Festivals Update
Image: Blues On Broadbeach
MORE ACTS FOR BLUES ON BROADBEACH
Blues On Broadbeach, which draws 160,000 over four days, has added 35 more acts. Now in its 16th year, the three major additions for the free festival on the Gold Coast are Ian Moss, Bonnie Tyler and Slim Jim Phantom.
The others include Jimi Hocking’s Blues Machine, Harts, Louie Shelton Bluesland, 19 Twenty and Aaron West & The Custodians.
Jan McCormick, CEO of Broadbeach Alliance which stages the event, says more international and local acts would be added. “Visitation numbers are increasing every year and we are expecting this trend to continue, with thousands of people already travelling from interstate and overseas for the event.”
Queensland Minister for Tourism and Major Events Kate Jones said, “Last year’s event delivered an economic boost of around $20 million into the Gold Coast economy and this year is set to be even bigger.”
BELLO MAKES CARTY PATRON
Bellingen-bred singer-songwriter Jack Carty is picked as the first festival patron of Bello Winter Music (July 6—9). As well as performing every day at the festival, he will premiere work from a new collaboration with close friend and composer Gus Gardiner (Papa vs Pretty) and The Satellite Strings (featuring members of The Australian Chamber Orchestra).
Festival Director Glenn Wright, who chose Carty because he represented the cornerstones of the festival – “community, collaboration, discovery and great music” – said that Carty would also mentor a young up-and-coming artist as part of the festival’s Youth Mentorship Program.
Carty will be touring the UK through April.
FALLS ACCUSED TO FIGHT CHARGES
The 18-year old man accused of indecent assault at Falls Marion Bay in December intends to fight the charge, his lawyer said. Lachlan Callum Dennis of West Launceston will plead not guilty to allegedly groping a woman in the moshpit when he appears at the Launceston Magistrates Court on March 30. Dennis was not in the court as he is studying at a Melbourne university.
Falls is also battling a class action suit –read our story here.
DIRECT UNDERGROUND DONATES TO CHARITY
Direct Touring, which is presenting the heavy metal Direct Underground Fest in Sydney and Melbourne this weekend, has decided to reward the support of metal fans by providing support to two charities.
These are The Song Room which ensures that children have an equal opportunity to participate in music and the arts, and Rabbit Run-Away Orphanage, a no-kill pet rabbit rescue.
The lineup of Marduk, Gorguts, MGLA, Ulcerate and Departe lands at The Factory Theatre, Sydney on Friday, March 17 and The Corner Hotel, Melbourne on Saturday, March 18.
PORT FAIRY FOLK DRAWS 15,000
Port Fairy Folk, held at the Victorian coastal town over the long weekend, drew 15,000, buoyed by some brilliant sunshine and an audience that was ready to dance to anything, from Tash Sultana to Paul Kelly,Eddi Reader andThe Young Folk. It kicked off with an emotional Opening Ceremony, paying respect to the traditional owners of the land, the Peek Whirring people.
There were tributes (including to the late Danny Spooner, who was booked for the festival) and themed concerts. These includedVan Morrison’s Masterpieces with Vince Jones and the Astral Orchestra; It’s Got To Come From The Heart: Songs That Strike A Chord with Don Walker, Melody Pool, Charles Jenkins, Gretta Ray and Boo Hewerdine;andWomen In Song (Aoife Scott, Christine Collister, Deborah Conway, Jessie Lloyd, Martha Tilston and Mel Parsons). Crowds packed out Brian Nankervis and his RocKwiz Orchestra’s tribute to The Band’s The Last Waltz with Tim Rogers, Tex Perkins, Marlon Williams, Eddi Reader, Vince Jones and Vika & Linda Bull.
Founding Director Jamie McKew’s legacy continues with a partnership program with Calgary Folk Festival, in which mid-career artists from Australia and Canada will partake in an exchange performance.
This year’s festival was also the programming debut by Program Director Caroline Moore. She said, “I feel so privileged to have the honour of working on this festival. All of the artists embraced the event, and the very special Port Fairy audience delighted in their talents. Thank you to everyone who make this festival so special.”
BIG PINEAPPLE LOSES HORRORSHOW, GAINS URTHBOY
Horrorshow have pulled out of Big Pineapple Music, citing “overseas touring opportunities in the USA!” The band said it had looked at a number of options which would allow them to play but couldn’t. Urthboy has been added to the show in their place.
In other news, tickets to Big Pineapple Music are now on final release. Promoters said, “The response has been massive and tickets are moving quicker than ever before.”
CASTLEMAINE STATE EXPECTING OVER 30,000
One of Australia’s biggest regional festivals, Castlemaine State (March 17—26) is expecting over 30,000 this year, outgoing Festival Director Martin Paten estimates.
At least 2000 will be at the opening night celebrations tomorrow. It will feature the theme of The Future of Things Past with acrobats, dancers, clowns, beatboxers and brass bands at the Castlemaine Goods Shed which is the home of Castlemaine Circus. Paten says 100 acts from 18 countries will cover music, dance, circus, film, theatre, literature, art and family events.
This is Paten’s final festival after starting in 2008.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF COOLY
In its 7th year, Queensland’s Cooly Rocks On (June 7—11) takes a different tack under new organisers Connecting Southern Gold Coast.
The retro ‘50s music, cars and fashion is still a keystone. But the action expands to streets and parks, and all entertainment will be free. Cooly injects $23 million into the Gold Coast economy and $6 million to Tweed.
A new addition is an outdoor roller-skating rink at Jack Evans Boat Harbour, along with a pop-up drive-in cinema, skydiving display, fireworks and the popular street parade, beauty quest and dance championships.
SINGE CONNECTING AT COOL FOR SUMMER
Nice Events and AmplifyLIVE’s music and digital influencers event Cool for Summer added Australian singer-songwriter and social media phenomenon William Singe on the bill.
Originally in boy band The Collective, who were formed during the fourth season of The X Factor Australia in 2012 and signed to Sony Music, he now has 2 million Facebook followers, 20 million Spotify streams and 200 million video views.
Aimed at “the connected generation”, it is held at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on Saturday April 15, and Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne on Monday April 17.
YIRRAMBOI CELEBRATES FIRST NATION CULTURE
Yirramboi First Nations Arts, presented by the City of Melbourne May 5—14, has its full program announced on March 22.
Yirramboi, which means ‘tomorrow’ in the shared languages of Boon Wurrung and Woi Wurrung, features Indigenous-led dance, music, visual art, film and industry events across Melbourne’s major venues, laneways and public spaces.
The festival will showcase the diverse talents of Australian indigenous performers alongside First Nations artists from New Zealand, Canada, Wales, the United States and Taiwan, said Creative Director Jacob Boehme, adding it would be “creating opportunities for new language to emerge and a new dialogue to begin.”
INAUGURAL WEEKEND IN THE GARDENS DRAWS 11,500
The inaugural A Weekend In The Gardens in Melbourne drew 11,500 over three days in the picturesque Royal Melbourne Botanical Gardens.
Put together by Mick and Anthea Newton of Roundhouse Entertainment (founders of the A Day On The Green series), the music included John Farnham, Daryl Braithwaite, Ross Wilson, Icehouse, James Reyne, Clare Bowditch, DJLP, Boy & Bear, San Cisco, Amy Shark and DJ Buster Stickup.
Roundhouse’s strategy of exotic pizza, burgers and Vietnamese tucker worked, as did the Native Cocktails (including flavours like wattle seed, Eucalyptus leaves, native muntries, riberries, Davidson plums and vanilla), Pimms jugs and the Pommery Champagne & Oyster Bar.
Mick Newton confirmed the event would return.
CANBERRA HOSTING ART, NOT APART
Canberra is on March 18 hosting Art, Not Apart festival, with this year’s theme being Shake It Up.
Over 200 performance and visual artists include a troupe of naked pianists, readings under the Poet Tree, a 100m long collaborative street art project along Edinburgh Avenue and music covering Romani gypsy music, electronica, hip-hop, New Orleans funk, fierce flamenco and drumming sessions from Asia, Africa, Arabia and Brazil.
GRASS IS GREENER WANTS TO EXPAND TURF
Cairns EDM October event Grass Is Greener is negotiating with the local council to increase capacity from 5000 to 7000, the Cairns Post reported.
But talks are dragging, over the fact that Council wants to move the festival from Fogarty Park to Cannon Park because of past noise issues.
Promoter John Eddings is digging in, saying the current site is close to the city and accessed by public transport.
Cr Richie Bates has pointed out that the Council does not financially support the festival in any way. But with 2000 of last year’s 5000 patrons coming from out of Cairns and spending about $600 each, Grass Is Greener pumps an extra $1 million into the local economy.
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