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Perth Music2007 Perth Big Day Out Preview
There are some great Perth artists playing at the 2007 Big Day Out Tour including Bob Evans, The Sleepy Jackson, Little Birdy, John Butler Trio and a band that has almost climbed to the top of the tree: Eskimo Joe.
In fact the 2007 Big Day Out has got more Perth artists touring nationally than any other year.
2006 only saw End Of Fashion doing the national Big Day Out tour,
2005 - John Butler Trio, Eskimo Joe and Little Birdy,
2004 - The Sleepy Jackson,
2003 - Jebediah and The Waifs,
2002 - Eskimo Joe,
2001 - None,
2000 - Jebediah,
1999 - Jebediah,
1997 - None,
1996 - Ammonia,
1995, 1994, 1993, 1992 - None.
Of course there are local stages at each Big Day Out and these have local bands relevant for each city. But looking at bands that are doing the entire Big Day Out tour in 2007 shows that it is a milestone for Perth Music. It has been acknowledged by many that bands coming out of Perth have been world class in the past few years and it is great to see the a world class music festival acknowledge it as well.
The lineup order for the Big Day Out is always criticized and the band that some people believe should headline is not always the same band that other people believe should headline. But given the lineup that is up on the Big Day Out website (www.bigdayout.com) and Perth artists are quite prominent.
Eskimo Joe are listed 5th in the official line up which is above international acts such as The Streets, The Killers, My Chemical Romance and Kasabian. This is no mean feat for a band lucky to get a good crowd to a free gig at a Murdoch Uni open day only a few years ago. The past 12 months have seen the Freo lads (Kav Temperley, Stu Macleod and Joel Quartermain) break through and make their mark on the Australian music scene. Their third full length album (Black Fingernails, Red Wine) went to number 1 on the ARIA charts and their single by the same name won this years ARIA Award for Single Of The Year.
John Butler Trio are highly regarded among the public and their musical peers. One of only a few socially active, political bands left in Australian music, they also have the musical talent to back it up. John Butler has the ability to sit in a group of 10 or on stage in front of thousands and hold every person’s attention by simply playing guitar. Just last weekend the Trio busked at the Fremantle markets as a surprise gig for free, something they did many years ago just to earn a little extra cash.
It is also great to see Little Birdy and The Sleepy Jackson playing at the same Big Day Out. Siblings Katy Steele (Little Birdy) and Luke Steele (The Sleepy Jackson) are in two of the most successful Perth bands at the moment and I am sure they will cherish being able to play at a festival where they can also watch the other play at. The Steele family is regarded by many as Perth music royalty with Katy and Luke’s father Rick Steele, a Perth blues music legend that actually had a top ten hit in his native New Zealand.
Bob Evans (Kevin Mitchell from Jebediah) can’t put a foot wrong this year and has been rewarded with his first solo Big Day Out tour. After getting signed to EMI and releasing his critically acclaimed sophomore album Suburban Songbook, he also won an ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Artist. He also has a new digital EP coming out soon of covers that should tide fans over until Jebediah start recording again.
With these fantastic Perth artists touring nationally alongside the extraordinary existing lineup (Tool, Muse, Jet, The Violent Femmes, The Streets, The Killers, Scribe, Evermore, The Presets, Something For Kate, You Am I, The Butterfly Effect and many more) and the local stage showcasing incredible local bands, the 2007 Big Day Out looks set to be a summer highlight for music lovers.
