A note from Missy about Dinosaur Footprints in the Kimberley

Hey everyone,

Apologies that this is non-music related, but this is something I care very deeply about and in the last few days it has become very urgent.

You see, 130 million year-old dinosaur footprints have been discovered along the Kimberley coastline at James Price Point, right along an ancient Aboriginal song-line and almost exactly where the WA government and Woodside want to build the world’s largest LNG hub. Scientists have apparently found at least 14 different types of dinosaur prints stretched along this section of the coast, which is extremely rare to find (they rarely find more than 2 or 3 different kinds in one place) and they range from tiny to 1.7 metres in diameter! They are blown away by this discovery and say that it makes Australia’s most famous dinosaur print site at Lark Quarry QLD, pale into insignificance.
These prints are also said to be very culturally significant to the Kimberley Indigenous people of that area, showing up in their Dreamtime stories as the footprints of Marrala Man, an ancient emu spirit. And just another reason for Joseph Roe, senior law boss and traditional custodian of that country, to be adamantly against the proposed LNG development.

If this gas hub construction goes ahead, these footprints will be in serious danger of being destroyed or damaged forever.

SO NOW THE REASON FOR THIS NOTE!

In a couple of days Environmental Minister Tony Burke with be finalising his Heritage List, and because this finding has ONLY JUST HAPPENED there is a strong chance these dinosaur prints won’t be added to the list at such late notice… unless we spread the word fast!

There are so many arguments against this LNG hub, environmental, financial, indigenous rights, and so far none of them seem to be standing up to the Giant Greasy Arm Of Industry. But getting these dinosaur prints Heritage Listed could just be the thing that saves the Kimberley Coast from being desecrated forever. After all, there are ALTERNATIVES to piping gas onshore at the Kimberley coast, they can easily pipe it down to the Pilbara where there is already the infrastructure to receive it with several mining towns, or process it offshore. We are not anti-industry, just anti-screwing-up-a-pristine-wilderness-unnessarily.

So please tell your friends about these incredible dinosaur footprints. If any of you are in media or have a blog, please write about this straight away, ring up talk-back radio, get the conversation going, write to Tony Burke! The most important thing is to get the word out there, and fast!

This could be our last chance to save one of the last remaining wilderness’ on the planet.

Below are some links to more information.
Short Youtube Clip about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6j0NdylKxo
West Australian Article: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/dinosaur-tracks-fuel-opposition-to-35bn-gas-project-near-broome/story-e6frg8h6-1226122981105
Save Kimberly Article: http://www.savethekimberley.com/wp/dinosaur-prints-our-kimberley-national-heritage/

And I promise I’ll write again soon with happier things!

missy x

MISSY ANNOUNCED TO PERFORM AT THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2011

The Falls Music & Arts Festival has cut loose with a double line-up announcement of yet more exciting artists migrating to Lorne and Marion Bay this summer including Missy Higgins who has been holed up in Nashville, Tennessee where she’s been recording her long awaited third album.

Missy will return to the stage this December alongside Tim Finn, The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys, Fleet Foxes, Josh Pyke, Papa Vs Pretty, Pnau, The Jezabels and many more to be announced.

The Falls Music and Arts Festival is one of Australia’s longest running festivals, now in its 9th and 19th years in Tasmania and Victoria respectively.

There are around 70 performers on the bill ranging diversely from musicians to comedians and arts performers. The coastal locations are beautiful, all camping is free and it’s held over: 3 days from December 29, 2011 in Marion Bay Tasmania (all ages), and 4 days from December 28, 2011 in Lorne, Victoria (18+ event).

Tickets – the majority of tickets will be allocated via the ballot. Subscribe at www.fallsfestival.com before August 5th 2011. Remaining tickets go on sale August 17th 2011.

Take a walk down The Falls Music & Arts Festival memory lane via our official YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/fallsfestival#p/u/8/ZXiDyzA-JI0 or join us at any of these communities to interact and get the latest up dates and line up announcements:

For more information, visit www.fallsfestival.com

AUSTRALIA ROCKS THE PIER

Australia Rock’s The Pier gig coming up in Santa Monica, CA on Thursday July 21. For more info you can check out Australia Rocks The Pier at http://www.facebook.com/australiarocksthepier

MISSY ANNOUNCED TO HEADLINE CALOUNDRA MUSIC FESTIVAL ALONGSIDE EMPIRE OF THE SUN & ICEHOUSE

Missy Higgins, Empire of the Sun and ICEHOUSE will headline a stellar line-up at this year’s Caloundra Music Festival with tickets going on sale at 9am on 4 July.

Little Red, Bluejuice, Baby Animals, Thirsty Merc, The Jezabels, Tex Perkins, Diesel, The Black Sorrows and Richard Clapton also head up a who’s who of the Australian Music Industry at the annual festival of ‘sun, surf and soul’.

Fans who have been wondering how the festival would match last year’s performance by Powderfinger can now stop guessing.

Festival Director Richie Eyles said that this year’s festival has something for everyone.

“There are big names that will appeal to both young and young at heart. A couple of acts making long awaited returns to the stage and a few up and coming stars as well as an awesome line-up of quality internationals”, he said.

International acts include Tower of Power, Booker T, Allen Toussaint, Jon Cleary and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

“These acts are absolute legends in their fields of soul, blues, jazz, funk and R&B, and are a real coup for the festival. Tower of Power, for instance have never performed in Australia before, and Caloundra will be their only Australian performance”, Eyles said.

A limited number of early bird tickets will be available on line from 9am on 4 July at caloundramusicfestival.com. Tickets will start at $88/day or $169/season for an adult or $127/$66 concession. Tickets for kids under 12 are $8.

Caloundra Music Festival will run from Friday October 7 – Sunday October 9 with Missy Higgins performing on Saturday October 8.

STUDIO UPDATE & TRIPLE J HOTTEST 100 AUSTRALIAN ALBUMS OF ALL TIME

Hello everyone!

For the last 3 months I’ve been in Nashville, Tennessee recording my *drum roll* third album! Yes, it’s been a bloody long time waiting, sorry about that. The upside is that I’ve done some really cool things in my time off over the last couple of years in an attempt to re-fill this old Creative Well, and hopefully it’s going to make for a really inspired album. Those of you who have been following my (somewhat disjointed and often ridiculous) tweets will know that I’m recording with a good friend of mine, Aussie musician Butterfly Boucher, who’s co-producing my album with a fabulous Nashville man named Brad Jones. The three of us are having a ball, playing various instruments we’ve never tried before, laughing a lot, throwing around crazy ideas to see if they stick and just generally being creative. It’s exactly the kind of experience I wanted the making of this album to be. And I’m fully immersed in the process, so much so that I’m sleeping out the back of the recording studio in a dark little cave with bad seventies wall-paper, dark green shag carpet and last night a raccoon almost feel through the roof onto my head, no joke.

So anyway we’re a bit over half way now, and I’m honestly so excited to get these songs out there for you all to hear them. I’ll be heading back to Australia in a few months to perform in Alice Springs at The Concert. And also one random one coming up quite soon for the Australian Embassy in California, on the Santa Monica pier, 21st of July. See tour date section for more details and stay tuned for more announcements soon.

They should be really fun shows, I’m trying out some new players who are also incredible singers (there are a LOT of layered harmonies on this album, so they needed to be) including Butterfly who’ll be playing bass. So I can’t wait.

And there will be more shows next year I promise! Just wanted to keep you updated. Also the voting for triple j Hottest Albums Of All Time ends in nine days so if I’m lucky enough to get on your list, click HERE!

Thanks for your on-going support…

Lots of Love,
Missy

MISSY HIGGINS ANNOUNCED TO PERFORM AT ‘AUSTRALIA ROCKS THE PIER’ IN SANTA MONICA

Missy Higgins has been announced to perform at the second annual ‘Australia Rocks the Pier 2011’ (presented by the Australian Consulate and Cotton On) returns to the Santa Monica Pier on July 21 as part of the 2011.

Now in its 27th year, the Twilight Dance Series, presented by Southern California-based OneWest Bank, a production of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation, will again present ten free concerts on the deck of the Santa Monica Pier this year, beginning July 7, 2011. The concerts will feature high-profile artists from all over the world, every Thursday night, from 7pm to 10pm, bringing Southern California a treasured weekly live
music experience.

Each Thursday night the highly attended concert series will showcase a different musical theme with 10,000 people expected to descend on the Pier and the neighbouring beach to watch three great Australian acts including
headliner Missy Higgins and exciting young guitarist Kim Churchill.

“We believe the 27th Annual Twilight Dance Series will be a fantastic concert production and will please the Santa Monica community and concert fans,” said Kent Smith, chair of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation.
“Free summer concerts on the pier have become a cultural and historical phenomena and we made a collective effort to deliver the quality and community experience that has come to define this cultural institution.”

The Twilight Dance Series has been an annual fixture on the Santa Monica Pier since 1983 when it began with “Save the Pier Week” and has since become a hallmark of the Santa Monica community.

“We are delighted with the business community’s commitment to the Twilight Dance Series,” said Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom. “Their efforts help to preserve the cultural heritage of Santa Monica and, with their contributions,
we will continue to enjoy free summer concerts at the pier.”

Concertgoers are encouraged to take the Big Blue Bus to partake in the Twilight Dance Series. Parking will be available in the lot north of the pier at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway, however parking on the Santa Monica Pier deck
will be closed. The City of Santa Monica will provide a free bike valet, stationed on the beach next to the bicycle path on the south side of the pier.

More information about the Twilight Dance Series can be found at http://www.twilightdance.org

Key Event Details:

WHAT: Australia Rocks The Pier 2011
WHEN: Thursday July 21 – 7- 10pm
WHERE: Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California, 90401
WHO: Missy Higgins, Kim Churchill
COST: Free

MISSY HIGGINS ANNOUNCED TO HEADLINE ALICE CONCERT WITH THE LIVING END

Minister for Central Australia today announced that leading Australian acts The Living End and Missy Higgins will headline this year’s major music event in Alice Springs, THE CONCERT.

“THE CONCERT will be one of the biggest events in Alice Springs this year and we’ve got two top Australian acts performing,” Mr Hampton said.

“Missy Higgins and The Living End are both multi Aria award winning artists who are renowned for their live shows.

“THE CONCERT will again be a must-do date on the Alice Springs calendar with acts of this diversity and talent.

“There will also be an opportunity for a local band to take the stage as the support act, a great opportunity for Alice musos.

“I’ll be announcing more details about this opportunity soon but I urge all interested local acts to get their details to NT Major Events through the website www.ntmajorevents.com.au

“The NT Government supports THE CONCERT with a funding grant of $100,000, to ensure that people in regional areas get the opportunity to enjoy top class contemporary entertainment.

“THE CONCERT will take place at Anzac Oval on Friday October 7”

Tickets will go on sale August 5 and will be $60 presale.

21ST ANNUAL ROCK MOUNTAINS FOLK FESTIVAL

Missy Higgins has been confirmed to perform at the upcoming 21st Annual Rocky Mountains “Folks Festival” hits Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons, Colorado in August 19-21, 2011.

After the adventurous virtuosity and treacherous temperatures of June and July, Folks Festival flows at the relaxed pace of the mid-August Colorado sun. This is a calmed celebration, where friends and families spend a weekend together to soak in the inspiration and creativity of a raised voice in song. Festivarians rest their chairs and feet in the St. Vrain River as kids float by on innertubes and the late-night campground scene is dominated by the casual sharing of songs and a passed guitar.

The spectacular program of music includes the Planet Bluegrass debut of the breathtaking duo The Civil Wars, Brandi Carlile, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Bob Weir, Chris Robinson & Jackie Greene, Brandi Carlile, Martin Sexton, Josh Ritter and Carolina Chocolate Drops. Plus Jackson Browne, one of the true geniuses of American song will be giving a very special solo performance to close the festival on Sunday night.

Here’s the full 3 day line up:

Friday, August 19
Brandi Carlile – Martin Sexton – Sweet Honey in the Rock – Livingston Taylor – Anais Mitchell – Vance Gilbert – Songwriter Showcase

Saturday, August 20
Bob Weir, Chris Robinson & Jackie Greene – Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band – Red Horse: Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka & Lucy Kaplansky – Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion – Mary Gauthier – Mama Kin – Megan Burtt

Sunday, August 21
Jackson Browne – Missy Higgins – Carolina Chocolate Drops – The Civil Wars – Dan Mangan – Danielle Ate the Sandwich – and more…

Tickets (including single-day tickets and 3-day passes) and camping (including spaces in the coveted on-site campground) are available HERE or +1 800-624-2422.

AUTUMN MERCH SALE

Autumn merch sale alert! Check out the store for some bargains + any orders over $20 bucks scores a free present 🙂 HERE!

‘MURUNDAK: SONGS OF FREEDOM’ DOCUMENTARY FILM

Hey Guys!

if you’re Down Under in the Land That’s Girt By Sea, please go and check out this INCREDIBLE documentary film I had the honour of previewing a while back. It’s called ‘Murundak: Songs of Freedom’ and follows the all-star Aboriginal group The Black Arm Band on tour and into their personal lives. Completely awe inspiring, their performances and insights into life and our country’s history are empowering, heart-wrenching, joyful and painful all at the same time. it’s only in a few cinemas around the country and for a pretty short time, but go and see it. You’ll laugh and cry and leave feeling as though you’ve just seen something really special, I promise.

Check out the trailer HERE

Missy

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Congratulations to Aaron S from Kogarah in NSW. He won the signed acoustic Missy guitar in the raffle.

Thanks so much to all of you who supported this cause to raise funds for Environs Kimberley.

LAST CHANCE TO BUY $5 RAFFLE TICKETS TO WIN MISSY SIGNED GUITAR

BUY YOURS HERE: http://www.bigwoolly.com/missyhiggins/Charity-Raffle-Ticket

YOU COULD WIN A HAND PAINTED 3/4 ASHTON ACOUSTIC GUITAR SIGNED BY MISSY HIGGINS.

ALL PROFITS GO TO ENVIRONS KIMBERLEY (EK).

Raffle will be drawn on Friday 4th March at 11am.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

WIN MISSY HIGGINS SIGNED ACOUSTIC GUITAR

$5 RAFFLE TICKETS:
BUY YOURS HERE: http://www.bigwoolly.com/missyhiggins/Charity-Raffle-Ticket

YOU COULD WIN A HAND PAINTED 3/4 ASHTON ACOUSTIC GUITAR SIGNED BY MISSY HIGGINS.

ALL PROFITS GO TO ENVIRONS KIMBERLEY(EK).

Environs Kimberley is a not-for-profit, independent community group based in Broome WA. EK aims to protect and promote the
nature and culture of the Kimberley.

Circle of One Foundation have created this hand painted guitar for Missy Higgins and Environs Kimberley.
The artwork embodies the beauty, power and majesty of the Kimberley from sky to ground. The warmth of the sunset, the richness
of colour and the magnificence of the boabs standing like ancient sentinels.

The guitar itself is an Ashton 3/4 acoustic.

By purchasing a raffle ticket for just $5, you are supporting Environs Kimberley (EK) – the peak environment organisation working
in the Kimberley.

Raffle will be drawn on Friday 4th March at 11am.

Environs Kimberley formed in 1996 to stop the dams that were to be built for 200,000 hectares of cotton on the banks of the
mighty Fitzroy River. Along with Traditional Owners and the wider community, they saved the river.

EK has stood up for the Kimberley for over 15 years and they are now at the forefront of the campaign to make sure that the
Kimberley coast remains gas-free. Alongside their campaigns, they run natural and cultural resource management projects
working to raise environmental awareness in the Kimberley community.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

INTERNATIONAL ENTRANTS PLEASE NOTE:
FREE POSTAGE APPLIES TO AUSTRALIAN WINNERS AND ADDRESSES ONLY.
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORTERS SHOULD FEEL FREE TO ENTER THE RAFFLE BUT SHOULD NOTE THAT IF THEY ARE DECLARED THE
WINNER THEY MUST ARRANGE SHIPMENT OF THE GUITAR OVERSEAS AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE.

MISSY TO PERFORM AT QLD FLOOD BENEFIT SHOW

The destruction of the QLD flood crisis has stunned the nation. In response, Megan Washington and Bertie Blackman have rallied Melbourne’s music community to join together for a one off benefit show at the Corner on January 20th. The artists will perform short acoustic sets and the evening will be hosted by MC extraordinaire Julia Zemiro. 100{8c7182c8a34ec4ec9212ad453ffbf7291e5ae01fcacfb4928d4d46071654c352} of profits will be donated to the Premiers Disaster Relief Appeal to aid the victims of the Queensland floods. This benefit show at the Corner is now sold out but you can still make a difference by donating to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal HERE.