Post by Inside Australian Idol on Aug 4, 2003 23:28:10 GMT 10
Idols a diverse bunch
04 AUG 2003
By Luke Dennehy, Herald Sun
A PIG farmer, a jazz singer and a drag queen are lining up for Channel 10's Australian Idol.
The jazz singer, Axle Whitehead, works on the family farm in summer and is one of seven Victorian finalists.
With rock-star looks to match his rock-star name, Whitehead, 22, is one of the favourites to take out the Australian Idol title, but will face stiff competition from his other Victorian and national counterparts.
Whitehead was educated at Geelong Grammar and plays jazz gigs around Melbourne under the name the Axle Whitehead Quartet.
Victoria has seven finalists but New South Wales leads with 19.
The mix could be risky for Channel 10, which could lose its Victorian audience if no Victorians make the final 10, seven weeks from now.
Some of the more interesting finalists include drag queen Courtney Act, 21, from Sydney.
Courtney, whose real name is Shane Jenec, made her debut at a Melbourne club on New Year's Eve in 2000.
Jenec auditioned as himself and didn't get through, but in drag, he impressed judges Ian Dickson, Marcia Hines and Mark Holden.
Also raising eyebrows is pig farmer Peter Ryan, 27.
Ryan, who works in a piggery near Lismore, has always sung; his favourites include tunes by Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison.
Swinburne University business and marketing student Brandon Burns, 18, is another who impressed the judges.
Burns' ambition since he was young was to be an entertainer and he has spent years getting lessons and performing in musicals and on television in an effort to reach his goal.
Like UK Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates, Burns fits the image of the more traditional pop idol.
One of the youngest finalists is Melbourne girl Hailey Cramer, 17.
With her booming voice, she seemed a natural to be picked.
Other Victorian finalists include cover band singer Robert Mills and Tatura's Natalie Ferguson.
SOURCE:
entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,6861170%255E10431%255E%255Enbv,00.html
04 AUG 2003
By Luke Dennehy, Herald Sun
A PIG farmer, a jazz singer and a drag queen are lining up for Channel 10's Australian Idol.
The jazz singer, Axle Whitehead, works on the family farm in summer and is one of seven Victorian finalists.
With rock-star looks to match his rock-star name, Whitehead, 22, is one of the favourites to take out the Australian Idol title, but will face stiff competition from his other Victorian and national counterparts.
Whitehead was educated at Geelong Grammar and plays jazz gigs around Melbourne under the name the Axle Whitehead Quartet.
Victoria has seven finalists but New South Wales leads with 19.
The mix could be risky for Channel 10, which could lose its Victorian audience if no Victorians make the final 10, seven weeks from now.
Some of the more interesting finalists include drag queen Courtney Act, 21, from Sydney.
Courtney, whose real name is Shane Jenec, made her debut at a Melbourne club on New Year's Eve in 2000.
Jenec auditioned as himself and didn't get through, but in drag, he impressed judges Ian Dickson, Marcia Hines and Mark Holden.
Also raising eyebrows is pig farmer Peter Ryan, 27.
Ryan, who works in a piggery near Lismore, has always sung; his favourites include tunes by Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison.
Swinburne University business and marketing student Brandon Burns, 18, is another who impressed the judges.
Burns' ambition since he was young was to be an entertainer and he has spent years getting lessons and performing in musicals and on television in an effort to reach his goal.
Like UK Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates, Burns fits the image of the more traditional pop idol.
One of the youngest finalists is Melbourne girl Hailey Cramer, 17.
With her booming voice, she seemed a natural to be picked.
Other Victorian finalists include cover band singer Robert Mills and Tatura's Natalie Ferguson.
SOURCE:
entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,6861170%255E10431%255E%255Enbv,00.html