Festivals & Venues Update
Photo: Newtown Social Club farewelled, by Claire Hawley
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KARNIVOOL, DRAPHT, HEADLINE SOTA
Perth’s SOTA (State of the Art) returns for the sixth time on Monday June 5 at Elizabeth Quay as part of the WA Day long weekend festivities. Karnivool, who’re set for a June/July tour, and Drapht headline the all-WA bill.
It includes Gyroscope who’re back together for the event with rumours of a new album;Bob Evans in the wake of an Australian tour and two dates in Japan;Tired Lion,who are building buzz abroad;Katy Steele, who’ll be revealing her next album; and Abbe May, previewing her Bitchcraft album.
There’s also Rag N’ Bone, Ziggy, The Money War, Elli Schoen, The China Blue Experiment who were on WAM’s The Sound of The Goldfields album from last year, Crooked Colours returning from their current East Coast base and Pow! Negro.
NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB SAYS GOODBYE
After three years of building a reputation as an essential Sydney music venue upon taking over the site of the old Sando, Newtown Social Club made its farewell with a full house and a set by The Drones’ Gareth Liddiard
Operators posted their thank you to “every band, punter and promoter that we’ve ever had the pleasure of hosting, serving and working with” as well as their staff for being such a hard working, devoted and all-round incredible group of people to run a pub with.”
PRINCESS THEATRE TO GET NEW SOUND
City of Launceston this week voted to fund a sound system upgrade for the Princess Theatre. More than $450,000 will be allocated in the 2017-18 budget to renew the 20-year old sound system, rigging points for PA installation and audio power.
Patrons have been complaining of distorted vocals and music instruments in the dress circle.
NEW OWNER FOR TERRIGAL HOTEL
The music-showcasing Terrigal Hotel ion the NSW Central Coast has changed ownership. Gallagher Hotels, which owns ten pubs and a bar in greater Sydney, plans to give the waterfront venue a renovation.
HELPMANNS HONOUR FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
This year’s Helpmann Awards (to be held July 24 in Sydney) is presenting longtime festival director and arts administrator Rob Brookman with the Sue Nattrass Award for exceptional service to the live performance industry.
Brookman, who co-founded WOMADelaide in 1992 and was its Artistic Director for 15 years, has also been involved in senior execute positions in many venues, companies and festivals including Adelaide Festival Centre, National Festival of Australian Theatre, New Zealand International Festival of Arts and next month taking over as ED of Adelaide Festival.
SURRY HILLS SET FOR SPRING RETURN, NEW HUB
Inner Sydney’s Surry Hills Festival returns for its 15th year on September 23. Set up to celebrate everything exhilarating about the suburb (and drawing 60,000 a year), all proceeds go to community programs presented by Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre.
A new evening hub at Ward Park and surrounds is looking for applications from bands, artists and vendors. Deadline is June 9.
Video makers, artists and performers are invited to apply for Double Take to be selected to work with curators Esem Projects to overlay Devonshire Street and surrounds with a curated trail of projection and pop-up installations Double Take runs from the start of the festival to October 15.
HAPPY YASS AGM
Happy Yass, which has been supporting Darwin’s original live scene for over a decade, holds its AGM on Monday May 8. Supporters, artists and patrons are asked to attend the meeting where, among other things, they’ll hear about its future plans.
AMBASSADOR FOR MUSTER’S CHARITY
Gympie Music Muster (August 24—27), whose lineup was announced yesterday, announced Fred Smith as ambassador for its official charity partner Mates4Mates.
It supports current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members wounded, or ill as a result of their service.
Smith was Australia’s first diplomat posted to Uruzgan in Afghanistan in 2009 where he served again in 2013. He follows on from last year’s ambassador, Beccy Cole.
The Muster has helped generate more than $15 million in donations to charity and community groups since it first ran in 1982.
BRANT BJORK AT CHERRY ROCK
Brant Bjork of Kyuss and Fu Manchu fame is a last-minute addition to the top of the Cherry Rock 2017 bill. The mini-festival is held on Sunday May 7 at Cherry Bar at Melbourne’s AC/DC Lane, and is headlined by Shihad, The Dwarves and Nashville Pussy.
BRIGHTON GETS TRADING EXTENSION
The Brighton Hotel (Brighton Up Bar) on Oxford Street becomes the eleventh venue in Sydney’s lockout zone to gain extended hours to 3.30 am. Last December the NSW Government began to relax lockouts and last drinks restrictions. 14 others are being considered.
The Scary Canary in the CBD also recently gained an extension to admit new patrons until 2 am, but held to the 3am last drinks condition on its liquor licence.
The two join a list with The Palace Hotel, Mr B’s, Arthouse and Republic in the CBD; the Oxford Art Factory and Stonewall on Oxford St; World Bar and O’Malleys in Kings Cross; Observer Hotel in The Rocks, and The Basement in Circular Quay.
QUEENSCLIFF TICKETS MOVING
After selling out last year for the first time in its history, Queenscliff Music (November 24—28) seems to be continuing the trend. After early bird tix disappeared in record time, from Monday May 1 it is opening up a limited number of Saturday & Sunday tickets at the discounted price of $185 until the allocation is exhausted.
WINTERMOON SHINES ON
After Cyclone Debbie crashed through Mackay and extensively damaged its site, Wintermoon looked like it might not celebrated its 21st. But a huge amount of volunteers turned up to restore the place, and the four-day event will take place as planned this weekend.
SPOTIFY TRACKS GROOVIN’ THE MOO ACTS
Just as Groovin’ The Moo sets off, Spotify revealed that electronic duo Snakehips are its most streamed act and Don’t Leave, which features vocalist MØ, their most streamed track.
In the top 5 most streamed of the festival acts were Germany’s Milky Chance, Amy Shark, PNAU and The Smith Street Band.
BACKLASH AT ‘ANZAC’ CLUB NIGHTS
The Federal Government has made moves to stop venues from cashing in on the ANZAC name, as happened earlier this week.
Brass Monkey in Northbridge had a prize for the punter who best dressed up as “GI Jane”.
Some in Sydney used scantily-clad or topless models portraying soldiers on their posters. A Bendigo nightclub had a “silent disco” in lieu of a “moment of silence.”
Breaching the Act which prohibits the Anzac name being used carries a possible year in jail, individual fines of up to $10,200 and corporate fines of $51,000.
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