Australian News 9/6

Snoop Gets Green Light

Andrew McManus Presents’ five-date “Smoked Out” arena tour with Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was announced for October 29 to November 7.

There was initially a problem with Snoop’s visa. The Immigration Department had not yet passed him through when media reports jumped the gun and reported that crime victim groups were up in arms.

As a result, Immigration got rattled and delayed its decision. U.S. media took it a step further and claimed that Australia had green-lighted him and then changed its mind and imposed a ban.

 

Yunupingu Dominates Awards

Indigenous singer Gurrumul Yunupingu took four major awards at the Northern Territory Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin August 30.

His wins included best song and album of the year for his self-titled debut. He performed with headliners Saltwater Band.

Yunupingu, who is blind, is related to members of Yothu Yindi.

Promoter Michael Chugg, one of the night’s presenters, remarked, “With people like Gurrumul, it’s fantastic that the rest of Australia, and the world, is finding out just how good the Territory’s Aboriginal musicians are.”

 

Four From Frontier

Frontier Touring Company added four more tours to its spring and summer schedule.

Kylie Minogue will bring her X2008 tour back to Sydney (Acer Arena December 14) and Melbourne (Rod Laver Arena December 19), and make her first trip to New Zealand (Auckland’s Vector Arena, December 8).

Michael Franti & Spearhead are set to make yet another visit, for 10 college and theatre dates October 7-23.

Irish band The Script, fresh from a No. 1 album in the U.K., is locked in for two club dates September 26 and October 1.

Simple Plan is set to return after three years for five arena stops October 14-21.

 

Managers Taking ‘Control’

Veteran U.K. manager Peter Jenner and Aussie managers Bill Cullen (Paul Kelly) and Michael McMartin (Hoodoo Gurus) will be among those tutoring 15 young managers on the importance of business plans and structures.

The four-day course, titled “Control: The Business Of Music Management,” was the idea of the peak body of various state music associations, Australian Music Industry Network, with help from the Association of Artist Managers.

 

Short Notes

The Vines are expected to return to the road after signing new record deals in the U.K. and U.S.

Melbourne’s ill-fated 2 a.m. nightclub curfew trial was abandoned September 1. Authorities called it a success, pointing to lessening of violence during the trial. Venue owners argued this was due to increased police presence near clubs, which they had long asked for.

In the run-up to Western Australia’s elections, the government promised $1 million extra funding for the contemporary music industry if re-elected. It will be for all-age music events, initiatives to help live music venues and grants for emerging music managers.

Riot police were called to help 50 police officers who were pelted with bottles when they tried to stop an illegal rave in an abandoned warehouse in Sydney that drew 1,500 clubbers.