Australian News

Australia’s country music capital Tamworth, NSW, wants to cement a sister city relationship with Nashville.  Tamworth Mayor Col Murray and general manager Paul Bennett plan to visit Music City June 6-9. 

They will meet with Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Sister Cities Nashville executive director Heather Cochran-Cunningham as well as various festival organisers to pick up tips for January’s Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Universal Music Australia’s global success with Gotye, Wolfmother and Tame Impala – not to mention turning European violinist Andre Rieu into a touring and recording phenomenon downunder – paid off for its president George Ash.  He’s been promoted to president of Universal Music Asia Pacific, where he’ll handle the entire Asia Pacific region excluding Japan.

Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes signed with NYC-based Vanguard Records. The label will release the soul, blues, doo-wop, jazz and R&B nine-piece’s debut album Baby Caught The Bus May 21.  The band does three shows at SxSW followed by a headlining 18-date club tour March 18 to April 12. The act sparked interest from U.S. labels and agents when its track “Love Letter” was featured in a Heineken ad campaign.

Two Future Music Festival acts arrived in the country needing medical attention. Avicci was hospitalized with an undisclosed stomach ailment that forced him to bow out of its first two shows, while Rita Ora canceled the Perth show due to a throat infection.

Hardcore band Frenzal Rhomb frontman Jay Whalley checked himself into hospital after collapsing twice, and was told a small tumor was discovered on his brain. Doctors also discovered a pig tapeworm egg which he seems to have picked up on a jaunt through Central America.

Universal Music Group subsidiary Republic Records signed New Zealand R&B/pop singer and producer Aaradhna to a five-album deal. Her single “Wake Up” went platinum. American touring and TV plans are being firmed. Aaradhna first emerged in 2004 featured on the group Adeaze’s chart topping single Getting Stronger.