My time in beautiful Australia is sadly coming to an end. Today and tonight is my final few hours before i head off to Singapore for additional work. Im looking forward to the heat of Singapore now the Autumn has arrived here. After Singapore im back to the UK and preparing for the monumental MI21 weekend (Southbank – 10.4.10 / Birmingham Town Hall – 11.4.10). All info can be found on our EVENTS listings.
Id like to extend a huge thanks to everyone i have met here for all their openess, for taking me under their wings and for sharing in their experiences. Big ups go to:
ROSIE/JOHN – for opening up your home to me.
LINDA – for being fearless, being totally on it and for looking after the MI21 crew.
ANDO – keep the billboards alive with your mug
ROB – you aint that old…you lied
DAN – the kids love you and youre doing an amazing job, look forward to working with you & thanks for the Hare Krishna grub
STRAFF & MARCUS – thanks for the laughs.
CARMEL – keep on kicking ass.
BRITISH COUNCIL (AUSTRALIA) – youve all been so amazingly supportive and open, i thank you so very much.
Its been such an eventful trip and alot has been achieved for Kala Phool. I hope we will return soon.
Last night i went to see PROPAGANDA by Acrobat. I had no idea what to expect from the nominal info i had of ‘its a circus act’. It was way more than that. There was phenomenal skill on show where you question how their bodies are even capable of doing what i was seeing. And their bodies……what a testament of commitment to their practice. There was nudity but not in a seedy way, their bodies are stunning to see and for them to show them off through their work was a truly brave move.
The husband, wife and their two children entertained from start to finish.
Utilising disciplined physical skills, crude production and calculated self-derision, acrobat has a unique and unpredictable approach to theatre.
After years of touring their avant-garde circus company around the world these knuckledragging acrobats reckon they know right from wrong.
BE KIND – EAT YOUR VEGGIES – RIDE A BIKE – GARDEN NUDE
After indoctrinating their kids, they are taking the step out of their South Albury back yard into Arts House, then Europe, then the rest of the world. One show at a time. The revolution starts here.
Founded by Simon Yates and Jo-Ann Lancaster, acrobat has toured extensively in major arts festivals and venues throughout Europe, Britain, Ireland, Singapore, Brazil and Australia. When not touring, they live and practice in Albury, NSW.
Conceived and performed by: Simon Yates and Jo Lancaster
Also featuring: Grover or Fidel Lancaster-Cole
Production Manager / Rigger: Scott Grayland or Ryan Taplin
Produced by: Marguerite Pepper Productions
Erykah Badu recently joined the ranks of Lady Gaga andBeyonce Knowles by causing a stir with the release of her “Window Seat” video – where she strips down naked by the video’s end.
While the mother-of-three doesn’t kill a diner full of people in the clip like Gaga’s“Telephone”, a completely nude Badu is shot in the head, and once on the ground the words “groupthink” spill onto the pavement.
Filmed in Dallas, Texas – near the location John F. Kennedy was shot in 1963, Erykah says what fans don’t see are pedestrians yelling at her to put on her “damn clothes!”
She tweeted: “Heard people yelling diff things @ me but I held my head up and kept moving. There were children there. I prayed they wouldn’t b tramatized.”
The shocking concept was inspired by indie punk group Matt and Kim’s “Lessons Learned” video, where the duo peel off their clothes in Time Square.
Sorry i havent been keeping you updated on all the amazing things ive been experiencing whilst in Melbourne for a few days now – ive been mad busy in meetings. But i wanted to briefly update you all on a couple of things:
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL
SHOPPER by Linda Catalano
The most hyped show of the festival was SHOPPER and the one woman stand up show did not disappoint in the slightest. The deadpan commentary on how women shop, how shop assistants size you up like a piece of meat within 2mins of entering the shop or even, how your parents relate to shopping. SHOPPER was full of funny anicdotes, hilarious use of music and visual imagery to the point i couldn’t laugh for my tummy hurting. A truly memorable evening indeed.
MELBOURNE F1 GRAND PRIX
Having grown up with F1 (an uncle of mine is one of the head honchos with McLaren) and experienced the thrills, smell of petrol, sounds of the engines roaring to the point you cant even hear yourself and all the fake tan on show….to be a part of this years F1 Melbourne GP was amazing.
I was part of the demo team crew who totally know how to party :/ Watching them all in action on the day was amazing, they certainly know how to work well as a tight team…..my uncle has whooped them all into a great team.
Highlights included:
running out on the track for the speed comparison, watching the cars ping off the start, running back to pit-lane to time them all & see the cars afterwards
walking the length of the pit-lane several times
being shown around the McLaren paddock
being toured round McLaren’s pit with both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button’s cars being geared up
meeting Jenson’s pop who is a man who knows how to party :0
watching the start of the GP from above the starting grid and screaming my head off
……..blimey, ive just realised im SUCH a groupie! Seriously though, it was an amazing day.
Tonight im being taken to see ACROBAT at North Melbourne Town Hall. Update you on how that goes soon and my plans for my nest stop in Singapore.
b.supreme, The only UK Festival for WOMEN IN HIP HOP is back for it’s 4TH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL!
b.supreme is the only UK Festival dedicated to Women In Hip Hop. The 3 day festival takes place at the Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall and encompasses dance performance, DJ’s beat boxers, MC’S Workshops and dance battles featuring the best hip hop artists from all over the world.
FRIDAY 2nd / SATURDAY 3rd/ SUNDAY 4th APRIL 2010!!
FRIDAY 2nd
UK SUPREME
The UK’s festival for women in hip-hop, b.supreme, opens with UK SUPREME, showcasing the best of the UK hip hop scene, including Unity, TK Spin, Retaliation Girls, Flowzaic, The Waacktitioners the debut of b.supreme’s brand new all-star
company and many more…
Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall
7.45pm £13
SATURDAY 3rd
B.SUPREME: BATTLES AND WORKSHOPS
Funk-style dance battles and hip hop workshops fill The Clore Ballroom. The Waackers will be invited to throw down their moves for the first time as well as an international Popping battle and a very special under 14’s freestyle battle.
The Clore Ballroom at Royal Festival Hall
11am Free Admission
INTERNATIONAL SUPREME
International all-female dance companies give world-class performances in the Purcell Room. Includes The Waackers, based in LA, Les Flip Femmes from Canada and Decadancetheatre from New York.
Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall
7.45pm £13
SUNDAY 4th
B.SUPREME: BATTLES AND WORKSHOPS
Following the success of last year the Bonnie and Clyde battle returns to b.supreme, along with the 2-on-2 b.girl battle and the UK and international crew battle.
Plus don’t miss a very special performance from MS DYNAMITE!
The Clore Ballroom at Royal Festival Hall
11am Free Admission
MI21 returns from a hugely successful Australian tour to take part in Southbank’s Alchemy Festival on SAT 10 APRIL 2010. Be great to have you come along, help spread the word and support all the other acts on the bill.
MI21 performs under the banner RAJ:RELOAD.
One ticket buys you a brilliant mini festival line-up of the most innovative artists from UK and India, with live bands and film soundtrack performances, VJs, DJs, spoken word, comedy and one-off collaborations across the whole of Queen Elizabeth Hall, including the Foyers and Purcell Room.
NATHAN ‘FLUTEBOX’ LEE & The Clinic with Chandrasonic and Marty Savale from ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION
MOTHER INDIA 21ST CENTURY REMIX – a stunning live score to the epic Indian film, featuring DJ Tigerstyle
ENGINE-EARZ EXPERIMENT featuring Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Shahid Abbas Khan and Jenna G
BISHI
ARUN GHOSH Sextet
LAST MANGO IN PARIS
SHAA’IR & FUNC (Mumbai / NYC)
B.L.O.T (AV set) – New Delhi
DJs NERM (Shiva Soundsystem) and ZAKHM (Kollectiv, Mutiny NYC)
8 – 8.45: Mother India 21st Century Remix
feat. DJ Tigerstyle
9.30 – 10.00: Shaa’ir & Func
(with visuals by B.L.O.T)
10.00 – 10.15: Changover
10.15 – 10.45: Engine-Earz Experiment
feat. Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Shahid Abbas Khan
& Jenna.G
11.00 – 11.40 Nathan ‘Flutebox’ Lee & The Clinic
with Chandrasonic & Marty Savale(Asian Dub Foundation)
(+ visuals by B.L.O.T)
FRONT ROOM AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL
7.30 – 8.45: DJ Zakhm (Kollektiv, Mutiny NYC)
8.45 – 9.30: Arun Ghosh Sextet
9.30 – 10.00: Shaa’ir & Func
(+ visuals by B.L.O.T) – live feed
10.15 – 10.45: Engine-Earz Experiment – live feed
11.00 – 11.40: Nathan ‘Flutebox’ Lee & The Clinic
with Chandrasonic & Marty Savale(Asian Dub Foundation)
(+ visuals by B.L.O.T)
11.40 – 01.00: DJ Nerm (Shiva Soundsystem)
PURCELL ROOM
8 – 8.30: Last Mango In Paris
9.30 – 10.00: Bishi
10.15 – 10.45: Last Mango In Paris
11.00 – 11.30: Bishi
Now it would be GREAT if our friends, family, colleagues, pets, neighbours, funders and anyone else who knows us to help spread the word. So please do and we look forward to welcoming you to the Alchemy Festival in a couple of weeks.
IRON-OXIDE Ltd is looking for Actors / Physical Performers for
CARGO a new, culturally diverse large-scale outdoor co-production with Edinburgh Mela Festival Actor / Performer Brief We are looking for actors and performers of various ages, especially from Asian/African/Middle Eastern backgrounds to take part in CARGO.
The production will be non-text based and so actors and performers with keen physical skills and an enthusiasm for improvising are encouraged to get in touch. If you have musical, circus arts and/or street arts skills then, please also consider making contact.
Rehearsals: 21 June – 5 August
Performances: 6-22 August 2010 (Edinburgh Mela Festival / Edinburgh Fringe)
Contract period will be 9 weeks.
Director: Dougie Irvine
Producer: Chloë Dear
If you are interested could you please send us your CV, photo and a covering letter that details your experience of non-text based / improvised work further and any specific other skills that you have to: contact@iron-oxide.org
Please detail where you are based and your cultural / ethnic background – we are seeking to create a diverse cast for this production and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds.
Please forward these to us as soon as possible / by Monday 12 April. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries either by email or by phoning 0131-467 0664
We will notify everyone about audition calls by Monday 19 April. Audition dates: 28-29 April in Scotland / 4 May in London
Further Information: CARGO is a multi-disciplinary performance that creatively explores/ investigates that most timeless of creature(s) – the migrant. It is a show about immigration and emigration, adventurers and those who are exiled, conquerors and slaves, people with dreams who seek them out in other lands and people with nightmares who run to escape.
It is a show about the primal urge of man and woman to leave their country of origin for a myriad of reasons, whether it be for a better life, for a future for their children, to escape a past, to create a future, to find a new way of living, of being, to find… themselves. It is also a show about the act of making a place your home…
CARGO seeks to break open myths of those people who arrive on new shores. Migration has always happened, no-one person has been in the same place forever; we are all to some extent migrants, or the sons and daughters of migrants. Now, more than ever, we need to remember this and celebrate our common humanity, culture and creativity. CARGO is an ambitious project featuring 10-12 high-calibre performers / musicians working on a large, dynamic outdoor set for festival audiences of 500-1,500. Colourful and visually arresting as well as theatrically developed, the performance will appeal to a broad range of people and to adults and children alike.
Designed to tour extensively within the UK and internationally, CARGO will premiere at the Edinburgh Mela 2010 followed by a short run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Further tour dates are currently being sought for 2011.
It will be directed by Dougie Irvine from award-winning Visible Fictions.
As promised im reporting back from seeing Mem Morrison last Friday night. It was my first visit to Arts House in North Melbourne (despite me living right across the road from it!!!) and i didnt know what to expect.
So i arrive with Rosie to go see the show and were given red carnations and are asked to pin them to the left side…which we do. There are women all over the place all dressed in back from head to toe also wearing the carnations but are also kinda bossing everyone around! We are then bundled into groups of about 8, told to wait behind the main doors into the space and then just as im about to lose the will to live, the doors storm open and were ushered into the space mega quickly. Were asked to stand on marked points on the ground, are given characters to remember and asked to pose to have our photo taken!
Straight away i hated this – this forced audience participation was NOT what i had signed up to. We are then seated having had out picture taken in a way that is abrupt and asked to put on our headsets.
The performance then begins with Mem running around like a lunatic whilst all his ‘guests’ look on from behind the white linen laid tables. You are immediately thrown by the voice suddenly appearing in your headset talking to you. Its Mem recounting past wedding and wedding party experiences as a young boy.
Slowly the drama and grace of the performance unfolds and calms me down into going full circle and really liking how its all put together. There is sadness, laughter and totally shocking bits but you ultimately do come out of the show slapping yourself for not liking it in the first place!
If you get a chance to see the performance RINGSIDE….make sure you go.
By placing a hell of a lot of Ebay bids, Mr. Allan Detrich was able to amass what must be the most incredible collection of Diana cameras and retro Diana clones in the entire world. In Spring 2007, Lomography purchased this batch of cameras and is absolutely thrilled to present it as the priceless “Detrich Collection” available to see as part of The Diana World Tour.
The Diana World Tour was kick started in Hong Kong, and has since traveled to Tokyo, Seoul, Porto, Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, New York City and is now making its way to London!
The Diana World Tour includes: The Detriech Collection – a collection of 100 original Diana Clone Cameras, The Diana Urban Vignettes Exhibition – the coolest collection of Diana images that you are ever likely to witness andThe Customised Clones Exhibition a collection of around 25 Diana+ cameras; customised by some of the most interesting artists, illustrators, creative types and good-time Lomography friends that the UK has to offer. Each clone is a complete one-off and will be exhibited in store for the whole month of April.
You are invited to the opening party at the Lomography Gallery Store London on Friday April the 2nd at 6pm remember is to RSVP! lomographyuk@lomography.comwith the subject DWT PARTY.
Not only will there be booze, music to tap your feet to and great Lomographers; you will also be the first to see
The Detrich collection
Our artist customizations
The urban vignettes exhibition
Plus the launch of our secret product – only available at the Lomography Gallery Store London!
London City Event Schedule Friday 2nd April 6pm to 10pm
Diana World Tour London Opening Party! And the launch of our exclusive new product only available at the Lomography Gallery Store London! We hope to see you, please RSVP to ensure your name gets on the list! lomographyuk@lomography.com
As well as the in-store exhibition we will be holding our usual monthly workshops. This month is all about the Diana+ of course!
With all the festivals revealing themselves on a daily basis in this city it came as real excitement that the F1 teams have landed. The Grand Prix is next weekend and im still trying to get a ticket. Growing up within this world has only ever seen my curiosity and passion for it grow even more over the years. Having an uncle who works in the McLaren team helps to get ‘the inside track’ on occassions.
The smells, sounds of the engines beefing up to the point your entire body is shaking is extreme but oh so amazing. Albert Park has a secluded track yet friends who live around the area dont share my excitement or enthusiam for the sport as they call the sounds of the cars “little ants”! I think for them as the area gets taken over, as residents they cant move for a while. Already the teams are making themselves visible around the city to encourage peeps to get to the GP.
I hope i get to go and i hope i get to cheer McLaren on the 2nd leg of the 2010 season personally or with it on tv or any of the public screens that will be erected.
OH MY DAYS……Massive Attack hit Melbourne’s Myer Music Bowl on 20.3.10 with a a performance that can ONLY be described as mind-blowing. The mighty music powerhouse that is Massive Attack were joined by some heavyweights including, Horace Andy, Martina Topley-Bird and Deborah Miller.
I found this review which sums up exactly how i was feeling about the performance…..
The anarchistic, angry, aggressive hated of politicians and capitalism was on display in an awe-inspiring way that would leave most punk rock activists shaking in their boots.
The spectacular backdrop was littered with angst-ridden messages often targeting Australian tabloid fodder. During their 1998 track ‘Risingson’ the screen flashes messages including “Bingle: Who Cares?” and “Pauline Hanson to Emigrate”. Their political awareness did not let up and their message came through loud and clear. The whole show was a metaphorical “fuck you” to capitalism.
Even if you’re the kind to ignore a band’s politics, it was brilliant enough just hearing the band trawl through classic songs that defined the trip-hop genre over the past two decades. Songs such as 1992’s ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ and ‘Safe From Harm’ sounded right at home next to ‘Splitting The Atom’, ‘Babel’ or ‘Psyche’.
‘Teardrop’ was reinvented by the stunning voice of Martina Topley-Bird, who played a solo set in support to a disappointingly uninterested crowd (for future reference, she has two very excellent solo albums and a third one on the way). Her quirky voice and beautiful phrasing added a new touch to a classic crowd-pleaser of a song.
There is an old rule in show business that you never open with a show-stopper, but this incredible performance opened with one and never looked back.
No review, no dodgy clip on YouTube and no tales from your mates will give you the slightest clue as to how incredible this performance is. If it is coming to a town near you, get a ticket. Get a ticket the second they are on sale. Sell your mother if you have to, just go.
Linda Catalano is the lady who has been making my time in Melbourne run so smoothly. But aside from being my eyes and ears to the city of Melbourne, by night she is an artist getting the finishing touches to her very own comedy show ready as part of Melbourne’s International Comedy Festival.
Linda is a one woman standup show called SHOPPER. The title has been taken from the great film Chopper and even her artwork reflect this. Opening night is next Thursday so i and a whole heap of other people will be there cheering her on.
Without giving too much away, SHOPPER is all about bargain hunters, shop-a-holics and retail thrillseekers beware. SHOPPER lifts the lid on the seedy underbelly of the retail world.
Australia’s biggest music market where you get to hear, experience and meet amazing artists. AUME as its abbreviated to takes place annually and is pushed forward with a clear vision of innovative work from the Indigenous and across Australia.
I didnt get to see WRONG SKIN last night as i thought i would – i got my scheduling all totally wrong, so sorry about that! But what i know im going to see tomorrow night is Mem Morrison’s performance of Ringside at North Melbourne’s Arts House.
Ringside is part written, part devised and draws on a lifetime of remembered Turkish Cypriot family weddings as its foundation.
Exploring issues surrounding autobiography, identity, memory, diversity, culture, censorship and perception, Ringside looks at the childhood fantasy which could so easily have become a reality.
I had an open evening last night so was kindly invited to the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. I went to the Hawkers Market in the famous Victoria Market and tasted some incredible food…..including prawns the size of my hands and the most AMAZING home made chocolate ice cream. There were performances to see, wine to taste and a whole load of people to chat to.
The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival has also included the Worlds Longest Lunch.
So there i was being driven at break-neck speed by crazy David to The Substation. In amongst all the crazy corners taken there unfolding is this monumental building – reminded me of the Baltic in Newcastle – in the middle of a suburban area called Newport. An old working substation has now been transformed into a multi use arts building all driven by a group of volunteers doing the work in the first place to get it back on its feet.
Once a totally derelict building with every single window smashed in, it now is a new space for Melbourne’s artistic community to tap into. Being taken around for a tour you’re met with workmen still finishing the building whilst a toddler class is being held in the great hall and various doors open up to reveal the most amazing artwork. It really is an amazing space and i cant wait to hear how the programming for it goes. Very exciting time for Melbourne.
Melbourne is already one city that is filled with beautiful people at every turn and now with the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival having started….theres even more gorgeous people to gawp at!
