Lowell Observatory - Flagstaff, Arizona

The Lowell Observatory is fantastic to visit, with many interesting artifacts and instruments. Percival Lowell was a fascinating 'renaissance man' who built the telescope (below), using the world's best lens-makers (at the time) and the local town's finest metalworkers.

Lowell had done a lot of the groundwork in locating/discovering Pluto, but it was Clyde Tombaugh who did the discovering on the astrograph (below).

After knocking himself out one night, Tombaugh added some padding onto the astrograph (below)

Overground - Melbourne International Jazz Festival

Oren Ambarchi (guitar) and Charlemagne Palestine (USA - grand organ) started the event with epic droning awesomeness..



There were some random acts of noise.. such as Kusum Normoyle (above)

And there were some planned acts of violent sonic performance, such as Will Guthrie's teaming up with Cured Pink (above)

Indonesian duo Rully Shabara and Wukir Suryad (aka Senyawa) slayed!



There were some interesting characters at the after-party also.

Betty and Keith Stephens

Circus Olympia

Circus Olympia was in Castlemaine the other weekend

International Noise Conference - Melbourne

The International Noise Conference came to Melbourne on the 21st May at KIPL in North Melbourne. No laptops, no droning, no money, and 15 minute sets made this a very interesting day. 30 acts, with no breaks in between, this event was great. Congrats to the Sabbatical mob for running it so well.

Sadly my camera broke down on the day, but I did get to capture some of the highlights. Dead Boomers (above and below) were a powerhouse!

Furchick's set was tops

Sean Baxter showed us how to get a drum to play it's own tune
Rod Cooper played another of his homemade instruments...

Oranj Punjabi (no she's not chroming, she's bringing the noise)


Incompetent Cervix were also awesome

Harmony

Harmony (featuring members of The Nation Blue, Remake Remodel, McLusky, Ukeladies) has been playing round the traps, impressing ears, over the past year or so. They have an album due real soon! yay!

Wolfy & The Bat Cubs

Wolfy & The Bat Cubs are on the prowl... straight out of Central Victoria, they'll be rocking your world soon.