Australian News 7/11

Wonder, Mellencamp Heat Up Spring

The southern spring schedule has started to fill up, led by return visits after long absences from Stevie Wonder and John Mellencamp.

Wonder is back after 20 years, with Dainty Consolidated Entertainment and Live Nation signing him October 14-25 for five dates on his "A Wonder Spring Night" tour.

Frontier Touring has John Mellencamp, who last visited 15 years ago, teaming him with Sheryl Crow. Of their 10 dates November 15 to December 7, five are winery "A Day On The Green" shows for Roundhouse Entertainment.

The Living End will preview material off its next album with a dozen club dates September 12 to October 2.

Vancouver’s The New Pornographers were booked by Billions Australia for October 5-12.

Ever the romantic, Timbaland pushed back the six arena shows of his July tour for Showtime Touring Group by a month (August 16-23), so he could go on his honeymoon.

 

Angels Relaunch At Golden Stave

The original Angels – currently on a reunion tour – made their return to the stage at the annual children’s charity Golden Stave luncheon.

It was held June 27 at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion in front of 1,100 people.

Their four-song set had label CEOs and magazine columnists on the dancefloor. Two days later, the lineup played its first public show and drew 2,000 fans, after which the band stayed for two hours signing autographs.

 

Short Notes

A man injured in a brawl during the South Australian Dance Music awards in May 2005 is suing for $40,000. The awards were at the AAMI Stadium in Adelaide.

Trouble reportedly began after a nightclub owner invited some Hell’s Angels as his guests. A rival gang gatecrashed, firing shots, causing 600 guests to flee. Kim Matthew Jordan’s suit targets AAMI and security company Weslo Staff for allowing the gatecrashers in.

Tour promoter KMW Productions has moved to Suite 6 / 63 Stud Road, Bayswater, Vic 3153. Postal address is PO Box 1275, Upwey, Vic 3158. Phone is 61-3-9729 4000 and fax is 61-3-9729 4003.

Atomic Drop Entertainment – which books NSW venues including the Sandringham Hotel, The Manly Fisho’s and The Oxford Tavern – has moved offices. Its new phone number is 61-2-9401-4293. Postal address remains the same, P.O. Box 629, Narrabeen 2101.

Former SonyBMG Queensland execs Brent Hampstead and Brett Farley set up Media Hammer, which handles PR and media strategies.Natalie Bassingthwaighte has quit the Rogue Traders band to focus on her solo TV career.

Talent agency Artist & Entertainment Group, set up by supermodel Elle MacPherson’s brother Ben, is moving out of entertainment to join the energy sector. Set up five years ago, it represented clients including Delta Goodrem and Deni Hines but continued to lose money.

A collaboration of Jacobsen Presents and The Really Useful Company Asia Pacific sees Disney’s "High School Musical – Live on Stage!" begin its Aussie run at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre December 20.

Online ticketing business Moshtix’s operations manager Adam McArthur took over as managing director July 1. This comes after Moshtix founder Hamish Petrie departed the role, a year after the company was sold to Rupert Murdoch’s News Digital Media.