The City of Adelaide is celebrating its musical roots by renaming four city laneways after four of its world-famous music artists. Cold Chisel, The Angels, Paul Kelly and Sia will be acknowledged for their Adelaide beginnings and their contribution to music locally, nationally and internationally.
The City of Adelaide has a diverse and rich music heritage which was internationally recognised in 2015 when it was designated a UNESCO City of Music. Music cities all over the world have named locations and landmarks after artists and industry identities, acknowledging popular music as an important part of the history and heritage of nations and cities.
The Lord Mayor of Adelaide Sandy Verschoor said that the City of Adelaide was proud to honour its music history.
"The City of Adelaide is committed to celebrating Adelaide's status as a world UNESCO City of Music, promoting our renowned musical heritage and thriving music industry," said the Lord Mayor.
"This project is a way that we can showcase our live music culture while celebrating these musicians who had their roots in Adelaide and then went on to take on the world.
"Naming a laneway after these wonderful artists allows us to applaud their contribution and influence on music while also inviting members of the public to visit the sites as a music tourism destination."
John Brewster-Jones from The Angels said that having a laneway named after the band is a very special honour.
"The Angels connection to Adelaide began in 1970 as the Moonshine Jug and String Band, with four wonderful years playing music from the 1920s and earlier blues music with kazoos, washboard, washtub bass, harmonica, banjo and guitar. It was because we started writing contemporary songs that Rick Brewster, Doc Neeson and I formed a rock band, initially called The Keystone Angels," said John.
"Our grandfather, Hooper Brewster-Jones, formed Adelaide's first symphony orchestra in the early 1900s and later in 1936 was a founder of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. He was a concert pianist, composer of over 600 works, and conductor. Our father, Arthur, was the principle cellist with the ASO, conducted his own 40-piece Arthur Brewster-Jones String Orchestra, and later became the Director of music for the ABC in a time when the ASO was run by that broadcaster.
"Adelaide has always held a very special place in our hearts not only because of our formation here but also because of our influences, from family classical musicians to the great bands that were around in our early days, such as Cold Chisel and Fraternity to name a couple.
"Rick and I grew up surrounded by musicians, classical, folk and rock. Adelaide was alive with all forms of the arts and I believe it still is."
A laneway in the West End off Hindley Street will be named Cold Chisel Lane. The lane is close to a cluster of live music venues and what used to be the Mediterranean Hotel (now Red Square) in which Cold Chisel held their first regular residency in the early 1970s.
Cold Chisel began in Adelaide in 1973, consolidating its definitive line-up in 1975 of Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Steve Prestwich, Phil Small and Don Walker.
Part of the Australian pub rock scene, Cold Chisel's impassioned hard rock songs zeroed in on the hopes, fears, anger, alienation - and humour - of the working class. Classics such as Breakfast at Sweethearts, Khe Sanh, Choir Girl, Cheap Wine, Standing on the Outside, Forever Now, When the War is Over and Bow River became radio staples and saw the band imbedded in the Australian identity.
Adelaide-born Paul Kelly has played at Adelaide Town Hall and a laneway behind the Town Hall will be renamed in his honour.
Paul Kelly was appointed as an Office of the Order in Australia in 2017 for his service to the performing arts and for the promotion of the national identity through contributions as a singer, songwriter and musician. Paul Kelly was a co-writer of the award-winning Yothu Yindi song 'Treaty'.
Sia Furler was born in Adelaide, attended Adelaide High school and is a globally recognised singer, songwriter, record producer and music video director. Sia was the APRA Songwriter of the year 2013,2014 and 2015, has achieved nine Grammy award nominations and has multiple song writing credits for stars including Beyonce and Rihanna.
Sia performed regularly in the mid-1990s at the now-demolished Cargo Club, formerly on Hindley Street West, with her acid jazz band Crisp. A laneway nearby will be named Sia Furler Lane.
The renaming of the four laneways will happen over the next twelve months, and a plaque and/or public artwork will provide information to visitors about the music identity and the relationship to the location.
