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West Australian
28-07-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Kate Emery: Australia must never let reheating of old culture wars tear us apart
A familiar tune has been playing in my head for days. That is not thanks to Triple J's controversial weekend list of the best 100 Australian songs, which not only put Jet's Are You Gonna Be My Girl ahead of The Church's Under the Milky Way, but made my kids late for school while I forced them to admit The Nosebleed Section was a better tune than anything from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack after all, Mum. That déjà vu feeling has nothing to do with seeing music fans argue the merits of INXS v ACDC, and everything to do with the fact that welcome to country is back in the public discourse. Again. This is partly down to the Liberal Party's State council, which voted on Saturday to remove official status for welcome to country ceremonies and partly down to Opposition Senate Leader Michaelia Cash, who said she thinks the ceremonies make people 'feel good' while doing nothing to improve life for Indigenous people. Senator Cash's comments weren't the silliest thing I saw all weekend — that would be ranking Savage Garden's I Want You above Nick Cave's Red Right Hand — but they were right up there. The idea that having a positive display of Indigenous culture is an obstacle to improving Indigenous welfare is like suggesting we all boycott eating hummus until the Middle Eastern crisis is solved. Two things can be true. One: that anyone who has attended a conference where every speaker performs an acknowledgement of country may have thought about rolling their eyes — especially if the tenth 'I'd like to also acknowledge' stands between them and afternoon tea. Two: that anyone who has experienced a truly great welcome to country knows it is anything but tokenistic. The problem is that too many Australians misunderstand what welcome to country is. It's not the same as an acknowledgement of country, which can be done by anyone. A welcome to country must be done by an Indigenous person and is just what it sounds like: an act of hospitality. It's not welcome to the c ountry because because these ceremonies aren't about welcoming us to Australia. As a proud Australian — proud of our music, the fact we're the only nation capable of using the c-word as a term of affection and that we boast the oldest continuous living culture in the world — why would I have a problem with that? The other big misunderstanding about welcome to country is that it was 'invented' by Ernie Dingo. Yeah, nah. Welcome to country is a modern take on what Indigenous groups have been doing since the days when, over in Europe where my ancestors are from, the Neanderthals still thought they were in it for the long haul. When one group passed into territory inhabited by another, the two would come together to request safe passage. Welcome to the patch of country we've been looking after, let us give you some tips for getting along here. The only thing that's 'new' about welcome to country is that it's been given a national platform and incorporated into so many big events, from the opening of Parliament to footy games. I've seen some cracking welcome to country ceremonies over the years, from those that made me laugh to those that tug on what passes for a journalist's heartstrings. The latter happened recently when I received a very special welcome to country in the Pilbara. Without going into specifics — this particular elder was publicity shy — he told us about his connection to the land, and warned us against the spiritual repercussions of taking any artefacts we found. It wasn't about making us feel like trespassers, just an affecting way to be reminded about the history of the land. At a time when the Liberal Party is struggling for relevance, at both the Federal and State level, it is tedious to see so many party members breathing on the coals of this particular culture war. An Opposition that puts its energy into tearing down Indigenous culture instead of holding the Government to account and coming up with policies to present itself as a credible alternative, is one that's doomed to fail. And for those of us who believe that good oppositions make good governments, it's almost as maddening as seeing Thunderstruck not make the top 10 of Australian bangers.
West Australian
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Music in paradise
Picture yourself on a beanbag, cold drink in hand, watching Delta Goodrem perform directly in front of you on an idyllic tropical beach. That's the basic concept behind Music in Paradise, a concert series that features some of Australia's biggest artists and bands playing intimate gigs at beautiful island resorts from Fiji to Bali and Hayman Island. The series was launched in the Maldives at Kandooma in 2014 by Aussie business Perfect Travel Group, which is behind the resort's surf holiday offering. They have since wooed an impressive roll call of talent to spearhead concert and holiday experiences at various tropical hotspots, including Tex Perkins, Daryl Braithwaite, Hoodoo Gurus, Xavier Rudd and Bernard Fanning. A sold-out 10th anniversary event at Kandooma, Stranded In The Maldives, featured Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Kate Ceberano, Troy Cassar-Daley and Mahalia Barnes performing a series of sunset shows under the palm trees. Delta Goodrem also triggered an island sell-out when she performed there last year, with some fans booking accommodation on nearby islands and boating across (Delta will be headlining in Fiji next April). The 2025 concerts at Kandooma kicked off with Birds Of Tokyo and The Church, to be followed by Missy Higgins in June then Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell in September. Acts confirmed for 2026 include The Presets and Cat Empire. The intimacy of the gigs is a key selling point. Numbers are typically capped to a few hundred, and there are opportunities to meet the artists during cocktail parties or meet-and-greet sessions. You can find details of upcoming concerts at
The Advertiser
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Red Hot Summer a perfect warm-up for Mark Seymour's Antarctic odyssey
Veteran Aussie songwriter Mark Seymour will be feeling the heat this summer, but come December next year, he will be preparing for a cool change. From October to December, Seymour will join some of Australian music's biggest names for the Red Hot Summer festival. Just 12 months after the tour wraps up, he will embark on a voyage to the coldest continent on earth. Seymour, 68, said he couldn't resist the offer to join an 11-day cruise to the Antarctic, which will see him performing intimate acoustic sets for those onboard. Read more from The Senior "I'd never do it otherwise. I'd never get down there. So it's an incredible opportunity to see, you know, this really, magnificent part of the earth," he said. Seymour is particularly excited about travelling the infamous Drake Passage. The notorious stretch of water between South America's Cape Horn and Antarctica's South Shetland Islands has historically been considered the most dangerous body of water in the world for seafarers. "It's got hundreds and hundreds of old wooden shipwrecks somewhere down on the bottom, you know, and so the history of the area is incredible." Before heading off on the adventure of a lifetime, Seymour will join the likes of Crowded House, The Church, The Waifs, and Angus and Julia Stone on the lineup for this year's Red Hot Summer touring festival. He can't wait to perform at the festival. He enjoys the opportunity to hang out with fellow performers at festivals and said Red Hot Summer offers a different vibe to most music festivals. "It just sort of becomes its own little kind of like a community backstage, but it's definitely got that vibe in the audience as well, I think. "What sets it apart from other tours or other festivals, it's very much about communities in towns, and it's sort of multi-generational. It's not focused on one particular age group." Joining Seymour on stage will be Vika and Linda. Seymour has had a long association with the popular vocal duo, having written When Will You Fall For Me, the first single from their self-titled 1994 debut album. The show will combine hits from both Seymour and Vika and Linda's catalogues. Seymour will take on lead vocals for some of Vika and Linda's hits, and they will take the lead on some of his, giving audiences the chance to experience the songs in a new light. Outside of touring life, Seymour, who co-penned Australian classics like Throw Your Arms Around Me, Holy Grail, and When The River Runs Dry, continues to write and produce music. The former Hunters and Collectors frontman released his latest album The Boxer with his current band, The Undertow last year. Its eponymous first single tells the story of a young woman who leaves a country town to pursue a boxing career and was inspired by his personal trainer. "I'm at my best (as a songwriter) when I inhabit a character. So there's a person engaged in something, and then they've got an attitude or they're in a particular emotional state." Having written and recorded music for more than 45 years, you might think the occasional bout of writer's block would be inevitable, but it has never been an issue for Seymour. "I look out at the world, and there's never a lack of material, ever. And I just basically experiment with my guitar, you know, it's a very simple process." "Why I chose songwriting as a pathway in life was pretty intuitive, really. Whatever that trigger is, it has always been there." Tickets for the Red Hot Summer are on sale now and selling fast. Red Hot Summer; touring regional venues in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia from October 11 to December 6. For tickets visit Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. . Veteran Aussie songwriter Mark Seymour will be feeling the heat this summer, but come December next year, he will be preparing for a cool change. From October to December, Seymour will join some of Australian music's biggest names for the Red Hot Summer festival. Just 12 months after the tour wraps up, he will embark on a voyage to the coldest continent on earth. Seymour, 68, said he couldn't resist the offer to join an 11-day cruise to the Antarctic, which will see him performing intimate acoustic sets for those onboard. Read more from The Senior "I'd never do it otherwise. I'd never get down there. So it's an incredible opportunity to see, you know, this really, magnificent part of the earth," he said. Seymour is particularly excited about travelling the infamous Drake Passage. The notorious stretch of water between South America's Cape Horn and Antarctica's South Shetland Islands has historically been considered the most dangerous body of water in the world for seafarers. "It's got hundreds and hundreds of old wooden shipwrecks somewhere down on the bottom, you know, and so the history of the area is incredible." Before heading off on the adventure of a lifetime, Seymour will join the likes of Crowded House, The Church, The Waifs, and Angus and Julia Stone on the lineup for this year's Red Hot Summer touring festival. He can't wait to perform at the festival. He enjoys the opportunity to hang out with fellow performers at festivals and said Red Hot Summer offers a different vibe to most music festivals. "It just sort of becomes its own little kind of like a community backstage, but it's definitely got that vibe in the audience as well, I think. "What sets it apart from other tours or other festivals, it's very much about communities in towns, and it's sort of multi-generational. It's not focused on one particular age group." Joining Seymour on stage will be Vika and Linda. Seymour has had a long association with the popular vocal duo, having written When Will You Fall For Me, the first single from their self-titled 1994 debut album. The show will combine hits from both Seymour and Vika and Linda's catalogues. Seymour will take on lead vocals for some of Vika and Linda's hits, and they will take the lead on some of his, giving audiences the chance to experience the songs in a new light. Outside of touring life, Seymour, who co-penned Australian classics like Throw Your Arms Around Me, Holy Grail, and When The River Runs Dry, continues to write and produce music. The former Hunters and Collectors frontman released his latest album The Boxer with his current band, The Undertow last year. Its eponymous first single tells the story of a young woman who leaves a country town to pursue a boxing career and was inspired by his personal trainer. "I'm at my best (as a songwriter) when I inhabit a character. So there's a person engaged in something, and then they've got an attitude or they're in a particular emotional state." Having written and recorded music for more than 45 years, you might think the occasional bout of writer's block would be inevitable, but it has never been an issue for Seymour. "I look out at the world, and there's never a lack of material, ever. And I just basically experiment with my guitar, you know, it's a very simple process." "Why I chose songwriting as a pathway in life was pretty intuitive, really. Whatever that trigger is, it has always been there." Tickets for the Red Hot Summer are on sale now and selling fast. Red Hot Summer; touring regional venues in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia from October 11 to December 6. For tickets visit Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. . Veteran Aussie songwriter Mark Seymour will be feeling the heat this summer, but come December next year, he will be preparing for a cool change. From October to December, Seymour will join some of Australian music's biggest names for the Red Hot Summer festival. Just 12 months after the tour wraps up, he will embark on a voyage to the coldest continent on earth. Seymour, 68, said he couldn't resist the offer to join an 11-day cruise to the Antarctic, which will see him performing intimate acoustic sets for those onboard. Read more from The Senior "I'd never do it otherwise. I'd never get down there. So it's an incredible opportunity to see, you know, this really, magnificent part of the earth," he said. Seymour is particularly excited about travelling the infamous Drake Passage. The notorious stretch of water between South America's Cape Horn and Antarctica's South Shetland Islands has historically been considered the most dangerous body of water in the world for seafarers. "It's got hundreds and hundreds of old wooden shipwrecks somewhere down on the bottom, you know, and so the history of the area is incredible." Before heading off on the adventure of a lifetime, Seymour will join the likes of Crowded House, The Church, The Waifs, and Angus and Julia Stone on the lineup for this year's Red Hot Summer touring festival. He can't wait to perform at the festival. He enjoys the opportunity to hang out with fellow performers at festivals and said Red Hot Summer offers a different vibe to most music festivals. "It just sort of becomes its own little kind of like a community backstage, but it's definitely got that vibe in the audience as well, I think. "What sets it apart from other tours or other festivals, it's very much about communities in towns, and it's sort of multi-generational. It's not focused on one particular age group." Joining Seymour on stage will be Vika and Linda. Seymour has had a long association with the popular vocal duo, having written When Will You Fall For Me, the first single from their self-titled 1994 debut album. The show will combine hits from both Seymour and Vika and Linda's catalogues. Seymour will take on lead vocals for some of Vika and Linda's hits, and they will take the lead on some of his, giving audiences the chance to experience the songs in a new light. Outside of touring life, Seymour, who co-penned Australian classics like Throw Your Arms Around Me, Holy Grail, and When The River Runs Dry, continues to write and produce music. The former Hunters and Collectors frontman released his latest album The Boxer with his current band, The Undertow last year. Its eponymous first single tells the story of a young woman who leaves a country town to pursue a boxing career and was inspired by his personal trainer. "I'm at my best (as a songwriter) when I inhabit a character. So there's a person engaged in something, and then they've got an attitude or they're in a particular emotional state." Having written and recorded music for more than 45 years, you might think the occasional bout of writer's block would be inevitable, but it has never been an issue for Seymour. "I look out at the world, and there's never a lack of material, ever. And I just basically experiment with my guitar, you know, it's a very simple process." "Why I chose songwriting as a pathway in life was pretty intuitive, really. Whatever that trigger is, it has always been there." Tickets for the Red Hot Summer are on sale now and selling fast. Red Hot Summer; touring regional venues in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia from October 11 to December 6. For tickets visit Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. .
The Age
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Something so strong pulls Neil Finn back to the open road, even 40 years on
You might assume that after 40 years with Crowded House, Neil Finn would've done it all. But then you see a viral video where he's singing Don't Dream It's Over with pop star Dua Lipa and you think, hmm, that's unexpected. 'I just got an email, turns out she and her father, who manages her, are big fans. I was very happy to be asked,' says Finn about being invited onstage by Lipa at her gig in Auckland in April. 'I happen to have an affection for her music, in part because my grandsons Buddy and Manaia danced to Houdini and Levitating all summer. I like her stuff and I like her, she emanates something really positive and good and she was a delight.' Also unexpected? That there are somehow places left in Australia that Crowded House have never yet managed to play. It's partly the reason the band will headline Red Hot Summer, a touring festival that'll take them through regional Australia this October and November, alongside acts like The Church, Angus & Julia Stone, and old acquaintances Mark Seymour and Vika & Linda. 'It's going to be quite a hanging-out-with-the-family kind of vibe, a pretty tight crew getting around to some interesting parts of Australia that we haven't been to for years or sometimes ever,' says Finn. 'There's a bit of extra excitement in the audience when you turn up in a place that's off the beaten track a little bit, where they don't necessarily get things like this. We're pleased to be part of that, and we aim to make it an unforgettable night'. Ever the ageing muso with his tousled grey hair, horn-rimmed glasses and pilling green jumper, Finn, 67 – Zooming from his sun-dappled writing room in Auckland – says he's a creature of habit when it comes to music these days. 'I have a fairly strict life. Not 'strict' because I love it, but a routine of coming into this room here every day and just exploring,' he says. He's been getting new songs going for Crowded House's next album, which he hopes to record in August, with the same lineup – his sons Liam and Elroy, and super-producer Mitch Froom on keyboards – established on 2021's acclaimed comeback Dreamers Are Waiting and last year's Gravity Stairs.
Sydney Morning Herald
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Something so strong pulls Neil Finn back to the open road, even 40 years on
You might assume that after 40 years with Crowded House, Neil Finn would've done it all. But then you see a viral video where he's singing Don't Dream It's Over with pop star Dua Lipa and you think, hmm, that's unexpected. 'I just got an email, turns out she and her father, who manages her, are big fans. I was very happy to be asked,' says Finn about being invited onstage by Lipa at her gig in Auckland in April. 'I happen to have an affection for her music, in part because my grandsons Buddy and Manaia danced to Houdini and Levitating all summer. I like her stuff and I like her, she emanates something really positive and good and she was a delight.' Also unexpected? That there are somehow places left in Australia that Crowded House have never yet managed to play. It's partly the reason the band will headline Red Hot Summer, a touring festival that'll take them through regional Australia this October and November, alongside acts like The Church, Angus & Julia Stone, and old acquaintances Mark Seymour and Vika & Linda. 'It's going to be quite a hanging-out-with-the-family kind of vibe, a pretty tight crew getting around to some interesting parts of Australia that we haven't been to for years or sometimes ever,' says Finn. 'There's a bit of extra excitement in the audience when you turn up in a place that's off the beaten track a little bit, where they don't necessarily get things like this. We're pleased to be part of that, and we aim to make it an unforgettable night'. Ever the ageing muso with his tousled grey hair, horn-rimmed glasses and pilling green jumper, Finn, 67 – Zooming from his sun-dappled writing room in Auckland – says he's a creature of habit when it comes to music these days. 'I have a fairly strict life. Not 'strict' because I love it, but a routine of coming into this room here every day and just exploring,' he says. He's been getting new songs going for Crowded House's next album, which he hopes to record in August, with the same lineup – his sons Liam and Elroy, and super-producer Mitch Froom on keyboards – established on 2021's acclaimed comeback Dreamers Are Waiting and last year's Gravity Stairs.
