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BATRIDER are back!

March 28th 2010 07:50

Batrider are back in Australia following 2 years of gigs, new friends, wild times and happy accidents in foreign lands. After splitting time between London sublets and European adventures, and losing their USA touring virginity the equivalent of behind a bush at a party when you’re 16, Batrider have now decided to settle in... Adelaide. YES ADELAIDE! And with barely enough time to wash the lint-of-a-thousand-couches from their tired bodies, Batrider are hitting the road again embarking on their first Australian tour in years.

The Batrider Beaks Tour takes the band’s fourth release Why We Cant Be Together (2009) around their adopted home of Australia, and also sees the release of a limited run of live recordings made while in the USA.

The new live record reflects the band’s current 3-piece incarnation and is the most direct, dynamic, melodic, and unique to date. Those familiar with Batrider’s sound will find its most compelling qualities more than intact, with the guitar and vocals of Sarah Mary Chadwick marking themselves as more clamourous and emotive than ever, with Steph Crase (Birth Glow, No Through Road) on drums and summery melancholic harmonies, and Sam Featherstone holding the whole mess together on bass.

Nonetheless, it wouldn’t really be fair to let you assume that Batrider aren’t still really really loud, and quite possibly one of the most viscerally confronting bands you’ll ever experience live. Would it?

2010 is another big year for Batrider with a new release to add to their now extensive back catalogue, reconnecting with both Australian and New Zealand watering holes, not to
mention enjoying the plethora of exciting tourist locations Adelaide has to offer. Wink.

"Why We Can't Be Together" out now on Low Transit Industries via Shock

Hobart
The Brisbane Hotel - Fri 30th April
Ivy St more

Melbourne
The Lithuanian Club - Fri 7th May
Pets With Pets Woollen Kits

Adelaide
Urtext Studios - Sat 8th May
The Twerps Bitch Prefect Pets
With Pets Banham

Brisbane
The Cubbyhole - Thur 20th May
Kitchen’s Floor more

Newcastle
The Croatian Club - Fri 21st May
Pets With Pets more

Sydney
Red Rattler - Sat 22nd May
Pets With Pets more

Canberra
The Phoenix - Sun 23rd May
Pets With Pets more

Fremantle
South Street Ale House
Saturday 29th May

Geelong
The Nash - Thur 3rd June
Supports TBA

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Welcome Release, Live, Sydney Scene, Adelaide Scene, Melbourne Scene, Brisbane Scene, Perth Scene, Australia National

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John Cale's Keynote Online

February 18th 2010 09:14

Watch and Listen to John Cale's Keynote Online

On February 15 underground rock royalty and founding member of the Velvet Underground, John Cale, cut the red ribbon for Modular and Sydney Festival's Circa 1979: Signal to Noise with a Keynote speech at the Seymour Centre.

Hipsters rubbed shoulders with electronic pioneers in a packed out York Theatre as Cale showed off a few snaps and described working with the likes of Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Happy Mondays, The Stooges and LCD Soundsystem before capping things off with a mind blowing rendition of "Heart Break Hotel."

If you missed the speech or want to listen/watch it again, ABC's Big Ideas are streaming it online.

January 28, 2010 at 10:23am in circa 1979: signal to noise

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Review, Live, Sydney Scene, Adelaide Scene, Melbourne Scene, Brisbane Scene, Perth Scene, Australia National , CD/DVD, News, Qstage

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JONATHAN BOULET - NEW SINGLE TOUR RICE SHAKER

February 18th 2010 08:59

With Jonathan Boulet’s first ever Australian headline tour kicking off this week MODULAR are celebrating in charitable style. After wooing every man and his dog with his debut single "A Community Announcement", Jono is set to release single number two, the stirring "North To South East To You" on March 15.

Not being one to muck around, Jono re-recorded a ’stripped back’ version of the tune over the weekend in his garage, and sent to us to share with you all. This version will be included on the single release, alongside the music video.

Head HERE to download it.

There's a brand new interview and part one in a series of video tour diaries for you to enjoy, posted up on the ol’ Mod Peeps for your enjoyment. Also make sure you tune into triple j this coming Friday morning around 7.50 AM to hear Jono re-work a classic on Like A Version.

Not being one to rest, Jono has set his fans some homework. At his request, the young man would like you all to bring along your own homemade rice shaker to help get the festivities going. Don’t know how to make one? No problem - download Boulet’s simple how-to guide.

Those dates are:

Thursday February 18
Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale NSW
Tickets from moshtix.com.au - 1300 438 849

Friday February 19
Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney NSW
Tickets from moshtix.com.au - 1300 438 849

Wednesday February 24
The Harp, Wollongong NSW
Tickets from oztix.com.au - 1300 762 545

Thursday February 25
ANU, Canberra ACT

Friday February 26
Cambridge, Newcastle NSW
Tickets from moshtix.com.au - 1300 438 849

Wednesday March 3
Beach Road Hotel, Bondi NSW

Friday March 5
Rocket Bar, Adelaide SA
Tickets from venuetix.com.au

Saturday Mar 6
Fly By Night, Fremantle WA
Tickets from flybynight.org and the Box Office - 08 9430 5976

Thursday March 11
Great Northern, Byron Bay NSW
Tickets from oztix.com.au - 1300 762 545

Friday March 12
Elsewhere, Gold Coast QLD
Tickets from oztix.com.au - 1300 762 545

Saturday March 13
Fans, Brisbane QLD

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Live, Sydney Scene, Adelaide Scene, Melbourne Scene, Brisbane Scene, Perth Scene, Australia National , CD/DVD

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Wolfmother | exclusive iTunes Live Show

February 18th 2010 08:40

Want to guarantee your spot at Wolfmother’s exclusive iTunes Live Show this Friday February 19 at the Sydney Apple Store at 9 pm? Well start getting excited immediately, because we’re giving away 5 double passes to make sure you don’t miss out on what’s sure to be a rocking and rollicking good time.

So, how do you get your paws on a double pass? Are you Twitter savvy? If your answer to the question was "yes", then fire a tweet our way (@modularpeople) telling us why you deserve the ticket. Use the hashtag #wmitunes so your pleas aren’t lost in the 140 character ether. Winners will have to make their own way there, so let’s hear it for carpooling and/or public transport!

For more info on the gig and how you can be a part of it, get the complete lowdown HERE..

In other WM news, single number three from Cosmic Egg, "Far Away" has just started hitting radio waves. To get your hands on it for the cost of a single text mesagge, all you need to do is SMS your email address and it’ll be in your hot little inbox in no time along with their seminal track "Joker & The Thief". For more details, head HERE.

Finally, the Mothers recently rocked three solid nights in Melbourne as support to the legendary AC/DC. The Black Ice Tour continues around the country throughout the following dates:

18 Feb - ANZ Stadium, Sydney (tonight!)

20 Feb - ANZ Stadium, Sydney

22 Feb - ANZ Stadium, Sydney

25 Feb - QSAC, Brisbane

27 Feb - QSAC, Brisbane

2 Mar - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

6 Mar - Subiaco Oval, Perth

8 Mar - Subiaco Oval, Perth

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Live, Sydney Scene, Adelaide Scene, Brisbane Scene, Perth Scene, CD/DVD

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ART vs SCIENCE go GOLD

February 18th 2010 08:10

Fresh from loping in at #2 and #74 on triple j's Hottest 100, Sydney's ART vs SCIENCE have recently achieved Gold status in the ARIA Charts for their the eponymous debut EP (out through Green/MGM). The Hottest 100 result also effected the re-entry of the EP into the Top 5 on iTunes and back into the ARIA Top 40. It is currently sitting at no. 1 on the physical singles chart.

Released last May, the independently-released 5-track EP contains radio favourites Parlez-Vous Francais?, Hollywood, Flippers and Friend in the Field. Its performance in the charts was no doubt augmented by the three piece's scene-stealing live show, which has seen the band play at countless festivals and sold-out gigs around the country over the past 12 months.

ART vs SCIENCE have again teamed up with producer/engineer Berkfinger and are currently in the studio writing and recording their anticipated debut long-player. The album - to be released independently through Green/MGM, with label services assistance from Parallel Management - is due out in June 2010. Keep an ear out for the first single in April.

TOUR DATES

16 Feb 2010 ENMORE THEATRE supporting GOSSIP, Sydney - onstage 8.35pm

19 Feb 2010 ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT Adelaide

20 Feb 2010 GOOD VIBRATIONS @ PARKLANDS SHOWGROUNDS Gold Coast

21 Feb 2010 GOOD VIBRATIONS @ FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE Melbourne

11 Mar 2010 OFF THE RAILS @ PADDINGTON ALE HOUSE Perth

12 Mar 2010 OFF THE RAILS @ LIVE Adelaide

13 Mar 2010 OFF THE RAILS @ PADDY'S Albury

25 Mar 2010 BACARDI EXPRESS TOUR @ TIVOLI Queensland

26 Mar 2010 BACARDI EXPRESS TOUR @ CLUB COFFS Coffs Harbour

27 Mar 2010 BACARDI EXPRESS TOUR @ NEWCASTLE PANTHERS Newcastle

27 Mar 2010 BACARDI EXPRESS TOUR @ LUNA PARK Sydney

www.myspace.com/artvsscience

www.facebook.com/artvsscience

www.artvsscience.net

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Sydney Scene, Adelaide Scene, Melbourne Scene, Brisbane Scene, Perth Scene, Australia National , CD/DVD, News, Qstage

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AC/DC: Black Ice Tour

February 8th 2010 01:18

AC/DC: Black Ice Tour

When tickets went on sale in Australia recently, they smashed all previous records. It became the fast selling tour in Australian history. Across Australia, AC/DC hit fever pitch where fans queued overnight then snapped up 520,000 tickets in 3 hours!!

AC/DC will blast their way through Australia with one of the largest stage productions ever seen. The production will be moved around the country by 48 semi-trailers.

“AC/DC remain the gold standard for arena spectacle rock’n’roll.” - The Times (UK)

“Rock ‘n’ roll that outlasts time.” - Chicago Tribune

“It's been way too long since someone tore the roof off the place like this.” - Orange County Register (LA)

Don’t miss the rock event of the summer!!

Presented by: Garry Van Egmond and Chugg Entertainment

With Special Guest: Wolfmother

AC/DC the greatest rock and roll band on the planet, who have sold over 200 million records worldwide, return home to Australia in February 2010 as part of the Black Ice World Tour.

It will be the band's first Australian tour since January 2001 and will - without any question - be the most spectacular rock show ever staged in this country.

AC/DC will blast their way through each of the five major capital cities where they will appear at outdoor stadiums with one of the largest stage productions ever seen. The production will be moved around the country by 48 semi-trailers during February and March 2010.

TOUR DATES:*
Thu 18, Sat 20 & Mon 22 Feb - ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Thu 25 & Sat 27 Feb - QSAC, Brisbane
Tue 2 Mar - Adelaide Oval
*Ticketek is selling for the above venues only.

Running times:

Sydney*
GA Gates Open From: 5.30pm
Seated Gates Open: 5.45pm
Calling All Cars: 6.45pm
Wolfmother: 7.45pm
AC/DC: 8.55pm
Approx Finish: 11pm
* Times approximate and subject to change

Adelaide & Brisbane*
GA Gates Open From: 5.30pm
Seated Gates Open: 5.45pm
Calling All Cars: 6.15pm
Wolfmother: 7.15pm
AC/DC: 8.25pm
Approx Finish: 10.30pm
* Times approximate and subject to change

WOLFMOTHER
Supporting AC/DC
11/02/2010 Etihad Stadium Melbourne VIC
13/02/2010 Etihad Stadium Melbourne VIC
15/02/2010 Etihad Stadium Melbourne VIC
18/02/2010 ANZ Stadium Sydney NSW
20/02/2010 ANZ Stadium Sydney NSW
22/02/2010 ANZ Stadium Sydney NSW
25/02/2010 QSAC Brisbane QLD
27/02/2010 QSAC Brisbane QLD
02/03/2010 Adelaide Oval Adelaide SA
06/03/2010 Subiaco Oval Perth WA
08/02/2010 Subiaco Oval Perth WA

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Live, Sydney Scene, Adelaide Scene, Melbourne Scene, Brisbane Scene, Perth Scene, Australia National , CD/DVD

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The Spanish Film Festival

February 2nd 2010 04:24

Sydney: 5 - 16 May Melbourne: 12 - 23 May Brisbane: 20 - 30 May Adelaide: 13 – 16 May Canberra: 6 - 16 May

Honoured by the Spanish Government in 2009 as the most important Spanish cultural event in Australia, The Spanish Film Festival is back for its 13th year with a programme that will show you why! Over 50 films of the best in contemporary Spanish language films from Spain and Latin America will be winging their way to Australia to work their Spanish storytelling magic for a wide variety of audiences in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide in May 2010 in the form of features, shorts and documentaries.

In 2010 the Spanish Film Festival builds on the diverse program of screenings and events that has become its strong trademark.

The programme includes:

All About Women. A programming first for any Spanish Film Festival, the special All About Women section will screen a selection of films directed by Spanish and Latin American women who have had a significant impact on Spanish cinema AND will look at the various and diverse portrayals of women in Spanish cinema from the 50’s to the present, expanding upon the iconic image of the strong, determined, sexy Spanish woman.

Contemporary Spanish cinema. Selection of the best current Spanish cinema. A highlight of this section will be THE DANCER AND THE THIEF (El Baile de la Victoria), Spain’s entry to the 2010 Academy Awards and nominated for 10 Goya (Spanish Academy) Awards, this is the new film from Fernado Trueba Academy Award Winner Best Foreign Language Film for BELLE EPOQUE; based on the celebrated novel by Antonio Skármeta, writer of IL POSTINO.

Tribute to Colombia. Each year the festival pays tribute to a Latino America country in order to celebrate the culture diversity and richness among the Spanish speaking countries in the world, presenting the most current films of that country combined with a live music event. This year we look to the land of the snowy Andes Mountains, sunny Caribbean beaches and luscious Amazon rainforest for a cinema programme that is just as rich and varied!

The 13th Spanish Film Festival produced with the support of the Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs in Spain, the Spanish Consulate in Sydney and Melbourne, The Spanish Embassy, the Argentinean Government through INCAA (Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts Argentina), Victorian Multicultural Commission, The Embassies and Consulates of Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, The Australian National University and many prestigious Spanish and Australian companies.

Festival Information will be available from late February HERE

Sydney: Wed 5 - Sun 16 May at Palace Norton Street, Academy Twin & The Chauvel

Melbourne: Wed 12 - Sun 23 May at Palace Cinema Como & Kino Cinemas

Brisbane: Thu 20 - Sun 30 May at Palace Centro Cinemas

Adelaide: Thu 13 - Sun 16 May at Palace Nova Eastend

Canberra: Thu 6 – Sun 16 May at GU Manuka

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Live, Sydney Scene, Adelaide Scene, Melbourne Scene, Brisbane Scene, Perth Scene, Australia National

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Al Di Meola with World Sinfonia

January 10th 2010 03:56

Al Di Meola with World Sinfonia
Touring Australia & New Zealand
from March 2010

Legendary guitarist, Al Di Meola is bringing his 6-piece Latin Jazz Fusion band World Sinfonia to our shores in March 2010. One of the most prominent virtuosos in the contemporary instrumental jazz field, Al Di Meola’s dazzling technique on both acoustic and electric guitars is unmatched, extending to fluid arpeggios flying at breakneck speed and beautiful, slow vibrato-laden melodies.

The tour commences in Perth and extends through NSW, Queensland, New Zealand, Tasmania, South Australia and ACT. Provocative and enchanting, Al Di Meola’s intriguing union of complex rhythms, lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmonies ensures an unforgettable aural sensation.

Known for his guitar mastery, Al Di Meola has twenty one recordings, three gold albums and has recorded and played with a number of illustrious names including Paul Simon, Phil Collins, Santana, Luciano Pavarotti, Jimmy Page, Stevie Wonder, Frank Zappa, Chick Corea, Steve Winwood, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Jaco Pastorius, Les Paul, Jean Luc Ponty, Steve Vai, Milton Naciemento, Egberto Gismonti, and many more.

Early in his career Al Di Meola was bestowed a Grammy, as part of Chick Corea’s Return To Forever. He has been voted World’s Best Guitarist several times by Guitar Player Magazine and has had sold out concerts across the world including Bulgaria and the United States.

Al Di Meola’s finds inspiration in music cultures across the world including sounds from Argentina, Brazil, Israel and the Mediterranean and in acoustic genres such as flamenco and the tango. The depth of his writing along with the soulfulness of his guitar expression have won this guitar virtuoso legions of fans worldwide, having played over many years to sell out shows across Europe, Canada and his native USA.
Of Di Meola, Guitar historian Robert Lynch said: “In the history of the electric guitar, no one figure has done more to advance the instrument in a purely technical manner than Al Di Meola. His total command of the various styles and scales is simply mind-boggling.”

Al Di Meola
with World Sinfonia
Australian & New Zealand Tour
MARCH & APRIL 2009

Perth Concert Hall
March 5
08 9231 9900

Sydney City Recital Hall Angel PlaceMarch 7
02 8256 2222
Bellingen Memorial Hall
March 9
02 6655 1522

Byron Bay High SchoolMarch 10

Enmore Theatre Sydney
March 12
02 9550 3666

The Basement, Sydney
March 13
02 9251 2797

Christchurch James Hay
BrisbaneMarch 15
136 246
Kuranda Amphitheatre
New ZealandMarch 16
1300 762 545

Auckland The Great Hall
March 18
0800 289 842

James Hay Theatre Christchurch
March 19
03366 8899

Wellington Opera House
March 22
04384 3840

Hobart City HallMarch 24
1300 762 545
Melbourne Hamer Hall
March 25
1300 182 183
Adelaide Her Majesty’s Theatre
March 26
08 8216 8600

Canberra Royal Theatre March 27
02 6243 5711

Newcastle Civic Theatre
March 29
02 4929 1977
Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
March 30
02 8839 3399

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Welcome Release, Sydney Scene, Adelaide Scene, Melbourne Scene, Brisbane Scene, Australia National , CD/DVD, News, Qstage

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CLOUD CONTROL

October 2nd 2009 05:11

CLOUD CONTROL LEADER CHEETAH
ANNOUNCE CO-HEADLINE TOUR

With the release of brand new single 'Gold Canary', melodic magicians Cloud Control are very pleased to announce a co-headline tour with friends Leader Cheetah.

The ‘East Coast Smackdown Tour' will see the two bands play shows throughout November and December, with Leader Cheetah hitting the road in support of the limited edition vinyl release of their debut album 'The Sunspot Letters'.

Following shows across the country and festival appearances in the UK and Australia throughout 2009, Cloud Control are keen to showcase new songs from their forthcoming debut album, due out on Ivy League Records in early 2010.

'Gold Canary' is the first new music from the band since their infectious single 'Death Cloud'. With tribal chants culminating in what can only be described as a dub-step hoedown, 'Gold Canary' presents a band fully in control of their unique vision, and highlights a love of exploration and change that all true artists possess.

The past year has seen Leader Cheetah play a host of festivals as well as tour with Dan Auerbach, Elbow and Liam Finn. The ‘East Coast Smackdown Tour' will see the Adelaide four-piece return the road for their last tour of the year before they head into hibernation to record the follow-up to 'The Sunspot Letters'. Before then though, they'll be releasing the acclaimed album on limited edition vinyl, which will include a bonus 7" with three unreleased album out-takes

Both Cloud Control and Leader Cheetah have a reputation for amazing live shows, so get tickets lickety split when they're released on Tuesday October 6.

Want to download ‘Gold Canary’ or offer a download of the track to your readers? You can download the track here: Really Long Link

CLOUD CONTROL LEADER CHEETAH
'The East Coast Smackdown Tour'
Feat. Gold Canary
(w/ special guests in each state)
Presented by Umbrella, Select Music, Mess Noise, FBi, Triple R 4ZZZ

NOVEMBER
Fri 6 Nov Jive, Adelaide SA (Licensed All Ages)
Sat 7 Nov Jive, Adelaide SA
Thu 19 Nov The Harp, Wollongong NSW
Fri 20 Nov Annandale Hotel, Sydney NSW
Sat 21 Nov Annandale Hotel, Sydney NSW (ALL AGES SHOW 12-4pm)
Sat 21 Nov Baroque Night Club, Katoomba NSW
Thu 26 Nov Pelly Bar, Frankston VIC
Fri 27 Nov East Brunswick Club, Melbourne VIC
DECEMBER
Thu 3 Dec Troubadour, Brisbane QLD
Fri 4 Dec Troubadour, Brisbane QLD

Tickets available via OZTIX: cloudcontrol.oztix.com.au | leadercheetah.oztix.com.au selected ticket outlets.
* Persons purchasing tickets online through OZTIX will automatically be in the running to win a massive CC/LC prize pack featuring limited edition vinyl, CDs, tees a tour poster signed by both bands!

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Posted By: David Jobling - Category: Welcome Release, Live, Sydney Scene, Adelaide Scene, Melbourne Scene, Brisbane Scene, News

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Martin Taylor & Alison Burns | Tour

February 18th 2009 06:20

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED AND GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING GUITARIST MARTIN TAYLOR TO TOUR AUSTRALIA WITH UK'S FASTEST RISING JAZZ SINGER ALISON BURNS IN MARCH 2009

When Grammy award winning guitarist Martin Taylor (pictured), who has collaborated with great singers including Peggy Lee, Martin Carthy, Jamie Cullum, Dionne Warwick and Bryn Terfel, chose to record a special duo album with a vocalist he chose the UKs fastest rising jazz singer Alison Burns.

MARTIN TAYLOR MBE
Award winning guitarist MARTIN TAYLOR has established a unique musical career as an internationally acclaimed musician, and his inimitable style has seen him recognized as the world's foremost exponent of solo jazz guitar playing. Although completely self taught, he has enjoyed a remarkable musical career spanning across four decades, and during that time has invented and developed a way of playing the guitar that is admired, and often imitated, by guitarists all over the world.

As well as being a true guitar innovator, he is also a master concert performer, dazzling audiences with his solo shows, which combine virtuosity, emotion, humor, with a strong stage presence. He spends much of the year traveling the world, playing in concert halls in Europe, North America, Japan, Asia, and Australasia. As well as his solo concerts and recordings, he has also collaborated with musicians from many different musical genre including Stephane Grappelli, Chet Atkins, Bill Wyman, Dionne Warwick, Sacha Distel, Bryn Terfel and Jamie Cullum.

From 1979 to 1989 he toured the world and recorded over 20 albums with the French jazz violin legend STEPHANE GRAPPELLI. Monsieur Grappelli described him as Rich in talent and elegance, he's a great artist.

In 2002, he was appointed MBE For Services to Jazz Music, in The Queen's Birthday Honors List, which he received personally from Her Majesty the Queen at an investiture at Buckingham Palace.

In 2007 he recieved the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Heart of Jazz Award in recognition of his career in music, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North Wales Jazz Guitar Festival for his Contribution to Jazz Guitar Worldwide and was voted Best Guitarist in the British Jazz Awards for a record eleventh time.

When not touring he divides his time between his homes in France and Scotland where he writes music for TV and film.

His autobiography MARTIN TAYLOR - AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A TRAVELLING MUSICIAN and his latest CD/DVD FRETERNITY are available worldwide.

ALISON BURNS

The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work. Surrounded by the surfeit of little girl voices prevalent in jazz today, it's almost a relief to encounter a mature but flexible voice like ALISON BURNS. Beyond the vocal quality is imaginative delivery and interpretation that comes from experience in life as well as extensive touring in the US, UK, Italy and China. TV host Michael Parkinson has declared himself as a fan and her debut album 'Kissing Bug' featuring Guy Barker and David Newton and produced by guitarist MARTIN TAYLOR has received rave reviews. At home in any setting, from festival and theatre stages to small, intimate venues, Alison Burns never fails to touch the audience with her soul-stirring performances.

Born in Scotland, ALISON BURNS grew up drawing inspiration from the recordings of the jazz greats like Sarah Vaughn, Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald. In demand as much abroad as in the UK she has performed concerts in Tokyo, Nashville, New York, Cannes, Capri and Shanghai.

French writer Emile Zola never met ALISON BURNS, and his perceptive quote may seem like an unusual introduction, but it's wholly appropriate for this rising star of the jazz world, and her rather unusual road to success. With the release of her second album 1:AM, a collaboration with world-renowned and multi award-winning jazz guitarist MARTIN TAYLOR, Alison brings her unique interpretation to a combination of traditional jazz standards, classic contemporary songwriting, and an original song which holds particular personal significance. It's a track listing which reflects the Dundee singer's lifetime love affair with music.

“My father was a guitarist and my mum would get into his gigs around Dundee for free by carrying the case...he still carried the guitar! He used to sing to me, numbers by Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, Bessie Smith. That's what I heard around the house. I also used to watch old Hollywood movies and dream of being a singer and actress. We had linoleum flooring in the bathroom, so I used to sprinkle it with salt and try my hand at tap dancing! The first time I sang was trying to pick out harmonies in songs on the radio.”

No matter what else has happened in Alison's life, that involvement with music has run in parallel - only now is it being allowed to take the lead. Life has certainly provided inspiration. As the first female apprentice engineer in the famous Timex watch factory in Dundee, the 16-year-old refused to compromise glamour in the workplace and never forgot her lipstick. The experience showed that she was perfectly capable of holding her own in a man's world.

Other jobs followed (including being sacked from a bingo-calling job) but it was at the age of 21 that Alison realised that her childhood dreams would only be realised if she actually did something about it. The death of her brother Alan, who was serving in the Falklands brought home the reality of a life lived unfulfilled. Alan was very much the inspiration for the lyrics of the original song True on 1AM, which has music written by Martin Taylor.

Still based in Dundee, ALISON BURNS's acting, singing, and presenting career took off. As singer and songwriter in a band called The Rainmates, she tuned down two record deals which just “didn't feel right at the time”. Her first love was still the music she had heard in her childhood, however, and this led to the formation of a three-part female harmony group, The Penny Dainties. Not only did Alison get the group together, it was normal for her to be hanging over a sewing machine in the early hours, making the frocks!

Like every other performer, the days could be empty. However, never one to waste any time, Alison used the days productively and gained a law degree from Dundee University. She practised briefly, but the pull of music was too much and she found herself working in the music business, albeit behind the scenes. For a while, her own music career was put on the back burner, but it's telling that as soon as she turned her attention to jazz singing again, there was instant acclaim. The release of her debut album, Kissing Bug, in March 2007 was received with universal acclaim and became the first album by a Scottish jazz singer to reach the Jazz Top 10. She was lauded by the likes of jazz guru Michael Parkinson who invited ALISON BURNS to play at his hotel. The man himself was in the front row and threw his arms around her as she came off stage.

So far she has packed her bag to perform in far-flung destinations such as Tokyo, Nashville, New York, Cannes, Italy and Shanghai as well as exclusive events for the likes of Virgin Airlines and Sir Terence Conran. She has performed at jazz festivals and venues across the country, with her own group and guesting with Martin Taylor at a number of concerts. It was at these concerts that the idea for 1:AM came about. The recordings of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass were the inspiration, stripping back the songs to vocal and guitar. Despite the smoky dark eyes and robust sense of humour, there's little of the jazz diva about Alison Burns. As a committed vegetarian, her greatest concern on the road is finding decent food as well as keeping in touch with her husband, family and friends. Venues will be shocked to find the only dressing room request is water and her only real superstition is “always wearing my granny's earrings”. For those who may think that Alison is where she has always wanted to be, that's true up to a point, but looking at her track record, this is obviously just the beginning. “I'd like to tour more and keep adding songs to my repertoire. It would be wonderful to sing with Tony Bennett and Michael Buble. It's also an ambition to sing with strings – I think it’s every singers ambition to sing with strings. I'd also like to write more songs.”

1:AM from ALISON BURNS and MARTIN TAYLOR is released on P3 Records. The album was inspired by the recordings of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass. On the album, produced by Tony Platt, Alison Burns and Martin Taylor capture the essence of the recordings with just voice and guitar.

In 2009 the duo will hit the road to tour and promote this new album which is produced by legendary record producer Tony Platt (Bob Marley, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Buddy Guy). The tour and album take its inspiration from the Grammy award winning collaboration between Joe Pass & Ella Fitzgerald, mixing repertoire from The Great American Songbook and contemporary material.

Europe's finest guitarist Jazz Times, New York

Martin Taylor was the Head-line act at the last International Guitar Festival in Adelaide.

28 Feb 2009 20:00
Theatre of the Thailand Cultural Centre Bangkok, Thailand

3 Mar 2009 20:00
The Basement Sydney, Australia | Bookings: 02 9251 2791

4 Mar 2009 20:00
Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre Nowra, NSW, Australia | Bookings: 1300 788 503 with Special Guest George Golla

5 Mar 2009 20:00
Dizzy's Melbourne, Australia | Bookings: 03 9428 1233

6 Mar 2009 20:00
Dizzy's Melbourne, Australia | Bookings: 03 9428 1233

7 Mar 2009 20:00
Dizzy's Melbourne, Australia | Bookings: 03 9428 1233

8 Mar 2009 20:00
Gold Coast Arts & Cultural Centre Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia | Bookings: 05 5588 4000

9 Mar 2009 20:00
The Basement Sydney, Australia | Bookings: 02 9251 2791

11 Mar 2009 20:00
Avalon RSL Avalon, NSW, Australia | Bookings: 02 9918 2201

12 Mar 2009 20:00
Governor Hindmarsh Hotel Adelaide, Australia | Bookings: 08 8340 0744

13 Mar 2009 20:00
Ellington's Jazz Club Perth, Australia |

14 Mar 2009 20:00
Ellington's Jazz Club Perth, Australia

15 Mar 2009 20:00
Jazz Freemantle, Navy Club, High Street Freemantle, Australia | Bookings: 08 9384 4835