Australian News 9/13

Somewhere In England

During The Living End’s sold-out U.K. tour, the airline lost all of their luggage between London and Glasgow airports. The luggage proceeded to follow them around the country, finally catching up with them the day after the last show.

Meantime, Australian rock band The Drones’ van was trashed and their luggage stolen in York, northern England. A few days later, while in London celebrating drummer Mike Noga’s birthday, knife-yielding hooded thugs mugged them.

 

Cops Get Power To Close Venues

Proposed legislation changes would give Melbourne police the power to close down overly loud live music venues in the city on the spot.

The Melbourne City Council is under pressure to clamp down following complaints from residents that noise jumped by more than 60 percent between 2005 and 2006.

Other plans will see council getting more strict with clubs that want to extend their business hours or patron capacity, and to reduce the concentration of venues in various strips to cut down on rising assaults in the area.

 

Fringe Allies

The Adelaide Fringe Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – the two largest in the world – have formed an alliance. They will now share staff and actively promote each other.

Staff of both festivals will work in Adelaide in March and in Edinburgh during the August event on a rotating basis. Their travel and full wages will be provided.

South Australia’s Minister assisting in the arts, John Hill, brokered the deal in Edinburgh last month.

 

Melbourne Club Changes

Ruby’s Lounge in Belgrave has a new owner and booker, Jason Land, while previous operators Oska and Im head to live in South America…

Shiny Entertainment is taking over booking for live music venue The Evelyn Hotel in Brunswick. It plans to relaunch the 400-capacity club in November with high-profile shows…

After three years as band booker for The Rob Roy, Brad Murray left to focus on his own business: Wireless Records and Crash! Entertainment. Hotel manager Steve Barrett has taken over Murray’s role…

The Palais in the regional area of Hepburn Springs goes up for auction September 23. It is expected to bring in more than $1.1 million.

 

Baldwin Launches Lighting/Sound Site

Colin Baldwin, veteran of the Australian live production sector, launched his "Lighting Design and Event Consultancy" site at colinbaldwin.com.

It includes the "30 Year History of Rock Lighting and Sound" encapsulating the achievements of Australia’s more creative sound/lighting designers, talented technicians and manufacturers.

The site also hosts collections of memorabilia, tributes, nostalgic images, rare posters and previously unseen videos from landmark events like the final night at the sweaty Bondi Lifesaver in Sydney, where the likes of AC/DC and Midnight Oil played in their early days.

 

Enz Co-Founder Chunn A ‘Legend’

Mike Chunn, one of the original members of Split Enz, is officially a legend, after receiving a Living Legends Award from Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard.

It’s not for his involvement in the Enz, however. Chunn set up a charitable trust called Play it Strange, which develops musical and writing skills at secondary school level.

Chunn believes New Zealand focuses too much on uncovering sporting talent in schools and that a lot of potentially great musicians and songwriters go undiscovered.

Chunn formed the Enz while at university with Tim Finn, Robert Gillies, Phil Judd and Noel Crombie in 1971.

 

Short Notes

Chugg Entertainment is bringing Texas singer/songwriter Patti Griffin here for the first time, accompanied by her guitarist Doug Lancio, with seven theatre and club stops November 13-22.

Just days after announcing a solo tour for October, G Love’s dates have been canceled, citing "changes in his recording schedule for the new album."

Perennial ska-flavoured faves Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake are teaming up for a return run for KMW Productions. They are locked in for six club dates December 7-14.

Chugg Entertainment’s Michael Chugg is said to be working on his autobiography.

is said to be working on his autobiography.

Kelly Clarkson is expected to announce a tour downunder when she does a promo tour for Sony BMG at the end September.

Dave Evans, original singer with AC/DC, has signed a record deal with U.S. label Destroy All Records. Evans is now based in Texas, where he fronts Dave Evans & The Badasses. His CD Sinner is out through DAR on September 25.

Ticketmaster has appointed Matt Huxley COO for Australia and New Zealand. Huxley joined TM in 1995 in London and most recently was senior director of product management at TM’s U.S. headquarters. He will be based in the company’s Melbourne office.