MEDIA RELEASE ? TUESDAY 1 DECEMBER 2009 PLEASE WELCOME BACK, NEWTON FAULKNER ?If Prince was an English hippie who was obsessed with Bobby McFerrin-esque percussion and had long cinnamon dreadlocks, you?d have Faulkner.??Rollingstone.com Its safe to say that Newton Faulkner is one of the family now, and following his recent sell out promo tour in August of this year, our favourite young folk hero is coming back next March to make himself at home on our stages for the fourth time in three years. In his relatively young career, Newton Faulkner has shared a stage with James Morrison, Paolo Nutini, The Fray, Chris Martin, John Butler Trio and John Mayer. In 2008 he was nominated for a Brit Award in the Best Male category and played a gig in a hot air balloon over the Swiss Alps, organised by the U.K.s Virgin Radio. In 2010 Faulkner will reach new heights, headlining a national tour that will begin at Adelaide?s Thebarton Theatre on March 26. The headline shows that follow will take place at Newcastle?s Bar on the Hill on March 30, and April 1 at the ANU Bar in Canberra. He then returns to Sydney?s Enmore Theatre on April 7 and travels to Melbourne for his first ever headline performance at The Palais Theatre on April 8. After the incredible reception Faulkner received at 2008?s Easter Bluesfests, we?re thrilled that he?ll be welcomed back to his home away from home in 2010. These already announced festival performances include West Coast Blues n Roots in Fremantle on Sunday March 28, Bluesfest Byron Bay for two performances on April 3 and 5. Just a year after topping the charts with his soulful number one double platinum album "Hand Built By Robots", featuring the hit single ?Dream Catch Me?, a shattered wrist put his career in serious jeopardy. One metal plate and a six-inch scar later, the singer and guitarist extraordinaire went on to create his follow up album, the aptly titled "Rebuilt By Humans". Off the back of this captivating second album and an impressive sell-out UK tour, it seems audiences down under can not get enough of this flame-haired dread-locked virtuoso?and lucky for us, the feeling is mutual. With each visit, Newton Faulkner brings something bigger and bolder and wins over new fans. Don miss the opportunity to experience the acoustic guitar as youve never heard it before, when he tours Australia in Easter 2010. Tickets for all headline shows go on sale on Friday 11 December, don?t miss out.

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.”

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