Festivals & Venues Update: August 31

MAJOR LEAGUES TO HEADLINE SAD GRRLS

Major Leagues will headline Sad Grrrls Fest which is playing Brisbane (The Brightside, November 4), Melbourne (The Reverence Hotel, November 11) and Sydney (The Red Rattler, November 16) as part of Australia’s Largest Gender Diverse Festival. They join the previously announced Moaning Lisa, Huntly, Antonia & The Lazy Susans and Rachel Maria Cox.

Added to the Melbourne show are June Jones of Two Steps On The Water, Dianas and Press Club. Sydney’s additions are Froyo and Okin Osan

Event organiser Rachel Maria Cox says the additions to the line up “reflect our commitment to reflecting the diversity of Australian music right now. These bands and artists are all doing really exciting things and prove without a shadow of a doubt that the future of Australian music is here.”

HILLS ARE ALIVE REVEALS 2018 DATE

The tenthanniversary celebrations of The Hills Are Alive will be on March Friday 23, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25. Tickets are capped to 2000 at The Farm in Loch Village, near Wonthaggi in country Victoria.

The festival had its beginnings when two brothers who grew up in a dairy farm turned the family home into a celebration of underground music on an invite-only basis. Twelve bands played for $100 each.

MUSIC VENUES LOST IN SYDNEY…

Victoria On The Park in Enmore, Sydney, is on the market. It is part of Geoff Dixon and John Singleton’s Australian Pub Fund ‘s long term plan to jettison non-core assets and reinvest the money elsewhere, and comes in the wake of their sale of Newtown’s Marlborough Hotel.

After the sale goes through in mid-spring, the Fund will own and operate Balmain’s Unity Hall, and Brisbane’s The Elephant and The Exchange.

…AND PERTH…

The Elephant and Wheelbarrow in Northbridge will close over the next few weeks and is to be turned into a Holey Moley golf venue.

Owner Chris Brockwell reportedly sold it to focus on The Camfield in Perth Stadium.

…AND CANBERRA…

Woden Tradies Union Club in Canberra has been bought for $16 million by local developer Geocon, and expected to close by end of January. Club CEO Rob Docker said the venue had been struggling for the last five years due to competition from compettors.

…AND MAYBE DARWIN

It could be the end of the road for Darwin’s Rorkes, suggests the NT News. A judge has given its landlord permission to force the leaseholder by September 6. Apparently operators fell back on the rent, and business was not as buoyant as expected despite spending an estimated $3.5 million fit-out before its 2015 launch.

JET TO HEADLINE HANDPICKED

Jet, who came back together earlier this year to open for Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band, now head to South Australia for the first time in seven years to headline Handpicked.

Also on the bill (November 11, Lake Breeze Winery) are Matt Corby, San Cisco and The Jezabels.

PREATURES TO HEAD RED DEER LINEUP

The Preatures will co-headline with The Kite String Tangle the 7thRed Deer Music & Arts (October 14, Mt Samson, Qld). This year organisers announced a third stage to showcase regional acts.

TOWNSVILLE CONCRT HALL RECOMMENDED

Townsville City Council has officially accepted a feasibility study for a new 1,000 seat concert hall, in lieu of the Civic Theatre being booked years ahead.

The study byJennifer Bott AO, chair of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, said that Townsville’s population growth left 200 arts and cultural organisations without places to present.

Bott’s recommendation was also that Townsville was being left out of national music tours because of a lack of venues.

The location is to be decided between Central Park and the new Hive precinct, with public transport access.

PAUL KELLY ’GARDEN SHOW’ SOLD OUT

Paul Kelly, Steve Earle and Middle Kids’ November 17 show at the second A Weekend In The Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne has sold out its 4500 tickets after they went on sale on Monday.

Mick Newtown of Roundhouse Entertainment said, “The artists and audiences have responded enthusiastically to having a beautiful, intimate outdoor concert space in the Royal Botanic Gardens in the middle of this amazing city.

“Along with the Royal Botanic Gardens, we are very proud to be presenting Paul’s only Victorian show of his national tour. We know it’s going to be a very special night.”

THREE DESERT DIVAS ADDED TO BUSH BANDS

Three Desert Divas are added to Alice Springs’ Bush Bands, for both Bush Bands Business (BBBiz) and Bush Bands Bash, organised by Music NT.

They are Jessie Grainer and Tash Clarke from Alice Springs and Shana Ray from Palmerston. Grainer and Clarke are fresh off performing at Tennant Creek Desert Harmony.

BUILDER CHOSEN FOR GPAC

Work on Geelong Performing Arts Centre’s $38.5 million Ryrie Street Redevelopment after the Victorian Government appointed award-winning builders Kane Constructions to deliver the project.

It will improve accessibility to the Playhouse Theatre and studios, include two new foyers and a bar area, and provide new spaces for creative practitioners and organisations and include four new state-of-the-art studios for rehearsals and creative development.

NEW FESTIVALS FOR BRISBANE…

Brisbane’s inaugural Day One (New Year’s Day 2018, Riverstage) announced DJ Snake (France), Baauer (US), Rezz (Canada) and Quix (NZ) in the first round of acts.

The event is a collaboration between Revelry Entertainment and Fuzzy Control.

… AND GOLD COAST…

The first Hey Sunshine is held on October 14 at Burleigh Brewing Co with music (Belligerents, Peach Fur, Borneoand more) and surf movies by local film makers and live arts stuff for auction.

…AND PERTH

The inaugural Fidelity (December 2, Wellington Square) is off to a strong start with alt-J, The Shins, Warpaint, Cashmere Cat, Future Islands, Noname and Ziggy. There are also arts, culture and comedy offerings.

ALLIANZ STADIUM SET FOR EARLY KNOCK-DOWN?

Sydney’s 31-year old Allianz Stadium could be knocked down with work on a 45,000 seater replacement by March 2018, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Initially it was thought that ANZ Stadium had priority in the NSW Government’s multi-billion dollar plan to rebuild or build a number of the city’s venues but it looks as though it’s been pushed back to 2019.

MUSIC AT SURRY HILLS

Among the art installations, theatre and multi-media events at the Surry Hills Festival (September 23) is Hall of Mirrors will be a giant flash mob set to the music of Kraftwerk.

Also listed under musicians are (listed alphabetically)Allan Smithy, Banquet DJ’sm Borneo, Castlecomer, Dog the Duke,The Dusty Ravens, Dweeb City, Hey Geronimo, Iluka, Jay Katz, Kahlo, LANKS, Luciana Bernabo-Madrid, Pirra, Professor, Oscar and the Grouches, Swamp to Sahara and Wishes.

CAIRNS FESTIVAL CLAIMS WORLD RECORD

Cairns Festival is claiming a world record after 412 buskers performed at the CQUniversity Australia Busk At Dusk event (beating Brisbane’s 387 in 2015) and a new high of 3200 marching in its opening parade with 87 floats with 20,000 watching.

GRIZZFEST UNVEILS SYDNEY SHOW

After unveiling the bill for the Melbourne show, Sydney Gizzfest (November 23, Luna Park) features King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Kikagaku Mota (Japan), La Luz (US), Orb, Amyl & The Sniffers, The Dandelion, Leah Senior and Parsnip.

ICEHOUSE HEADLING LAKESIDE

Icehouse, Diesel and Taxiride are confirmed for Lakeside Twilights, held November 18 at Fairyland Reserve on Lake Wendouree in Ballarat. It’s the fifth instalment of the event.

TASMANIA CELEBRATES AUSSIE FOLK PUNK

Hobart’s HOBOFOPO (October 5-7, various venues) returns for a second year gathering names from across the country.

Joining the previously announced AJJ, Paddy McHugh, The Dead Maggies, and This Is A Robbery are Joshua Seymour of alt-country band Cherrywood, Clowns bassist Hanny J, The Stragglers who’re reuniting past and present members for the occasion), The Lawless Quartet and bush balladeer Hairyman.

QUEENSCLIFF ADDITIONS

Queenscliff Music’s fourth additions (November 24-26) include Andie Isalie, Black Rabbit George, Caiti Baker, Creek, Hussy Hicks, The Imprints, James Franklin, Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence, The Mae Trio, Miss Eileen & King Lear, Pat Tierney, Sex On Toast, Spiritus, Ukulele Death Squad and Vince Peach along with a round of comedians.

NOOSA THEATRE RE-OPENS

Now under new management, Noosa’s Her Majesty’s Theatre returns with new and previous events including Fork & Film, silent movies, arthouse as well as a round of music nights including Archie Roach (September 8 & 9), Johnny Cash tribute (September 16) ,andShelly Hamburger (November 11).

They’re open to all offers from every sector of the community, says committee President Cherry Bright, who is contacted at this email address..

SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN AT DASHVILLE SKYLINE

The thirdDashville Skyline has a special bill for the Sunday Wind Down party, with Regurgitator’s Ben Ely, Bathurst’s The Safety Of Life At Sea, Gold Coast funk rock duo Burger Joint and Dashville favourites, Dave Wells, James Thomson, Ahlia Rain and Georgie Jones.

A new addition this year is the Pop Up Recording Studio. Attendees can purchase 15-minute windows at a time and lay down a professional recording. All for the proceeds of self advancement and a mental health charity.

IN THE ROUND UPDATE

Two new curators are announced for Leadbelly Newton’s In The Round singer songwriter night.

Folk and country story teller Sam Newton oversees Wednesday September 13. He has invited country artist Amber Rae Slade, steel guitarist and songwriter Jason Walker and folk act Sarah Humphreys.

The fourth event, taking place on Wednesday, October 11th, will be curated by Richard Cuthbert. Hs lineup will be announced shortly.