Rock Academy Mentors
Rock Academy XII
Dallas Frasca
“Sounds like Janis Joplin & Angus Young had a baby and baptised it in Bourbon”. – Rolling Stone
Dallas is the namesake front woman of the three-piece, award-winning Australian rock outfit, Dallas Frasca. A stand-out of her class and an almighty presence on the mic. Frasca has not stopped for over a decade.
She’s toured the world, clocking over 900 shows with her band including 9 international tours and has managed to put a Top 30 Australian ARIA charting album under her belt, a #10 Aus album as well as many awards including ‘Artist of the year’ at the Independent Music Awards.
Dallas recently showcased her guitar skills in front of an estimated 1.5 billion viewers worldwide for the closing ceremony for the Commonwealth Games. Her song, ‘All My Love’ finished 3rd in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC – over 16,000 entries) which landed her band to sign with French label, Verycords.
In her hometown Melbourne, Dallas runs her own independent record label, Spank Betty Records, is the spearhead for the world-first concept, A Hitch To The Sticks Festival where she takes the audience on the road with her across regional areas in Australia. Her band has supported the likes of Patti Smith, Aerosmith & Ugly Kid Joe and recently performed to 40,000+ at Le Mans 24hr circuit race in France. Dallas has even been championed by ‘Slash’ himself; ‘Great vocals, riffs & grooves’ and once fronted legendary Aussie rock band Midnight Oil in support of Amnesty International. Dallas appears on latest releases by Suze Demarchi (Baby Animals), Ugly Kid Joe + The Bellrays (U.S).
Behind the scenes, with almost 20 years experience in the music industry; Dallas is not a one trick pony, she wears any hats including; songwriter, singer, guitarist, manager, APRA AMCOS Ambassador, festival director, international touring artist, booking agent, venue booker, successful crowd-funding campaigner, industry mentor at Collarts Music College, and over the last six years, her time is spent (in-between touring) in the N.T working with indigenous women from remote communities who wanting to engage in music.
Aimee Francis
Hailing from Melbourne, Victoria, Aimee has been in the industry for years.
Finishing school at 16 to go to music college, moving to Los Angeles to pursue her career at 18 – it has been a whirlwind ever since, taking her not only to the US a number of times, but also moving her to Sydney and the UK.
She has toured extensively both in Australia and overseas as a self managed and booked musician and has written for a number of artists and companies, including Australia’s Equestrian Team for the London
Olympics. She has been an International Songwriting Competition finalist twice.
Aimee has supported artists such as Pat Benatar, Steel Panther, Daryl Braithwaite, The Black Sorrows, Baby Animals and The Superjesus and continues to write and record both under her name and her new rock project, ‘Sunset Drive’.
http://facebook.com/aimeefrancismusic
Phil Ceberano
Phil Ceberano has been working in the entertainment industry both locally and internationally for over 30 years as a professional musician, entertainer, TV presenter, producer, songwriter, musical director, and composer.
Known for his musical achievements he is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest guitarists. He has travelled extensively throughout Australia, Europe, the UK and US which has given him invaluable experience as a live performer.
Phil joined forces with sister Kate Ceberano in 1985. With the huge success of her
triple platinum selling debut solo album, ‘Brave’ the partnership of Phil and Kate would endure for many years to come.
Phil has continued working with Kate as her guitarist, collaborator, co-writer, co-producer and bandleader on Kate’s tours and albums up until the present day.
As well as working extensively with his sister, Phil has formed and played in many bands including well known Melbourne club band Sexual Chocolate (87-93) and Trentwood, Phil’s original power rock trio that toured throughout Australia (2001-2005), playing over 400 gigs in four years.
He’s also worked as a composer & session player on music for film and television.
Phil & his band, The Phil Ceberano Band, are continuously invited to play for exclusive VIP parties and media events. He’s established an outstanding reputation in his own right as an entertainer who delivers a great show every time.
Phil’s experience in the field of entertainment extends beyond music. He’s also worked as a professional actor in theatre and feature film and worked as a presenter on MTV.
Phil is a motivational speaker and MC and has spoken in over 500 schools nationally since 1997.
Communicating and interacting with people comes naturally to Phil. He has a real knack for making people of all ages and backgrounds feel at ease, whether it be in an intimate interview situation or in front of a large audience.
Phil is a true entertainer with a magnetic personality. He has a real passion for life and a brilliant ability to connect with not only an audience but with individuals.
His constant positive outlook on life, mixed with his natural charm & ‘can do’ attitude makes him one of the easiest people in Australia’s entertainment industry to work with and also one of the most enigmatic and engaging.