Community Fundraising for Support Act

Stage Kings IsoKing Desks

But here at Stagekings, we do things differently – we’re not just saying that – we actually do. We are super proud of our creative reputation. We try to get better every day – be more creative, give better service, go harder, bigger. Every time.

So whilst we have felt bitter disappointment, we found the emotion has very quickly morphed into a sense of sheer determination. We will fight hard, and somehow, make it work.

A suggestion came out of the darkness this week from a close friend over in Ireland, the legendary Steve Fox of Flying Elephant Productions. He reminded us that we have a CNC Router, and the people to use it. We have a large warehouse that is kitted out with state of the art carpentry machines, and we have a huge team of specialist and trusted tradespeople on hand. We also now have entire companies, no, industries, having to work from home in Isolation.

So, we have decided to produce work-from-home desks – ‘isolation desks’. As a nod to Stagekings, we’re going to call them The IsoKing desks.

Most importantly for us, we are hoping that this project will keep a number of our good crew off the street and back in work. We also think it’s an appropriate time to give back and share the love, so we’ll also be donating $10 from every order to Support Act – who are supporting workers in the Australian Event Industry who have been – and will continue to be – impacted by COVID-19.

You can purchase IsoKings desks online HERE

The Reservoir Room

ICLAP HANDS Hand Sanitiser by Composting Toilet Systems

Purchase online HERE

Roadsick Apparel & Let’s Have a Chat Support Act Fundraiser shirts

The complete shutdown of the music industry has sent shockwaves through industry workers, musicians and fans alike. Those who rely on touring as their bread and butter are in an impossible position right now.

You may be asking – “Well, what can I do to help?” Roadsick Apparel & Lets Have The Chat (with the help of designer Cate Pepper :: Graphic Designer + Artist) have joined forces to create some epic merch with all proceeds going to Support Act.

With the world grappling to make sense of all that’s occurring at the moment, it’s the small gestures, the acts of kindness and support we show each other in these extremely difficult times that will get us all through.

With a range of t-shirt designs to pick from, your contribution will really help the music community.

You can order your Support Act fundraiser shirt online HERE

Boy & Bear 2020 Australian Tour

‘I’m Good?’ by Hilltop Hoods

‘Isolation’ by Vanessa Amorosi

‘Four Days’ by Ali Barter and Oscar Dawson (HOLY HOLY) 

The triple j audience, set Ali Barter and Oscar Dawson (HOLY HOLY) the task of writing a song about our current situation we’re all facing, with some twist. They did it in 24hours and is now officially out in all the regular places.

‘Beyond’ by Music Place Productions

The Dollar Bill Murrays shirts

Armstrong Street ‘Support the Arts’ Fundraiser shirts

“Artists … play an invaluable role in our our country’s culture, identity and workforce. They connect us (and) tell our stories”. ^*

From Band Aid to Bushfire relief, the Arts community has always rallied in times of crisis to raise funds for affected communities.

As the COVID-19 situation began to affect Australia, the Arts sector was one of the first impacted. The cancellation of live performances and festivals such as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival hit the creative community hard, leaving artists and support crew devastated. 

During this period of isolation, many of us are turning to art, books, music, film and TV to get us through these difficult times. 

Now it’s up to us to support these wonderful, creative folk who make our lives a better, more interesting place.

Ella Fence Call Girl T-Shirts

Ella Fence is donating a portion of money made from all ‘Call Girl’ shirts sold to Support Act. ‘Call Girl’ is a self-respect song, about only accepting healthy, balanced, honest relationships.

Purchase shirts at one of Ella’s shows or online HERE

Desk Tape Series: TISM, Live At The Corner Hotel 1988

TISM (This Is Serious Mum) formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1982. Their collision of electro pop, vicious satire and performance art, made them one of the country’s most popular live acts and even saw them achieve mainstream chart success.

Hiding behind masks, pseudonyms and elaborate stage costumes, TISM turned every performance and interview into an art event. In one such interview, journalists were stood at the opposite end of a football ground to the band, and forced to communicate via megaphone. On their first appearance on national TV in Australia, TISM appeared with 28 fully costumed members, performing their latest single, ‘Saturday Night Palsy’

TISM shows featured all manner of distractions, including debating competitions, an onstage wedding, a stock market simulation, a full costume performance of Shakespeare, a ‘Save Our TISM’ telethon, and even a show where two TISMs performed simultaneously at either ends of the venue.

The 1988 gig at the Corner was a more stripped-down affair, however it still saw the band revving two lawn mowers onstage during the set, highly dangerous behaviour in those pre-safety-conscious days of overcrowded venues.

Desk Tape Series: Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Live at Ormond Hall 2011

The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band emerged in the early 1970s playing a mix of jugband, swing, blues, cabaret and jazz.

They incorporated underground theatre, circus, visual arts, counter culture politics, irreverent humour and vaudeville routines as tap dancing, juggling and fire-eating, and became one of the biggest bands of that time.

The Ormond Hall in Melbourne was their spiritual home. So it’s not surprising that when they reunited as an eight piece in 2011 for the Reignited Tour, they would return there for a three night run.

“The audience was always crazy when we played there,” says Matchbox’s long time sound engineer Ian Bowles, who recorded the tapes with Ormond Hall’s house engineer Tim Marmach.

Live At Ormond Hall 2011 includes all their stage favourites, including “My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes”, “That Cat is High”, “Smoke Dreams of You”, “Hernando’s Hideaway”, “The Masochism Tango” and their famed set-closer “Wangaratta Wahine”.

Desk Tape Series: Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons, Live At San Remo, NYE 1976 

Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons were one of the most powerful bands to emerge out of the Melbourne clubs in the mid-70s – with a glorious blend of originals and obscure covers with tight musicianship and a laddish sense of entertainment.

They were fronted by ball of energy Joe Camilleri who sang and played sax, and his nickname derived from Giuseppe, the Maltese name for Joseph gave the new band their name.

Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons hit the ground running. Within weeks they were packing out clubs, eventually playing 300 shows a year around the country and abroad.

Live At San Remo, NYE 1976 features Wayne Burt classics as the blues ballads “King Of Fools” and “I Need Your Loving (I Remember)”, the swamp rock guitar interplay “Dancing Shoes”, the horn driven tribute to Willie Dixon “Yes Indeed” while “Beating Around The Bush” from the Oz movie soundtrack is a formidable performance with horns and guitars whipping around each other. The opening track of Live at San Remo NYE 1976 John “Boodle” Power plays bass and sings the Muddy Waters blues classic “Just to be With You”

Their covers were not obvious ones. Camilleri would go to hip underground record stores and find imported R&B, jazz and soul compilations.

From these came Joe Liggins’ cool shuffle “The Honeydripper”, Louis Jordan’s 1958 “Barnyard Boogie (Boogie In The Barnyard)” and rollicking 1949 “Saturday Night At The Fish Fry” and Sammy Kershaw’s 1958 hit “All In The Same Boat”. They were discoveries for much of the crowd and became live favourites.

Dave Ridoutt’s tape captures the last blaze of glory for the original lineup.

Find out more about the Desk Tape series HERE. 

Desk Tape Series: Australian Crawl, Live At Billboard 1981

Australian Crawl: Live At Billboard 1981 was recorded as the band from Victoria’s surf coast Mornington Peninsula, hit its strides as a live act.

They consisted of singer James Reyne, drummer Bill McDonough, rhythm guitar and vocals Guy McDonough, bassist Paul Williams, lead guitarist Simon Binks and rhythm guitarist Brad Robinson.

Their healthy swimming and surfing passions initially gave the band a surfer and college student following before they became household names.

By the time of the Billboard show, Australian Crawl had sold 600,000 copies of their first two albums The Boys Light Up and Sirocco, and voted the most popular group at the 1981 Countdown Awards.

They were breaking attendance records at clubs around the country. They drew 100,000 to Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne and 90,000 to The Domain in Sydney.

The 20 songs on Australian Crawl: Live At Billboard ’81 include all their hits at the time, as ‘Beautiful People’, ‘Downhearted’, ‘Errol’, ‘Things Don’t Seem’, ‘Lakeside’ and ‘Oh No Not You Again’.

There are also album standouts as ‘Unpublished Critics’ (written by Reyne and Williams), ‘Indisposed’ and ‘Love Boys’ (which Bill wrote about two of their road crew), reviews of the next album (‘Daughters Of The Northern Coast’ got its first airing this night) and crowd-punching covers as ‘Six Days On The Road’ and ‘Slow Down’.

The year after, Crawl went on to have another #1 album with their third album Sons Of Beaches.

Fundraise for us!

Register your fundraising activity by calling us on 1300 731 303 or registering online (click here) via our Fundraise page. Once your fundraising is approved, we will need an image associated with your event and the details you wish to include such as the date, location and ticketing info.

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