Australia: Live Events On For Aussie Spring

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 – Land Of Plenty

More Events Confirmed For Spring

Spring seems to be an early turning point for the Australian live sector, with a number of festivals and tours rescheduling under the assumption that the government would have lifted its ban on gatherings over 100 people by then.

A few weeks ago, Splendour In The Grass, expected to draw 50,000, moved from July to three days in late October.

In the latest move, Red Hill Entertainment is holding the second all-ages Land Of Plenty Oct. 31 in association with the city council of Shepparton, two hours north of Melbourne. Red Hill is owned by The Hill Are Alive Group and Unified Music Group which also run the traditional heavy rock sell-out Unify Gathering.

Zaccaria Concerts & Touring moved this month’s By The C in Perth, headlined by Icehouse, to Nov. 7 at the same venue, City Beach Oval.

South Australia’s peak music association Music SA’s showcase of the state’s talent, Umbrella, was delayed to Sept. 18 through Oct. 4.

NYC-based metal outfit Helmet’s 8-date 30th anniversary through Australia and New Zealand was rescheduled from May to November.

MJR Presents shifted UB40’s seven dates celebrating their 40th anniversary to Oct. 30 to Nov. 8. The British reggae band, long time visitors since the ’70s, sold out their last three visits in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Faith No More, Under The Southern Stars Reschedule

Faith No More rescheduled their seven shows in May 2020 through Australia and New Zealand to Feb. 22 through March 6, Frontier Touring has confirmed.

The 11-date Under The Southern Stars festival, featuring LIVE, Bush and Stone Temple Pilots, now also has a February/March slate, promoter Andrew McManus said.

One Step Closer To New Adelaide Concert Hall

The long-awaited acoustic concert hall for Adelaide took a step forward with the South Australian government revealing it has begun to look at logistics, potential sites, overseas venue designs and consultations with local arts organizations.

It would most likely not only be a performance space but also home to arts organizations and a music education center.

Live Production Sector Proposes Emergency Clinics

With tens of thousands of workers, equipment and skills lying idle post-coronavirus, Australia’s live production sector reached out to national and state governments offering to supply the quick installation of temporary self-contained mobile testing facilities.

If required, the offer extends to a medical clinic, complete with tunnels leading from hospitals. 

“As long as there are no disruptions, we can have these clinics operational within two to three days,” said Howard Freeman, co-founder of road crew welfare association CrewCare.

The external structure and internal plywood and vinyl flooring will be by Quality Event Hire. Eventpower Solutions would fit out all electrical requirements, run off large scale generators. Event Medical Services Australia, which sets up triage and temporary clinics at large scale events, will offer staff and beds.

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 – Kirsty Rivers

Kirsty Rivers Head Of Music At Australia Council

Kirsty Rivers is new head of music at the Australia Council, the government’s funding and advisory body, effective April 22. 

She joins from the state of Victoria’s arts and music Creative Victoria, which she joined five years ago as senior manager, contemporary music.

Based in Melbourne, Rivers has long been associated with grassroots initiatives especially during a lengthy stint as national manager of writer services, with rights organization APRA AMCOS. 

She was also vice chair of The Push, which trained young entrepreneurs to stage underage gigs, and served on the board of influential college radio 3PBS-FM. 

At Creative Victoria she was instrumental in delivering the interactive museum The Australian Music Vault, and the Victorian Music Development Office.

APRA Awards Announce Nominees

Tones & I, the singer songwriter whose global breakthrough ‘Dance Monkey’ is about her days as a busker, leads the nominations for the major songwriters’ APRA Music Awards, with four. They include song of the year and breakthrough songwriter.

Due to the coronavirus, the awards will be held online May 26. Multi-nominees include LA-based Sarah Aarons, blues-rock outfit, The Teskey Bros, hip hop trio Hilltop Hoods, rock band Birds of Tokyo, EDM producer Illy, R&B singer Guy Sebastian and First Nation troubadour Thelma Plum.

5 Seconds Of Summer Make Chart History

Sydney-based 5 Seconds Of Summer became the second Australian band to debut four albums at No. 1 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) chart.  

Their CALM came in at No. 1 April 4 beating The Weeknd’s After Hours. The first band to do so were Silverchair between 1995 and 2002.

5SOS are in preparations to tour internationally in June, playing Australia end of the year.