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RocKwiz is an Australian television quiz show series, focused on rock music and featuring different guest artist musicians who perform live in each episode. Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis host Australia’s premier music trivia quiz show recorded live in St Kilda’s hallowed Gershwin Room, deep in the bosom of the legendary Esplanade Hotel.
2007
2006
2005
2007
2005
2009
2011
Julia Zemiro
Presenter
Dugald McAndrew
Roadie
Brian Nankervis
Brains
2008
2014
While The Easybeats had Friday on their mind, RocKwiz have Monday on theirs when the new season launches on Monday March 24 with a special episode saluting Australian songwriters Harry Vanda and George Young. Joining the delightful Julia Zemiro, charismatic showman Brian Nankervis, beloved human scoreboard Dugald and the RocKwiz Orkestra, are a cavalcade of stars including Doc Neeson (The Angels), Isabella Manfredi (The Preatures), The Basics (the band featuring Wally De Backer aka Gotye), Steve Kilbey, and Gossling to name just a few.
The delightful Julia Zemiro, showman Brian Nankervis and the RocKwiz Orkestra are ready to get everyone's week off to a cracking start with a tight mix of music trivia and live music. Fresh from a supporting Bruce Springsteen and recording a new album in Nashville, Dan Sultan joins Ella Thompson, one of the featured vocalists with The Bamboos, in a funny and fast paced episode. Brooke Addamo (aka Owl Eyes performs the title track from her 2013 album, 'Nightswim' and Dan and Ella close the show with 'Simon Says', a song recorded by the Isley Brothers, The Platters and, in 1967, Australia's The Groove.
Juanita Stein, lead singer with London based, Australian band, The Howling Bells joins Steve Smyth, a singer songwriter originally from NSW but now travelling the world with his guitar and powerful voice. Ross Wilson and Eric McCusker join the RocKwiz Orkestra's James Black for a great version of the 4 Mondo Rock classic 'Summer Of 81' and the show comes to a stunning climax with Steve and Juanita performing the 1974 hit for The Hollies, 'The Air That I Breathe'. Hosted by Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis, with the help of beloved human scoreboard Dugald and the RocKwiz Orkestra.
Isabella Manfredi and Stephen Cummings, with Georgi Kay - Isabella's band, The Preatures, scored a top 10 placing on the Triple J 2013 Hottest 100 with their song 'Is This How You Feel?' and she performs an extremely hot version with The RocKwiz Orkestra. Singer songwriter, novelist, man about town and former lead singer with The Sports Stephen Cummings, sings one of their signature songs, 'Reckless'. Perth based singer/songwriter and actress in the television miniseries, 'Top of the Lake', Georgi Kay, performs and then Stephen and Isabella close the show with a Badfinger's 'Baby Blue'.
In 2013, Ms Murphy made all four red chairs turn on The Voice'. In 2014, she raises the roof at The Gershwin Room, performing 'Ritual Union' with the Rockwiz Orchestra and our trusty horn players, Paul Williamson and Ross Irwin. Former leader of The Dynamic Hepnotics, 'Continental' Robert Susz, lays down some tasty harmonica and had the room rocking to 'The Hepno Beat'. Lead singer of The Baby Animals, Suze DeMarchi performs a new song and Robert and Ms Murphy finishes up with a slice of sweet Southern Soul called 'I Can't Stand It'.
Olivia Bartley (aka Olympia) performs her single 'Atlantis' before revealing she once bought a keyboard owned by Led Zeppelin and Ray Charles. Lead singer of British India, Declan Melia, charms the room with his great stories, incredible knowledge and cheeky smile. Not to mention his opening song, 'Blinded'. Melbourne duo Sweet Jean perform their debut album, 'Dear Departures' and this extremely uplifting episode comes to a close with Declan, Olivia, the Saskwatch Horns (and Dugald on tambourine) performing the Paul McCartney hit, 'Coming Up'.
Tonight, American guitarist and cult hero, Kurt Vile - who toured Australia in February shows off his charisma and talent at The Gershwin Room alongside Phoebe Baker from ARIA nominated Sydney band Alpine. Phoebe and her fellow lead singer, Lou James, sing 'Gasoline', while Kurt performs a song from his latest album, 'Wakin On a Pretty Daze'. Then, Iva Davies makes a surprise appearance from behind the red curtain to perform an Icehouse classic, 'We Can Get Together', before having a more in-depth chat with host Julia Zemiro. Kurt and Phoebe close the show with a moving version of the Neil Young song from his 1975 album 'Tonight's The Night', 'Albuquerque'.
UK legend and self-confessed love and justice singer songwriter, Billy Bragg, joins RocKwiz this week. Billy tells some great stories, performs 'Handyman' off his latest album and even treats the Gershwin room to a chorus of 'My Old Man's A Dustman'. Billy is paired with Melbourne based performer Courtney Barnett, who is currently getting great reviews in America and the UK for her distinctive musical styling's. Courtney performs her new song, 'Depreston'. In the guest spot is the incredible Ngaiire, who has been touring her debut album, 'Lamentations' around the country. Honouring the late, great, Lou Reed, Billy and Courtney close the show with the Velvet Underground song, 'Sunday Morning'.
The Gershwin Room audience is spellbound by the pure beauty of the voices of all three performers in this episode. New Zealand country singer Marlon Williams who has just moved to Melbourne dazzles. American singer songwriter Pieta Brown performs the title track of her most recent album, 'Mercury' and joins Marlon for a memorable version of the much loved John Prine song, 'The Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness'. Tina Arena performs 'Reset' and chats with Julia about her upcoming tour...in French, English and Italian.
Queen of Pop in 1972 and 1973, celebrated stage actress and all round Australian legend Colleen Hewett joins the leader of the Black Sea Gentlemen, Mikelangelo, in this exciting episode. Mikelangelo, also known as the Balkan Elvis, and Colleen, with backing vocals by the Wolfgramm Sisters, closes the show with a seventies' classic from The Brotherhood Of Man, 'United We Stand'. One of the regular performers from our 2010 national tour, Megan Washington, is back with a new album and she performs 'Limitless', the second single from that album.
A classic RocKwiz episode where legendary New York singer, Garland Jeffreys, meets a feisty youngster from Newcastle, Kira Puru. Garland sings his signature song, 'Wild In the Streets' and tells of his 50 year friendship with Lou Reed, while Kira sings the theme from 'Redfern Now' and charms the room with her great sense of humour. Sally Seltmann performs a song from her new album, 'Hey Daydreamer', before Garland, Kira and the Wolfgramm Sisters close the show with a smouldering version of a Rolling Stones song from 1978.
A RocKwiz episode for all ages! Tonight's special guests, Sam Margin and Heidi Lenffer, are the lead singers from two of Australia's successful contemporary bands, The Rubens and Cloud Control. Then, in answer to the question, "Who was in the same class as Olivia Newton John, trained as a fitter and turner and eventually sang with a band called Sherbert?", out comes Daryl Braithwaite to perform and be interviewed by Julia. Before Sam and Heidi close the show with an Arctic Monkey's song, there is a moment of RocKwiz chaos when it is revealed that one of Julia's questions is completely misleading! Brian's mistake!
With a 2013 ARIA award and a brand new album under his belt, Russell Morris is proof that you can be a legend in the 1970s and still be a popular and dynamic artist in 2014. Russell performs a song from 'Van Diemen's Land' and is joined in the Gershwin Room by Australian blues singer Fiona Boyes, the first woman and non-American to win the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. 2014 marks 21 years since Frente released their debut LP, 'Marvin The Album'. Founding members Simon Austin and Angie Hart perform 'Ordinary Angels', before Fiona and Russell close the show with a powerful version of the Howling Wolf blues standard, 'Smokestack Lightning'.
This special is an extremely rocking RocKwiz episode, filmed at this year's Byron Bay Bluesfest. Excited and inspired by the celebratory atmosphere of the festival and an amazing line up, Julia, Brian, Dugald and The RocKwiz Orkestra (featuring Vika and Linda Bull) create some unique and unforgettable magic for three thousand happy fans in the Jambalaya tent. Steve Earle performs his 1988 hit 'Copperhead Road' and tells Julia about the first band he ever saw, Vika and Linda raise the canvas roof with a new Paul Kelly song, festival favourites from America, Beth Hart and Grace Potter, sing and answer questions at the desks and there are wonderful cameos from Tim Rogers, Michael Franti, Garland Jeffreys and Henry Wagons.
RocKwiz Backstage at Bluesfest follows Henry Wagons, frontman for the eponymous country blues band Wagons, on his journey to perform as a guest on the last of the three RocKwiz Live shows at Bluesfest. Henry meets some of Byron Bay's colourful characters, chats to politicians and punters at the Bluesfest site, meets some of the legendary performers from past and present, and gains some insight from the man behind the Bluesfest phenomenon, Peter Noble. Henry meets legendary blues performer Charlie Mussellwhite and former Minister of the Arts Tony Burke in an engaging look behind the scenes at this multi-award winning and internationally renowned festival.
Streaming availability information not available
2016
This episode honours the homes of the blues, the cradle of rock, soul and folk with an episode that sees soul songstress Ms Murphy cover Aretha Franklin's hit, 'Natural Woman', while Eskimo Joe's Kav Temperley takes on all 11 verses of Bob Dylan's 'Hurricane'. The sassy, jumpin' jive Mojo Juju joins the fun to perform the Elvis Presley hit 'Devil in Disguise' before everyone returns to close the show with an incredible version of Bruce Springsteen's 'Born to Run'.
RocKwiz Salutes the Legends kicks into gear with Vika and Linda singing 'Whole Lotta Love' and doesn't let up until the final notes of the tribute to David Bowie - a joyous version of 'Young Americans' featuring Tim Rogers and the whole cast. In between, Sarah Blasko sings 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', Tim Rogers and Vika Bull perform The Rolling Stones classic 'Gimme Shelter' and Josh Pyke sings a song close to his heart, The Beatles' 'In My Life'.
Overflowing with music, traditions and tall tales and true, this episode sees sing-alongs, emotional memories, and a spot of River Dancing. Unearth finalist Montaigne (Jessica Cerro) performs 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For', Dan Kelly and cousins Memphis and Maddy Kelly reinterpret 'Nothing Compares 2 U', Henry Wagons salutes Thin Lizzy and the late Phil Lynott before the cast come together and close the show with 'Irish Heartbead' by Van Morrison and The Chieftains.
Up-and-coming singer-songwriter Olympia performs Joni Mitchell's 'Free Man in Paris'. Brian Cadd, a long-time fan of The Band plays keyboards and sings on 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down' as well as Paul Dempsey's version of the Leonard Cohen song 'First We Take Manhattan', with Vika and Linda Bull adding distinctive backing vocals. There are questions and riffs based on the music of The Guess Who, Alanis Morissette, and Rufus Wainwright.
The team high-steps across the ditch to New Zealand to pay tribute to Australia's Kiwi cousins. Vika and Linda play a short version of the Ray Columbus classic 'She's a Mod', before New Zealand's Soul Queen, Hollie Smith, performs Bic Runga's 1997 hit 'Sway'. Mark Williams sings 'April Sun in Cuba', and talks about the late, great Marc Hunter and what makes New Zealand music special. Indie-dream pop duo and festival favourites Gypsy and the Cat perform the Split Enz song 'I Got You' and as usual, everyone joins in for the closing number, this time a rousing rendition of The Swingers' iconic 1981 smash hit 'Counting the Beat'.
In the final episode of the Salutes the Legends Season, Vika and Linda pay tribute to the song APRA voted Best Australian Song of All Time, 'Friday on My Mind'. They salute a couple of legendary songs from The Saints and the Divinyls, while Richard Clapton performs his 1982 hit 'I Am an Island', and Archie Roach previews a brand new song from his forthcoming album, before the whole cast performs 'From Little Things Big Things Grow' led by Archie and Emma Donovan. Also Ella Hooper and Blake Scott from The Peep Tempel join in.
2015
RocKwiz is back with a brand new 6-part series, with each episode dedicated entirely to a decade. This episode, Caitlin Park, Joe Camelliri, Katie Noonan and Col Joye celebrate one of rock music's greatest decades, the 50s.
This episode, Declan Melia, Dinah Lee, Holiday Sidewinder and Normie Rowe celebrate one of rock music's greatest decades, the 60s.
This week pays tribute to the music of the 70s with Kira Puru, Vance Joy, Tex Perkins and Glenn Shorrock.
The 80s - From New Romantics to No Nukes, MTV to INXS, the Rubik's Cube to the compact disc, RocKwiz salutes the wonderful world of the 80s and has a fine time doing it! The episode features Jordi and Scarlett from San Cisco covering Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love', before Kate Ceberano stuns the crowd with a faithful version of Blondie's smash hit 'Rapture', the first #1 in America to feature rapping. Scarlett shares an embarrassing Molly Meldrum story and Kate speaks candidly and eloquently about the music and fashions of the 80s and special guests include head Hoodoo Guru, Dave Faulkner and Connie Mitchell from Sneaky Sound System.
This episode celebrates the 90's with special guests Emma Donovan, Robert Forster, Davey Lane and Tim Freedman.
In the final episode for Series Thirteen, The RocKwiz Team pay tribute to the artists and music of the first fifteen years of the new millennium. Julia Stone sings The Strokes, John Butler sings John Butler, hip hop artist Seth Sentry performs a song he performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live and, to the delight of one of the contestants, Paul Kelly sings 'Righteous Woman' from his latest album, 'The Merri Soul Sessions'. During the show, the RocKwiz Orkestra dip into Pink, Powderfinger, Pharrell Williams and Beyonce and the whole cast come together to close the show and the series with Outcast's 2003 smash hit, 'Hey Ya'.
2012
Series ten of Australia’s longest running rock music trivia show. Still running, still rocking, bigger and better than ever! Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. This week's special guests are folk legend Judy Collins and front man for The Whitlams, Tim Freedman.
Special guest this week is five-time Grammy Award-winning musician Ziggy Marley, who emerges from behind the red curtains to perform with the RocKwiz Orkestra. Hosted by Julia Zemiro. #RocKwiz
This week Eilen Jewell, the 'Queen of the Minor Key', brings her distinctive rockabilly sounds to the Gershwin Room all the way from Boston.
2023
Up-and-coming soul singer WILSN excited to team up with Jimmy Barnes. She sings her single, Tell Me, before Jimmy performs a rockabilly song, with plenty of laughs along the way.
2011
2013
RocKwiz returns with a brand new season kicking off at the iconic Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival with a star-studded special episode featuring Steve Kilbey, Tex Perkins, and Russell Morris. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests this week include powerhouse singer Connie Mitchell from Sneaky Sound System, The Presets vocalist and keyboardist Julian Hamilton, and 19-year-old online music sensation Gabrielle Aplin.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests this week include singer-songwriter and guitarist for Aussie band Something for Kate, Paul Dempsey, the flame-haired front woman for Melbourne folk/pop outfit Tinpan Orange, Emily Lubitz, and the one and only John Paul Young.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests this week include Deborah Conway, a stalwart of the Australian music scene for 30 years, British singer-songwriter Mike Rosenberg (aka Passenger), and one of Australia's most loved and admired Aboriginal singer/songwriters, Archie Roach.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests this week include hip-hop artist, songwriter and performer Urthboy (Tim Levinson), Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist Beatrice Bertie Blackman, and former Hunters & Collectors frontman Mark Seymour.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests this week include Adalita, lead vocalist with Magic Dirt, J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr, and husband and wife team Sarah Lee Guthrie (daughter of Arlo) and Johnny Irion, ex-member of Queen Sarah Saturday.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests this week include Melbourne-based electro-soul artist Chet Faker (Nick Murphy), lead vocalist of Melbourne band Saskwatch, Nkechi Anele, and ARIA Award-winning Australian singer-songwriter and musician, Sarah Blasko.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests this week include the charismatic frontman for alternate rockers You Am I, Tim Rogers, one half of acoustic duo The Bone Collectors, Jess Ribeiro, and Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Henry Wagons.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests include Dave Faulkner from the Hoodoo Gurus, Melbourne-based songwriter and musician Courtney Barnett, and Bob Evans (Kev Mitchell), vocalist and guitarist for rock band Jebediah.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guest artists this week include The Church's Steve Kilbey, singer-songwriter Sherry Rich, and former Triple J Unearthed winners, Hungry Kids of Hungary.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests this week include Swedish songwriter and musician Jens Martin Lekman, critically acclaimed Melbourne singer Sophia Brous, and Indigenous Australian musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests include multi award-winning country music singer-songwriter Troy Cassar-Daley, emerging singer-songwriter Sal Kimber, and founding member and guitarist with The Beasts of Bourbon, Spencer P. Jones.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests include Melbourne-based 1960s music legends Ronnie Burns and Russell Morris, along with ARIA award-nominated singer, Jen Cloher.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests this week include Norman Blake, singer-songwriter and instrumentalist for veteran Glasgow-based band, Teenage Fanclub; widely-travelled back-up singer Hailey Cramer; and Australian music legend, Joe Camilleri.
Rock music's most famous faces continue to mix it with the best local trivia buffs. Host Julia Zemiro asks the questions and Brian Nankervis adjudicates over the mayhem. Special guests this week include Tex Perkins, widely known for fronting popular Australian rock-band The Cruel Sea; ARIA award-nominated artist Mia Dyson; and former keyboardist and songwriter for Cold Chisel, Don Walker.
