Festivals & Venues: November 16
ROBERT CRAY, JON STEVENS, SCREAMING JETS FOR BROADBEACH
The Robert Cray Band return after more than ten years to headline Blues On Broadbeach (May 17-20).
“It’s been a while since we’ve been Down Under,” Cray said, “We’re really looking forward to coming back.”
Also announced were four other international names – recent Stax Records signees Southern Avenue, (making their Australian debut in partnership with Memphis Travel), Kid Congo And The Pink Monkey Birds (he was with The Cramps, Gun Club and The Bad Seeds), Eilen Jewell and Canada’s Charlie A’Court.
Twenty Australian bands will tread the boards by the time May comes around.
The first Aussie announcement included Jon Stevens and The Screaming Jets.
Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) Chief Executive Officer Leanne Coddington said the lineup had “broad appeal” and that “The atmosphere of this event is always fantastic and TEQ is proud to support it as part of our It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.”
With more than 161,000 visitors last year, the free event provided a $20 million economic boost to the region, as well as winning ‘Best Regional Event Qld’ and ‘Best Tourism Event Qld in 2017.
ROSEMOUNT NAMED WA’S BEST ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
The Rosemount Hotel in North Perth was named WA’s Best Live Entertainment Venue at the Australian Hotels Association’s Awards for Excellence.
Finalists were Dunsborough Tavern; Endeavour Tavern, Lancelin; Exchange Hotel Kalgoorlie; Leisure Inn, Rockingham; Paddington Alehouse, Mount Hawthorn; Six Degrees Albany; The Laneway Lounge, Perth; The Newport Hotel, Fremantle;The Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury; The Saint George Hotel, Innaloo; and Universal Bar, Northbridge.
SENSATION INTRODUCES GOLD TICKET
Dance Nation Australia, the folks behind Sensation Festival Australia (“celebrate life!”) are offering the 40,000 heading to Sydney’s Olympic Park on Saturday, November 25 a new V-VIP experience valued at $690.
The Gold Edition ticket includes; express entry, free-flowing Belvedere, Moet & Chandon, catering including lunch on arrival, afternoon grazing, dinner and dessert menus, access to themed rooms, dedicated private amenities, toilets and premium facilities, separate bars and lounges accessible by Sensation DJs and access to the main dance floor.
MEREDITH TWENTY SEVEN
The sold-out Meredith Twenty Seven (December 8, 9, 10, Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre) has announced that its lineup is now complete with the additions of Late Nite Tuff Guy, Miss Blanks, The Stevens, The Exotics, Ross McHenry Trio, Emma Russack, Moopie and Suss C–ts.
The Meredith Sky Show is making a return to the night sky above The Sup’ late Saturday night.
The City of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band will be blasting out the hits Saturday morning, and Master Song’s long-running Tai Chi Masterclass and Demonstration will roll out as always on a pleasant Sunday morning.
FAIRGROUNDS BRINGS BACK ITS RECORD CLUB
Fairgrounds (Berry Showgrounds, NSW, Friday, December 8 and Saturday 9) is bringing back its Record Club this year.
Across two RSVP-only sessions on Saturday, punters will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with Gang of Youths’ David Le’Aupepe and Marlon Williams.
It’s an intimate conversation with the artists themselves as they discuss one hand-picked record that changed their life.
Attendance is free for Fairgrounds ticketholders, but you’ll need to sign up for the newsletter to receive an exclusive invitation to RSVP.
During band breaks, punters can take the ankle biters to artist book readings in Little Fairgrounds, challenging mates at Games on the Green, blowing the dust off long lost LPs at the Record Fair or chowing down at the Fairgrounds Markets.
PERTH ARENA TURNS 5
Launching on November 10, 2012, with Elton John, The West Australian celebrated Perth Arena’s fifth anniversary with a number of interesting facts.
More than 3.2 million people have attended 406 events, ranging from The Rolling Stones to Walking With Dinosaurs to The Wiggles.
Pink has sold the most tickets with sales closing in on 120,000 — that includes her four concerts next year, when she will pass Bruce Springsteen’s current record of six performances at the venue.
Katy Perry boasts the biggest gig thanks to the 15,350 fans who packed into her show on November 8, 2014.
The newspaper reported the venue’s early days had its share of dramas.
Building costs blew out from $150 million to $550 million. General Manager David Humphreys died two months before the venue was due to open.
Opening night act George Michael cancelled but was quickly replaced by Sir Elton.
NEW VENUE FOR TRIPLE J CONCERT
triple j’s Live At The Steps in Melbourne (Friday, November 17, between 9—5 pm) was expanded to Treasury Gardens due to the addition of seven more acts.
Joining Skegss, Tired Lion, Mallrat, Baker Boy + triple j Unearthed winner were Alice Ivy, Bec Sandridge, Dune Rats, E^AST, Jack River, Remi and Ruby Fields.
There’ll be some first-time collaborations and unique takes on well-known songs.
The free, all ages concert is put on by triple j Unearthed in
conjunction with The Push and Parliament of Victoria as part of Melbourne Music Week.
The concert will be recorded for later play on Live At The Wireless.
ANOTHER SYDNEY VENUE CHANGES HANDS
Yet another live music showcasing Sydney venue has changed hands.
The Royal Hotel Bondi in Sydney’s east will next July join the portfolio of Justin Hemmes’ Merivale, which beat out ten interested bidders to snare it for $30 million.
The property was owned for 40 years by the Moulding family.
It is Hemmes’ tenth pub acquisition in three years, the latest two being The Collaroy Hotel on the Northern Beaches and Vic on the Park in the musically buoyant Inner West.
Merivale’s plans for the new acquisition will be revealed “in due course”, the company said.
EUREKA TO CLOSE
One of Victoria’s legendary music venues, The Eureka in Geelong, will go dark on November 25.
Its owners have put it up for sale with a $3 million price tag or for lease. It is doubtful it will continue as a music space as the market seems to have changed since its heyday.
Last year the 900-capacity complex stopped being a 5 am superclub following dwindling numbers, while showcasing live bands this year was met with mixed success, owners said.
MASTERCLASSES FOR NATIONAL FOLK
The 52nd National Folk Festival (March 29—April 2, Exhibition Park, Canberra) which has 200 international and Australian acts on the roster, will also have a number of masterclasses.
These include those by Paul Sartin (Singing), Benji Kirkpatrick (Guitar / Bouzouki), Saul Rose (Melodion), Paul Hutchinson (Piano Accordion) and Andy Rigby (Harp) held off-site at Ainslie Arts Centre. Full details at http://folkfestival.org.au.
FRINGE BARGE STAYS AFLOAT
The Adelaide Festival floating ballroom The Palais de Danse, one of its music showcasing spaces, will remain where it is on the River Torrens.
The eyesore missed a number of deadlines from August to beautify it to the cost of $150,000, so a councillor launched a motion to get rid of it.
But Adelaide Council voted against sinking it, and renovations will be finished by November 30, and it will be used for other events outside the Fringe period.
HUGE RESPONSE FOR PERTH STADIUM GOLD TIX
Either they set the price too low or folks in Perth are cashed up. Perth’s newly named Optus Stadium’s $30,000 golden tickets were snapped up in two hours. That’s $8 million generated in 120 minutes.
The tickets have a five-year commitment (totalling $41.5 million), and valid for 40 entertainment and sports events each year.
SEEKING MISS PRISCILLA
The Miss Priscilla competition returns to Parkes Elvis Festival (January 10—14) for the eleventh year.
The undignified scramble to most look like Priscilla Presley will see one crowned the Face of the Festival at the Goodsell Machinery Miss Priscilla Dinner, on Thursday, January 11.
Those who can’t go through with the full Priscilla don’t have to pack their hairspray cans. Recreating a rockin’ beehive for the Hairstyles of ’60’s competition, or let the hemlines do the talking for the title of Miss ’68.
TRIFFID WINNER ON THE WALL
Winner of Brisbane’s Triffid club’s Queensland Album Of The Year went to Busby Marou’s Postcards From The Shell House.
It’ll be stuck up on the venue’s Wall of Fame through 2018. “Now we get to hang out up here with these legends!” they said “What an honour.”
The Rockhampton duo beat out Bernard Fanning, Holy Holy, The Jungle Giants and Sabrina Lawrie.
WHITLAMS GET THE TASTE
The Whitlams will headline Taste of Tasmania’s New Year’s Eve program.
Also performing at the Hobart waterfront are Monique Brumby, Heloise, Katy Roucher & The Spectrums, Mighty Duke and The Lords, NO ZU, The Lucksmiths and The Suitcase Royale.
In a team up with Music Tasmania, the festival will have curated stages covering electro, jazz, funk, folk and soft-pop.
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