Rocking the Block Plans for ‘07

Joel Beasant here. I work with the Redfern Aboriginal Housing Company, to put on community music festivals, at The Block, called ‘Rock the Block’. The festivals, which started in ’06 have so far featured Rock, Indigenous youth and Reggae events.

As well as raising money for community facilities (like a women and children’s dance studio) the events have also brought thousands of people to The Block to hear community leaders speak about Indigenous issues, advance knowledge of improvements needed, and to experience the community’s cultural spirit for themselves (while enjoying great music).

Performers at the events in ’06 included:

• Bart Willoughby
• Wire MC (Gunbayngirri descendant- musician, beatboxer and B-Boy from Bowraville)
• Combat Wombat (Eco Hip hop eco from Melbourne)
• The Urban Guerillas (Legendary Sydney punk rockers)
• The Resurrectors (and members of Fat Freddy’s Drop)
• James Henry (Jimmy Little's Grandson)
• Ozi Batla (from The Herd)
• and my band Andorra, among many others.

The events not only benefited The Block financially, but also brought a sense of optimism and artistic momentum to a community that has endured such heavy social criticism and stereotyping over a long period.

Now, The Block is the only community in Sydney which is staging public festivals featuring the talents of locals and other artists, for the education and entertainment of the whole city.

The events are rolling on for 2007. I am working with Donald Enoch (formerly of Bangarra) and Lani Tuitavake, General Manager of the Housing Company, to stage the events.

I am writing to you to see if you, or someone you know, is interested in being involved as a performer, or through lending your support.

Rock the Block ’07 is to be held on Saturday May 5, in Redfern, between 11am and 4pm. The first half of the day will be made available to young performers and from 1-4pm for recognised acts.

The purpose of the event, again is to raise awareness and money for the dance studio, which is located at the Tony Mundine Gym. The studio, which is partly completed, needs roof repairs, the installation of sound and air conditioning systems, money to pay instructors and for the student’s equipment (dance shoes etc).

In the lead up to the event we are hoping to record a theme song, to be made available on the day. We are hoping to receive permission to record a version of ‘‘Solid Rock’ by Goanna. The Redfern Community Centre has made their recording facilities available on Saturday April 14 and 21 for this purpose. Andorra will record the instrumental parts of the song before-hand so only vocals will be required. We envisage collaboration between a number of artists performing together ‘We are the world’ style

Please let us know if you are interested and able in being part of the event and/or recording. If so, I will send you a DVD documenting all the successful events from last year.

Joel Beasant. Andorra Phone: 02 97971339 joel@andorramusic.com.au

Please find a biography of my band below, to get a bit more background on us.

Andorra

Andorra is a rock band that makes music and organises shows, for the things we care about, in a positive way and with pro-active resilience.

History

Andorra (formed in 2003) are Joel Beasant- lead singer, Greg Penkow- bass,

Eric Bellingham- lead guitar, Steve Barrett-drums, & Matthew Campbell- keys.

All bands either ride the wave of popular style or carve out something new. Andorra’s plan, from it’s beginning, has been to deliver its own unique style of songs with catchy melodies and social/poetic lyrics.

Venues played in Sydney in 2005-06

Sydney Festival for Peace- Leichhardt; ‘Rock the Block’- Redfern; Addison Rd Community Centre- Marrickville; Cat & Fiddle; Vic on the Park; Harp Hotel; Hopetoun;  Metro Theatre; The Marquee; Arncliffe; Annandale Hotel + more  

Discography

’06 Keysar Trad Jazz                              ’06 Baxter EP and DVD and video

’05 Live at The Cat Vol II (track)   ‘04 Boom Boom/Bling Bling EP

’04 Morgue Age EP and video     ‘03 One person per sun EP

Radio Interviews and airplay

FBI Sydney 08/11/06+24/06/06;  Skidrow Sydney 10/11/06+ 20/03/06; Koori Radio Sydney  08/04/06 + 23/03/06; 2SER Sydney 27/04/06 + 12/04/06; KND Melbourne 02/05/06; 2SSR Sydney 02/05/06; 2RDJ Sydney 30/04/06; 5GTR Mount Gambier; 27/02/06;   City Radio Launceston  14/03/06 + more

General radio airplay includes:

Edge FM Bega; 2BOB Taree; 3CR; 8CCC Alice Springs; 2RRR; FBI Sydney

TV airplay ‘06

Noise TV- SBS. 04/03/06 ; ‘RAGE’- ABC. 04/03/06

Channel 31 documentary played throughout October 2006

Actively Radical TV-  Syd: Interview, studio performance. 26/03/06;

Unsigned & Inspiring- Syd: Interview, screening of Baxter  01/04/06

Podcasts:

                     http://ratbagradio.blogspot.com/2006/03/blather-13.html

                    http://ratbagradio.blogspot.com/2006/03/blather-12.html