Fri Dec 11 I will play the Empress, supporting the return of local band Johnny Saw Horses (feat.members of Golden Fur, Juarez and Wirewalker), I play 6pm. Openign the afternoon will be Yuko Kono (Kes band, My Pal Foot Foot), Yuko5pm, Oliver6pm, JSH6:30pm. http://www.facebook.com/events/313044885382120/

La Traviata/ VO/ Merry Widow

I’m currently performing in Opera Australia’s chorus for La Traviata, Oliver will cover the role of Kromov in Opera Australia’s production of The Merry Widow in 2012, as well as performing the roles of The Keeper of the Madhouse in Stravinsky’s Rake’s Progress, and Antonio in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro – both Victorian Opera productions.

New Post

I’ve taken on the role of principal Bass at Scot’s church in the city (cnr Collins/Russell sts), and will perform there each Sunday morning from January onwards. 11am-12pm. From time to time they’ll put on larger scale works like a Bach Passion, a Handel’s Messiah or some such and I’ll be taking on the solos – I’ll send work out about that

Monkey Magic in Himeji

Please read below the first Japan tour diary entry, however, in the next tour diary entry I travel to Himeji and play a show with Preservation Records label mate Eddie Marcon – meanwhile here is a sneak-peak of me singing a song from that show – some may recognise it, if you watched ABC (in Australia) at about 5pm weekdays in the 80s, with Eddie Marcon band…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_1YsuBom-A

Finally…JAPAN DIARY – installment #1 – as promised

In October of this year I took a trip to Japan with my partner Peta and I played a run of six shows there presenting material from my last three 7″ releases (see details here http://olivermann.com/catalogue-2/). I met some amazing people, listened to some amazing bands and I will, over the course of the next while be sharing some experiences with you…this diary entry is the first small offering to come as reportings from a far and wonderful place full of musical eccentricities:

Day and a half off the plane into Tokyo. My partner Peta and I take the train to the buisiness district of Hatchobori, and pop up from the netherworld of the Tokyo subway system to many tall buildings and wonder how on earth to find the small artist-run space “Nanahari” for the first show of my Japan tour. We follow the map, find a barbers shop and a poster stuck next to it with my mug on it. This is encouraging, and strange simultaneousely. Game on.

In through a slanted sliding doorway that leads down a stairway beneath said Barbers into a small gallery/performance space. The room is ordered with small deckchairs – kindergarten size and people arrive from work with friends, or alone with a packed dinner.

The room is small but full and two bands are supporting me: Hara Kazutoshi (with guest) and mmm (pronounced ma-mi-mu) in band mode. People listen to each act with their utmost attention and in silence. After the show Fugu (Puffer Fish) is served – oh dear – terror – then calm – what better time and place? In this crazy foreign megalopolis with my loved one, and having played a good show to these friendly people who love music and treat me and my partner well and serve us this most delicate dish.

In October 2011 Australian singer and song-writer Oliver Mann will visit Japan – playing shows in Tokyo, Kyoto, Himeji, Kobe and Osaka. The solo tour marks Oliver’s Japanese debut, allowing audiences  across the country to revel in the full splendour and nuance of Oliver Mann’s  powerful, moving baritone voice and beautifully textured arrangements.  Performing from his recent albums The Possum Wakes At Night and debut  Oliver Mann Sings, Oliver will also be playing new material from a forthcoming album due in 2012.

As the UK’s influential The Line of Best  Fit website noted of Oliver’s live performance, ?“When the first notes come  from his mouth there is an audible gasp from the crowd, a note of shock at the  sounds coming from within Mann’s chest…” ?http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2009/05/bowerbirds-the-borderline-london-260509/ Don’t  miss your chance to hear the remarkable sounds of Oliver Mann touring Japan this October.

@Richmond Uniting Church

314 Church st.

VIC 3121

Doors open: 7pm

Tix: pre-sales are closed – $15 on the door.

“Oliver Mann launches the third installment in his ROCK N ROLL 7″ series at the breath-taking Richmond Uniting Church. Also on the bill, giving a rare Melbourne performance, is Sydney pianist, composer and Preservation Records label-mate Sophie Hutchings.Oliver Mann and Sophie Hutchings share more than a record label though, they are also both original artists that transcend genre and time and place with their unique musical voices”

INFO:

Over the course of three seven-inch releases Oliver Mann has been unraveling a new cycle of songs. The latest, and second last, in this series is Deepest Temple (Parts 1 and 2), and the two songs contained therein reflect Oliver’s warm musical presence as well as presenting his first recorded duet (with the elliptical Ewah Lady). This show marks the launch for Deepest Temple, and promises to showcase his incredible range as a singer and storyteller. Oliver’s previous releases include OliverMann Sings (RHDB, 2005) and The Possum Wakes At Night (Preservation, 2008).

Some recent press:

“Listening to Mann can be like seeing a familiar ghost: your muscles seize up, your jaw locks and scepticism drops its shields, leaving you weak and captivated in front of an apparition – or in this case – merely a song” -  Mess and Noise (Tin Power 7″ review)

On her second trip performing in Melbourne, Oliver is joined by Preservation label-mate Sophie Hutchings. Sydney pianist Sophie Hutchings made a lot of best-of lists in 2010 for her exquisite debutBecalmed – the biggest coup being a top 5 spot on music bible MOJO Magazine’s lists of best releases for the year. Acclaimed the world over, Becalmed was produced in two settings, with engineer Tim Whitten – noted for his continuing work with The Necks – in Sydney and Tony Dupe, otherwise known as fellow Preservation artist Saddleback, in the tranquil surrounds of his former home studio in the Kangaroo Valley on the South Coast of New South Wales.

Sophie Hutchings press:

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NEW VIDEO

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The wonderful Alice Glenn has made a new video for Oliver’s song “Dancing” (taken from his 2009 release The Possum Wakes at Night). It’s a kind of flaneur’s dancing travelogue of various kitchens, that takes place across a day. Navigate to the VIDS section on this site…

ROCK’N'ROLL SERIES 7″ NUMBER THREE (Pencil the launch date: SAT April 16th)

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The Deepest Temple (Part 1 and 2) is the third installment in Oliver’s 7″ series and is set to be released on Saturday April 16th at the Richmond Uniting Church with special guests, so if you missed the last show Oliver played at this beguiling venue then brace yourself. More soon…meanwhile there are still one or two copies of A Country Wedding (Parts 1 and 2) left in the store…

http://olivermann.com/shop/

THE MAGIC FLUTE

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Oliver makes his debut in a role for Victorian Opera in 2011, singing the parts of the Second Priest/ Second Armed Man in Mozart’s glorious opera The Magic Flute. If you know little of this opera, or opera in general for that matter, then this may well be a wondrous and magical place for you to start. Tix are available for the performances (commencing March 16, 2011) here:

http://www.victorianopera.com.au/www/html/560-the-magic-flute.asp

TRULY MADLY DEEPLY

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…is a benefit show Oliver is playing this Sunday, 7pm at the Empress. Line-up also features Sophia Brous, Francis Plagne band and Grand Salvo. Tix are $10/$12. Full details here…

http://www.messandnoise.com/events/2004197

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olivermann.com

twitter.com/oliver_on_tour

myspace.com/olivermannsings

FRIDAY 29 OCTOBER – 7″ LAUNCH
A Country Wedding (Parts 1 and 2) 7″ will be launched at 8pm on Friday October 29. The venue will be the remarkable Richmond Uniting Church which is a gorgeous timber hall with generous acoustics and a star-painted dome. Pencil the date in. Details:
OLIVER MANN with guests
A Country Wedding 7″ Launch
Friday October 29, 8pm (doors 7.30pm)
Richmond Uniting Church
26 Waltham Place, Richmond

OLIVER MANN – Edinburgh Castle RESIDENCY

Oliver Mann (solo)  5-7pm (2 sets)

681 Sydney rd, Brunswick

free

OLIVER MANN – supporting Benedict Moleta

Oliver Mann (solo) 9.oo pm

The Ancients 10.00 pm

Benedict Moleta (w/ band) 11.00pm

tix $10 on the door

OLIVER MANN – supporting HORSE STORIES

Oliver Mann 8.oo pm

Horse Stories 9.15 pm

tix presale or on the door

OLIVER MANN – supporting GOSTELERADIO

i=it 8.00 pm

Oliver Mann 9.oo pm

Gosteleradio 10.00 pm

tix presale or on the door