They were the days of miracles and wonder, of tales told by troubadours, and lyrics that have endured throughout the years.
STORYLINES is a special concert series that celebrates the true narrative songwriters: Harry Chapin, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Simon & Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, Suzanne Vega, Tony Joe White, Billy Joel, Elton John, Al Stewart, Gerry Rafferty, The Band, Neil Young, Janis Ian and many more.
STORYLINES shows to date have featured a collection of contemporary singer songwriters including Simon Meli (Widowbirds), Sam Knock, Jeff Duff, Natasha Stuart, Stan Walker, Evelyn Duprai, Steve Balbi (Noiseworks), Sam Joole, Damien Leith and Nicky Kurta, backed by a superb band under the creative direction of Joseph Calderazzo.
Let's get together soon; you know we'll have a good time then.
Presented in association with Gibson, Len Wallis Audio and Robert Oatley Vineyards
STORYLINES
March 2012
Guest vocalists:
Jason Walker
Suzy Connolly
Danielle Blakey
Lachlan Doley
Luke O'Shea
Sam Knock
will join
Dave Goodman (drums)
James Haselwood (bass)
Charmaine Ford (keys)
Michelle Hood (violin)
Janine Ryan (cello)
Joseph Calderazzo (guitars)
if you love an intimate setting and great live music, Storylines is a must see concert.
Nickie Flambouras (Jeans for Genes)
The STORYLINES CD (Sony) featuring original recordings, is available online at HERE
CCEntertainment was established in 2003 by Martin Contemprée and Joseph Calderazzo, with the stated aim of producing concerts of the highest quality that celebrate and re-interpret the words and music of iconic bands and recording artists from the 60s and 70s.
To date they have achieved this with capacity crowds at some prestigious national venues including The Enmore Theatre (Sydney), The Lyric Theatre (Sydney), QPAC (Brisbane), Canberra Theatre, Palais Theatre (Melbourne), and The Burswood Theatre (Perth).
They have also established a passionate following and string of sold out concerts at The Basment in Circular Quay and The Laycock St Theatre in Gosford.
CCE have produced spectacular outdoor concerts for the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 'Music By Moonlight' at Sydney Olympic Park. So far more than 60,000 people have enjoyed a CCE concert and become part of a large and loyal following of repeat attendees. CCE has been featured numerous times in all forms of mainstream media including TV, Radio, Print and Online.
If you like the celebrations of your favourite bands to be authentic yet contemporary, and the performers to be interpreters not mimics, then you will feel right at home at a CCE show.
Martin Contemprée: Director of CCEntertainment – a passionate music lover with broad industry experience. Martin co-founded Club Acoustica Sydney in 1998 and oversaw the subsequent expansion into Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide whilst booking over 1,500 original musicians into over 400 showcases. He has promoted over 80 shows at The Basement (Club Acoustica and Homages), has worked in the management team for INXS, Jenny Morris, Tania Kernaghan, Brett Hunt, Luke O'Shea & Medicine Wheel and Welter, has ten years experience as a Radio Presenter (2SER 107.3FM, FBI, 2RRR 88.5FM), hosted AcousticA on 2SER 107.3FM from 2001 – 2003, has traditional and online advertising experience and a marketing background. He has worked at and with the likes of NSW Ministry For The Arts, Sydney Festival, Drum Media, InPrint and Post Click and lectured at JMC Academy and the APM Institute. For all CCE shows Martin co-ordinates the venue bookings and oversees marketing, ticketing, sponsorship, CCE publications and publicity plus assists with the vocalist bookings. Contact Martin: martin_ccent.com.au
Joseph Calderazzo: Director of CCEntertainment – Joseph is the archetypal rock and roll soldier. His enthusiasm is contagious and the energy with which he performs is frenetic. Since moving to Sydney in the mid 90s he has been seen playing with too many artists to mention including Jenny Morris, Matt Finish, Jeff Duff, Wayne Cornell Orchestra plus his own bands Akradia and Jazz Nouveau. Joseph founded and ran the Tuesday Nite Club at the Iguana Bar (Kings Cross) between 1997 and 2003, in this time showcasing over 400 original artists. He is the Creative Director for all CCE concerts, co-ordinates the vocalist and musician bookings, the musical direction and staging as well as being involved in the venue bookings, marketing, CCE publications and publicity for all CCE shows. Contact Joseph: joseph_ccent.com.au
Performers: Some of Australia's finest singers and musicians have performed on CCE shows and they have unearthed and exposed a wealth of emerging talent to a broader audience. Performers have included Dave Gleeson (Screaming Jets), Jenny Morris, John Paul Young, David Campbell, Stan Walker, Christine Anu, Jack Jones (Southern Sons), Wes Carr, Damien Leith, Erik Weideman (1927), iOTA , Kevin Bennett (The Flood), Zkye, Jade MacRae, James Blundell, Bill Risby, Gerard Masters, Felicity, Sam Hawksley, Steve Balbi (Noiseworks), Natasha Stuart , Simon Meli (Widowbirds/Ooh la la), Robyn Loau, Louise Anton, Nicky Kurta, Deborah Krizak, Greg Royal, Scott Aplin (Waikiki), Dario Bortolin (Jimmy Barnes band), Jimmy Roach (Doug Williams band), Peter Northcote, Tim Hartwig, Charmaine Ford, Justin Bull, Yolanda Thomas, Evelyn Duprai (Paul Mac), Pete Skelton (Jimmy Barnes), Chris E Thomas (Tina Arena), Warren Trout (Men At Work), Wayne Jury, Patrick McMahon, Mandi Jarry, Danny Marx Young, Spencer Jones, Erana Clark (Aust Idol), Mark Williams (Popstars), Brett Hunt, Elliott Weston, Karl Broadie, Mick Hart, Louis Tillett, Dave Wilkins, Tony Slavich (Mondo Rock), Jackie Bristow, Kristal Collins, Steve Clisby and Victor Rounds (Marcia Hines Band).
Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a roster that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars.
The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history.
It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre.
Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.
WALKERS DIFFICULT THIRD IS A WORK OF BLOOD, MADNESS AND PANIC DISORDER
Six months is a long time in music, and music writer, author and musician Jason Walker knows that better than anyone. So why the hell did it take him five years to write, record and then release the dazzling follow-up to Ashes & Wine, the captivating, blurry Ceiling Sun Letters? It turns out he was living in a bleak house.
Its been a process of breaking down everything that Id accomplished musically and personally in the last decade, says Walker. Things started to go a little haywire in 2005. I was diagnosed with panic and anxiety disorder, and Id found a need to let some blood out. At a show at the Annandale, Walker took his commitment to the art to levels not seen since Iggy Pop took a steak knife to his chest. I was playing the solo to our last song with a schooner glass and it seemed like the right time to lacerate my forehead with it.
Eight stitches and some incredulous live reviews of that infamous show later, Walker was attracting odd stares and conjecture about his sanity. Our rhythm guitarist and harmony singer Worth Wagers went home to the USA and the last show we did with him was our last show. After that, I briefly went mad, was hospitalised with septicemia (blood poisoning) because of shall we say unsafe practices, I nearly drowned in the Newcastle flood, battled drug and alcohol problems the usual nonsense.
While he managed to avoid rehab or psychiatric care this time around, Walker had nowhere to go to entertain his demons except to write about them and sing them out into the Garage Band program on his laptop. Several of the songs like Hearts Get Hard came automatically according to Walker. I was singing some ideas into the computer and Hearts Get Hard just emerged, fully formed. There was no preconception whatsoever. In the past Id imagined that songwriters who spoke of this sort of occurrence were yanking our chains, but now I understand what it means to be a conduit. It really did just drop out of my mouth, lyrics, melody and all.
Ceiling Sun Letters is a drug album theres no doubt about that. During the writing and recording of it, I was dominated by a fear of death and the nervous energy that followed my two near-death experiences I lived on a diet of [anxiety drug] Xanax, anti-depressants, cigarettes, alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, the odd dragon-chasing session and bingeing on food. Its about trying to communicate the chaos that everyone experiences at various points in their lives, and trying to swim against the logical current to get the word out. I was not at all well during that period.
Walkers previous Laughing Outlaw releases mercilessly plundered the past. Ceiling Sun Letters is different. Its a reflection in a cracked mirror in a dark room, a hazy powerful rock album that recalls the New York Dolls, Grandaddy, Lou Reed, Wilco, the Triffids, Loose Fur and the White Album. From the all-in intro of the storming opener You Will Be Ashes, through the delicate mandolin splashes on Advice to Beginners, the psychic folk thunderstorm of Free to Go or the frustrating waltz-time rocker Fight This which spirals through a maddening key change and uses the little-known marxophone to unusual effect.
Walkers change of direction was aided by the two people who are ultimately responsible for how this album sounds, Brian Crouch and Michael Carpenter. Crouch, who has played with Walker for more than ten years, produced and entirely played the albums stunning centrepiece Time Poor.
From the delicate piano to the strings which are in fact layers of guitars played pizzicato with the edge of a coin, the song builds to timpani-led crescendo that vanishes into the warm crackle of vinyl noise from Crouchs old stereo. The auteur theory is a popular one with your average deluded songwriter but Im a firm believer in giving the credit where its due. Brian turned this album into a work of art. Hes a hell of a producer and I hope he starts getting some work because of this record.
Producer Michael Carpenter was equally responsible for making the album as wildly eclectic and different as it is.
Hes really got a gift for direction in the studio, says Walker. I had to turn this album over to him because I was not in a fit state to direct the action myself. I had ideas overflowing at different times but then I would dry up out of fear and I was bloody grateful to Mick and Brian for transforming it and bringing it to its conclusion. Its no oversimplification to say it belongs to them as well.
With the imminent release of Ceiling Sun Letters, Walker is on his heels once more. I have no idea what this album is going to do for me or anyone. But its like the bastard son I kept in a box for 19 years. Its out and enjoying the sun on its face.
In 2010 Songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Suzy Connolly teamed up with producer and musician Josh Schuberth (Josh Pyke, Ben Folds) and recorded her much anticipated debut solo album 'Night Larks' set for release early summer 2011 through Laughing Outlaw Records.
'Night Larks' has been described has an alternative pop lover's dream full of soaring classic pop gems with influences ranging from 'beatlesque' to 'surf', always immediate in establishing Suzy’s trademark honesty, drama and tenderness.
In 2011, Suzy scored runner up as best female artist in the International Acoustic Music Awards and was shortlisted finalist in the prestigious APRA Professional Development Awards.
References include Aimee Mann and The Beatles alongside grittier rock bands like The Strokes and Blondie.
Danielle Blakey is a Sydney based singer songwriter - her style is a blend of LA pop with a pure organic acoustic sound, together with a catchy commercial sensibility.
Danielle is the winner of the POP award at the 2011 NA2R (New Artists to Radio) with the track FEARLESS - NA2R is one of the most prestigious Radio competitions inAustralia (previous winners include Thirsty Merc, Delta Goodrem, Faker, Emma Louise). Danielle was previously a finalist in the 2011 APRA PDA (Professional Development Awards).
Danielle has already started to make a name for herself in the music industry with a celebrated #1 and #9 top ten ranking onOurStage.com with her songs "Weight Of Our World", "Closer" and " Fearless". While working on writing and recording for her own project, Danielle has also been concentrating on writing for major label artists and recently scored a track on the new Stan Walker album, (released in November 2011 through Sony) together with tracks on the debut album by Annabel Fay through EMI NZ to be released in Feb 2012. Danielle recently returned from Nashville where she co-wrote with The McClymonts for their upcoming album, to be released in 2012.
Danielle regularly travels to LA, Nashville and New York to work with some of the world's best songwriters for major label artists as well as her own artist project.
Photo by Russell Cherry
After ten years of waltzing his Matilda all over the world, busking on street corners and playing in dingy Irish Pubs, in 2002, Luke O’Shea, the Prodigal Son, returned home to establish his own band ‘Medicine Wheel’. With their first single ‘No Day Like Today’ they were signed to ABC/Universal Music and were finalists in the 2003 Golden Guitars and Industry Mo Awards.
From then on it’s been a wild roller coaster ride of national and international tours, rodeos, BnS’s major festivals and live television appearances. With a string of number one and top ten singles on national radio and Foxtels Country Music Channel, Luke O’Shea and Medicine Wheel have been four times finalists in the Australia wide Music Oz Awards as well as the Independent TIARAS winning ‘Best Band’ in 2007.
With the release of their second album ‘Listen to the Words’, they were up for Best Australian Independent Band/Duo and Best Australian Independent Album of the year. With ten songs and four videos from the last two albums being featured on over twenty different major compilations, Luke O’Shea has well and truly cemented his name and reputation as a high quality professional within the Australian Country Music scene.
After establishing his own record company ‘As U Wish’, in 2007 he was selected to perform at the Australian Music Festival in Nashville and was signed to the publishing giant Aristo Media/ Goodland Group who represent such artists as Toby Keith and Shania Twain and with the release of his third album, the aptly titled ‘Prodigal Son,’ at this years Tamworth Country Music festival, the sky literally is the limit.
It’s been said (mostly by record company sorts), that just because indie artists can make their own albums doesn’t necessarily mean they’re capable of doing a good job of it.
If that’s true then Lachy Doley is an exception to the rule.
Lachy Doley is an artist with a huge track record, having trodden the boards in the employ of some enormous names in Australian music, but with the launch of his first solo outing ‘Typically Individual Conforming Anti-Social’ Doley proves himself qualified to go it alone.
Soulful, with a pop sensibility, Lachy’s new album packs the musical punch that those ‘in the know’ have come to expect from one of Australia’s brightest musical talents. The new album hints at a large catalogue of influences, The Jam, Spencer Davis Group, a little Gotye and features a re-animation of Nick Kershaw’s 80’s classic ‘Wouldn’t it Be Good’ for good measure.
Not content with just working as keyboard player for Powderfinger, Jimmy Barnes, The Beautiful Girls, Billy Thorpe (and everyone else), and having honed his own voice with his previous project The Hands (which also starred brother Clayton) Lachy made some time in his busy schedule to produce, record and mix the new album at Big Jesus Burger Studios and in his own HiFiDoleyT studios.
The album also features guest appearances from Jak Housden (The Whitlams, The Badloves) on guitar, Terepai Richmond (Missy Higgins, The Whitlams) on drums and Dario Bortolin (Jimmy Barnes) on bass.
Australian drummer Dave Goodman was born in Tamworth, New South Wales in 1977 where, beginning at age seven, his earliest musical experience involved him playing organ, trumpet and snare drum. Dave acquired his own drumset when he was 11 and moved to Sydney at age 17 to study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and pursue his dream of being a professional drummer. At age 18 he began working with the legendary Mike Nock Quartet and gained invaluable musical and professional insight by playing with the seasoned master.
Since winning second place in the National Jazz Awards at age 20, Dave has performed, toured and recorded music in the USA, UK, Japan, South East Asia and throughout Australia with a diverse range of some of the worlds best-known musical artists.
Joseph is the musical and artistic director for Contempree/Calderazzo Entertainment who deal with boutique shows and events, with the most successful being part of the 2006/2007/2008 and 2009 Music by Moonlight series at Sydney Olympic Park as well as the Led Zeppelin ‘Whole lotta love’ show at the Enmore Theatre in Sept 2009/2010, Palais Melb and Burswood in Perth, and 'One of these nights' at the Lyric Theatre in Feb 2010.
Attracting crowds totaling over 100,000 the shows pay homage to some of the great rock acts of the 70's and feature guest singers including John Paul Young, Jenny Morris, Dave Gleeson (Screaming Jets), Christine Anu, Jack Jones (Irwin Thomas/Southern Sons) Kevin Bennett (The Flood) Steve Balbi (Noiseworks), Eric Weideman (1927)
Charmaine Ford was born in 1980 in Tauranga, New Zealand.
She moved to Auckland at the age of eight, already with two years piano training, and from there rapidly progressed in her music career.
Charmaine attended Rangitoto College on Auckland’s North Shore, where she became heavily involved in the jazz ensembles, both as a player and as a leader.
This became her ‘training ground’ for the Auckland jazz scene. Shortly after leaving high school, Charmaine won several national awards including ‘Best Pianist’, and ‘Best Combo’ at the National Tauranga Jazz Festival Competitions.
She was also awarded ‘Jazz Musician of the Year’ by the Auckland Jazz Workshop two years running. From there, she toured to Australia with her jazz quintet, ‘Carte Blanche’, and performed at the 1998 ‘Manly Jazz Festival’, in Sydney.
Charmaine was selected as pianist for the ‘New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra’ on four occasions, in which she toured throughout New Zealand.
In addition to her staggering list of achievements, Charmaine appears on over 20 album recordings covering a wide variety of genres.
Furthermore she is part of a collaborative project called the ‘Ford/Tipping/Wise Trio’ who have released two albums (‘Live at Sandwiches’ and ‘After The Last Dance’).
Charmaine has played piano professionally since her mid teens and has been composing since the age of six. At age 19, she was awarded a Travel Grant Scholarship from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) to study in London.
There, Charmaine spent three months learning from two of England's top jazz educators, Nikki Iles and Pete Churchill, while also taking lessons from one of the world’s leading classical pianists, (the late) Professor Yonty Soloman.
During her time in London, Charmaine was also privileged to have lessons with various jazz greats including American pianists, Fred Hersch and Danilo
Janine Boubbov, a cellist from Cairns, studied in Canberra, Frankfurt and Berlin, held two positions in professional orchestras as well as being a member of the Askja and Isserlis String Quartets in Germany before returning to Sydney to settle in 2007.
She enjoys frequent engagements with both Sydney Symphony and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, as well as being on the teaching staff at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the Australian Institute of Music, and two private schools in Sydney.
Janine plays frequently in recording sessions at Fox Studios Studios 301, and has performed with many contemporary artists including Tina Arena, UnKle, Mark Vincent, Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll, Katie Noonan, Steve Kirby and various others, as well as touring with the annual “Whole Lotta Love” Led Zeppelin Tribute concert.
This talented Australian Violinist began her training under the direction of Evan Elsley, Jacinta McPhillamy and the late Wayne Goodwin.
After high school, she studied in Holland with Harry Van Der Meer, Conductor of Den Haag youth Orchestra, before returning to Australia to complete her Bachelor of Music with Adrian Keating.
Michelle has performed at the Darling Harbour Music Festival, The Annual Newtown Blue Moon Festival with Le Cabaret Gothique, has been supporting act for international Burlesque Dance Troupe and has performed in the production of the musical 'Tommy'.
As well as recording and performing with the Joe Davis Band, Michelle's sessions include recording for the film 'Estelle's Etoiles' (TBR) and has performed with Wendy Parr (co-composer of the film Slum Dog Millionaire).
Michelle also performs in CCEntertainment’s famous 'Whole Lotta Love' show; a tribute to Led Zeppelin.
Michelle's current endeavor is performing with Ian Cooper in 'An Evening With The Music Of Andre Rieu' Spectacular.
Pete Drummond is one of Australia's most phenomenal drummers and has worked with a host of great artists, spanning a wide array of musical styles including: The Temptations (US Motown Legends), Glenn Shorrock (Little River Band), Dragon, Wendy Matthews, Doug Parkinson and Jeremy Barnes.
As a session drummer, Pete has appeared on a multitude of albums, commercials and soundtracks, inc. Dead Ringer Band's ARIA award winning album 'Homefires', Channel 10, NRL, ABC TV and many more.
Born 1977 and bred in the West of Sydney’s outer regions, Simon Meli began his musical affair in infancy.
His Maltese Grandmother initiated things, teaching him organ and singing about her kitchen, but it was before Simon could speak, his father (fuelled by motorcars) handed Simon an unused gearshift from an LJ Torana, Simon thought straight away to use this as a make-shift microphone.
Whilst his unschooled voice and technique is one to his own... Simon has developed a unique and soulful voice in the Sydney and Australian market, ever willing to take abroad.
To listen to Simon’s voice can be tonally compared to Robert Plant, Lou Gramm and a voice that could bend all the black keys on a piano. Heavily inspired by Frankie Miller, Joe Cocker and Paul Rodgers of Free, Simon hopes to carry the same soulful torch.
Sharing stages with National & International greats is not an uncommon occurrence in Simon’s career.
Highlighted by the Greatest of International artists... Paul Weller (UK, The Jam, The Style Council) – Bon Jovi and Swamp Legend, Tony Joe White (US). Not to mention the local touring and sharing stages with Australian greats such as Jimmy Barnes, The Backsliders, Kevin Bennett, and many more.
Nicky is a young singer/songwriter currently performing around Sydney’s pub and University/Tafe circuit.
As well as performing her own material, some of which were written with Australia’s most respected artists such as Brian Cadd, Rick Price and Phil Buckle (Farnham).
Along side being a solo performer, Nicky has also worked with Glenn Shorrock, Brian Cadd, Delilah, Doug Williams, Jackie Orszacky, Armondo Hurley and many other notables.
Evelyn Duprai has worked with the best of the best in Australian music. In the world of Jazz, Evelyn regularly tours as a soloist with James Morrison; in the world of rock, she's toured with ARIA award winning recording artists - Silverchair, and in the world of electronic dance, she's toured with yet another ARIA award winning recording artist – Paul Mac.
Evelyn has also worked with renowned Australian Film Industry Composers John Gray and Christopher O’Young having lent her voice to various Australian movies, documentaries and commercials both here and abroad.
In March this year Evelyn was invited by the organisers of Melbourne’s renowned Thai Food Festival to participate in the Sunshine Friends Concert for the Marysville fire victims with her soul vocal group Tiara.
When Larry Braggs – lead singer of world renowned funk band Tower of Power was looking for a vocalist to duet with him live on a song from off of his current album, Evelyn Duprai got the call. Evelyn joined Larry Braggs and David Garibaldi from Tower of Power in their first ever-Australian tour in April and May 2010
Rachel Thompson, violist, has worked in symphony and opera orchestras in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Since moving to Sydney in 2009 her performance experience has expanded to the rock arena.
CCEntertainment performances that she has been a part of in Sydney include, A Day in the Life (The Beatles), Whole Lotta Love 2010 / 2011 and Storylines. In 2011 Rachel played in a string backing for the British band UNKLE.
Rachel was trained in the USA. She spent four years in Philadelphia and a post-graduate year at the University of Bloomington, Indiana.
Rachel was invited to play with a group of string players selected from the prestigious music conservatories of the East Coast USA, who performed at a Christmas concert in Carnegie Hall.
As winner of the New Zealand National Concerto Competition she performed the Bartok Viola Concerto with the Christchurch Symphony.
Rachel has played alongside international artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Kiri Te Kanawa and Diana Krall, as well as a line-up of Kiwi talent that includes Anika Moa, Bic Runga, Dave Dobbyn, John Rowles, Shapeshifter, Golden Horse and Fur Patrol.
Fearless, Powerful, Captivating, Songwriter,
Moving, Cheeky, Transeding, Wicked, Genuine,
Passionate, Experienced, Noiseworks , Electric Hippies,
Universe, Platinum, Gold,
Heart, .
Soul,
Rock 'n' Roll, Steve
Balbi.
Natasha Stuart is one of Sydney’s most sought after singers and has toured with the who’s who of the Australian music scene including Tina Arena, Ricki-Lee Coulter, Richard Clapton, Paul Mac, Jessica Mauboy, Delta Goodrem and Deni Hines. She’s appeared on TV and award shows with some notable international such as Kelly Osbourne, UK Queen of Soul: Mica Paris.
Natasha released her first EP "Get 2 Know Ya" in September 2006 and is mid-way through recording a follow up album. The new tracks have a fresh feel but allude to the old school rock vibe of the 70s. Soulful vocals and touch of funk complete the sound.
"fascinating and truly entertaining" What's on Central Coast
"For an intimate music event, STORYLINES is as good as it gets. Every song was a classic, each performance was spectacular. A totally enjoyable and uplifting night of music from around the globe by top Aussie artists."
David Berkman, BIG Music
let us know your favorite story song and hopefully we can include it in the next run of STORYLINES shows.
