The latest round of Music Work grants have been dealt out to some top-notch Victorian talent, labels and projects – funding tours, EPs, promoters and a whole lot more for in an accumulative total of more than half a million dollars.
As detailed on the Creative Vic site, check out the full list of recipients below:
Aeroplane Agency, Brunswick: $5,000 Support for the Up The Guts Regional Live Music Tour. This grant will contribute to the costs associated with touring three Australian artists, with 18 live shows across four states including three dates in regional Victoria.
Alexandra Kolac (Xani), Brunswick: $8,350 Supporting an EP recording, release and launch event for pop artist Xani.
AMISTAT, Heidelberg Heights: $10,000 Known for their popular stints busking in Melbourne’s CBD, this grant will support a European tour by folk band Amistat with fellow Melbourne act Oliver’s Army.
Audrey Studios, Coburg: $5,835 Support for the Audrey Studios Recording Pathways program, a valuable professional development program with a diverse focus that allows participants to record with award-winning female producer, Anna Laverty.
Auspicious Arts Projects on behalf of Michael Harbus-James, Melbourne: $11,400 Support for the production and promotion of a new EP by Sister Girl, three female MC’s from Koori, Kukatha and Agwamin country.
Sean Bailey, Northcote: $4,200 Support for Lakes’ ‘Silver Thorns’ EP recording project, which will bring together gothic, folk, industrial and punk influences.
Bedroom Suck Records, Brunswick: $20,000 Support for the Great Southern Land tour, a 35-gig regional Victoria and Tasmania tour featuring artists signed to the independent label Bedroom Suck Records.
Sophia Brous, Malvern East: $10,000 Support for the production and final mixing of a studio album by EXO-TECH, an improvised industrial outfit led by Sophia Brous, with a growing international following. The album will be finalised with UK producer David Wrench.
Sarah Carroll, Clifton Springs: $10,000 Country music artist, Sarah Carroll, will take her band on tour to metro and regional centres in Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and the ACT to promote their recent album, ‘Star Parade’.
Simona Castricum, Brunswick: $13,000 Support for the production of a 12″ EP and remix release by Simona Castricum, who is recognised as a leader in Victoria’s growing gender non-conforming music community.
Simon Charles, Parkville: $8,768 Support for the production of ‘Marionette: A Recording’ by composer and sound artist, Simon Charles. International labels have already expressed interest in releasing this work.
Jen Cloher, Thornbury: $15,500 Support for a debut tour in the UK and Europe in September 2017, to promote her next album.
Biddy Connor, Thornbury: $18,900 Support for the production of the debut album by The Letter String Quartet featuring singer/songwriter Marita Dyson.
Cooking Vinyl Australia, Kensington: $5,010 Heavy and alternative music label, Cooking Vinyl Australia, will travel to the United States to attend business meetings and networking events in order to create and expand opportunities for current label artists.
Didirri, Yarraville: $15,835 Support for a new EP recording by folk artist Didirri.
El Perro Productions, St Kilda: $19,792 Support for the GRID Series Artist Development Program, which has a track record of providing development opportunities for young aspiring music professionals in outer South-East Melbourne.
Foreign Brothers on behalf of SO.Crates, Northcote: $10,000 Production support for hip hop outfit SO.Crates’ double EP release on limited edition vinyl.
Kate Herrington, Fitzroy North: $5,850 Support for the production and promotion of the debut album of experimental pop project Full Flower Moon Band.
Huntly, Clifton Hill: $11,000 This grant will support the recording of the début album by electronic trip Huntly.
Jenny M. Thomas, Thornbury: $9,300 Support for Bush Gothic to take their reworked Australian folk songs to New Zealand and the United Kingdom, following a successful 2016 tour to Europe.
Jonnine Standish, Kallista: $8,200 Support for the promotion of the album ‘Super Natural’ by electronic artist/songwriter Jonnine Standish.
Michael Katz, East Melbourne: $15,000 Support for Harvey Sutherland and Bermuda’s headline European Tour in 2017, which will include esteemed festivals such as Glastonbury, Sonar and Love International.
KEWL, Abbotsford: $18,000 Support for ‘Now Sound’, a film project which seeks to capture and celebrate the current state of the Melbourne independent music scene.
LANKS, Windsor: $12,000 Support for the debut album by electronic artist LANKS.
Joel Ma, Fitzroy North: $18,400 Support for an ambitious collaborative music project, Joelistics Presents Film School, in which MC Joelistics will take on his first producer role.
Nicholas Martyn, Coburg: $4,000 Support for a professional development opportunity in Cuba to experience rhythm, percussion technique and the musical language of Cuba. Having worked extensively with Victorian artists, such as the Cat Empire and Clary Browne, Martyn will benefit creatively and professionally from this unique opportunity.
Jade McInally, Fitzroy North: $11,350 Support for the production and promotion of the début album by Melbourne alternative four-piece Jade Imagine.
Guy Blackman, Clifton Hill: $25,000 Following on from recent signings with an international distributor, representatives of independent label Chapter Music will travel to the United States and United Kingdom to promote six of their artists in these key markets.
Monkey Marc, Canterbury: $10,000 Support for the recording, mixing and mastering of producer Monkey Marc’s third album in collaboration with leading Jamaican reggae artists. Support will also cover an accompanying music video and worldwide online promotion.
Null, West Footscray: $9,700 Instrumental electronic music project Null has been developing audiences for a number of years. The grant will support the recording and release of Null’s debut album.
James O’Brien, Coburg: $5,000 Support for the recording and release campaign for the sophomore album by Darling James, Mood Eyes.
Geoffrey O’Connor, Brunswick: $7,000 Recording and production of a new solo album.
Potatoheadz Records, Brunswick: $4,005 Since its beginnings in Ballarat, Potatoheadz Records has built a solid local and international following within the EDM club scene. This grant will support the production of a new four-track vinyl EP featuring the label’s artists.
Raised By Eagles, Collingwood: $9,800 Support for an east coast tour of regional and metro venues to support the launch of the new album by the alt-country/roots act Raised by Eagles.
Emma Russack, Northcote: $10,000 Support for the production and promotion of a fourth studio album by the indie singer-songwriter.
Laila Sakini, Belgrave South: $7,400 Support for the promotion of electronic music artist Laila Sakini’s ‘Figures’ EP across Europe and the UK with a new music video.
Lisa Salvo, Reservoir: $6,000 Support for the recording of a new album by progressive pop artist Lisa Salvo, performing as On Diamond.
Smooch Records, Brunswick: $17,000 Support for the publicity and promotional activities of Smooch Records, an energetic, local, alternative music label that plans to release and publicise six releases across 12 months.
Raquel Solier, Brunswick: $10,000 Support for the production of a début album by electronic act Various Asses, with accompanying visual content.
Tetrahedra, Thornbury: $11,120 This grant will enable electro-pop outfit, Tetrahedra to collaborate with a well-known local photographer and videographer to produce an audio-visual EP.
The Black Sistaz, Maidstone: $10,000 Support for West Papuan music trio The Black Sistaz to record their new EP in July 2017.
The Cactus Channel, Fitzroy: $13,150 Creation of soul/funk/pop band The Cactus Channel’s third studio album.
The Push Incorporated, Brunswick: $14,400 Support for the ongoing Push Songs program, a songwriting mentorship program with a track record of delivering strong outcomes for young Victorian songwriters.
This Way North, Alexandra: $7,606 Support for a new EP recording, to take place in Canada, followed by a west coast Canadian tour designed to build on and expand the band’s North American industry contacts.
Áine Tyrrell, Killarney: $17,500 Support for a songwriting and recording mentorship that will see Melbourne-based contemporary Irish folk artist, Áine Tyrrell work with, and learn from, acclaimed Irish act Glen Hansard and the Frames.
Wet Lips, Brunswick: $8,028 Support for a 13-date east coast tour by punk/rock outfit Wet Lips to support the release of a new album. Support is also provided for tour promotion and for a music video.
Emily York, Collingwood: $5,000 Support for tour promoter Emily York to undertake a professional development opportunity in the UK to develop her networks with a view to attracting more international acts to tour to Victoria.
Music Works – Quick Response grants
Charlotte Abroms, Fitzroy: $3,067 For music manager Charlotte Abroms to travel to the UK to attend The Great Escape music festival to connect with industry leaders and seek opportunities for her Victorian clients.
Cannonball, Nunawading: $10,390 For a tour by jazz/groove/soul sextet Cannonball which will see the group perform and present workshops at the Hong Kong International Jazz Festival, Zhuhai World & Jazz Music Festival (China), Dajidian Music Festival (Baoding, China), and also at clubs and educational institutions in Beijing, Zhongshan (China).
Cookin’ On 3 Burners, Preston: $7,000 For a six-date tour to the UK. The tour will capitalise on the group’s worldwide success of their 2016 collaboration with French electronic music producer Kungs (Kungs vs. Cookin’ On 3 Burners ‘This Girl’) which went to number one on the charts in France, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Latvia and Scotland and number two on the UK singles chart.
Courtney Clarke, Fitzroy North: $4,750 For Melbourne artist CC:Disco! (Courtney Clark) to travel to Europe for a schedule of performances, meetings with industry representatives to discuss and present future music releases.
D.D Dumbo, Collingwood: $12,000 For a three week tour of Europe to support the release of D.D Dumbo’s debut album, ‘Utopia Defeated’.
Jonathan Heilbron, Elwood: $2,690 To tour to Israel, Norway, Russia and Germany to perform at leading festivals and venues.
Lewis Ingham, Hawthorn East: $1,500 To travel to the US to participate in a composition program held as part of the 2017 Charlotte New Music Festival.
Mandy Connell, Wangaratta: $1,040 Support to produce ‘An Otherwise Quiet Room’ a video series hosted by Mandy Connell that features interviews and performance by independent singer/songwriters.
Tim Shiel, Clifton Hill: $4,147 For a three-week trip to the US (Los Angeles and New York) to build international networks and capitalise on opportunities for both himself and the artists he represents via his independent record label Spirit Level. The trip will include attendance at A2IM Indie Week, an international conference and networking event for independent music.
Via Beat Magazine.
