Festivals & Venues: May 24

PLEASURE GARDEN UNVEILS DATE

The Pleasure Garden’s ‘Welcome to Wonderland’ edition will be held on Saturday December 8, at Catani Gardens, St Kilda, Melbourne.

Held for the third year, it’s a mix of music, art and food.

Organisers say more features will be added from last year, which included four distinctively curated stages, quirky large-scale installations, interactive art, artisan stalls, impressive costumes from punters and performers and a hot tub.

WOLLOMBI MUSIC EXPANDS TO TWO DAYS

With continual sell-outs, Newcastle’s Wollombi Music is expanding to two days this year at its Cranky Rock location.

Friday September 21 will be limited to 400 tickets. Gates open at 3pm, with live music beginning on the Big Yengo stage with Sex On Toast, The Big ILCH and Black Rabbit George.

It is followed at 11 pm with a campfire jam.

Saturday September 22 is the main day with tix capped to 1,000, with two stages filled with the usual mix of blues, roots, reggae and dub from Tijuana Cartel, Kallidad, Marshall O’Kell, Thando and Z-Star Trinity.

There will also be Kidsfest, an epic drum circle, silent disco and roving performers.

MORE DELAY FOR OPTUS STADIUM FOOTBRIDGE

The $91.5 million Matagarup footbridge to the new Optus Stadium in Perth looks like it will not make its late May deadline.

Instead it is set to be finalised by the end of June, transport minister Rita Saffioti confirmed.

Linked to East Perth and part of the strategy to stop cars from using the venue, a quarter of a million fans will use it on match days.

The bridge was to open at the end of 2016, but a Malaysian-based company was dumped after delays and blow-outs, and given to two Australian firms.

FUCKDAY NOT TO BE REPEATED

The Ad Standards Community Panel has told Canberra venue Smith’s Alternative that its outdoor A-frame chalkboard “Fuckday 20 April” signage is inappropriate and offensive use of language and told not to repeat it.

The sign listed the shows held at the venue on the day, and generated a complaint that it was “offensive language”.

The venue said that no other complaints were received, but has discontinued the ad.

LA MAMA FIRE NOT ARSON

Early speculation that legendary Melbourne independent theatre La Mama was the victim of arson has been ruled out. Rather, it was an electrical fault under the stairs which caused the fire that gutted the Carlton landmark.

Plans going forward are to rebuild the theatre rather than demolish it, and an announcement will be made soon as to where affected performances will be re-routed to.

FUND RAISER FOR NARARA

Narara Music’s return to the NSW Central Coast in the last two years has been critically acclaimed (“That’s the way a festival should be done”) but its two promoters need $15,000 for it to return in 2019.

The festival is self-financed with no council grants, so the campaign is running here. 

MANCHESTER UNITES AGAIN TO ‘DON’T LOOK BACK’

Manchester has united again, singing along to Oasis’ ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ at a mass gathering at the city’s Albert Square on the first anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombings.

22 people died and 139 wounded when a suicide bomber detonated a homemade bomb as fans were leaving an Ariana Grande concert at the venue.

The Oasis song was quickly adopted as a soundtrack to the healing immediately after.

22 UK venues also had a moment’s silence, remembering not only the victims but the bravery of their colleagues.

These included Royal Albert Hall, The O2 and Wembley in London.

MELBOURNE’S BD TO LAUNCH WITH DJ KOZE

New Melbourne 5000-capacity club BS will open on September 27, with German DJ and producer DJ Koze announced as the first of a number of international guests.

Promoter Novel has kept most details under wraps. But the rumour-mill has it that it will literally be an underground club – as in a basement car park in the inner city.

The club has a 5am licence. To make each event special, Novel will only stage three events a year at BS.

QUAKER’S INN CHANGES HANDS …

Quaker’s Inn in South-Western Sydney, which showcases local acts, has changed hands.

Local businessman Bill Hilton, who’s owned the place since 1991, sold the freehold for $24 million. The new owner’s identity has been kept under wraps.

…SO DOES THE GOLDMINES

Bendigo’s Goldmines which features live music on Fridays and Sundays has a new owner from Melbourne, who’ll continue to run it as a pub.

The hotel began in 1857 and stayed in the same family until 1990.

HIS MAJESTY’S IN WA BUDGET

Refurbishment of Perth’s His Majesty’s Theatre continues after the recent West Australian budget allocated $6.5 million for it.

After replacing carpets and seats, and new colours on the walls, the theatre will also be getting an orchestra pit lift and improvements to the foyer and other public areas.

NEWCASTLE’S GRAND FOR SALE

Newcastle’s 130-year old Grand Hotel, which features live music, has been listed for sale.

Current owner Mike Angus bought it 30 years ago.

The university students from across the road seemingly gave the hotel a buoyant music format.