Founding Midnight Oil member’s one question: who am I?
Jim Moginie was aged 11 when he learned that truth. One afternoon, while on a ship from Tasmania returning to the mainland, his mother found him playing with the on-board water dispensers.
Music
Kelly’s song wins a big yes vote from his peers
Paul Kelly’s song in support of a Yes vote for the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum is among the APRA Award nominees for the most coveted prize in Australian songwriting | READ THE FULL LIST
Taylor Swift officially declared a billionaire
Forbes has crowned the 34-year-old pop queen as the first musician to reach ten-figure status ‘solely based on her songs and performances’.
Marvin Gaye songs found in Belgium
Fans of Marvin Gaye could soon get two new posthumous albums from the singer after a cache of cassettes was uncovered in Belgium.
Rhymin’ Simon’s songs appear to write themselves
Writing lyrics doesn’t just come naturally to Paul Simon, they arrive unexpected and uninvited, and at any time of the day.
Songs ‘angrier, gloomier, simpler’ than 50 years ago
Music has become simpler and more repetitive since the Seventies, while also taking a darker, more cynical turn, a scientific study has found.
Why Australia’s music festivals are being cancelled
After more than 50 years in business, Byron Bay Bluesfest organisers have announced its 2025 event will be the last. Industry leaders weigh in on the uncertain future of Australia’s festival scene.
Saddle up for Beyonce’s next transformation
As the superstar releases her first country album, Cowboy Carter, it’s all down to her Texan roots – and a huge craze for America’s storytelling ballads.
’Cynical, soulless’: Timberlake’s reboot fails on album No.6
Everything I Thought It Was is an apt name for the newest release by US pop artist Justin Timberlake: it is at once very long in runtime (76 minutes) and extremely short on new ideas.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyer criticises ‘excessive’ raids on rapper’s homes
Properties were raided by federal agents as part of a continuing investigation
‘Heartbroken’: Splendour in the Grass cancelled for 2024
The music festival has announced its cancellation just six days after going on sale with a line-up topped by pop superstar Kylie Minogue.
West Side Story played to near perfection
Australian Opera’s West Side Story on the water has its rough moments, but it all seems to fit appropriately together in the end.
‘Inveterate tinkerer’ the father of karaoke
Japanese electrical engineer Shigeichi Negishi, who loved to sing along to instrumental tracks broadcast on radio, called his invention the Sparko Box at first.
Kylie in all her splendour? Festival team should be so lucky … and they were
Kylie Minogue is the sort of widely respected artist whose fanbase spans generations, and Splendour in the Grass organisers are hoping she will lure attendees to North Byron Parklands in July.
It’s Pnau or never for future-focused trio
‘Since meeting Sir Elton, a lot of aspects of my professional life have not felt really real; they’ve been touched or graced by some irresistible force,’ said Nick Littlemore of Sydney dance act Pnau.
Michael Jackson makes a comeback, as accusers still try to prove he’s bad
A musical about the King of Pop has opened in London and a biopic is due for release next year but detractors say they ignore allegations of child abuse against the star.
Peter Garrett’s ideological anger remains on high simmer
On his second solo album, it’s no surprise that the Midnight Oil frontman’s songwriting agenda is driven by environmental issues, climate change and the state of the Indigenous nation.
The voice: diva sails into opera history
Nina Korbe has had a clear vision of her trajectory since childhood, but the First Nations soprano’s career continues to throw surprising high notes her way.
Horsepower on show as country fans rev up for big weekend
It takes a certain breed of country music fan to show up to a festival that doesn’t fully begin until two days later, as performers found at CMC Rocks QLD on Wednesday night.
Splendour lineup drops early with Aussie star as its headliner
Splendour In The Grass have dropped their lineup a day early, with huge names making the list, including one of Australia’s very own set to exclusively headline.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/music/page/16