Category: News

Part of their Mind Reader Tour 2013, Suburban Dark is bringing their not-to-be-messed-with beats and Jeswon’s (Thundamentals) no-bullshit lyrics to Brisbane’s Valley Fiesta.

Suburban Dark is the brainchild of the Sydney duo Chris Irvine and Ryan Wilmott. Meeting at university late 00’s, they decided to create grimy bass music together. Drawing inspiration from dark hip hop, drum n bass, electronica and heavy metal, they have created a unique sound not to be messed with.

Hungry to push the boundaries further they later collaborated with hip hop artists and released their works through hip hop compilations and mix tapes. Taking the direction towards creating what they call fight beats.

Suburban Dark released Second Front earlier this year 26 July. How I missed out on this album is beyond me. Its unique sound sets a new standard for Sydney hip hop. The fusion between hip hop lyrics, electronica beats and analog synths is ingenious. Like the track Skeletonne, featuring Jeswon, with its nostalgic feeling of electro sound, pumping hard and energetic. Then the downbeat and chilled track, also featuring Jeswon, Mind Reader with its catchy lyrics. And the Miami bass influenced track Drugstore, featuring Tenth Dan, that will vibrate any car to bits and pieces. It is an album that is difficult to resist if you enjoy bass-heavy beats coupled with sick rhymes.

Suburban Dark with Jeswon @ Valley Fiesta, Brisbane on Sat 23 Nov.

Holy moly, HOLY HOLY comes to Brisbane to celebrate their successful first single ‘Impossible Like You’. It is part of their special East coast run to share their music and excitement with friends and new fans at the end of this year.

HOLY HOLY is a musical project by two great musicians, award-winning singer songwriter Timothy Carroll from Brisbane and acclaimed Melbourne-based guitarist/composer Oscar Dawson. Their debut record draws inspiration from when living in Stockholm and Berlin in 2011 — demoing tracks in the apartments, stairwells and show-covered studios of those two great cities.

Back in Australia they worked on their full-length debut alongside producer and collaborator Matt Redlich.

If you are familiar with Neil Young, Midlake, Wilco and Bright Eyes, you do not want to miss out on HOLY HOLY when they come to Brisbane with their full band.

Cub Sport should be familiar to most Brisbanites. Previously known as Cub Scouts until they received a kindly worded letter from Scouts Australia. Not much more introduction needed after their rise to fame.

Cub Sport have been busy touring in USA and Europe, part of their Paradise Tour. But it does not end there. After playing in Melbourne and then Sydney, they will come up to Brisbane to the Valley Fiesta music festival — playing their lovely tunes FOR FREE!

HOLY HOLY — Thu 21 Nov @ Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au — 1300 762 545

Cub Sport — Sun 24 Nov @ Valley Fiesta, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Free Event For All Ages

Last night at The Box, West End celebrated ten year’s of the Spiral Hub. Co-founder and mainstay Amelia Salmon resisted the accolades heaped on her by MC and ex-Senator Andrew Bartlett and Councillor Helen Abrahams. Amelia insisted that the six founding members and the many volunteers to whom she and Helen Abrahams gave awards deserved the accolades, but ultimately it was her night as she has led, cajoled and held Spiral Community Hub together over the decade that it has been the throbbing heart of so much that is West End.

Amelia’s co-founder Kelly reminded us that the vision of the Hub has always been simple and tangible – to develop just and sustainable local communities. An integral part of that mission has been to preserve the unique, creative character that is West End. In her own words: keep West End Weird.

Hannaka and Ahliya generously provided musical accompaniment for the festivities, making the event a wonderful example of the spirit that the Hub has brought to our lives.

The history of the hub was the highlight of the night. Amelia described its evolution away from and back again to its role as a hub, supporting other groups, its incredible financial depth and its powerful capacity to bring people together. It is now sustainable without government funding and has the capacity to provide interest free loans to social enterprise projects. That is a remarkable achievement in the current political environment.

Echoing the thoughts of many present, Helen Abrahams noted the challenge to keep smiling in the current political climate and brought the house down by reminding us that one of the most infamous achievements of Spiral Hub, in bureaucratic circles anyway, is the toilet in Evans Park, Highgate Hill. “The smallest toilet in the smallest park is the envy of all my colleagues,” Helen quipped. “They just want to know what secret power I had to get that one through.” The secret, she revealed, was Spiral Hub.

Even though Amelia’s highly recognizable shop is up for sale, in the ongoing evolution of the urban landscape, Spiral Hub lives on.

Repercussions of the 2011 floods in Brisbane are still being felt by residents with significant financial strain remaining for many, according to one of Australia’s largest debt collection agencies.

Melissa Rafferty, Account Controller at Prushka‘s Brisbane office, said business closures as a result of the floods has been a significant factor in causing residents to fall behind on debt repayments.

“The amount of businesses that closed as a result of the floods, which led to job losses, is one of the main reasons we are seeing households fall behind on their repayments,” Ms Rafferty said.

Ms Rafferty said that a lot of the financial stress currently placed on families also stems from electricity bills and child care costs.

“Electricity bills are much more of an issue today than they have been previously.

“Child care and education is another cost that often catches people unaware, with kindergarten the main area where we are having debt referred,” she said.

With over 50,000 clients nationwide, Prushka is able to gain a unique insight into economic climates at both a national and local level, with Brisbane one of 11 offices across capital cities and regional Australia.

Ms Rafferty said the combination of increased unemployment and cost of living expenses was having a substantial affect on Brisbane residents.

“There is a great deal of genuine hardship in the Brisbane area, with many residents fearing they may lose their jobs and face an even greater challenge to pay for rising household bills and petrol.”

“Many businesses can see that people are finding it hard to pay off debts at present, but they recognise that this is a difficult time so they are creating realistic instalment plans for customers,” Ms Rafferty said.

“It is important that businesses do recover their debts in a timely manner though, so that they do not pile up.”

For businesses that believe they may see an increase in debts owed, Prushka recommends that they review their business trading terms to protect themselves from losses.

Ms Rafferty has noticed that specific locations around Brisbane are reporting similar debts from certain industries.

“In Gympie and Toowoomba we are noticing debts from health care professionals and child care, while on the Sunshine Coast and Brendale there have been more building industry debts, such as in excavation and with electricians,” she said.

The Hon. Tim Nichols, Treasurer of Queensland, today addressed a South West Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast at the Loft, in West End.

After referring to his government’s efforts to deal with the scourge of Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs, he talked about his own efforts to get the Queensland economy back on track.

When the LNP Government took power in March 2012, he said, they faced ballooning state debt, and a number of international rating agencies who were very anxious about the situation. The new government made it a priority to rein in debt – ever-growing fees, charges and interest bills, etc.

According to Mr. Nichols, the Government had to find $595,000 per hour to repay debt, hitting the taxpayer to meet the cost.

They called in Peter Costello to head a Commission of Audit to investigate the state finances, and make recommendations on how to rescue the economy.

The Commission’s delivered many recommendations to make the economy work better in the long term, by stabilising its debt, and funding future sustainability, etc.

There were, however, also many recommendations for improving service delivery – by challenging the prevailing belief that the Government must provide all services.

The LNP administration is now setting up a situation where outside agencies, not the government, provide services. Mr. Nichols talked about leveraging the private and not for profit sector to take over more service delivery.

According to Mr. Nichols, the time has now come for the government to ask the private and Not For Profit sectors whether they can deliver services better than the government.

This, he said, is already occurring in the areas of building, nursery and printing, etc.

Mr. Nichols said a change of attitude in the community was called for. His Administration is facilitating this change in attitude by cutting red tape, as demonstrated by their commitment to reduce red tape by 20%.

A new task force – the Office of Best Practice Regulation – has been set up to examine the impact of regulations on business. He said there are 440 red tape reduction initiatives currently underway.

The LNP’s philosophy, said Mr. Nichols, was to free the shackles of business to make business.

The Laura Street Festival 2013 is a celebration of music, arts, culture, community and life, and everyone is warmly invited to join in.

Come along to Laura Street in Highgate Hill from 1pm on Sunday, November 24, for an amazing free festival of music, dance, poetry, roving performance, arts, workshops, presentations and children’s activities across multiple venues along the street.

In its third year, the Festival aims to foster community entertainment, engagement and mutual benefit for residents, organisers and Festival-goers. This not-for-profit event is totally volunteer-run and performed.

Guests can tap their toes to tunes, gain new knowledge and skills, get creative with arts and crafts, and relax with fellow Festival-goers at multiple venues along the street.

The Festival presents over 30 musicians and live acts, including poetry and parade. Handy folk are ready to share their skills at free workshops.

Local artists and photographers will be exhibiting their works.  Fest-goers can share their collective creativity by taking part in interactive art and craft spaces.

Tasty food and drinks (inc. vegan options) are available at retro prices.  Water is provided so bring a bottle.  A portion of vendors’ sales and donations to the Festival are gifted to charities.

Laura Street Festival is a drug-free, alcohol-free and tobacco-free event.

The Festival is a community event run by a handful of dedicated organisers and hosted by generous residents. It is a 100 % volunteer organised community festival, by and for the community. The performers contribute their talents for free to create an incredible day. To volunteer, contact the Festival.

Attendees can keep each other safe and happy by exercising respect, appreciation of diversity and awareness of others’ personal boundaries.

Residents of Laura Street and the Festival organisers encourage attendees to bring their love, laughter, sun protection, water and sense of adventure.

Walking, cycling or catching public transport to Laura Street Festival is recommended.  South Bank Bus/train Station is a 5 min walk away.

For more info:
Festival website: http://laurastreetfestival2013.weebly.com/

When: Sunday, November 24, 2013 1pm – 10pm
Where: Multiple venues on Laura St, Highgate Hill 4101
What: Awesome music acts, arts, installations, poetry, dance, roving performance, parade, creative workshops, presentations, tasty food and drink and children’s activities.
Cost: Free entry, entertainment and workshops! Food and drinks at retro prices.

Check the websites closer to November 24 to view the full programme.

http://standingoutinmyfield.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/laura-street-festival-brisbane-qld/