Venues Update March 24
Image: Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
SCA’S RNB FRIDAYS AT IVY
Southern Cross Austereo’s high rating RnB Fridays brand is becoming a weekly live event at Sydney’s Ivy. US R&B singer Mya is launching it on March 31.
The show began broadcasting in Australia in 2015, and quickly topped the ratings, broadcast over 43 national stations on the Hit Network.
SCA expanded it to compilations and, last year, a tour in collaboration with Frontier Touring that broke venue attendance records.
RnB Fridays is also taking over MTV Dance – read more here.
PERTH LOSES NEW ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
A plan to launch a new live music venue in Perth has collapsed at the 11th hour. Local music concerts and festivals promoter Mellen Events approached Perth City Council a year ago. The owners would spend $3 million to $3.5 million on doing up the 88-year old building, which closed three years ago and now decrepit.
Mellen would hold stage 1300 concerts and musical productions there over the next years, starting from 2018. The Council just needed to inject $1.7 million worth of sponsorship.
According to projections, the first year of operation would have 75 shows drawing 52,500 people. After four years, it would rise to 140 events, attracting 98,000 people.
Initially, Council was unanimously excited over the idea, as it would revitalise an area of the city which needed it.
But the last minute change of mind came, according to media, when Happy Heart, which is restoring Rechabites Hall in Northbridge as a performance and hospitality venue, protested that the Piccadilly was being given financial aid that its commercial rivals were not getting.
DOMAIN STADIUM PREPARING LAST HURRAH
With all the action moving from Domain Stadium (aka Subiaco Oval) to the new Perth Stadium, you’d have thought owners the West Australian Football Commission would have been satisfied leaving on a peak with Adele’s recent show. It confirms it was their fastest sell-out and highest selling concert ever.
But it is a sports stadium after all, so it looks as though its swansong could be International Rules series in November – it is bidding for the rights to host the event.
MAX WATTS AXES BEENIE MAN
Max Watts in Sydney axed a show by Jamaica’s Beenie Man this week “due to a large number of alleged fraudulent ticket sales.” These sales were not through the club’s official ticket provider, OzTix.
HER MAJESTY’S RAISING FUNDS FOR FINAL UPGRADE
Her Majesty’s in Adelaide needs to raise the final $3.2 million of its $35 million renovation. So it’s brought in ambassadors as Barry Humphries, Todd McKenney and soprano Greta Bradman (granddaughter of the cricketing legend) to spread the good word among those willing to dig into their pockets. Donations can be made online.
By the time the renos are finished by the end of 2018, the 100-year old heritage listed venue’s grand final will be restored, its capacity increased from 970 seats to 1500 (to draw larger productions) and a new foyer with bars.
ROW OVER ANU BAR
The student’s union at Canberra’s Australian National University (ANU) have a bone to pick with the uni’s authorities, the Canberra Times revealed. The union has operated the ANU Bar as a live music venue for decades.
ANU Union was given a space in the pop-up village set up during the uni’s $220 million upgrade, but will not operate the bar nor manage the space.
Union chairman Tom Lindenmayer said he was disappointed because proceeds from the venue would have continued to direct funds towards student projects and needs.
A NEW STADIUM FOR DARWIN?
A multi-purpose stadium in Darwin is one of the projects on the list of the new Northern Territory Government’s list. Details are still sketchy but the old Tank Farm site is the preferred place to build it on.
BOOKER FOR DING DONG
Major live music mecca the Ding Dong Lounge is looking for a band booker. Applications to [email protected].
EIMEO PACIFIC FOR SALE
The Eimeo Pacific Hotel in Mackay, which showcases live acts, is up for sale. Popular with tourists, its current owners are selling it because they are now aged in their ’60s. The sale is being pitched to developers, who are more likely to pay the price it deserves, and more likely demolish it to make way for a greater development to make use of its 2 hectare waterfront position.
NEW VENUE FOR PORT MACQUARIE
Port Macquarie, NSW, is getting a new live music and dining venue. Al Owen, who runs the Black Duck Brewery, has taken over the lease of the former site of the Pier.
The idea is to invigorate the wharf end of Clarence Street after it opens before Easter, with live bands a key part of the draw.
ROYAL CROQUET CLUB IS MISSED!
You can never please some people, the Adelaide Fringe venue Royal Croquet Club has discovered.
A year ago, other traders at the 5,000 capacity pop-up venue’s former home of Victoria Square huffed and puffed about how unfair it was that it could trade until 2am and was taking business away.
Now, the Adelaide Advertiser reports, the traders are whinging that after their profits are well down because the pop-up wasn’t there to deliver a flow-on effect from drawing thousands of people into the city.
The RCC had the last laugh. By moving to the larger Riverbank precinct, it had its capacity expanded to 7000 and a closing time of 3am – and pulled audiences away from other areas. It said that it was the Australian Hotels Association SA causing the ruckus on behalf of some of its members.
CAIRNS DINNER THEATRE RETURNING
Two months after performing arts space Cairns Dinner Theatre shuttered its Lake St venue, it’s announced it’s returning in a new space.
It’s struck a deal with Reef Hotel Casino to move into the larger 130-capacitry space where the Velvet Underground nightclub operated, and will relaunch productions in May.