Homebake Festival 2010 Not Happening! Where's the local love?

Hard to believe our favourite home grown festival Homebake: boasting the latest and greatest local talent will be taking a break in 2010 (read the official statement below). It begs the question, is the music market oversaturated with festivals and specialised events these days? Post GFC we saw a marked decline in punters having to sit - finger poised at the mouse - in hopes their broadband was fast enough to nab the hottest tickets.

Now it seems there are so many festivals you really have to disperse your personal funds wisely to ensure you don’t miss your favourite touring artists. Inthemix recently published an expose on our local club scene and the effect that festivals were having on regular punters who were finding it continually harder to get out and see their fave DJ’s of a weekend as they’d burnt the credit card a month in advance to get themselves to Parklife, Splendour in the Grass, Field Day or one of the other dynamically staged odes to hedonism.



Considering local acts are being syphoned off to support internationals for larger festivals as we saw with the latest Falls, Sunset Sounds & Southbound line-up announcements, are you sad to see Homebake go on hiatus?

Here's what Homebake Festival HQ released as an official statement:

Whilst this past weekend witnessed a state of political confusion, we concur that we've certainly had our fair share as well. That said and with such a plethora of festival announcements of late, we've decided to go against the grain and as such - after much deliberation (& some procrastination) - we here at Homebake festival HQ have decided to take a break and postpone Homebake Music, Film & Arts Festival for this year only, 2010.

As we've not been able to have the 'planets align' to a standard we feel appropriate to the long standing reputation of Australia's largest 'locals only' event, we'd rather focus on a positive future and are instead planning for a unique return version of Homebake Festival to take place during the first week of December 2011.

The intention is for Homebake to return proverbially 'bigger and better' than ever, incorporating even more facets of the antipodean arts industries & with special incentives in place for the few generations of thousands of loyal Homebake devotees whom have attended over the past 15 years.

We ask you to stay tuned for now as we commence preparations for what will be the 16th Edition -Homebake Music, Film & Arts Festival, 2011.

Huge thanks for your patience & we're looking forward to have you all join us to celebrate in 2011.

Kasabian Babies Forcing Band into Hiatus!

Normally you hear about drugs being the focus-pulling perpetrator where band dynamics are concerned - not kids - especially for the pseudo-hardcore British rockers, Kasabian. But the band are facing an open-ended hiatus due to the band’s guitarists Serge Pizzorno and Chris Edwards preferring the pitter-patter of little feet to the epic strumming of their own instruments.

Front man Tom Meighan, not ready to be a father, thankfully has his sights set on going solo:

"Serge is doing great and our bass player Chris Edwards had a baby as well. I'm the only one left without anyone but I'm not ready to be a dad. We have got the break after today mainly so the guys can see their families."

He adds, "We are a super-tight rock band and we will be back in the studio before long. I will do something musically in between. And I'm thinking of doing a TV documentary - I am just going to see what comes up." (Britain’s News of the World)

They played their last show in Essex as part of V Festival just yesterday (V Festival hasn’t been out to Australia in 2 years due to a lack of financial return from the last 2, even though they were sold out).

Meighan continues, "It will be good to bow out at V. After tonight we are taking some time off... we are going to have a proper tear-up. V is such a major festival so it's emotional for us. The gigs are great but we've worked so hard. It's the travelling that gets you. You have to look after yourself. We have been to so many countries, you forget where you are. It wears you down."

For a band that seem to have been going from strength to strength since their explosive 2004 self-titled debut to last years highly acclaimed “West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum”, the news must come as a disappointment to die-hard fans, presumably awaiting the next post-tour titles.

How do you guys feel about it? Are you excited to see what Tom comes up with on his own or just plain shattered?

Kings of Leon Shun Spots on Glee and Ugly Betty

Bassist Jared Followill (of the Followill brothers three who make up Kings of Leon) told NME in their latest issue that the band “no-dealed” offers to guest star on Ugly Betty and more recently to appear/have their music featured (destroyed) on musical high-school spoof, Glee.

Despite the boys refusal in the name of integrity, I’m sure there will be lots of original Kings of Leon fans that would subscribe to the notion that just being asked to appear one of the most mainstream pop TV series ever to bubbled brightly onto our sets, is an indication that the “selling out” may have already occurred.

There last album “Only by the Night” was exhausted internationally by mainstream radio to the point where the idea of sex producing and kind of heat brought a little bit of vomit to the back of our mouths – and that is not a healthy outcome. The album was a lot more overly produced than its predecessors “Aha Shake, Heartbreak” and “Because of the Times” (my personal fave) which toyed more with different tempos and had a raw quality about it which is what made the boys Kings or rock in the first place. It will be interesting to see how their new album “Come Around Sundown” due out this October makes waves.

Having said that, “selling out” is such an ambiguous concept these days. It is such a struggle for bands to spike their way into our airwaves and when they finally do and achieve commercial success, we muffle them out and complain how ‘music isn’t music anymore - it’s just the sound track to a good marketing proposal’. At least Kings of Leon have drawn a line in the sand, even if it should have been drawn a fair way back down the track.

What do you guys think? Did the Kings lose their crowns a long time ago or have they still got it?

Should We Pie-Face Our Politicians?

A 22 year-old woman, Ahlam M. Mohsen, is being arraigned in court today for allegedly staging a pie attack on US senator Carl Levin (I say allegedly for legal reasons, but I imagine a pie-facing either happens or it doesn’t) at the Armed Services Committee chairman’s constituent meeting in Michigan in protest against the war in Afghanistan. (msnbc.com)

It got me to thinking, in the lead up to the federal election this Saturday – perhaps a good pie in the face is a good way to really get our politicians to take notice of issues that are important to us! I for one would like to see Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard & Bob Brown lined up in a public forum with question askers allowed to arm themselves with the pie - even pasty product - of their choice and allowed to fire at will if they don’t get a substantial response. (Maybe even a dunking chamber would be appropriate?).

On the ABC’s Q & A program on Monday night one gentlemen spoke of overcoming his fears of homosexuality when he was forced to confront his own son’s sexual preferences. He put to Tony Abbott the question of when he will overcome his own fears and pass the bill to support gay marriage. Tony made the admission that every citizen should be allowed to live with dignity and respect (skimmed past equal rights) and failed to give the brave father any indication that he would ever change his mind.

I’d say that deserves a big fat pie in the face! Maybe even of the lemon meringue variety so the gooey tangy residue would sting the scratches left by the impact of its crusty white peaks.

So I put to you members of society out there – what kind of issues would you like to pie our politicians over?

Falls, Southbound & Sunset Sounds Festival Line-up Review

With many of us almost busting out of our skinny jeans this morning in anticipation for the inaugural Falls Festival and twin sisters Sunset Sounds & Southbound line-up announcements for 2010-11, I’m wondering if there will be any slightly droopy faces out there.

Obviously there are some mad Interpol fans out there (I for one can wait to hear there beautifully stretched melodies drown out the green fields at Lorne or the amphitheatre at the Botanic Gardens) and The Klaxons, soulful indie rockers The National & The Soft Pack should also draw some major interest. However, compared with last years first announcement of internationals, which included the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Grizzly Bear, The Editors, Moby and considering the ever-soaring ticket prices, I know I’ll be hanging out for second round announcements before I whip out the old credit card for yet another burn (sideshows are another matter).

The local supporting talent is without doubt the saving hero including: Angus & Julia Stone, The Middle East (although they cancelled both last years Sunset Sounds & this year's Splendour performances so let’s hope they make it this time!), Jonathan Boulet, Children Collide, Cloud Control, Boy and Bear, Tame Impala, The Jezabels (Falls only), Dan Sultan (Falls Only) & many more.

The issue is that many festival diehards have already managed to swing by the local to spy this kind of talent and it won’t warrant the extra x-hundred dollars it takes to get your arse there, as well as into a tent at night.

What are everyone else's thoughts?

Here's the full list (Note this list is just for Falls though, some acts won't be appearing at either Sunset Sounds or Southbound):

INTERPOL (USA); JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS (USA); THE NATIONAL (USA); THE LIVING END; PUBLIC ENEMY (USA); KLAXONS (UK); ANGUS AND JULIA STONE; TAME IMPALA; THE RAPTURE (USA); LADYHAWKE (NZ); COLD WAR KIDS (USA); SLEIGH BELLS (USA); PEACHES (USA); HOT HOT HEAT (CAN); PAUL KELLY; ASH GRUNWALD; CHILDREN COLLIDE; THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS; THE SOFT PACK (USA); DAN SULTAN; THE MORNING BENDERS (USA); THE COOL KIDS (USA); JUNIP (SWE); KITTY, DAISY AND LEWIS (UK) MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS (UK); THE MIDDLE EAST; CLOUD CONTROL; YACHT CLUB DJs; WASHINGTON; BOY AND BEAR; SALLY SELTMANN; THE BAMBOOS; TIJUANA CARTEL; A-TRAK (CAN); EDAN THE DEE-JAY (USA) Vampire Weekend's CHRIS BAIO (USA); BEARDYMAN (UK); THE CUBAN BROTHERS (UK); WORLD'S END PRESS; CASIOKIDS (NOR); DAN KELLY; DAARA J FAMILY (AFR); JAMAICA (FRA); CHARLIE PARR; JONATHAN BOULET; THE JEZABELS; BIG SCARY; LAST DINOSAURS; SAMPOLOGY; EAGLE AND THE WORM; JINJA SAFARI; TIM AND JEAN; THE PUBLIC OPINION AFRO ORCHESTRA.

No pay day for M.I.A.? Bamboo Banga!

M.I.A. might not get paid for her headline appearance at the Big Chill Festival in Herefordshire in England because she invited punters on stage mid-chorus of “Paper Planes”.

Over 200 crazed fans jumped the stage in an effort to grind it with the hip-hop queen, known almost as much for her extrovert dance moves as she is for her outlandish multi-coloured costumes. Apparently the invitation breached the terms of her contract and festival organisers legally have the right to deny her payment for the gig.

A source told the Daily Star, "By inviting the audience on stage M.I.A. was in breach of her contract. The organizers don't have to pay her anything if they feel she endangered people; it's all there in black and white."

As to whether they will is another matter. There are obviously promoters, managers and record companies that you wouldn’t want to get offside being a festival organiser. It is interesting to note that she did the same thing at the Good Vibrations Festival Australia wide back in 2008 and there were no issues! Surely they would have known it was part of her act?

What do you guys think, should we all chill out a bit – are festivals and concerts being over policed these days?

Kate Moss to Release her own Jam Line

When I first read this news I imagined 'Jam' was the name for her new TopShop collection, but alas no, Kate Moss is actually releasing a line of the sugar infused fruity spread entitled "Kate’s Damson Jam".

"It started as a hobby, but she's taking it a lot more seriously after glowing feedback from friends and family. She's hoping her plum conserve will be a hit with the public." A reliable (unnamed) source told the Sun.

She has been discussing distribution with TopShop’s Sir Philip Green, and considering the massive chain store has its own confectionary section – it could well be the perfect fit!

Is anyone thinking what I’m thinking…who is taste testing the stuff?

Foals - This Orient

Can't get enough of this track...

Gaga Goes Naked for Vanity Fair Cover – What’s Left to See?

Once you’ve taken all of your clothes for a music video it’s hard to imagine that there would be any further one could go – as it turns, out there is - the cover of Vanity Fair! Lady Gaga posed nude, flashing a peace sign with some very 70’s styled (and well placed) tussled blonde locks.

In an interview for the magazines September Issue, she admits she abstains from having sex (or so she says) to keep her creative juices flowing.
“I have this weird thing that if I sleep with someone, they’re going to take my creativity from me ...” she says.

If Gaga’s creativity equates to removing your clothing in public then how is removing your clothing in the bedroom going to hinder it? (she could use it as rehearsal time)

It all sounds a little bit contrived to me. Do you think Gaga has developed this outward facade to such an extent that she has forgotten who she really is? Every action seems to be so pre-meditated, you have to wonder whether she has any fun any more!