Music Victoria presents Off the Beaten Track Regional Tour and Workshops
There’s music out there. Out where? In the halls, clubs, RSLs, wineries, footy grounds and even a renovated substation.
Music Victoria, in conjunction with anti-binge drinking campaign Live Solution, celebrates Victoria’s great live music in non-traditional venues in the inaugural Off the Beaten Track tour across regional and metro Victoria.
The tour features two of the state’s favourite regionally-born bands, Mick Thomas and the Roving Commission andSal Kimber and the Rollin’ Wheel. They will perform their much-loved roots driven contemporary rock’n’roll as well as presenting free practical professional development workshops on touring before four of the shows.
The initiative was devised by Music Victoria, the peak body for contemporary music, in response to feedback from singer songwriters and regional fans who said they wanted to tell and experience Australian stories and songs in a more intimate environment.
Music Victoria plans to make it an annual event, working with regional promoters to help strengthen the regional touring circuit.
This tour will be a breath of fresh country air for musicians and fans alike who will revel in these new, inspired environments.
It’s time to head Off the Beaten Track!
Scroll down for full tour dates:
About Music Victoria: Music Victoria is the not-for-profit music industry peak body for Victoria; an independent organization to support and represent the Victorian contemporary music community across all genres.
As a strong, progressive and independent voice, Music Victoria creates opportunities for legions of musicians, venues, industry workers and music lovers with initiatives and research; professional development workshops; and support for metro and regional venues to host live music.
About the workshops: Musicians Mick Thomas, Sal Kimber, and drummer and booking agent Cat Leahy will explain all of the facets that go into putting on a show – wherever it may be! These practical workshops will run for 90 minutes at the venues before the gigs and you’ll get to see the second half of soundcheck from Mick and Sal. Even better, the workshops are free. Learn how to book and promote shows; what you need to know when dealing with venues; how to organise staff, licences and insurance; money matters – selling tickets, realistic budgets, payments and invoices; organise merchandise; and other tips and tricks for putting on a successful gig
About Live Solution: Live Solution is all about the advantages of having a truly memorable night out with friends, without massively pre-loading before hitting the drinks at the gig. And it’s about waking up the next morning, without a hangover, and hugging a sensational social day with great mates.
SAL KIMBER
“This is Australiana-soaked alt-country at its finest” – Rolling Stone Magazine
Sal Kimber is one of Australia’s most exciting emerging singer-songwriters. Based in inner Melbourne, Kimber has been quietly stealing hearts on the city’s live music scene for the past five years. But it was in 2008 that she really found her niche by forming alt-country band Sal Kimber & The Rollin’ Wheel (with older sister Beth Kimber, Jacob Cole, Cat Leahy and Trent McKenzie).
The band’s highly anticipated self-titled album will be released on October 14 and was produced by Shane O’Mara (Tim Rogers, The Audreys) at his studio, Yikesville. The 13-song collection showcases the band’s diversity with debut single ‘Beat Gets Louder’ leading the charge with its sexy jazz undertones followed by the pop-hook laced second single ‘Do Right’. Sparse, quietly emotional ballads (‘Your Town’, ‘Got You’) sit perfectly alongside classic alt-country rock-outs (‘Fast Train’, ‘Be Alright’) as the Rollin’ Wheel twists and turns but never strays off course – much like the rivers and roads Kimber often writes about.
Originally hailing from the mountain valleys of rural Victoria, Sal Kimber grew up in a musical family, and discovered her passion for song writing at an early age. Her unique style has captured a strong following and garnered awards including the APRA Darebin Songwriting Award (2007) and the Victorian Female Vocalist of the Year Award at the Victorian & National Country Music Awards (2010).
“I’ve written music for as long as I can remember; my dad nurtured in me a love of storytelling and taught me about the real craft of building a song. When the band came together it really took things to another level for me creatively; Jacob co-wrote half of this album with me, and the songs were fine-tuned by playing them live. As a result, I think you can feel that dynamic full-band sound and energy in these tunes, even the quieter ballads.” Kimber said.
MICK THOMAS
“… he is Australia’s last true balladeer…”
DJ, Forte Magazine, Geelong (talking about Dust On My Shoes)
“Mick Thomas has some secret magic to his writing… he surely can write great songs that make you say “Why didn’t I think of that?” but of course we never do. He writes about mates, ratbags, races, places, weddings, parties, funny stuff – anything – but they are really good stories and great songs. Mick is truly a legend around the best of fair-dinkum roots venues and festivals around the country. He is a character! He is funny! He can roll up to any crappy stage and make it the centre of the universe to any audience. He will talk the leg off an old chair and play the arse off a guitar, sweat the shirt of his back and lay you in the aisles. Mick Thomas and his bands, notably ‘The Weddos’ or ‘The Sure Thing’ or MT himself are all something to behold and have been huge favourites at Port Fairy and many other festivals I have seen him play. Mick is the real deal, no doubt about that! Jamie McKew OAM, Festival Director, Port Fairy Folk Festival
After reconvening with long time musical cohort Mark ‘Squeezebox’ Wally, 2011 has already proven a bumper year for Mick – completing a fantastic tour of Canada with old buddies The Lowest of the Low, and a new album recorded in Portland, Oregon produced by Darren Hanlon (to be released early 2012). The rest of the year promises to be filled with his usual diet of soundtracks, production work and co-writing as well as a September spectacular with the old band Weddings, Parties, Anything. The second Mick’s Monthly Music Club – his own subscriber based monthly web broadcast- began in July and for the legion of fans that re-subscribed, this year’s club promises to continue the same rich and diverse musical offerings. His ever-evolving talents as a writer and performer and raconteur continue to define a career as intriguing as it is enduring.
“Mick Thomas, lyrically and musically, blows my mind. I inherited some testicular forte from Mick Thomas.” Tim Rogers, Age EG Interview
“Dust On My Shoes makes you more than glad Mick Thomas has bothered to clock up the miles on his (seemingly) never ending tours as this grimy world would be a lot poorer without his engaging songs of life, love and experience…” Tim Peacock, Whisperin’ & Hollerin’, UK
TOUR DATES
** Friday 5th October
Leura Park Estate Vineyard
1400 Portarlington Road, Curlewis
Workshop 4.00-5.30pm, Gates open 6pm, show starts 8pm
Tix & info www.leuraparkestate.com.au
** Saturday 6th October
‘The Big Marma’ Murtoa Big Weekend
Murtoa Football Ground, Lake Street, Murtoa
Workshop 4.30-6pm, Doors open 6.30pm
Tix & info www.murtoa.net/big-weekend or 0428 852 411
* Friday 12th October
The Sisters Hall
Mortlake-Framlingham Road, The Sisters
Doors open 8pm
Tix & info keilambete@hotmail.com or 03 5592 2027
* Saturday 13th October
Mollongghip Hall
521 Dean-Mollongghip Road, Mollongghip
Doors open 8pm
Tix & info www.facebook.com/mollongghip.hall or 03 5334 5490
* Sunday 14th October
Wandiligong Hall
Morses Creek Road, Wandiligong
Doors open 3pm
Tix & Info wandihall@gmail.com or 0421 441 645
** Friday 19th October
Caravan Music Club
95-97 Drummond Street, Oakleigh
Workshop 6.00-7.30pm. Doors open 8pm
Tix & info www.caravanmusic.com.au or 0411 569 180
* Saturday 20th October
Toora Community Hall
23 Gray Street, Toora
Doors open 8pm
Tix & info 03 5686 2443 or 0427 858 436
** Sunday 21st October
The Substation
1 Market Street, Newport
Workshop 1.00-2.30pm, Doors open 3pm
Tix & info www.thesubstation.org.au or 03 9391 1110
*gig only
** gig and workshop
