News From Downunder 9/27

Arena Management Adds Another Venue

The Jacobsen family’s Arena Management, which operates Sydney’s Entertainment Centre and Capitol Theatre, has taken over another venue.

It is a youth theatre to be built as part of the $650 million Darling Walk regeneration project. It will be used to develop local talent and host family entertainment.

Arena is also in the running to operate the new Perth arena set to open in 2010.

 

Investigations Into illegal Rave

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) officers and local police are hunting promoters who staged an illegal rave at the Bongil Bongil National Park near Coffs Harbour.

The 100 who attended smashed bottles, lit fires, burned a park sign, crushed local vegetation and left the place strewn with rubbish.

 

More Tours

Among recently announced tours were Simply Red in February for a series of winery dates through Roundhouse Entertainment and theatre dates through Michael Coppel Presents; Tommy Emmanuel in June 2009 for Rob Potts Entertainment Edge; Adrian Belew in December for Enterprise Entertainment; The Kooks in January for Chugg Entertainment and Kenny Rogers in mid-October; Mystery Jets in January for Chugg and Zucchero in November for Musica In Entertainment and Abstract Entertainment.

 

Short Notes

The Jonas Brothers confirmed an Australian date on their world tour, which kicks off next June. They’re working on their TV series.

A new Web site for folks looking for jobs in Australia’s entertainment industry launches Oct. 31. Those taking out a free subscription for backstagejobs.com.au will be e-mailed a list of job openings each week.

Organisers of the Falls Festival in Marion Bay, Tasmania, bought the 90-hectare farm where they stage the festival to ensure they can keep running it there.

Beryl Carnell, 78, who in the ’70s turned The Playroom on the Gold Coast into one of the best-known national venues, died following a stroke. About 600 people gathered at a local surf club to toast Carnell, who said she’d return as a dolphin on her next birthday.

 

New Zealand

Page Sets Up Firm

Ashley Page, A&R and marketing manager at Warner Music New Zealand. has parted with the company to set up Page One Management to look after its acts.

He can be reached at (+64) 9 416 4846 and [email protected].