Interview: Cirque Du Soleil's Ovo for Rave Magazine

Roll up, roll up! Cirque are coming back to town. For Rave Magazine.

Ovo, the newest Cirque Du Soleil spectacular to fly into Brisbane, is a light-hearted love story swarming with energy. Artistic director Marjon Van Grunsven tells Anna Angel it’s a bug’s life for the cast and crew.

The sun rises, and an ecosystem of insects begins to stir. Into their midst enters a stranger carrying a large and mysterious egg. So begins this unique production from Montreal’s celebrated Cirque Du Soleil. Ovo might be the 25^th production from these masters of contemporary circus, but Brazilian dancer and choreographer Deborah Colker is their first female creator and director. Her production, which opened in 2009, is one of only a few Cirque show to maintain an overarching narrative.

 “It’s very sweet and simple to follow for young children, but also for older people and middle-aged people, and it’s just so pleasant and happy,” Ovo’s artistic director Marjon Van Grunsven says.

The family-friendly story, which sees a ladybug fall in love with a fly, is secondary to the main inspiration for the piece: movement. From the pulsating rhythmic music, to the flexible, adjustable costumes, every aspect of the show celebrates the distinctive and fascinating motion of the insect world.

Ovo has all the breath taking acts you might expect, but each adopts a creepy-crawly persona that befits their style of movement. Foot jugglers become hard-working ants, a team of scarabs perform a Russian swing act, an aerial duo transform into graceful butterflies, crickets leap and bound off an eight-metre vertical wall, and a spider dangles dangerously from a slackwire web.

Under Van Grunsven’s guidance, the performers shed their human mannerisms entirely.

“The way [Deborah Colker] works is very much the way I work as well, which is to inspire each and every individual on that stage to dive into the role of their particular insect,” she says. “Let’s take a cricket; we wanted them to study the movement of the cricket by watching films and photos, and going out in nature and watching them for real.”

Review: BIGSOUND Live Part 2 for Mood of Monk

Read the original here.

Making my way down The Valley mall early on Thursday night, past the club blasting a cover of Wham’s ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’, past the pub crowd and onwards to Woodland, I was sceptical. Sceptical that BIGSOUND could deliver a night of equal quality to one before (see why here) and that conference-goers who had been shooting the musical shit since 9am Wednesday would have any energy left. An hour and a half later the event had sold out completely and there was egg all over my face.

Given the scores of ‘must-see’ new acts, fresh young faces and hyped radio favourites, you’d need a Harry Potter-style time turner to make the most of the experience. I don’t have one of those (yet), so I set out to simply cram in as much noise as possible. 

This is what I saw.

Review: BIGSOUND Live Part 1 for Mood of Monk

Read the original coverage here. I also shot and live tweeted the event; it was an awful lot of fun. 

“Is this the end or is it just beginning,” they sang and it felt right.

As Inland Sea wrapped up their opening spot at BIGSOUND’s live showcase in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, it signalled the start of something big – for the night and for the talented young acts that would fill it.BIGSOUND is an industry conference that exists to talk about music and the people that make it. For those throwing themselves into the conversation, it’s a long and fulfilling three days. For two of those days, when the sun goes down, Australia and New Zealand’s up-and-comers emerge for show and tell.It’s a variety show for industry types, a block party across Brisbane’s entertainment precinct, and a heartening display of genuine talent. I know every crumb in every corner of The Valley, but I’ve rarely seen it as full of energy as it was last night. There are weekends where the streets groan under the sheer weight of people, where the music is oppressively loud and sweat hangs heavy in the air. What BIGSOUND brought was a true celebration of things to come, and a crowd united in a love of music.

Review: Chris Pickering at The Globe for Rave Magazine

Gig review, read the original here, or in the latest Rave, issue 970, pg 30.

CHRIS PICKERING/ CATHERINE BRITT
The Globe - Fri Dec 3
Arriving at The Globe to news their doors are staying open, at least for now, I’m invited to ‘review the venue, not the bands’. It does feels right to stretch out on the worn carpet to take in the voyeuristically intimate shows of Nashville-returned alt-country artists Catherine Britt and Brisbane’s own Chris Pickering. But the crowd, which plateaus at around the 50 or 60 mark, are here for the music (barring the gentleman passed out in the middle of the room).

As candidly confessional in her song introductions as in her lyrics, Britt dedicates What I Did Last Night to the hangovers we’ll sport come morning, and bares the chip on her shoulder, launching into the arresting Call You Back Town. My current emotional state is akin to a floodgate, so it’s no surprise the raw emotion of Too Far Gone chokes me up. A lovelorn rendition of Sweet Emmylou is another highlight, as Britt proves her song’s point – good music can be medicinal.

Chris Pickering opens by performing a duet with Britt on Cool Southern Night. The pair work wonderfully together, especially later on Fisherman’s Daughter. He plays to his crowd – deadpan and slightly selfdeprecating, but ever grateful. From jokes following a spine-tingling Hasta Luego, to calling the beautiful I Just Want To Love a ballad for “you sensitive bunch”, he proves to have none of the ego of the musical heavyweights he is often compared to. The audience livens slightly during the up-beat Fit To Print and calls for an encore, amidst which is a stunning version of Love Hurts, making me concede this whole tour was designed as a comfort hug to the heartbroken. It’s an unfortunately small affair for the final leg of their national Fact Or Fiction tour, but that doesn’t stop them from demonstrating exactly why they deserve a much bigger hurrah.
ANNA ANGEL

Review: Claire Bowditch at The Hi-Fi for Tom Magazine

Clare Bowditch and The New Slang/ Glenn Richards/ Little Scout

The Hi-Fi 08/10/2010 

 




















Clare Bowditch brought her ‘Lady Garden’, her Julia Gillard impersonation and an unfortunate case of "throatitis" to her set at West End’s The Hi Fi, touring her fourth release, Modern Day Addiction. Opening acts, local four-piece Little Scout, and Glenn Richards of Augie March, got a raw deal, as the rain seemed to keep most of the punters at bay. By the time The Hi-Fi’s glowing steps started filling, Glenn Richards’ evocative set, pre-empting his solo record release next month, was already winding down. Even the ears attentive to Richards’ considerable vocal work wouldn’t have heard too much over the din of rest of the crowd, concerned with finding a spot to perch or a drink. Following final number, ‘This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers’ the relaxed chatter from the lounging crowd grew until the stage lit up nearly twenty minutes later.

Review: Splendour in the Grass 2010 for Tom Magazine

Did a festival wrap up for Tom Magazine, the amazing folk who sent me to Splendour this year, and to stop the problem that I had last year, where the mammoth review took up the whole page, I'll just use a link this time. It was a three and a half day event, mind you. Read of the adventures here.

Splendour In The Grass 2010

Woodford 29.7.10 to 1.8.10

This year’s Splendour In The Grass festival, which marks the tenth anniversary for the revered music and arts event, has been discussed for months. The excitement has been tangible since the line up was announced, and it was revealed the event, temporarily moved to Woodfordia in Queensland, would now be over three days. This year everything seemed oversized - more acts, more venues, a larger labyrinth of an event site and thousands more tickets (from around 18,000 to 30,000). Long time attendees were complaining it wouldn’t be the same with such a large crowd, and with such commercial elements as a tent city dedicated to shopping and a day spa. They were right, after all, but with a line up like that, nobody would opt out just to avoid the raving, singleted, beer-stacking festival tools. When all was said and done, the memories you left with in the stagnant rows of cars early on Monday morning would be worth putting up with a lot worse. There were more standout acts than can be listed, but headliners included Ben Harper and Relentless 7, The Temper Trap, Grizzly Bear, Scissor Sisters (pictured), The Strokes, Band of Horses, Midnight Juggernauts, Empire of the Sun, Mumford and Sons, and Pixies.


The imminent crowd control issues became obvious in the wee hours of Thursday, as the punters struggled to secure a camping spot, and those already set up camp tried in vain to rest up for the days ahead. By Friday night, the site was buckling under the pressure of a mind-boggling number of sweaty bodies. Navigating the crowds turned out to be the only downside of the extended weekend, aside from doing a mad dash in the middle of a set, elbowing your way through to see another ‘must see’ act scheduled at the same time. Anyone who got tired of being a human sardine had numerous tents to chill in, though, from the Chai Lounge, to foam parties and workshops, to the returning Tipi Forest and Guzman Y Gomez tent. The best way to get your money’s worth though, was to get in amongst the throng, and carry your mid-strength drink of choice gingerly.

Review: Sunset Sounds 2010 for Tom Magazine

For Tom Magazine. Written by myself and Stephen Smith.

Sunset Sounds Festival
City Botanic Gardens - 6th & 7th January 2010

Sunset Sounds, held in the lush surrounds of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, may be a baby on the festival circuit, but it’s already come of age. The second year of Sunset saw a stellar line-up, both local and international, comprising most of the main acts to hit this year’s Falls Festival in Victoria. With the atmosphere the festival grounds provided and the eclectic mix of artists, Sunset Sounds was a relaxed summer’s day, a chance to be awestruck by tear-inducing performances, and a sweaty two-day party all at once. Given half the patrons’ lingering New Year’s Eve hangovers, it was whatever you wanted it to be. The line-up boasted acts such as Moby (pictured), Sarah Blasko, The Temper Trap, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Hilltop Hoods, Xavier Rudd and The Middle East. Even when spaced out over two days there was enough to test any music lover’s ability to decide who to see next.

Etc.

Updates and inspirations: Sunset Sounds

The lovely people at Tom Mag are sending me to review Sunset Sounds soon... it just wouldn't be a festival without Yves Klein Blue!

News: various for Subtropic Online

Some feature news pieces for Subtropic.com.au, a QUT journalism collaboration.

Hot rods and cool cats hit West End

Thousands of revellers from around Australia and internationally cruised to the 10th Greazefest Kustom Kulture Festival in West End last weekend.
Organisers say it is the largest celebration of vintage cars and fashion, rockabilly music, lowbrow art, and tattooing in the Southern Hemisphere.
The four-day event sold out its late night performances on Friday and Saturday nights.
The celebrations culminated in the all-ages hot rod show on Sunday, where vintage and customised car lovers young and old could get a taste of yesteryear.
The festival included some of the premier rockabilly acts in the world, Marti Brom – based in the US, Australia’s The Satellites, and Johnny Law and The Pistol Packin’ Daddies.

Etc.

Hawkins graces Myer’s Brisbane spring-summer launch.

Australian model Jennifer Hawkins hit the catwalk in Myer Brisbane last week to debut the store’s Spring-Summer collection.
The arrival of Hawkins on the runway caused a stir with the crowd, with many lining up afterwards to score an autograph.
Ex-Miss Universe Hawkins was not the only one to elicit cheers and wolf whistles from the audience – with shirtless male models and a trio of plus-sized models also crowd pleasers.

Etc. 

Cruelty concerns won't deter Warwick rodeo

Cruelty concerns forced wild horse racing off the Warwick rodeo program on Queensland’s Darling Downs, but animal welfare groups say they cannot target other events.
The Warwick Show Association cancelled the event a week before the RSPCA planned to approach them with concerns, following the animal welfare group’s successful bid to stop the event at the Mt Isa rodeo.
The Warwick rodeo is regulated by the Australian Professional Rodeo Association, which does not sanction wild horse racing or the tactics such as ‘ear biting’ used during the event.
RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty said they see the cancellation as a victory and believe there would be grounds to prosecute riders for animal cruelty if it continued.
“We believe, certainly in the past there’s been clear evidence of cruelty to the animals in the wild horse races,” Mr Beatty said.

Etc.

Review: Splendour In The Grass 2009 for Tom Magazine

For Tom Magazine. Warning: massively, and ridiculously long.

Splendour in the Grass
Byron Bay 25/07/09 - 26/07/09

Ahh, music festivals. Obscene ticket prices, and more time spent queuing for soiled Port-a-Loos and overpriced food and alcohol than actually seeing bands perform. You leave with miscellaneous bruises, a 2-day hangover, and your wallet empty of anything but the mud you’ll find in strange crevices for weeks to come. Say what you will, at the end of the weekend it was all worth it.
17,300 people made the voyage to Byron Bay for the two day musical orgy - 200 less than usual, as some fans demanded refunds when Janes Addiction pulled out ‘due to illness’ at the last minute. Aussie veterans The Living End stepped up to replace them, drawing a crowd at least five times larger than the number that forwent the festival altogether. Of these revellers, there were ageing hippies, ravers in fluro jumpsuits, scantily clad party girls, costumed weirdos, and card-carrying hipsters. But mostly, the Wayfarer and store-bought tie-dye wearing hipsters. What else could bring such a colourful and eclectic bunch together but good ol’ fashion music?