CO-OP NEWS
From "Maple Street Co-op News", June/July 2007

Uplifting Sounds at The UpFront Club
By Hannah Bruzova

The music at The UpFront Club is characterised by its quality and variety, and that's largely due to the passion and consistent work of entertainment manager, Danny Rose, who schedules both local and visiting acts and ensures the program is always full.
Says Danny: "The Club's music is always of a positive nature and the volume is always at a level that allows for conversation. The vibe is eclectic, so on any given night you might hear folk, rhythm and blues, pop, jazz, Latin and world music."
Danny also operates the PA, and says audiences have praised the new JBL ceiling speaker system, installed during the Club's renovations last year. Many of the musicians have also given positive feedback, saying the new system offers a perfectly even spread of clear sound. Danny is currently looking for a stand-in PA operator, so if you know your stuff when it comes to sound, give him a call.
If you have a favourite act you'd like to see play at the Club, don't be shy to speak up - Danny is always open to suggestion! Contact him on tel (07) 5494 2385 or email: danupfrontrose@bigpond.com.
You can also find an up-to-date What's On guide on the Club's website (www.upfrontclub.org) plus links to many of the acts' websites. Or, grab a What's On flyer from the counter next time you're at the Club. For bookings, call 5494 2592.

Muso's Blackboard
Every Monday night from 6.30 pm-10 pm is the Musos' Blackboard. Each act is allocated a 15-minute spot and the three best acts between 7 pm and 9 pm receive a cash prize of $30, $20 or $10 respectively. (Acts before 7 pm or after 9 pm get a free drink.) To book a spot, turn up early or call Danny Rose on the above numbers.

THE EXPRESS: Friday 15 July
Not many bands can say they began their career by entertaining train passengers, but that's exactly what Ross Hunter and Owen Larkins used to do to pass the time while commuting to TAFE on the Nambour Express train (hence the band name). The two met while studying music at Southbank TAFE in 2002, and since then, the high-energy Sunshine Coast duo has gone from strength to strength.
The first time I heard The Express play was not on the train, (kind of a romantic notion though), but at The UpFront Club on one of the ever-so-popular Monday Muso's Blackboard nights.
Their music is an infectious blend of folk, Latin and flamenco; two guitars played with a passionate flair and occasionally at break-neck speeds!
The band's long-awaited debut album, recorded with Pix Vane-Mason at Pix Studios, Conondale, is now due for release. When The Express play, their sound shoots through your chakras like a freight train, so if you like guitar-driven high-energy music, don't miss this awesome duo.

HIP POCKET: Saturday 28 July
Brisbane indie band, Hip Pocket, are an edgy three-piece currently making waves in the Australian music scene. After winning the Queensland section of Triple J's unearthed competition recently, they were awarded a spot at the 2007 Big Day Out 2007, sharing the bill with some of the world's biggest acts.
With influences as varied as Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin, The Byrds, Nick Drake, The Police, The Doors and Neil Young, their sound is hard to define, but could be described as funky, jazzy, groove-pop, rich with meaty roots rhythms and beatnik blues, with warm shades of reggae.
Hip Pocket formed in 2001, when they were "just three mates jamming and fooling around on tunes". Each was in a separate band and Hip Pocket was just a side project, but none of them expected to hit on the rare musical chemistry they've discovered as a trio.
Describing their first album, "Unison ET Cetera", the band says: "This very organic record is just a great bunch of tracks to hang out to." The band are seasoned live performers, so come and hang out with Hip Pocket and groove to their organic sounds on 28 July.

[From "Maple Street Co-op News", June/July 2007; published by The Maple Street Co-operative Society Ltd, 37 Maple Street, Maleny, Qld 4552, Australia, tel (07) 5494 2088, email maplest.co-op@serv.net.au, website http://www.maplestreetco-op.com.au]