Stage Against the Machine workshops – September 9
Fowlers Great Southern Showcase – September 10

Media, please note: Good photo/interview/live broadcast opportunities

Leading Australian indie music identities, including singer songwriter Marie Wilson and Hilltop Hoods manager PJ Murton, will be centre-stage next month (September 9-10) at a major showcase of local talent aimed at reviving the live music scene, particularly in Adelaide’s south.

Exactly ten years after poker machines began to kill off many live music venues across Adelaide, musicians from Adelaide’s south are fighting back with the Great Southern Showcase at Fowlers Live on North Terrace in the city on Sunday, September 10 from 5pm.

Interested punters and musicians will also be able to attend a special series of song-writing and vocal workshops at the Reynella Enterprise and Youth Centre on September 9, culminating in an outstanding panel session with leading industry professionals, including:

• Marie Wilson, acclaimed singer/songwriter with a style and passion often compared to Alanis Morisette and Melissa Etheridge
• Jo Thompson, Marie’s manager, former manager of bands like Killing Heidi and the Androids, and founder of the Channel V Music Bus
• Robert Dunstan, managing editor of Rip it Up
• PJ Murton – manager of The Hilltop Hoods, and
• Peter Darwin, promoter and manager of Fowlers Live

Representatives from APRA, the Australasian Performing Rights Association, will also address a forum on copyright issues, particularly relating to music and video websites.

The weekend extravaganza follows the success of a range of Stage Against the Machine open microphone sessions at the Reynella Centre, a partnership between Mission Australia and the City of Onkaparinga.

“We once had a really vibrant live music scene in Adelaide’s south, but pokies put an end to that,” says Mission Australia’s Jo Murray, who is co-ordinating the event.

“That’s why we started up Stage Against the Machine and we’ve had some brilliant shows in Reynella, showcasing local talent and giving local music fans a new venue and a chance to enjoy live music.”

“There’s so much talent out there, but such little opportunity to nurture it,” she said.

“Now we’re taking it up a step, moving from a youth centre to a major venue and looking at all the business of running a band as well as the music. Who knows, shows like this may unearth the next Hilltop Hoods, Killing Heidi or other great new Australian band.”

Eight bands have been selected through an extensive application process for the Fowlers Great Southern Showcase, the first time the music event has been brought to a city venue. They include indie rock band Finding Grace, whose lead singer was an Australian Idol Top 20 finalist, and punk rockers The Kicks.

The lineup also includes Destruction Overdrive (heavy metal), Black Knight (70s/80s rock), Something for the Pain (heavy metal), Behind Dark Glasses (heavy metal), Hair on Fire (rock), and Big Mistake (hardcore punk).

“It’s fantastic to get the support of such a great group of musicians and independent music icons, like Marie Wilson, Jo Thompson and PJ Murton,” Jo said.

“It’s all set to be a fantastic weekend of music and to give the local music scene down south a new lease of life.”

For more information or to organise interviews and photographs, please contact: Jo Murray on 0403 183 028 or Chris Rann, Rann Communication on (08) 8211 7771