Too Cool:

WITH a TRIPLE J LIVE AT THE WIRELESS gig in the bag, rocking Sydney band SKULKER has struck the same chord with the music programmers as it has with live audiences. The group, ANGE BLACKSHAW, NAOMI BATTAH, ANNETTE HARADA and GREER SKINNER, named after a dog which bit the heroine in the EMILY BRONTE novel WUTHERING HEIGHTS, released their debut in February this year. Playing tomorrow night at the University of Newcastle with POLLYANNA, the girls named their debut album TOO FAT FOR TAHITI after a nasty incident with the booking agent for a resort gig last year. The story goes that the gig fell through after the agent deemed the girls' physiques too healthy for the skin-and-bone resort crowd. The publicity has done the band little harm however, with national supports for THE SCREAMING JETS and MONSTER MAGNET under the group's collective belt.



ALL-AGES: AN all-ages concert and theatrical performances to be held next week at the Palais Royale will raise money for the SCHIZOPHRENIA FELLOWSHIP OF NSW Hunter Branch. The concert LET'S CUT THE DIFFERENCES will feature THE GOAT BAND, MOTHERFUNK, KAMIKAZI KOWBOYS, STRENGTH TO STRENGTH, CHECKPOINT NELSON, COMPOST, SPLURGE and CH'I. Beginning at midday and playing until 11pm on Saturday, May 27, the concert will be held during SCHIZOPHRENIA AWARENESS WEEK. Entry is by gold coin donation. In between sets students from the UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE DRAMA DEPT will stage short plays written by people with schizophrenia.

CAFE STRINGS: CHECK out guitarist GIANNI MICHELINI any Sunday at CAFFE GIANNOTTI, from 6.30pm until 8.30pm, where the Newcastle-born musician can be heard over a meal or coffee. Michelini, 21, performs a fusion of flamenco, classical and Latin instrumental music, but he also sings and performs original material in a style reminiscent of the GYPSY KINGS. The University of Newcastle conservatorium student, training under TERRY LATHAM, plans to release a CD later this year.