Yo yo yo, boys and girls! It's so strange how every year is exactly the same - it's either hot enough to roast your buns off or cold enough to freeze them off. Yet we are all so surprised when winter comes along. Seriously people, you can't say you were expecting winter to have a holiday this year. You can't turn up to school or work wearing summer's equivalent and complain about the cold. You did this to yourselves people! Well that's my rant for this fortnight, onto the shows.
Friday July 10 will see the most epic collision of genres in Hip Hop Vs Rock at the Tuggeranong Youth Centre, starting at 6 pm. You know the best part kiddies, it's free! Yep, you heard me, F-R-E-E. The event features some amazing bands and hip hop acts, such as Still Cool, DJ KG, Machismo, Ji, Count Komodo, Justice and Sleepless King. So whether you're a hip-hopper or a rock 'n' roller get your dancing shoes on and don't be late, 'cause all the cool cats and hip kids will be there.
Yet another awesome battle of the styles, Punk Vs Metal will be rocking out at, yet again, the Tuggers Youth Centre on Friday July 17 at 8 pm. Some of Australia's best punk and metal bands will be there, including Reign Of Terror, The Toxicmen, Blind Eyed God and Pirate Satellite. It's going to be yet another smashing clash of two of the most popular genres in music at the moment.
One of Australia's most popular hardcore bands at the moment, Parkway Drive, will be tearing up the Southern Cross Woden Basketball Stadium on Sunday August 16. Parkway Drive first established themselves as one of Australia's most formidable hardcore bands when in 2005 they released their debut LP, Killing With a Smile which was soon followed by 2007's chart-topping album Horizons. This shot the Byron Bay five-piece to levels of astounding popularity with a still growing loyal fanbase. Having been compared to the likes of Metallica, Pantera, Slayer and Machine Head, these five surfies have a unique style of a bone-crunching, classic hardcore that makes Parkway Drive one of Australia's biggest circle-pit-inducing bands yet. Parkway Drive's lack of arrogance, ability to annihilate an audience and destroy a venue, whilst still showing everyone in the crowd the time of their lives, is only a part of the reason that they have made such a huge name for themselves in Australia's hardcore industry. The lads will be joined by America's August Burns Red and the UK's Architects. Tickets are $33.36 and are already on sale from www.moshtix.com.
If you're in a band and looking for your shot at the big time, then you should definitely sign yourselves up for the 2009 Vitamin Water National Campus Band Competition. With a prize of $5000 up for grabs for the big winners, this will definitely help to set up you and your band buddies for the future. The ACT heats begin in August at the CIT Music Industry Centre and the ACT final will be held at the ANU Bar on Thursday September 3. You can enter your band online at www.aaca.net.au and for more information head to http://www.myspace.com/ncbcaustralia. The Vitamin Water NCBC National Final will be held on the Gold Coast on Sunday September 27 at the Australian Uni Games at Sea World. The Canberra heats will feature local lads Rubicon, last year's national final winners.
I'm out! Catchya next time boys and girls.
LIZ ROWLEY
elizabeth_rowley@live.com.au
