Sunday November 23rd

With a tear in my eye and a fondness in my heart I hung up my local and vocal headphones today for about three months, doing something a bit different over summer (tune in 5 pm Sundays for more info from December).

Heading to Queenscliff Music Festival next weekend so the spunky boys from Three Chords and the Truth will be filling in for me again next week before launching into their own season 1-3 Sundays.

This week a new website was launched, head to blacklist.org.au if you'd like any information about the fantastic breadth and depth of genres in Indigeonous music, from traditional, to folk, to hip hop. The site features artists such as Ruby Hunter, Archie Roach, Kev Carmody, Dave Arden, Tjimba and the Yung Warriors. There are more than one hundred pages in the works.

Blacklist.org.au is an initiative of Fraynework, a not-for-profit, multimedia and communications solutions provider established by the Sisters of Mercy based in Carlton. 

Victorian Gunditjmara musician, Dave Arden, one of the architects of blacklist.org.au says

“For the first time we have the opportunity to express our culture through an indigenous music portal to the wider national and international audience,

“What I see blacklist.org.au doing is giving indigenous Australia a chance to showcase their art where it’s “hand-on” and we can maintain creative control.”

Ripper - Go check it out!

My feature artist this week was Husky Gawenda, frontman of Melbourne group Husky

They're playing at the Northcote Social Club on Thursday 4th of December, they're absolutely ripper live and I demand you go check them out.

Music Log - the mish mash

• The Drones - Your Acting's Like The End Of The World
  
• The Benson Campaign - Popcharts
  
• The Winnie Coopers - Get Up
  
• TZU - Got To Do
  
• The Millers Tale - Elbow Room
  
• Cilla Jane - The Lighthouse Song
  
• Eva Popov - Window
  
• The Guild League - Dangerous Safety
  
• Bertie Blackman - Last Song
  

Feature Artist - Husky

• Husky - On Fire
  
• Husky - My Heart
  
• Joan As Policewoman - Real Life
  
• Husky - All Night Conversations
  
• Leonard Cohen - Chelsea Hotel Number 2
  
• Husky - I'm Not Broken
  

Do you have tickets to the gun show?

I spoke with Dan Vo about his program The Fool and the Opera which will be airing Sundays at 6 pm over summer on JOY 94.9. He brought in a fab track by Helen Noonan (no relation to K Noo) called Brisbane Ladies. Check out the blog, it's sure to be some great radio.

Catch ya on the flip side yo, stay tuned to JOY 1 pm Sundays for the sensational Three Chords and the Truth, for all the best in blues, folk and gospel. 

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

- Queenscliff Music Festival!

- Jen Cloher, Laura Jean and Liz Stringer at the Corner Hotel on Thursday 27th November

- AIR awards at the Corner Hotel Monday 24th November

MUSIC OBSESSION OF THE WEEK

It's all about Emiliana Torrini for me this week, not particularly local but the Icelandic lady swept me off my feet when I saw her at the Forum last Tuesday night. Brilliant music. 

Sunday November 9

This week I had the great pleasure of interviewing a pair of accomplished solo artists who have formed a duo of the ye olde ye ha genre. Jordie Lane and Tracy McNeil are Fireside Bellows. Their album No Time To Die will be released next Saturday, check them out at an instore performance at The Last Record Store.

We discussed the important issue of which apple is most superior, Jordie failed to articulate his preference so he will be coming back in the future to get into this important detail. They brought in some fab alt-country tracks as well as spinning some of their own ditties.

Music Log

• Fireside Bellows - I Ain't Gonna Fall
  
• Fireside Bellows - In The Pines
  
• Old Crow Medicine Show - Caroline
  
• The Idle Hoes - Back Beaches of Rye
  
• Van Walker - If Lovin You Ain't Crazy I Am
  
• Fireside Bellows - Come Back Julie
  

Here they are - what a pair of spunks!
Check them out at some gigs they're doing soon - 

Album launch at the Northcote Social Club November 23, support by Suzannah Espie and Redfish Bluegrass.

Queenscliff Music Festival - 3 gigs over three days including the mighty Blues Train! That's all happening in Queenscliff (funnily enough) November 29-30

Folk Rhythm and Life festival in El Dorado - December 5-7. This is sold out but I'm hoping to get through the gate in the boot of Jordie's car. (Come on Jordie, help a brother out).

Second hour - mixed tape for the lovelorn, the hopeless, the dumped, the romantic write offs. I'm in the club. I feel your pain.

• Paul Kelly - Change Your Mind
  
• Josh Pyke - Vibrations In Air
  
• Clare Bowditch and the Feeding Set - You Can Stay The Night (campfire version)
  
• The Waifs - Here If You Want
  
• Lenka - Like A Song
  
• Mat McHugh - Numb
  
• Sal Kimber - Loneliness
  
• Missy Higgins - The Wrong Girl (live)
  
• Sarah Blasko and Darren Hanlon - Hold Your Horses
  
• John Meyer - Sweep
  
• Don't Mess With The Pony - Show Us The Way
  
• Tinpan Orange - The Tide
  
• Magic Dirt - Dirty Jeans
  

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

Checking out a bit of the country I've never seen before - heading up to Alice Springs for the CBAA (Community Broadcasting Association of Australia) conference, checking out some Uluru action for a few days and chilling in 42 degree heat and thunderstorms. AWESOME. I hope to survive and stay hydrated.

MUSIC OBSESSION OF THE WEEK

Anything sad and mopey and related to FAILING AT LOVE. Paul Kelly is really good for that. 

NEXT WEEK ON LOCAL AND VOCAL

Andy Mack and Alex from Three Chords and the Truth will be filling in whilst I gallivant all over the countryside like a naughty schoolgirl. Good times.

2nd November

Music Log

Liz Stringer - feature artist picks

Liz is one of the grousest songwriting ladies in Melbourne, she's just come off three and a half months of touring and has travelled the country, and there are more gigs coming up. See her website for details.

 

Liz Stringer - Over The Sea

Liz Stringer - Alone

Jen Cloher and the Endless Sea - Hidden Hands

Mia Dyson - Never Felt Young

Sal Kimber - Distance

Jenny's mish mash

The Panics - Ruins

Whitley - I Remember

Kate Miller-Heidke - Space They Cannot Touch

Josh Pykes - Where Two Oceans Meet

The Waifs - Sweetest Dream

The Cat Empire - No Longer There

Angus and Julia Stone - Mango Tree

Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning

Muscles - Ice Cream

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - I Admit My Faults

You Am I - Davey's Gone Green Again

The Basics - Just Hold On

I also had a chat with Brad about his new open mic night OutLoud - you can go along to Neverwhere on Smith Street Fitzroy each Tuesday night if you'd like to be involved as a spectator or you can get up on stage and have a sing!

If you'd like to speak to Brad feel free to email him bigbradwolf@gmail.com

MUSIC OBSESSION OF THE WEEK

Not very local but Feist has been on high rotation in my eardrums. Pretty pretty pretty.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

Anika Moa at the Spiegeltent

Lior at the Spiegeltent

NEXT WEEK ON LOCAL AND VOCAL

Jordie Lane and Tracey McNeil from the Fireside Bellows

October 26th

Last night I went to see Black Arm Band at the closing night of the Melbourne International Arts Festival. By far the best gig I've seen in yonks. I laughed, I cried, I had goosebumps aplenty. Tiddas reformed on stage, Gurrumul opened and closed the evening, the highlights were far too huge to list. If this happens again - go see it. It's compulsory.

My feature artist this week was popera songstress Kate Miller-Heidke (introduced on stage by Cyndi Lauper as Kate Miller-Hunky). We talked about recording the new album Curiouser in LA, collaborating with her partner Keir Nuttall, the big hair and the fab frocks, and the correct lyrics of Blinded By The Light by Manfred Mann. 

MUSIC LOG

Kate Miller Heidke - Caught In The Crowd

Kate Miller Heidke - The Last Day On Earth

Kate Miller Heidke - I Like You Better When You're Not Around

Kate Miller Heidke - God's Gift To Women

JENNY'S MISH MASH

The Holidays - When The Ship Goes Down

Skipping Girl Vinegar - River Road

Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males - The SUV  Song

Shane Nicholson - Easy Now

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunuingu - Bapa

Jen Cloher  Hidden Hands

Anika Moa - Dreams In My Head

Mei Lai Swan - Calling The Sky

John Meyer - Silver Bullets Don't Work On Vampires

Cats Ransom - Mars to Pluto

Josh Pyke - Make You Happy

Augie March - Pennywhistle

Liam Finn - Energy Spent

Alex Hallahan - Good Conversation

Greg Walsh - A Busy Street

Mat McHugh - Under The Landslide

Ponyface - Warning Bell

Andy Baylor - Every Day Is A Song

MUSIC OBSESSION OF THE WEEK

Dan Sultan's album Homemade Biscuits has been getting quite the workout, he was incredible at Black Arm Band. 

Eva Cassidy's various albums have also been flogged to death this week. I'm in a chilled mood.

NEXT WEEK ON LOCAL AND VOCAL

Liz Stringer is coming in to talk about her new album Pendulum, the Broad tour and her gig coming up at the Spiegeltent. 

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

- The next installment of puppy school for Happy Jesus, and seeing what insane dog trainer lady says this week about his destiny as a show dog. I should watch Best In Show again.

- Leg It For Leukaemia walk around Albert Park Lake on Sunday morning (2nd Nov).

WHAT I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO

Salt N Pepa at QBH has been CANCELLED. Not happy, dodgy booking agent. Instead I will be sitting at home on Friday night and crying, listening to my SnP cassette tape, failing to push it real good. Sucks to be me, and everyone else in Australia who was looking forward to this for months. 

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

There are millions of other gigs to go to on Friday night. Listen to the gig guide on Local and Vocal for all your giggy piggy needs. 

September 19th

Melbourne International Arts Festival

If you've been hanging around Melbourne the last few weeks you may have noticed everything getting incredibly arty! The Fringe Festival wrapped up about a week ago, and it was wham straight into the Melbourne International Arts Festival. The Spiegeltent went up, there's art installations literally jumping up from the water out the front of the National Gallery, there's quite a buzz in the air. And there's still a week to go. 

I had a chat with folks from four events on today's program:

Four members from the Melbourne Ukelele Kollective came in for a few live songs and a chat about their upcoming sold out performance at the Spiegeltent

Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen had a chat on the phone about their kabaret noir performance 

Dan Sultan spoke with me about about The Black Arm Band - Hidden Republic 

Harry James Angus of Jackson Jackson and the Cat Empire spoke about how exposed he's going to feel playing a solo show of pieces written for voice and guitar.

I was blown away by Melbourne group Husky who played last Friday night at the Spiegeltent, I went along not knowing anything about them and never hearing their music, it was the best gig I've seen in yonks. 

Music Log

• Husky - My Heart
  
• Pikelet - Beyond The Sky
  
• Pikelet - They Call It Love? Wow!
  
• Melbourne Ukelele Kollective - New York (live in studio)
  
• Melbourne Ukelele Kollective - Take It Easy (live in Studio)
  
• Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen - A Formidable Marinade
  
• Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen - Set Sail
  
• Matt Walker and Ashley Davies - Try Harder
  
• Abbie Cardwell - The Devil and Me
  
• Lisa Miller - Shining Star
  
• Dan Sultan - Your Love Is Like A Song
  
• Black Arm Band - From Little Things Big Things Grow (Live 2006)
  
• Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Djaimirri
  
• Black Arm Band - Took The Children Away (live 2006)
  
• Jackson Jackson - A Hole In The Garden
  
• Jackson Jackson - Angel Dust
  
• Toshi Reagon and Biglovely - Have You Heard
  
• Tiddas - Inside My Kitchen
  
• Jordie Lane - I Could Die Looking At You
  
• Kate Miller-Heidke - Politics In Space
  

MUSIC OBSESSION OF THE WEEK

Dude, it's all about Gurrumul this week. Good on him for his ARIA last night for best independent release, and best world music album. Can't wait to interview him next week. I'll also be playing a chat I had earlier last week with Kate Miller-Heidke. What a lovely lady!

Sunday 12th October

The tail end of Mental Health Week was today on JOY 94.9, and my guest in the first hour came in to speak about a topic that is largely misunderstood or feared. 

Kirrily Anderson has recently published a book called Creative For A Second, full of creative works by people all over the world living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). Kirrily herself has lived with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since the age of 16, and is currently in recovery. 

She designs cover artwork for many local independent artists, and creates a lot of artwork inspired by music. Check out her myspace for more details.

MUSIC LOG

First Hour - Kirrily's Picks

• Don't Mess With The Pony - It's You I Love
  
• Laura Jean - I'm A Rabbit I'm A Fox
  
• Sigur Ros - Untitled 3
  
• Sal Kimber - Riverside
  
• Whiskeytown - Crazy About You
  

Second Hour - Hot Little Hands

Tim from Melbourne group came in to talk about their latest release Dynamite in Black and White. Tim is a member of Clare Bowditch's band The Feeding Set and the group toured with her on her last Aussie sojourn before abandoning us and going to Europe for awhile. 

Poor old Tim fractured his arm during the week but soldiered on with the aid of painkillers and a winning smile, playing a fab live track as well as bringing in some other top tracks that were very summery and delightful. 

• Hot Little Hands - Dynamite in Black and White
  
• Tim from Hot Little Hands live in the studio, acoustic - Easy Way Out
  
• Serge Gainsbourg - Tatoue Jeremie
  
• Greg Walker of Machine Translations - Need A Miracle
  
• Dennis Wilson - Riversong
  

Jenny's picks to round out the hour - 

• Austin - See You There (live in Fitzroy)
  
• Angus and Julia Stone - Wasted
  

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

Pikelet live at Spiegeltent this week

Outside broadcast at RMIT on Tuesday for Queer Awareness Day with live music from Rosie Burgess, Egg Spontaneous, Molly Whelan and Nick Tiliacos. 

MUSIC OBSESSION OF THE WEEK

It's all about Pikelet for me this week. Had a grand time reliving the love of the Guy Blackman gig by listening to his release Adult Baby as well. Ah, whimsy. My old friend. 

NEXT WEEK ON LOCAL AND VOCAL

Spiegeltent-o-rama! Melbourne International Arts Festival is coming up, heaps of top things happening in the famous structure that generally pops up in Melbourne town this time of year. If there's a ukelele collective, I'm definitely there. Booyah. 

October 5th

This week is Mental Health Week and on JOY 94.9 we're interviewing people in our community who live with mental illness about their experiences. My feature artist for this week was Sandy Jeffs. You may have seen her on the Enough Rope special Angels and Demons, where Andrew Denton chatted with various people who are living with mental illness, and went through a simulated experience of living in their world. 

Sandy Jeffs is a published poet and public speaker on the subject of mental illness, and she herself has been living with schizophrenia for the past 33 years. She also brought in some phenomenally fantastic music and read one of her poems on air. It was a great insight into members of our community who are often marginalised, overlooked and excluded due to a lack of understanding. 

Music Log:

• First hour - Sandy Jeffs selection
  
• The Dixie Chicks - Easy Silence
  
• Emmylou Harris - Red Dirt Girl
  
• Martha Wainwright - Bloody Motherfucking Asshole
  
• Patty Griffin - Mother Of God
  
• Lucinda Williams - Broken Butterflies
  

Guy Blackman came in for a chat in the second hour about his solo release Adult Baby, his wonderful existence as a music aficionado and audiences in different parts of the world. Guy is a musician, runs an independent record label and is a music journalist who writes for The Age. 

Adult Baby is a great collection of tunes that cause an involuntary grin response, it's sweet and original, and worth a spin. Get up offa that thing I tells ya! Do it. The artwork is delicious too.

He's played with a bunch of top notch bands around the traps, including Sly Hats, Sulk and Sleepy Township. He's doing a gig in Melbourne this Thursday at the Toff In Town before jetting to the US with his boyfriend for a holiday, and is allowed to play a gig a week. Details on the myspace.

Second hour - Guy Blackman / mish mash

• Guy Blackman - Gayle
  
• Guy Blackman - Dark and Quiet Place
  
• Guy Blackman - Carlton North
  
• Whitley - Cheap Clothes
  
• Xavier Rudd - Guku
  
• Sarah Blasko - Always On This Line
  
• Holly Throsby - One Of You For Me
  
• Josh Pyke - New Years Song
  
• Mr Sister - Apogee
  
• King Tebbutt and Whistler - Japanese Boy
  

MUSIC OBSESSION OF THE WEEK

Holly Throsby's latest offering A Loud Call has had a fair few plays on the stereo this week, I've had a mooching round the house couple of days and appreciated the stillness and calm in this recording. There's bounce of course, and the lyricism is in the usual gorgeous kooky ballpark of Miss Throsby's albums. If you're not familiar with this lady get on the bandwagon, her voice offers equal parts vulnerability and strength, and the albums are a very visual experience, rich with imagery.

CARD SHARK? NAH, JUST A HAM.

Last night I went to Adrian's 31st birthday and had a freaking ball! This guy is well known for his big bang whizz fandangled hootnannies, and this year was no exception. 

He hosted a poker tournament at the Windsor Hotel, it's a $30 buy in, these poker dudes bring all the fancy pants tables and chips and cards and teach you how to play, all the prize money won by the champion goes to the charity of their choice. 

Everyone suited/frocked up to the nines. There were a fair few hats in the room, and folks were looking Mi-T-Sharp, as they say in the classics. 

I have never played poker before in my life, but I dressed to impress. Slouch hat, aviators (thanks for the loan Trev), hot magenta tie and tequila sunrise shirt. Yeah, my tactics were to make my opponents eyes bleed. I had an entourage of Trev and Dan to blow on my cards each time a hand was dealt. I generally didn't really know what I was doing but somehow managed to come second in the first round at a table of about 12 people, and won the championship round!

Funny funny funny. Beginners luck is a beautiful thing. I'll see you all when I get back from Vegas with my new diamond encrusted teeth and dancing girls. 

All the money went to JOY of course, I think it was about $1,200 or something. Yay! 

NEXT WEEK ON LOCAL AND VOCAL

Next week will be action packed, Hot Little Hands are popping in for the first hour and in the second hour artist Kirrily Anderson will be coming in to speak about her book Creative For A Second, which is full of artwork by people with chronic fatigue syndrome and has a lot of great personal stories about how creativity is therapeutic form of expression. 

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

Guy Blackman at the Toff In Town on Thursday

Jordie Lane at Spiegeltent on Thursday

Lawn bowls birthday party on Friday night

The last dribbles of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Get amongst it!

Riding my bike to places

JENNY OUT

xoxo