News
YOUNG WARRIORS – GETTING KIDS INTO BANDS 0
Young Warriors is a successful band-based program with the aim of getting young people involved recreationally in making music. It’s generally a two-week program, ideal for school holiday periods (but has been tailored to suit alternative durations) and provides aspiring musicians aged 12-19 with the experience of rehearsing, playing in a band and performing in live gigs. It came out of its bigger brother program Weekend Warriors, an all-ages music program which has been creating bands and long-lasting friendships for over two decades.
With similar aspects to Weekend Warriors, Young Warriors is all about providing professionally supervised and mentored programs, which provide opportunities for youths to participate in live music. Experienced industry people mentor the musicians, through to performance with all equipment provided. Workshops in the past have included guest mentors such as Amy Shark, Bobby Alu, Casey Barnes, Racheal Bostock and many more.
Through the support and initiative of the Gold Coast City Council and the guidance of Dom Disisto of the Young Warriors, the concept has developed into an excellent model for teens to be able to make music together. “With the support of the Australian Music Association and the NAMM Foundation and members of the industry, the Young Warriors concept has clearly identified its value in a local government setting.”
Dom Disisto who has worked with the Australian Weekend Warriors program from the very beginning is also the Young Warriors facilitator. Dom is the owner of Holden Hill Music in South Australia and had been working with his 700 strong student roster there, placing them into bands and presenting concerts, without knowing it at the time, forming the framework of a Young Warriors style program.
“Gold Coast Council’s cultural development department has worked on teen music initiatives since the early 2000’s, many of those with me advising and in recent years the Young Warriors concept has honed its elements to a point where the result is fantastic for the kids and families” says Dom.
“In terms of a model which can engage with young people who have a passion for music, Young Warriors is great,” says Ross Devine of the Gold Coast Council. “We work with them to actually form bands. They can work on original music or covers and stage presence. I think Dom Disisto’s experience with Weekend Warriors … was instrumental. He has some great contacts in the music industry and was able to bring in amazing guest tutors like Amy Shark and Bobby Alu for a songwriting workshop. Dom has a great way of engaging with young people and helping with their confidence and he gives them a go and keeps encouraging them and we see them really blossom in what they can do and how they connect with each other.”
Active music making has been shown to provide significant benefits to participants. Young people can greatly benefit from making music together in a band. Among the individual benefits that collective music-making provides are confidence, development of a sense of aesthetics, teamwork, problem-solving skills and deep focus, discipline, striving for excellence, leadership, determination, self-worth, perseverance, cooperation and coexistence, competitive spirit, and academic success. These benefits can disseminate to families too and that many studies have revealed that music making can have benefits to a student’s overall learning and behaviour. Being a part of a musical program can make young people develop a heightened sense of self-esteem.
“They learn so much,” says Ross Devine about the Young Warriors program. “The exposure to working with professionals in the music industry and understanding the craft of it, how they are playing their instrument or how they are composing their songs and how they interact with each other… stage presence and how they get ready for the performance, checking their sound levels and that sort of thing. They get to perform on a professional stage with pro instruments, pro sound and lighting in an auditorium space. That’s amazing for them and they also get exposure to recording studios we have onsite as well and can do things in there and they can take away a recording of their stuff. We also work with the local TAFE, so we can discuss where to from here if they are interested in pursuing a career in the music industry. There are options for them locally and we try to package all of that up together. They all start out not knowing each other and they develop friendships with like-minded people. It really is one of those things where you are finding your own tribe. They start as strangers and finish as friends and hopefully that continues into the future.”
It’s not just entertainment industry knowledge that participants get out of the program either, many discover personal skills that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. For instance in the most recent run of the program, several of the participants possessed different levels of austism and through their time in Young Warriors, were able to break through some social barriers that had previously been a huge issue for them.
“One of the mothers, who is a nurse and carer said that they like to be put in a situation where they have to do things and they like the structure of it,” says Dom. “One of the guys is a really good guitar player. He is one of those people who can listen to a piece of music on a tape and play it back to you and it’s pretty close to the original. It’s amazing to see. He actually never communicated by email or text to anyone before. After this program, he started emailing and texting, something he normally wouldn’t do. And working in a team … it is a really good team building exercise.”
“That’s a huge life skill that he’s been able to develop and that has come from his core passion for music,” adds Ross. “Sometimes hearing those background stories, you don’t realise when you see people on stage what their life story is. You are blown away by how good some of these young people are then there’s sometimes this additional layer with background challenges that they have overcome to get there, which just makes it that little bit more special. I think the diversity of the people who participate is very special and it is very inclusive. They are all well supported and encouraging of each other and that’s a lovely thing too see, how they have each other’s back. They really celebrate what they are achieving together.”
Legendary Australian guitarist for Skyhooks, The Angels and Rose Tattoo, Bob Spencer has been a long-time advocate of music education and was a mentor in the recent run of Young Warriors on the Gold Coast. Bob has seen first hand the benefits and joy that participants get out of this program. “The benefits of music are now firmly established by science … better lateral thinking, social skills, problem solving, relief from depression and pain management,” says Bob. “The music industry has taken an enormous hit over the last two years through Covid. Our industry is really suffering at the moment. What I hope is that by speaking about music and song writing and recording with these kids, that it provides us with a very healthy music future in Australia”
The Gold Coast council is committed to the Young Warriors program and sees it as a mutually beneficial project. “Live music is very important to the Gold Coast city in terms of not only supporting local talent but attracting other people to the area too,” says Ross enthusiastically. “There’s a very vibrant culture and community and it’s the place to be at the moment with all of the stuff that is happening. Live music and live music venues is something we have our focus on now and into the future. That cultural economy contributes to the liveability of the city.”
Dom Disisto said, “with the example set and model established we look to more local government partners like the Gold Coast City Council, we can confidently promote the Young Warriors program to more local councils into the future with the bigger goal of scaling the program to all states and territories”
For more information about Young Warriors and to register, visit: https://www.youngwarriors.com.au/
- Dom DiSisto
ADELAIDE GUITAR FESTIVAL REVEALS 2021 PROGRAM 0
HUSSY HICKS
Adelaide Guitar Festival is bringing together some of Australia’s best guitarists in a thrilling mix of local talent and visiting musicians for its first-ever annual event, with tickets now on sale for an exciting range of shows at Adelaide Festival Centre venues from July 4 to 25.
The line-up includes chart-topping blues & roots musician Ash Grunwald with soulful songs from his extensive back catalogue and most recent releases. With five ARIA award nominations across nine studio albums, Grunwald will present an intimate concert experience supported by renowned local musician Nick Kipridis and the debut of his new side project History of Trees.
Adelaide’s own international cabaret star Carla Lippis makes her first Adelaide Guitar Festival appearance in 2021, performing her sultry vocals with a backing band including guitarist husband Geoff Crowther. Lippis will share the stage with a world premiere collaboration between homegrown jazz guitar giants Hugh Stuckey and James Muller.
Trailblazing classical ensemble Melbourne Guitar Quartet returns with its dynamic blend of innovative arrangements, contemporary compositions and newly commissioned works in a double bill with 2019 Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition winner Andrew Blanch from Sydney.
Known for emotive lyricism and energetic live shows, acclaimed folk duo Hussy Hicks is teaming up with fellow Queenslander Lecia Louise, a guitar virtuoso and singer-songwriter who effortlessly moves through the styles of rock, pop, groove and blues.
Adelaide Guitar Festival is also showcasing some of South Australia’s most respected bassists with The Lowdown – a celebration of the bass guitar across funk, jazz, rock, experimental and country. Dennis Kipridis will lead the concert with fellow bass guitarists Flik Freeman, Damien Steele Scott, Nick Sinclair and Ross McHenry, along with double bassist Lucinda Peters.
On the back of sold-out shows across the country, Paco Lara will highlight the flamenco guitar in all its authenticity, culture and artistry with The Andalusian Guitar. Across a career spanning more than 30 years, Lara has played with some of Spain’s most prestigious artists and has recently relocated to Sydney from Jerez de la Frontera – the birthplace of flamenco. He will share a double bill with Adelaide flamenco ensemble Compañía Alma Flamenca for an exhilarating evening of music and dance.
Adelaide Guitar Festival Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan: “We are very fortunate to have so many extraordinary guitarists living right here in Australia, and this year is the perfect opportunity to celebrate their artistic excellence with a selection of inspiring performances and unique collaborations.
“As always, we will shine a light on the guitar’s ability to star in any genre of music – everything from classical and jazz to rock, blues & roots and flamenco. It’s going to be a spectacular few weeks as we explore all the magnificent possibilities of this instrument, and the musicians who have spent years and even decades honing their skills.”
Today’s launch follows tickets already selling fast to recently announced headliner show The Stones’ Sticky Fingers, an exciting tribute concert boasting Australian rock royalty – Magic Dirt’s Adalita, Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson, The Cruel Sea’s Tex Perkins and You Am I’s Tim Rogers – at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Adelaide Guitar Festival has also co-commissioned The Bridge of San Luis Rey, a thrilling reimagining of the Pulitzer-winning novel of the same name, by Adelaide’s Brink Productions.
Previously held every two years, Adelaide Guitar Festival is the most significant festival of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Festival favourites including the Resonance program will return in 2021, along with a free concert from this year’s Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition finalists and the Guitar Winter School, with students across all ages and skill levels welcome to register.
Directed by acclaimed guitarist Paul Svoboda, a classical intensive featuring tutorials and workshops from July 5-9 will culminate in a performance by the Adelaide Guitar Festival Orchestra as the support act for the Melbourne Guitar Quartet and Andrew Blanch.
A week-long blues & roots course will boast tutors Cal Williams Jr and Lecia Louise, along with special guests including Ash Grunwald and Julz Parker from July 12-16. The course will focus on chord progressions, creative songwriting and blues guitar techniques as students prepare for a performance with Hussy Hicks and Lecia Louise.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM: “Continuing Adelaide Guitar Festival’s growth, we are extending our ambition this year to become an annual event while also expanding our calendar of community engagement and outreach programs. We are committed to sharing our love of all things stringed with audiences across South Australia, and we greatly value their ongoing support.”
This year’s Adelaide Guitar Festival will reach more regional towns than ever before with its On the Road program, which already visited Hindmarsh and Lobethal in February and will bring free live music to Kangaroo Island on May 1, Clare and Gilbert Valleys on May 21-23 and Port Augusta on May 28. Even more town-wide activations will be held in Edithburgh on July 10, Tumby Bay on July 17 and Cleve on July 18.
The Department for Innovation and Skills through the Music Development Office and the South Australian Tourism Commission through Events South Australia are the major sponsors of Adelaide Guitar Festival On the Road.
For more information, visit www.adelaideguitarfestival.com.au.
- Dom DiSisto
UNDER THE SOUTHERN STARS POSTPONED TO 2022 0
The Under the Southern Stars spectacular concert series featuring Cheap Trick, Bush and Stone Temple Pilots has regrettably and unfortunately been postponed. Again.
Who would want to be a concert promoter at the moment? At the best of times, the job is akin to walking a tightrope. During the pandemic, despite their best efforts to bring music to the fans, these habitual risk-takers just can’t get a break. This was to be the first Australian tour featuring international acts since the pandemic began. All eyes were upon us, with the music world hoping like hell that finally a big international tour would proceed and succeed. Again, thoughts go out to all of the bands, the crew and everyone else associated with the tour.
In a statement today the organisers outlined their reasons for the postponement:
Given the disappointingly slow roll-out of the vaccine by the Government, there is no confidence that we can keep all safe and proceed as planned at our festivals this May. The continuing mismanagement of the Covid-19 situation at all levels of government has led to numerous inconsistencies and on-going broken promises by officials that ultimately affect the safety of our patrons, artists and our crews, both domestic and international. So much so that the situation presents too much to risk to go forward with the dates as planned at the end of April and into May 2021.
The very recent eleventh hour cancellation of Byron Bay Bluesfest by the NSW government on the eve of the landmark festivals start date over Easter was an incredibly disheartening display of what could possibly happen to our patrons, artists and crews – being left stranded high and dry only moments before one of our events is set to kick off. We wish to protect all, and avoid a situation such as this.
To keep all involved as safe as we can and limit the possibility of getting stuck in the middle of further snap lockdowns, border closures and other knee-jerk reactions, we have to move Under The Southern Stars to a time that gives the series its best chance of running smoothly, as planned and ultimately allowing for the best experience possible to all ticket holders.
This is not a decision that we have taken lightly, but the safety of all is our motivation.
Under The Southern Stars promoter, Andrew McManus has issued the following statement.
‘We ask you all to continue to believe in us. We must protect our artists and patrons. We get it … how many times can the Australian system force another postponement? So we are making the hard decision to reschedule Under The Southern Stars to the first quarter of 2022 and ask that all our valued supporters hold on to their tickets and in return we will be announcing some truly exciting additions to the line-up and festival circuit!
We sincerely apologise for the situation and ask once again for our loyal patrons to #keepyourticket and stay tuned. Not only for new dates, but we are planning on making Under The Southern Stars bigger and better. It will absolutely be worth the wait.
A full announcement including the rescheduled dates, additions to the line-up and more will be shared in the coming weeks.
All tickets already purchased will be valid for new shows when they are announced.
Further information concerning rescheduled dates will be available via
www.underthesouthernstars.com.au
#keepyourticket
#UTSS2022
When we spoke with Cheap Trick’s guitar legend Rick Nielsen last month, he was looking forward to flying to Australia and didn’t mind the thought of two weeks in quarantine. Sadly, we won’t be seeing the band here this year. Just for fun, you can watch that interview with Rick below and learn about the band’s new album as well.
- Dom DiSisto
REGISTRATION REMINDER FOR SONGWRITERS – 26TH ANNUAL USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION 0
Enrolment deadline for the 26th Annual USA Songwriting Competition is fast approaching (May 28th). Songwriters and Composers vie for a chance to win a top prize of $50,000 worth of cash and merchandise such as music gear. Winning songs will be receiving radio airplay. Songwriters can enter in 15 different song categories such as: Pop, Rock/Alt, Folk, R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Instrumental, etc.
USA Songwriting Competition is sponsored by: Audio-Tecnica, PreSonus, GHS Strings, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, Airplay Access, Acoustic Guitar magazine, Sonoma Wire Works, Sound Theory, FL Studio, Discmakers, School of Rock, Sound Radix, Singer Express, Songcraft, Klevgr, OekSound, Pearl Snap Studios, Berklee College of Music, etc.
CURRENT WINNERS
Andrew Jannakos (see picture above) won the top award (Overall Grand Prize) as well as Best Country Song award at the 25th Annual USA Songwriting Competition. Singer-songwriter Andrew Jannakos teamed up with co-writer Michael O’Neal Smith.
“I was so shocked that my song got selected winner of the top prize in the USA Songwriting competition, I hope I can continue to make music that you all enjoy. It’s amazing because I’ve also recently been signed to Sony Music Nashville Records” said Andrew Jannakos.
Past winners have gotten recording contracts, getting their songs on film, TV as well as getting cuts with major artists. Our 2018 winner has been receiving airplay for his winning song. The 2020, 2019 and 2018 top winners have been receiving radio air play for their winning songs. A 2020 finalist won a Grammy award in the recent 2021 Grammy Awards. The 2017 Top winner has her song recorded by Ariana Grande and hit #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. The 2013 Top winner hit #1 on the Billboard Charts and went Double Platinum, selling over 2 million copies! The 2007 winner hit Top 10 on the Billboard charts with his winning song. The 2005 Winner of the Country category had his winning song cut by Country Superstar Faith Hill. The 2005 winner of the Pop category was signed by Interscope Records. Our 2008 winner appeared on David Letterman TV show and got signed to a record label!
*DEADLINE: Enter by May 28th or earlier. Hurry, enter online here:
- Dom DiSisto
BLUES ON BROADBEACH GETS GO AHEAD WHILE BLUESFEST COUNTS COSTS OF LOSS 0
In a crucial step forward for the return of multi-award-winning Blues on Broadbeach in 2021, the festival’s COVID Safe Plan has been approved! Great news to all involved. However Byron Bay’s Bluesfest which was cancelled for the second year in a row is still counting the cost and has just released an impact list.
Featuring a wonderful line-up including Grammy Award-winning Aussie rock legends Wolfmother, critically acclaimed Christine Anu, Blues icon C.W. Stoneking and Kiwi roots reggae outfit The Black Seeds, Blues on Broadbeach 2021 will see a re-imagined and innovative COVID safe festival design come to life in Broadbeach on May 20-23.
Festival Director Mark Duckworth can’t wait for the return of live music to the Gold Coast. “It was fantastic news for the Blues on Broadbeach’s COVID Safe Plan to be given the tick of approval, as the planning for 2021 has been a totally new experience for us.”
“It is a credit to the whole team. We had so much support from the fans and artists to keep at it. We’re so excited to share it with you. I know it’s going to be a special event.”
With the support of the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative, the event will return safely for attendees and artists, featuring a combination of Park Stages, Dine & Watch precincts and partnered venues. The Park Stages will be enclosed and daily check in and wrist banding will be required prior to entry. Park Stages will have limited seating available, food and licensed bar areas, and a dedicated entry and exit.
The Dine & Watch precincts will see restaurants and bars extending out onto Surf Parade and Oracle Boulevard to ramp up the Blues on Broadbeach celebrations. COVID check-in and requirements will be specific to each venue’s COVID plan.
Visit the Blues on Broadbeach website for more information on the Blues on Broadbeach COVID Safe Plan.
Blues on Broadbeach May 20-23. https://bluesonbroadbeach.com/
Meanwhile, Peter Noble’s Byron Bay Bluesfest has released an impact list, outlining the loss in numbers after it was cancelled by NSW Health due to a single Covid case a day before the festival was due to open:
BUILDING THE SITE
2,500 workers, 140+ trucks and flatbeds, 80+ semi-trailers, 72 lighting towers, 42 generators…
CHAIRS
19,500 chairs were trucked in and laid out… then re-packed and trucked out.
LANTERNS
500 lanterns & 10km of wiring… all strung by hand. They were stringing the very last lantern when told Bluesfest had been closed down.
WASTE
With already 500+ campers checked in and on-site, as well as over 2000+ team workers… our waste management was already in full swing! Our team sift through every piece – sorting between food, recycling and landfill. We are proud of the legends that are in our waste team… and the amazing job they do sorting through every bin.
So, next time you see a choice of bins… help the hidden legends out – choose the right bin and make their job so much easier.
STALLHOLDERS
79 stallholders were loaded in and ready to serve 5 days worth of festival-goers! Be sure to follow, like and share all our amazing Bluesfest 2021 stallholders’ pages www.bluesfest.com.au/stalls-vendors
CATERING
Our back of house caterers were armed and ready (over $30K worth of food prepped)… feeding the hundreds of site workers each day (with about 4000+ meals already served). But, despite the cancellation and their early kitchen close-down, no food went to waste. Food was still prepared for our site workers over the weekend while the site was loaded out… and ALL the excess food was donated to charities.
MEDIA
200+ media personnel, including 40+ photographers from around the country, representing over 100 different local or national media outlets, radio stations, newspapers or TV programs, were ready to capture the action, talk to the Bluesfest artists and enjoy the five days of the festival.
Australian Musician had photographer Jason Rosewarne in Byron ready to roll too and he had to simply turn around a day later and come home. And poor old Rhythms magazine printed thousands of copies of a Bluesfest special edition that had been shipped to the venue. You can do them a favour by subscribing at http://subscribe.rhythms.com.au/
Bluesfest organisers have asked that you hold onto your tickets for now and await news on rescheduled dates.
- Dom DiSisto
MATT GUDINSKI ASSUMES ROLE OF CEO MUSHROOM GROUP 0
Mushroom Group today announced that Matt Gudinski will assume the role of CEO of the Mushroom Group, effective immediately.
Matt moves into the role following the sudden passing of his father, Michael Gudinski, on March 2 this year. Matt most recently held the role of Executive Director, Mushroom Group from 2013. In the eight years following, Matt and Michael worked side by side at the helm of Australia’s most powerful independent entertainment group, overseeing over 250 employees and two dozen companies.
Formed in 1972, the Mushroom Group encompasses touring and events, record labels and artist services, publishing, merchandising, booking agencies, film and television production, talent management, venues, creative services and a brand agency.
In 2013 Matt spearheaded a public relaunch of the Group where he was named as Michael’s successor.
Matt Gudinski said “This isn’t a role that I expected to assume yet, but I am determined to honour the great legacy my father left. Mushroom Group is in its strongest position ever and as we fast approach our 50th year I know that our incredibly talented Mushroom family will help me deliver the vision Dad and I had for the next 50 years of our business.”
While Matt was literally born into the business, he officially joined Mushroom Group in 2003 at age 17. Since then, he has been hands on with all aspects of the Group, helping grow its label and touring divisions while overseeing change in music publishing and artist management amongst many other things, driving Mushroom’s evolution, diversification and vision to be a global leader.
- Dom DiSisto
