The Cruel Sea

Performers

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  The Cruel Sea

  By bringing together two very different influences, almost like adding oil to water, The Cruel Sea created a style of rock which extended Australian rock & roll culture and, at the same time, made them one of the most successful Australian groups of the '90s. The instrumentals-only Cruel Sea played its first gigs in 1988, setting up behind the pool table at a hotel in Sydney. Operating the lighting at some of those performances was moonlighting Beasts Of Bourbon singer Tex Perkins. It wasn't until a party a few months later that the Cruel Sea and Perkins were formally introduced. Already an Australian music legend for his rock & roll swagger, the Cruel Sea couldn't have wished for anyone more qualified or interesting than Perkins. Their first union was only a casual one. An initial 12"EP was expanded into the full-length debut Cruel Sea album, called Down Below. More comfortable with the bringing together of their two halves, clean instrumentals, and rough-edged rock vocals, with the second album This Is Not The Way Home, the band expanded their musical influences. A tour with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds through Europe helped the band work its style into place. With Perkins able to devote himself to being a permanent member of the Cruel Sea in 1993. The result of that concerted effort was the album, The Honeymoon Is Over It reached number four nationally and was awarded with four ARIA Awards.
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  Magic Dirt

  Magic Dirt, the seminal female fronted alternative rock band from the 90's, comprised of Adalita, Dean Turner, Raul Sanchez and Adam Robertson (past members Daniel Herring and Dave Thomas). Formed in Geelong in 1991, it wasn't long before the band was packing out pubs in Melbourne and supporting bands like Pavement and Sonic Youth. Their 2nd EP, 'Life Was Better' (1994), debuted at #1 on the alternative charts staying there for a staggering 75 weeks. They then released their super heavy 1st album 'Friends In Danger' in 1996, followed by the blistering, 'Young And Full Of The Devil' (1998). In 2000 the band released 'What Are Rockstars Doing Today' which included anthemic hit, 'Dirty Jeans', followed up by the multi-ARIA Award nominated 'Tough Love’ (2003). Magic Dirt continued to blitz the live music circuit cementing their status as one of Australia's best loved and highly respected bands. In September 2006 they released their 5th studio album, 'Snow White' and after parting ways with Warner Music Australia later that same year the band released all noise album 'Roky's Room', 'Beast' and their 6th studio album 'Girl' on their own label, 'Emergency Music'. In 2009 the band suffered the devastating loss of founding member and bassist, Dean Turner and consequently went on an indefinite hiatus. Nearly a decade later, after a chance reunion in their hometown of Geelong, the band have decided to hit the road again, in honour of their bandmate and their long and extensive legacy.