THE WORKERS CLUB ANNOUNCE NEW LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT VENUE FOR LITTLE MALOP STREET GEELONG
Credible Melbourne venue, The Workers Club and revered Geelong music bookers, Spinning Half have joined forces and announced the opening of Geelong’s newest live music and entertainment venue, The Workers Club Geelong. Set to open on Little Malop Street in late March, The Workers Club will offer a top-notch live music experience & culture for artists & punters alike.
With over a thousand gigs under their belt and having hosted the likes of everyone from Slash to Lorde to Tame Impala, it’s no wonder The Workers Club Melbourne are thrilled to share the news of their expansion. Paired with local Geelong music bookers, Spinning Half who have put on over 500 Australian and international gigs in Geelong including Chet Faker, Parkway Drive and Dan Sultan, the venture is sure to be a roaring success that is welcomed with gusto by the local community. Over thirty live original music shows have already been booked in at the venue, with the first artist announcement (an international act) set to be released today.
“We are driven to provide Geelong with a sustainable and reliable music venue that can service the country’s touring artists, along with showcasing local talent, while focused on helping grow The Workers Club brand,” explains Spinning Half director, Steven Nichols.
“With Spinning Half’s years of local experience and street cred, it is obvious that us pivotonians love good music, food and drink here in the city of dreams,” enthuses Geelong resident born and raised, The Workers Club Melbourne co-owner John O’Brien. “We are confident that this will tie in with The Workers Club philosophy and look forward to sharing our mutual love of music.”
The venue has announced it will be opening a kitchen, but the cuisine will remain a delicious mystery for now.
This year APRA revealed postcode 3216 (Geelong surrounds) had the highest percentage growth of royalty earning songwriters in Australia in almost 10 years. “The regional scene is alive and well but in need of genuine live original music venues who can facilitate this positive growth,” says O’Brien. “We all call Geelong home and are proud of what this city represents. It is more than a manufacturing hub and there is a cultural scene down here that is about to explode.”
With a distinct lack of small to medium sized venues built with the purpose of live music in Geelong, The Workers Club’s main goal in the fit out is to ensure the band room space is designed for music with everything else to flow on from there. “Artist comfort, sound and punter satisfaction are our main priorities,” explains Nichols, “While we can’t have music and entertainment every waking moment, our other key focuses are on awesome food and great beverage options in a comfortable and versatile environment.”
No parmies, no cover bands, no nightclub dj’s and no TV, but the new venue will be showing all the Geelong Cats games on the projector.
The venue will stay true to the vibe of its Melbourne sibling and has made a conscious effort to change its iconic Geelong location to look and feel different to anything housed there in the past. Instrumental in bringing this vision to life and responsible for the project management and building of the site is Geelong local, Ged Fitzgerald of North Building Group.
The Workers Club will open its doors in late March.
The Workers Club philosophy: Indulge in some amazing tunes with fellow music lovers, chow down on good grub, drink interesting beers, ciders, local vino and then safely retire to your beds satisfied, cultured, content and full of good vibes
Address: 90 – 92 Little Malop Street, Geelong VIC 3220
Contact: music@theworkersclubgeelong.com.au
BANK OF MELBOURNE ANNOUNCES THE MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK: A COMMUNITY DRIVEN MUSIC INITIATIVE FOR ASPIRING MUSIC ARTISTS
Bank of Melbourne today announced the return of Melbourne Music Bank, a community-driven music initiative offering aspiring artists a chance to break into the music industry.
The Melbourne Music Bank is calling for local musicians and bands to submit a song inspired by Melbourne. A career-making prize is up for grabs, including two days of recording at Sing Sing Studios, a video clip by film maker Wilk, live gigs, album artwork and 500 CDs, PR and marketing advice and the chance to have their song used in a Bank of Melbourne advertising campaign.
ARIA winning, Melbourne-based musician, Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi, The Verses, Spicks & Specks, Southern Cross Austereo’s ‘Aus Top 20’) is Melbourne Music Bank’s Ambassador. She said the prize could change the life of a talented local band or musician.
“It’s so important that we encourage and celebrate our local talent, and this is exactly what this project is all about,” said Ella. “I got my big break after being discovered at a local fete in Violet Town. It led to free studio time to record and now here I am today!”
The competition is open to all Victorian songwriters and musicians. Music artists have until 7 September, 2014 to submit an original piece of music inspired by Melbourne. Twelve finalists will be shortlisted and a public vote will narrow the field. Four finalists will perform live at the Melbourne Recital Centre where a panel of music experts will choose the winner.
Bank of Melbourne Chief Executive Scott Tanner said Bank of Melbourne was delighted to present Melbourne Music Bank for the second straight year.
“Melbourne is undoubtedly Australia’s arts and culture capital,” Mr Tanner said. “Bank of Melbourne is delighted to help celebrate and support local music talent with this exciting program.”
To enter, musicians should visit www.bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank
This project is proudly created by Bank of Melbourne, supported by partners Melbourne Recital Centre, Beat Magazine, PBS, and Wilk
MIETTA ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE, ‘GONE’ & DEBUT ALBUM ‘A MAD DISTANCE’
Melbourne world-music songstress Mietta has announced the release of her new single, Gone (available July 4) and debut album, A Mad Distance, set for release on July 18 and she’ll be hitting the road with her band to promote the record with launch shows in Melbourne on July 24 at The Spotted Mallard, Ballarat on July 26 at The Main Bar and Sydney on July 31 at Venue 505.
Lead single Gone is a multi layered, internationally inspired masterpiece with a strong Latin American feel and an indescribable warmth. Mietta’s lush, rich vocal tone and interesting delivery tie in perfectly with the melodic backing vocals and twenty-piece ensemble that recorded alongside her. And it’s the drum tag that completes the song, the cherry on top that encourages you to go back and have another listen. “Gone is about moving on from difficult times and not looking back, about having the strength and courage to pick up your bundle and keep going,” explains Mietta.
The video for Gone is a behind-the-scenes clip, allowing the viewer in on the making of the song and inviting them to become part of the song’s journey. The footage was filmed by Jarred Osborn (Alt J, Chiefs, Sons Et Al) and shot at Oaklands Productions (Melbourne) where the album was recorded and mixed.
Growing up in a family of writers and editors, there’s no wonder Mietta has become such a prolific and inspired songwriter. While the major theme of the album is about losing love (in her case, her Mother) she explains, “It also touches on losing your home and finding a new one – be it literally or metaphorically, and being sure to stay strong and not buckle under life’s tragedies… Most of the songs on the album and my musical inspiration come from many different countries around the world: Spain, Brazil, Arabic influences, Afro Peruvian influences, South America. I have a deep fascination with the music, people, literature, jewelry, clothing and spirituality of these places.”
Excited about her run of shows, Mietta is especially looking forward to her Melbourne launch as it is set to be her biggest live show yet consisting of guitar, drums, bass, percussion, five backing vocalists and a ten piece chamber orchestra. Ballarat and Sydney shows will be stripped back to a six-piece band.