Festivals & Venues Update: May 19
NEW EDM GLOBAL FESTIVAL FOR SUMMER…
Dance Nation Australia is announcing next week at a special event which global music festival brand will stage here during summer.
Here’s their clue: “What began as a one-off event in 2000 has grown to become a global phenomenon, it has won awards for ‘Best Event of the Year’ in countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Brazil and Denmark and utilises the positive power of music and dance as a universal language, connecting millions of people around the world and it is coming to Australia in 2017!”
… AND STORM HEADING TO SYDNEY
Further to TMN’sreport that Chinese company A2Live is bringing its successful EDM festival Storm to Australia, it seems Sydney is the city where it will be staged.
WOODFORD FOLK CAPS ATTENDANCE
As tickets for the 33rd Woodford Folk Festival went on sale earlier this week, organisers revealed that attendance would be capped for the first time. “Because of our growing popularity, we’ve had to make big changes,” said Director Bill Hauritz.
It would be to “ensure the comfort, enjoyment and safety of festival patrons and to help preserve the Woodfordia site.”
Attendance has been growing in recent years at 5% a year, with the December 2016/January 2017 version drawing an aggregated 132,000 over six days.
In other changes, ticket prices went up, tickets will only be available online from its website, and all vehicles will require a car pass for the first time given “the large number of cars in the camping grounds taking shaded places and the volume of traffic on the roads”.
The 2017/18 festival will see a return of the RFID cashless technology and reusable cups, “both of which will now be available at no cost to festival patrons”.
PALAIS THEATRE OPENS AFTER RENOVATIONS
Last night’s St Kilda Film Festival Opening Night in Melbourne was the first time that the general public experienced the results of $26.9 million worth of renovations to the once dilapidated Palais Theatre, which had faced the possibility of closure.
The façade of the 89-year old venue has been restored to its original colour. A new state of the art lighting system is programmed to turn any colour or pattern inside and out, providing a light show even before patrons take to their seats.
Other changes included upgrades to the electrical system, fire protection and hydraulic systems. Good project management allowed an extra $3.5 million included an upgraded plumbing system and additional landscaping.
The reboot was paid for by $13.4 million from the Victorian Government and $7.5 million from the City of Port Phillip.
Live Nation, which has a long-term lease of the venue, began a $6 million internal works program in March, restoring the foyer and ceiling domes. These will continue over the next few months.
FOUR IDEAS TO SOLVE SYDNEY VENUE ISSUE
The Off Broadway Report compiled by the former Leichhardt Council and the Sydney Fringe Festival, has made four recommendations to the Inner West Council for consideration to rejuvenate Sydney’s live music scene.
They are to drop development approval for small venues, allow small bars and arts & cultural facilities to host live performances to make Parramatta Road a music hub, get leases on buildings on Off Broadway Precinct on Parramatta Road and sublet them to arts sector groups (and also allow the expansion of Vivid Sydney, Sydney Mardi Gras and Sydney Fringe Festival into the Inner West), and set up a dedicated role within Council to liaise with venues.
The full report isonline here.
TRAVIS COLLINS MADE MUSTER AMBASSADOR
Singer-songwriter Travis Collins, who dominated this year’s country music’s Golden Guitar Awards with three wins, has been made the 2017 Ambassador of the Gympie Music Muster (August 24—27).
“I’ve seen all sides of The Muster, from many years camping with family, to performing on main stage, having a rum with mates in the legendary Crow Bar, or grabbing a new pair of boots at one of the many onsite shops,” he said.
This year’s five stages will showcase a number of styles –country, bluegrass, folk, blues and rockabilly – with the inclusion of Jessica Mauboy (who in fact started out busking in Tamworth) as the headliner of a star-studded bill.
BLUES ON BROADBEACH THIS WEEKEND
A minimum of 168,000 people are expected to turn out to the 16th Blues on Broadbeach (May 18-21) on the Gold Coast to match last year’s attendance record.
A larger budget has allowed organisers Broadbeach Alliance to draw international namesBonnie Tyler and the Slim Jim Phantom Trio to join major Australian names likeIan Moss, Kevin Borich, Russell Morris and Harts among 60 others.
Broadbeach Alliance, who began the free concert series to bring people into the region during the quieter months, are looking at growing numbers to 200,000 by the year 2020.
Of last year’s 166,231 total, 51,000 were tourists who came to the Coast for the festival, and stayed 3.5 nights. Altogether, it pumped $23.9 million over four days into the local economy.
A certified crowd-puller is the Are You Experienced 50th Anniversary Concert on the Surf Parade Stage at 8.45pm on Sat May 20. The brainchild of festival Director Mark Duckworth and guitarist Phil Ceberano. it will see the likes of Borich, Harts, Ray Beadle, The Screaming Jets’ Jimi Hocking and Lachy Doley perform tracks off Jimi Hendrix’s famous mind-bending album.
ART INSTALLATION FOR CHERRYROCK017
Melbourne’s annual high-decibel freakout CherryRock017 will this year host a photographic art installation on its AC/DC Lane.
Between today (May 19) to Sunday May 28, photographer Jay Hynes’ post-performance portraits of the musicians who played the event through the years will be on show.
CANBERRA’S ACADEMY BUILDING CHANGES HANDS
The building that houses Canberra’s largest nightclub, the Academy, has been sold to a family for a reported $9.8 million.
The four-storey Bunda Street establishment also has Shorty’s Bar and Italian restaurant Provini, and went on the market last October.
MELBOURNE NIGHTCLUB INVESTIGATION
Victorian Police are investigating after an unknown substance was sprayed on the dancefloor of Perseverance on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy.
Police who had arrived after a sexual assault was reported found 15 patrons affected. The club was evacuated and a woman hospitalised. A 27-year-old man was arrested for harassing a female patron.
BELLA PICKS THE NEW ONES
The 90 acts playing Bello Winter Music (July 6-9, Bellingen, NSW) include such names as Husky, Ben Ottewell (one of the distinctive voices of Gomez), Joe Pug, Bec Sandridge, Tinpan Orange and Mama Kin.
But as part of their policy of programming new acts to be discovered, promoters also pinpointed to patrons some “different” names to check out.
They were Melbourne hip-hop and R&B family 30/70, who are receiving attention in Europe; the blues-soul Teskey Brothers;funk flute and synth Vaudeville Smash (they took their name from an Italian children’s karaoke machine in the late ’80s);singer-songwriterArcher; the Ukulele Death Squad, who sold out their debut Adelaide Fringe shows; alt-country duo Miles and Simone, who are currently making their third record; and soul pocket-rocket Jo Jo Smith who is celebrating her 50th anniversary in the biz.
MAROOCHY FOR THIRD TIME
Returning for its third instalment on August 26, Maroochy Music & Vis Arts Festival unveiled its bill.
Names include Alison Wonderland, The Presets, Bernard Fanning, Gang Of Youths, Horrorshow, Anna Of The North (Norway), Northeast Party House, Skegss, Mallrat, Billy Davis & The Good Lords and OKBadlands.
They will strut their stuff in the natural amphitheatre of the New Maroochydore CBD in Queensland.
MACKAY CLUB CLOSES
Mirani Hotel in the Mackay region closed its doors last weekend after 75 years with owners Scott and Casey Cronin saying, “It is currently unviable to continue trading in our current capacity.”
Its final hurrah was the Mirani Backyard Bluesfest which wound up with an extended jam session.
GOLD COAST AMPHITHEATRE “FAILS” TEST
The new Gold Coast arts and music precinct is a year from completion. But the Gold Coast Bulletin reports the noise complaints from residents have already started!
Sound engineers spent a day testing out different types of speakers to see which were most effective in the open air amphitheatre, which opens for the Commonwealth Games in April next year.
Six residents rang local council squawking their displeasure.
The 5000-capacity amphitheatre will be used for major rock concerts as well as community productions.
AND A FEW OTHER THINGS …
- 27 people were charged with drug offences at the sold-out Midnight Mafia event at Sydney Olympic Park. Police said over 200 were searched.
- Artist and performer applications have opened for the Nannup Music Festival 2018 (March 2—5).
- East Perth’s 100-capacity Hen House Live is looking for bands of all genres to play or launch their next releases there, from July. Email Sarah at thehenhouselive@gmail.com.
- The 2017 Sunshine Coast Business Awards on November 16, run by the Maroochydore Chamber of Commerce, has special sections for festivals, tours and creative industries.
- A report by the Hobart City Council contends that of the 19,138 who signed a petition against Austrian artist Hermann Nitsch’s bull sacrificing performance at Dark Mofo on June 17, only 2% were from Hobart. Animal rights folk insist the number is higher.
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