Adelaide Big Day Out. We were staying in the same hotel as other artists and I came downstaris to go to the after party and a big crowd was surrounding Aracde Fire and Bjork at the grand piano in the restaurant of the hotel. They were doing old show tunes and everyone was singing along. The lead singer of Arcade Fire was playing piano and everyone was singing along. I recall Buddy Holly's 'Everyday It's Getting Closer', a couple of ABBA songs and some John Lennon, it was very cool. Favourite festivals moments though are just when it's a good show with good reactions, where you don't have to think too much on stage and lose yourself.
Ideal Lineup? I'd have bands that would never be seen on the same stage because they've long since broken up or died, I'd have Blur opening the festival followed by the Smiths who would reform for my music festival, and At The Drive In would finish the day just when I was drunk enough to dance like they can.
Fave artist you've seen at a Music Festival? Rage Against The Machine. Also, Brand New who are a vastly under rated band from New York that played at Big Day Out. I saw them pretty much without fail at every Big Day Out and they were astounding, and to use the the cliche, quite inspiring. I've ripped off many of their moves since then!
Tips for attending Music Festivals Don't break your neck. Don't worry too much about getting to the front for every band you want to see. It's probably better to pick 4 or so that you can really absorb as opposed to having cursory glances at every one. It's like any 'day out' it's best to pace yourself, don't go mental and try to see everything, relax and take it all in.
Polyphonic Spree
Posted
on February 8 2010
The Polyphonic Spree Leads the SoCo Carnivale Parade
Southern Comfort presents a unique homage to its birthplace, New Orleans, with a fancy dress party inspired by the spirit of New Orleans Carnivale. So summon your creative juices this summer, start making your outfits and get ready for SoCo Carnivale!
SoCo Carnivale is a confetti-drenched, royal encounter of bee-bop, honky tonk and Cajun thunder that blows like a 50 billion watt circuit cable straight into your side of town this February featuring the mammoth orchestral party collective known simply as The Polyphonic Spree. Also joining this fancy dress French jazz parade is The New Orleans Bingo! Show, direct from New Orleans Mardi Gras. For over half a decade now, The Polyphonic Spree have been cutting a singular swath through the pop culture landscape, spreading a positive energy that makes people scratch their heads and ask questions while presenting music that's colourful to the ears. The robes may be gone for now but a purposeful and exhilarating experience is here to stay. Tim DeLaughter and his touring party of eighteen take the party wherever they go; in February they will be bringing it to Australia and you are invited to join the parade.
Adding 100% authenticity to the Big Easy feel will be The New Orleans Bingo! Show, a curious spectacle, a thrilling phenomenon and one of the very finest entertainments on the theatrical stage. The New Orleans Bingo! Show is a multimedia stage experience that includes original black and white silent films, dancers, ingénues, audience interaction, bingo games, slapstick comedy and shady characters who remind you that every stage door opens into a dark alley. Ringleader – or ringmaster – Clint Maedgen, a Louisiana native and sixteen-year New Orleans resident, describes the show as “a wild nightmare hidden in a heart-shaped box of chocolates. I last saw it riding a fiery stallion, headed down that golden highway of dreams.”
All in all it is set to be one rollicking night of fancy dress, great music and some weird and wonderful characters popping into a venue near you.
Tour dates are:
Friday 19th February Brisbane Powerhouse Brisbane QLD Saturday 20th February Playground Weekender Sydney NSW Friday 26th February Fremantle Arts Centre Fremantle WA Saturday 27th February The Forum Theatre Melbourne VIC
Tickets on sale now!
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this to my mate
Shout Out Louds
Posted 01/02/2010
If we were hanging with you and your band backstage, what would we be getting up to?
If you were nice you would be served a glass of vintage port wine or our house cocktail Champari, we would play you a wide selection of hit songs through Carl’s twin amp and suggest we exchange knowledge of our respective continents’ wildlife. If we found your company unpleasant in any way one of us would utter our safe word and our tour manager would appear like a thief in the night to escort you outside.
If you could request anything on your rider what would it be?
A massage therapist and an eco swimming pool.
Give one of your personal favourite bands a plug.
Right now I would say keep your ears open for First Aid Kit, they sing like little angel-trolls.
What's your most essential item to take on tour?
Cell phone
What's your secret talent?
I’m pretty good at building a fire, and rhyming.
AND... Where are we best to stalk you: MySpace, Facebook or Twitter? Which one's updated the most?
I don’t think we have a clear preference out of those three, personally I always encourage old fashioned face to face interaction. Write us a letter or ask us out on a date!
New Empire
Since their formation, the Sydney four-piece have constantly been experimenting and fusing different styles to create their original and powerful brand of music. New Empire's high energy and powerful live show combined with their heartfelt and honest music makes them one of Sydney's most popular new bands. Awoe magazine has described New Empire as "the essentials of the rock pop culture", and this is clearly echoed by thousands of music lovers across the country.
Forming in the late Summer of 2003, Euphoria Audio are a Rock/Popular band from Wakefield, UK. They have worked closely with producers Stuart Epps (Oasis, Robbie Williams, Jimmy Page) and Steve Levine (Culture Club, The Beach Boys), and most recently have recorded in Trondheim, Norway with Universals D-sign Music (Kylie Minogue, Joe Cocker).
In 2010 the band showcased at the Musexpo music conference in Los Angeles in front of world-wide delegates as well as a performance at the legendary Viper Room.
