Legendary guitarist, Al Di Meola is bringing his 6-piece Latin Jazz Fusion band World Sinfonia to our shores in March 2010. One of the most prominent virtuosos in the contemporary instrumental jazz field, Al Di Meola’s dazzling technique on both acoustic and electric guitars is unmatched, extending to fluid arpeggios flying at breakneck speed and beautiful, slow vibrato-laden melodies. The tour commences in Perth and extends through NSW, Queensland, New Zealand, Tasmania, South Australia and ACT. Provocative and enchanting, Al Di Meola’s intriguing union of complex rhythms, lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmonies ensures an unforgettable aural sensation. Known for his guitar mastery, Al Di Meola has twenty one recordings, three gold albums and has recorded and played with a number of illustrious names including Paul Simon, Phil Collins, Santana, Luciano Pavarotti, Jimmy Page, Stevie Wonder, Frank Zappa, Chick Corea, Steve Winwood, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Jaco Pastorius, Les Paul, Jean Luc Ponty, Steve Vai, Milton Naciemento, Egberto Gismonti, and many more. Early in his career Al Di Meola was bestowed a Grammy, as part of Chick Corea’s Return To Forever. He has been voted World’s Best Guitarist several times by Guitar Player Magazine and has had sold out concerts across the world including Bulgaria and the United States. Al Di Meola’s finds inspiration in music cultures across the world including sounds from Argentina, Brazil, Israel and the Mediterranean and in acoustic genres such as flamenco and the tango. The depth of his writing along with the soulfulness of his guitar expression have won this guitar virtuoso legions of fans worldwide, having played over many years to sell out shows across Europe, Canada and his native USA. Of Di Meola, Guitar historian Robert Lynch said: “In the history of the electric guitar, no one figure has done more to advance the instrument in a purely technical manner than Al Di Meola. His total command of the various styles and scales is simply mind-boggling.”

Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck returns to perform four select theatre shows during his March 2010 Australian tour. Beck, who was admitted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year, is universally hailed as one of the greatest guitarists ever, mentioned in the same breath as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, and listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 15 most influential lead guitarists in rock. In January 2009 Beck performed his first Australian shows since 1977 to rapturous reviews and standing ovations. Scheduled to release a just completed new studio album in February, the guitar virtuoso returns to perform in Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Jeff Beck will also appear at the West Coast and East Coast Blues Festivals in Fremantle and in Byron Bay. Beck’s career has spanned an incredible 40 years. First stepping into the public spotlight in the mid-60s, Beck replaced Clapton in the Yardbirds, recording classic hits Heart Full of Soul and Shapes of Things before moving on in 1967 at the height of the band’s popularity. Beck later formed the blues infused Jeff Beck Group, featuring Rod Stewart on vocals and Ronnie Wood on bass. The group released Truth (’68) and Beck-Ola (’69) but soon disbanded. In 1975 Beck released the first of two landmark albums. Blow By Blow, produced by George Martin, a groundbreaking instrumental jazz-fusion album, followed by a collaboration with Jan Hammer on Wired (’76). Both these albums received critical acclaim as well as commercial success, and are still listed amongst the top-selling guitarist instrumental albums of all time. Beck continued to release albums intermittently through the 80s and 90s, including 1985’s Flash featuring Beck’s most commercially successful single People Get Ready with old band-mate Rod Stewart on vocals. That album is also home to Escape, the tune that won Beck the first of 4 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Instrumental. Following the acclaimed release of Performing This Week… Live at Ronnie Scott’s, Beck returned to Australia after an absence of 32 years, wielding his trademark white Fender Stratocaster and leaving audiences in awe. “It all appeared so effortless but he managed his tone and volume swells so skilfully that few, if any, could replicate his abilities live.” Australian Guitar Magazine “What followed was 90 minutes of alternating bone-jarring power in songs such as Blast and Pump and the fine delicacy of Nadia and Where Were You, in a performance remarkable for it’s nuance and structure.” The Age “His touch was surgeon-like as he brought colour and shade to the mostly original tunes. So much power appeared to result from so little effort.” The Australian Most recently Jeff Beck was invited to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary concerts held at Madison Square Gardens this October. Jeff surprised rapturous a crowd on the first night by coming out to play Superstition with Stevie Wonder. On the 2nd night Jeff and his band played with special guests Sting, Buddy Guy and Billy Gibbons, driving the crowd wild and drawing phenomenal reviews.

Machine Head are visionaries; creating ferocious, captivating music. ?All hail Machine fucking Head.? ? Metal Hammer In 1994, Machine Head crashed into the metal scene with ?Burn My Eyes?, an album that to this day is regarded as a classic of the genre. In 2007 they created a masterpiece of modern metal, ?The Blackening? and delivered the knockout blow to the rest of the metal world. Critics and fans alike agreed that this was one of the purest, finest, most powerful expressions of modern heavy metal released ??The Blackening? is the closest thing that this generation has had to ?Master Of Puppets? ? ? Metal Hammer Machine Head will be bringing ?The Black Procession? tour to Australia throughout March and in tow will be some of metal?s finest. Joining ?The Black Procession? are hardcore legends, Hatebreed. Respected by peers. Revered by fans. An unstoppable force. Tougher than a prison yard. Architects of positive, uplifting anthems that require and demand crowd participation. That?s Hatebreed, top to bottom, back to front. Bleeding Through is proof of the old adage; what doesn?t kill you makes you stronger. This is nowhere more evident on their new album ?Declaration? which sees them more vicious than ever. ?Bleeding Through have delivered the most brutal album of their career? ? Metal Hammer Rounding out ?The Black Procession? is Connecticut?s finest, Emmure. Their patented hellbrand of unbridled metal provides one of the most intense, unforgettable shows ever witnessed and has been the integral part to Emmure?s rabid fan base. ?As usual, these guys tore the house down with their brutal breakdowns... Emmure is the band to see? ? Rockinreview.com MACHINE HEAD / HATEBREED / BLEEDING THROUGH / EMMURE