February is upon us once again, and this month’s To Do List just keeps on growing. Locality would like to remind the procrastinators amongst you to head online and buy your Corinbank tickets (and you had better get in quickly, as all of the first and second release tix have already sold out). Valentine’s Day rears its red cardboard head this month, so it’s time to either plan a sickeningly lovely surprise for whichever boy or girl you have a heart-on for, or decry the tradition as a load of commercial nonsense (preferably loudly, and on public transport). And, of course, remember to make a trip to the 2010 National Multicultural Festival, held in Civic from Friday-Sunday February 5-7, to enjoy the free entertainment and eat some stupidly good food.
If you’re strapped for cash and you love local music, head along to the free Global Concert in Garema Place onFriday February 5. The concert will launch this year’s Multicultural Festival and the lineup includes some great local acts. DJ Gosper and The KarismaKatz will be at their bluesy best from 5pm, Clankenstein will present their unique brand of Balkan honky-tonk from 5:40pm and jazz duo Anton Wurzer and Lachlan Coventry will play some original compositions from 6:10pm. I should probably also mention that this gig coincides with the Multicultural Night Markets, so really it’s a no-brainer.
On Saturday February 6, locals Waterford and Voss will play alongside Sydney five-piece Dusker. The music starts at the Phoenix from 9pm and entry is free. If your ideal lineup is less “indie” and more “screamy,” head to Bar 32 on Wednesday February 10. Locals Vera, Jerkstore and Hoodlum Shouts are playing with NSW’s Bare Arms and Italy’s Milvains. Doors open at 7pm and entry is $8.
Birds Love Fighting , Canberra’s facilitators of the finest in indie music, present another instalment of Gangbusters onWednesday February 3. This month, locals Kasha, Girl Sized Hands, Killing Birds and Ah! Pandita vie for your affection. Gangbusters kicks off at 9pm at Bar 32 and entry is $5 at the door. You can also catch Killing Birds at Bar 32 on Thursday February 11, when they play alongside local duo Assassins 88. The gig doubles as a launch party for a new photo zine, We Are Not Obscene. The fun starts at 8pm, entry is free and a zine will set you back $6.
The team at Locality has been sifting through the hundreds of ACT entries on the triple j Unearthed website and this fortnight we’ve discovered more standout artists. We’re currently listening to local four-piece Waterford’s Unearthed tracks, Waldeningstone, Painted and Sails & Raft. Waterford manages to make music that’s both cruisey and rousing at the same time. It’s catchy and poppy indie rock, and we’re big fans. To listen to these tracks, head to www.triplejunearthed.com and search for ‘Waterford.’ You can also select the Advanced Search option and opt to view every act from the ACT. While you’re online, we recommend taking an extra couple of minutes and registering as a member. Registration is free and it enables you to rate and review each track you listen to. So head to the site, give yourself a devastatingly witty username and create some buzz about Canberra music.
Have a lovely fortnight, boys and girls. ‘Til next time,
Catherine James
Locality.bma@hotmail.com
