STACK #159 Jan 2018

MUSIC FEATURE

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THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC VAULT The Australian Music Vault is a new, free exhibition space dedicated to sharing the story of Australian contemporary music and exploring its future by way of items from artists including AC/DC, Men atWork, Split Enz, Midnight Oil, Ngaiire, EccaVandal, Paul Kelly, Courtney Barnett and more.We asked curator Janine Barrand a few questions about this awesome project.

Michael Gudinski, Molly Meldrum, Archie Roach and Kylie Minogue – you couldn’t have a more appropriate and prestigious group of patrons for theVault! How did the process of collecting these people together occur? We are thrilled to have such iconic members of the Australian music industry as our founding patrons. The Australian Music Vault has been a passion project for our patrons and many others for decades, particularly Molly and Michael Gudinski – they have wanted a place where Australian music could be celebrated, and for its home to be in Melbourne. When it came time to start planning the Australian Music Vault, it was obvious to us that Michael, Molly, Archie and Kylie were a perfect fit as Founding Patrons – Arts Centre Melbourne has existing relationships with all four, and they are obviously great advocates for Australian music.

Dress worn by

Kylie Minogue in the In Your Eyes clip, 2002. Photograph by Jeremy Dillon.

Fender bass guitar used by Wayne Duncan with Daddy Cool and other bands, 1970–2016. Kindly lent by Justine Duncan and Katherine Clark.

Arts Collection did you know, straight off the bat, simply had to be included in the Music Vault’s exhibition? Angus Young’s schoolboy suit, Helen Reddy’s Grammy for I Am Woman , Paul Kelly’s lyrics for To Her Door , and Molly Meldrum's hat. Which new items, from musicians’ personal collections, were you most excited to see join the exhibition? Rowland S Howard’s guitar,

What we want to do in terms of the Australian Music Vault is to tell the story of Australian music in all its diversity – from songwriters to musicians, promoters and those behind-the-scenes. All those attending the Vault will also get the chance to hear from a roadie, sound engineer and venue manager when they arrive. What’s the weirdest or most surprising item in theVault? A copy of the Cut Lunch EP by Models in a London Police Evidence bag, and Ngaiire’s headdress made of palm fronds. There’s mention of some interactive digital experiences – are we going to be able to see cubic versions of our own heads

spinning around inside Dire Straits’ microwave oven? What a great idea! No, you won’t be able to do that, but one of the things you will be able to do is be immersed as an audience member at Sunbury festival – with all the mud and grunge that came with that – as well as experiencing Billy Thorpe leading the audience in a sing- along; you will really feel that you are amongst the audience! Without giving away all our secrets I can say that the Australian Music Vault will have a large digital component and will include elements that reflect how people listen to/experience music.

Which iconic pieces from your already existing Performing

Olivia Newton-John's costume, Spiderbait’s album artwork and original gig books, and Chrissys Amphlett’s iconic microphone stand.

Maracas purchased by Peter Allen in Rio de Janeiro, 1977. Gift of Larry Rinehart, 2009. Australian Performing Arts Collection.

Which behind-the- scenes facets of

the music industry were you interested in illuminating?

Will we get to hold a real ARIA statue?

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JANUARY 2018

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