Festivals & Venues Update: July 13
NSW CALLS OUT FOR FESTIVALS
Create NSW and the Live Music Office are calling out to regional NSW councils to stage Live And Local micro-music festivals through 2017 and 2018. Local businesses and musicians are asked to work together on events.
They can apply for grants of between $5,000 to $20,000 towards the fees of musicians, curators and technicians. Deadline is August 14.
The initiative is also seeking six further councils from Western Sydney, not including those who have already applied or are in the process of staging events.
The call-out follows successful events in Parramatta, Camden and Wollondilly.
Create NSW CEO Michael Brealey says that not only do these events showcase local music, “but the benefits haven’t stopped there, as they have created new jobs, brought increased custom for local cafes and restaurants and increased footfall and sales for local retailers.
“It has been fantastic to see them bring multigenerational groups together to enjoy each event.”
BLUESFEST ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK?
Indications are that Bluesfest is ready to drop the first artist announcement for its 2018 edition.
But alas, it doesn’t look likeBeyoncé’s very contrite husbandwill be on the list. Some time back Festival Director Peter Noble stated in his newsletter to Bluesfest he had a high-profile solo male artist booked in with “99 artists to go”.
Which of coursewetook as a hint, linking it withJAY-Z’s signature song ’99 Problems’.
But in the most recent newsletter, Noble said he had no idea what that was about.
“He is a great artist, and we love him… but that’s as far as it goes,” he shrugged.
Maybe next year…?
SENSATION LINEUP EXPANDS
Latest addition to the Sensation party in November is Fedde Le Grand, an influential house name who’s also remixed for some of the best.
He’s just moved his Darklight Recordings imprint into a new collaboration with Armada Music, and this year the Dutchman issued Dancing Together.
So far the November 25 event has confirmed Deadmau5, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Showtek, Gareth Emery and Oliver Heldens.
LEADBELLY LAUNCHES SINGER-SONGWRITER NIGHT
Leadbelly Newtown in Sydney launched its new monthly In The Round singer-songwriter night on Wednesday.
Inspired by the sessions at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, the night is curated by a different musician each month, and they’ll play their own songs, special covers and do one-off collaborations.
Last night’s was overseen by Taryn La Fauci(pictured above) – host of the Top of the World podcast who’s just dropped her debut album Cyclin–who was joined by James Morrison of The Morrisons, Lady Lyon and Leroy Lee.
The second event, on Wednesday August 9, is curated by Maples, who’s bringing in Timothy James Bowen (brother of Nashville’s Clare Bowen), Rosie Catalano and Andy Golledge.
MEREDITH MUSIC OPENS BALLOT
The 27th Meredith Music in Victoria has opened the first round for its ticket ballot– andthe sell-out event’s demand always far exceeds supply, Patrons have to go to mmf.com.au and complete the form before 10:27pm, Monday August 7.
SPLENDOUR SHIFTS ACTS AFTER EZRA DROPS OUT
Splendour In The Grass made some moves after George Ezra pulled out due to “scheduling conflicts”.
Peking Duk will now play the Amphitheatre stage on Friday instead of Sunday. On the Sunday, LCD Soundsystem and Sigur Rós will play extended sets.
BADLANDS CELEBRATES FIRST YEAR
Perth’s Badlands celebrates its first year with a bash on Friday August 4 with Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, y FOAM, Moana, Flossy and Wooly Mammoth, with DJs in the undercover Beer Garden until 2 am.
CROWBAR HOSTS LIAM BRENNAN BENEFIT
Brisbane’s Crowbar is hosting a fund raiser on Friday August 11 for Shutup Shutup Shutup’s Liam Brennan who has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Liamfest features seven acts as well as support from Young Henrys (whoare supplying the grog) and DVNT Clothing who are giving away product.
TRAIN IT TO SOUNDS OF THE SUBURBS
The folks behind Sound of the Suburbs (Sept 3) suggest patrons train it in, as their new site (cnr of Flora and Merton Sts) behind Sutherland Entertainment Centre is just a minute from the local station. The car park will be closed during the event.
The 24 acts include Skegss, Camp Cope, Bleeding Knees Club, Harlem, Waax and Jeff Rosenstock.
BUNBURY’S ONLY NIGHTCLUB CLOSES
Bunbury WA’s only nightclub Exit has done just that. It explained its sudden closure,, “The town of Bunbury has just not been able to sustain a nightclub; the negative public opinion for the lifetime of the club’s operation and poor local economy have been major contributors to this.”
GIRLS ON FILM ANNOUNCES PROGRAM
Melbourne’s all-female film festival Girls On Film returns for a third year (Brunswick Town Hall, October 6 to 8) to celebrate females in film.
The nine flicks chosen range from the 1995 classic Jane Austen adaptation Clueless to the 2016 documentary following four inspirational African women, The Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe, to The Spice Girls’ Spice World and The Sapphires to Disney Pixar classic Out.
FAIRGROUNDS SETS DATE
Handsome Tours brings back Fairgrounds for its third year on Friday December 8 and Saturday December 9 to the NSW town of Berry, a two hour drive south of Sydney.
The event is a mix of live music, a record fair, in-depth artist talks, amazing local food, markets, camping, and entertainment for kids and families. The lineup will be dropped soon.
BROADBEACH COUNTRY TEAMS WITH VARIETY
Broadbeach Country Music Festival (July 28-30), which has been drawing 30,000 in recent years, is teaming with Variety as its official charity partner and will have volunteers on-site to raise money,
Variety empowers Queensland children who are sick, disadvantaged or who have special needs, to get about in the community, communicate, achiev independence and increase self-esteem.
Among the acts are America, Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley, Shane Nicholson and The Wolfe Bros.
AND A FEW OTHER THNGS …
Port Macquarie’s inaugural Lunar Electric (January 6) EDM event announced DJ and producer Timmy Trumpet as headliner.
Caloundra Music returns for its eleventh year (September 29 to October 2) with Daryl Braithwaite, Grinsooon, Spiderbait, Wolfmother, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Ronan Keating, Xavier Rudd, Drapht, Thundamentals Kingswood, Baby Animals, The Black Sorrows, Killing Heidi and Pseudo Echo.
World and indigenous music champions Wantok Music has a Melanesian showcase at the Quandamooka Festival in Queensland. Headlined by George Telek (PNG), Charles Maimarosia (Solomon Islands) and Tio (Vanuatu), it is held at the Redland Performing Arts Centre to coincide with Papua New Guinea’s Independence celebrations.
A 31-year-old man who allegedly punched, elbowed, headbutted and spat on a 19-year-old female bouncer after she refused him entry to Darwin’s Throb nightclub faces court on July 31.
Adelaide’s Club 5082 is from today hosting Winter Jams, a free three-day workshop for aspiring musicians aged 13–17. They’ll be given tips on songwriting, rehearsing and performing, as part of Music SA’s Umbrella: Winter City Sounds.
Stadium Stomp (July 16) sees participants huff and puff on 6300 stairs at both the Sydney Cricket Ground and Allianz Stadium for Leukaemia Foundation or a charity of their choice. Meet-up is at 8 am at Sydney Cricket Ground.
Much to the derision of local music fans,the site ofswinging Sydney live music venue The Sandringham aka The Sando, also fka Newtown Social Club, has now become a 18-course mini golf course targeting millennials.