The SAL Board would like to thank the organizers of the Benny’s Bar 2007 Reunion night which was held in Sydney on December 5th, raising $2,500 for Support Act. It was a great night and Marty and Grant promise an even bigger event in 2008. Keep an eye on this web site for details.

November 7 2007: The Jack Daniel’s name has been synonymous with live music since 1892, when its legendary founder formed the Silver Cornet Band. Styles have changed a little since then but the brand has stayed just as committed to supporting and celebrating live music and that’s why in 2008, Jack Daniel’s will launch The JD Sets, a concert series that will bring more Australian bands to more people around the country.

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey Senior Brand Manager Jonny Croft explains, “We are really excited about The JD Sets program and the opportunity it will provide us to take recently signed bands all over Australia. Jack Daniel’s has a wonderful history and association with live music. We’re looking forward to supporting fresh new talent by getting them on the road and in front of audiences all over the country.”

To support this new initiative, Jack Daniel’s has upgraded its agency partnership and enlisted The Sound Campaign to manage the music side of the business. Jonny says, “We chose The Sound Campaign because they understand our brand and understand live Australian music. Just as Jack Daniel’s takes years to mature, we know that bands need to be supported in their development.” Jason Fielding, Director of Sound Campaign adds, “The relationship between brands and music is ever evolving and we are delighted to be working with Jack Daniel’s, who has continuously pushed the boundaries of this relationship into new and exciting projects. The JD Sets will take this to a new level again and we are really looking forward to the year ahead.”

Working with The Sound Campaign will be Chugg Entertainment. Director Michael Chugg says, “It’s always been tough for young bands out there but initiatives such as this will give them great opportunities to be heard and play to an audience bigger than those they’re used to playing in pubs around Australia. In this day and age, having partners like Jack Daniel’s make the tough realities that up and coming bands face much easier.”

Chugg Entertainment Managing Director, Matthew Lazarus-Hall goes on to say, “In past years Chugg Entertainment has always had an interest in breaking new talent, however, with our core business focused on international artists, our opportunities to work with local talent has been limited to festivals and support spots on major international tours. We are very excited about the JD Sets initiative which will give Chugg Entertainment the opportunity to continue our plight in breaking new acts, with a renewed focus in the local community”.

The JD Sets represent the next step in Jack Daniel’s significant investment in live music. The JD Sets will involve multiple bands touring both regional and metropolitan Australia throughout the year. This new program builds on the established profile of the Jack Awards and the brand’s long standing relationship with live music through its association with festivals such as the Big Day Out, Splendour in the Grass and Homebake. Jack Daniel’s is withdrawing from these festivals to focus on showcasing live Australian music through The JD Sets.

A key element of The JD Sets will be involvement with Support Act Limited (SAL) Australia’s Music Industry Benevolent Fund which provides relief and assistance to members of the Australian music industry in need or suffering hardship.

Your friends at Jack Daniel’s remind you to drink responsibly.

At the recent AMA (Australian Music Association) conference held on the Gold Coast, generous retailers at the Annual Dinner responded to a speech by SAL Board member, Brian Cadd, and donated approximately $4,000 and pledged a quantity of goods which will be auctioned off at future SAL events.

This is the second time this association has asked dinner guests to dig deep for SAL and the Board of Support Act would like to extend their sincere thanks for the contribution which is now in excess of $10,000.

It is only with the strong support of organizations like the AMA and their members that SAL can continue its good work helping those in the music industry who fall on hard times.

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone concerned.

Wall of Fame 2007

The Wall of Fame is an activity of the Brain Injury Unit at the Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney. It began five years ago when Dr Clayton King, Medical Director of the Brain Injury Unit realised that the stories that people had to tell, of their accidents, recovery and rehabilitation were inspirational. These stories were not only important to the patient and their families, but would be an inspiration to others who are just beginning the journey of recovery following traumatic brain injury.

Participants in the Wall of Fame are former patients who have made significant achievements following a brain injury. Sometimes achieving a goal of learning to speak again, to play a guitar, or to engage in conversation is a significant outcome in their rehabilitation program. Each individual story is an inspiration to new patients who enter the Brain Injury Unit at ROYAL REHAB.

At the Wall of Fame the participants are presented with a framed photo and story that conveys the message of their achievements. Their “story” is then hung on the wall of the Brain Injury Unit as an inspiration to others.

At the 2007 Wall of Fame, messages of congratulation and support came from the Prime Minister John Howard and sporting legend Dawn Fraser. Brian Cadd representing Support Act was a special guest at the Wall of Fame.

Support Act Board member Brian Cadd had a special message of support and encouragement to a young musician, Tim Grant who is now using his music as way of expressing his journey of recovery and rehabilitation.

At yesterday’s “Music In The House” lunch, Glenn Shorrock was presented with an Award for Excellence in Community Service for his tireless efforts for charity which have enriched the fabric of the Australian community.

Variety International’s Pauline McFetridge presented Glenn with his award and commented that “We are proud to honour a man that has given his time and talent for countless good causes both in Australia and Internationally”. A perpetual trophy has been produced which is on permanent display in NSW Parliament House with recipients names added each year.

In accepting the award Glenn said “This is a wonderful surprise and it’s nice to get a surprise at my age. I’m very happy to be involved with fantastic charities such as Variety and Support Act Limited and endorse the good work they do.”

Hosted by the Hon. Nathan Rees MP, Minister for Emergency Services and Minister for Water Utilities, the lunch was attended by the cream of Australia’s entertainment industry with representatives from the Sydney Swans, Variety, and the Debonaires.

Keynote speaker, Frank Ifield, pointed out the importance of music in our lives. “Situations change, people change but the songs that have influenced our lives remain the same”.

Glenn Shorrock provided the entertainment with a wonderful acoustic set including hits Reminiscing and Help is on Its Away.

Friends of Ritsuko, the South Australian jazz pianist who lost her battle with cancer in May this year, held a tribute concert to this much loved musician on August 12th, 2007.

It was Ritusko’s wish, had she beaten the cancer and survived, to support other musicians in similar circumstances through supporting Support Act Limited, and “Jazz & Jamm – A Tribute to Ritsuko” was organized as a fundraiser by a group of South Australia’s top jazz bands and musicians for this special music industry charity designed to assist music industry participants who have fallen on hard times or are in need of assistance.

The stellar line up included performances by: Deanna Djuric Trio, Trace Canini, The Marmalade Trio, Dave McEvoy Trio and Etype. The highlight being a jam session led by Bruce Hancock, with a little help from Ritusko’s friends: Damien Eldridge; George Grifsas; Chris Soole; Peter Raidel; Laine Jamieson; Frank Fragomeni; Luke Thompson; Liz Chehade; and James Sked.

It was a wonderful event and the organizers were very pleased to present Support Act with a cheque for $6,057.

Congratulations to everyone concerned.

The Board of Support Act Limited would like to thank Michael Gudinski and Frontier Touring for the opportunity to collect donations in the foyers of the venues where the Countdown Spectacular concerts featured nationally. A special thanks to Gavin Wood for his wonderful Support Act message during the concert which alerted everyone to the Support Act charity.

A team of dedicated volunteers in each State rattled the Support Act buckets during interval and after each show and patrons of the event generously dug deep with donations ranging from 5cents to $50 bills.

We would like to thank everyone for their contribution to Support Act and are pleased to report the total sum collected was $12,500.

The Australian Entertainment industry has rallied in support of one of Australia’s biggest rock stars of the 1960s and 1970s, Max Merritt, who has fallen on hard times since being admitted to a U.S. hospital after suffering kidney failure.

A Benefit “Concert For Max” has been confirmed for Sunday 21 October at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda. The 3000 seat venue will play host to a string of artists who have donated their time in support of their good friend Max Merritt including Ross Wilson, James Reyne, Kevin Borich, John Paul Young, Swanee, Peter Cupples, Dinah Lee, The Delltones, Doug Parkinson, Wilbur Wilde and Spectrum with more performers sure to be announced prior to tickets going on sale through Ticketmaster somewhere around the 10th of September.

Speaking from his home in suburban Los Angeles, Max said “I am finding it very difficult to adequately express my appreciation for the help and support during my time of extreme personal need. Your help is absolutely overwhelming”.

The Board of Support Act Limited (SAL) would like to thank all those concerned for allowing Support Act Limited to run a fundraising raffle prior to the commencement of this year’s Hall of Fame Awards.

With a generous donation from ARIA of a Table for 10 at the upcoming ARIA Awards and 5 tickets donated by APRA for the 2008 APRA Awards, the prize amounted to approximately $5,000.

Cheer leaders from the Melbourne Storm mingled with guests selling tickets and the lucky winner announced on the night was Domenic Carosa, CEO, Destra Corporation.

On the day of the Awards, The Debonairs (the Entertainment Industry Lunch Bunch) hosted a lunch for Support Act Limited to celebrate the induction into the Hall of Fame of two of their founding members, Brian Cadd and Wilbur Wilde. The lunch was well attended and included members of the Sydney SAL Board, Rob Potts and Phil Payne (Entertainment Edge), John Evans (Destra Entertainment), Ed Nimmervol, David Flint, Keith Colias, Paul Thorn, Angela Batties (Channel 7), Alison Taylor (Reality Illusion Productions), Michael Whyte (Freemantle Media), Nigel Davis, Sara Hood (Australian Music Association), Sue Gillard (SAL Victoria), Adrian Barker, Rolf Popp and Mary Renshaw along with the usual suspects.
View photos from the Hall of Fame Lunch.
View photos from the Hall of Fame Awards.

We would like to thank all these people for their generous support for SAL and the people it is assisting in their time of need.

The Victorian Debonairs (The Entertainment Industry Lunch Bunch) will be holding a special pre-ARIA Hall of Fame Awards Lunch to celebrate that two of their founding members, Brian Cadd and Wilbur Wilde (as part of the original line-up of Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons) are being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame

Formed nearly three years ago and named after that famous old vaudeville joke, the lunch club was designed simply to facilitate the getting together of music industry people who kept saying “we must have lunch sometime” but never seemed to get around to it! From an original group of 12, the club has grown to around 150 members and the concept is so successful that several members who have since moved to Sydney have started a Debonairs lunch club in Sydney.