Latest news with #ElectricFields
ABC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Celebrate NAIDOC Week with ABC's That Blackfella Show
Celebrate NAIDOC Week with ABC's That Blackfella Show The ABC is thrilled to announce Australia's first First Nations variety program, That Blackfella Show will premiere Saturday 5 July at 7.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview. Broadcasting live in front of a studio audience, celebrate an hour of laughs, yarns and music this NAIDOC week. Hosted by Australian icon Ernie Dingo, ABC News Breakfast host Bridget Brennan and introducing Isaac Compton as their studio sidekick, it's set to be a big, blak night of entertainment. The showcase will feature a stellar line up of guests and First Nation stars including Steph Tisdell, Dane Simpson, Abbie Chatfield, Jimmy Barnes, Outback Tom, BARKAA, Kevin Kropinyeri and many more. Featuring performances of iconic black anthems from the award winning Aboriginal Australian music duo Electric Fields, Maningrida all-female rock band The Ripple Effect Band and ARIA-nominated singer, songwriter, rapper Miss Kaninna. It's loud, it's proud, it's a variety hour not to be missed. Always free and always entertaining, discover and celebrate Indigenous stories and features on ABC iview now. PRODUCTION CREDIT: An Australian Broadcasting Corporation Production. Executive Producer: Rowdie Walden. ABC Head of Indigenous: Kelrick Martin.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Behind the scenes at Eurovision and major losses at national companies
Eurovision is a phenomenon in Australia, with more than 450-thousand people tuning in for the final this year. But what's it like to compete in this global extravaganza? And what impact does it have on a musician's career? Electric Fields, who represented Australia in 2024, share their experience at the competition. Hasib Hourani reads his NSW Literary award-winning poem you can start anywhere, you'll still hit all the service stations, originally broadcast on Line Break Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet have each announced losses of more than nine million dollars for the 2024/5 financial year. That follows on from leadership changes at both companies. Samuel Cairnduff says that this is more symptom than cause, and there are bigger issues facing the arts sector. Our track of the week is Heartbreak by Tune-Yards Stories mentioned in the headlines: Cannes attempts to institute new fashion rules on the red carpet Gen Z gets a seat on NSW arts boards Winners announced for the NSW Literary Award Elton John brands government 'losers' over AI copyright plans
West Australian
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Eurovision 2025: Go-Jo's Milkshake Man fails to make song contest grand final in Switzerland
Europe does not want another taste of the Milkshake Man. In the early hours of Friday morning, Perth time, Manjimup-raised pop star Marty Zambotto, better known as Go-Jo, performed on stage at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland. The 29-year-old's fun frothy rendition of Milkshake Man, the Australian entry written with Brisbane family band Sheppard, to kickstart the second semi-final was not enough to earn him a place in the grand final on May 17. Go-Jo was one of six countries to bow out, alongside Montenegro, Ireland, Georgia, Czechia and Serbia. Eurovision organisers split entrants into two semi-finals, with 10 from each night joining the 'big five' that fund the event — France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK — plus the host nation in the final featuring 26 songs. Despite fans at St Jakobshalle in Basel screaming 'yum yum' during his song, Go-Jo failed to get enough votes from TV audiences and became the third Australian entrant to stumble at the semi-final stage following Montaigne in 2021 and Electric Fields last year. Go-Jo, who grew up off-the-grid on his family's farm near Manjimup, put a positive spin on his early exit. 'This experience has been truly amazing, and I feel so lucky to have shared this incredible opportunity with so many talented artists,' he said via Australian broadcaster SBS. 'I've never felt more comfortable to share my art than on the Eurovision stage and with all the wonderful Eurovision fans around the world. 'I've made memories I'll cherish forever, and I want to say a huge thank you to Australia for all the incredible support — I hope I made you proud.' Comments on Eurovision fan sites have blamed Go-Jo's 'messy' staging, described as having Willy Wonka-meets-Rocky Horror aesthetics with Go-Jo joined on stage by a giant 4m blender and dancers Jenaya Okpalanze and Jeannine Bruderer. Okpalanza is the star's girlfriend and a member of Sydney indie band Surely Shirley. Other fans from around the world have claimed Go-Jo was 'robbed'. Australia's creative director Paul Clarke said missing out was a 'tough result, in a tough semi'. 'Nobody could have worked harder than Go-Jo, going to 15 European (cities) in the lead up to Eurovision and then spreading the milkshake legend,' he said. 'We wish him well, he represented Australia very proudly.' Go-Jo has been on the go since February when he was unveiled as the 10th artist to represent Australia following the likes of Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy and Kate Miller-Heidke. Our best result came in 2016 when Dami Im finished runner-up with Sound of Silence. The non-stop treadmill of publicity and promotion ramped up once Go-Jo flew into Europe to begin a five-week charm offensive. After touching down in Zurich on March 30, the West Australian travelled to 13 different countries to perform, do press and create social media content with fellow Eurovision entrants, including Finnish pop diva Erika Vikman, Icelandic brothers Vaeb and Estonian rapper Tommy Cash. Daniel Watson from Go-Jo's management Chugg Music joined him on the road and said the pre-Eurovision campaign was a 'crazy adventure'. 'Official pre-parties, rehearsals, performances, media interviews, content creation with other artists, meeting beautiful people and celebrating everything that makes the Eurovision Song Contest so special to so many,' he wrote on Instagram. 'This is a world like no other.' Zambotto was the second WA act to represent Australia at Eurovision following Perth progressive metal band Voyager, which topped their public-voted semi-final before finishing ninth at the 2023 event in Liverpool with their song, Promise. Like Go-Jo, Voyager was internally selected by SBS, which broadcasts Eurovision in Australia. Voyager frontman Danny Estrin was shocked that Go-Jo did not make it to the final, given he was 'smashing' the pre-event promotional trail. He told The West Australian that the weeks leading up to the televised performances were like a popularity contest combined with a political campaign. 'You've got to be Miss Congeniality, you've got to do the pre-parties, you've got to do the socials, you've got to really get into the fans' hearts,' Estrin said. For the 2023 contest, Voyager did more than 600 interviews while Estrin lost count of how many times the band performed Promise. 'It's a marathon and you're basically on the campaign bus for five weeks before Eurovision.' The Eurovision final is on May 17 in Switzerland, or 3am on May 18 Perth time. Sauna-loving Finnish trio KAJ representing Sweden and Austrian pop-opera singer JJ are favourites to win and therefore host in 2026.
The Advertiser
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Go-Jo misses out at Eurovision but does Australia proud
Australia's Go-Jo (Marty Zambotto) has taken to the stage in the second semi-final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, with the tongue-in-cheek Milkshake Man, but has missed out on qualifying for the grand final. He was the first to perform on Thursday night, and is the tenth musical act to represent Australia at the world's most popular singing contest. Appearing to echo 1960s TV advertisements, Go-Jo started with a segment promoting a blender, before going into a cubicle to transform into a blue sparkly jumpsuit, which saw a part of it dramatically taken off. Several people in the audience were seen waving Australian flags. But his performance wasn't enough to land Australia a spot in the grand final, following Electric Fields missing out in 2024. Lithuania, Israel, Armenia, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Latvia, Malta and Greece were the 10 countries that made it through. British group Remember Monday harmonised their song What The Hell Just Happened? with Bridgerton-inspired outfits, and are already through to the grand final in Basel, Switzerland, as "one of the big five". Their performance kicked off with Lauren Byrne in the middle as they moved in synch with a collapsed chandelier on stage, calling back to a line in their song. Her along with Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, strutted down the stage, and looked for camera angles to showcase the dramatic moments in the song, before ending in a group hug. Austria's JJ (Johannes Pietsch), who is among the competition favourites with song Wasted Love, opted for a black and white staging, which looked like a disastrous boat trip as he sang about someone they cared about being overwhelmed. Also putting in a good show was Maltese singer Miriana Conte, who went full diva with Serving, and Czechia representative Adonxs with the punchy Kiss Kiss Goodbye. Luxembourger Laura Thorn was posed like a doll by her dancers while she belted La Poupee Monte Le Son and had a costume change mid-song to reveal a new outfit. Last to perform was Finland's black leather-wearing Erika Vikman, who performed her song Ich komme. Earlier, protesters "disrupted" Israeli singer Yuval Raphael's rehearsal for the semi-final, organisers said. The singer, 24, was performing New Day Will Rise during the preview show on Thursday night when six people with "oversized flags and whistles" obstructed her act. The group was quickly ejected from the St Jakobshalle arena. A spokeswoman for SRG SSR said: "During the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final of the ESC this afternoon, the performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael was disrupted. "Six people, including a family, disrupted the rehearsal with oversized flags and whistles. "Security personnel were able to quickly identify those involved and escort them out of the hall. The Eurovision grand final will take place at 5am AEST on Sunday. Australia's Go-Jo (Marty Zambotto) has taken to the stage in the second semi-final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, with the tongue-in-cheek Milkshake Man, but has missed out on qualifying for the grand final. He was the first to perform on Thursday night, and is the tenth musical act to represent Australia at the world's most popular singing contest. Appearing to echo 1960s TV advertisements, Go-Jo started with a segment promoting a blender, before going into a cubicle to transform into a blue sparkly jumpsuit, which saw a part of it dramatically taken off. Several people in the audience were seen waving Australian flags. But his performance wasn't enough to land Australia a spot in the grand final, following Electric Fields missing out in 2024. Lithuania, Israel, Armenia, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Latvia, Malta and Greece were the 10 countries that made it through. British group Remember Monday harmonised their song What The Hell Just Happened? with Bridgerton-inspired outfits, and are already through to the grand final in Basel, Switzerland, as "one of the big five". Their performance kicked off with Lauren Byrne in the middle as they moved in synch with a collapsed chandelier on stage, calling back to a line in their song. Her along with Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, strutted down the stage, and looked for camera angles to showcase the dramatic moments in the song, before ending in a group hug. Austria's JJ (Johannes Pietsch), who is among the competition favourites with song Wasted Love, opted for a black and white staging, which looked like a disastrous boat trip as he sang about someone they cared about being overwhelmed. Also putting in a good show was Maltese singer Miriana Conte, who went full diva with Serving, and Czechia representative Adonxs with the punchy Kiss Kiss Goodbye. Luxembourger Laura Thorn was posed like a doll by her dancers while she belted La Poupee Monte Le Son and had a costume change mid-song to reveal a new outfit. Last to perform was Finland's black leather-wearing Erika Vikman, who performed her song Ich komme. Earlier, protesters "disrupted" Israeli singer Yuval Raphael's rehearsal for the semi-final, organisers said. The singer, 24, was performing New Day Will Rise during the preview show on Thursday night when six people with "oversized flags and whistles" obstructed her act. The group was quickly ejected from the St Jakobshalle arena. A spokeswoman for SRG SSR said: "During the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final of the ESC this afternoon, the performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael was disrupted. "Six people, including a family, disrupted the rehearsal with oversized flags and whistles. "Security personnel were able to quickly identify those involved and escort them out of the hall. The Eurovision grand final will take place at 5am AEST on Sunday. Australia's Go-Jo (Marty Zambotto) has taken to the stage in the second semi-final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, with the tongue-in-cheek Milkshake Man, but has missed out on qualifying for the grand final. He was the first to perform on Thursday night, and is the tenth musical act to represent Australia at the world's most popular singing contest. Appearing to echo 1960s TV advertisements, Go-Jo started with a segment promoting a blender, before going into a cubicle to transform into a blue sparkly jumpsuit, which saw a part of it dramatically taken off. Several people in the audience were seen waving Australian flags. But his performance wasn't enough to land Australia a spot in the grand final, following Electric Fields missing out in 2024. Lithuania, Israel, Armenia, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Latvia, Malta and Greece were the 10 countries that made it through. British group Remember Monday harmonised their song What The Hell Just Happened? with Bridgerton-inspired outfits, and are already through to the grand final in Basel, Switzerland, as "one of the big five". Their performance kicked off with Lauren Byrne in the middle as they moved in synch with a collapsed chandelier on stage, calling back to a line in their song. Her along with Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, strutted down the stage, and looked for camera angles to showcase the dramatic moments in the song, before ending in a group hug. Austria's JJ (Johannes Pietsch), who is among the competition favourites with song Wasted Love, opted for a black and white staging, which looked like a disastrous boat trip as he sang about someone they cared about being overwhelmed. Also putting in a good show was Maltese singer Miriana Conte, who went full diva with Serving, and Czechia representative Adonxs with the punchy Kiss Kiss Goodbye. Luxembourger Laura Thorn was posed like a doll by her dancers while she belted La Poupee Monte Le Son and had a costume change mid-song to reveal a new outfit. Last to perform was Finland's black leather-wearing Erika Vikman, who performed her song Ich komme. Earlier, protesters "disrupted" Israeli singer Yuval Raphael's rehearsal for the semi-final, organisers said. The singer, 24, was performing New Day Will Rise during the preview show on Thursday night when six people with "oversized flags and whistles" obstructed her act. The group was quickly ejected from the St Jakobshalle arena. A spokeswoman for SRG SSR said: "During the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final of the ESC this afternoon, the performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael was disrupted. "Six people, including a family, disrupted the rehearsal with oversized flags and whistles. "Security personnel were able to quickly identify those involved and escort them out of the hall. The Eurovision grand final will take place at 5am AEST on Sunday. Australia's Go-Jo (Marty Zambotto) has taken to the stage in the second semi-final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, with the tongue-in-cheek Milkshake Man, but has missed out on qualifying for the grand final. He was the first to perform on Thursday night, and is the tenth musical act to represent Australia at the world's most popular singing contest. Appearing to echo 1960s TV advertisements, Go-Jo started with a segment promoting a blender, before going into a cubicle to transform into a blue sparkly jumpsuit, which saw a part of it dramatically taken off. Several people in the audience were seen waving Australian flags. But his performance wasn't enough to land Australia a spot in the grand final, following Electric Fields missing out in 2024. Lithuania, Israel, Armenia, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Latvia, Malta and Greece were the 10 countries that made it through. British group Remember Monday harmonised their song What The Hell Just Happened? with Bridgerton-inspired outfits, and are already through to the grand final in Basel, Switzerland, as "one of the big five". Their performance kicked off with Lauren Byrne in the middle as they moved in synch with a collapsed chandelier on stage, calling back to a line in their song. Her along with Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, strutted down the stage, and looked for camera angles to showcase the dramatic moments in the song, before ending in a group hug. Austria's JJ (Johannes Pietsch), who is among the competition favourites with song Wasted Love, opted for a black and white staging, which looked like a disastrous boat trip as he sang about someone they cared about being overwhelmed. Also putting in a good show was Maltese singer Miriana Conte, who went full diva with Serving, and Czechia representative Adonxs with the punchy Kiss Kiss Goodbye. Luxembourger Laura Thorn was posed like a doll by her dancers while she belted La Poupee Monte Le Son and had a costume change mid-song to reveal a new outfit. Last to perform was Finland's black leather-wearing Erika Vikman, who performed her song Ich komme. Earlier, protesters "disrupted" Israeli singer Yuval Raphael's rehearsal for the semi-final, organisers said. The singer, 24, was performing New Day Will Rise during the preview show on Thursday night when six people with "oversized flags and whistles" obstructed her act. The group was quickly ejected from the St Jakobshalle arena. A spokeswoman for SRG SSR said: "During the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final of the ESC this afternoon, the performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael was disrupted. "Six people, including a family, disrupted the rehearsal with oversized flags and whistles. "Security personnel were able to quickly identify those involved and escort them out of the hall. The Eurovision grand final will take place at 5am AEST on Sunday.
The Guardian
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Off limits for 44 years, Perth's historic power plant erupts with a new kind of energy
A mudlark is foraging in the grass beneath the imposing brutalist facade of the East Perth Power Station, unbothered by the clamour of staging being set up around it. The afternoon south-westerly rattles the crowns of eucalypts on the riverbank, their roots burrowing deep below the Derbarl Yerrigan as it meanders towards the city. It's an idyllic scene, framed by the towering heritage-listed coal plant that once powered all of Perth. Yet, this prime real estate and historical landmark has remained off-limits to the public for decades, lying dormant for more than 40 years since its decommissioning in 1981. But this industrial relic is erupting with a new kind of energy this week as it has been transformed into a major performance venue for the next four years of Perth festival. Over the next three weeks, the main stage will feature big-name acts such as Nils Frahm, Röyksopp, Electric Fields, Moktar and Midnight Oil. On the riverbank, Casa Musica brings a free lineup of world music in a European-style piazza, while projections by First Nations artists will drench the building in stories of the site's early history. While the power station's interior remains off-limits due to asbestos contamination, its graffiti-covered facade, shattered windows and overgrown plants create an industrial-cool atmosphere of their own accord. And if all goes to plan, the doors may be unlocked for the 2026 festival. When I meet Perth festival's artistic director, Anna Reece, at the power station, the crew are in full event mode: checking the sound equipment, setting up food trucks and putting tables and signage in place. 'It definitely hasn't been a walk in the park,' she says. 'It was basically a dust bowl before we got here. 'But as soon as I saw the site, there was no going back. It was just so clear that, even though this was such a huge undertaking, that we had just found the home of the festival.' Sign up for our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Constructed between 1913 and 1916, the power station was Perth's first major power plant, supplying electricity to the entire city for much of the 20th century. The site's reactivation has been a long time coming, with multiple failed development proposals to turn it into a hotel, a museum, a mixed-use commercial space and even a football stadium. Galvanised by the success of iconic venues such as Printworks London and Carriageworks in Sydney, Reece – who is presenting the inaugural program of her four-year tenure – says the power station's appeal as a multi-arts venue is undeniable. 'Festivals are at their best when they infiltrate places that have character, places that have stories, rather than those kind of pop-up sites,' she says. 'When you scratch the surface in Western Australia, there's just so much to celebrate and so many stories to tell, and the power station is one of those places. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion 'Obviously the architecture is really interesting. And I also love the history, I love the fact it supplied electricity for our whole state. There's a romantic part of me that thinks that this is the new energy … that arts and culture are going to invigorate this city.' In revitalising the site, Reece worked closely with the festival's Noongar Advisory Circle and elder Dr Barry McGuire to research its early history, and ensure cultural safety for all guests. 'This is a place that has great significance and many stories for us as Whadjuk people,' McGuire said. 'You will see that Country and culture are still strong here. In the trees, the reeds, the birds' nests and the bee hives.' While First Nations artists such as blues and gospel musician Kankawa Nagarra and singer-songwriter Emily Wurramara will play a central role in the power station's programming, Reece is committed to also representing the diversity of migrant cultures in WA. On the bill for Casa Musica is Kavisha and the Continentals, a soulful celebration of Italian folk music; the Joy, a South African a cappella group; and Lindigo, an energetic eight-piece from Réunion Island. 'The Casa Musica programming is very much about recognising that WA is a migrant state,' Reece says. 'We are packed full of the most incredible communities that have enriched this place that we live.' Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are already whispers in Perth about the future of the East Perth Power Station beyond the festival. Reece is hopeful this revitalisation will lay the groundwork for it to become a permanent arts venue. 'I really hope the right people pay attention and see the potential,' she says. 'And when I say the right people, for me, in my role as advocating for the arts, that's about cultural precincts, artist studios, spaces and galleries – not a hotel or apartments. 'With anything groundbreaking, anything that gives a city an extraordinary gift, it takes bravery and boldness and an appetite for some kind of risk.' Perth festival is on now
