The Courier-Mail Loud in the Valley
An Evening of AMP
Jack Ladder, Tom Cooney and Ross McLennan
AMP stands for Australian Music Prize, an independent not-for-profit award that encourages a level playing field of musical opportunity. The prize is $30,000 given to an Australian artist or group in recognition of the outstanding creativity they exhibited based on an original album released in 2008.
There is a panel of 20 or more judges selected for their knowledge and impartiality. The shortlist this year was impressive in its variety and talent and we have selected three of our favourites to play Loud In The Valley.
Jack Ladder (Sydney): Love is Gone moves effortlessly between the sounds of early R&B, alt-country, folk and blues and subsumes them all into a rich blend topped off with a distinct sense of swagger and a lot of sex. Imagine Leonard Cohen driving through Detroit singing along to Little Richard on the radio. Now imagine Detroit is a vast beach located somewhere north of Sydney.
Tom Cooney (Brisbane): Presque Vu, full of unexpected textures and understated finesse, is much more likely to nudge your arm than tug at your sleeve. Though once it gets your attention, the longer you sit with it the more it will give you.
Ross McLennan and the New World Sympathetique (Melbourne): A dozen finely crafted songs open up labyrinthine worlds of meaning, association and possibilities with every listen. The sophisticated production values and rich orchestration add dark soul textures and grandiose alt-rock flourishes to Ross’s sometimes witty, sometimes melancholic songs. Sneakily spectacular, introspectively epic and inevitably classic, Sympathy For The New World is a must-hear.
Presented by Queensland Music Festival, Brisbane City Council and The Courier-Mail.
Other Loud In The Valley Events:
FRI 17 JULY
JOAO RABELLO
SAT 18 JULY
MONSIEUR CAMEMBERT / VULGARGRAD / FROCK
FRI 24 & SAT 25 JULY
DAN HICKS & THE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS
SAT 25 JULY
FOURPLAY STRING QUARTET
SUN 2 AUGUST
KIMMO POHJONEN / IIRO RANTALA NEW TRIO
