Festivals & Venues: June 7
YOURS & OWLS SELLS OUT IN A DAY
Yours & Owls (September 29 & 30, Stuart Park, Wollongong) sold out in a day, organisers reported last night.
“With an all-Aussie lineup, and an increased capacity across the two days, Yours & Owls continues to put Wollongong on the national music map,” they exclaimed. “Pop those bottles!”
The stunning lineup includes Angus & Julia Stone, Peking Duk, Step Panther, Alison Wonderland, Alex The Astronaut and Methyl Ethel.
TALENT SEARCH RETURNS TO MUSTER
After a one-year break, the Muster Talent Search returns to the Gympie Muster.
The prize includes a trip to Nashville, escorted by Troy Kemp and Damien from The Viper Creek Band.
The competition’s 2018 ambassador is Brooke Schubert, who has won three sections of the competition before and since established a reputable career in the Australian music industry.
She went on to tour with Keith Urban and Sheppard and competed on The Voice in 2017.
Past winners include Brooke McClymont, Liam Brew and Drew McAlister.
LANSDOWNE BIDS FOR 5 AM EXTENSION
The Lansdowne in Sydney, a key supporter of local acts since it reopened, has applied to extend its license to 5 am.
CORNER HOTEL GOLDS SEXUAL ABUSE SEMINAR
The Corner Hotel in Melbourne, the first venue to scrap the Riff Raff show this Friday (June 8) after rape allegations by Melbourne woman Eliza Stafford, has replaced the vacant slot with a panel tackling sexual abuse in the music industry.
Where to From Here? Music, Community & The State of Play was put together with advocacy group Listen, with a special guest speaker followed by a panel discussion.
Listen also curated the entertainment after the panel: Baby, Lush Puppie, Bahdoesa, Mtlda-S, Toyah Hoetzel, Hamburger Lady, Geryon and Sullivan.
The Corner is donating 100% of ticket sales to Listen, along with $1 from each drink sold in the bandroom.
Listen is encouraging those who’ve been sexually abused to join the discussion, and the Corner is putting aside space for those who suffer from triggering.
STRAWBERRY FIELDS ANNIOUNCES HONEY DIJON
Strawberry Fields (November 16—18, banks of the Murray in NSW’s Tocumwal) announced the first of its international names – electronic act Honey Dijon, making her Australian debut.
On its 10th birthday, first release tickets sold out in three minutes, and the second release goes on sale on Tuesday, June 12 at 9 am.
Attendees at this year’s show will experience four major music areas, each of which will showcase its very own distinct personality (expressed in both decor and musical offerings), along with a series of themed camps.
THE HINDLEY TO RELAUNCH AS LIVE MUSIC SPACE
After seven months, Adelaide’s The Hindley in the new HQ Complex in the West Ed has abandoned itself as a high-end restaurant, and announced that Hindley Street is more appropriate for live music.
The ground level of HQ will re-open in the next few weeks as a 600-capacity club “with some of the best up-and-coming talent, both nationally and locally, already booked to perform.”
A fortnightly comedy night has also started.
HELL HOLE LAUNCHES IN PERTH
Perth has a new 350-capacity club, this one called Hell Hole and devoted to punk, thrash, metal and beats bands.
It’s situated between Northbridge and Leederville at 7 Old Aberdeen Street, West Perth.
LITTLE SPLENDOUR PROGRAM RELEASED
Splendour In The Grass’ devoted kids’ space in the camping area called Little Splendour. Kids aged 12 and under get free entry.
It covers sports, macramé and craft workshops and board games, and dress ups in the tipi, face painting and a frolic in the giant sandpit for the youngest of the young.
BRISBANE FESTIVAL UNVEILS SECOND ACT
Brisbane Festival (September 23, South Bank Cultural Forecourt) announced its second act. Solo Canadian musician Dan Bejar (The New Pornographers, Swan Lake & Hello, Blue Roses) will bring his guitar project Destroyer on their first visit to Australia.
CHERRY BAR FUNDRAISES FOR CANCER
Cherry Bar in Melbourne’s AC/DC Lane is holding Divefest on Saturday (June 9) to raise funds for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Donating their fees are Hailgun, Field, Diploid, Merchant, Hly Serpent, BØG, Cordell, Season’s Tomb, Motherslug, Nerve, Moustache Ant, Deader, Wolkpack, Cascades, Devil Electric, Thaw, Sundr, Religious Observances and Hybrid Nightmares.
SCOUTED UNVEILS 2018 LINEUP
Scouted returns for a second year to showcase emerging unsigned acts as part of Umbrella: Winter City Sounds and as the nation’s music biz arrives to attend the AIR awards and IndieCon.
Held on Friday July 27, 16 acts play four stages at Jive, Rocket Bar, West Oak Hotel and Nexus Arts.
They include alt-country Hana & Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits, rock thumpers Donnarumma who earlier this year opened for Cold Chisel at the Adelaide 500 and Dhungala Baarka, (Nancy Bates) and Allara Briggs-Pattison first met as part of Archie Roach’s band), former The Middle East member Bree Tranter, electro-dance act Strict Face and Blush Response.
WINTER BELLO
Opening Night Gala for Winter Bello (July 12) is headlined by
Deborah Conway & Willy Zygier, with Moussa Diakite & Wassado, Jack Carty with Gus Gardiner, Thando, the Ethno Folk Orchestra and New Zealand’s Tony Rowley.
B3 REVEALS ITS LOCATION
Melbourne-based Novel agency’s new late-night B3 has revealed that its location is the vast underground carpark of Etihad Stadium. The first event is on September 27.
SOTA CELEBRATES WA DAY
Despite heavy storms and 25km/h winds, organisers of the free State of the Art festival celebrating WA Day decided to stage it at Elizabeth Quay.
An estimated 15,000 armed with umbrellas turned out to see a WA-only bill including Birds of Tokyo, San Cisco, ShockOne and Stella Donnelly.