Festivals & Venues Update: August 24
VIVID FESTIVAL SET NEW ATTENDANCE, VISITOR RECORDS
Figures released this week by the NSW Government showed that Vivid 2017 set a new attendance record despite heavy rain during its 23 days in May and June.
Total attendance was 2.33 million (up from 2.3 million last year) and injected over $143 million to the state’s economy.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said, “Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas has once again lured visitors from near and far, driving our State’s economy and cementing Sydney as the creative services hub of the Asia-Pacific region.”
The number of visitors from outside Sydney was a record 38,000. Their spending was up $33 million from the $110 million last year and injected $16 million into regional and rural NS.
More than 65,400 international travel packages were sold, almost 50%t more than last year, Marshall said.
Visitors from China were up 29% to 23,009, followed by India (6,738, up 431%), the US and Singapore (5500) and Japan (5062).
In other figures, the festival has 475,970 Facebook followers, and 57.5 million reached its social media channels.
109 interactive light installations and projections were created by 185 artists from 22 countries. Guinness World Record title for the Largest Interactive Lighting Display went to Dreamscape.
UNSOUND ADELAIDE RETURNING
The Adelaide version of the international experimental festival Unsound returns November 16—19. It is the first international festival exclusive to the city since WOMADelaide.
The event will be under the direction of former Adelaide Festival Artistic Director David Sefton, and Artistic Director and co-founder of Unsound Mat Schulz.
This year’s program will expand to feature a talks program presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, UniSA, and a major sound art installation at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
The full program is dropped in coming weeks.
NORTHBRIDGE’S LIBRARY NIGHTCLUB SOLD
After 34 years, Entertainment Enterprises has sold The Library Nightclub in Northbridge for $4.6 million.
It was picked up by a private investor. With a nightclub licence offered as part of the deal, a number of nightclub owners showed interest, as did hospitality investors and developers.
As part of its ambience, The Library was decked out with 11,000 books overlooking the illuminated dance floor.
When Entertainment Enterprises opened it at the site of the former Hannibal’s, over 2000 people queued outside, probably to read the books but more likely to have a gawk at Elle Macpherson who was the chief guest.
MULLUM MENTORS
Mullum Music (November 16—19, Mullumbimby, NSW) announced the mentors for its eight year old Youth Mentorship Program, as it opened applications for anyone under 21 on its website.
They are Husky (Band category), Áine Tyrrell (Singer Songwriter), Kodi Twiner from Ladyslug (Vocal category) and Domini Forster (Under 15s category).
The latter inspired the setting up of the scheme when the music teacher of the then-16-year old school girl encouraged festival Director Glenn Wright to listen to her songs. He promptly invited to be opening act at the inaugural festival ten years ago.
The hands-on training in a festival background includes a rehearsal session with their mentor, a 20-minute performance slot at the festival with their mentor backstage, the opportunity to watch their mentor perform from backstage and a weekend pass to the festival.
Those who were mentored in the past included Parcels (now living in Berlin and collaborated with Daft Punk), Merryn Jeann, who lives in Paris and whose collaborating with French producer Mome on Aloha’ clocked up over 30 million YouTube views, and Tora who now spend most of their year touring internationally.
OPERA HOUSE LOOKING FOR FESTIVALS PRODUCER
The Sydney Opera House is looking for a producer of at least five years’ experience its contemporary music festivals, including Vivid and Graphic.
Go to the websitefor full details.
GYMPIE MUSTER GOES CASHLESS
The Gympie Music Muster (August 24—27, Amamoor State Forest, Qld) with its all-Australian bill, has introduced cashless payment system which will be operating in all bars and some food stalls.
The festival entry wristband includes a chip which can be pre-loaded at one of two Exchange Booths on site – behind the Windmill Bar and opposite the Blues Club.
These booths are open 8am-2am every day, with volunteers to assist. Wristbands are valid at all bars or food stalls; however some stallholders will accept cash.
The bill includes Jessica Mauboy, Travis Collins, Busby Marou, Adam Brand and Fanny Lumsden
SECOND WEEKEND IN THE GARDENS
Weekend In The Gardens (November 17—19, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne) returns for a second year with headliners Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins and Illy.
The inaugural event, developed by Roundhouse Entertainment of A Day In The Green) and 1-2 Entertainment drew nearly 12,000.
THE PLOT COUNTS UP TO 25
The Plot (Parramatta Park, Sydney) were specific about why their first artist announce was made up of 25 acts. 25 is a big number. Aside from the fact it takes 25 minutes from either Central or Penrith train stations, this year marks the 25th year since the first text message and the release of Wayne’s World.
FAIRGROUND ATRACTION
Fairgrounds (December 8 & 9, Berry) is not only having The Shins, Future Islands, Client Liaison, You Am I, D.D Dumbo, Aldous Harding and Marlon Williams for the music, but it’s good a swimming pool to cool off in between sets, kiddies corner, record fair, pop up restaurant and sweaty stuff like sack racing and tug-o-war.
CHANGES FOR UNIFY
The heavy rock gathering UNIFY (January 12-14, Tarwin Meadows, southern Gippsland) has initiated some changes for its fourth time.
To lessen the environmental impact of the camping festival, UNIFY has partnered with Kartent, a company that specialise in biodegradable cardboard tents.
Campers can purchase a Kartent and have it ready on their arrival at the campground.
UNIFY has also increased the number of shuttle buses running to and from the site. Those who carpool with three or more passengers get a free carpark pass.
New offerings also include the no-alcohol The Sanctuary campsite for a less frantic existence, more security and volunteers across the site, and the Ultimate Experience who would prefer to rent a beach house.
SPACE FANTASY THEME FOR MTV’S BEATS AND EATS
The 2017 theme for MTV Beats & Eats (November 18, Stuart Park, Wollongong) is ‘Space Fantasy’. Whoever comes dressed in the best interpretation of the theme gets $2000 cash prize, the duller ones get $1000 and $600.
Acts and food offerings will be unveiled shortly.
MORE DRAMAS FOR PERTH STADIUM
This week’s drama for the March-due 60,000-capacity Perth Stadium is that the last government’s plan to make attendees leave their vehicles by offering free bus and train travel has run into trouble.
The Sunday Times reported that the new government is whinging that the annual 50% subsidy of $7 million “was under-funded and not adequately costed.”
There are no plans to drop the free travel but it’s expected that organisers of events there might have to fork out more.
AND A FEW OTHER THINGS…
The Toff In Town, Melbourne is hosting a Hush: An Evening of Quiet Music October 4, 11, 18 & 25. Established in 2012 by triple j presenter Stacy Gougoulis and WA songwriter Davey Craddock sick of people jabbering away while they listened to music,, it’s for acoustic acts only, and with absolute silence from the audience.
It could be the end of the line for the Vic Hotel in Subiaco, beloved by the hordes that attend concerts and sports matches at Subiaco Oval. The ALH Group says that the current 15-year lease comes to an end this month, and the current operator is not interested in carrying on. They’re talking to a number of possibilities.
The absurdity of Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and his entourage being turned away from Brisbane’s Jade Buddha because they didn’t have ID took an even more riduclous turn. A Federal police team told bar security they could override the ID law. Qld Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said that the incident “wasn’t true” at which venue co-owner Phil Hogan demanded an apology. The top cop responded he was quite happy to talk to him. We bet this runs on and on, unless Prince Freddie gets Denmark to declare war on Brisbane.
The historic Central Hotel in Port Douglas was given the green light for some renovations, including a new beer garden and upgraded veranda.
A new committee has been set up to revitalise the entertainment and events a Noosa’s Majestic Theatre.
After five years of campaigning, construction has finally started on the $250 million Townsville Stadium, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and assorted pollies turning the first sod.
The Bendigo, in Melbourne’s Collingwood, is hosting a wildlife fund raiser on September 2 with an assortment of emerging acts.
Darwin literally went for an underground sound. Its Tunnel #5 festival saw five concerts performed in the city’s World War II oil barrels which, by the by, have great acoustics.