Festivals Update: February 17

Image: Party In The Paddock

SELL-OUT FOR PARTY IN THE PADDOCK

The fifth instalment of Tasmania’s Party in the Paddock was a sell-out, with promoter Vibestown confirming that 7,000 descended on Burns Creek.

Over 100 acts performed. Highlights included a motorbike burnout onstage during Sticky Fingers’ set (supposedly their farewell but according to their comments, more likely a hiatus while they sort out some internal issues), Hermitude’s non-stop bangers, Luca Brasi wallop to the hometown crowd and Tash Sultana’s mesmerising set as the full moon rose behind the mountain backdrop.

“The amount of love for the festival has been overwhelming and we can’t wait to see you all again next year.” said PITP founder and Director Jesse Higgs about the crowd.

Cops said the audience was relatively well behaved. Except for the international tourist who punched a security guard, sending him to hospital and winning himself a date in court.

Another guard and another patron were hit by a 20-year old who was arrested, a 49-year old man was also arrested for punching someone and the doggies sniffed out 30 with illicit drugs.

…WHILE HALF OF MOO SHOWS HIT CAPACITY

Three of the six Groovin’ The Moo dates – Maitland Showgrounds (April 29), Prince of Wales Showgrounds in Bendigo (May 6) and University of Canberra (May 7) – have sold out.

“The response has been overwhelming and, to be honest, it’s unprecedented,” promoter Steve Halpin of Cattleyard Productions commented.

This week, hotter than hot PNAU were added to the bill. In the meantime, a 19-year-old who sneaked into last year’s Bunbury, WA show with MDMA in his underwear, was given a larger than usual fine ($500) by the Bunbury Magistrates Court because it was done at a music festival.

“Young people die at festivals because of drugs,” Magistrate Brian Mahon said sternly, adding it’d be a harsher sentence for a second offence.

ST KILDA FEST DRAWS 400,000

St. Kilda Festival in Melbourne drew 400,000 in its 37th year. More family friendly, Daryl Braithwaite returned after his stay in hospital, a female stunt driver fell off her bike and was taken to hospital, and just four people were arrested for drunken behaviour, according to police.

DARWIN FESTIVAL BACK ON TRACK

After financial issues and confrontation between the board and the Government almost brought Darwin Festival undone last year, everything’s back on track for 2017. There’s a new board and the $1 million annual funding has officially been reinstated.

The new board is chaired by Ian Kew, CEO of Darwin Airport (long-time presenting partner of the festival) and former Councillor for the Australian Business Arts Foundation. It consists of playwright Mary Ann Butler, Deloitte partner Karen Green and lawyer Avril Vaughan.

The festival will remain an 18-day event (August 10-27) but the size will depend on the amount of sponsorships currently being raised. Kew wants to ensure that the festival becomes self-sufficient rather than putting its hand out to the Government. The artist lineup will be unveiled on June 28.

CMC ROCKS REVEALS SONGWRITER LINEUPS

CMC Rocks Queensland has pulled back the sheet on the lineup for one of its more popular segments, the Songwriter Shows. Major names will play their stuff, talk about the inspiration behind their tunes and possibly do one-off collaborations, at Jack Daniel’s White Rabbit Saloon.

The Saturday (1:00pm – 3:00pm): Charles Esten, Granger Smith, Kip Moore, The Shires and the only CMC Rocks performance by Aussie-born Canadian based Gord Bamford.

The Sunday (1:00pm – 3:00pm): Morgan Evans, Tyler Farr, Eric Paslay, Grammy winning producer Chris DeStefano and Brett James.

WOMADELAIDE FOLK CAN SLEEP IN ZOO

WOMADelaide is currently offering 10 accommodation packages on its website which includes sleeping at Adelaide Zoo.

Costing $1,550 for each couple for four nights, the pack includes four day WOMAD passes, a night safari of the zoo, a morning Panda & Friends tour, barbeque, daily continental breakfast and a WOMAD welcome pack.

Booking through the WOMAD office on 08 8271 1488 or email Meral Nieman meral@womadelaide.com.au.

SAVAGE GARDEN REUNION PUSH FOR MEREDITH

A Change.org campaign has begun for Savage Garden to reunite to play this December’s Meredith Music in Victoria. Its spearheaded by Keep Sydney Open dynamo Tyson Koh. It’s calling on promoter Woody McDonald and “Aunty Meredith” to make the moves. The petition’s target is 100, with 76 already signed on by yesterday.

Since they messily broke up 17 years ago, Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones have refused to consider playing again. Both live in America. Hayes is in LA studying acting and comedy. Jones is in Las Vegas doing real estate although there is talk he’s returning to the Gold Coast.

In 2015, a petition was launched to get John Farnham to strut the Meredith boards.

HEATWAVE, WILD WINDS, HIT FESTS

With the temperature hitting 46.2 degrees at the Simple Minds / B-52s / The Models’ A Day On The Green show at Bimbadgen, NSW, promoters pushed back opening the gates by an hour to avoid the hottest part of the day, set up a mist tent with lots of ice and water, and brought in extra shade for patrons

For the James Taylor/Kasey Chambers show at Hope Estate the next day, Chambers’ opening set was delayed to 5:45pm.

At The Beatles Festival in Port Macquarie, temperatures were up over 40-degrees. Promoters brought out the chilled water and a ’colourcade’ of umbrellas. But that didn’t help some of the Beatles tribute bands who had to play in grey suits and the stifling Sgt. Pepper-era gear!

On the other side of the country, sudden wild winds caused the cancellation of two Perth International Arts Festival – the Festival Eve bash and Lady Leshurr & Ngaiire shows, both at the Chevron Festival Gardens.

BASSINTHEGRASS UNVEILS ACTS

Darwin’s BassInTheGrass, which last year drew between 7,500 and 8,000, will, in its 15th year on Saturday May 20, feature a mix of festival staples as John Butler Trio, Thundamentals, Peking Duk and The Veronicas with bright new sparks Tash Sultana and Amy Shark at Darwin Amphitheatre.

People’s Choice Credit Union returns as presenting partner for the 11th year, while triple j also comes on board this time. A new VIP area offers a shaded hillside view, private and bathroom and a ticket souvenir.

POLICE PUSH FOR SHORTER RAINBOW SERPENT

Victorian Police are pushing for next year’s Rainbow Serpent to be shortened from its current five day schedule, the Ballarat Courier reported. They say it’s for public safety reasons, citing the death of a 22-year-old as well as various drug and traffic infringements.

However, promoter Tim Harvey argues the event, which is now 20 years old and draws 20,000, should in fact be lengthened, to give the punters a chance to relax and reenergise before they hit the roads home.