Here are some handy links that we use all the time. We are only including organisations that we personally know to be helpful and reliable, so click with confidence. Networking is a great way to develop your career and make new friends at the same time... you can think of 'win-win' ways to work together & help each other... go for it!!!

MUSIC INDUSTRY RESOURCES

PHOENIX MOVEMENT RECORDS 

http://www.phoenixmovement.com

Phoenix Movement Records is an independent label dedicated to promoting new Australian roots music. We can help you with all aspects of band/artist management on a simple (and affordable) fee-for-service basis. All our services are available at an hourly rate (we do not work 'on spec', or on a percentage basis). Want help with career advice & practical goal-setting? Need a website set up? Advice on image development & marketing? Professional-quality CD recording fully organised? Session musicians booked -- and more? Contact us, and let us provide you with a quote. 

PHOENIX PRODUCTIONS

http://www.rootsbytheriver.com

http://www.grassrootsmusicfestival.com.au

We're the event management wing of Phoenix Movement Records. We organise Roots By The River, the Grass Roots Music Festival, the upcoming JapanOz Festival (Japanese-Australian music festival -- website T.B.A.), and the Gift of Music Project, which provides free musical instruments to refugees (see the link on the RBTR' 06 website for more information.)

8 Ball Aitken

http://www.8ballaitken.com

8 Ball Aitken is the co-ordinator of Roots By The River. (He's a nice guy, too.) If you want to book him to play at your upcoming festival, gig, or event, or if you wanna buy his CDs (BEHIND THE 8 BALL & ODD BALL IN), let us know. 

IMMEDIA!

http://www.immedia.com.au

This is your one-stop shop for ANYTHING to do with the music industry... top quality books, the AMID (the comprehensive national music industry directory you really need to have), and info on Australia's biggest & best music industry conference, too. It's all here!

The Music

http://www.themusic.com.au

Run by the same folks, this is the best way to keep fully up to date with what's going on in the 'biz around the country. We never miss reading Christie's column... it's chock-full of opportunities.

On Creative Ground

http://www.oncreativeground.org.au/index.htm

Perhaps the single most valuable Brisbane-based resource we work with. We have only one word of advice... JOIN!!! Becoming a member will be the best investment you ever made. It's totally worth it if you want to organise events and expand your career. This organisation is our first port of call whenever we want to start something new. On Creative Ground can help with event planning advice, grant writing assistance, and inexpensive public liability insurance.

Fuel 4 Arts

http://www.fuel4arts.com/members/become.asp

A free on-line resource for musicians – specialising in teaching you how to market yourself and earn a living through music. You might be the most talented muso in the world, but without a solid marketing plan behind you, no-one will ever know.  Good marketing is essential. You can learn how to do it here.

QPIX

http://www.qpix.org.au

The ultimate resource for making videos in Queensland. This place has all the best information & technology for people who want to get their own videos happening. Networking with local film-makers is a great way to start!

Transit Lounge

http://www.yaq.org.au/transitlounge

This is a resource & drop-in centre for young people, supplying arts workshops & seminars, arts career assistance, and resources, including computers.

Youth Arts Queensland

http://www.yaq.org.au

Provides numerous opportunities, including the YAMP Mentorship, which funds you to work with a professional in the music industry. YAQ is great value for any young person who is serious about their music career.

Visible Ink

http://www.visible-ink.org

The Brisbane City Council-sponsored space is a tremendous resource for young people who want to network, create events, develop their careers, and access free resources such as computers & photocopying.

Brisbane City Council arts funding

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:STANDARD:2107662027:pc=PC_332

We are fortunate to have a forward-thinking city council that is dedicated to supporting and nurturing a lively arts scene. They provide advice and grants assistance for people with community-minded music projects.

Arts Queensland

http://www.arts.qld.gov.au

We’re also fortunate to live in Queensland, a state which offers a great program of support, advice, training, and assistance for all creative artists. The staff at AQ are very motivated to help you bring your musical dreams to fruition. You’d be amazed at what can happen!

Queensland Arts Council

http://www.qac.org.au

Interested in getting a tour together to regional Queensland? Have some music projects in mind which would benefit the greater community? The Queensland Arts Council is the place to go for advice, information, and support.

Australia Council

http://www.ozco.gov.au

Our national arts funding body has heaps of information and funding resources available for motivated musos.

Austrade

http://www.austrade.gov.au

Our local Austrade reps in Brisbane are keen music fans who will do everything possible to help you achieve your goal of touring overseas. Practical advice, workshops, and funding opportunities are all available.

Queensland Department of State Development

http://www.sdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_menu.cfm?id=131

This state government department is also keen to help you to get your music heard overseas. They are enthusiastic and helpful – well worth contacting.

BASEQ (Blues Association of Southeast Queensland)

http://baseq.tripod.com/

The BASEQ blues jams are run regularly at local venues – a great opportunity for you to perform your own original blues/roots music in front of a friendly & supportive audience. This is a great way to network, meet other musicians, and put a band together.

Folk Alliance Australia

http://www.folkalliance.org.au

We have a huge resource in our folk music network here in Australia  -- ‘folk’ being a very eclectic term that embraces most forms of quality acoustic music. Connecting with the national folk music circuit is the best way for you to begin touring interstate. There are a wide range of folk-related events and activities which will help you to become a better musician.

Queensland Folk Federation

http://www.woodfordfolkfestival.com/main/index.html

Our state folk organisation brings you the amazing Woodford Folk Festival, the Dreaming Festival, and much, much more. Volunteering with the QFF is the best way to start networking within our state’s vibrant folk scene.

Country Music Clubs

http://www.qldchamps.com.au/html/club_listing.htm

Do you like playing your own songs in front of warm, appreciative audiences? Do you like hearing live roots music performed by other talented musicians who are great players? Do you want the opportunity of regularly performing in festivals where you can meet new audiences? Do you enjoy hanging out in a friendly environment which is 100% focused on creating great music?  If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then it’s well worth joining the local country music club nearest you and getting actively involved. Country music has changed and evolved a lot in recent years – if you like roots music, you’ll probably like the sounds of contemporary Aussie country, too.

Queensland Champion of Champions

http://www.qldchamps.com.au

The culmination of all those regional country music festivals – if you’ve won any first place trophies in the relevant contests throughout the year, this is your chance to perform live in front of a big audience at a major event! The overall winner receives a full scholarship to the College of Country Music in Tamworth, NSW (worth $2500) – the launching pad for many Australian contemporary music stars. There are heaps of other prizes, too.

Redlands Bluegrass Convention

http://www.redlandscountry.asn.au/bg.htm

Inspired live roots music, entertaining & educational hands-on workshops… (and round-the-clock jam sessions with some of the best bluegrass players from around the world) all happen in a picturesque bush setting south of Brisbane. If you are serious about becoming a truly skilled performer, and want to improve your playing and song-writing skills, then you owe it to yourself to learn some bluegrass – one of the major mother-lodes of contemporary roots styles. This convention is one of the best music events in SE Queensland – don’t miss it!

Brisbane Steel Guitar Club

http://www.brissteelguitar.com

Do you like the sound of lap steel and pedal steel guitar – that twangy, sweet sound heard on so many roots and alt.country tracks? It isn’t an easy skill to master, but these steel guitar veterans are very happy to share their knowledge with you. If you‘re lucky enough to be able to play these instruments already, the Steel Guitar Club hosts regular lap steel & pedal steel jam sessions where you can perform every fortnight.

CMAA (Country Musiuc Association of Australia)

www.country.com.au

A truly outstanding music industry association which offers a great deal of practical assistance and opportunities to its members. We love it... highly recommended!!!

Australian Reggae Forum

http://www.ozreggae.com 

Another of the great roots music mother-lodes, reggae is an exotic flavour you can add to your own roots repertoire to spice up your original compositions.

Moreton TAFE

http://www.moreton.tafe.qld.gov.au/programs/search.asp?look_for=music&sp-a=sp1001691a&Submit=Search

If you are truly serious about your career in the music industry, you owe it to yourself to get educated. Moreton TAFE offers the most practical (and affordable) music courses around. ***STRONGLY*** recommended!!!

Southbank TAFE

http://www.southbank.tafe.net/course/DOM/CUS50101.htm

Southbank TAFE also offers Diploma level courses in music performances, music business, audio engineering, and music for film & TV. If you're serious about your music career, it’s a much better use of your time than being on the dole!

Southbank TAFE Contemporary Music Centre

http://www.sbitcmc.com

This is a dedicated Contemporary Music Centre for all styles of modern musicians – well recommended.

School of Audio Engineering

http://www2.sae.edu/aus/brisbane

Many of the audio engineers we work with are SAE graduates. This is another great tertiary education resource if you’re serious about a music career.

Griffith University

http://132.234.250.210/cis/p_cat/admission.asp?ProgCode=1196

This is a university course in Popular Music – if you’re passionate about music and want a uni degree, you can’t go wrong!

Queensland University of Technology

http://www.creativeindustries.qut.com/courses/study-options/music-sound/

More university studies in music… worth checking out.

Southern Cross University

http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/arts/index.php?page_id=93&menu=78_22

Fancy living in beautiful northern NSW? Here’s a well-respected music course in Lismore. (You can commute from Byron Bay!)

Sonic Bids

http://www.sonicbids.com

One of the RBTR ’06 sponsors, Sonic Bids is a great place to get your information up on- line. It’s a professional, easy to access format which will help to get you gigs.

AIR

http://www.air.org.au/

If you’re recording and releasing your own original CDs, this is one way to get them to the next level. AIR can give you the professional edge you need.

AMRAP

http://www.amrap.org

Once your CDs are out and ready for airplay, how can you guarantee that they’ll get played on community radio stations? AMRAP can help. You can get national exposure this way.

Head over to the 'Media Links' page!!!