Industrial Strength: Dec 15

International brands among three new festivals

* The Netherlands’ underground house and techno Dekmantel brand is entering the Australian market, its first excursion outside Europe. It will stage in Melbourne on Saturday February 20 at Caulfield Racecourse. Its Australian partner is Novel, whose website is selling the tickets. The European festivals apparently draw a large amount of Aussie tourists, so Dekmantel is confident of a strong turnout. Also helping is an international bill of German-based DJ and production duo Tale of Us, US techno spinner Omar S, Netherlands DJ San Proper, New York’s Mike Servito, Berlin-based Anthony Naples, Ukrainianwunderkind Mikhaylo Vityk aka Vakula and The Dekmantel Soundsystem

* Corona Extra is presenting the inaugural Australian SunSets Music Festival, at South Beach in Fremantle, Saturday January 16 January. Among the acts are Flight Facilities with Owl Eyes, Jagwar Ma’s DJ Juno Mars Nina Las Vegas, George Maple, Hayden James, Crooked Colours, Pearls and The Ocean Party. The SunSets brand has staged in Italy, Ibiza, England, China, Chile and Mexico.

* The inaugural Off The Rails (Saturday February 27) at Scenic World in Katoomba focuses on the music scene of NSW’s Blue Mountains. According to headliners Thundamentals’ MC Poncho, “Mountains shows are always loose. I’m looking forward to that atmosphere. Shows are always more fun when the crowd is rowdy as.” Also on the bill are other Blue Mountain folks Urthboy and Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders.

New review looks at impact of Adelaide’s lockout …

A new State Government-commissioned review of a plan to move Adelaide’s 3 am lockout to 2 am found that it would severely “damage” the city’s $49.3 million small bar industry. It predicted that patrons would leave small bars earlier to get inside the larger venues.

The introduction of the small-bar licence in April 2013 saw 51 new bars open in Adelaide’s CBD, attract younger tourists and employ over 400 people. In the review, small bar owners called for laneways to ban traffic, and expressed fear that pop up venues during Mad March of festivals would affect business.

…while ACT cops to push for Canberra lockout in 2016

There have been mutterings in the Australian Capital Territory about the need for an early lockout at its venues. At the launch of the Safe Summer campaign, Assistant Commissioner Rudi Lammers said that police will step up patrols in Canberra entertainment precincts over summer and would push for an early lockout for the city in 2016.

Australian Hotels Association ACT emphasised its members had worked hard to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence in and around their venues. There has been a 30% decline in booze violence across the ACT in the last 12 months and a 36% drop in Canberra.

Wiz Khalifa’s See You Again most viewed video in Oz

Wiz Khalifa’s See You Again was the most watched music video on YouTube in 2015. The Top 10 videos collectively have over 68 million subscribers, and 6 billion views this year.

1. 1. Wiz Khalifa – See You Again Charlie Puth
2. Taylor Swift – Bad Blood ft. Kendrick Lamar
3. Maroon 5 – Sugar
4. Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do
5. Adele – Hello
6. Sia – Elastic Heart ft. Shia LaBeouf & Maddie Ziegler
7. Taylor Swift – Style
8. Major Lazer & DJ Snake – Lean On (feat. MØ)
9. Silentó – Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)
10. Justin Bieber – What Do You Mean?

AC/DC fans more active in second ticket sites

AC/DC and One Direction fans are equally as noisy and loyal. But Akka-Dakka tickets in the UK were hotter. Data for 2015 from online ticket marketplace Viagogo found there were 1.12 million searches on its site for tickets for the band’s Rock Or Bust UK shows. In comparison, One Direction only got 900,000 searches for their On the Road Again dates, and Ed Sheeran 745,000 for his five UK dates.

On the weekend, AC/DC were forced off the stage in Wellington after two songs when driving rain wet the equipment and affected the sound. They returned after 40 minutes and wowed the crowd of 30,000. Afterwards, three fans who decided to take a yacht ride back home despite stormy seas had to be saved by police.

Gangs of Youth, Meg Mac, Ngaire lead wins at AU Live Music Awards

Gangs of Youth, Meg Mac and Ngaire had double wins at the second AU Live Music Awards, held last Saturday at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory. GOU got best live act and best domestic tour for the Positions album launch. Meg Mac took home the live voice and live achievement (solo) trophies. Ngaire won the national R&B/ soul category and NSW voice of the year. Falls and Southbound tied for the best festival gong. In the public votes awards, Sheppard got best band and Dean Ray best voice.

Other national winners were I OH You’s Johann Ponniah (AU Award for contribution to the live scene), Tame Impala (international live achievement – band), Ecca Vandal (heatseeker), Tkay Maidza (hip hop), Hermitude (electronic), High Tension (hard rock/metal), Kim Churchill (roots), Art V. Science’s Dan Williams (drummer), HARTS (guitarist), Client Liaison’s Tom Tilley (bassist), Elana Stone of All Our Exes Live In Texas (instrumentalist). There were also some state wins.

Sony Music Australia’s Parade division widens

Sony Music Entertainment Australia’s Parade music artist management and marketing company is widening. After setting up a sports division in October, the word is that it’s also looking at representing media identities as well.

Sports Parade has just signed rugby league legend and Queensland State of Origin master coach Mal Meninga. It will manage his endorsement, media, mentoring, speaking, money-can’t-buy events and other business opportunities. Meninga is a close friend of Sony Music chief Denis Handlin, a rugby fanatic and a Qld State of Origin business mentors under Meninga’s leadership for ten years. Handlin goes to i Origin camps to talk to players about success, motivation and life after football.

Parade Artists’s music clients from reality TV include Jessica Mauboy, Stan Walker, Dami Im, Samantha Jade, Justice Crew, Taylor Henderson, Nathaniel Willemse, Marlisa Punzalan and Reigan Derry.

Three new initiatives from Adelaide live music plan

Three new initiatives from Adelaide City Council’s Live Music Action Plan 2014-16 were launched at a Town Hall ceremony by Lord Mayor Martin Haese.

The NXTGIG app provides data provided about gigs, venues, artists and times in real time, and available for free through the App Store or Google Play. It was developed by Karl Falzon who said the app also allowed acts and the live industry gain a greater understanding of the audience.

Council is now offering a rehearsal space in the Adelaide Town Hall Meeting Hall to providing bands with a location which is “central, easily accessible with wonderful acoustics, at no cost to the user,” said Haese.

Council staff also worked with the Exeter Hotel in Rundle Street to install a paste up wall where musicians can promote gigs and industry information in a prominent location in the city’s east end.

Melbourne’s Esplanade renovations get green light

After closing for $500,000 worth of renovations in May, the Esplanade in Melbourne’s St. Kilda planned to re-open for summer. Alas, plans were thrown in disarray after residents stropped about the addition of a 145sq m rooftop terrace. It was to hold 200 people and open until midnight each night. 28 objections were lodged, and delays seemed insurmountable. One ABC Radio presenter even announced the “Espy” was never coming back.

But the Port Phillip Council unanimously approved all the internal and external refurbishment. Mr. Rooftop Terrace must close his retractable roof by 10 pm and have no live music.

More Venues Updates: lawsuits, bomb scares, fire

* Sydney nightclub operator Merivale relaunches the Newport Hotel next month, with a greater emphasis on food and drink.

* Canberra Club’s winding up has taken so long – the liquidator was appointed 14 months ago – that one creditor has hit it for a $34.5 million claim for damages.

* Patrons at the Royal Derby in Melbourne’s Fitzroy were last Friday evacuated due to a bomb threat.

* Queensland’s century-old Kandanga Hotel, which showcases live music on Saturdays, burnt to the ground after a fire broke out at 6 am.

* Bad weather didn’t stop hundreds from turning up for farewell drinks at Hobart’s Knopwoods Retreat. It has been bought by Ben Hickey who will rename it The Whaler for its past history as watering hole of choice for whalers.

* In 2014, the town of Nyabing, WA, made news when its 300 inhabitants rallied to buy the local pub and save it from closure. It now has $825,000 in Federal funding to set up a music venue as well as accommodation and business rooms and a commercial kitchen.

* Perth’s Entertainment Enterprises, which operates Paramount Nightclub, Library Nightclub, Tiger Lil’s and Empire Bar, set up new eatery Rambla on Swan.

* The Federal Government has given $1 million for the Goulburn Mulwaree Council to research more site options for Goulburn’s $4 million 300-seat Performing Arts Centre. On the whiteboard are the Civic Centre and the ceramics room at the Goulburn Regional Conservatorium.

* Northbridge nightclub Metro City may be facing legal action for lack of “duty of care” by WA Premier Colin Barnett’s son Sam Barnett. The 26-year old said he was punched in the face “three or four times” after he arrived with his girlfriend, by a man who he alleged seemed on familiar terms with venue staff. Police are investigating the incident, which Barnett said was not provoked.

Study: SVOD subscriptions to jump by four years

Research firm Ovum forecasts that subscriptions to streaming video on demand services will hit 4.707 million by the end of 2019. Last December the figure was 270,000. This year saw the arrival of Presto, Stan and Netflix.

Ovum Research Director David Kennedy doubts that SVOD take-up will eat into the subscription rate for pay-TV or free-to-air (except licensing of content will climb as demand rises between operators) and that consumers will mix and match.

NW Group buys out partner

Australasian live and audio production supplier Norwest Productions (now NW Group) and Archer Growth have completed a buy-out of AnaCacia Capital’s half share of the firm. With the $27 million, NW is expected to continue acquisitions of companies, following those of Mclean Audio Services, Cairellie, Oceania and New Zealand’s Spyglass.

APRA AMCOS SA award recipient announced

Adelaide alt-folk-jazz singer songwriter Paige Renee Court is recipient of the South Australian branch of APRA AMCOS’ 2015 Emily Burrows Award. The announcement was made at the association’s end-of-year-bash at the Grace Emily. Court was a finalist in the 2013 Telstra Road to Discovery and is to release an EP as one of four SA acts selected to record with N1 Records.

Emily Burrows, an APRA AMCOS coordinator and musician, died in a car accident. The award was set up 15 years ago, and the first recipient of the $5,000 grant was a relatively unknown Hilltop Hoods.

Brady Drums closing

Perth’s Brady Drums is closing, as founder and master craftsman Chris Brady is battling a number of serious health concerns, including a mild stroke. Brady began hand-crafting his first drums in the garage of his family home in 1980 and includes overseas companies and musicians as clients. He will sporadically create drums when health allows.

New Music Network sector figures released

Figures released by the experimental art music sector (contemporary classical, jazz, improvisation, experimental and electronic) shows from the New Music Network association showed a strong support for concerts by patrons. Nearly 77,000 attended 600 new music concerts and events in 2014. Average attendance was 127, some went up to 300. Up to 18.5% of these shows were staged outside metropolitan areas.

What fuelled the sector was a demand for new works. Last year 257 new works were produced, with 93 Australian premieres of international works and the number of Australian works presented a staggering 646. The New Music sector is also a “crucial employer” of musicians and art workers: of 836 cited instances of employment projects, 75% were for musicians, many of them doubling up as administrators to present their shows for minimum output.

The NMN represents around 70% of the leading individuals, ensembles and organisations in the sector.

Adelaide Critics Circle Award winners

Among the winners of the 18^th Adelaide Critics Circle awards were Zephyr Quartet, whose Music for Strings and Things took out the Independent Arts Foundation Award for Innovation. The awards, again held at the University of Adelaide’s Little Theatre, admitted that the size of the cash prizes were halved due to “the challenges of fundraising.”

New residencies in New York now open

The Australia Council announced two new residency pilot programs at arts institutions in New York to provide unique experiences for Australian artists and musicians. OzCo has offered international residencies since 1979. But after a comprehensive review, it has become “more flexible and responsive to new and emerging global trends across all art forms,” according to CEO Tony Grybowski.

He explained, “Our research identified that international residencies with the strongest outcomes are artist-driven and that the artist experience is most beneficial when the residency combines both artistic and market development opportunities. The revised program ensures that residencies are offered in strategic locations, through high quality providers who are able to deliver a full suite of opportunities for the artists.”

Residencies will be offered in dance and music at the Omi International Arts Centre, and The Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will host a residency in emerging and experimental arts. Applications close January 27. Those in Berlin, London, Paris, the United States, Rome and Helsinki shuttered earlier this month.

Flight Facilities: live album, documentary

Flight Facilities have two new projects seeing light of day. Out on December 18 is a live album recorded at their Myer Music Bowl show in Melbourne in October with the 90-piece Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Guests included Reggie Watts, Owl Eyes, Katie Noonan, Surahn and Touch Sensitive as the duo revisited singles and remixes and unveiled newly written orchestral elements.

Also coming up through De Republica is the Red Bull Media House documentary Flight Facilities – Across America of their first cross country bus tour of the US.

Regional arts conference

The Regional Arts Australia national conference and arts festival to be held in Dubbo, NSW between October 27 – 30, 2016. Regional Arts NSW is inviting proposals to present at Artlands Dubbo 2016.

More Festivals Update: celebrations, sell-outs, tributes

* While major festivals come and go, Victoria’s Meredith Music’s careful protection of its brand and experience (“no dickheads”, fence jumpers turned over to police) means that it continues to sell out even before acts are announced. On the weekend, its 25^th anniversary celebrations before 12,500 included a fabulous laser lighting exhibition to the soundtrack of New Order’s Blue Monday. In full display were Meredith audience’s traditional thumbs-up to acts they like by holding up their boot, while the nude run had so many entries it had to be broken into four heats.

* Port Macquarie’s Festival of the Sun, held on the weekend for its 11^th year with Illy, Jebediah, Thundamentals, British India, The Delta Riggs and Alpine, sold out a few days before.

* The 2016 Illawarra Folk Festival was launched at Wollongong’s Civic Plaza by Ami Williamson, daughter of country bigshot John Williamson. She is one of 170 acts to perform in its 31^st year over the four days at Bulli Showgrounds in January, along with James Blundell, Frank Yamma, Neil Murray, Dougie McLean and Santa Taranta. Illawarra Folk Club Secretary Graeme Morrison said 11,000 were attending, making it the fourth largest folk festival in Australia.

* As the trial over the killing of Canberra punk music identity Nicholas “Ginga Ninja” Sofer-Schreiber comes to an end, his legacy continues. The second Gingerfest punk festival, set up in tribute, sees Gay Paris, The Porkers, Irrelevant, The Sinking Teeth, The Hard Aches and Frenzal Rhomb’s Jay & Lindsay come together on Saturday December 19 at Sydney’s Factory Theatre, with proceeds to charity.

* Melbourne’s EDM-spiced OFF. the. GRID presented at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art on December 22, will be solar powered and with a zero carbon footprint. Ross Harding who of Finding Infinity and Eyal Halamish, who founded digital democracy group Oursay, built a 5m solar stage and battery bank to power the event as Cut Copy DJs, Banoffee, SILENT JAY and Sui Zhen hit their sets. Afterwards, everything being recycled, composted or turned into works of art, will be auctioned. Proceeds go to a renewable power plant in the city of Melbourne. Revenue generated by the facility will fund the next party – and so on.

* Launceston’s Festivale (February 2 to 14) is expected to contribute $7 million to the Northern Tasmanian economy. Not a bad return from the $20,000 annual funding it gets from Launceston City Council.

* It was appropriate that on the 35^th anniversary of John Lennon’s murder, Port Macquarie’s Beatles Festival got a $5,000 grant from the NSW Government for it to stage for a fourth year. The February event approached politicians after a budget shortfall.

Number Crunching

2000 Sydneysiders took to the streets last Saturday to protest the city’s lockout laws and its negative impact on live music culture.

5 AACTAs wins by the Peter Allen mini-series Not The Boy Next Door.

3 high school girls received four-year college scholarships from Meghan Trainor.

5800 signatories total in the petition to save Radio Adelaide.

33,877 attending Ed Sheeran’s second show set a new crowd record for AAMI Park Melbourne, breaking the 31,847 by Bruce Springsteen in February 2014.

Vale

Paora Tamehana was a founding member of NZ reggae band Soulovus, which charted in 2012 with debut album Love Foundation. After his sudden death, peers hit social media remembering him as “a talented tutor, singer and musician” and “a wonderful and gifted man who had the voice of an angel.” He was 35.

And A Few Other Things …

The Cat Empire launched a campaign to feature as many of their fans on the cover artwork of their seventh album Rising With The Sun. Go to http://thecatempire.com/comp.html and post your photo by December 20.

7TWO is on Friday December 18 (at 1 pm) broadcasting Kylie Minogue’s concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall last Friday. She trilled through her new Christmas album and hits, joined by an orchestra, Dannii Minogue and Chrissie Hynde.

Iggy Azalea and Erykah Badu have made up, sort of, after the latter announced at the Soul Train Awards that what the Aussie-born gal did was “definitely is not rap.” Badu offered a half-hearted apology saying her daughters Puma and Mars were big fans of the Aussie. The Ig twittered, “Hey Erykah. Tell the kids I’m a big fan of mom, even if we don’t agree where to file my music in their iTunes folders” and offered free tickets to any of her shows next year.

What would you do for a ticket to a sold-out festival? ‘Alex’ advertised his tix for Sydney’s Knockout Circuz for $260 on Gumtree on the proviso the buyer cook him breakfast, sing the national anthem and lose to him on Mario Kart.

Kate Miller-Heidke and musician husband Keir Nuttall are expecting their first baby in May.

In the meantime, the Sydney Telegraph noted that 5 Seconds of Summer’s Ashton Irwin is now hanging with Playboy playmate Bryana Holly, and that all indications are that Reese Mastin is splitsville with actress Rhiannon Fish and skated on to singer Bonnie Anderson.

Christopher David Navin, former flatmate of Canberra punk identity, Nicholas Sofer-Schreiber aka Ginger Ninja, was acquitted of his murder. But a jury found him guilty of manslaughter. Navin, getting treatment for schizophrenia behind bars since being taken into custody last year, is likely to be sentenced in the new year and faces a maximum of 20 years jail. The Ninja was stabbed 73 times in his home on Boxing Day 2013.

Courtney Barnett is one of the acts announced yesterday to play Spain’s Bilbao BBK Live in the Basque Country’s Arriáiz mountains next July. Also on the bill are The Pixies, New Order, Father John Misty, Hot Chip and M83

Seaton High School is setting up a memorial for one of its students, 19-year old Stefan Woodward who died at the Adelaide stop of Stereosonic, to remember him as a “positive young man who loved playing for Woodville Lacrosse Club” and contributed to the school. Staff will next year discuss with Woodward’s family how he will be remembered, with options including a plaque or memory book.

South African-born Andrew Papas, of New Zealand boy band Titanium, has taken out his NZ citizenship. His girlfriend Megan Sellers, host of ZM breakfast show, quipped he had the choice of either doing that or marrying her to stay in the country. “He went for the easier option,” she cackled.

David Walsh, who runs Hobart’s MONA gallery and the MONA festival, remains determined to set up a mini-casino on its grounds. He also announced plans to extend the gallery, and set up two playgrounds and a hotel to be called either HOtelMOna or HOMO Walsh also has a number of offsite projects, including a recording school for disadvantaged rappers in New Orleans, a cooking school at his farm near Marion Bay and a potential hotel collaboration in Hobart.