Festivals & Venues: March 15
PURE CHANGES BRISBANE VENUE, ADDS NATIONAL SUPPORTS
Techno and house celebrating Pure 2018 has moved its Brisbane venue “for reasons relating to trading hours and liquor licensing”. Brisbane, which has been added for the first time, is now staged at Family Nightclub as originally scheduled on Friday April 27.
Patrons who have previously purchased tickets through Ticketmaster will be issued with a full refund. Tickets for the Family show will go on sale today through Eventbrite.
Returning for a third year over the ANZAC Day long weekend in April, Pure is presented and curated by: Carl Cox, Eric Powell of Bush Records and Richie McNeill of Hardware. It features Paco Osuna (Spain), Nastia (Ukraine) and Fabio Neural (Italy).
Local supports for Sydney and Melbourne were announced yesterday.
Sydney has Nick Reverse, Spektrum DJs and Wild Fox.
The Melbourne bill now features Josh Wain & Paul Lynch (Autosea) and Leighboy & Handsdown
BELLO WINTER MUSIC UNVEILS FIRST TEN ACTS
The first ten acts of the 4th Bello Winter Music (July 12—15, Bellingen, NSW) are Justin Townes Earle, Lior, Nashville multi-instrumentalist Lillie Mae, Maddy Jane, Fraser A. Gorman, Australian-based influential African guitarist Moussa Diakite And (his band) Wassado, Zimbabwean born songstress Thando, traditional Japanese The Satsuki Odamura Koto Ensemble, experimental and free form Tangents and the Hi Tops Brass Band.
The full line-up of more than 70 acts will be announced in April for the family-friendly whole-town event.
BLUESFEST FINAL ADDS
The final adds for Bluesfest Byron Bay’s impressive offering are Citizen Cope, Clayton Doley’s Bayou Billabong, Hussy Hicks, Haley Grace & The Bay Collective, Little Georgia, Miss Renee Simone and Bali Blues Brother.
GETTING THE MUNCHIES AT DOWNLOAD
Heavy rock fans need to eat too, so Download (Saturday March 24, Flemington Racecourse. Melbourne) has unveiled these:
Hell’s Kitchen combines the smoky eyes of Aaron Turner (IGNI), the African insanity of Duncan Welgemoed (Africola), the cheek of Dani Alvarez (Fred’s) and the sauce of David Moyle (Longsong).
Raf’s Foodworld includes Beatbox Kitchen (burgers), Taco Truck (tacos), Juanita Peaches (fried chicken sandwiches), HSP (halal snack pack), and All Day Donuts (donuts).
Food trucks feature Blue Bonnet BBQ (American BBq), Dos Diablos (Mexican), Emmy’s Gozleme (Gozleme), POKnKOK (Thai), M.I.L.F (Man I Love Felafel), Bruno’s Souvlaki (Fairground Faves), Lil Nom Noms (Vietnamese), Caliko (Korean Fried Chicken), The Little Mushroom Co (Vegetarian), and Bavarian Bangers (German Sausages)!
There’s Heartbreaker Pizza (Harley & Rose), That Arancini Guy (Italian), The Rib Crib (ribs), Lets Meat Up (Greek), HOPPA (Korean), Loaded (loaded fries)!
Doug from Rare Records has curated the Download Melbourne Markets from collectable merch to jewellery, Henna tatts, clothing, guitars, music and more.
ZOO CLOSING EARLY
Due to Queensland’s ID scanning laws, one of Brisbane’s top live music venues, The Zoo will now be closing at midnight.
The laws came into effect eight months ago, and clubs in Fortitude Valley (among other entertainment precincts through the state) have had to see potential punters look at the resultant queues and headed off to nearby clubs who are out of the affected zone.
Saying the move was a smart business decision on its part, the venue posted, “We have made the choice to say bye-bye to those inefficient, inaccurate, expensive (useless) scanners… and with this decision comes our reduced trading hours to a 12am close.”
DARWIN’S HAPPY YESS ON HIATUS
Darwin’s home of original music, Happy Yess, is on a hiatus. They are in negotiations with the NT government regarding use of the venue in the Brown’s Mart precinct, and will re-open when that is sorted out.
Meantime those wanting to play there should register interest via happyyessdawin@gmail.com or phone: 0447 842 779 and they’ll get back to you asap.
WOLLONGONG’S URGE FUNDRAISING AFTER ROBBERY
Wollongong live music venue/record store Urge has begun a crowdfunding campaign at their GoFundMe page following a burglary there.
Urge wants to raise $7,000 to install a new roller door, which was badly smashed, and a security system to ensure no repeat occurrence.
COUNTRY TWANG BACK FOR CRUISE #8
Cruisin’ Country returns for the 8th year with 40 country music acts over seven nights (October 9-16) on the Radiance Of The Seas to idyllic holiday ports Noumea and the Isle of Pines in New Caledonia.
This year’s theme is “Looking Forward, Looking Back”, so #8 presents a journey through of Australian country music’s past, present and future.
Acts include John Williamson (on his fourth cruise), Troy Cassar-Daley, Graeme Connors, Gina Jeffreys, Bill Chambers, Sara Storer, Tania Kernaghan, Anne Kirkpatrick, James Blundell and Amber Lawrence.
In between their performances are dancing lessons, workshops, bush poetry, open mic sessions, eight new dining options, a host of live music venues, a VIP guest lounge, poolside cinema screen and a Royal Babies & Tots Nursery.
HOWLING MOON OVER PORT MACQUARIE
Blues festival Howling Moon (Sunday June 10, Black Duck Brewery in Port Macquarie) is headlined by rockabilly and roots proponent Pat Capocci who’s released five albums and currently signed with Hollywood’s Wild Records.
Others include Sydney voodoo soul and alternative country blues rockers Papa Pilko & The Binrats; soul, blues troubadour Shaun Kirk, Port Macquarie festival favourites Karl S Williams and Claude Hay, and locals Ghost Road, Roy Rose and Phil Harmonics, Reggie D and Josephs Coat.
PARTY IN THE PARK POSTPONED
“Unforeseen circumstances” saw organisers postpone to a later as a still-unspecified date. Moshtix will contact customers with info about refunds,
It was to have been held in March at Sydney’s Luna Park with Kingswood, Art vs Science and Stonefield.
Last year it was scrapped 24 hours before because of “severe weather and potential safety issues”.
BABY YOU CAN PARK MY CAR
Melbourne Cricket Grounds will close its car park during major events to strengthen security against vehicular terror attacks.
Patrons are encouraged to take public transport and a limited number of disability parks are available.
The venue’s media release only mentioned sports events but we assume it will also apply to concerts.
ABILITY TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR DREAMERS WITH DISABILITIES
Ability is a new Melbourne festival to raise funds for, and awareness of, people living with disabilities who want to achieve their goals. It is hosted by the Dylan Alcott Foundation.
Alcott, a Paralympian and huge music fan, has curated a bill with Kingswood, Tkay Maidza, Book Seeka, Japanese Wallpaper, Ninajirachi, Big Words and Owl Eyes at Coburg Velodrome on Saturday April 7.
WIN STADIUM FACES RISING SEA LEVELS
Wollongong’s WIN Stadium, along with 71 properties on the Illawarra coastline, are among those at risk from rising sea level, according to a management plan drawn up by the Wollongong City Council.
“AUSSIE LEGENDS” FOR AIRLIE BEACH
The first round of 78 acts for Airlie Beach Festival of Music (November 9-11) include The Church, Killing Heidi,Ash Grunwald, Bill Chambers, Dave Dobbyn, 8 Ball Atkins and The Hillbilly Goats.
Festival founder Gavin “Butto” Butlin said that response from patrons was they wanted “more Aussie legends, and we listened.”
MORE FOR BY THE MEADOW
Added to By The Meadow 5 (April 6-8, Bambra, Victoria) are Totally Mild, Sleep Decade and Tram Cops, with DJs Big Rig (aka Bec Rigby of The Harpoons) and Danny Hotep.
COSMIC PSYCHOS FOR CHERRY ROCK
The first roundup for May 6’s Cherry Rock (Cherry Bar, AC/DC Lane, Melbourne) are Cosmic Psychos, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, The Cribs (UK) and Sunshine Coast’s The Chats on the outdoor rock/punk stage
The venue added, “Whilst inside Cherry, we’re highlighting our weekly Thursday Soul in the Basement, teaming up with the legendary Kid Congo Powers (The Gun Club, The Cramps and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) as he hosts his infamous “Sex Beat Dance Party” from New York!
“Playing alongside Vince Peach, you can expect ’60’s Soul Stompers, Snotty vintage, an early disco tune or two and anything wild that fits in for that one.”
KIAMA JAZZ & BLUES DRAWS 5000
Organisers of the 31st Kiama Jazz and Blues (NSW) estimate that 5,000 patrons came out over two days on the weekend to check out the music in 40 venues.
The new committee successfully trialled events such as a ticketed harmonica workshop and a vinyl store with products from all over the world.
MARRIAGE AT CHILLOUT
The queer ChillOut in Daylesford, Victoria, included the marriage before a huge crowd at Victoria Park of Jessica Reed and Jacqui McDonald.
The couple had won a competition held to celebrate the change to Australia’s same-sex marriage laws, and which included accommodation, wedding photography and a restaurant dinner.
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR BLUES AT BRIDGETOWN
Artist applications have opened until April 30 for Blues at Bridgetown in WA (November 9-11).
It is celebrating its 26th year in 2018, promising 120 musicians delivering 148 hours of live music.
PRINCE ALFRED CHANGES HANDS
Live music hosts The Prince Alfred in Richmond, Melbourne, is now owned by the Australian Venue Co. Since its name change from Dixon Hospitality, the operators have also been buying up property in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
NEW VENUE FOR PORT KEMBLA
Port Kembla, NSW has a new music venue – Servo Food Truck Bar will operate as a venue as well as offering food.
Run by a collective of 12 friends, its opening mix of gypsy and folk music withwood-firedd pizza and fish and chips was a sell-out.
The venue currently operates on a BYO basis while it awaits a liquor licence. It will also host all-female, comedy and poetry bills.
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