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This Saturday’s Sound Relief concerts have already smashed records, with the Melbourne show becoming the largest paid concert event in Australian history. With artists like Kings of Leon, Midnight Oil, and Gabriella Cilmi on the bill, and money raised benefiting the Victorian bushfire victims, it’s little wonder why!
“It’s just an amazing result,” said Sound Relief co-organiser Michael Gudinski. “The lineup is without doubt a once in a lifetime one, but it’s truly impressive how much the Australian public has gotten behind this. It speaks volumes of the passion of our great country – helping a mate in trouble.”
And with the addition of Kylie Minogue to the line-up, the show at the MCG is only going to get bigger. She’ll make an appearance as special guest MC.
“To me, Kylie is Melbourne. Her attendance is the cherry on the top of an already phenomenal lineup. She’s our girl.” Michael Gudinski said.
With other 78, 000 tickets sold, the Melbourne concert has been declared a sell out. Lucky fans in Sydney can still secure tickets, with more released today. Profits from the SCG show will be shared between the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and The Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund to aid victims of the Queensland floods.
Image source: PR Photos
The problem is – that’s not the Australian spirit – there’s no “help a mate out” here, it’s a charity event – it happens everywhere, all over the world. Help a mate out doesn’t exist, it’s a patriotic myth to perpetuate the higher grounding citizens self-worth to make them feel like they’re doing something.
If Australia was truly a “help a mate out” country – the Aboriginals wouldn’t be so discriminated against, they would be given far better housing, they would be able to get jobs without struggling and the music scene wouldn’t be so fucking conservative and hard-pressed – forcing anything original and inspiring to the underground leaving the shiny gloss of Australias image in the hands of bullshitters like Kylie Minogue and Daniel Johns.
Take a look at the film industry here – if it’s not a patriotic movie, in that it shows the outback or some sort of “ozzie spirit” it just doesn’t exist.
Your blog is a great representation of how corrupted and self-glorified Australia is as a nation.
I’m not saying this event is not a good thing, but don’t fucking act like we’re some magnificent nation because of it. It changes nothing, they’ve got fucking Kings of Leon in there – they’re not even Australian…and Gabriella Cilmi is obviously the “latest thing” to get people to buy the tickets. Readers, go and ask yourself if they got a bunch of unknown bands up there if the Australian public would still attend and the tickets would sell out just to support the bushfire appeal. Seriously. You know they wouldn’t.
Peace.
Danny Nash
Editor @ GuitarZero.org
I have to disagree with you. Australians have given millions selflessly to the bushfire and flood appeals, both with and without this concert. They turned out in droves to smaller benefit shows, which I also publicised weeks ago. Anything that helps out is worth promoting. There’s no denying that the show with the biggest acts puts the most bums on seats, but so what? Isn’t that a good thing?
I think it’s a wonderful thing that both local and international artists have selflessly given of their time. So what if Kings of Leon aren’t Australian? We’re a global community, and everyone around the world has been touched.
I think you need to take a step out of the negative bubble you live in and look around. Australia has a thriving and diverse music industry where the cream rises. It may not always be to your taste, but if not go see the little bands in the bars. There is an eclectic bunch of films out there too, but you may need to seek out an independent cinema rather than your local Greater Union.
I think you’ll find that, that was the problem I’m talking about. There are bands out there, but they’re pushed below the line of what’s noticeable. There are movies out there, but you have to dig for them. It’s not in Australias interest to reveal the deeper, darker side of what lies within our borders – it’s all glossy and made up bullshit for the tourists and the conservatives and the masses to feel comfortable and a sense of patriotic pride. It’s a sham.
I’m not sure I agree with that either. Look at the films we’ve given AFIs to in the recent past – Ten Canoes and Rabbit Proof Fence were in the last ten years telling indigenous stories, Romulus My Father, Look Both Ways, and Somersault weren’t exactly mainstream either. The ARIAs have categories recognising world music and roots and jazz and all areas. They gave awards to Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and Gotye when they weren’t getting played on radio.
But what’s a little more mainstream, accessible, and commercial is always going to be popular. You’ll find that anywhere, not just in Australia. Critical acclaim and commercial appeal are often two different things, but while we have the option to enjoy entertainment from all sectors I’m not sure where the problem lies.