Festivals & Venues Update: July 6
BATTLE FOR HOWLER BEGINS
The battle for Howler in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick has begun after its owners discovered that developers were building an eight-storey apartment building right next door – with some of the bedrooms overlooking the 600-capacity venue’s bandroom.
The venue has been operating there since 2013, so it is protected by the Agent of Change planning principle, which puts the onus on the builder to soundproof the new building–butthat doesn’t seem to be clear in the plans.
Hower’s owners have lodged an application protesting the plan, with Melbourne’s music media and a social media campaign addingsupport. Federal member for WillsPeter Khalilhas also expressed his intention to take this up with Moreland council.
OXFORD CIRCUS AMPS UP THE ACTION UNDER NEW OWNERS
Under new owners White Label Hospitality Group, Sydney’s multi-purpose Oxford Circus (off Oxford St) is amping up its bookings for live bands, acoustic singer-songwriters, DJs and private functions.
The total capacity of 320 is divided into the 120-capacity Level One with bar, kitchen and custom booths; the 120-capacity Level 2 for bands and DJs with stage and custom sound system (and balcony for smokers); and the 70-capacity champagne andcocktail bar, which can also be used as an extension of the other two floors.
They can becontacted at bookings@whitelabelhospitalitygroup.com.au.
HOME HOSTS CENTRAL STATION ANNIVERSARY
Sydney’s Home – The Venue is hosting dance label Central Station Records’ 40th anniversary on Friday August 11 with a mix of high profile acts.
These include Dannii Minogue (the label’s first hit act) and its latest global name,Starley, who’s making a belatedofficial Australian launch.
The DJ contingent includes Mark Dynamix, Andy Van, Kate Monroe and Pee Wee Ferris.
Helping to celebratethe development of the trance and hardcore scenes which CSR generated are Nik Fish, Archie, Amber Savage, John Ferris, Andrew James and Baby Gee under Sydney’s longest running club banner, Sublime.
A lineupfrom key Oxford Street store and label DJs over the years will see vinyl-onlysets fromKid Kenobi, Ben Morris, Trent Rackus, Illya, Matt Nuguent, Jo Palumbo, Jeff Drake and Chris Fraser.
HIGH ON THE HILL
NYE On A Hill, held on a farm in south Gippsland in country Victoria, confirmed it will stage between December 30 and January 1 with a30-strong bill to drop in August.
WA’S JOONDALUP DROPS $100M PROJECT
Despite preparation since 2013, Joondalup Council in Western Australia has dropped a proposed $100 million performing arts centre after getting heat from ratepayers.
The Joondalup Performing Arts and Cultural Facility was due to be ready by July 2019, helmed by ARM Architecture. It would have cost $99.7 million cost with annual operating costs of around $863,000.
It was to include an 850-seat auditorium, a 200-seat black box theatre, a range of conference, rehearsal and exhibition spaces, a Jinan Chinese cultural garden, and an art gallery.
It wouldhave created 600 jobs during construction, and more than 40 full time jobs per year after its construction.
Although 48% of residents supported it and 41.9% opposed it because of its expected impact on rates, the Council decided it didn’t have enough of a mandate to continue.
RED BULL WEEKENDER RETURNS FOR SECOND YEAR
The Red Bull Music Academy Weekender returns to Sydney for a second year from August 31 through September 3. It made its debut last year, after being presented in in a number of cities including Tokyo, Dubai, Vienna, and Stockholm.
In the run-up, there’s Road to Weekender, a series of events and lectures, landing in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne from August 26 to 31.
The full bill and ticket sales open on Tuesday July 11 for the Road To and Weekender events. Red Bull Radio will be broadcasting across the four Sydney dates with discussions, interviews, guests, local stories and live streams.
SPLENDOUR ON FORUM, SCIENCE AND COMEDY
The Forum is back at Splendour In The Grass for three days. Discussions include digital issues like ransomwareWannaCry and election hacking, why the future is better than we think, understanding indigenous youth, songwriters, women of letters, ethical choices with Peter Singer and a Q&A with Robert Forster after the screening of the Go-Betweens’ Right Here documentary.
The inaugural Science Tent will sparkimagination and curiosity. Topics will range fromthe role festivals and artists have in educating the community about sustainable power systemstothe history of the theremin; there’s also a simulation workshop to model what would happen ifa zombie virus brokeout at Splendour, as well as keeping beaches safe from sharks without killing them and the sad statistics behind deforestation.
The Comedy Club returns with Matt Okine, The Umbilical Brothers, Becky Lucas, Michael Hing, Mel Buttle, Dave Callan, Gen Fricker and Tom Gleeson with their doses of hardy-ha-ha.
BRIGHTSIDE’S BATTLE
The Brightside club in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley yesterday (July 5) kicked off its Homegrown Battle of the Bands: Winter Edition. The grand final is on Wed August 23.
A NEW TOWNSVILLE CONCERT HALL?
A state of the art Concert Hall to draw a wide demographic into cultural activity is one of 14 recommendations in the Pure Projects: Transformation of Townsville study.
According to the Townsville Bulletin, the local artist, music and academic sectors are pushing for it, pointing out how cultural hubs have changed Brisbane and reminding everyone that Townsville was once the regional arts capital of Queensland.
The city’s Council likes the idea, and is awaiting a report from its arts and cultural consultant Jennifer Bott on the viability and the demand for such an undertaking.
SYDNEY HOTEL SOLD
The Peachtree Hotel in Penrith, in western Sydney, which regularly showcases live bands, has a new owner.
The Parras family, which had the venue for 16 years, sold it to ASX-listed Chinese property developer BHL (Boyuan Holdings) for a reported $16 million.
FRINGE WORLD INJECTS $84.3M INTO WA ECONOMY
Figures released by the WA’s Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman show that this year’s Fringe World injected $84.3 million into WA’s economy. It also made over $10 million at the box office as more than 750,000 people attended 711 events at 147 venues involving 3,450 artists.
Minister Templeman said, “Building a strong arts and cultural industries sector is one of the pillars of the McGowan Government’s Creative WA policy.
“More than 41,000 Western Australians are employed in the creative sector.
“Events such as Fringe World help create jobs both directly through the hundreds of events staged, but also indirectly through associated jobs in areas such as hospitality and tourism.”
GASOMETER FUNDRAISING FOR STREAKERS
The Gasometer in Melbourne is holding a fund raiser for four alleged streakers at the Reclink Community Cup charity match. It was a family event. So the gents are heading for fines of $625 each. Twelve bands and DJs have put up their hands for the July 12 flashathon.
FINALISTS FOR ADELAIDE’S CITY AWARDS
Entertainment venues and events were among the finalists of the July 10 City Awards sponsored by City of Adelaide.
Up for Best Nightclub or Entertainment Venue are Biggies at Bertram, Crazy Horse (think Shannon Noll) and Rhino Room.
The battlefor Best Live Music Venue will be between the Grace Emily, NOLA and the Edinburgh Castle.
Finalists for Best Adelaide Event are Womadelaide, Adelaide Fringe Festival and Adelaide Festival of Arts.
HOMOPHOBIC PUNCHER FINED $10,000
A man who yelled “I’m going to kill you faggot” while punching a man in Sydney’s ARQ nightclub has to pay his victim $10,000 by July 21.
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Paul Taufaao committed unlawful homosexual vilification.
The incident happened around 3.30am on September 15, 2014. Taufaao told police he punched David Massa in the mouth because he thought he had touched his cousin’s wife while on the dancefloor. The blow knockedout Massa for a few minutes, Massa said.
Other anti-gay threats were made at Massa’s friend Simon Margan when he stepped in to stop further punches being delivered.
Margan told the Tribunal they could have fined Taufaao $100,000.
PRODUCERS WORKSHOP AT DARWIN FRINGE
One of the workshops at the Darwin Fringe (July 7—16) is directed at independent festival producers and self-producing artists.
Led by regional based WA producer Julian Canny of The Comedy Emporium, it will focus on conveying “value” in arts and your work and “producers create the deals to make art happen.”
It is held at Happy Yess on Sunday July 9 from 10am to 11.30am.
BELLO’S SATURDAY SOLD OUT
For the third time in its third year, Bello Winter Music (July 6-9) sold out its Saturday night a week out. 80 acts are playing this year, with new additions being a free outdoor concert on Saturday morning and the New Orleans style street parade on Sunday, after a gospel service at a local church.
Image: Howler’s bandroom
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