The Very Good Agency

Rise Festival – Melbourne Sunday

This Sunday in Melbourne marks the official launch of the Rise Refugee organisation in Fed Square.

In their own words:

“RISE (Refugees, Survivors & Ex-Detainees) will be holding their first multicultural arts and dance festival in Melbourne. The festival has an amazing line up of singers, musicians, comedians, break dancing, DJs, Fashions and so much more! Acts will include rap, funk reggae, hip hop amongst other musical styles

The event will be hosted by Aamer Rahman and Nazeem Hussain, the creators of the critically acclaimed standup comedy show FEAR OF A BROWN PLANET which was awarded the Melbourne International Comedy Festival – Best Newcomer Award.

From African Gospel to Brazilian Capoeria, this showcase of young talent is an expression of the vast experience and cultural assets within the ethnic community.

RISE aspires to address issues of social isolation, identity and inequity by creating a safe place for young people and practicing social inclusion, trust, generosity and respect.

Come along and join us in our celebration of cultural diversity and to officially launch our organisation.”

Performing at 6pm will be Very Good’s own Pataphysics with full band

Date: Sunday, May 23, 2010

Time: 3:00pm – 6:00pm

Location: Federation Square (BMW Edge)

Limited seats available, arrive early to secure your spot!

Media Contacts:- Sally Saadeldin, Reem Mussa or Nawal Ali (03 9639 8623)

For more information, contact info@riserefugee.org

Make a donation:

RISE is a Tax deductible organization and your support help us to build the community in Victoria. To make a donation to RISE contact admin@riserefugee.org

ABN :- 83 916 539 886

Ph: – (03) 9639 8623

Fax: – (03) 9650 3689

Tags: Comedy, Funk, gigs, hip hop, Political

Space Invadas Launch Soul-Fi Tour

Kicking off next Thursday (22nd April) is the Space Invadas Launch tour, hitting 5 Australian city’s for a series of one off shows. Along for the ride will be special guests Koolism making for a double header of some strong Australian hip hop crossover artists.

We spoke to half of Space Invadas (Katalyst) not so long ago when he was gearing up for these shows with partner Steve Spacek and their live band / vocalists… well it’s finally here so check it out people…

Space Invadas feat. Buff 1 and RuC.L

Enjoy

…bs

Tags: Australian Artists, Funk, gigs, hip hop, Soul

Olmecha Supreme VS Pataphysics kicks off

It’s finally time to kick off the Olmecha Supreme VS Pataphysics tour this Thursday December 3rd in Canberra!

So excited were the artists that they went out an bought themselves tickets for the show only to learn that as performers they get in for free! So as not to waste these tickets the bands asked Very Good if there were any people in Australia who might want their double passes to enjoy one of the shows they are playing around Australia?

Olmecha Supreme Live at De La Soul Wellington New Zealand

If you would like to enter the draw to take them up on their offer email your name and city to vg@verygood.com.au with the subject line ‘community’.

TOUR INFORMATION:

ANU Bar Canberra, Dec 3rd w special guests TBA Tickets are at Ticketek

Beach Rd Bondi, Dec 4th w Laneous and the Family Yah and DJ Mike Who

Gaelic Club Sydney, Dec 5th w Budspells and DJ JC – Tickets will be on sale at Moshtix

The National Hotel Geelong, Dec 11th w special guests TBA Tickets at Oztix

First Floor Melbourne, Dec 12th w Kano and Guests – Tickets at Moshtix

Great Northern Hotel Byron, Dec 17th w special guests TBA tickets will be on sale at Oztix

Cooly Hotel Gold Coast, Dec 18th w special guests TBA tickets on sale Oztix

The Hi-Fi Brisbane, Dec 20th w special guests TBA Tickets on sale The Hifi

Ruby’s Belgrave, Dec 16th w special guests TBA  Tickets on sale at Moshtix.

Olmecha Supreme play The Woodford Folk Festival Dec 30th

See you there!

Tags: Australian Artists, Funk, gigs, hip hop, New Zealand Artists, Soul

Departure Lounge In Session

If you’re a regular reader of this site or just had a flick back through some of our old posts, you may have noticed a bit of info on our very good friend (see ‘Artists‘ link above) O.G (A.K.A Oakley Grenell).  A man with many musical/creative talents that always seems to have a few different projects on the go. Recently one of his bands Departure Lounge (a mix of Christchurch musical ‘Allstars’) released  their second album “In Session” and have been doing some touring in New Zealand to celebrate.  So to keep our readers in the loop I thought I’d add this info from a recent press release:

“They are some of Christchurch’s top players, featuring six musicians with a reputation for excellence in search of the good groove.

Departure Lounge will release their second album In Session on November 3, serving up ten crisp musical biscuits of psychedelic groove. “In Session” captures Departure Lounge‘s solid reputation for soulful, mood-swinging melodies and a dynamic live performance that is a must-see for fans of progressive music.

It was, after all, a celebrated live performance that initiated the journey of Departure Lounge when Grenell collected some of Christchurch’s best jazz musicians for the 2005 Christchurch International Jazz Festival – a performance that was so electrifying that the recording was released as their first album a year later, Departure Lounge – Live.

The line-up is led by Grenell on guitar, who released his solo album Moving On in 2008 to critical success, and features drummer Nick Gaffaney (Cairo Knife Fight, Golden Horse), bassist Johnny Lawrence (Solaa), Cameron Pearce on trumpet (head of Chch Jazz School), saxophonist Chris Burke, pianist Darren Pickering, and the percussion duo of Sum Suraweera and Kurt  Dyer (Solaa).

Joining the band as guests on the album are vocalists Mara TK (Electric Wire Hustle), soul star in-the-making Mark Vanilau, and new recruit Roslen Langton (LA Mitchell). In Session was mixed by electronica pioneer The Nomad at his Fresh Produce studio in Melbourne, mastered by Grammy winner George Lambert of Massive Masters in the UK, and will be distributed by Border music in NZ. This will be Grenells seventh album released on his independent record label Central Records based in Christchurch.

It all adds up to an album with a damn-good groove from this exceptionally talented group of musicians!

Clip of Oakley playing Live on RDU:

…Yossarian

Tags: Funk, Jazz, lounge, New Zealand Artists, Soul

Tahuna Breaks – Black Brown & White

Since their beginnings in January 2005, Tahuna Breaks have always been a band built upon a simple philosophy- the love of music. With an open mind and an adventurous spirit, unafraid to mix genres and musical stylings- their ‘anything goes’ and sometimes unconventional approach is governed only by two criteria: passion and energy.

In the two years since the release of their last album ‘Reflections’, the laid-back party starters from New Zealand have been busy touring, writing and recording. The 8-piece band are pleased to announce that their new tunes are ready for public ears by way of their new album.

“Black Brown and White” was recorded in December 08 with the infamous Dr Lee Preeble at the Surgery Studio in Wellington and features 13-tracks in true Tahuna Breaks style – a diverse mix of soul, funk, blues, roots & reggae.

The lifeblood of this band is live performance and it is from countless live gigs and tours that they have crafted their own brand of roots reggae, funk, soul and good old fashioned rock and roll!

If you haven’t already seen or heard of these funky cats, give them a listen and look out for them next time they are touring near you!

Links to follow up:

The offical site

Their myspace page

…Yossarian

[Info gathered from press releases]

Tags: Funk, New Zealand Artists, Press Releases, Reggae, Soul