Latest news with #BenArmstrong
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oasis tribute act more than DOUBLE their fees since band's reunion
An Oasis tribute act say they have almost quadrupled the price of their gigs since the band announced their reunion. Joe Birchley, who performs as Liam Gallagher in their act Supernova, says that he's been playing four gigs a week since the announcement, compared to their previous three a month. The 42-year-old has gone from charging pubs around £850 per performance to playing in football stadiums and in theatre halls. READ MORE: 5 games released in 2025 guaranteed to take you back to the good old days of gaming READ MORE: 5 retro RPGs you can play right now guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again - you won't have heard of one of them Joe and bandmate, Ben Armstrong, 40, who acts as Noel, now charge up to £3,500. 'The band was already on the up, but when Oasis announced the reunion, there was a massive outcry,' Joe, from Newport, Shropshire, told What's The Jam. 'I always knew a reunion would happen. It was just a matter of when - but it's driven the price up. "Our pricing does fluctuate massively depending on the event and venues. The market was saturated with tributes, but we wanted to be the ultimate. 'We started doing one or two gigs a month at local pubs, and we were charging from £800. Now, we're doing bigger and better venues." The band say they now perform at festivals and football stadiums, charging £2,000 on average but netting as much as £3,500 from a single performance. 'Every gig we do turns into four or five more gigs - and our calendar is so full we're filling up 2026 and 2027," Joe continued. 'It's changed the way our weekends work, so there are pros and cons. 'After the announcement, it was chaos, and we were taking eight bookings a day. We had to start turning bookings down because it's a labour of energy.' The Oasis superfans formed the band in 2020 after being introduced by a mutual friend and had their first gig in October 2021. Joe said: 'We've always been Oasis fans. There's a lot of tribute acts, but we set out to be the ultimate and to get the sound and energy completely right. He ditched his job in recruitment to dedicate his time to playing Liam. He now works part-time as a carpenter to keep him busy on his days off from the band, while band-mate Ben still has a full-time job as an education manager. Joe said: 'I could give up carpentry and do the band full time, but it's something to do in the week while recovering from the weekend's exploits. 'When Oasis announced the reunion, I did have to shelve carpentry for a month. 'Performing is very tiring, and there's a lot of travel. We can do two gigs a day that are a 380-mile round trip. It's intense. Joe is convinced that Supernova will continue even after the Oasis reunion hype has died down, as their fan base is getting younger. He added: 'Guitar music has been put back in the forefront of the media, so hopefully we'll see some more young guitar bands and bring that music back. 'We've noticed the crowds are getting younger - that's a sign it could last.
SBS Australia
14-07-2025
- General
- SBS Australia
Here's why Australians are being asked to water plants with milk
Utilities urge people not to tip fats, oils or grease down drains - Sydney Water is making clear that includes milk. The fat in milk is a contributing factor to problematic fatbergs that block drains and cost millions to deal with. There is an average of about 1300 'chokes' in Sydney's sewage system each month due to contaminants. The short shelf life of milk means many Australians have came across milk past its prime and chosen to dispose of it rather than drink it. But those who have tipped it down the kitchen sink drain are doing it wrong, according to Sydney Water. Australian residents — not just those in Sydney — are being urged not to pour milk down the drain because of the potential damage it can cause. Milk is part of the 'FOG' problem in drains The key concern are the fats contained in milk. Sydney Water's principal manager environment, Ben Armstrong spoke to SBS News about a new campaign that will focus on fats, oils and grease contaminants that should not go into drains. Source: Supplied "It's all foods or liquids that have fats in that we are keen for people not to put down the drain," Sydney Water's principal manager environment, Ben Armstrong, told SBS News. "It adds to the buildup of fat and what we call 'fatbergs' in the system, and can create a lot of problems." Fatbergs are large accumulations of items that are not designed to be flushed down toilets. Combined with fats, oils and greases — or 'FOGS' — they clump together and can cause blockages in drains. They can weigh in the tonnes and are difficult to pull apart and dislodge. Armstrong said recent Sydney Water survey results showed that 69 per cent of Sydneysiders thought it was okay to tip old milk down the drain. "That's quite a high percentage, so we're quite keen to raise awareness that the only things we want you to put down the sink is really water, soap and detergent," he said. "It's been something that I guess people don't really realise and they've been doing it for quite a while." While disposing of a small amount of milk down the drain might seem harmless, fats in milk contribute to blockages that have cost millions of dollars to deal with in Sydney in the past nine months alone. Source: Getty / Caner CIFTCI Sydney Water suggests people add water to old milk and pour it on plants. Armstrong said only the three 'P's — pee, poo and paper — should be flushed down toilets, and only water, soap or detergent should go down sinks. The fatberg that stopped a concert Armstrong said Sydney Water spent $12 million in the nine months to July dealing with 11,805 "chokes" in the wastewater system. He said the total cost of such blockages would likely be about double that if related costs in terms of the clean-up and repairs of cracked and broken wastewater infrastructure were also taken into account. In February, a blockage caused by a fatberg forced the last-minute cancellation of the concert of Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams, who had been set to play at Perth Arena. Following the cancellation, the Water Corporation said the concert had not gone ahead "due to the risk of sewage backing up within the venue toilets, posing a potential public health risk". The cumulative effect Pouring a bit of milk down a kitchen drain might seem harmless, but the interconnected nature of drainage systems means it's not. Professor Stuart Khan, head of the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney, said the two main water drainage systems in cities are storm water and sewage drains, with sewage drains dealing with the wastewater from all parts of the household, including kitchens and bathrooms. "The sewage takes all of the indoors water, so everything that we flush down toilets that comes from the kitchen sink, the bathtub, the showers, they all connect within the household, within the property and then that water then is directed into a municipal sewer, which is the larger pipes that run ... often under the backyards or under the street out the front, and take the water to a sewage treatment plant," Khan told SBS News. "It's a cumulative effect, so it's not so much what a single person does, it's the impact of everybody in a city. Sydney has 5.5 million people — if we're all discharging fats, including the fats in milk down drains, then yes, that can lead to part of the problem further downstream where they all come together and you have the sewage of hundreds of thousands of people accumulating." Many Australians would have poured spoiled milk down the sink without a second thought in the past, but the fats in milk are combining with other pollutants in our waste water to form blockages. Source: Getty / Robin Gentry Khan said the issue was not specific to Australia . "All of the big cities around the world are dealing with this problem," he said. "It does have a huge impact on maintenance needs, therefore it has a big impact on the water utility costs, and they all flow back to customer bills. "So it's in all of our interests to try to minimise the need for maintenance, to try to minimise sewage spills and overflows which blockages can cause." Greater public awareness While utilities may not have specifically articulated milk in the past as one of the things not to be put down drains, Khan said it was a good way to get the message across to the general public. "One of the advantages of talking specifically about milk, is that it has the reaction that I think it's caused here, which is to go, 'oh, right, so that contains fats, what else might contain fats?', so thinking about some of the less obvious sources of fat going down the drain," he said. "I think it is a way of sort of broadening our perspectives on what is okay and what's not okay to flush down the toilet or down the kitchen sink." Sydney Water will launch its campaign focused on increasing awareness of the potential issues that fats, oils and greases can cause sewer systems on the weekend.
New York Post
29-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
The product you didn't know was clogging your pipes
There are a few things we all know we're not supposed to pour down the sink, or flush down the toilet. Think, oil and wet wipes specifically. Since it's fairly common knowledge, the amount we do it – if at all — is fairly limited. But, we just found out there's another thing you're not supposed to pour down the sink =- and chances are you do it every day. 5 Sydney Water's TikTok exposes some of the things you shouldn't pour down the sink – but probably do. Tiktok/@sydneywater 'PSA incoming!' Sydney Water has taken to TikTok to share a funny clip, exposing some of the things you shouldn't pour down the sink — but probably do. 'PSA incoming,' they wrote. 'No oil down the sink.' And yes, we knew that. But then it gets a little weird. 'And don't pour milk,' it said. 5 'Don't pour milk,' the video said. Tiktok/@sydneywater The video went on to discourage people from pouring coffee grounds down their sinks, but I'm still stuck on the milk thing. Am I not supposed to tip the end of every bottle down the sink?? 'WHERE DOES THE MILK GO' And, it seemed commenters were on the same page, with just about everyone questioning their entire lives. 'WHERE DOES THE MILK GO,' said one commenter. 'Then what am I meant to do with half a jug of milk?' another asked. 5 The video also discouraged people from pouring coffee grounds down their sinks. Tiktok/@sydneywater 'Milk as well? Whoops, how do I get rid of spoiled milk? Lol,' a third agreed. 'Wait, why not milk???' another person asked. 'Seriously question though, why no milk?' said another. 5 'Milk as well? Whoops, how do I get rid of spoiled milk? Lol,' a third commenter said. Tiktok/@sydneywater Here's the situation Speaking to Kidspot, Sydney Water's Principal Manager Environment, Ben Armstrong, confirmed that these commenters are aligned with the majority of Aussies, with the vast majority of people having no idea you aren't supposed to pour milk down the sink. 'Our latest data shows that 70 per cent of Sydneysiders think it is ok to pour leftover milk down the sink,' he said. 5 'Other items, such as milk, oil and grease can solidify in pipes and cause blockages, leading to expensive repairs,' Ben Armstrong, Sydney Water's Principal Manager Environment, said. Tiktok/@sydneywater Instead, only water, detergent and soap are allowed, otherwise your pipes are at risk of blockages. 'Other items, such as milk, oil and grease can solidify in pipes and cause blockages, leading to expensive repairs,' he said. 'When fats, oil and grease hit the cool water in your wastewater pipes, they harden. They then combine with other waste like wet wipes to form a hard blockage known as a 'fatberg'. 'These blockages can cause overflows which can be a health and environmental nightmare, with wastewater backing up and overflowing into homes, backyards and local waterways.' As for what you're supposed to do with your milk instead, Ben said it might be better off in your garden. 'We recommend disposing of milk by diluting it with tap water and using it to water your plants – it's a great source of nutrients for your garden,' he said.
The Journal
27-06-2025
- The Journal
Commuter traffic stops for whales on Australia's humpback highway
THE FERRY WAS late, but not because of the usual traffic. Sydney commuters watched from an idling boat this month as humpback whales the size of buses surfaced nearby, halting the vessel's passage across the harbour. The curious mammals seemed to be watching them back. In June and July, it is not uncommon for whales to stop water traffic in Sydney. Winter heralds the opening of the so-called humpback highway, a migratory corridor along Australia's east coast used by about 40,000 of the massive creatures as they travel from feeding grounds in freezing Antarctica to tropical breeding areas off Queensland state. Two humpback whales breach off the coast of Port Stephens, north of Sydney. Mark Baker / Alamy Mark Baker / Alamy / Alamy 'It's blubber to blubber,' said Vanessa Pirotta, a wildlife scientist at Macquarie University in Sydney and author of the book Humpback Highway. During peak traffic periods the bustling coastal city of 5.5 million people becomes one of the world's few urban centres where you might see a breaching whale on your morning walk, while buying a coffee, or waiting at a bus stop – any place you can see the sea. The reason humpbacks on the highway are so visible is because of their size – adults can be 52ft to 56ft long and weigh 40 tonnes – and their proximity to people. On their 6,000 mile journey from icy to balmy waters, one of the world's longest mammal migrations, the creatures stay close to shore. 'They are incredibly curious,' said Ms Pirotta. 'There's been times where there's been whales in the harbour this year where they've literally halted traffic.' Advertisement Australians get so close to the creatures that some have attracted fans. Among them are Migaloo, an all-white humpback whose sightings spanned 1991 to 2020, and Blade Runner, named for her tussle with a boat propeller that created her long, distinctive scars. Some keen whale watchers seek a closer look. On a recent morning, Ben Armstrong, a veteran skipper of a whale-watching boat in Port Stephens, a scenic harbour north of Sydney, slowed the engine as two humpbacks breached nearby. He encouraged passengers to put down their phones and enjoy the spectacle. Mr Armstrong keeps his tourist boat at distances mandated by Australia's state laws, but inquisitive whales often go off-script. Whale cruise boat captain Ben Armstrong speaks to his guests during a whale watching cruise off the coast of Port Stephens. Mark Baker / Alamy Stock Photo Mark Baker / Alamy Stock Photo / Alamy Stock Photo Once, the skipper let his boat drift for an hour while four or five humpbacks treated the vessel 'like a bath toy', playfully preventing it from moving forward or back. Vincent Kelly, who travelled from Geelong, Victoria, to witness the migration was a recent passenger. Over two hours, he watched half a dozen humpbacks perform breath-taking aerial manoeuvres. 'It was unbelievable to me,' Mr Kelly said. 'I didn't expect to actually see a whale. But they were everywhere.' The humpback gridlock marks a sharp reversal of fortune for the whales. They were once hunted for meat and oil, and numbers dwindled to a few hundred before humpbacks became a protected species in the southern hemisphere in 1963. The humpback boom to about 40,000 since has brought the creatures into more frequent contact with people than before. The population is still growing steadily, amplifying concerns about how humans and giants of the sea can safely share the coastline. But it also puts millions of Australians a short walk and a little luck away from encountering one of the largest mammals on the planet.
The Age
28-04-2025
- Climate
- The Age
Brisbane news live: Bluey's World to stay open longer, with 200,000 visitors recorded
Latest posts Latest posts 7.11am Bluey's World to stay open longer, 200,000th visitor gets unlimited access By Brisbane's visitor attraction dedicated to the world's favourite blue heeler puppy has officially extended its season. Bluey's World in Hamilton, which recently welcomed its 200,000th visitor, has been extended through to February 2026, with the next ticket pre-release set for next Tuesday, May 6. Andrew Powell MP, Queensland's Minister for Environment and Tourism, says Bluey's World has attracted visitors from across Australia as well as New Zealand, North America, the United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore. Loading 'We anticipate that Bluey's World will help to generate as much as $18 million for our state economy, as visitors make the most of our hotels, restaurants and other hospitality in their time here,' he says. The 200,000th visitor to Bluey's World was Ben Armstrong, who was visiting with his partner and two daughters from Perth. Armstrong received an exclusive VIP Blue Card granting unlimited access to Bluey's World, putting him in the company of Eva Mendes, Chris Hemsworth and Kylie Minogue. 7.01am April sun in Brisbane Expect another mostly sunny day in Brisbane today, although it might feel much, much cooler than the maximum temperature would suggest. Although the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a top of 28 degrees, the 'feels like' temperature could be almost 10 degrees cooler. From late tomorrow, the weather is predicted to turn, with the possibility of showers increasing into the weekend. Here's a glance at what the next seven days could bring, weatherwise. 6.56am While you were sleeping Here's what's making news further afield this morning: State governments will be offered $2 billion over the next four years to boost housing supply with the help of federal concessional loans in a Labor pledge to counter Coalition claims that the government will miss a crucial target to build more homes. Separatist Christian sect the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren), which objects to voting, is campaigning for the Liberal and National parties. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese kicked off his final week with a half-hour walk through a south-west Sydney suburb – replete with selfies, hecklers and obscenities. If you're rolling up your sleeves for a flu or COVID vaccine, you may not give much thought to which arm receives the jab. But new Australian research suggests location does matter. A group of men dubbed the 'grandpa gang' were among 10 suspects who went on trial overnight on charges of robbing reality TV star Kim Kardashian at gunpoint and stealing jewellery worth millions of dollars during Paris Fashion Week in 2016. Melbourne Storm have taken responsibility for what they say was an internal miscommunication that meant the Welcome to Country for their Anzac Day clash at AAMI Park was cancelled at the last minute, a situation that has left the chairman disappointed 'beyond words'. 6.43am This morning's top stories Good morning, and welcome to Brisbane Times' live news coverage for Tuesday, April 29. Today the city can expect a sunny day with a top temperature of 28 degrees. In this morning's local headlines: For more than a decade, Brisbane property mogul Ted Amos has been locked in a battle over unpaid land tax and court costs with the Queensland government. Now the revenue office has been given the green light to seize and sell Amos' nine properties in Clayfield, Ascot, Wooloowin, Newmarket, Northgate, Albion, Virginia and Surfers Paradise to recoup unpaid court costs. An international student allegedly murdered a flatmate and kept her body in a box on a balcony for months, as well as impersonating her to steal more than $700,000, a jury has heard. Once seen as one of the more affordable capital cities, Brisbane's median house price has risen 71.5 per cent in the past five years to March 2025. At this weekend's Magic Round, Roosters enforcer Spencer Leniu will 'walk towards the fire' of his first sold-out Suncorp Stadium encounter since his blow-up with Queensland icon and Channel Nine commentator Johnathan Thurston.
