Festivals & Venues: January 18
ABC TO BROADCAST TROPFEST, SUSAN SARANDON TO HEAD JURY
Tropfest Australia made two significant announcements this morning.
The ABC will be the event’s broadcast partner for the first time. Meanwhile the highly-decorated Susan Sarandon, fresh off the Golden Globes, will head the festival’s jury.
The ABC will broadcast the Tropfest main event live on its new channel, ABC COMEDY on February 17.
It will include the black-carpet arrivals, interviews with the filmmakers and celebrity guests, as well as showcase the final 16 films as they are shown at Parramatta Park.
The event will also be viewed on ABC iView and the ABC COMEDY Facebook page, as well as the ABC COMEDY YouTube channel globally.
Festival founder John Polson said “ABC has been absolutely crucial in cultivating independent Australian arts and culture over the years, so we can’t think of anyone else we’d rather partner with on our live national broadcast.
“With ABC on board, our Finalists can now look forward to their films being enjoyed by thousands more enthralled Trop fans. This is a great day for Tropfest!”
Sarandon will take part in a star-studded week of festivities which culminates in the Tropfest main event.
“There is an enormous amount of film talent down under, so I’m looking forward to watching all of these amazing short films showcasing Australia’s vibrant diversity,” she said.
NZ’S FAZERDAZE TO HEADLINE BY THE MEADOW 5
New Zealand singer Amelia Murray’s dream-pop project Fazerdaze headlines By The Meadow 5 on her way to debut at Coachella and to play last year’s Morningside album.
The music, camping and BYO event (April 6-8, in Bambra on the edge of Victoria’s Otways) also boasts noise-folk Tiny Little Houses, and Tame Impala/Pond member Jay Watson’s quirky solo alter-ego GUM.
Others include Nadia Reid, Stella Donnelly, 30/70, The Harpoons, Billy Davis & The Good Lords, The Ocean Party, Flowertruck, Daydreams, HTMLFLOWERS and Leah Senior.
With the pre-sale ticket allocation already exhausted, promoters say there are only 700 tickets remaining for this year’s event.
DISCOVERY NIGHTCLUB INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
NT Police are still searching for the perpetrators of the alleged arson attack at Discovery nightclub in Darwin.
500 patrons were evacuated at 2am on Sunday when the fire broke out, with CCTV footage indicating the fire was likely started in the laundry.
Venue staff put out the blaze before emergency services arrived. There was damage worth $50,000, but the venue is expected to re-open tomorrow night.
Police say they questioned two people but released them without charge.
GRUNWALD, FRASCA ANNOUNCED FOR NARARA
Narara Music (May 5 at Mt Penang Gardens in Karong, NSW Central Coast) has booked Ash Grunwald, Dallas Frasca, William Crighton, Eliza & The Delusionals, Arcades & Lions, Seteve Edmonds Band Plays Jimi Hendrix, El Grande, Nicholas Connors and Trouble In Paradise.
The campers get extra entertainment via a Classic Rock Silent Disco and roaming performers.
PHOENIX CANBERRA FIGHTS TO STAY ALIVE
“We’re broke, we’re broken but we’re battling and we’re not giving in.”
That’s the message from Netti Vonthethoff, publican of Canberra live music venue Phoenix – which has lost a few million dollars since a fire at their Sydney Building in 2014.
The club is trying to raise $75,000 via their GoFundMe page to pay off debts to to its suppliers, current landlord and lawyers.
If the response is positive enough, it will go for another $75,000 to revamp the venue so it can increase capacity and also trade through the day.
As of last night, $39,245 had been promised.
There have been fundraising gigs, and a meeting of both those in the music biz and punters to come up with a strategy on how to make the venue survive and find new revenue sources.
Public supporters have included The Greens’ Shane Rattenbury who held a media call and stated it would be a “disaster” for Canberra live music if the Phoenix was forced to close.
Social media experts, lawyers, graphic designers and publicists are among those who’ve joined the fight.
MORE ADDS TO HYPERFEST
Last minute additions to the all-ages HyperFest (February 24 at Midland Oval, Perth) are Camp Cope, Ruby Fields, Falcifer, J.F.K., Kopano, and Vacant Home.
BRISBANE LEARNS TO WAVE
“Queensland Symphony Orchestra is transforming into an orchestra for the 21st century – an orchestra that’s relevant, that connects with all people, across all geographies, cultures, backgrounds and ages, and an orchestra that the world wants to listen to,” says its CEO David Pratt
To that end, it’s staging WAVES over two nights in April at Powerhouse Theatre in Brisbane where it will collaborate with hip-hop and electronica artists, via Kite String Tangle and Horrorshow, and songs penned by The Jezabels.
HER MAJESTY’S CLOSES FOR CONSERVATION
The 143-year-old Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat, Victoria has temporarily closed for conservation work worth $3 million, the Ballarat Courier reported.
Thought to be Australia’s oldest operating theatre, the venue is also the last of the state’s venue designs to include ornate columns and double horse-shoe shaped balconies.
Upgrades will also include doors and windows, fire safety and stormwater systems, as well as waterproofing, drainage, and structural repairs.
GUM BALL ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND
First round of acts for The Gum Ball (April 27-29, Hunter Valley) are REMI, The Aints Play the Saints (’73 to ’78), Butterfingers, Dave Graney ’n’ the Coral Snakes, The Creepshow (CA), Hat Fitz and Cara, Screamfeeder, Wanderers ,Terra Lightfoot (CA), New Venusians, Coda Chroma and Lachlan X. Morris.
THE KENSINGTON WINS FIGHT
The Kensington in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs has won a battle against the local council to be able to host live music.
But there are conditions: only for three days a week, and behind closed doors, so not to annoy the neighbours.
Last July, owners Peter and Jenny Hurley were told their application to showcase music through the week was denied.
The couple – who also run the Arkaba – initiated legal action three months later, insisting that the volume could be “appropriately managed”.
ALBION SET TO RE-OPEN
The Albion in South Melbourne reopens on February 10, after a total re-fit following an October 2015 arson attack by a disgruntled builder who has since been deported to Scotland.
The incident left a damage bill of $5 million.
Co-owner Dane Swan, the former AFL football champion, said that the new Albion will stretch over three levels, feature a spectacular rooftop bar and new kitchen, a brand new DJ sound system and a 5 am licence on weekends.
The site used to host the Roxy and Motel nightclubs.