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Ahoy music lovers, we have a very entertaining month ahead of us.
Sat 3 July
Irish immigrant
Andy White and local musician Jill Meehan will lead the chicken shop's
first Celtic Night. Bring along your fiddle, flute, tin whistle,
bagpipes, banjo, harp bodhran and voice to be a part of the one in all
in Celtic Jam Session.
Maddy
Hay - July 10, 8.30pm
With her vivid imagination, unique compositions and
celestial voice, singer-songwriter Maddy Hay, is one of Australia's
hidden gems. She recently returned home to bring her sweet blend of
Jazz-pop to Australian shores, after promoting her debut album "Smoke In
The City" through Sony Columbia Records in Europe (which she will
launch independently here in September). Tonight she will be joined by
her wonderful band, featuring Jonathan Zion on double bass, Barnaby Gold
on drums and Steve Paix on piano.
http://www.myspace.com/madelinamusica
http://www.maddyhay.com/
THE JUNES LAUNCH THEIR FIRST FULL LENGTH CD 12 GOLDEN GREATS
Now in their fifth year of cross-state existence, The Junes are launching their new CD 12 Golden Greats into the hearts, minds and souls of roots music lovers across the universe.
With poetic precision, the month of June will provide the wintery backdrop for the group which categorically states that "Country IS cool!" as they meander through regional Victoria and NSW, Melbourne, Wollongong and Sydney. This is no simple task, as the members of the band hail from as far afield as Melbourne, The Bellarine Peninsula and Newcastle NSW. But this geographic challenge only adds to the diversity of musical influences, lyrical content and poise which characterises any show by The Junes.
FEATURING the soulful power of Suzannah Espie (GIT), the earthy nurture of Sarah Carroll (GIT) and rural roots of Gleny Rae Virus (Toe Sucking Cowgirls), the combined effect of these stellar performers brings the planets into alignment, opens the blooms of rare flowers and casts a mesmerising mist over their audience. All three women have successful solo careers and diverging music influences, so the combination is truly greater than a sum of the parts. Behind every great woman there is a patient man, and the front ladies of The Junes are ably accompanied by their well manicured backline Chris Tabone (Abbie Dobson, Renee Geyer) on skins and percussion, and Dougie Bull (The Lairs, The Lawnmowers) on bullfiddle and bawdy gags.
Wielding guitars, fiddle, mandolin, ukulele and even the diabolical piano accordion, The Junes deftly weave a broad range of musical influences from calypso, soul, gypsy, 70s rock, folk and roots country swing. "How do they do it?" I hear you ask. It requires a deep love of music, an ocean of humour, a river of emails, a whole lot of time on the blacktop and the patience of Saint Cecilia, particularly for Sarah and Suzannah as they sagaciously nurture motherhood roles.
The Junes earned a guest appearance on the consistently popular music quiz, Spicks and Specks in June 2008, were finalists in the Victorian Country Music Awards Best Band for 2009 and finished in the top ten for 2009 Australian Songwriting Awards Best Country Song, making them one of Australia's top "almost award winning" bands! In 2009, their magical cone of cool country hypnotised punters at Apollo Bay Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Blue Water Country Music Festival, Katherine Country Music Muster, Queenscliff Music Festival, Dorrigo Bluegrass Festival, and many remote students on the black soil plains of the Darling River region. This year has been just as productive, with The Junes inaugural appearance at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and the Mossvale Festival (Vic). The band hopes to return to western NSW for more school workshops and performances designed to inspire and motivate young people towards musical projects.
The new album 12 Golden Greats was recorded in 2009 at Audrey Studios with Craig Pilkington (Gurrumul Yunupingu, Weddings Parties Anything) working his magic at the mixing desk and also producing in conjunction with The Junes. The result is an incredible musical journey between old and new; a magic carpet ride woven from threads of old LPs and western lullabies, glitter from an 80's disco outfit and lots of soft floral patterns collected from every op shop on the east coast! Influences shine through like rhinestones on a Nudie suit; The Andrews Sisters, Lucinda Williams, Riders in the Sky, Time Jumpers, calypsonian Lord Kitchener, June Carter-Cash. Yet the result is as fresh as the first shower in spring, polishing our treasured musical gems into a brand new jewel.
June will be a purple patch for The Junes, as they also launch a brand new website www.thejunes.com.au and celebrate a distribution deal with VITAMIN RECORDS. According to bass player Dougie Bull, "We are not here to make friends!"
Fiddler/squeezer Gleny Rae Virus prefers a softer rhetoric.
"The Junes seem to bring a lot of joy to their audience, and even more so to ourselves when we play. To me it is a reminder of what music is all about; an opportunity to forget about the fire and brimstone, tilt your head back and let out a big yeehaa!"
Brian Nankervis of Rockwiz talks about 12 Golden Greats by The Junes
"I have done a lot of kilometres, driving from Elwood to Donvale, Melbourne to Fish Creek, Cowes to Yarram ... and I'm happy to report that '12 Golden Greats' by The Junes has kept me company when the road stretched into the hazy distance, made me smile when the gigs were tough and gave me 12 perfectly good reasons to jump back in the car, crank up the cd player and drive into the sunset. It's a record filled to overflowing with the sheer joy and the occasional heartbreak of being alive and well in this topsy turvy world. Twelve toe tapping tunes with cheeky grins and sly giggles. Great singing! Great playing! From Jo's Song to the Busker's Lament and then simply start all over again."
CD LAUNCH TOUR DATES in JUNE
Fri 11 - Delatite Hotel, Mansfield
Sat 12 - Country is Cool Winter Dance
with Andy Baylor's Cajun Combo
Bella Union Bar @ Trades Hall, Carlton
Sun 13 - Old Hepburn Hotel with Cyndi Boste
Fri 18 - Piping Hot Chicken Shop, Ocean Grove
Sat 19 - Mount Moliagul Hotel
Sun 20 - Castlemaine Theatre Royal
Wed 23 - Front Cafe Gallery Canberra
Thu 24 - Candelo Bowlo
Fri 25 - Heritage Hotel Bulli
with Jeremy Edwards and the Dust Radio
Sat 26 - Marrickville Bowling Club with Slim Knackers
Sun 27 - Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland
For more info/interview contact
Gleny Rae ph 0416196525
email: gleny120@yahoo.com
Sarah Carroll ph 0428854913
Suzannah Espie ph 0421272728
www.myspace.com/thejunestunes
www.thejunes.com.au
Gil Askey:
Born in Austin, Texas, Gil Askey remembers, when he was seven, hearing the great Harry James play Flight Of The Bumble Bee on trumpet and "wondering how anyone could do that." He was forced to play in the high school band 'as a punishment', but benefitted from the discipline of rehearsals. Leaving school at fifteen, he eventually got a scholarship for a medical course (run by the Army) but dropped out because formal study was not for him. He had numerous jobs such as waiter and busboy, but the horn "became my nipple. I played whenever I got lonely. I used to play when I travelled on trains, wandering up and down playing Stardust or some such. The horn took over my life."
He did get to meet Harry James, and Louis Armstrong. One contact led to another. Gene Krupa led to Lionel Hampton led to playing onstage with Benny Goodman. The rest is history.
Eventually Gil got tired of the frenetic music world in the US. "I was in demand, and people were always wanting to fly me places in the middle of the night." Although he is a self-proclaimed "24-hour man" this was too much. And he also realised he had missed his family growing up. "I had a son, then next thing I know I see him standing on a diving board. I thought, 'Where has the time gone?'"
But if he is much in demand in his 82nd year, he is also much appreciated. "The school I teach at gave me an 80th birday party a couple of years ago. There was a band of guys from town who played. I thought I was like [baseball legend] Lou Gehrig!" Askey was also nominated for Citizen of the Year. His take on this renown is simple: "My contribution to life is to make people happy....anyone can sit down in front of the TV, drink beer, smoke and die. That's not what I wanted to do."
With such an incredible wealth of experience, what does Gil Askey emphasise when he is teaching young people?
"I loved the music alright. Today, most young people don't know what to focus on. I try to spread ideas like having belief in yourself, be the best you can. Whatever you do, make a commitment to it. It's also about being competitive, not being left behind. If I can take a kid with a trumpet, three finger and two bits of meat - the lips - and he wants to play like Harry James or James Morrison or Louis Armstrong, he needs to make a commitment. It's like playing footy - you need to have that 50 meter kick. Every time I watch Gary Ablett, I see him make a commitment to do impossible things."
Tim Neal
Tim Neal began playing music before he was born (just ask his mother!), starting on the piano his first gig was at aged four performing for Mothers tea group. Upon finishing school he headed to the now defunkt Victorian College of the Arts, completing a degree in Jazz on the saxophone. Tim became a part of Melbourne's' vibrant music scene, toured both nationally and internationally and developed a love for the Hammond B3 organ. Almost straight away he joined Paul Williamson Hammond Combo, which amongst 5 CD's and years of residencies and tours, is enjoying its 19th year of Monday nights at the Rainbow Hotel in Fitzroy, Melbourne. Artists that Tim has either played, recorded or toured with include: Ernest Ranglin (Jamaica) Betty Harris (USA), Bunny Ruggs (Jamaica) Cattletruck, Swinging Sidewalks, Paul Williamsons Hammond Combo (Aria Nomination), Festa, Banana Oil (Aria Award), Melbourne Improvisation Association, Kate Ceberano, Kerrie Simpson, Pearly Shells, Tim Neals Big Organ Band, Renee Geyer, Jim Kelly, Bobby Previte (USA) Guy Pearce, Duke Robillard ( USA), Anne McCue, Jody Williams (USA), Gil Askey, Billy Boy Arnold(USA), Lucky Oceans (USA), Big Jay McNeely (USA), Randy Crawford (USA), Lucky Peterson (USA), Micky Tucker (USA), Chris Wilson, Ross Wilson, Ross Hannaford, The Fabulous Thunderbirds (USA) James Taylor (UK) , Renee Geyer, Wendy Saddington, Jeff Lang, Jimmy Smith (USA), Geoff Achison, The Big Gig House Band, The Late Show (as House Pianist), The Eric Bana Show Live House Band etc.Michael Jordan
Michael has been a major part of Australia's Jazz scene for the last 25 years, performing regularly at Festivals, on radio and in Television and Film. He is one of the most sought after musicians in Melbourne's vibrant musical community. Michael taught at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne from 1987 to 2000, and is a highly respected and sought-after music educator. Currently Michael is teaching at Penliegh and Essendon Grammar, as well as teaching performance classes at RMIT and Monash University Melbourne.
Michael has performed with international: George Cables, Sheila Jordan, Joanne Brackeam, Ben Sidren, Mark Murphy, Ronny Scott, Tony Monarco, Lona Luft, Jon Hammond, Clayton Cameron Gil Askey and Eugene Wright. Michael has supported Dr. John, Ray Charles, B.B. King and the Phillip Morris Big Band.
Michael's recording includes 5 albums with the Paul Williamson Hammond Combo, and his own solo album release in 2002 All is Forgiven and Blue South in 2008.Michael has also recorded with many of Australia's best Jazz performers including: Brian Brown, Bob Sedegreen, Bob Bertles, Gil Askey, Paul Williamson, The Hidden Charms, Judy Jacques, Barry Duggan, Serge Ermol and Gary Costello.
Michael toured Malaysia in 1991, Noumea first in 1995, and has been invited back many times most notably in 2007 with collaboration between New Caledonia, New Zealand and Australian musicians. New York in 2005. A musical collaboration between Indigenous New Caledonians and South Pacific musicians in 2009. Michael has just returned from a successful tour of Canada where he was involved in a cultural exchange between Indigenous Australians and the Blackfoot nation of Canada.
Michael is married with two Children Liam and Caitlyn and a dog called grace a cat Phillip Rex. Michael likes to paint play golf and fish.
Julien Wilson
Julien Wilson is the recipient of the 2008 Australian Jazz Award for 'Australian Jazz Artist of the Year', the 2006 Music Council of Australia / Freedman Fellowship for Jazz, and the 1994 National Jazz Award. The funds from the Freedman Fellowship enabled him to record an album in New York and take his trio on a three week European tour that included two sold out performances at the Berlin Jazz Festival. The New York recording, Kaleidoscopic is now available in-stores through Jazzhead Records.
In addition to composing for and running his own trio and quartet, Julien co-leads assumptions, Cool'sCool and Snag, and is a regular member of Ishish, Rumberos, the Black Arm Band, Bennetts Lane Big Band, Twelve Tone Diamonds, Los Cabrones and the Jex Saarelaht Quartet.
Julien's debut album, while you were sleeping, was a finalist for Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album in 2007 and was nominated for an ARIA for Best Jazz Album. The CD includes a live DVD of his trio performing at the BMW Edge in Melbourne. His second album, Trio - Live was released at the end of 2007 and was also nominated for an ARIA for Best Jazz Album in 2008. The Julien Wilson Trio was a finalist for the 2004, 2008 & 2009 Australian Jazz Award for Best Australian Ensemble. Both CD's are available through Sound Vault Records.
BACKGROUND
Julien has performed at many of Australia's major festivals and toured in Europe, China, Mexico, North America, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and New Zealand, including appearances at the Umbria, Pori, Copenhagen, Berlin, Jakarta, Jarasum, Christchurch and Montreux Jazz Festivals.
He spent much of the late 90's living and working in Europe with the multi-national Swiss-based band, Snag, who received Swiss Government Arts grants for recording and touring. He completed graduate studies in the USA on scholarships from The Ian Potter Foundation, The Australia Council and New England Conservatory, where he studied extensively with George Russell, Paul Bley, Jerry Bergonzi and George Garzone.
Juliens personal sound, and wide stylistic range have enabled him to perform and record with artists as diverse as the Kurt Elling Quartet, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Mike Nock, Charlie Haden, Hugh Masekala, Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Nigel Kennedy, George Garzone, Bob Moses, Barney McAll, Jim Black, Mark Helias, Josh Roseman, Andy Milne, The Artie Shaw Orchestra, Paul Grabowsky, Katie Noonan, Allan Browne, The Hoodangers, The Australian Art Orchestra, Murphy's Law, Satoko Fujii, Gil Askey, Chris Tanners Virus, Augie March, Daddy Cool and Thirsty Merc.
Friday 13th August
Sue- Ellen, The Wildes
Alt-country quartet The Wildes from Melbourne set out on their own national tour this July and August in support of new radio single 'Sue Ellen'. After a series of warm up shows and festival appearances, the band will cover the coast from Sydney to Bundaberg and back to Melbourne - then regional Victoria and South Australia. With inland showcase appearances now added in Armidale, Tamworth and Narrabri chances are The Wildes will be in a town near you this winter!
Victoria Tour Dates
Thursday 5th August -Wesley Ann, Melbourne VIC (launch)
Friday 6th August -Wesley Ann, Melbourne VIC (launch) Tickets on sale thru www.moshtix.com.au
Saturday 7th August -Barwon Cub Hotel, Geelong VIC Tickets available at the door www.barwonclub.com.au
Friday 13th August- Piping Hot Chicken Shop, Ocean Grove VIC tickets from the venue- 03 52551566
Saturday 14th August-The Red Till, Anglesea VIC Tickets TBA
Sunday 15th August -Bar Bar Lu Bar, Lorne VIC Free Door www.babalubar.com.au
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