Festivals & Venues: February 1
THREE VENUES SET TO RETURN
Three well-known venues have announced plans to get back in the game.
Gold Coast nightclub Howl At The Moon will re-open as a two-level establishment with a new stage above a spiral staircase.
It closed last October after what seems to have been a tumultuous six months.
Wollongong’s Bombie Bar will now be at Coledale RSL on the second Friday of each month, starting February 9.
The Bombie Bar raises funds for essential equipment for the Coalcliff Surf Life Saving Club. Those wanting to play can contact Rob Deacon through its Facebook page.
Townsville’s Bank nightclub will re-open “with big bands and DJs” in the first half of 2018 after extensive renovations at its heritage listed building.
Sydney-based operator Shiv Suri (Marquee, Golden Sheaf, Pulse, Sirens) told the Townsville Bulletin that he will be making a “large investment” to re-establish it as “North Queensland’s premium night-life venue”.
Those who worked at the Bank before it closed in 2016 (after a spat between landlord and previous operator over rent and renovation costs) are invited to return.
Michael Anderson has returned to his previous role as General Manager.
NEW ADDITIONS FOR BOOGIE 12
With two months to go, Boogie 12 (Our Friend’s Farm in Tallarook, Victoria, March 30 to April 1) keeps swelling its ranks.
The new arrivals are garage R&B group The Murlocs, art-punk psych Tropical Fuck Storm, the kick-ass Amy Taylor fronted Amyl & The Sniffers, and funky Mildlife.
AUSSIE ACTS AT UK’S LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY
Among the 100 new acts announced overnight for Liverpool Sound City (May 5 and 6 over a number of venues) are two Aussie acts.
Sydney trio DMA’s will headline the first night, while also confirmed are Hockey Dad from Wollongong.
20 CONCERTS IN THREE MONTHS FOR SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK
The Foo Fighters’ January 27 show at ANZ Stadium kicked off 20 outdoor concerts over the next three months at the Sydney Olympic Park – which is branding itself Australia’s official #ConcertCapital of 2018.
International names scheduled to perform at Olympic Park’s Qudos Bank Arena and ANZ Stadium includes Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars (on the same night and set to attract almost 100,000), Lana Del Rey, Harry Styles, Robbie Williams, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Roger Waters, Queen + Adam Lambert, The Killers, Hacken Lee & Joey Yung, Lionel Richie, Jay Chou, Luke Byran and Jacky Cheung.
More than one million people attended live concerts and shows at Sydney Olympic Park during 2017, including a record 100,000 for one of Adele’s live concerts at ANZ Stadium.
In fact, says the Olympic Park Authority, of the 100 worldwide tours of Australia by major musical artists last year, 20 were held at Sydney Olympic Park’s major entertainment venues.
ARMIN VAN BUUREN TO HEADLINE ISTOTEROA
Trance king Armin van Buuren will return to Melbourne for the first time since 2015 to headline ISTORIA 2018 at Festival Hall on Friday April 20.
Joining him will be Ørjan Nilsen, Will Atkinson and Ruben de Ronde with more to be added.
Promoters said, “Istoria is in its second year and is already the biggest Australian born trance event on the annual calendar”.
NORTH WEST BACK FOR 2018?
The decision on whether WA’s Port Hedland will host the North West Festival this year for the seventh time in a row will be announced soon.
The Council voted 6:2 to go ahead with a review of last year’s event, and passed a motion to approve its management structure.
The festival draws 4,000 punters with a slew of major Australian acts.
But the local ratepayers association is giving off heat as to why taxpayers should be funding it.
HEADING FOR SEA’N’SOUND
Packing their swimming togs for Sea’n’Sound (June 9, Wharf Tavern, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast) are Paul Kelly, Kingswood, Harts, Pierce Brothers, Angie McMahon, Sea Gypsies, William Bloom, Jesse Taylor, Brad Schultz and Crvks.
SYDNEY CITY LIMITS GETS THE MUNCHIES
Sydney City Limits (February 24, Centennial Parklands) has expanded its food options with the addition of pizzas from the Lansdowne Hotel.
The inaugural event had already locked in a pop-up wine bar from Newtown’s P&V Wine and Liquor, Asian noodles and curries from Longrain, Sydney restaurateur Angie Hong, Rising Sun Workshop, O Tama Carey’s (Sri) Lankan Filling Station, Italian eaterie Fratelli Paradiso, Bondi’s Da Orazio Pizza + Porchetta, Newtown’s Hartsyard signature dish Fried Chicken and Poutine, Chinese Dumpling Master, Artificer Coffee, Saga’s rolls, The Unicorn Hotel’s Sydney Kiddie Limits, Porteno’s full wood fired grill, vegan Mexican from Bad Hombres, Fat Fish fish and chips, Paper Bird Korean bowls, and Mary’s burgers.
TIRED LION, BENNIES, SPLASH IN POOL PARTY
The Smith Street Band’s inaugural Pool House Party (Saturday, March 17, Coburg Velodrome, Melbourne) added nine extra reasons to be there.
They are Tired Lion, The Bennies, Ecca Vandal, the Smithies’ two former US tour supports Astronautalis and Signals Midwest, Pagan, The Cutaways, Under The Cut and Scabz.
HELLO OFFICER, YOU’RE NOT REALLY GOING TO NICK ME, ARE YUH?
More than 40 patrons of the Rainbow Serpent in Victoria will be anxiously awaiting the results of drug tests.
They returned a preliminary positive result for drugs, which are currently being analysed at a police lab for a second test.
One man was processed for allegedly trafficking drugs, while five were processed for possessing drugs.
Police investigations into two sexual assaults.
Meantime a 32-year-old man was convicted and fined $1,000 at Frankston Magistrates’ Court for his drunken antics at the Jimmy Barnes-headlined Under The Southern Stars on January 7 in Hastings.
These included pretending to steal a gun from a cop and making bang-bang motions, resisting arrest and having to be handcuffed before he got booted out of the site.
Cops said they initially couldn’t interview him at Frankston Police Station because he was too pickled (our words, you understand, not theirs).
NEXT WAVE GETS FUNDING
Among the eight sharing in the Victorian Government’s $100,000 Innovation in Marketing Fund to help arts organisations build their businesses was Next Wave.
The $19,000 grant is for “a project that will create online content ranging from videos to podcasts and live online broadcasts that will allow creative practitioners based anywhere in the world to access Next Wave’s professional development programs”.
I CAN SEE QUEERLY NOW
Leading thinkers and thought provocateurs will converge on Carriageworks on Saturday February 24 and Sunday 25 for ideas, discussion and debate for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras’ Queer Thinking program.
With a focus on social justice, Queer Thinking features seven panels and over thirty speakers dealing with issues faced by LGBTQI people today.
Media personalities, activists, the 78ers, academics, performers and writers will discuss the next step towards equality for all LGBTQI people, the acceptance of queer Muslims, the experience of First Nation queers, visibility of queer refugees in Australian society, transgender stories, activism and radicalism, and the future of feminism in the LGBTQI movement, and more.
Full details and tickets at the Mardi Gras website.