Festivals & Venues Update: September 21
BLUESFEST GETS ROBERT PLANT TO REVIVE ZEP CLASSICS
“And as we wind on down the road, our shadows taller than our soul”… Bluesfest’s long tradition of landing coups continues in 2018. In its first artist announcement,
Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will also include a number of Led Zeppelin classics to mark the 50th anniversary of that legendary band’s first public performance.
The international contingent has Lionel Richie, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, The New Power Generation, Eric Gales, Jose Gonzalez, Govt Mule, Morcheeba, Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit, California’s Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real who return after their sizzling 2016 set, Bobby Rush, New Orleans’ Dumpstaphunk, Joe Louis Walker and Rick Estrin & The Nightcats.
The first two Australian acts unveiled are John Butler Trio and Tash Sultana, both worth the price of admission alone.
MOUNTAIN SOUNDS GOES TWO DAYS
The 5th Mountain Sounds has a new two-day format, held February 16 & 17 at Penang Gardens. It is situated in Mount Penang Parklands in Kariong on NSW’s Central Coast, halfway between Sydney and Newcastle.
The newly created Mountain Village will feature various local markets, hair and makeup zones, health stations, silent discos plus the Breakfast Boogie and more.
The newly integrated camping sites are equipped with hot showers and power. Festivalgoers now have the option to sleep under the stars on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.
First act dropped is L.A indie-pop Grouplove, currently on an extensive North American tour in support of their 2016 breakout album Big Mess and this year’s Little Mess EP.
MORE ELTON TICKETS FOR MACKAY STADIUM
With the stage set up for Elton John’s show at Mackay Stadium, Chugg Entertainment realised that a few more seats could be included, and released a couple more hundred tickets to the sold-out show.
UK’S GREAT ESCAPE PREVIEW INCLUDES AUSSIE ACTS
The UK’s Great Escape always includes a dozen of Australian acts as powerbrokers from around the world descend on Brighton to find the next big things.
The support has already begun with First 50, held in London on November 21—23 to showcase 50 acts they’re championing before they play the Brighton event.
Aussie acts Stella Donnelly, City Calm Down and Mansionair join the likes of indie guitar champ Ten Tonnes, Spanish rapper and ‘Dancehall Queen’ Bad Gyal and Dutch/Kurdish singer/songwriter Naaz
THE SALISBURY FINISHES RENOS
Inner west Sydney’s Salisbury Hotel has finished its renovations. These began with just the front bar in late 2016 and was extended to brush up the whole place.
The idea was to move it from a gaming venue to a community hub.
There are events as drag bingo and kiddies escapes. But for our purposes, Salisbury Sundays will stage local bands.
SOUNDS OF SUMMER BACK IN INVERLOCH
Sounds of Summer returns on December 29 to the Victorian coastal town of Inverloch as an all-ages family-friendly day of live music and local food and wine.
The music component mixes the big names (Ross Wilson, Glenn Shorrock, Wendy Matthews) with up-and-comers as locals roots’n’harmonies Bed Of Embers, singer songwriters Mat Morgan and Famous Will, and a grand finale wrap-up with Melbourne-based African reggae, samba and salsa outfit Sol Nation.
CHANGE OF OWNERSGIP FOR BYRON ‘S BEACH HOTEL …
The Beach Hotel in Byron Bay, long time champion of live music, has changed hands.
Melbourne’s Impact Investment Group, known for its social and environmental sense, shelled out $70 million for it from Melbourne businessman Max Twigg.
The hotel was developed by Paul Hogan’s business partner, John “Strop” Cornell 30 years ago from the proceeds of Crocodile Dundee.
…AND NEWCASTLE’S GUNYAH
The Gunwah in Newcastle has been bought (for $11 million) by Campbell and Clare Rogers, who also own the area’s live music showcasing Sydney Junction and The Argenton.
MUSIC TALKS FOR WOLLONGONG FRINGE
The Wollongong Fringe which starts tomorrow until October 1 has a number of interesting music-related events.
These include a secret lounge room session with surprise artists, a series of free forums about the relationship between music and mental health, a music photography masterclass with local clicker Chris Frape, Wollongong acts playing as part of Strawberry Boogie X Fringe, a Bec Sandridge songwriting workshop, and the Dead Hands Dig Deep doco of Edwin Borsheim’s on-stage brutal self-mutilation as part of the band Kettle Cadaver.
TROPFEST WIDENS REACH
Next year’s short film/ music video Tropfest (February 24, Parramatta Park, Sydney) will focus on diversity and representation in Australian film.
Founder John Polson said that when entries open on October 15, the festival will additionally work with the NSW Government and Multicultural NSW to actively tap into works from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.
SECURITY WANDS FOR PERTH STADIUM
Security measures for the upcoming $1.45 billion 60,000-capacity Perth Stadium will see concert and sports fans get the full body scan, the West Australian reported.
Rather than airport-style walk-throughs, the venue is using the portable magic wands which “unobtrusively” scan patrons as they walk up 40m to 50m from the venue
OUTPUT KICK STARTS EARLY SUMMER
New Sydney house and techno event Output kicks off an early summer, staging November 25 Middle Head Fort by the partnership of the Motorik and Undr Ctrl crews.
MARYSVILLE WEEKEND OFFERS WORKSHOPS
Marysville Jazz and Blues Weekend 2017 (October 20—22) in Victoria will be putting some of its acts to further good use by getting them to conduct workshops.
Guitarists Geoff Achison and Bo Jenkins will teach the ins and outs of blues guitar.
Pianist Miss Chief (Mama Alto) will demonstrate on how to craft one’s own interpretations and unique versions of jazz standards
Jackson Four give a tutorial on stage craft and presentation and Shirazz on Trad Jazz Collective Improvisation.
Patrick Evans from Maton Guitars will present the story behind the new Blackwood Series’ from its development and making, and the tonal qualities of the Blackwood timber they use that is grown in Marysville.
FIRST INTERNATIONAL HEADLINER FOR PADDOCK
Vibestown announced that the 6th Party in the Paddock in Tasmania (February 9 & 10) will have its first official international headliner, with California’s Grouplove.
GRIZZLAND LANDS ON BYRON, NEWCASTLE
Grizzfest’s sixth announcement covers Bhron Bay and Newcastle. The national tour, headlined by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard adds Leah Senior for Byron Bay (Sunday November 19, The Northern) and Newcastle (Wednesday November 22, Bar On The Hill)