Live @ the Lunchbox is an Acoustic show with Artists playing Original and/or Covers backing themselves with Guitars, Keys, Harps, Slide Guitar and other various instruments. Bands also play ‘unplugged’ versions of their music.

The event is held every Thursday, 11:45am at Tighes Hill Tafe. Put on by the Music Buisness Certificate 3 Class, it showcases the talented musicians we have attending our artistic and creative campus. Although Live @ the Lunchbox was only founded at the begining of March 2007, it has grown emensly popular with Students, Teachers and Staff alike.

All production and technical aspects that go with putting on a show are organised and run by the Music Technology students.

• 24^th May 2007 - Benjalu, Dave Rudder
• 1^st May 2007 - Memorial Drive, One Man Down
• 7^th Jun 2007 - Jez, Jamie Towers, Eve Gibson, Jason Lowe, Dave Fenwick
• 14^th Jun 2007 - Michael West
• 21^th Jun 2007 - Aaron Moxey, Jason Lowe

For more information and visit myspace.com/livethelunchbox or email live_at_the_lunchbox@hotmail.com.

Two Newcastle based music photographers are offering discounted photo shoots for local bands. Matthew Packer and Tim Christie have announced the offer on their respective blogs last week. The offer is valid for shoots booked before the 30th of June 2007.

When Matth and Tim met with the organisers of the 1233 ABC Newcastle Music Awards they discovered that many of the entrants were lacking professional looking publicity shots. “Record labels want bands they can easily put out to market, bands that already have a fan base, have their songs ready to record and have a professional look. Photos are key to that professional look” he explains.

Matthew also runs the I’m With The Band music website and has photographed numerous Newcastle Bands. In the past year Matthew has covered many local events including the Strikeback III Festival, and last week’s Groovin’ The Moo Festival at Maitland.

The offer includes:

• Two professionally shot photos, edited for use on your website and/or myspace.
• Either Matthew or Tim will visit a site of your choice for the shoot - rehearsal rooms, one of your gigs, out in the streets of Newcastle, the beach, etc.
• A photo shoot lasting about 30-60 minutes
• Basic editing on them like colour correction, exposure changes, etc.

Images obtained as part of this special offer may not be used on an album or EP cover. If dditional images from the shoot are needed, they can be purchased for a ‘per photo’ fee.

The photograph on the left was taken as part of a promotional shoot of local band Head of State in June 2006 at Belmont Airport.

Check out Matt and Tims Flickr galleries at flickr.com/photos/mpimagery and flickr.com/photos/timchristie.

Contact either of the photographers soon to register your interest as this offer is only valid for bookings shot and paid for by June 30th, 2007.

The Hudson Rockers formed about two years ago to play their favourite songs of the 60s and 70s. The band’s frontman Paul Harris started playing professionally in 1981 in ‘Newcastle’s Greatest Punk Band’, The Mansons. From there he went on to form The Ramjets, Ramones concept band The Marones and original punk rock band The Unwanted. “My musical roots have always been firmly planted in the great songs of my childhood”, Paul said, “… The Stones’ 19th Nervous Breakdown, Hot Love by T Rex, The Beatles’ Taxman and The Easybeats Women“. The Hudson Rockers reportoire reflects these influences.

Paul recruited drummer Mel Cook and bassist/backing vocalist Rob Hogan through an advertisement. “One audition was all it took to convince me”, Paul explains, “Mel is one of those rare drummers who seem to know what you’re going to do well before you do.”

‘Mighty’ Mel Cook is originally from Queensland but spent much of her life in Byron Bay before moving to Newcastle She has toured extensively with North Coast bands Shake Appeal and The Radio Dolls.

Rob ‘The Colonel’ Hogan started out playing lead guitar but decided to swap to a four string in the hope of finding more gigs. “Rob is a punchy and precise bassist with a great sense of timing” Paul points out.

The Hudson Rockers have been playing almost monthly at the Wickham Park Hotel since forming in 2005. “The legendary Wicko has been a great place to hone our act and build a following … very few Newcastle venues are interested in ‘purist’ bands like us”.

The band has just announced a series of gigs at the Wickham Croatian Sportsman’s Club, formerly The Wickham Park Bowling Club. The Club’s president saw The Hudson Rockers perform at a private function a few weeks ago and offered them a monthly Sunday evening gig.

Catch The Hudson Rockers at the Wickham Croatian Sportsman’s Club on Sunday May 13^th and June 3^rd from 6 - 10 PM. The band will also be performing at the Wickham Park Hotel on Friday May 25^th and Friday June 22^nd.

Special thanks to Mark Snelson for allowing the use of his photographs of the band.

Jazz will be a feature of this years Lovedale Long Lunch. The Long Lunch is an annual event that showcases the Lovedale Area as one of The Hunter Valleys’ premium wine production regions. Wandin Valley Estate will feature performances by Fish Fry, Kirawee High Jazz Band & Brass Razzo throughout the weekend while Gartelmann Hunter Estate will host Saxanova.

The Lovedale Long Lunch was started in 1994 to market Lovedale as a premium wine producing area and tourist attraction. Now in its 14th year, it includes seven wineries and vineyards to visit over the Long Lunch weekend. The outdoor event allows people to go between the different wineries in the region sampling wine and meals from some of the best restaurants in the Hunter Valley.

This years Lovedale Long Lunch will be held on the 19th & 20th of May at Emma’s Cottage Vineyard, Warraroong Estate, Sandalyn Wilderness Estate, Wandin Valley Estate, Gartelmann Hunter Estate, Cooper Wines and the Allandale Winery.

Cultural Stomp is an annual multicultural festival celebrating cultural diversity and unity, social justice, the environment and the arts. The festival provides an open forum for all members of the community to creatively express their voice, their message or their creation. Stomp takes up the whole of Civic park and this year will be held on Saturday 19th May, 2007 from 9am - 9pm. Each year the festival attracts thousands of visitors who are entertained by our outstanding musical program, featured on two main stages and inside the Stomp Chai Tent.

This year this festival celebrates its 10-year anniversary and to mark the occasion it will take on the theme of ‘Awakening’ as one of its key messages. Stomp is currently looking for musicians, performers and local acts who can communicate this year’s ‘Awakening’ theme through their music.

Stomp are seeking musicians who are able to bring the spirit and the message of the festival to life. We are after those have first-hand experience with being ‘awakened’ to certain issues and a strong desire to express what this notion means to them … whether in reference to multiculturalism, social justice, cultural unity, the environment or the arts.

If you are a musician or performer, who is interested in performing at this year’s Stomp Festival and have something to say, we would like to hear from you! Please contact Nick Goninan, Stomp Music Programmer on 0425 214 266.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to participate in Newcastle’s answer to Viva La Gong or the Newtown Festival, Cultural Stomp!