Rock Solid PR & Fan Relations founder Kirri Liepins announced today that, after a brief respite, the locally-based business is returning with all guns blazing.
Kirri, 23, was forced to take a break in 2007 due to illness, but says she is excited about Rock Solid’s return: “I love Newcastle and I’m looking forward to working once again with the incredible creative talent that exists in this city.”

What started in 2005 as a street team management business has grown into a dedicated PR service that caters for many creative entertainment sectors including Music, Theatre, Film, Television, Comedy, Art and Nightlife. Rock Solid offers not only a full range of media and public relations services, but also has a division called ‘Fan Relations’. Based on the belief that the fans are also the employers, Fan Relations bridges the communicative gap between an artist or organization and their audiences.
Since Rock Solid’s inception, it has been involved with local musicians such as Tearsun, The Wireflys, Lout and Wohteba, as well as national acts Jon Stevens (Noiseworks), Thirsty Merc, Andy Clockwise and Melanie Horsnell. Kirri has also volunteered her services to local events such as Newcastle Music Week and the Shootout 24-Hour Filmmaking Festival. Kirri hopes to expand Rock Solid’s musical roster whilst opening her books to other entertainment organizations.

The announcement of the re-launch also indicates the return of the Rock Solid Showcase, an event last held in Hamilton in January 2007. Other events will soon follow.

For more information contact Kirri Liepins at info@rock-solid.net.au or visit www.rock-solid.net.au.

Popular social networking website MySpace currently has almost 270 million accounts, with over 50 million of those added in the last 4 months. This means that nearly half a million new accounts are being added each day. If this rate of growth is maintained MySpace could be boasting over half a billion accounts by the middle of 2008. Many of those profiles are maintained by bands and musicians listed on this website.

One of the features of the MySpace website is the ability to add so called friends. The image below shows a portion of a screen grab from the Newcastle Music Directory MySpace profile at myspace.com/newcastlemusic showing that at the time it had 680 “friends”.

Another piece of information contained on artists profiles is the date the band established its MySPace profile. For example, the image below shows a portion of the Silverchair profile at myspace.com/silverchair showing that they had signed up on the 5^th of April 2006.

Using these two pieces of information, ie the number of friends and the signup date, it is possible to calculate how many friends per day have been added for that account.

The profiles of a large sample of artists from this website were surveyed on two occasions, the 11^th of September and the 8^th of November 2007, with the analysis of 1490 and 1526 profiles respectively on each occasion.

The following table shows the artists with the highest average number of friends added per day since they joined MySpace.

This is an interesting measure of how each artist uses the MySpace website. The number of friends added per day as calculated in the table is represented in the chart below. Several bands were not included in the first survey but had been included in the analysis by the time of the second. The vertical scale of the chart was truncated to 50 friends/day so that detail could be seen for the lower values.

Basically there are two mechanisms by which a friend may be added, an incoming request or an outgoing request.

In the case of Silverchair, an internationally well known band, one would assume that most of the friend requests would be incoming. That is to say that other MySpace users arrive at the Silverchair profile and click the “Add Friend” icon so that they may receive bulletins etc in order to keep up to date with what Siverchair are doing. There must be someone very dedicated who operates that profile on behalf of the band, checking and authorising almost 170 profiles per day. Lets assume that it takes about 20 seconds to check a profile, and approve it as a friend then this represents approximately 1 hour per day just approving profiles. Then there would be the other tasks such as moderating comments and maintaining the information on the profile.

The high numbers of friends per day for both Kasey Chambers and Catherine Britt are also largely due to fans providing incoming friend requests.

In the case of the other artists listed in the table above, one would assume that a large proportion of their friends were gained by outgoing requests, ie, the band themselves finds suitable profiles and adds them to their list of “friends” in order to promote themselves. The table above provides quite an insight as to which local bands are the most active in this regard on MySpace.

If we take the example of Jeriko, a Newcastle based band who joined MySpace on the 25th of August 2007. The band was found to be adding friends at the rate of approximately 45 per day in the first survey, but this had dropped off dramatically by the time of the second survey. This is most probably because the band members have extensive experience performing in local bands that have existing MySPace profiles. The band members could easily go through the friend lists of their previous bands and readd them to the Jeriko profile one by one. Once heir existing friends lists had been exhausted the process of adding additional friends would become much slower, or perhaps stop entirely.

Short Stack stand out in the above analysis for another reason. They have been members of the MySpace website since the 8th of October 2005. They have been adding friends at the rate of approximately 24 per day for over 2 years, amassing a list of friends that is now approaching 18,000 in number. If we assume that the time takes to find a suitable profile, wait for it to load, and add that person as a friend might take approximately 30 seconds, and that 80% of Short Stack’s friends were added by Short Stack themselves, this amounts to a total of 150 hours of friend adding. Granted, this was occurred over 2 years, but still an impressive feat.

Another interesting example is Thoughts Of A Dream, who, after signing up to MySpace in July 2005 had amassed over 12000 friends at the time of writing. This equates to a rate of 14.6 per day on average throughout that entire period. Interestingly though, 3650 of those friends were added in the time between the two surveys, a period of 58 days. Therefore, during the period between the two surveys, Thoughts Of A Dream were adding friends at a rate of almost 63 per day, a rate that eclipses every other band analysed except for Silverchair.

While some of these calculations were made using some rough assumptions, other aspects, such as the signup date of each of the bands and the number of friends at the time of each survey, are very accurate.

So … how many friends per day have YOU added?

Are you a musician without a gig? Are you a singer/songwriter wanting to get your music out there? Do you just wanna jam with like minded people?

Come and check out the Bay Hotel Open Mic Night every Thursday Night from 9pm. This event is hosted by former Australian Fingerstyle Champion and Folk/Roots artist Dale Willis, who recently just returned to Australia after a year spent living and touring in Canada.

This is your chance to perform to a friendly crowd and get some good stage experience. This is a stress free environment to come and get your music heard! Email info@dalewillis.com or phone 0413828954 if you are wanting to secure a spot on the blackboard or just show up and put your name down on the night.

• What:The Bay Hotel Open Mic Night
• When: Every Thursday Night from 9pm starting Nov 15th
• Where:330 Fishery Point Road, Morisset East, NSW 2264

For more information visit myspace.com/bayhotelopenmic or www.dalewillis.com.

Ramble Rose is an independent video production company based in Newcastle, Australia.

“We feel that the music video is an art form”, they explain, “and as with all art, money doesn’t make for a better result.”

Ramble Rose work with bands across all genres, and can work closely to your idea (or you can just let us run wild) Either way, you supply the sound, they’ll supply the vision.

“The best videoclips come from ideas and innovation, not from bloated budgets and pretentious filmmakers. Our clips are of a high quality, yet because we spend money on important things, it won’t cost you two years worth of royalties in order to get your tunes on television.”

Ramble Rose are asking for local bands and musicians to take part in their survey which can be found online at MySpace (You will need to log in to MySpace read this link) or for those readers without a myspace account the survey has been included below this article.

Survey For Bands/Musicians

1. Have you ever consider having a film clip made for your music?
2. How would you go about getting a film clip made/played?
3. How much would you be prepared to pay for a film clip?
4. Would you be interested in a service like that?
5. Have you ever approached record labels? How did you go about this?
6. Do you have any recordings that you feel are of a releasable quality?
7. How often do you record?
8. Would one of your bands goals be to progress from gigs/demos to having a film clip on television?
9. What of the following services would appeal more to your band?
• Film Clip
• Gigs Filmed
• Promotional Photos
• Band Website
• Biography/Editorial
• Documentary
10. What is your favourite filmclip ever? (just off the top of your head)
11. May we put your bands name/details on our contacts list, so we can let you know once we get started?

If you care to complete this survey, email your answers to the guys at the email address below.

For more information about Ramble Rose visit www.myspace.com/ramblerose or email rambleramblerose@hotmail.com.

On Sunday the 28^th of October 2007 at 2.00 pm The Good Time Express Acoustic Sessions will arrive at the Grand Hotel Wyong the sessions will be hosted by Newcastle musician Rusty Springfield.
The sessions are opened to all ages & all levels of performance so it doesn’t really matter whether if you have been playing for two weeks , twenty two years or even if you haven’t sang or played in forty two years the whole idea of the sessions is for you to get out of the house a on a Sunday arvo bring along the family , bring your mates or just bring your self & drop on in at the friendly Grand Hotel & forget about life’s little dramas relax catch up with old friends meet new people have a bit of fun & either listen to the music or play some music.

Musos please bring your own instruments.

Find out more at myspace.com/thegoodtimeexpresssessions or at www.thegoodtimeexpresssessions.com

Liven Up is a new venture in live music hosted by St John’s Anglican Church Cooks Hill. Now before you stop reading, Liven Up is not a church service or a thinly veiled attempt to entice people to attend our Sunday services. Liven Up is about the music, the atmosphere and community.

Vodafone Live at the Chapel or Cold Live at the Chapel (depending on the sponsor) has created a more intimate setting for big name artists to share, perform & interpret their music. We asked the question, why do you have to wait until you’ve been signed by a major label before you have the opportunity to get up close & personal with an audience & an audience has the chance to really see the passion, heart & soul behind the music. Sure the music’s not going to be as loud, there probably won’t be much dancing let alone a mosh pit, but hopefully what you’ll find is music stripped back to its very core – raw & engaging.

The live music scene in Newcastle has undergone many changes and incarnations over the years but listening to live music often comes down to a choice between cramming into a hall for an all ages gig, going to a pub or club or forking out the big bucks to see a big name at the big tin shed we know as the Entertainment Centre. Liven Up is attempting to add some variety & uniqueness to the local market. Combine the brilliant natural acoustics of the oldest church in Newcastle, with the ambiance of hundreds of candles, and the energy of 147 years of good experiences and you have an atmosphere that cannot be replicated anywhere else in Newcastle.

In generations gone by our churches use to act as gathering places for our community, a place where people could come together, get to know new people, build on relationships, and create good memories. In the 21st century its becoming harder & harder to expand your circle of friends, meet interesting people from different backgrounds or even find that special someone unless they fall within 2 or 3 degrees of separation usually based around school, work or family. Neighbours might give a polite nod or a smile when you see them over the fence, or if you’re really brave you might smile & say hello to someone you pass in the street or strike up a short conversation with the person sitting next to you at a Jets or a Knights game. Liven Up aims to recapture the church as a public space, where people can feel comfortable gathering together and creating community.

• The support starts at 8pm sharp so make sure you get there in time.
• You’ll take your seat in one of our many pews or if you’re early enough grab one of the cushions or bean bags out the front before the all go.
• Xpresso will sell or your caffeinated beverage requirements
• Cold drinks & snacks will also be on sale
• The night finishes around 10.30pm
• You can go home for some sleep, kick on down Darby street or hang out in the church for a while.

Artists performing at Liven Up in the coming months include:

• October 5^5th 2007 Cornstalk (supported by Jason Lowe)
• November 2^nd 2007 Eve Gibson
• December 9^th 2007 Jeriko and room24

For more information visit myspace.com/livenupondarby

Dirty Dick’s Theatre Restaurant is looking for a male acoustic guitarist and singer. Dirty Dick’s is Australia’s longest established Theatre Restaurant. It presents its shows, on a seasonal basis, in selected Newcastle and Central Coast venues.

Dirty Dick’s shows are fully scripted stage shows with a Medieval/Old English theme. The show comprises 4 performers, two of which are Minstrels (Acoustic guitarists/singers). These minstrels are male and can be of any age. During a particular season, the same show is performed each playing night.

The shows are fully rehearsed. Notation reading is not necessary. A person with a good singing voice, competent guitar playing, bright personality and sense of fun is important.

The show currently requires a “Minstrel” for their 2007 end of year season.

Playing dates for shows are:

• November 10, 17, 23, 24, 30
• December 1, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 21, 22

Show starts 7pm and finishes 10.30pm. Fee per show $140.

For further information and audition, please contact Simon Mumby on 0418 166 451 or via email at info@dirtydicks.com.au or visit the Dirty Dicks website at www.dirtydicks.com.au.

The Resonate band competition draws from the combined experience of the eXpozay band competition and the Newcastle Music Week Industry Showcase.

Catch Resonate at The Queens Wharf Brewery every Thursday night throughout August and September from 8.30pm.

Heat 1 - Thursday 2nd August

1. The Wooden
2. Brand New Day
3. Grandvue (Heat Winner)
4. The Nameless Crew

Heat 2 - Thursday 9th August

1. Montana Fire
2. The China Bulls
3. The Salvatores (Heat Winner)
4. Held By Heartstrings

Heat 3 - Thursday 16th August

1. The Tunstalls
2. In The Headset
3. SuperImpoze (Heat Winner)
4. Memorial Drive

Heat 4 - Thursday 23rd August

1. Fergus
2. Valerie Chain
3. Veto (Heat Winner)
4. Castro!

Heat 5 - Thursday 30th August

1. Sketching Cato (Heat Winner)
2. Glass Army
3. The Nebula
4. Alusive

Heat 6 - Thursday 6th September

1. Rubix Cuba
2. The Belle Curve
3. Vaude Ville (Heat Winner)
4. Tortoise Head Platoon

Heat 7 - Thursday 13th September

1. Benjalu
2. Operator
3. Cicileu
4. Virus Crawl (Heat Winner)

Heat 8 - Thursday 20th September

1. The Deposits
2. Good For Nothing
3. The Edison Code
4. The Hyenas (Heat Winner)

Heat 9 - Thursday 27th September

1. Snowy Amos
2. The Sacred Stereos (Heat Winner)
3. Days Unknown
4. Sabretung

Wild Card Head - Thursday 4th October

1. The Nameless Crew
2. Benjalu
3. Montana Fire
4. Sabretung

The Grand Finale will be showcased at the Civic Theatre on Friday 2nd November. Winners walk away having played at the Civic Theatre Newcastle, performed to Music Industry professionals from top indie labels, agencies and management companies and with prizes valued at over $20,000!

For the latest information about the Resonate Band Competition at myspace.com/resonatethemusicindustryshowcase and at newcastlemusicweek.com.au.

Start Playing Blues Harmonica With Mouth From The South

Ever had the urge to put a harmonica to your lips and start playin’ the blues?

‘Mouth from the South’ Tony Maguire is coming to the rescue with a special beginners harmonica workshop at Customs House in Newcastle 11:30am-3.30pm Saturday July 7.

“The workshop gets you playing simple blues riffs within the first 15 minutes and you walk away with a solid foundation to develop your playing,” says Maguire, who got the ‘Mouth from the South’ tag when he lived and played ‘harp’ in the Northern Territory, where his ‘Clarry’s Blues’ can be heard as the intro theme to a radio blues show beamed out of Alice Springs each week. Closer to home, he was a competitor in the Golden Harmonica Championships in Tamworth this year.

Called Introduction to the Harmonica, the workshop is sponsored by harmonica manufacturer Hohner, which supplies a gleaming new Silver Star C harp to each participant. The package also includes lunch and an instruction CD. Cost is $125, bookings are essential and there are 20 spaces available.

Download the flier for the Newcastle session for more information or contact Tony Maguire on 0402 388742 or email tmaguire01@yahoo.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.