fuse festival 2012
Source: Kate Fabbian, Fuse Festival & Chrissie Vincent Publicity
Fuse Festival is South Australia's preeminent music industry conference and showcase, taking place in February of each year. This article will be regularly updated with Fuse Festival news on the LIVE MUSIC PROGRAM, so watch this space for more announcements coming soon. For conference news, see this separate article >>
FUSE LIVE MUSIC PROGRAM NEWS:
latest news: unearthed fuse winner announced
Updated: 2 February 2012
Fuse Festival 2012 will once again be closing with the main showcase on Friday 24th Feburary. This year’s event is proudly being sponsored by APRA and will be coinciding with the opening of The Adelaide Fringe Festival. APRA Presents: Fuse@Fringe plays host to a hand picked line up of export ready Australian acts, this year including Mission In Motion, Glass Towers, Sincerely Grizzly, Es Ist Super, The Shaolin Afronauts, Marcus Corowa & Goldbloom.
Adding to the already impressive line up the Triple J Unearthed team announced this years Unearthed Fuse Winners – Victorian two piece fuzz garage band Them Swoops. Hailing from Melbourne they will get a chance to showcase their blissfully dreamy pop songs. Them Swoops started out in 2011 as a three piece but drummer Adam had long standing arrangements to leave the country indefinitely, so they are now functioning as a two piece, enlisting some amazing friends to help flesh out the live shows. Working with local producers recording and mixing in underground backyard and warehouse studios, Them Swoops new EP is due for release mid 2012.
For details on the rest of the lineup, see the announcement below.
APRA Fuse @ Fringe
Rymill Park – Bartells Road Adelaide
8pm – 1.00am
$5 entry on the gate
coopers presents: fuse east & west 2012 showcases
Updated: 2 February 2012
Fuse Festival 2012 is once again bringing the best of up and coming musicians nationally to perform at Australia’s longest running music conference. This year Coopers Presents: FUSE East & FUSE West showcases, giving bands across all genres a chance to perform in front of some of Australia’s most highly regarded music industry folk and international delegates over the three-day conference.
FUSE East, Wednesday 22nd takes place in venues across the eastern side of the city and FUSE West, on Thursday 23rd will then see the music community move to the western side of the city taking over more than 10 venues. Coopers Presents: FUSE East & West gigs are open to the public and offer free entry, making it easy and accessible to see some of Australia’s hottest talent.
FUSE East will bring you live sets from an eclectic selection of bands and acts including the following bands from around the country:-
Howl At The Moon (Vic) their live show will stop you in your tracks, absorbed by squalls of songs that are played with tireless commitment and passion. The band has just finished their debut album capturing songs with an essence of a band in the making. They set out to open up the songs and let the stories and perspectives contained within dictate the scope of the album, which has resulted the song-writing being showcased and augmented beautifully by the band’s arrangements. The first single off the album is due for release in March.
Crown & Anchor | 11pm
Sietta (NT) coming all the way from the Northern Territory are an electronic soul duo from Darwin, made up of producer/instrumentalist James Mangohig and vocalist Caiti Bake. The sheer strength and texture of Caiti’s voice could easily be taken down a pop path, but Sietta felt at home in the depths of menacing electronic bass and drums, where beauty doesn’t mean picture-perfect; and lightness is never as illuminating as it is in blinding darkness. The band released their debut album ‘The Seventh Passenger’ and has toured with the likes of Lowrider and Illy, in March they will be supporting Hermitude on their national tour. Sugar | 11-30 pm
Epidemic…Over (QLD) are a passionate, hits-you-right-in-the-heart alternative rock band from Queensland, Australia – soaring vocals to sing along with, a rhythm section to die for and delay-drenched and distorted guitar riffs to lose yourself in make them an unquestionably formidable sonic force to be reckoned with. Jade Monkey | 12-00 am
Melbourne outfit Red Ink (Vic) made a true rock star entrance on the Australian music scene, already having played shows alongside Biffy Clyro (US), Miami Horror and British India (to name a few). Their loud hook-laden rock is hard to ignore with the band spending most of 2011 out on the road, playing headline shows and festivals around the country. They also joined the national Rock The Schools tour throughout June and July and played to over 25,000 kids. Fast forward 2012 and Red Ink will release a new single and be hitting the road playing a bunch of shows including Melbourne’s biggest all age festival Push Over. Tuxedo Cat Stage 1 | 12-00 am
Sydney singer-songwriter Catherine Traicos (NSW) ability to combine surprising arrangements, her delicate smoky voice and brilliant live performances have seen her compared to everyone from Gillian Welch & Cat Power to eels and Cowboy Junkies. Catherine’s new album, “Gloriosa”, produced by 5 time ARIA award winner, Paul McKercher and recorded for the first time with her full band, the Starry Night, has already been described as reaching “true masterpiece status”. Arcade Lane | 9-30 pm
Kristina Miltiadou’s (Vic) music is a subtly blended and crossbred magical beast that really has the ability to transport you in and out of genres, styles and beautiful, ephemeral moments. With years of experience of loving and living music, Kristina now has the skills to combine influences as diverse as Lykke Li, Sia, The Swell Season, Kanye West, Destiny’s Child, Arcade Fire, Kate Nash, Lily Allen, The Dirty Projectors, funk, pop, blues, soul and traditional Greek music. Kristina’s live show incorporates stunning musicianship that is so clearly conveyed, leaving you overtaken by her addictive hooks, fine-tuned harmonies or infectiously sexy beats. Kristina’s debut single is due later this year, so come dance with Kristina Miltiadou when she showcases her music and see something just a little different for a live show. Arcade Lane | 8-30 pm
FUSE West will also feature a diverse selection of bands from around the country in venuesacross the western side of the city including:
Winter People (NSW) - Winter People were born into tradition, but raised on distortion pedals and amplifiers. This six-piece, boasting no fewer than 2 violin players and 5 vocalists, do not offer standard ‘indie’ fare, instead insist on reaching for something more grandiose and emotional. Winter People are based in Sydney but you won’t find it easy to pigeon-hole the band into any particular hipster movement. Winter People are timeless. Nexus | 9-30 pm
Patient Little Sister (WA) -Over a long weary summer Eliza and James Rogers, a once typically squabbling brother and sister duo decided to dabble in being a musical duo called Patient Little Sister. With a few cracking shows already under their belts and some very fine recordings with help from the very strapping and talented Corey Marriott, Patient Little Sister will become something to get a little bit excited about. The Metropolitan | 11-30 pm
Hailing from Newcastle, the new fish in town The Guppies (NSW) combine guitar, vocals, drums and bass to create an individual sound that even Dori couldn’t forget. The band started in the depths of a suburban garage with influences such as The Vines, Nirvana, Joy Division & Wavves. This happy-go-lucky trio of merry men with an average age of 16 entered Triple J’s Unearthed High in 2011 and saw them become finalists earning them spins on Triple J. The band are currently in the studio recording some newstracks that are guaranteed to burst your eardrums.
Jive | 11:30 pm
After riding a two year wave flaunt with both national and International tours, high-profile supports including the DRUMS, The Living End, The Wombats, British India, Children Collide & The Grates, Adelaide indie rock band The Shiny Brights (SA) returned to the studio in late 2011 retreating to the remote wilderness with producer Paul "Woody" Annison (Children Collide) who produced their hook laden fast paced single ‘Blue Toes’. This is a hometown band not to miss.
Jive | 11-30 pm
Move To Strike (SA) is a rock band from Adelaide, who has fast become one of South Australia’s premier acts. The bands original sound added with their unforgettable live show has seen them grace the stage with many established international and national heavy weights. Move To Strike is something not to be missed. Enigma Stage 2 | 12-30 am
Rainy Day Woman (WA) Fronted by singer songwriter Dylan Ollivierre are a young 5-piece pop-rock outfit from Perth, whose influences range from Fleetwood Mac to Foo Fighters. Forming in mid 2011, the band have been quick to enjoy success with both their debut single ‘If’ and current single ‘Sleigh Bed’ garnering attention at radio nationwide, including Triple J, 4ZZZ, Triple R, 3PBS and RTRfm. Worldsend | 11-00 pm
Within the Coopers Fuse West showcase, Carclew Youth Arts has hand-picked three of Adelaide’s most promising original artists for a special Off The Couch showcase celebrating the national SLAM (Save Live Australian Music) day campaign. Fuse and Off the Couch are excited to host the South Australian arm of the National SLAM day initiative about drawing awareness to the crucial role that small venues play in cultivating and nurturing a musician’s career.
Wednesday 22nd February – Fuse East Venues – Arcade Lane, The Exeter, The Uni Bar, Sugar, Crown & Anchor, Tuxedo Cat & Jade Monkey.
Thursday 23rd February – Higher Ground, The Metropolitan, Engima Bar, Casablabla, Cuckoo, Worldsend, Nexus, Jive, Fowlers & Ed Castle.
For a complete list of acts playing at Fuse East and Fuse West, check out the official Fuse website: www.fusefestival.com
announcement: apra fuse @ fringe stage
Updated: 25 January 2012
For the second year running the main showcase event for the FUSE Festival will coincide with the opening night celebrations of the Adelaide Fringe Festival at Rymill Park on Friday, February 24th.
This year presented by APRA, the FUSE @ Fringe stage in Rymill Park will come alive with the diverse sounds of a select line-up of musical acts, featuring a handful of ‘export-ready’ bands from across the country.
As the sun sets, the Adelaide Fringe parade with a cast of thousands, led by our alternative King and Queen of the Fringe head down the streets of the east end and into the gorgeous surrounds of Rymill Park to a magically lit wonderland of entertainment. As part of opening night celebrations for Fringe festival, The FUSE @ Fringe show in Rymill Park will be an easy $5 at the gate for 5 hours of music.
FUSE @ Fringe showcases the best of Australia’s up and coming acts from 8.00pm till 1.00am, including:
Mission In Motion (NSW)
The Shaolin Afronauts (SA)
Glass Towers (NSW)
Sincerely Grizzly (SA)
Est is Super (SA)
Marcus Corowa (QLD)
Gold Bloom (SA)
Triple J Unearthed Winner (Announced 2 February: Them Swoops (VIC))
In six short months Adelaide post-rock harem Gold Bloom (SA) have carved a niche as one of the city’s most exciting new acts. Marrying backgrounds in folk, prog and dream pop their blend of knotty garage rock and gorgeous female harmonies has enchanted local audiences, provoked howls of glee from Triple J Unearthed and seen the four-piece play an enviable run of shows with Cloud Control, Howling Bells and Leader Cheetah.
Marcus Corowa (QLD) is a singer/songwriter and musician of Aboriginal and South SeaIslander descent from Brisbane. 2010 saw Marcus start to receive wide recognition for his songwriting, being named a finalist in Queensland’s premier songwriting Awards – the Q Song Awards in the Indigenous Category. His stunning voice and songwriting ability is gaining interest across the industry with the recent release of his debut EP ‘The Greater You’.
Forming in mid 2011, Adelaide indie/electronic four piece, Es Ist Super (SA) kicked off with what can only be described as a dream run with their debut live show creating a buzz that quickly lead to them supporting national and international touring bands like Mitzi and Does it Offend You Yeah? With the initial burst of live shows under their belt, theband focused their attention to creating a sound they can call their own, leading to the aptly titled debut single 'Perfect Summer', a exciting sun drenched mix of indie dance and chill-wave. With the release of the single on the horizon along with more great supports lined up (with the likes of NeonIndian, no less) Es Ist Super look set to continue their rise.
Joshua Calligeros, Griffin Farley and Rowan Mount met for the first time when they discovered their mutual appreciation of A Very Gregorian Christmas and hence decided to start a joint musical venture. Donning themselves the moniker Sincerely, Grizzly (SA) in honour of a young brown bear who took his own life amongst the political unrest of the Arab Spring,they relocated to Adelaide to play a brand of what can only be described asliterature rock. Recently the band were hand-picked to support Trail of Dead (US) in Melbourne and after a long silence they are releasing a two-track single ‘21snakes&ladders’ in January 2012 which will see the band as an emerging presence in the Australian music scene.
Sydney band Glass Towers (NSW) have gone from strength to strength since their formation in 2008. The past couple ofyears have seen the band record with ARIA Award winning producer Wayne Connolly, tour with the legendary Neil Finn and shared the stage with Cloud Control, Tame Impala, Children Collide, Hungry Kids of Hungry, The Vaco Era and many more. The band’s brand new single ‘Jumanji’ released Feb 3rd screams of breezy tropical chords, smart snappy guitar interplay and epic soaring choruses and is the first blissful taste of the band’s forthcoming debut album to be released later this year.
The mysterious afro-soul of The Shaolin Afronauts (SA) first echoed across the dance floors of Australia in 2008, heavily inspired by the sounds of 1970’s West Africa, Ethiopia and the pioneering avant-garde jazz artists of the same period. The Shaolin Afronaut’s critically acclaimed debut album, Flight of the Ancients, released in 2011, was nominated for ‘best world music album’ at the 2011 ARIA awards.
Mission in Motion (NSW) are preparing to release their much anticipated debut album “Somewhere Safe” in which the old adage of what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger is reflected in the bands debut. Comprising of front manBrett Islaub, Chris Maguire (guitar & vocals), Kent Griffiths (guitar & vocals), Rohan Welsh (bass) and Lachlan Gray (drums) the quintet havealready established themselves in the Australian musical landscape as one ofthe most promising acts on the EMO scene.
special news: fuse festival to host national slam day
Updated: 7 December 2011
Fuse Festival, South Australia’s biggest independent music conference is excited to host the Adelaide arm of the National SLAM (Save Live Australian Music) day campaign.
On February 23rd, the anniversary of the first and very successful SLAM rally in Melbourne, the country will celebrate National SLAM day. In Adelaide, in association with the Fuse Festival, up to 10 of South Australia’s hottest live music venues will represent National SLAM day by doing what they do best; hosting the hottest unearthed live Australian music acts.
“What we expect to achieve is that on SLAM Day the music loving community will have one day a year where they give time to contemplate what live music means tothem. What we hope to achieve is that with a united community, industry andmedia focus on live music and we create a greater momentum towards enhancing Australia's live music legacy. What we dream of achieving as long term goals is a greater standard of venue with artist and community engagement raised to new levels, better standards of support and conditions for live music artists, and most importantly a raising of public perception of the true value 1- that live music brings to our society and 2- the worth of live music in economic terms so that a more realistic remuneration can be achieved, for the most important people in the scheme of things, the practitioners/ artists.” Quincy McLean - SLAM
February 23rd 2010, the SLAM rally saw 20,000 people march through Melbourne to the tune of AC/DC’s definitive ‘Long Way to the Top', in protest against the Victorian Government’s misguided policy link between live music and violence. The SLAM rally was the largest cultural protest in Australia’s history. Now all of Australia has the opportunity to participate in a national event that celebrates our local musicians in our small venues.
So, on Thursday 23rd February 2012, support your local artists and venues by getting out and experiencing the spontaneous excitement and intimacy you can only get at a small live music venue.
“Small venues were my university.”- Paul Kelly, SLAM Rally Speech
Taking place from 22-24 February, Fuse Festival is an absolute must for anyone serious about forging a career in the music industry. Held over three days and nights, Fuse provides outstanding networking opportunities within the local and national music industry. More information on Fuse to be announced soon!
Artist registrations for Coopers FUSE East and West close December 16th via Sonicbids http://www.sonicbids.com/FuseFestival2012
