Good Music In The City of Glen Eira

Every now and then you gotta give your local council some credit. Take the City Of Glen Eira for instance. Over the next few months they are turning over the Town Hall to live music on Saturday nights. Well the first Saturday of the month anyway. And its not just any live music, its good live music.

The performances take place in the Theatrette at the Town Hall, which is located on the Cnr of Glen Eira Rd and Hawthorn Road, Caulfield.

Here’s the line-up:

Saturday April 4 2009

Dave Graney and Clare Moore with the Lurid Yellow Mist
Supported by Jane Dust

Dave Graney remains one of the more interesting and charismatic artists on the Melbourne scene. He is also one of the best dressed which may or may not be important to you. It is to me.

Doors Open: 8.00pm

General Admission $25 Full /$20 Conc.

Saturday May 2, 2009

Abby Dobson
Supported by Georgia Fields

Abby Dobson was the voice of Leonardo’s Bride and thus was the voice of records such as the gold selling album ‘Angel Blood’ with its top 5 single ‘Even When I’m Sleeping’.

Doors Open: 8.00pm

General Admission $25 Full /$20 Conc.

Saturday June 6, 2009

Monique Brumby
Supported by Claire Hollingsworth

Monique Brumby’s powerful storytelling is musically emotive and lyrically insightful and when paired with her love of a catchy riff and lush vocals, Monique’s music combines sophisticated and accessible pop with a rock edge.

Doors Open: 8.00pm

General Admission $25 Full /$20 Conc.

Saturday July 4, 2009

Nick Barker
Supported by Dan Cassey

A prolific live touring performer, Nick Barker often performs solo and acoustic (or else accompanied by only a keyboardist or harmonica player) and always delivers.

Doors Open: 8.00pm

General Admission $25 Full /$20 Conc

Steve Harley

You could be forgiven for thinking that after he had a huge hit with the song Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) in 1975 that Steve Harley disappeared to forever live off the royalties.

The surprisingly truth is that Harley and his band Cockney Rebel continued to have a viable career for several years after that and he continues to play and record today.

South Londoner Harley had not surprisingly been influenced by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones very early in their careers after having classical music tuition as a child and teenager but it was Dylan that made the greatest impact on him.

He started singing in folk clubs at the start of the 70’s before forming Cockney Rebel with drummer Stuart Elliott.

As Cockney Rebel they released two albums The Human Menagerie and The Psychomodo and had a couple of European hits.

But it wasn’t until the band officially became Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel with the 1975 release of The Best Years Of Our Lives and its single Make Me Smile that life changed for Harley.

The single reached No 1. in the UK and many European countries and has been confirmed it one of the most played records in the history of British broadcasting.

The song has been covered more than 100 times in seven languages (including a pretty decent version by Nick Barker in Australia) and has been featured in several movies including The Full Monty, Velvet Goldmine, Best and Saving Grace. The song has also been used on more than twenty TV and radio advertising campaigns around the world.

The song was supposedly about some of the other members of Cockney Rebel and their apparent ability to disappoint Harley.

Other albums followed with Timeless Flight (1976) , Love’s A Prima Donna (1976) and Face To Face (live) following in quick succession. Two solo albums – Hobo With A Grin and The Candidate followed before Harley stepped away from the rock world.

He spent  quite a bit of time in musical theatre and recorded two more solo albums in the 90’s.

Since 1999 Harley has presented his own show for BBC Radio 2, Sounds Of The Seventies comprising classic tracks and rarities from the era and anecdotes from Steve himself. The show aired weekly until 2008.

Steve and his band continue to tour regularly, playing between 70 and 100 concerts most years. In recent times, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel have played Glastonbury Festival three times, the Isle of Wight festival in 2004 and many of Europe’s major rock festivals.

In 2005 he released another album under the name Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel called The Quality of Mercy.

In 2008 he released a book entitled The Impression Of Being Relaxed, a 160 page collection of his diary entries originally published on his website. A three CD anthology of his music has also been released in recent years.

Harley’s other interest is horse racing and he has owned horses since the mid 80’s. Ironically though he has no connection with Irish Group 1 winner Cockney Rebel although he has been at the track when the horse has won several big races. The horses owners actually sought and received Harley’s permission before giving the horse its name.

Music At Melbourne Zoo

If you are looking for something a bit different to do on a warm summer night then perhaps a Zoo Twilight might be the go. For $34 you get admission to the Zoo from 4.30pm  where you can wander around looking at the animals before setting up your picnic blanket and staking your claim on the lawn.

There’s a bunch of shows happening over January, February and March and although some of them have more appeal than others those listed below look like the pick of the crop.

The music starts at 6.30pm and the food options are impressive.

You can take advantage of Tastes of Twilights. On offer will be gourmet pizzas, noodles, grilled wraps and paella straight from the pan. Matilda Bay will be offering boutique tap beers and showcasing some of Victoria’s best wines. Coffee, cold beverages and ice-creams will also be available. All food items will be the same price and to simplify and spend less time in queues you will be able to buy food tickets from all the beverage outlets.

January

Sun. 18     Tim Rogers and Nick Barker
Sat. 24      Tex Perkins and Jess McAvoy

February

Sat. 14       Kate Ceberano and Ryan Meeking
Sat. 21       Mental As Anything and Michael Paynter
Sun. 22      The Badloves and Chris Wilson
Sat. 28       Joe Camilleri & The Black Sorrows

March

Sun. 8         Diesel and The Hello Morning
Sun. 15       Wilbur Wilde & Lisa Edwards

Mick Thomas Finds Time To Tour

Mick Thomas manages to keep himself reasonably busy. For a start he’s got about three bands in constant rotation. There’s the Sure Thing, the core outfit whose most recent album Paddock Buddies was released on Liberation in 2006. There’s a new album very much in the works that reputedly goes by the name Casino Trousers.
Then there’s Weddings Parties Anything (whose name is normally preceded by ‘the legendary’) who re-appear periodically on special occasions. Let’s not forget Shackelton, the band Mick shares with with always delightful Anna Burley of The Killjoys and Chris Altmann of The Vandas.
In between times he runs a record label named Croxton Records which happens to release some of the best local music that you wont hear on Nova or Fox (not that you are likely to be listening to such stations now are you?). artists like Ron Hawkins, Nick Barker, Dan Warner, Van Walker, The Dunaways, Oh Susanna and even Young Modern (who are neither young or modern but of enormous interest).
All of which is well and good but a mans gotta earn a living and so Thomas will be spending a good bit of the next few weeks playing tunes around the country.
At these places for example:

Saturday 13th December
MOJOS
Fremantle WA
Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing
with special guest Seth Lowe
Tickets online through MOSHTIX

Sunday 14th December
THE OXFORD HOTEL
Leederville WA
Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing
Tickets from The Oxford (08) 9442 2193 or online at THE OXFORD

Thursday 18th December
THE REPUBLIC
Hobart TAS
Mick Thomas & Craig Pilkington
with special guests Van & Cal Walker
Tickets at The Republic (03) 6234 6954 or MOSHTIX 1300 GET TIX

Friday 19th December
THE CORNER HOTEL
Richmond VIC
Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing Xmas Shows
with special guests Dead River Deeps
& James McCann’s Other Band..
Tickets at The Corner Box Office (03) 9427 9198
or online at THE CORNER

Saturday 20th December
THE CORNER HOTEL
Richmond VIC
Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing Xmas Shows
with special guests Downhills Home
& The Aerial Maps (NSW)
Tickets at The Corner Box Office (03) 9427 9198
or online at THE CORNER

Wednesday 24th December XMAS EVE!!
THE NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB
Northcote VIC
Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing Xmas Eve Show
with special guests Flap! & The Junes
Tickets at The NSC Box Office (03) 9486 1677
or online at THE NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB

Wednesday 31st December NYE
HOTEL WARNAMBOOL
Warnambool VIC
Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing

Thursday 1st January New Years Day Recovery Session
THE GREENDALE HOTEL
Greendale VIC
Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing
with special guest Dan Warner