Festivals Update: March 2

Image: Fleet Foxes

PORT FAIRY FOLK SELLS OUT

Nine days out, organisers of the Port Fairy Folk in Victoria (March 10–13) announced that it sold out just before midnight on Tuesday Feb 28. This sell-out is slightly earlier than in previous year, when the event only hit capacity a week or less before.

From today (Thursday March 2) a ticket exchange program is available via www.portfairyfolkfestival.com for those wishing to buy or sell.

A highlight of this year’s event are The Last Waltz Revisited, for which Brian Nankervis put together a cast including Eddi Reader, Tim Rogers, Tex Perkins, Marlon Williams, Vika & Linda and Vince Jones to recreate The Band’s legendary 1976 farewell at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.

Among the forums is For What It’s Worth – The Power of The Political Song. Cathy Guthrie, granddaughter of Woody and daughter of Arlo will join this session, alongside her Folk Uke bandmate Amy “daughter of Willie” Nelson, Eddi Reader, Mundy, Brett Clarke, John Douglas and Rob Hirst, in a session of songs and discussion around whether songs can effect change and whether we can keep politics and humans rights to the fore through arts and music.

FLEET FOXES FIRST FOR VIVID LIVE

Fleet Foxes are the first music act announced for Vivid LIVE. They will play four exclusive shows at the Sydney Opera House in May, previewing their third album.

Vivid LIVE curator Ben Marshall said, “It’s a big moment for us to welcome back Fleet Foxes to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall stage for Vivid LIVE.

“Having ended their Helplessness Blues tour here five years ago across three unforgettable sold-out nights, they’ve chosen to premiere their new & fiercely anticipated third album on the very same stage.”

NEW NAME FOR NOOSA LONG WEEKEND

After 16 years, the Noosa Long Weekend event focused on music, theatre, food and thought will now be known as Noosa Alive.

“The new name is simple, yet striking and easy to recall,” said festival President Johanne Wright.

The reason is that it’s now a ten-day event in July, not the three-day bash it began as.

Last year the festival hit a peak with 27 sold-out events. The 2017 programme will be unveiled this month.

ASIA POP ANNOUNCES LINEUP

To mark the start of the 2017 university year and welcome this year’s international students, Arts Centre Melbourne and the City of Melbourne are staging the Asia Pop Fest as part of the Asia TOPA festival.

At Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Friday March 24 there’s a mix of K-pop dance competitions, a gaming lounge, food trucks and sets by acts including K-pop star Ailee and Singaporean singer-songwriter Nathan Hartono.

STRAWBERRY FIELDS NEW LOW-INCOME PLAN

For its return in November, Strawberry Fields has set up a low-income ticketing program.

It says, “We understand that attending camping festivals can be an expensive exercise – tickets, fuel, food, camping equipment, it all adds up and can be particularly challenging if you are a student or on a low income.

“We want Strawberry Fields to be accessible to everyone, regardless of income.”

Judged on their employment status and financial situation, customers can access 500 tickets set aside which are at $165 + bf, which are $100 cheaper.

The event takes place from Thursday November 16-Sunday November 19 in Tocumwal, NSW.

STUDIO 54 IN TASMANIA

Part of Tasmania’s Ten Days on the Island will include a taste of Studio 54, inspired by the iconic New York City discotheque from the ‘70s.

Marcia Hines, Australian Idol entrant Tom Oliver and the rest of the cast of the Velvet musical play Hobart’s Spiegeltent March 9 to April 1.

MACKAY FESTIVAL ENDS

Mackay’s Sarina Festival has thrown in the towel. It wasn’t due not to being able to draw a crowd (1500) or financials ($40,000 a year in sponsorship). Simply, the eight volunteers who organise it say they were exhausted.

They’ve made a profit of $15,000 in the last three years, and want to give it away to another event to keep going.

Applicants must send a short written submission outlining their event, naming sponsorship categories, date and location along with costed financials to sarinafestivalinc@iinet.com.au by March 31.

The successful applicant/s will be notified following the committee’s special meeting on April 5.

The festival began in 2008 as Coal to Coast and was held in Central Street, but changed its name when it moved to the Sarina Football Grounds.

DEADLINE FOR FAIRBRIDGE’S QUEST YOUTH COMP

Applications for WA’s Fairbridge Festival Quest Youth songwriting competition close tomorrow (Friday March 4).

The four categories are song craft and song performance, open to 12–15 years and 16–18 years.

The winner in all four categories get a live slot at the festival (Saturday April 22), a John Butler studio recording session voucher, free entry to the WAM song of the year, a ticket to WAMCon, a mentoring session from WAM, opportunity for a Perfect Pitch publishing deal, a HK Photography photoshoot and a ProCopy CD copying voucher.

CMC ROCKS OFFERS MORE CAMPSITES

CMC Rocks Queensland has added a small number of campsites; organisers increased the area available in campground B after a site visit last weekend. It’s first come first served via Moshtix for three-day event holders only.

Organisers emphasise the camping sites are strictly alcohol-free zones. Searches will be conducted by festival security and Queensland police.

Any breaches will see the alcohol confiscated and offending patrons may be ejected from the festival.