Festivals & Venues Update May 12
ILLUSION ORDERED TO PAY APRA AMCOS $100K
A Federal Court ordered the former operator of Melbourne nightclub Illusion to cough up $114,113.28 in licence fee, court costs and damages to APRA AMCOS. Peter Arhontogiorgis, sole director of the Carltonvenue, was charged with copyright infringement and “complete and deliberate disregard of [APRA AMCOS]’s rights”, according to Judge Philip Dowdy.
APRA AMCOS initiated action as the club was playing music in public without alicence.
Richard Mallett, Head of Revenue at APRA AMCOS said: “The majority of hotels, bars and nightclubs not only recognise the importance of music to their business and its ability to attract and hold clientele, but understand they also have an obligation to ensure that songwriters are properly paid.
“Unfortunately for Mr Arhontogiorgis, he has found out what happens when you trade on the commercial benefits of music without paying for it.”
PUSSY RIOT HEAD SECOND DARK MOFO ANNOUNCEMENT
Russian punk activists Pussy Riot head the second artist announcement for Tasmania’s Dark Mofo (June 8—21).
They’ll host the screening of their Act & Punishment documentary, after which Maria “Masha” Alyokhina and Alexander “Sasha” Pogino will hold a Q&A session. They’ll also play a DJ set during their visit.
Others announced included New York rapper LE1F, Gold Class, Scott and Charlene’s Wedding, Nai Palm, Melbourne percussionist Maria Moles (creating a live score for 1922’s witchy silent film Haxan), along with film screenings, DJ sets and theatre events.
Meantime, in the wake of awave of protests over Austrian avant-garde artist Hermann Nitsch’s bull killing 150.Action show, the habitually confronting festival has expanded his presence with a discussion about the controversy. With rumours swirling that animal rights activists will disrupt the show, over 1000 patrons have bought tickets at the time of writing.
SHEERAN TO OPEN PERTH STADIUM
Ed Sheeran looks like being the first act to play the new 60,000-capacity stadium on March 3. Delays in its building means that at this stage 82% has been constructed. It is due to open by March when the AFL season begins.
Sheeran played the nib Stadium on his last visit to Perth, in December 2015, when he drew a sold-out 32,000 crowd. Since then, his sales have shot off into outer space.
SYDNEY’S COOLIBAH SOLD…
The DJ-showcasing Coolibah Hotel, in the western Sydney suburb of Merrylands, has been sold by the family-owned Vlandis Group to another hospitality group, Everyone’s keeping schtum about the price, but $40 million has been bandied around.
…WHILE GEELONG’S PALAIS ON THE MARKET
Geelong live music venue The Palais Royal is on the market. The Moorabool St iproperty s offered for sale or lease. Its owner Frank Tripolino began a development in 2013 to turn it into a live arts and cinema complex but now wants someone else to continue the project.
FIRST ROUND IN LEAPS & BOUNDS
The Yarra City Council’s Leaps and Bounds, returning for its fifth innings Thursday July 13—Sunday 23, has announced its full program to take place in 40 local venues, record stores and businesses.
Sessions include showcases by rising electro and country female acts, The Push Pop-Up Shop to deliver free music workshops, training sessions and live events, a Q&A with Ed Kuepper about the 40th anniversary of (I’m) Stranded, and a combination of three experimental acts and painters inspired by the sounds they make.
There’s also a revival/ tribute of the ‘70s Little Bands scene (with The Primitive Calculators reuniting to team with Use No Hooks who will play only their second show in 30 years), electro pioneer Ollie Olsen curating three rising electro acts, and the screening of the Tote’s battle for survival in Persecution Blues (at the Tote) accompanied by a live set from Eddy Current Suppression Ring.
PERTH GOES FOR SAFER VENUES
Members of the WA music community are forming themselves into Safer Venues WA. They’ll work to make venues more welcoming, safe and inclusive spaces, have a resource-based approach to education and awareness, and highlight contemporary issues of gig attendees from an intersectional feminist perspective.
OPERA HOUSE THEATRE CLOSES FOR RENOS
The Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House closes on May 20 for seven months for renovations as part of the Opera House’s $273 million rejuvenation.
The theatre hosts 330 shows a year using its original machinery. What’s coming for $45 million is a new flying system, an improved grid deck and a better rigging system.
AMBASSADOR FOR CHARTER TOWERS COUNTRY
Charters Towers Country announced 12-year old Jessica Turner as its youth ambassador. The role was won after a competition of teenagers aged up to 17 with singing and fundraising components. Turner proved an accomplished singer and raised $450 for the festival.
FESTIVAL SITE MANAGER FIGHTS BACK
Aaron Gill, Site Manager at Perth’s Wonderland festival at Langley Park in December 2015 was hospitalised with severe head injuries when tackling a group of fence jumpers.
Earlier this month, the man accused of attacking and kicking him in the head, 19-year-old Jamie David Foster, was found innocent by a jury which accepted his claim that he had attacked Gill out of “self defence” because he was being overly aggressive, and he was just an innocent bystander not involved with the gatecrashers.
Now unable to work, Gill has started a GoFundMe campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/aarons-fencing-jumping-ordeal) to raise $40,000 to begin civil action against Foster. Within the first few days, it raised $5650.
BASSINTHEGRASS ISSUES WARNING
Northern Territory’s BASSINTHEGRASS has sold out all 7500 tickets. Organisers issued a warning to ticket holders not to post photos of their tix on social media. Their unique barcode could be ripped off. They also warned against scalpers asking for twice, even three times, the $70 price.
Following last year’s sell-out, a 22-year-old Darwin woman posted a classified ad offering to have a 30-minute sex session (and not a minute more, buddy) with anyone in exchange for a ticket.
CLOUDLAND: LET’S GET DIGITAL
Brisbane’s iconic Cloudland Ballroom – the 40s ballroom turned ‘70s punk mecca until it was demolished in the dark of night in November 1982 to make way for apartments – has come to life in digital form.
Social historian Magnus Eriksson has recreated some of the interior from photographs on his househistories.orgwebsite.
Midnight Oil wrote Dreamworld on Diesel & Dust about its demolition.
SHINY DISCO BALL SPLINTERS
The two day NSW/ACT bush doof Shiny Disco Ball had to be called off on the morning of the first day. Organisers posted: “Australian Federal Police have backed us into a corner where the consequences of going ahead involve risks which we cannot take, both for the safety of attendees, as well as legal ramifications.”
DEATH ON THE ROAD TO WIDE OPEN SPACES
Alice Springs 19-year-old Dylan Tuckwell died while driving to the remote Wide Open Spaces. On the rural Ross Highway, his car rolled and burst into flames
Family members told the NT News he was” very intellectual and very engaging, especially responsible in so many ways and a strong mentor for his younger brothers.”
FENCE JUMPERS AT CANBERRA GTM
ACT Police are looking through footage to identify some of the 20 fence jumpers at the sold out University of Canberra stop of the Groovin’ The Moo tour.
Many of them were caught after festival security checked their wristbands and threw them out. But a police spokesperson warned, “Fence jumping at the event may be subject to criminal prosecution for trespass which is punishable by a fine of up to $1400.”
At the Bendigo show, which drew 18,500, aside from a number of punters caught with drugs before they boarded the train in Melbourne, police were also investigating the theft of a car and items stolen from a car.
DESERT FESTIVAL RETURNING
Alice Springs’ Desert Festival returns August 18 to September 7, including a pop-up multi-venue The Desert Garden and festival closer, the Alice Springs Pride Carnivale dance party.
Organisers say forums will also aim at the future of Alice Springs “inspired by Professor Gerritsen’s notion of Central Australia’s ‘pulse and pause’ rhythm.” The full program was launched on July 7.
The Alice Springs News reported there’s a bit of confusion about how much the festival will get: $15,000 from the council for 2017, or $30,000 overall, as the $15,000 promised for 2016 was not used as the festival did not take place.
YAH YAHS WELCOMING SCHAPELLE
To celebrate Bali castaway and boogie board enthusiast Schapelle Corby’s return to Australia, Yah Yahs in Melbourne is on May 26 throwing a welcome-back dance party with a Stingray-curated bill including Aperol Skitz and DJ Guantanamo Rave.
CANBERRA FIREBOMBER “SAW GOD”
Scott Wyatt, on trial for the February 13, 2011 fire bombings of Canberra nightclubs Meche and ICBM, told the court he wanted to apologise because he had “seen God” when he set off fireworks in their bathrooms.
He turned himself in to police in January 2017. He had originally been a suspect, but was not charged after he denied being involved. He returns to court on May 23.
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