spotlight artists
Get a fun insight into local personalities! Music SA turns the spotlight on selected acts, as they us everything from their proudest achievement & secret talent, to the best (and worst) thing about being an SA musician.
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noni espinosa from expresiones
Genre: Latino, Reggae, Rock, Roots, World Published 10 August 2010 |
*Role in the band: Lead singer, guitarist and all other string instruments
*My music in 20 words or less: Latin American traditional music mix with funk, reggae, rock, roots and all.
*Proudest Band Achievement: Walking into the last Victor Harbour [folk fest] ever as a nobody and walking out as the second best selling artist behind things of Things of Stone and Wood.
*Secret Talent: speaks Spanglish (hybrid of Spanish and English) if don't know both languages fluently you are a fish out of water.
*Fondest Gig Memory: Being the first Latin American band to play an all original set at SCALA.
*Dream Support: Inti-illimani, Ozomatli, Molotov, Nano Stern
*Best thing about being an SA musician: You can jam with the best song writers in SA and every one wants to listen to each others work, no matter how big or good you are.
*Worst thing about being an SA musician: Not enough venues for world music. Really what's the deal with that!
*Lovin' which local Venue(s): Nexus, The Gov, The Promethean, The Cranker and quite a few more
*Fave Local Acts: Courtney Robb, The Timbers, Caramigo, The Rowdy Neighbours, Corey Stewart, Ria Loof, Fruit,
*Industry Hero: FRUIT, they should do a doco on them.
*Current album: In the conceptual process.
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joe man murphy
Genre: Acoustic, Alt. Country, Blues, Roots Published 18 May 2010 |
*Role in the band: There is just me! Singer, Guitarist, Stomp, Harmonica and Songwriter
*My music in 20 words or less: Futuristic sing along swamp Blues!
*Proudest Band Achievement: Playing to a packed Wheatsheaf Hotel last year on my Movin Up EP launch
*Secret Talent: Piano one day hopefully!!
*Fondest Gig Memory: Playing to a crowd of crazy Irish party animals in Blackrock in Dublin. Can be hard to sing when the crowd are singing louder than you!!
*Dream Support: White Stripes, Coldplay, Xavier Rudd
*Best thing about being an SA musician: There is a strong scene of very dedicated musicians in Adelaide who push themselves constantly in a relatively quiet city.
*Worst thing about being an SA musician: Most of the venues have no customers unless you bring everyone with you.
*Lovin' which local Venue(s): The Wheatsheaf is always fantastic to play. people go there just to hear good music.
*Fave Local Acts: Simon Peter , Jackson Firebird, The Beards , Cal Williams Jnr
*Industry Hero: Corey Stewart; no one works harder around the Adelaide music scene than Corey. He helps out many musicians on the local scene with his work in the open mic nights.
*Current album: Working on it. Its going to be a stompin' album when finished.
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simon from the timbers
Genre: Acoustic, Folk, Roots Published 27 April 2010 |
*Role in the band: lead singer, songwriter, rhythm guitarist, foot bass pedals
*Your music in 20 words or less: high energy gritty alternative folk
*Proudest Band Achievement: Summer Cherry Festival (2010) Adelaide Fringe Festival Shows (2010)
*Secret Talent: multitasking with instruments
*Fondest Gig Memory: The silent, attentive and overwhelmingly appreciative crowd at our Fringe Festival Show Shelter - An Eric Bogle Tribute.
*Dream Support: The Pogues, Mumford and Sons, The Mountain Goats
*Best thing about being an SA musician: There are so many top quality acts in Adelaide that are so nice and supportive of each other. Most venues are run by good people who are willing to give you a go. There are also some great open mic nights here and SCALA is a good organisation to help kick start a career.
*Worst thing about being an SA musician: Nothing major really. I have lived interstate playing music and Adelaide is great. Honestly! Maybe if more bands went out and supported each other we’d all be better off.
*Lovin' which local Venue(s): Grace Emily, Wheatsheaf , Governor Hindmarsh , Komodo, Higher Ground, Church of the Trinity
*Fave Local Acts: little HEFTY, Emily Davis , Todd Sibbin, The Fridays , Cal Williams Jr , Mary Webb , Courtney Robb, Simon Peter , Matt Reiner...and heaps more
*Industry Hero: Clanger for giving new unknown bands a go. Eric Bogle a local living songwriting legend.
*Current album: 3 track sampler out now...Album on the way
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kelly from the fridays
Genre: Acoustic, Rock, Roots Published 20 April 2010 |
*Role in the band: Vocals/Guitar
*Your music in 20 words or less: feral folk/rock at its best…promoting our philosophy of “no bullshit, more beer”.
*Proudest Band Achievement: Feast Festival’s closing party ‘Picnic in the Park’ 2009.
*Secret Talent: ability to talk bullshit….second to none
*Fondest Gig Memory: conversations in Port Pirie with a homeless looking man showing us his false teeth…definitely an experience to remember
*Dream Support: Ani DiFranco , The Waifs or Bonnie Raitt
*Best thing about being an SA musician: The overwhelming support from bands and artists that have gone before us and constantly help us out
*Worst thing about being an SA musician: pulling a crowd in winter
*Lovin' which local Venue(s): The Wheaty , The Crown and Anchor and The Gov
*Fave Local Acts: The Timbers , Emily Davis , Kelly Menhennett, Fallen Sunrise
*Industry Hero: Mel Watson…for inspiring us to do what we do...and helping us out along the way and Chelsea Sinnott...what a champ!
*Current album: we’re in the process of recording our debut EP, due for release late 2010…keep an eye out
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andy salvanos
Genre: Folk, Lyrical, Solo instrumental Published 9 February 2010 Go to the Andy Salvanos Artist Page >> |
*Role in the band: Doing everything myself and loving it.
*My music in 20 words or less: Instrumental.
*Proudest Band Achievement: Supporting my family by playing original music since 2007 and my album "Closer" being nominated for a JPF Award.
*Secret Talent: Can't tell you, but it involves a lot of finger twiddling...
*Fondest Gig Memory: My solo set at 2008 Adelaide Guitar Festival with Adrian Belew in the audience. Opening for Long John Baldry at The Gov (with JBE). Performing "The Tracker" with Archie Roach at Her Majesty's and The Melbourne Concert Hall. Also being in the house band "Critical Condition" at Molly Malone's on Fairfax in Hollywood for about 2 years.. a long time ago!
*Dream Support: Kate Bush.
*Best thing about being an SA musician: Once you develop a fan base people here tend to be very loyal and supportive. I found the same thing back in the '90s when I was playing bass with JBE. Also living in the Adelaide hills; it's like a hotbed of musical talent up here.
*Worst thing about being an SA musician: I bypass most of the negatives by making my own gigs. This is the age of independence, people! I used to have a problem with "so and so" getting gigs at Womad even though they were a mellow country band, but you just have to accept that the industry works a certain way. That's why I chose to work outside of its perimeters most of the time. It works for me, but sadly not everyone will sell 5000 CDs a year doing what I do.
*Lovin' which local Venue(s): I like the Trinity on Goodwood Rd. Old churches make great venues. I generally prefer places where people sit down and focus on the music, both as a performer and listener.
*Fave Local Acts: Adelaide's too small to play that game, but I'll say that Tim Bennett is as good a young bass player as I've heard anywhere, and his brother Josh is a massive talent on about 30 other instruments!
*Industry Hero: Guitarist and instrument builder Rob Allen. A former band mate of mine in LA, Rob had a profound effect on me in terms of understanding the level of commitment and professionalism it takes to be a top muso. And more importantly, he showed me that you can walk away from it and find another path.
*Current album: "Morn's Landing" - it's a more electronic take on my material. I think it will appeal to a new audience as well as my regular listeners.
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kaliah from the neverbells
Genre: Folk, Pop Published 18 January 2010 |
*Role in the band: Singer
*Your music in 20 words or less: Pop/folk blues with a tendency to play some rock and alt country. Honest, original, happy, melodic music.
*Proudest Band Achievement: The soon to be released debut EP 'Dreamland'
*Secret Talent: Egg shaker during band rehearsal (too scared to play it live)
*Fondest Gig Memory: Our first gig at Higher Ground Art Cafe where we discovered ourselves to be a great live act.
*Dream Support: Angus and Julia Stone
*Best thing about being an SA musician: Parking easily outside the venues
*Worst thing about being an SA musician: Not enough venues to park outside
*Lovin' which local Venue(s): The Grace Emily Hotel, The Wheatsheaf , The Gov , Jade Monkey , The Exeter and Jive .
*Fave Local Acts: Hills and Trains , Delia , The British Robots , The Hiptones , Ambush Marketing , Jade Remedy, Happy Sometimes , The Yearlings , The Baker Suite .
*Industry Hero: Corey Hosking from Chapel Lane Studios.
*Current album: 'Dreamland' EP
