The Dwarf - has come a long way since it's inception in Hobart a few short years ago, and the Melbourne section is now the recommended gig guide by Indie Initiative.
Melband - is probably the front runner in the list at the moment. Friends of mine have used this with great success since moving across the water earlier this year.
Melbourne Gigs - is just that and also has reasonable listings of individual venues.
PBS 106.7 FM - has a very good gig guide and used to welcome contact from new artists - as all community radio stations should!
Triple R FM - another good radio station and gig guide.

I think that'll do for now but I'll put more up later. Believe me - there's literally hundreds of 'em!

Other Things of Interest

Last night's meeting up with Dan wasn't the only thing that happened.

Bat News

Nice touch that my mate Bat was doing the sound for 'Big Low'. Latest news on the Bat front is that the DVD is almost ready. We did very nicely out of the May 20th gig - Bat got a DVD and I got a CD single! Thanks again to all those of you who came, it was a special night. I guess the next thing is we both need to think about our respective launches!!!


Somewhere Nice to Stay in Tassie

The Venue is off Wooby's Lane and part of the Salamanca Arts precinct down on the docks in Hobart and surrounded by great coffee houses, restauants and galleries. It's a great little place to play and listen to music and the licencee, Dave Gunton is quite a character. Apparently Dave's finally moved to Bruny Island and the website looks lush! If you're looking for somewhere to get away from it all, check this out. Dave and Rachel are fantastic hosts!


Stephen Eastaugh

Seeing Dan again last night made me think of many people I've lost contact with over the years. One of them is Australian-born artist Stephen Eastaugh, who I looked up on the internet today. Stephen did posters for Wild Pumpkins back in the 80's when he was studying in Hobart and was a treasured friend of the band. (The last one I saw was a wonderful pumpkin-headed monster from when the band were touring europe in the early 90's. If I can find a copy I'll scan it and put it up here.) His artwork (like the man) is fascinating and deceptively straightforward

Big Low in Hobart

Big Low in Hobart

Last night I went to The Venue (in Salamanca for those who know Tas) and caught up with my friend Dan Tuffy and his band 'Big Low'. Now living in Holland, only Dan and Marc Constandse are here in Australia this time round. (That's Dan on the left and Marc in the middle.)

Marc plays a range of percussion instruments, bandoneon (a kind of accordian pictured) and has a wonderful, blues-laden voice. I loved the atmosphere these two generated and would recommend their music to anyone who likes good atmospheric, acoustic music. It's been described as Paul Kelly meets Tom Waits but I think there's something distinctly 'Dan' about it that rather defies description. Go see it for yourself.

Unfortunately, this is the end of the tour and the only means Australian audiences will have is through CD's or travelling to europe!

If you speak Dutch, this is an interesting article and review of their last CD, 'No Tears in Paradise'. CD's are available through Smoked Records in Holland or nonzero or Shock in Australia.

Chastised I Type

Yes, I know its been three weeks since I've posted anything.

I'm sorry.

Can I come out of my room now?

Seriously, its been more than a bit stupid the last month but I've been busy! Life has taken all kinds of weird turnings recently but all in all I've been enjoying it.


The Friendly Ghost: Producers Night

This was on Wednesday night and was a good case in point of life pointing me sideways. Three people I knew were putting work on there, Spreckenstein, Nudge and Scot Cotterell. It was run like a classic chalkboard event - 15 minutes to introduce and push play on the cd player on stage. That meant there was a lot of new music that I knew absolutely nothing about - exciting! It was held at The Trout Bar, North Hobart and I've just written a 250 word review for July's Buzz Magazine (hard copy distributed in Victoria & Tas).

Once its gone to press I might start putting those pieces out here as well - I'm not sure if my editor's putting them in the online version?? I really should check, shouldn't I?

Meanwhile, I got into a great chat with Dave (publican/lover of original music) up at Trout and it looks like there's gonna be some shows in August/September..... I'll let you know the dates as soon as they're confirmed.

Stay warm and will post more soon - promise!!!

King Island Confirmed

Nice to also have this definite at last. I'll be on the island for a week, working with the students at the District School and aiming to produce work for performance during Tasmanian Living Writers Week in August.

Also, the admin staff at the school (bless 'em!) have offered to organise a gig the last night I'm there at a local restaurant. Boomerang by the Sea is well worth checking out - it looks a totally spectacular place to eat and play! I've asked that we get some locals involved in this as well. I think it would be in keeping with the project if this is a true community event.

Nothing's been confirmed yet but I'll let you all know as soon as I find out.

It's still seven weeks away - but I can't wait!

The First Day of Winter

Yes, its the first day of winter in the southern hemisphere, its wet and miserable and I think I'm coming down with a cold!

But I'm too pleased to feel sick.

All the good things I was hoping for with the live recording have come to fruition! I've put a track out on MySpace ("Silent Running") and it's still sounding ok to my ears. I've alerted the mailing list and had some very nice feedback - thank you all so much!

Now to get the printing, copying and distribution underway..................... my head hurts!