Festivals & Venues: December 7

FALLS WARNS ON SCALPERS IN LORNE, BYRON…

Falls Festival has warned patrons who buy unauthorised tickets will not be allowed entry. Both the Lorne and Byron Bay events sold out in record time, and some resale sites are offering $312 three-day tickets at $1125 and $123.85 camping ones at $481.

Promoters said in a statement, “There is no official resale facility for The Falls Festival, with increasing demand we are investigating the viability of introducing one.

“Till then, we strongly discourage patrons purchasing from any unauthorised third party sellers at inflated prices, we can’t guarantee legitimacy of tickets purchased outside the Falls official platform.”

…AND ADDS LOCAL ACTS TO MARION BAY

As part of iFalls’ Homebrewed partnership with Music Tasmania, 25 Tasmanian acts will play before 16,000 Marion Bay patrons.

The partnership is going into its third year, and among those to play the Field Stage at the end of this month are The Sleepyheads, Q.E., The Embers Kat Edwards, Heart Beach, Chase City, SUNDAZE, Younger Dryas and Lazer Baby.

SUNSET SOUNDS RETURNS WITH SASKWATCH, THE BAMBOOS

Sunset Sounds, the series of three free concerts put on over summer by City of Stonnington in Melbourne includes names as Saskwatch and The Bamboos.

The Sunday, January 7 at Victoria Gardens in Prahran features Saskwatch and Alexander Biggs, whileSunday January 14 at Central Park in Malvern East has The Bamboos and Jazz Party.

The third and final show, on Sunday January 21 at Malvern Gardens in Malvern features Hot Potato Band and 30/70.

City of Stonnington Mayor Steve Stefanopoulos said “Stonnington has some of the most sensational parks and gardens, and it brings me great joy to see residents and visitors enjoying them.

“Pack a picnic basket, and your dancing shoes, and head down for a summers afternoon with some of Australia’s finest talent.”

SUMMERSALT ADDS BUTLER, FANNING

The music and surf format Summersalt added more acts. John Butler Trio and Bernard Fanning as well as Mama Kin, Spender and Oh Pep!

They’ll be at Wollongong’s Stuart Park (Saturday March 24) and Bondi Beach in Sydney on March 24.

The festival includes a dedicated SummerSalt Lounge area (for lounge tickets holders only) for those who wish to enjoy the show at their own pace & leisure. There will also be access for concert goers to market stalls, mobile food options and activities to bring culture and community together.

NEW OWNER FOR BRISBANE’S MET

Brisbane nightclub and live music venue The Met has changed hands. Trent Meade and Matt Blyth of Revelry Entertainment, who bought it four years ago, want to go into the food & beverage market with their new venture Celissa, set to open in March.

The sale price was not revealed, but Meade and Blyth paid $3.5 million when they acquired the 5000-capacity Fortitude Valley space in Wickham Street from Cole Enterprises.

The duo say they’re exiting the nightclub/music venue business because they have young families whom they want to spend more time with.

Celissa is the combination of the names Cecilia and Melissa, their wives.

MONUMENTAL FOR MOFO

Canada’s Monumental is among those at MOFO on January 12 and 13 at the Princess Theatre in Launceston.

It is a combination of dance troupe The Holy Body Tattoo with a live score by Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

The premiere of the collaborative piece was at the Adelaide Festival of Arts last year.

COMEDY LOUNGE OPENS IN PERTH

The Comedy Lounge, a new purpose-built room for comedy in Perth’s Murray Street, launched recently with a stand-up set from Kath & Kim cast member Peter Rowsthorn.

CITY LIMITS RETURNS FOR SECOND YEAR

After its inaugural instalment sold out, Perth’s City Limits returns on Saturday March 3 to Badlands Bar. There are stages in its car park and main room, and includes headliner sets from British India and Frenzal Rhomb.

The day will also featureThe Bennies, Ecca Vandal, The Gooch Palms, Jess Locke and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets with Dan Cribb & Friends presenting a set of The Simpsons songs.

GAYTIMES ADDS MUSIC TO COMMUNITY

Queer music festival Gaytimes (February 16 – 18, Victoria’s Lake Mountain Alpine Resort) announced its biggest lineup yet with more than 30 live acts and DJs.

They include New York rapper and producer LE1F, Alex The Astronaut, Bec Sandridge, Chicago house and disco DJ Chrissy, Brisbane rapper Miss Banks, Tigertown, Maddy Jane, Odette, Brendan Maclean, as well as locals Saatsuma, Simona, Hexdebt, Pillow Pro, Spike Fuck and Wet Lips.

The three days is about “an enchanting weekend of music, art, community, sexuality and self-expression.”

WOMADELAIDE’S PLANET TALKS

WOMADelaide’s Planet Talks program (March 10 – 12, Botanic Park, Adelaide) is book-ended by featured talks by prominent environmentalist Tim Flannery and award-winning foreign correspondent Peter Greste examining the current state of Press Freedom and what it means for democracy.

Other speakers include New York Times environment writer and nature author Jim Robbins, media personality Rove McManus who is also Vice President of Flora and Fauna International, and professor of animal behaviour at Flinders University, Sonia Kleindorfer.

Topics cover AI and the technologies set to disrupt our sustainable relationship with the planet, climate change and climate justice, and “Is plastic pollution as great a threat to humanity as climate change?”

THUNDAMENTALS TO TOP SECOND PIER ST PARTY

Thundamentals are confirmed to top the bill for the second Pier Street Party in Melbourne’s outer suburb Frankston on February 14.

Other names listed include Art Vs Science, Gyroscope, The Getaway Plan, Rackett and Jesswar who are part of the promoters’ strategy to bring the local community together.

FAIRGROUNDS OFFERS MORE THAN MUSIC

Fairgrounds (Friday December 8 & Saturday 9, Berry NSW) has its allotment of great music – Gang Of Youths, Client Liaison, Stella Donnelly and Jen Cloher, among others.

But it also has Myf Warhurst’s Artists In Conversation with James Mercer (The Shins), Holly Throsby and Scott Kannberg (aka. Spiral Stairs).

Not to mention a Record Club (The Gang’s David Le’aupepe on Wilco, Marlon Williams on Canada’s Bob Carpenter) workshops, a swimming pool, sports games on the green and a record fair. All details atwww.fairgrounds.com.au.

CAIRNS BARTENDER FOUND NOT GUILTY

Bartender Madalyn Di Cola of the Barron River Hotel in Cairns was found not guilty of serving an intoxicated patron.

The Cairns Post reported that magistrate Janelle Brassington ruled that while the man was uncoordinated, “swaying” and “stumbling”, limited video footage could also be attributed to the fact the hotel had uneven floors, and that the fact he was dancing around could be because he had just won a meat tray and was doing a “happy dance”.

“The behaviour could be consistent with intoxication but in that moment (it was an) action of celebration,” she said.

BRAITHWAITE TO HEADLINE SUREFERS LIVE

Daryl Braithwaite will headline the 4th Surfers Live (May 3-6, Surfers Paradise beach) which also includes Kate Ceberano, Jon Stevens, Justice Crew and Reece Mastin.

To be held after the Commonwealth Games, the festival will also incorporate the Gold Coast Music Awards on May 3