Vintrix Celebrates its 10th Birthday
by Jo Hogan ~ Director Vintrix Entertainment

Vintrix celebrates its 10^th Birthday in April of 2009. Over this time we have witnessed many changes to the entertainment industry. Vintrix rode the dot com wave of the early millennium, was on the cutting edge of convergence media and saw the introduction of music's digital age.

Vintrix is an innovative and pioneering company, which in 1999, prior to You Tube, was the first Australian company to utilize the New Media Platform for musicians by way of the creation of a virtual performance for Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival.

Due to gig commitments back home, popular Australian band the Bluehouse, with a strong fan base at the Edinburgh Festival, were unable to attend the Festival that year. So Vintrix International produced a special concert in Australia Bluehouse ~ Live at the Universal and streamed the performance on the web. The concert was performed through the airwaves live onto a large screen at the Edinburgh Festival’s Spiegeltent and the band discovered that they could leverage themselves in many places at the one time.

Curiously for us baby boomers a new language has evolved with the advent of internet social platforms. “So what’s your status today?” “Tweet me”, “DYFM” (Dude, you fascinate me), “Can you Torrent?”  Band Metrics is among one of my newer mediums that I like to utilise in the digital age.

However despite the digital age, you just cannot beat some of the old classics in my opinion. It was great news to see that Bad Company is reuniting for the USA summer, with the Doobie Brothers who will be opening their final show in Atlantic City. The band's drummer is the infamous Simon Kirke, who Garth Ploog had the pleasure of working with.

One of our good Aussie expat mates, Janine De Lorenzo, who also performed in the Bluehouse ~ Live at the Universal concert is now living in Las Vegas. Janine is the assistant Musical Director for the successful Cirque Du Soleil extravaganza, Ka which is staged at the MGM in Las Vegas. Janine recently completed her 2000th show. Congratulations to an amazingly talented musician.

Vintrix is delighted to celebrate 10 years in the industry and to have brought you our array of services throughout this expansive time of technological change, be it as a new client or an old client.

In our ever expanding fast paced changing world, there are many opportunities to find. Stay tuned for the Vintrix Jazz Trade program, which should be live to air by the end of May. The internet has certainly made our world a more connected space. We can embrace it, accept it, or reject it.

"Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that others won't feel insecure around you," -  Nelson Mandela

Who knows, perhaps on Vintrix’s 20^th birthday, the concept of “Beam me up, Scotty," may just be a reality. TEOTWAWKI (The end of the world as we know it.)

CC4N (Ciao Ciao for now), Jo

Oh Paris, I love Paris in the spring time. I am very excited to be making my debut in Paris next month at the Centre of Cultrel Irlandais, a wonderful venue embracing a variety of art forms and which pays tribute to the historical contribution of Ireland to the Parisians.

Collège des Irlandais is the first Irish government-supported Irish Cultural Centre in the world. In 1677 on the Rue des Carmes at the Collège des Lombards Louis XIV, granted the Irish College its first permanent home. The Collège des Lombards became the centre for Irish people studying in Paris over the next hundred years.  So I look forward to bringing my Irish flavour to the modern Parisians.

My gig schedule for the year is firming up. This month was spent on back end activities for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland in June and all is in order for my Croatian shows in Dubrovnik later in the year.

And so the rest of the time, I continue working on my new album and song writing.

À bientôt ! Maria :-)

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His silky vocals resonated throughout, proving that the recent refurbishment of the venue has enhanced patrons experience all round. Garth will be performing at the Sebel in future months. Be sure to book into the Windows Restaurant for an exquisite and intimate lunch with Garth on Mothers' Day. The Sebel Windows restaurant head chief is Andy North who has received one of the industry's highest accolades by being the admitted to the American Express Award Hall of Fame in Victoria. Andy is also on the Committee of the Bocuse d'Or Committee. So enjoy international talent and cuisine and be sure to book now for a wonderful relaxing time at the Sebel - Albert Park.

Featured Upcoming Gigs

Garth Ploog at The Sebel - Albert Park Mothers' Day - Sunday, 10th May, '09
Garth will once again thrill and entertain diners at the Sebel's special Mothers' Day luncheon in the Windows Restaurant. Don't miss out...take your mum and as always, enjoy a meal and glass of red as you take in Garth’s smooth vocals.

Check out Garth's current gig guide on his MySpace

TO BOOK GARTH FOR YOUR SPECIAL EVENT email us at: entertainment@vintrix.com.au

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Maria Tecce at Centre of Cultrel Irlandais - 5 Rue Des irlandais - Paris. - Tuesday, 19th May '09
With the earthiness of Eartha Kitt and the vocal prowess of Ella Fitzgerald, Dublin-based Maria Tecce makes her debut in Paris with a sultry night of music and song inspired by the love poetry of Pablo Neruda. Influences range from the music of Astor Piazzolla, Frank Sinatra, Tom Waits, Spanish songs and bossa nova, all steeped in ‘eau de Barcelona’.

“Sheer theatrical brilliance” The Irish Times
Songwriter's Profile
Simon Kirke
In 1973 Simon and his band Bad Company recorded their album Bad Company which peaked at # 1 on the charts and is reported by RIAA as having sold in excess of 5 million copies. As well as touring with Ringo Starr’s All Star Band, Simon is an accomplished songwriter, releasing Seven Rays of Hope in 2005. He has also worked with Wilson Pickett, Bo Diddley, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Eric Clapton.

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Simon Kirke

Whilst in New York, Garth Ploog worked with Simon in the songwriting department. You may recall songs such as All Right Now, Can’t Get Enough and Feel Like Making Love... yes classics that we can thank Simon Kirke and Bad company for. All Right Now passed 2,000,000 radio plays in the UK alone. In 1980 he played drums alongside Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham for Zep's two song encore in Munich during their next-to-last concert. Simon is also a Governor on the board of NARAS (the Grammy Committee).

Fans of the Month
After the show with some happy Sebel patrons.

To be eligible for exclusive invites to Garth's shows, nominate yourself for Fan of the Month. Send an email to entertainment@vintrix.com.au and let us know your favourite Garth Ploog song.

Jet the intimate sessions..

A new era in Melbourne boutique partying.....

The concept of the night is simple... we fly to a different destination around the world each month.

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