Festivals Update: January 27

PARTY IN THE PADDOCK SELLS OUT

The fifth Party In The Paddock (February 10—12) in Burns Creek, just outside Launceston, has sold out. Promoter Vibestown said the festival hot its capacity of 7,000 earlier this week. Creative Director Jesse Higgs said that the number of interstate visitors increased this year. Headliners include Sticky Fingers and Luca Brasi.

The only way to get tickets now is to enter its Nudest Dude competition. See their website for details, and get a VIP ticket when you get crowned King of Queen Nudest Dude.

GRASS NOT GREENER

Cairns Council is trying to persuade The Grass is Greener promoter John Eddings to move out of the CDB on account of of noise complaints and offered him a number of options. However, Eddings is staying put at the purpose-built Fogarty Park. He says it helps the October festival achieve its ideals there, and was the reason it drew 5,000 last year.

SALTWATER SITE HACKED

Someone hacked the Australia Day indigenous showcase Saltwater Freshwater on the NSW North Coast and declared that the event was cancelled. Promoters blame “disgruntled people” for the act of sabotage. Police were informed.

NEIL MURRAY GETS PORT FAIRY FOLK GONG

Neil Murray was made the 017 Port Fairy Folk Festival Maton Artist Of The Year. Program Director Caroline Moore said, “We salute Neil Murray and thank him for his extraordinary contributions to our cultural world!” Murray’s work with Warumpi Band and The Rain Makers led to classics as My Island Home, Good Light In Broome, Cleverman and Where My People Go.

Port Fairy Folk will be held for the 41st time between March 10 to 13, drawing 15,000 people a day to see 100 acts performing across 19 stages over 4 days.

BARNETT ADDED TO BLUESFEST

In the wake of being announced as guest for Patti Smith’s final Australian show at Melbourne Festival Hall, Courtney Barnett has been added to Bluesfest, playing the Thursday night. These are Barnett’s only two shows for the year.

Bluesfest Director Peter Noble said, “Courtney, who has said that Patti Smith is amongst her greatest influences, kindly agreed to Patti Smith’s request, and oh boy, are we excited to be bringing you this announcement.”

SUMMER CONCERT TOUR SELLS OUT

New Zealand’s three wineries Summer Concert Tour has been another success for Greenstone Entertainment with a bill of Icehouse (their first NZ headliner in twenty years) Alan Parsons Live Project (making his NZ debut) and Bonnie Tyler.

The sold out Queenstown show before 16,000 was held last weekend. This weekend’s stops include Taupo (sold out) and Whitianga (close to capacity, according to promoters).

Last year’s concert tour attracted around 40,000 people across the three venues, who flocked to see Huey Lewis and the News, REO Speedwagon and Melissa Etheridge.

TAMWORTH GETS NASHVILLE STUDENTS

To further cement the sister city relationship between Tamworth and Nashville, Tamworth Regional Council (TRC ) invited four high school students from Nashville to intern with it for three weeks in the lead up to the Country Music Festival to help prepare the event.

TRC is also speaking to local school students about doing an exchange at Nashville’s County Music Festival.

BIGGER CROWD EXPECTED FOR GOOGFEST

Organisers of this year’s free Googfest in Canberra (February 4) expect a larger crowd this year, from 2016’s 8,000 to 1,000. The headliner is Sneaky Sound System, whom organisers finally landed after years of trying to align the planets schedule-wise.

ADELAIDE FRINGE EXPANDS

This year’s Adelaide Fringe is heading to the hills, literally. It’s set up an extra hub on the lawns of Stirling’s Coventry Library. 35 acts will perform 21 shows (February 24 to March 5), some specially developed for its main 120-capacity tent dubbed The Pocket.

The Stirling hub was created by Hills residents and Bamboozled Productions directors Sasha Zahra (Fringe Creative Producer for six years) and Louise Clarke (Street Theatre Festival producer) who say, “We will be utilising the natural beauty of the area to create a magical wonderland for all to enjoy.”

RAGAMUFFIN TO END

Australian promoter Andrew McManus says that next month’s Ragamuffin in New Zealand will be its last, kissing off a 10 year event. After an initial peak of 32,000 patrons, audiences have been dwindling, despite international headliners including Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, UB40, Shaggy, the Wailers, Ziggy Marley, Eddy Grant, Jimmy Cliff, Wu Tang Clan and Mary J Blige.

Raggamuffin was staged in Australia for some years but abandoned due to low ticket sales, although some of the acts on the NZ event performed sideshows here.

FIRST ARTISTS FOR GUM BALL

The first artists for the 12th Gum Ball (Friday April 21 to Sunday April 23 in regional NSW’s Dashville) are Regurgitator, Tripod, Boo Seeka, Gareth Liddiard, The Peep Tempel, Jack Carty, The Ocean Party, Liz Stringer, The Steele Syndicate, Mick Hart, Africa Entsha and Freya Josephine Hollick.