DEVIN TOWNSEND AUSTRALIAN GUITAR MASTERCLASS TOUR
Thump Music has presented a bunch of great guitar masterclasses over the past few years: Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen, Guthrie Govan… now they’re bringing the one and only Devin Townsend to Australia to share his musical wisdom ahead of the release of his next album, Z2, which will be released worldwide on October 27. The clinics will offer guitar enthusiasts the opportunity to learn the techniques and styles Devin has developed throughout his varied career. There will be plenty of opportunity for fans to ask any questions they have, as each clinic will end with a Q&A session, and you’ll also be able to buy Devy merch and music on the day (cash sales only). The Melbourne clinic will be at St Kilda Town Hall kicking off at 7:30pm on October 22. Check out Devin’s introductory video about the tour at http://youtu.be/9ZdRFuI-rwA and get your tickets from thumpmusic.com.au
THE SMITH STREET BAND HITS THE ROAD
Melbourne’s The Smith Street Band will hit the road this November to support their upcoming third full length album, Throw Me in the River. No strangers to hosting international guests, this time they’ll bring along New Jersey’s indie-folk-punk sweethearts The Front Bottoms and English comrades Apologies, I Have None to round out a triple threat tour de force. Released on October 31 through Poison City Records, Throw Me in the River is the culmination of a heavy touring schedule and the trials and tribulations that come with it. Often dark, but always honest, the album is full of their trademark earnest storytelling and serves as a snapshot of the last few years of their hectic lives. They’ll be at The Corner Hotel in Richmond on Friday November 28. Tickets are on sale now.
ALARUM & VANISHING POINT @ THE ESPY
Huge night of technically mind-exploding metal power at The Gershwin Room at The Espy in St Kilda this Friday September 5: catch Alarum, Vanishing Point (last show before their Japanese tour), Aeon of Horus (last Melbourne show before their European tour) and Orchestrating The Damned. Doors open at 8pm, tickets are $15.
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN BOX SET
If you’ve never delved into the world of blues-rock great Stevie Ray Vaughan before, or if you’ve only heard a few tracks here and there and you figure that the best way to rectify that is to go totally overboard, or if you’re just a completist, dagnabbit, Sony/Legacy will release a comprehensive box set bringing together all of SRV’s recordings for Epic Records in October. All of the studio albums are represented (not counting stuff like the posthumous The Sky Is Crying or Family Style by The Vaughan Brothers, with Stevie Ray’s brother Jimmie) and there’s plenty of live material too, including the first-ever commercial release of 1983′s A Legend In The Making – Live at the El Mocambo Toronto Concert. It will be released on Tuesday, October 28.
STEVE ALBINI TO SPEAK AT FACE THE MUSIC
Face The Music has just announced the fiercely independent and uncompromising music legend Steve Albini as its first international keynote speaker for this year’s music industry conference, held over two days at Arts Centre Melbourne on November 14th and 15th. Albini is one of the most respected figures in the international independent music scene. As a renowned artist, music journalist, industry commentator and recording engineer, Steve is a champion of independent business models for artists to thrive and to release their work outside of the corporate music industry structure. He is regularly quoted by music media for his views on topics ranging from piracy to crowd funding to royalties and recording. He’s engineered over 1,500 albums, including for some of the world’s most seminal and pioneering rock acts such Nirvana, The Pixies, PJ Harvey and The Stooges.
Also announced to speak at this year’s Face The Music are Dave Batty (Custom Made/Artist Voice), Johann Ponniah (I OH YOU), Briese Abbott (Spark & Opus), Ben Thompson (Corner Presents), James Young (Cherry Bar, Yah Yahs), Antonia Sellbach (Love of Diagrams, Beaches), Harley Evans (Moshtix), Millie Millgate and Glenn Dickie (Sounds Australia), Chris Hatzis (3RRR), Cara Williams (Beat), Chris Johnson (AMRAP/CBAA), Emma Telfer (The Office Of Good Design), Sophia Brous (Artist / Curator), Caleb Williams (Unified), Kirsty Rivers (APRA AMCOS), Yvette Myhill (AAM), Patrick Donovan (Music Victoria) and Leigh Treweek (themusic.com.au) with 100 more speakers to be announced. Tickets available from facethemusic.com.au
SMOKE STACK RHINO CHERRY BAR RESIDENCY
Smoke Stack Rhino is kicking off the release of their new single this week at the first night of their month-long Wednesday night residency at Cherry Bar in September. Catch these blues-rockers with Jesse Valach & Blues Mountain, and Dirt River Radio from 8pm this Wednesday September 3, $5 at the door.
