Jonathan Sequeira’s raw and stunning documentary, "Descent Into The Maelstrom - The Radio Birdman Story", has been snubbed by Australia's national public broadcaster the ABC.

Released as a short-run feature in Australian cinemas and shown at film festivals and limited screenings in the USA, Japan, the UK and Europe, “Descent” will be released via DVD and streaming in September this year to coincide with a Radio Birdman tour of Australia and Europe.

The taxpayer-funded ABC was offered a deep discount to screen it on Australian free-to-air TV but has declined, after months of dithering and silence.

In an online statement published overnight, filmmaker Jonathan Sequeira said:

Regardless of my involvement, it is a tragedy that the ABC will not be broadcasting the largely unknown story of the most important band in Australia’s music history. I consider that to be letting down the Australian public, and a failure of the ABC to follow its charter.

Radio Birdman has also issued an online statement overnight:

Considering the highly relevant content of the film, from the perspective of Australian music history, ABC was the obvious choice of channel…The band is disappointed but not really surprised. We have been familiar with this sort of attitude from the establishment since the 1970's.

Curiously, ABC has screened documetaries about the Saints and the Go Betweens, as well as series of programs based on its own "Countdown" franchise. 

You can make your opinion known by contacting ABC-1 Channel Manager Natalie Edgar via abc.net.au/contact/complain.htm

It’s winter in Sydney but the city’s monthly Rock and Roll Market is cranking up the heat with its latest live music line-up.  

Gay Paris (pictured, right), Papa Pilko and the Binrats, West Texas Crude– flying in from Brisbane – and rockabilly act The Red Rollan Deuces team with DJs Limpin’ Jimmy & the Swingin’ Kitten, Rod Almighty, The Crimplenes and Solid Gold Hell for the July 29 event at Sydney University’s Manning Bar from 10.30am.

As always, punters will be dazzled by an array of unique stalls featuring fashion galore, rock ‘n’ roll, alternative, vintage, handmade and unique clothing for men, women and children, jewellery, accessories, cult DVDs, artwork, homewares, collectables, tikis, posters, handmade unique goods.

Organisers promise there will be more than 50,000 LPs, 45s and CDs on sale, covering rock, punk, metal, rockabilly, blues, jazz, country, reggae, club and hip hop. The Record Fair is presented by Revolve Records (Erskineville) and Egg Records (Newtown).

You’ll also find a café, bars, international food, giant kids’ games, classic and vintage vehicle display plus more.

Call it a gathering of the garage rock tribe or a gig for underground music’s disaffected, but the “Born Out of Time #1” bill of high energy bands is going to rock Sydney’s socks off.  

 

A mini-festival of awesome proportions at Marrickville Bowling Club in Sydney on Saturday, September 15, it’s the first of a series of national shows to showcase the best REAL Rock n Roll in the land. 

 

Presented by Off The Hip Records and I-94 Bar, “Born Out of Time #1” features a line-up of motor-headed Melbourne punks Grindhouse; kings of fat ‘n’ drunken stupidity The Crusaders; new voodoo crew The Beat Taboo; revived and resurgent Sydney punks Aberration;  and young Melbourne band The Devours. 

 

“The concept of Born Out Of Time is to take bands from the label, and others, to places where they might not otherwise play,” says Off The Hip Records honcho Mick Baty. 

 

“It’s a value for money, five-band bill that echoes the sort of nights that made the Sydney Trade Union Club famous in the 1980s.”

 

Grindhouse will be promoting their brand new third album, “Can I Drive Your Commodore?”, which has attracted stellar reviews. 

 

The Crusaders will be making one of their all-too-rare appearances and their first since supporting The Sonics in Sydney two years back. 

 

The Beat Taboo is a group of Melbourne veterans with a swamp-voodoo album "Dirry Stash" making noise in Australia and overseas. 

Details

By The Barman

The Barman

06 July 2018

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