Festivals Update: February 9

COOL FOR SUMMER DROP FIRST ACTS

The first music and social media acts were announced last night for Cool For Summer. Promoters claim these have a combined 98 million followers across YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat & Musical.ly.

The single-day event is staged by Nice Events in partnership with AmplifyLIVE at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on Saturday April 15 and Melbourne’s Myer Music Bowl on Monday April 17.

The acts announced were EDM classically trained violinist, dancer and artist Lindsey Stirling (nearly 8 million subscribers and 1.3 billion-plus views on YouTube), Dan & Phil who’s The Amazing Tour Is Not On Fire was a sell-out last year in Australia, Nash Grier, whose single tweet drew 5,000 girls to an Iceland shopping centre, 16-year-old Perth DJ Tyde Levi whose YouTube channel has 500,000 subscribers and near 17 million views, and In Stereo whose records have stormed the ARIA chart with high debuts.

SELL OUT FOR MOUNTAIN SOUNDS …

Now in its fourth year, NSW’s Central Coast, Mountain Sounds (February 18) announced it is a sell-out. It’s just announced its set times and the winner of the triple j Unearthed winner as Central Coast electronic duo Bad Decisions.

Presented by Barney Cools, the Unicorn stage will host major names as RÜFÜS, Hermitude, Dune Rats, DMA’s, Ngaiire and Gooch Palms. The Sailor Jerry Stage will showcase emerging names. The Bus Stage and The Cubbyhouse will be home to DJs.

…AND GROOVIN’ THE MOO IN BENDIGO

The Bendigo stop of Groovin’ The Moo has sold out. Held on May 6 at the Prince of Wales Showground, it has been a regular sell-out. Last year, 15,000 attended the event in regional Victoria.

In the meantime, the April 29 stop in Maitland, NSW at the Showground, saw online tickets snapped up 90 minutes after going on sale.

The six-show tour also takes in Wayville in South Australia, Townsville in Queensland, Canberra and Bunbury in Western Australia.

RECORD CROWN FOR GOOGFEST

Despite sweltering weather with temperatures still in the ‘30s at nightfall, Canberra’s free festival last Saturday drew a record 10,000 to Rockley Oval. In its third year, it was headlined by Sneaky Sound System and local acts.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN TAPS JEZABELS AS SECOND HEADLINER

IMG’s nine day Australian Open of Surfing (AOS), held on March 4 and 5 in Manly Beach, has booked The Jezabels to headline the second day. The first day will feature Hermitude and WA electro-producer Elk Road.

The event also will have world-class competitions in surfing, skateboarding and BMX, nautical beach club pop-ups, gourmet food trucks and more from February 25 to March 5.

Live coverage will be available online at www.australianopenofsurfing.com and via broadcast partners Channel Nine, Fox Sports and MTV.

SECOND ROUND FOR GUM BALL

The second round of acts for the 12th Gum Ball in NSW (April 21—23) includes Kim Churchill, The Funk Hunters, Mick Thomas & The Roving Commission, Felix Riebl, The Meltdown, Caiti Baker, HITS, Flyying Colours, The Go Set, Irish Mythen, Dave Wells, The Bad Time Boys, Dashville Progress Society, The Sea Gypsies and Leah Senior.

15 MORE ACTS FOR THE HILLS ARE ALIVE

The “Festival of Friends” The Hills Are Alive, announced 15 more acts, bringing the total to over 30. The latest music performers are Amy Shark, Gretta Ray, Dorsal Fins, Josh Cashman, Birdz, Tulalah, Caiti Baker, The Drunken Poachers, Fossil Fuel and Manchoir.

Joining the comedians list are Bob Franklin, Daniel Connell and Laura Dunneman. See full list at www.thehillsarealive.com.au. It takes place from Friday March 24 to Sunday 26 in South Gippsland.

SPLENDOUR ANNOUNCES 2018 DATES

Splendour In The Grass announced its 2018 dates as July Friday 21, Saturday 21 and Sunday 23 at North Byron Parklands in Byron Bay.

First dibs on tickets (four each) are for Splendour Members, who can prove they’ve attended the festival at least five times. Splendour Member applications close on Monday February 20 at 5:00pm. They’ll notify the successful candidates by Monday February 27.

BIRDS OF TOKYO, PEKING DUK, HEAD PINEAPPLE MUSIC BILL

Birds of Tokyo and Peking Duk headline Big Pineapple Music, on May 27 in the hills of Woombye Qld.

Among those on the four curated stage are SAFIA, Northlane. Cloud Control, The Veronicas, City Calm Down, LDRU, DZ Deathrays, Horrorshow, Vera Blue, Harts, Alex Lahey, Boo Seeka, Polish Club, Ngaiire and Sampa The Great among a larger bill listed on their website.

LEGAL THREATS BETWEEN COOLY, WINTERSUN

Threats to launch legal action have followed plans by Gold Coast retro rock/cars festival Wintersun to return to the region this year.

Wintersun was held in Coolangatta for 25 years, bringing $25 million to the region during the slow winter region. In 2010, Events NSW drew the festival to Port Macquarie. The ten day event subsequently closed.

But Aces and Eights Event Management are bringing Wintersun 2.0 to Murwillumbah Showgrounds on June 2—5 and plan to stay indefinitely, according to co-promoter Steve Bowman. Cars made and manufactured before 1978 are encouraged to enter.

This has angered Cooly Rocks On which has flourished since with financial support from Tourism and Events Queensland and Gold Coast and Tweed councils, which is subsequently held one weekend after.

Bowman claimed on Facebook, “We got a solicitors letter from Twin Towns Services Club demanding we change the name (our legally registered business name!) of our event as they claim they have some sort of ownership of the good will from the old Wintersun Festival.”

BASSINTHEGRASS CALLS ON ACTS

Darwin’s largest music festival, bankrolled by the NT Government, is calling NT acts to apply to play as part of the Local Artist Program.

GATHERING TO RETURN

The inaugural Gathering, held on Australia Day on the Gold Coast with a capped crowd of 5,000, will return next year, promoters confirmed. “We all feel like we have captured something very very special and are already looking to the future of the festival!” they said. The event shared 12 acts with Victoria’s Rainbow Serpent.

GOOD ISLAND DONATES TO ASYLUM SEEKERS

The inaugural Good Island, held in Melbourne last weekend, will donate all proceeds to Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, promoters Good Manners and Wondercore Island stated.

The festival was held over four stages at The Curtin and the Bella Union Bandroom & Ballroom.

BABY YOU CAN DRIVE MY CAR

Port Macquarie News reported that the local Beatles Festival (Thursday February 9 to Sunday 12) – which celebrates all things Beatles with everything from tribute bands to champagne breakfasts – ran into a problem with trophies for the two-day car show.

They had to be made out of old hubcaps mounted on a timber base. With time running out, they approached the Hastings Men’s Shed who came to the rescue.