Festivals & Venues Update: June 2
Image: Aurora Spiegeltent (John Staples)
MAP 57 DEBUTS IN MELBOURNE
Australia’s biggest independently funded performing arts festival, The Garden of Unearthly Delights, heads to Melbourne’s St Kilda June 15 to July 30 as pop-up arts precinct Map 57: St Kilda’s Winter Garden next to the Palais Theatre.
It covers music, comedy, cabaret, carnivals, a Central Park-styled ice rink and the Aurora Spiegeltent with Blanc de Blanc and The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
The second performing space The Box features Ross Wilson & The Peaceniks, Tex Perkins, The Black Sorrows, Renee Geyer, Vika & Linda and Russell Morris. More information, visit www.map57.com.
BRISBANE’S FAMILY CLOSES, RETURNING AS EI8HT
Brisbane superclub Family has closed its doors. Launched on July 13, 2001, it showcased major international acts and launching many of the country’s EDM acts and threw some wild nights where the dancefloor was jam packed.
The 8 McLachlan St venue rebrands as EI8HT and returns on June 17. It will retain the Fluffy gay night on Sundays and introduce ONE on Saturdays.
THE WORLD BAR AND CANDY’S APARTMENT BACK ON THE MARKET
After undergoing extensive refurbishment over the last 12 months, Sydney’s The World Bar and Candy’s Apartment are back on the property market.
The four terrace homes that house both establishments were purchased by Eagle Property Group for $12 million. Its current market value is now estimated to be $20 million.
There’s talk that the site could be turned into a 60-room boutique hotel after receiving several expressions of interest from potential buyers.
BATTLE TO SAVE GONG’S RAD BAR
With Wollongong live music venue Rad Bar in danger of being demolished to make way for a $45 million office block, a petition has started to cut development plans off at the pass.
The building came up in the 1930s. Operators Sion Gruffydd, Jye Talbot and Daniel Radburn say that Wollongong needs to introduce a cultural heritage protection for music venues (something that Melbourne is considering for its own venues, see elsewhere this column).
NEW INNER CITY VENUE FOR SYDNEY
At least you know they’ll never run out of beer. Sydney’s Broadway precinct is getting a new music venue. Staves Brewery in Glebe is launching a Saturday night space on June 17 called Live at The Malt Room.
Playing the opening night is roots exponents Out of Nowhere, as well as singer-songwriter Mark Lucas.
Lucas happens to be booker and curator of the room. Running Songsmith Management, he handles the same duties at Petersham Bowling Club, which he’s revived with rootsy local bills.
UMBRELLA UNFOLDS MASSIVE PROGRAM…
Adelaide’s Umbrella Winter City Sounds (July 14—30) unveiled a massive lineup, curated by Music SA in consultation with the local music community.
The 300 events (up from last year’s 250) take place in traditional venues, car parks, trams (all sessions to be filmed and screened on the Tram Sessions sites) and Glenside’s Z-Ward for the criminally insane (“audio-visual extravaganza” Dark Matter) to ignite fervour during the quieter winter months as part of the state government’s Live Music Events Fund.
Events include Guitars in Bars, Beer & BBQ Festival, Winter Reds, several AIR awards after parties and Golden Era Records and The Northern Sound System’s Oz Hip-Hop Party.
Music SA’s GM Lisa Bishop says, “Umbrella Winter City Sounds is truly an exciting range of musical offerings, with something for everyone from jazz and hip hop, to psychedelic-rock and family-friendly entertainment.”
…AS DOES MELBOURNE’S LEAPS AND BOUNDS
The Yarra City Council’s 10-day Leaps and Bounds in Melbourne (July 13—23) has a jam-packed Sounds of Winter schedule in the municipality’s bars, clubs, record stores, and local music businesses.
Those returning include The Melba Spiegeltent (located next to The Tote) and Bakehouse Studios, Northside and Polyester Records. This year sees the addition of queer and alternative bookstore Hares and Hyenas, and late night disco nightclub Glamorama with live electronica.
Events include Let Them Eat Lamington: Voice to celebrate Bastille Day, the 4th SÉDÄ to showcase experimental music, the screening of the Cosmic Psychos film Blokes You Can Trust at the Tote, a discussion on the Melbourne punk scene at the Bakehouse, Aarght Records and Ali Bird Presentation of Sunday At The Copacabana (which includes an indie label record fair), music trivia nights and tram sessions.
Full list at leapsandboundsmusicfestival.com.
TOWNSVILLE STADIUM BY 2020
After appointing Watpac as managing contractor in April, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told state parliament that work would start in September on the $250 million Townsville Stadium for a 2020 opening.
41% of the businesses involved are from North Queensland with 2000 workers from Townsville. Watpac designated 6.6% of the works will be done by the indigenous community.
CULTURAL HERITAGE PROTECTION FOR MELBOURNE VENUES?
Melbourne’s live music community and some councillors have embraced the concept of introducing “cultural heritage” as a way to protect live music venues. The Palace Theatre and the Greyhound were examples where the law deemed that a venue could only be protected if the building had heritage value.
However the idea that a venue’s importance is its cultural significance is a whole new ballgame.
Music Victoria is keen to include the concept, already adopted by Toronto, at the Music City Convention in Melbourne next year, to be discussed by academics and city planners.
Another idea is how, in the wake of the return of the Palais, other moves can be initiated to revive St. Kilda as an important music hub.
UNDER 18 FESTIVAL AT YOURS & OWLS
Wollongong’s Yours & Owls is also staging an under-18 drug and alcohol-free bash at Waves on Saturday September 30 kicking off at 11am. Tickets go on sale today (June 2).
It will borrow some acts from the over-18s fest, includingSAFIA, The Preatures, Trophy Eyes, Alex Lahey (right), Bec Sandridge, The Pinheads and Ruby Fields.
Sponsors include Destination NSW, Destination Wollongong and regional network WIN TV.
DELAY FOR HOBART PRECINCT
Plans by the Melbourne property developers Riverlee and Mona subsidiary DarkLab to turn Hobart’s historic Odeon Theatre into a $69 million entertainment hub has run into roadblocks.
The complex, green-lighted by Hobart City Council in 2015 was to include music venues, art-house cinemas and gallery spaces as well as bars, restaurants, a hotel, office and shopping space, residential apartments and a four-storey car park.
Melbourne-based developer Riverlee received approval for its $69 million revamp of the historic theatre in 2015 from Hobart City Council under the City of Hobart Planning Scheme.
But that has now been superseded by the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme which makes the 1916-built Odeon heritage listed.
With the original planning permit set to run out in October, Riverlee has asked for time until October 2019 to relodge a fresh application. Council officers have already rejected an extension but full Council will consider the matter next week.
JAZZ HITS CASTLEMAINE
The 4th Castlemaine Jazz Festival in regional Victoria (June 9 to 11 long weekend) will host 90 acts of every kind of jazz from the 1920s to present day in pubs, traditional venues, theatres, churches and the Old Castlemaine Gaol.
This year a Sunday jazz mass is being trialled.
FORMER HOTEL ORANGE LICENSEE BANNED
The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority Board (ILGA) has banned former Hotel Orange owner Joshua Meijer from holding a liquor licence or having an interest in a licensed venue for seven years.
Last June Meijer copped a two-year jail sentence for growing cannabis for commercial reasons. As a result, Liquor & Gaming NSW contacted ILGA to state he was not a “fit and proper person” to hold a licence.
WELLINGTON MOVES FOR A STADIUM
After Wellington was passed over by the Ed Sheeran tour because it didn’t have the right sized venues, city authorities have put into place plans for a 12,000-seater stadium. Costing and designs will be given to council in August.
RED DEER GOES INTO SPACE
In its 7th instalment, the Sunshine Coast’s Red Deer Music & Arts (October 14) has music headlined by The Preatures andThe Kite String Tangle, a third stage for emerging and regional acts as well as belly dancing, meditation, hula hoop workshops, sack race and the Fashion Of The Fields dance-off on a 40-acre farm.
The final round of tickets is on sale now. Bring your own booze and couch.
NEW OWNER FOR GEORGE IV
The historic George IV Inn in Picton, in regional NSW has been sold to a new owner for $3.125 million. Two parties made bids.
It has been closed since last June due to extensive flood damage. Patrick Moloney put it on the market after his insurance claim was knocked back.
MUSIC AT NEW BRISBANE BAR
“Good music” is part of the mix at new Fortitude Valley, Brisbane bar Savile Row. It is run by Martin Lange and Trent Goodwin who run the Cobbler bar, with Kahn Millis. Its ambience includes 48-bulb chandelier, leather booths, lounges and French 1920s-style tiles.
NSW REMOVES THREE STRIKES ON VENUES
After three years of lobbying by the NSW hospitality sector, the state government has passed a new law which removes three strikes against venues. Instead, it will be recorded against the licensee.
GIZZFEST RETURNING
Despite their overseas commitments, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have confirmed on Facebook that their curated Gizzfest will return for a third time between November 18 and December 4.
Dates and venues to be added down the track, as Murder of the Universe – the second of their five albums due to drop this year – is due on June 23.
DEADLINE CLOSING FOR SURRY HILLS FEST
Applications for musicians, DJs, visual artists and vendors for the 15th Surry Hills Festival (Sunday September 23) in the inner city Sydney suburb closes on Friday June 9. Generally 60,000 attend the free event, entry to which is by donation.