Tinian's Boy filming their latest clip Animal. pic: supplied

You don’t have to look far to find new and interesting projects happening at the Edge. Our Screen and Sound Lab often has editors working on a variety of different things, including short films, documentaries and corporate work. Music clips are commonly being worked on as well, but not often do you see the band member editing and directing his own clip.

That’s what Adam Stonehouse, together with Peter Johnston has done. Tinian’s Boy will be launching their new single and film clip to “Animal”, which was shot on the Red One Camera. The “Red” was noteably used on The Social Network, District 9 and many others. It’s quality was not lost on me when I walked past Adam busily editing away today. The quality of the image was quite impressive, and you’ll be able to check it out when the band launch it at The Zoo tomorrow night (2nd July).

If you ask me, the clip looks great and according to Adam it cost a lot less than you might think.

The band have had a pretty rapid rise of late and if you are interested in energetic indie-rock, they are touring throughout July -August.

“From the first note, Adam Stonehouse proves to be the ever-entertaining frontman, dancing across the stage in what can only be described as sporadic bursts of pleasure and excitement.” Time Off Magazine.

The people have spoken and we’re ready to butter your bread!
Kicking off in July The Edge will be launching its Bread and Butter Workshops – a set of digital basics to get you started on your creative projects. Over the next year we’ll be offering introductory courses in music creation, video editing, animation, graphic design, photography, website building, basic app creation, blogging, DIY sustainable power and many more. The courses will be run on a regular basis giving you access to all the creative tools you need to get your project underway. Courses will focus on applications such as Photoshop, In Design, Illustrator, Final Cut Pro, WordPress, not to mention learning about electronics, coding and comic book creation.

The first round of programs are here, sign up to The Edge newsletter to find out about the next round of courses.

Grape Soda is a three-piece, [Psychedelic] Rock/Alternative/Acoustic band from Brisbane, Australia. The band – consisting of 16 year olds Rohan Kindt, Ryan de Weijer, and Tom Beh – are in the midst of recording their first EP of original songs, and will be released mid-2011. The Edge caught up with Grape Soda to fire off a quick Q and A.

How did Grape Soda meet?

We all met at school, when we started jamming at lunchtimes, and it wasn’t until about half a year after our drummer moved schools when we started a band.

Is this your first Fete De La Musique?

This is the first Fete De La Musique for this band, but Rohan (Bass/Vocals) has played in 2008 in another band, and solo in 2010. So he is basically a Fete De La Musique veteran.

Where did you hear about Fete?

Several years ago we saw a very colourful ad in the paper, and we/I/Rohan was like, “Wow let’s do this!!”. Rohan’s parents also heard about it when they were in a holiday in France, and the festival was on.

What’s it like as an emerging band in the current music landscape?

It’s really quite exciting. It’s quite easy these days with social networks and the interwebs. We spend hours and hours just spamming our website links all over facebook and watching the number of likes go up on our facebook page. Thrilling! What’s the facebook page you ask? ‘www.facebook.com/grapesodatheband’. LIKE US!! There’s also lots of youth music events and venues that support us, such as Emerge (QACI) and The Hive (MIC). So that’s pretty cool.

What do you want out of life?

We want to basically just play in bands forever. We don’t really want to do anything else. But we realise that we’re going to have to go to UNI eventually and make a proper living… Kind of depressing.

What pisses you off about Australian politics?

The fact that none of the politicians are very good. We may as well sack all of the politicians we have now, and hire a couple of juggling seals to do the job… I’m not sure if seals can juggle, but it would be cool if they could.

What do you think society can do better?

hmm…Society is too controlling of what people do. People are continuously being told what and what not to do. IT’S YUCK!!!

Grape Soda play at 12pm on The Edge Plaza, Tuesday June 21. Check out the full line up here.

For the first time, bringing together a range of practitioners from electronica, hip hop and beyond, Rainman will host the We Don’t Play Guitars panel along with electronic music producer Alex Yabsley (Dot.ay).

Ray Bourne aka RAINMAN is an MC/DJ/beat-maker from Brisbane, Australia. From a childhood stealing hip hop tapes from older brothers, to holding down DJ residencies, guest-rapping and performing with the cream of local and international acts, releasing a well-received debut, collaborating with some of Australia’s finest and independently releasing a new single ‘Can’t See You’ with production from Chasm – it’s been a steady journey for Rainman so far. Rainman has played to packed shows in Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane, appeared live on radio in each city and on the national Triple J Hip Hop Show as a feature artist on the program. He has also appeared in street press around the country and was featured in the internationally-distributed Stealth magazine and accompanying CD. Rainman’s debut Fire in the Belly is distributed through Australian hip hop powerhouse Obese Records and features production from Rainman himself, Sammsonite (The Optimen), and Toxic Al (The Coalition Crew). He is currently working on his follow up release that includes production from Count Bounce (TZU) and Chasm (Astronomy Class).

Purchase tickets to Unconvention and come and pick the minds of some of the industries movers and shakers.

Unconvention hits The Edge June 11 and 12.

Tickets available through Oztix.

1. What are you guys currently working on?

TIM: Quite a lot actually. Ruby and I are currently writing and demoing songs for our first release, later this year. My band WE ALL WANT TO is about to record album #2 next month, Screamfeeder are doing some gigs around the country over the next few months, and my other band THE WHATS is about to release a 6 track EP.

2. Tim, why the “road less travelled” ?

TIM: I released a solo album 5 years ago, but it ended up being a fairly layered and complex record; more so than planned. The songs with Ruby are sparse and minimal, with a huge focus on harmonies and the two voices working together. It’s also the first project where I’ve been really happy to relinquish a lot of the songwriting duties and decisions to someone else.

RUBY: It’s the ‘road less travelled’ for me, because I’m new to performing and songwriting! It’s an honour to be able to write and perform with such a great talent.

3. What do you think about the Fete De la Musique program?

This year it seems to have taken a huge leap forward and people have understood and embraced the whole concept, maybe for the first time. I have a friend in France who told me about it before it started here, and in France it sounds like this wonderful celebration and party day. I think Brisbane’s starting to “get” that now.

4. Where do you see the music industry in 10 years?

TIM: Pretty hard to say, no one could have predicted how it is now, 10 years ago. I wish I was more of a visionary with these things but I’m not, i’m just one more sucker running along trying to keep up with it all!

RUBY: I think it will continue to become more and more DIY, and that we are only beginning to see the amazing democratising force of promotion through social networking – things like reverbnation – rather than old school big label promotion that has been through heavy controls.

5. What’s one pressing issue in society for you right now?

RUBY: I’m pretty passionate about fair trade. I think people in our society needs to re-think their priorities and question whether they really need to buy 10 five dollar T shirts, instead of one $30 garment which has been made by workers whose lives are treated with dignity and who are paid properly. This is probably one of the issues I feel most strongly about.

Fete De La Musique happens worldwide on the 21st of June.

Click here for the full Fete De LA Musique line-up.

Q Music presents a full day Publishing Masterclass at The Edge on Wednesday June 8.

Special Guest Matt Tanner, Creative and A&R Manager at Native Tongue Music Publishing in Melbourne will be sharing his expertise on music publishing for this special one day event where participants will be provided with in depth information on publishing, licensing, synchronisation, approaching publishing houses and much more.

Matt will be joined by Tyler McLoughlan. After working as a Music Licence Broker with Ricall in London, Tyler returned to Brisbane as a publicist with local management/publicity powerhouse Mucho-Bravado, which prompted the start of a new venture pitching independent artists for synchronisation opportunities, whilst also providing music clearance services.

Established musicians, managers and industry workers of all genres are encouraged to attend.

Places are very limited for this event and bookings are essential – to book your spot head to www.qmusic.com.au

Producers Club Regular Edition
When: 5.30-7.30pm, 18 & 25 August, 27 August (showcase)
Who: Andrei Maberley
Where: The Edge, Lab 3
Cost: Free
Bookings: book.it@edgeqld.org.au

The Producers Club returns to The Edge on a regular basis!

Producers Club Regular Edition is for producers, musicians, audio engineers of all skill levels and experience. It’s all about learning and appreciating the awesomeness of musical creation.

So bring along a work in progress, a final mix or even just a musical idea and we’ll crank it up in the studio. You may hear exactly what’s been missing, get a few idea’s on where to take your track, or you might just sit back and bask in the glory of your musical masterpiece.

Let us know you are coming by dropping us a line at book.it@edgeqld.org.au.

On 21 June every year, amateur and professional musicians across the world take to the streets and fill their cities with music.

Held in 450 cities across the globe on the very same day each year – from Paris to Prague, Barcelona to Brisbane – Fête de la Musique is about making and celebrating music together.

Developed by the French government in 1982 and governed by an international charter, the aim of the event is to make music everywhere, to celebrate music and to expose as many people to music as possible.

For the second year in a row The Edge will play host to an array of bands and artists offering two stages packed with music.

On the plaza stage experience the constant risk and continual discovery of live improvisation with {Array} Ensemble, the youthful sound of indie-pop-rock with wheeleR and the infectious melodies of local six piece Lion Island.

Inside the venue there will be acoustic performances by artists such as Sugar Cane Slim and Gina Horswood while Screamfeeder front man Tim Steward teams up with Ruby Roberts opting to scream less and take the harmoniously intimate road less travelled.

Stay tuned for the full line up!

In its 11^th year, Australia’s biggest indigenous music and dance event has a strong focus on community. This community strength will be celebrated in an unprecedented traditional performance.

Traditional dance has always been an important part of Stylin Up. But whereas in past years different tribes have each done a couple of separate dances, this year dancers from a range of tribes will perform together for the first time at the festival.

Groups including the Nunukul Yuggera, Numbaly Mullera, Goomeroi and Gamilaraay people will come together to perform a traditional song of both welcome and farewell. The song pays tribute to everyone who has come to be part of Stylin Up and those who were lost to the community during the year.

The traditional dances will take place after the Elders’ afternoon tea at Stylin Up this Saturday May 28. The festival runs from 12 noon until 6pm. Other performers on the bill include Impossible Odds, Dizzy Doolan, Colli Kids, EMR, the Fresh Elements dancers and heaps more.

Stylin Up is a free, all ages event held at the CJ Greenfield Sports Complex in Inala. Brisbane City Council will provide free shuttle buses between the event venue and Inala Plaza, Murri School, Salisbury, Darra and Oxley railway stations and Carole Park School.

The Edge is proud to support Stylin Up. We’ll be there on the day showing off some of the multimedia tricks that can be done with the iStreet labs.

Stylin Up
12.00-6.00pm, Saturday 28 May, 2011
Who: Impossible Odds, Dizzy Doolan, EMR, Fresh Elements dancers and heaps more
Where: CJ Greenfields Sports Complex, Inala
Cost: FREE, all ages event
Bookings: just rock up

Australia’s biggest Indigenous hip hop / RnB music and dance event, Stylin Up, is back for 2011. It’s the festival’s 11^th year and like any self-respecting eleven-year-old hopped up on sugary birthday treats, Stylin Up is full of energy and dying to show off some tunes and moves.

Stylin Up’s motto is “pride in SELF – pride in COMMUNITY – pride in CULTURE”, enabling and encouraging young people to step up and shine. Community plays a major role in Stylin Up. The festival was originally created as a partnership between Inala elders and Brisbane City Council. The event is run by the Stylin Up Community Crew and local young indigenous artists design the artwork and posters for the festival. T-shirts are locally made and community groups choose the performers.

But while Stylin Up’s community roots run deep and strong, the festival attracts world class performers. Traditional dancers perform alongside contemporary dancers, emerging artists take turns on the stage with star performers, and crowds of more than 15,000 flock to check it out. A free, all-ages, drug-and-alcohol-free event, Stylin Up inspires and nurtures a new generation of artists.

2011 performers include:

• Impossible Odds
• Dizzy Doolan
• Colli Kids
• Pulse
• In Need Of Sleep
• EMR
• Cat Thompson
• Dirty Mob & Beat Kamp
• Stunna Set
• David Cook
• “Emerge” artists 2011: Yung Roii, Tnc, Shiinga, Soulbreakers, Maupower, MC Murriz
• Dust
• Fresh Elements Dancers

More information: check out the Stylin Up website or follow Stylin Up on Facebook.

We’re on the countdown to UnConvention 2011: that’s right, the grass-roots music industry discussion event returns to The Edge this June.

If you’re still trying to get your head around the concept, UnConvention organiser Dave Carter gave a great interview to AAA Backstage. They asked what people can expect from the UnConvention program this year, and Dave replied:

“Two days of fascinating and interactive discussion about music, success, failure, chaos, what it’s like to run a venue, bleeding edge music technology, photography, shooting music videos, self-publishing, recording and the opportunity to connect with other people who are passionate about independent music. Oh, and there’ll be music, booze and lunch.”

One way UnConvention has grown even bigger and better from last year is with the addition of hands-on workshops.

• DIY Electronics / Gear Building: basic audio tech project (DI Box)
• You better get a lawyer son: rock ‘n roll governance and other misnomers.
• Run Your Own: Setting up and managing a DIY music space.
• We don’t got no steenking budget!: Jaymis Loveday will run 2 x 2 hour workshops on guerrilla music video production.
• UnMixing: local producers pull apart their projects / sessions.
• Self Publishing On / Offline: Everett True will share his experiences writing and self publishing as a music critic.

These are $5 extra on top of the $30 ticket price. You’ve probably paid more for a burger!

There are two weeks to go until UnConvention, which takes place at The Edge on the June long weekend (June 11-12). We’re counting down and the UnConvention guys clearly can’t wait either! They’ve kicked off the discussion already on Twitter (look for the hashtag #uncon20) and Facebook – and they want you to join in with your voice and thoughts.

Get Tickets HERE.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged by scientists and philosophers alike that the sandwich represents the peak of human innovation. We can all of us only try to create something that good. But whether you’re an artist, a scientist or a tech-head, you can learn something from the humble sandwich. Because just as you can’t make a sanger without bread and butter, you need certain basic skills before you can bring your genius vision to life.

Here at The Edge we’d love to be the kitchen where you make your game-changing sandwich. That’s why we’re very excited about bringing you a new series of workshops. “Bread and Butter” are your digital basics. They’re an introduction to the software, gear, techniques or skills you need to create your masterpiece.

So we wanna know – what do you wanna learn? What’s your take on the basics? What do you need to know about so you can kick your creativity into high-gear?

We’ve got some ideas to get the ball rolling. Head to our Facebook page to vote now for what you think should be part of the Bread and Butter Digital Skills program – and add your thoughts. Here are our ideas so far:

• Music recording
• Video Editing 101
• Animation Basics
• Writing for your audience – blogs
• Graphic Design 101
• Introduction to Photography
• Basic app creation
• Programming with Ruby On Rails
• Processing
• Building a website with WordPress
• Basic electronics and hardware hacking
• Introduction to Data Visualisation

• The Edge Garden
• DIY Sustainable Power

What other Bread & Butter skills would you like to learn? While we won’t be able to accommodate every request, your input is really important to make these workshops relevant.  Vote and add your suggestions on our Facebook page, or below in the comments.

As if you needed another reason to drop into The Edge relaunch on Saturday May 7, how’s this? We’ll have Rock Band set up in the Auditorium from 12 until 3pm. Grab some mates and live out all your dreams of musical stardom.

Of course the usual classic rock songs will be on offer, so fluff up your mullet, hold your breath to squeeze into your tightest pants, and warm up you falsetto.

But the most exciting part is that you can also choose to play a song by Brisbane band Surface Paradise, “The Gulf Stream”.

It’s the result of many, many hours of work by visualist and all-round creative ninja Jaymis. With the blessing of Matt Redlich from Surface Paradise (who might even pop in for a jam at the relaunch), Jaymis faced the painstaking task of transcribing, programming and animating the parts for each instrument

And you CAN try this at home, says Jaymis, thanks to Rock Band Network. It’s an online community where Harmonix, the creators of Rock Band, opened up the challenge to anyone to convert any song into Rock Band.

“Rock Band Network allows anyone with knowledge of music and programming to author a track that can be published and ultimately purchased on Xbox,” said Jaymis.

“It means bands outside the mainstream have a really cool way to get their songs out there for the world to hear,” Jaymis said.

And the Network is growing fast, with contributions from around the world adding about 1000 songs to the Rock Band catalogue. “The Gulf Stream” is just the start for Jaymis, who is also working on songs by the Hungry Kids of Hungary and Ball Park Music.

Jaymis is quick to counter those who say Rock Band is just a game.

“The latest version of Rock Band has incorporated an actual keyboard and a Fender Stratocaster guitar. You can actually learn to play an instrument from scratch with Rock Band – I’ve been picking up the drums for a few years and now I’m learning guitar,” Jaymis said.

Here’s the track:

Surface Paradise – The Gulf Stream (live at Letterbox Lullabies) from Jaymis on Vimeo.

Check out the full program for the Relaunch. Come for the Rock Band, stay for the rock bands (and hip hop. And dancers. And short films. And doughnuts…).

Local legends Laneous & The Family Yah will be headlining our relaunch party at The Edge this Saturday May 7. Our intrepid gonzo reporter and Edge VSO, Nathan Connors, caught up with frontman Laneous to get the latest news on what the band has been up to.

Brisbane band Laneous & The Family Yah are busy working on their film-making credentials, producing a series of interconnected film clips for their next EP.

Delving into the art of creating memorable and meaningful film, Laneous and co have teamed up with their good mate Si Gould to make a short film about “love and being in a band.”

“Si is an excellent film guy and we work really well with him,” Laneous said. “We’re making a series of autonomous film clips which will each tell their own story but will also come together to create a short film.

“It’s really exciting and an area of interest we’re really focused on.”

Laneous said although the band are busy making films, recording their new EP Paper and playing live shows still takes up most of their time.

“The new EP is going to be really weird and experimental, it’s psy-rock-weird stuff,” Laneous explained.

“We’re working on two EPs this year as it allows us to try different things and get new material out there faster. We think it’s smart to do EPs instead of albums as you can save a bit of money and they’re easier to create.”

He said the music business had changed so much in recent years that bands cannot afford to rely solely on their CD sales for revenue.

“Gigs are really where it’s at, at the moment. You have to be continually out there because there are so many artists around.”

“The band has been together for four years now, I can see us slogging out live shows for the next decade.”

Laneous said it’s really important as an artist to have an engaging mix of media especially with the democratisation of music and media creation.

With bands like The Ultramods now creating and selling entire albums made on Garage Band for iPad, Laneous said it can only add to the mix of talented independent artist.

“I think it’s fantastic how this allows for different types of music,” he said.

“It’s better to have independent artists creating work rather than the industry being controlled by money hungry record labels.

“It means kids whose daddies aren’t rich have the opportunity to rock.”

Laneous and Family Yah will play at The Edge Relaunch on Saturday May 7. Click here for the full program.

We’re nearly a week out from The Edge relaunch party and I still have no idea what to wear. Yikes! Luckily there are much easier decisions to make, like which performances and demonstrations to check out on Saturday May 7. If you have a tendency become anxious when confronted with an array of exciting options, you may like to sit down before reading ahead.

The Edge Relaunch
12.00-9.00pm Saturday May 7, 2011
FREE (except some workshops as noted)
RSVP on Facebook

THE AUDITORIUM
12.00pm           Interactive Rock Band
3.00pm             Workshop: Fresh Elements
4.40pm             Jabiru Crew
5.00pm             Official opening
5.30pm             Freak Morice
6.10pm             Fresh Elements
7.00pm             Rainman
7.25pm             MC Murriz
7.40pm             The Soulbreakers
8.10pm             Laneous & The Family Yah

THE PLAZA
1.00pm             Katie Wighton & band
2.00pm             Ivy May Dillion
3.00pm             Videomatics
4.00pm             Pear & the Awkward Orchestra
5.00pm             Joel Stern

THE MEZZANINE
12.00-5.00pm    Markets

LAB 1
11.00am           My Happiness Film Project (competition finalists only)
4.00pm             Workshop: HackInMotion (workshop full!)
5.00pm             My Happiness Film Project (competition finalists only)

LAB 2
12.00-5.00pm    Workshop: Making Things Sense (paid attendees only)

LAB 3
1.00pm             Jabiru Showcase
4.00pm             Workshop: Making Shiny, Shiny Pop Music (workshop full!)