SXSW: More Melbourne acts are invited to showcase at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, in March – Black Sorrows, Alice Ivy, Didirri, The Elliotts, Small Island Big Song, The Teskey Brothers and WILSN. The Federal Government will next month announce a multi-million dollar initiative where it’ll take over Lucille’s blues club during the festival and make it Australia House. There Aussies hold showcases, panels, networking opportunities with global influencers, the Aussie BBQ, start-up pitch sessions, tourism tie-ups wine and beer tasting, and a coffee bar.
Vinyl Countdown: Not only is Australia the seventh largest music market in the world, but we also rank ninth highest in the number of vinyl stores. According to the Discogs website, the US is at #1 with 1482. At #2 is the UK (537 stores), #3 Germany (453), #4 France (285), #5 Canada (273), #6 Italy (258), #7 Netherlands (178), #8 Japan (158), #9 Australia (144) and #10 Spain (139).
As per number of record stores in a city, Tokyo leads with 93, Berlin (87), London (79), Paris (68), Toronto (49) and New York (47).
New Signings: Melbourne prog band AlithiA are signed by international agency Artery Global for Europe / UK bookings to be represented by agent Liam Spencer…Troubadour Music added to its management roster triple j supported Sydney rock/pop outfit Planet and Brisbane singer-songwriter Paddy McHugh…Violent Soho guitarist James Tidswell launched his own label Domestic La La in partnership with Unified Label Group. First signings are Dear Seattle (who insisted he complete a VB beer bong before papers were signed) and Adelaide’s West Thebarton…123 Agency are now looking after Perth band Psychedelic Porn Crumpets … BMG signed a worldwide publishing deal with gold-certified producer Jesse Porsches who’s worked with Flume, and own projects as Super Cruel (with Adelaide’s Tigerilla) and Jesse Porsches.
Dan Sultan, Ella Hooper, Kira Puru, Clairy Bowne, Kutcha Edwards, Uncle Jack Charles and MC Brian Nankervis play the Stolen Generations Marker Fundraiser at the Croxton Bandroom on Saturday December 2. Yarra City Council is setting up in Atherton Gardens, Fitzroy, the public art piece and healing garden dedicated to the struggles and strengths of the Stolen Generations and their families.
Jason Kolbeck, Melbourne DJ and nightclub owner (Two Floors Up) was sentenced to four years jail after pleading guilty to trafficking a large commercial quantity of drugs (including MDMA, MDA and methamphetamine) and for possession of prohibited weapons including a taser gun and knuckle dusters.
Former Australian Idol winner and singer-songwriter Kate DeAraugo avoided conviction after pleading guilty to eight charges for drug driving, possessing ice and weapons offences in Bendigo Magistrates’ Court. She tested positive to ice when pulled over in Shepparton in June and copped a community corrections order and lost her licence for six months.
