Festivals Update: February 2

LANEWAY SYDNEY SELLS OUT

Laneway announced yesterday that its Sydney show on Saturday has sold out. Staged at Sydney College of the Arts (SCA) and Callan Park (with a 33-degree forecast), the day will see the return of Sunday Punch Projects with Nice One Picasso. It’s a contemporary art exhibition where Laneway commissioned ten new artworks by upcoming artists.

These will be shown throughout Callan Park, including a range of sculptures, interactive installations and artist performances.

The ‘Pretty Important People’ (PIP) Bar also has an exhibition, with painting, sculpture, sound and video installations.

The After Party sees Future Classic and Laneway join forces at Oxford Art Factory. Appearing are Bob Moses (Club Set), Roland Tings (DJ set), Juno Mars (Jagwar Ma DJ set), Marcus Marr, These New South Whales (live), White Lung DJs, Julia Jacklin (DJ set), and Laneway DJs.

Organisers say “a very special guest will be announced ahead of the show. Can you guess who?”

Today, Laneway is throwing the Island Getaway 4.0 with Siberia Records, on a sunset cruise aboard Seadeck in the middle of Sydney’s Harbour. Featured are Clams Casino (USA), Mr. Carmack (USA), FLRL (all star jam band), Body Promise (DJ), HVISKE (live) and Siberia DJs.

LANEWAY PREPS FOR ADELAIDE, FREMANTLE

As the festival hits Hart’s Mill in Port Adelaide for the third year, Lanway again partners with Vitalstatistix to turn Waterside Workers Hall into an artful indoor haven.

The Fremantle date on Sunday – at Esplanade Reserve and West End – sees Tame Impala closing the day in their hometown, marking the final show of their album cycle.

BUMPER YEAR FOR TAMWORTH

Although official figures are yet to be released, Tamworth Country Music Festival Director Barry Harley estimates that between 30,000 and 50,000 people will hit the festival for each of its 10 days. The number of licensed buskers hit a record 400, adding to the 700 acts booked to play at 2800 events, and 15% more campers on Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) grounds.

Of the $2 million that TRC invested in the festival, it is expected to get back $1.5 million. The festival is also expected to inject $50 and $55 million directly into the local economy. Tourism Research Australia put the 2016 contribution at over $50 million. Destination Tamworth also promoted other events in the region for visitors to check out.

MOFO DRAWS 11,500

MOFO in Tasmania drew 11,5000 in its ninth year (January 18 and 22) to events in Hobart and Berriedale. The three day Weekend At Walshy’s – which included bands, DJs and the premiere of Faith No More singer Mike Patton’s new project Tetema – drew 10,000.

Curator Brian Ritchie estimated that 35% of attendees were from outside Tasmania.

These figures will help Ritchie when he meets with the State Government about future funding. Its decision in 2014 to fund the festival at $350,000 a year until 2017 must now be extended.

MORELAND CITY COUNCIL PARTNERS WITH BRUNSWICK MUSIC

Moreland City Council has again been announced as Presenting Partner for the Brunswick Music Festival (March 5—19), the long running multicultural event in the inner city Melbourne region. “It brings many great social, cultural and economic benefits to our community”, said Mayor Helen Davidson. The opening, Sydney Road Street Party, with 200 acts over four stages, usually draws upwards of 60,000.

Tickets went on sale yesterday as the festival announced its program of 40 events, the first under Programmer Chelsea Wilson. Highlights include Aziza Brahim (Western Sahara/Spain) and The Hot 8 Brass Band (USA) making their Melbourne debuts, Wantok Live at the Wick with Frank Yamma, Radical Son & Emily Wurramara, Warsaw Village Band (Poland) and Hope Street Records Party.

Aside from local record label parties, there is the Unity: International Women’s Day Concert with vocalists and spoken word artists and even a recording-as-performance experience.

There are two album launches: the Jessie Lloyd curated Mission Songs Project which features indigenous folk songs performed from 1900-1999 on Christian missions, settlements and native camps; and blues guitarist Jeff Lang’s album Alone In Bad Company.

In a Festival first, the Brunswick Songwriter’s Club with two open mic sessions to hear new songs, also invites the public to share their songs and favourite covers.

NEIL FINN FOR ADELAIDE FESTIVAL

A solo Neil Finn set will open Adelaide Festival at Elder Park on March 5 from 1:00pm. The set will feature members of his family and friends doing a retro of his career from Split Enz to now. The show is capped at 15,000 patrons. When Finn and Paul Kelly jointly opened the festival in 2013, they drew 20,000.

RAINBOW SERPENT OFFERS CONDOLENCES

Regional Victoria’s Rainbow Serpent has offered its condolences to the family of the man who died on-site, apparently of a heart attack. Festival Director Tim Harvey said, “Rainbow Serpent considers the safety of patrons a priority and we will continue to cooperate with authorities to determine exactly what happened in this situation.

“We are an extremely close knit community and the effects of this tragedy will be felt right throughout our staff, volunteers and patrons for a long time to come.”

Before the festival began, the local community celebrated its 20 years of contribution to the area with a 15-metre long colourful serpent mural posted on the city’s outskirts. The Pyrenees Arts Council is also building a permanent sculpture to further celebrate the festival’s contribution to the region.

PERTH FRINGE WORLD TO TOP LAST YEAR

Organisers of Perth Fringe World (January 20 to February 19) expect the 2017 edit with 700 events to beat last year’s record breaking figures. It hit ticket sales of more than $9 million (making it the biggest box office earner of any arts festival in WA and third largest Fringe in the world, according to Premier and Tourism Minister Colin Barnett) and nearly 990,000 to events. Visitor expenditure reached $70.5 million after drawing 15,000 from outside WA.

This year, the State Government put in $1.098 million through Lotterywest and the Department of Culture and the Arts and a further $100,000 from the City of Perth.

Government figures show that Fringe World’s audience growth from 2012’s 150,000 to last year’s 990,000 marked a rise of 650%.