Violent Femmes’ Brian Ritchie Recognised As a Major Force In Australian Culture - Noise11.com
Brian Ritchie - Photo By Ros O'Gorman

Brian Ritchie - Photo By Ros O'Gorman

Violent Femmes’ Brian Ritchie Recognised As a Major Force In Australian Culture

by Paul Cashmere on June 18, 2018

in News

When Violent Femmes bass player Brian Ritchie migrated to Australia in 2008 he immediately began rebooting Australian culture. Those 10 years of contributions to the Australian entertainment industry have paid off with Brian receiving two nominations in the prestigious upcoming Helpmann Awards.

The Helpmann’s recognises excellence in live performance and events in Australia across theatre, comedy and music performance.

Brian Ritchie received a nomination for Best Music Direction for ‘The Spirit of Churaki’, about Australia’s first documented Aboriginal lifesaver, Churaki. Churaki was a hero in Australia, serving on the Gold Coast in 1911. Ritchie was the musical director of the project.

Ritchie is also the curator of the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart. Mona Foma is nominated for Best Contemporary Music Festival.

Brian Ritchie was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1960. He migrated to Australia with his wife Varuni Kulasekera. They were naturalised as Australian citizens in 2012.

Brian and Varuni live in Hobart, Tasmania. Brian has curated Mona Foma (MoFo) every year since 2009. In 2010 he was the bass guitarist for surf band The Break. The Break were Midnight Oil members Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey as well as Ritchie.

Brian’s band Violent Femmes formed in 1980. They have released nine albums from 1983 to 2016.

For news as it happens follow Noise11 on Facebook

Noise11.com

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Related Posts

Bryan Adams at Rod Laver Arena 6 Feb 2024 photo by Richard Nicholson supplied by Frontier Touring
Bryan Adams Is So Happy It Hurts In Melbourne #REVIEW

A Bryan Adams show is a party for 14000. The first night of the Australian So Happy It Hurts tour was held at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. Adams had the fans at song one.

1 day ago
Hans Zimmer photo by Suzanne Teresa
German Film Composer Hans Zimmer To Tour Australia

German film score composer Hans Zimmer will perform his works live in Australia in April.

1 day ago
Kylie Selects Mallrat To Open Australian Tour

Mallrat will open for Kylie Minogue on the upcoming Tension tour across Australia.

2 days ago
Annie Lennox photo by Ros O'Gorman
Annie Lennox Announces Line-up for The Circle

Annie Lennox will be joined by an exciting line-up of guests for a fundraising concert in March.

4 days ago
Singer Brian Canham Pseudo Echo performs at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda on Wednesday 13 December 2017. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Pseudo Echo ‘Love An Adventure’ Will Introduce New Members New Parts of Australia

The Pseudo Echo tour will give new members Valentina Taylor (backing vocals) and Andrea Krakovska (guitar) their first national tour with the band.

January 28, 2025
Christopher Cross, Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Toto and Christopher Cross To Play Melbourne and Sydney

Toto and Christopher Cross will perform a double headliner in Sydney and Melbourne in April.

January 28, 2025
The Stranglers in Australia photo by Ros OGorman, music news, noise11.com
Adam Clayton of U2 Owns The Stranglers’ Bass J.J. Burnel Played On ‘Peaches’

A relic of rock history, the bass guitar J.J. Burnel used to record The Stranglers’ classic ‘Peaches’ with is now owned by Adam Clayton of U2.

January 27, 2025