LATEST NEWS…BIG DAY OUT 2012: THE LOWDOWN: Big Day Out is amongst one of the most recognised festivals in the world. Returning to Sydney on Australia Day with headliners such as Soundgarden and Kanye West, organisers had a few other tricks up their sleeve. Entertainment didn't just present itself in the form of live music; pro skater Tony Hawk was in fine form, proving that he can still shred in his early forties. Australian bands Stonefield and Frenzal Rhomb did their nation proud on Australia Day being noted as some of the highlights of the day. For New Zealand, it was Big Day Out's last hoorah as the festival has already announced it will not be returning. Despite good reviews, attendance numbers are dropping. In 2010 Big Day attracted over 337,000 fans, last year's shows drew 300,000 punters, while this year the festival sold just over 173,000 tickets…SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH: After a 33 year break from releasing an album, Black Sabbath announced their comeback fittingly on the 11/11/11. The original band members are set to record a new studio album - their first with Ozzy Osbourne since 1978. Since the announcement, it seems as though black magic has plagued the band. Tony Iommi was diagnosed with lymphoma last month resulting in relocating recording sessions to London and pulling out of a planned Coachella headlining slot. Now it is drummer Bill Ward who seems to be having management difficulties after releasing a long statement indicating he will not be apart of the reunion unless he is offered a "signable contract" that "reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band." Let's hope Ward gets the contract he desires so they can get on with it and we get Sabbath back…JACK WHITE ANNOUNCES DEBUT SOLO ALBUM: Almost a year ago, Jack & Meg White shattered the music world announcing that they would no longer be recording or performing live together. A man who will never remain silent has just unveiled his new solo single 'Love Interruption' and announced the release of his debut solo album. The 23rd of April marks the date of White's return when his debut solo album 'Blunderbuss' hits the shelves. Produced by White at his Third Man Studio in Nashville, White describes 'Blunderbuss' as "an album I couldn't have released until now… I've put off making records under my own name for a long time but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colours on my own canvas."…TRIPLE J'S HOTTEST 100: Another Australia Day means another Hottest 100 count down, an event that most musically minded Australians listen to. With 44 local songs on the list, it seems that home grown music is a force to be reckoned with. O r is it that we are growing even more patriotic as a nation? My trust lies in the talent. It comes as no surprise that Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used to Know' claimed the number one position, closely followed by The Black Keys with 'Lonely Boy' coming in second and Australian Idol's prize possession, Matt Corby's 'Brother' being voted number three. The voting process is a long and stressful journey; I admire the people who have the time to contribute to an event that makes Australia Day one hell of a party…THE BRONX SIDE PROJECT: For those who have not seen or heard of The Bronx, you would not believe that Mariachi El Bronx are their side project - that is if the Bronx part at the end doesn't give it away for you. The Bronx supported Soundgarden at Sydney Entertainment Centre just an hour before performing their own Big Day Out sideshow as Mariachi El Bronx. Matt Caughthran's voice transition is surprisingly sweet. They performed in front of a full house at The Metro Theatre, a place they stated as their home venue in Sydney. Completely stripped of rebellion and their punk rock style, they have stayed true to the Southern Californian origin with their heavy Mariachi influence obvious, dressed to the nines in traditional Mariachi costume. One must witness both live acts for themselves, depending on your mood at the time…COACHELLA 2012: Coachella's line up is enough to make one physically and emotionally sick with either excitement (if you had the cash to buy flights and tickets) or depression if you are dirt poor and committed to work or study Down Under. Coachella is held in Indio, California around the end of April each year. This year, a second weekend has been added, but we all know the first weekend is the one you want to be at. Headlining this mammoth bill are The Black Keys, Radiohead, Dr Dre and Snoop Dog. If you are already foaming at the mouth, check out the full line up. It is an upper to some but a downer to most who cannot make it. www.coachella.com...THE MAN IN BLACK - THE JOHNNY CASH STORY: Being a Cash fan from way back and having already toured with The Johnny Cash Story in 2010 and 2011, Tex Perkins & The Tennessee Four are returning showcasing two hours of Cash's legendary music interwoven with the story of his rise to fame, his struggle for survival, and his eventual redemption. Both Cash and Perkins have the baritone voices making Perkins the perfect candidate to perform faithful renditions of Cash's hits while he tells Cash's story in the third person between songs. Perkins' 27 years in the industry has equipped him with one hell of a back catalogue, with a capturing stage presence and voice similar to the man himself. Who else should pay homage to Johnny Cash but Tex Perkins?...VICE LAUNCH CHATEAU RDIO: Get two words - radio and audio, join them together and you get Rdio: pronounced ar-dee-o. Rdio could actually be the best thing since sliced bread. It is the ground-breaking digital music service that connects people with music and makes it easy to search for and instantly play any song, album, artist or playlist without ever hearing a single ad. With all of Australia now having access to Rdio's 12 million+ songs, Vice helped kick off the official Australian Launch at Beach Rd Hotel in Bondi. Being solely about the music, you could find a DJ in every room or a free drink at every bar…A TRIBUTE TO SOUL SISTERS: Sydney singers Jo Elms, Liza Ohlback and Kim Hart are back by popular demand after sell-out performances of their "First Ladies of Soul" tour in June 2011. The women are returning to Notes Live in Newtown after a successful show last year, but will feature more artists this time around, like Freda Payne, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, Randy Crawford and Roberta Flack. If you dig deep funk and raunchy blues, you better get in quick as there are only two "First Ladies of Soul" performances: Friday 10 February at Lizottes, 629 Pittwater Road Dee Why at 8:30pm. Tickets are $30 + booking fee. For bookings ph\ne: 9984 9933, online: www.lizottes.com.au. Saturday 11 February at Notes Live, 75 Enmore Road, Newtown at 8:45pm. Tickets are $30 + booking fee. For bookings phone: 1300 762 545, online: www.noteslive.net.au...
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QUAN - The Amateur

Quan, he of Regurgitator fame, has just unleashed his debut solo album. 'The Amateur' can best be described as a mish-mash of styles that you won't be able to stop playing once it seeps into your brain. The album is split between the pop-rock-electro numbers such as 'The One' and 'Year Of The Jerk' and the more hip-hop orientated tracks such as 'Just Like That' and 'Reading The Script' where Quan shows off his rapping wares. Despite the title, this album is far from an 'amateur' effort. Afterall, this is the same man who spent the last 15 years fronting one of Australia's most successful acts of this period. Fans of Regurgitator's 'Eduardo And Rodriguez Wage War On T-Wrecks' album in particular will lap it up.

BLAZIN' 2009 - Mixed by DJ Nino Brown

This is the latest instalment in Australia's most successful urban compilation brand. 'Blazin' 2009' is a two disc set mixed by Australia's #1 DJ Nino Brown and features all the latest hip-hop & r&b hits from the likes of Rihanna ('Disturbia'), Ne-Yo ('Miss Independent'), Lil Wayne ('Got Money'), Chris Brown ('Kiss Kiss'), Timbaland ('Release'), Flo Rida ('In The Ayer') and a stack more. Fans of previous instalments will not be disappointed. Brown is supporting the release with a bunch of shows over the coming months. Sydney fans should make sure to catch him at Bamboo @ Martin Place Bar on May 9th.

KANYE WEST - 808s & Heartbreak (CD)

The ten-time Grammy Award winning musical phenomenon, rapper, producer, and now singer embarks on a new musical journey taking his audience to new heights. Kanye West returns with his fourth album '808s & Heartbreak'. First single 'Love Lockdown' quickly exploded at radio with the video premiering in the US on the Ellen Degeneres show. 'Heartless', the second single, is next up to hit the airwaves further amplifying the story behind the musical direction for '808s & Heartbreak'. Since the release of 'College Dropout' in 2004, Kanye West has re-defined music and set the standards for others to follow. His Grammy Award winning album 'Late Registration' made Kanye a household name and now, on the back of a string of hits from the 'Graduation' album, Kanye is again redefining the sound of popular music. Touring Australia in December 2008, Kanye is back in a big way.

FALL OUT BOY - Folie à Deux (CD)

Fall Out Boy are back with their fourth full-length release and the most hard-hitting album in their career. That fact is made abundantly clear during the first single, 'I Don't Care'; over a heavy percussive stomp, Stump wails "I don't care what you think/as long as it's about me." The joke here is that, while the song has the feel of a great glam rock anthem (a la Gary Glitter), the singalong features a rather "awful" message. Musically, 'Folie' finds the band heading out into a number of new, often epic directions, from Beatlesque harmonies ('America's Suitehearts', '20 Dollar Nose Bleed') to the symphonic flourishes throughout 'Coffee's for Closers'. Most impressive is 'What a Catch, Donnie', a slow-building, all-star singalong featuring Elvis Costello, Panic at the Disco's Brendon Urie, Gym Class Heroes frontman Travis McCoy, Alex deLeon of The Cab and William Beckett of The Academy Is. In the end, "Folie à Deux" is simply the artistic statement Fall Out Boy wanted to make in 2008.

AKON - Freedom (CD)

Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum artist Akon makes a return with his highly anticipated third album titled 'Freedom'. On the album's autobiographical title track, the singer makes his most powerful statement to date, as the song crescendos, church-like, to its rousing conclusion. While the rest of the album shows a marked growth in the singer/producer's career, exemplifying the more dance-friendly side of the artist. Not to be mistaken: Akon hasn't abandoned his hip-pop and R&B roots, as the album features guest spots by Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Young Jeezy, Kardinal Offishall, Ray Lavender and Wyclef Jean. But tracks like 'Troublemaker' and 'We Don't Care' are set to blow up dance floors, with the former a dance record made "purely for fun" and the latter riding a chugging, arpeggiated synth and disco groove that would make Giorgio Moroder proud.

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