AUSTRALIAN WORLD MUSIC EXPO 2009
http://www.awme.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=65
Last year CAAMA Music attended the Australian World Music Expo 2009 where we met with representatives from all facets of the industry.
Bill Davis CAAMA Music MGR, Michael Smith-CAAMA Music Senior Sound Engineer and MISBIDO officer, Jeffery Zimran (Leadman for Sunshine Reggae Band) and myself Josephine Lafaele- CAAMA Music Administrations Officer all attended the conferences and seminars including information sessions directed and moderated by people and speakers within the industry. Upon arrival into Melbourne on the Thursday 19th November 2009 we checked into the; Australia Council for the Arts information session as part of the 2009 Australasian World Music Expo Thursday 19 November, 5.30pm - 6.30pm EQ Bar, Riverside Terrace adjacent to Hamer Hall at the Arts Centre, 100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne. Discover the unique voices and cultures of Australia on OzArts www.ozarts.com.au
It was a great opportunity to participate in the session and discuss the possibilities for Central Australian Aboriginal communities and their bands feedback and concerns and need in terms of industry services accessible and available for them. We had the chance to travel to this expo with Jeffery Zimran from the Sunshine Reggae band who throughout the whole expo could not express the overwhelming privilledge of being a part of this it gave him the incentive to go home to his community and share the stories and experiences which now motivates him to join CAAMA Music Ranger workshops so that he can educate his community about the vast variety of music, language and stories from around the world expressed in culture, dance song, music and creative arts.
To follow are some of the gigs and sessions which we attended and took active part in and built networks which we hope will establish our relationships with the contacts within the industries.
THURSDAY 19 November 2009
Welcome to Country with Guest Performers and Speakers
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Date: |
Thursday 19th November, 2009 |
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Time: |
7.00pm - 8.00pm |
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Location: |
Fairfax Studio, the Arts Centre, 100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne |
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Price |
Delegates and Invited Guests Only |
Injinoo Dancers
Injinoo is located at the end of the very long road to Far North Queensland. Injinoo is the country and also the name of a small village with a population of 486 people, comprising the original tribes of the Wuthathi, Yadhgigana, Gudang, Angkamuthi and Atmabaya peoples, as well as Torres Strait Islanders, some Maoris and Whites. For the last 15 years, Injinoo Dance Group has been a regular participant at the Laura Dance Festival and has performed in many other venues. The group attended the 2009 festival with 80 dancers, elders and musicians, which is almost 16.5% of Injinoo’s entire population.
These dancers opened the AWME with their rendition of dances which go back as far as dreamtime itself, once is enough to become infected with their passion, joy, enthusiasm and pride in Aboriginal expression.
Opening Night Party
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Date: |
Thursday 19th November, 2009 |
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Time: |
8.00pm – Late |
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Location: |
The Hifi, 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne |
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Price: |
$18 + BF |
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Bookings: |
1300 843 4434, www.thehifi.com.au |
The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra
Inspired by the infectious afro-beat music of Nigeria and its neighbours, The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra delivers a contemporary blend of hip hop and African funk to Australian dancefloors. This mammoth ensemble comprises up to twenty musicians hand-picked from Melbourne’s African, jazz & hip-hop scenes. The experience and creativity of these established musicians energises the group’s original compositions and the sound of the entire band is a force to be reckoned with.
The afro-beat movement of the 60’s and 70’s is making a resurgence worldwide in live venues and clubs alike. The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra combines these North African rhythms with hip-hop which has recently become a major force in Australian music and culture. The group is the brainchild of Zvi Belling, Ethan Hill (DJ Manchild) and Tristan Ludowyk who are long time friends and musical collaborators, each with vast and diverse musical backgrounds to draw upon.
The band directors recently travelled to Africa to promote the new single and recorded with African hip hop stars Tumi (South Africa) and Modenine (Nigeria). These artists will feature on the band’s upcoming debut album, which will be accompanied by a 12” vinyl release. The band’s current single is Future Africa features N’fa and 1/6th and was recorded and mixed by Andy Baldwin in New York.
The Red Eyes
www.myspace.com/themightyredeyes
This group had that something special thing that just draws your attention especially when your tired and just want to leave and then pow you hear their sounds and music come out and entice you to stay just that little bit longer.
Since their inception in 2002, The Red Eyes profile has steadily risen. The Melbourne-based band have enjoyed international airplay throughout the world (including #7 on Radio Toronto charts as voted by listeners) and in 2007 a tour of tropical New Caledonia took their big band sound to remote parts of the island during their first international showcase.
Considered by fans & music critics alike as one of the few authentic Dub/Reggae groups to come out of Australia, THE RED-EYES are a 7-piece band with a monster sound that has been shaking foundations around the country since their inception in 2002. Arming themselves with bass, drums, guitar, keys, trumpet, sax and live dubs, The Red Eyes are led by fiery singer El Witeri who draws on his Maori heritage for inspiration.
The Red Eyes have supported the likes of Horace Andy, Luciano, The Mad Professor, Easy Star All Stars, Kora, Dub Syndicate, Salmonella Dub, Black Seeds, Cornerstone Roots, Concord Dawn, Sola Rosa, Pitch Black & The Resin Dogs to name a few. These shows have received glowing reviews, often claiming that The Red Eyes explosive live show has eclipsed the main act and seen them increasing billed as one of the headlining acts at major festivals, and have led to a recent show supported by New Zealand’s leading reggae band Katchafire.
Mad Professor
www.myspace.com/madprofessordub
Mad Professor indeed I was left a bit confused as to what or which direction he was steering me musically but I guess thats they whole thing of taking the journey with the Mad Professor.
Mad Professor (born Neil Joseph Stephen Fraser, 1955, Georgetown, Guyana) is a dub music producer and engineer known for his original productions and remix work. He is considered one of the leading producers of dub music’s second generation and was instrumental in transitioning dub into the digital age. He is a prolific producer, contributing to or producing nearly 200 albums. He has collaborated with reggae artists such as Lee “Scratch” Perry, Sly and Robbie, Pato Banton, Jah Shaka and Horace Andy, as well as artists outside the realm of traditional reggae and dub, such as Sade, Massive Attack, The Orb, and Brazilian DJ Marcelinho da lua.
Fraser became known as Mad Professor as a boy due to his fascination with electronics. Having built a radio and telephone system at the age of 10 years, it was no surprise that his interest and subsequent career in electronics along with a love of Motown, Philadelphia International, Treasure Isle and music of all types propelled him onward.
All these groups were dynamic to watch and their sounds were rich with variation and variety and the showmanship was just excellent.
FRIDAY 20 November 2009
FRIDAY 20TH NOVEMBER 2009- INFORMATION SESSIONS
· From Tradition to YouTube 10.00am - 10.45am AWME registered delegates only Amcor Lounge, the Arts Centre
· Touring & Marketing your Product in North America 11.00am - 11.45am AWME registered delegates only Amcor Lounge, the Arts Centre
· Marketing to the Mainstream 12.00 noon - 12.45pm AWME registered delegates only Amcor Lounge, the Arts Centre
· Touring & Marketing World Music in Australia 2.00pm - 2.45pm AWME registered delegates only Amcor Lounge, the Arts Centre
· Panel Beaters – How To Tour New Zealand Music Overseas 3.00pm - 3.45pm AWME registered delegates only Amcor Lounge, the Arts Centre
· Touring & Marketing Your Product in Europe 4.00pm - 4.45pm AWME registered delegates only Amcor Lounge, the Arts Centre.
FRIDAY GIGS:
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Date: |
Friday 20th November, 2009 |
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Time: |
1.00pm - 2.00pm |
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Location: |
Fairfax Studio, the Arts Centre, 100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne |
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Price: |
FREE |
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Bookings: |
At venue, subject to availability |
Noreum Machi
South Korea’s, Noreum Machi, is a captivating group from Korea that performs the virtuosic percussion music known as samulnori. First introduced to the West in the late 1970s by the legendary ensemble Samul-Nori, this exciting music had a huge effect in galvanizing the student movement in Korea and re-engaging Koreans with their traditions. Samulnori is a modernized staged adaptation of p’ungmul nori, a ritualistic celebratory event with origins in shamanism and animism performed by rice farmers and professional musicians at harvest festivals.
Noreum Machi’s colorful program includes spectacular percussion dialogues, shamanic chants, and acrobatic dances.
Mihirangi
Mihirangi has been on a global whirlwind which has seen her astonishing one woman show capture and mesmerize audiences in Canada, USA, Australia and Aotearoa. She has quickly become a favourite at festivals across the world and has had the privilege of performing with the likes of K’Naan, Public Enemy, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Sly and Robbie, Lee Scratch Perry, Blue King Brown, The Resin Dogs, Salmonella Dub and Ladi6.
Singing in Maori and English with an extraordinary vocal range of power & expression, the “Princess of Funk” & “Queen of Loops” is a solo artist who creates her own band sound “live” in front of her audience using a loop pedal. The key to her performance is the layering of her own vocal sounds. From the foundation of phat solid bass lines to intricately layered harmonies, rhythmic ‘ska’ chops, sensuous jazzy riffs and beat-boxing – it’s all done with her voice. A multi-instrumentalist Mihirangi also plays percussion, guitar, keyboards, electronic percussion and Taonga Puoro (traditional Maori instruments).
Renowned for her distinctive vocal style, vitality and intensity, Mihirangi possesses both feminine tenderness and grrrrl power. An activist and dream weaver with confidence and credibility Mihirangi also has a vocal presence in the international political arena. She performed at “Power to The Peaceful” Festival in San Francisco to an audience of 60,000 people in support of social justice, non-violence, and environmental sustainability. She was a Sea Shepherd crew-member and played to an audience of globally active artists including The Dixie Chicks, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Pierce Brosnan and Martin Sheen at their 30th Anniversary Benefit concert in LA.
Playing out her concerns for indigenous, environmental and spiritual issues and endearing herself to audiences around the world, her journey and insight offers a refreshing perspective of contemporary culture. Although reverent in her deliverance, when her groove kicks in, is all liberation and raw power. Her utterly unique musical vision and the cross-cultural harmony that she herself represents will be heard.
Batucada Sound Machine
Loosely translated, ‘batucada’ means percussive samba jam, which aptly summarises BSM’s musical roots. BSM began in 2003 when five passionate drummers met once a month in the dimly lit lounge bar of Galatos nightclub in Auckland to experiment fusing batucada with more local beats and influences. Before long, a talented group of diverse musicians had joined in and the band had grown to 13 members.
The one overriding thing that united them was a deep passion for music. It still is.
As the years have gone by BSM has continued to evolve with various expansions and contractions. Their tasty concoction of Brazilian, Cuban and Afro-beat rhythms was given a hip-hop front in 2006 courtesy of MC Hazaduz, (of Che-Fu and the Krates fame) whose solid rhymes over the massive samba-reggae percussion add to the band’s rich Pacific soul, reggae and funk flavours!
With influences from bands such as Ozomatli, Manu Chao and Chico Science, BSM have developed a solid reputation for delivering blistering live performances, fine musicianship and collective impulsiveness –
the soulful vocals and super-tight horn section layer the Latin infused rhythms and wall-of-sound percussion, creating an intensity that has left crowds throughout NZ, Australia and the UK begging for more. The rising popularity and festive nature of BSM has also resulted in the band making the bill at numerous well-respected events alongside global heavyweights such as Damien Marley, Michael Franti and The Cat Empire.
SATURDAY 21 November 2009
SATURDAY 21ST November 2009
· Expectations of the Market 10.00am - 10.45am AWME registered delegates only Amcor Lounge, the Arts Centre
· Music + Rights = Respect 11.00am - 11.45am
· AWME registered delegates
· & APRA members only
· Amcor Lounge, the Arts Centre
· Songwriters Speak 12.00 noon - 12.45pm
· AWME registered delegates
· & APRA members only
· Amcor Lounge, the Arts Centre
· Export: Masterclass 2.00pm - 2.45pm
· AWME registered delegates
· & APRA members only
· Amcor Lounge, the Arts Centre
· Asia Today - Festivals and Touring Guide 3.00pm - 3.45pm AWME registered delegates only Amcor Lounge, the Arts Centre
· APRA Roadshow – The Live Music (R) Evolution 3.00pm - 4.30pm APRA Members Only Fairfax Studio, the Arts Centre
· Modern Songlines 4.00pm - 4.45pm AWME registered delegates only Amcor Lounge, the Arts Centre
SATURDAY GIGS:
Blue King Brown (Australia), Toguna (Reunion Islands), Emma Donovan
(Australia) + Chant Down Sound (Australia), Sista Itations feat. MC’s RifRaph & Dizzy Dee (Australia) & The Chooky Dancers (Australia)
Hailed by Santana as “The voice of the street and the band of the future!” The 8 to 11 piece powerhouse band that is Blue King Brown has been spreading its cross-generational grooves and socially conscious sound all over the globe.
Emma Donovan has established herself as one of Australia’s finest Indigenous singer-songwriters. Originally from Northern NSW, Emma has performed across the globe treating audiences to her rich soulful voice as a solo artist and as part of the award winning Black Arm Band.
The Chooky Dancers are group of traditional Aboriginal dancers from Arnhem Land that became a worldwide sensation two years ago when their unique interpretation of Zorba the Greek was broadcast over the internet.
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Date: |
Saturday 21st November, 2009 |
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Time: |
7.30pm - Late |
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Location: |
The Hifi, 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne |
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Price : |
$27 + BF |
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Bookings : |
1300 843 4434, www.thehifi.com.au |
Upon our return to normality of the Alice Springs Central Desert hustle & bustle Jeffery reflected on how much of a wonderful opportunity it was to have attended this wonderful event and initiated Michael Smith our Sound engineer with his skin name as a sign of respect and thankfulness. This was an experience he would take back to the community with stories of glamour, excitement and sheer professionalism of the band and musicians showcased at the event.
In short for musicians to be a part of this wonderful event is a must not only for the promotional potential for these groups and bands but also for the informative sessions and comradeship of all the musicians who’s abilities and talents were showcased at this event.
