Aussies And Kiwis 10/25

Adelaide Festival Centre Attendance Up

Attendance at the Adelaide Festival Centre climbed 35 percent in the past two years, the venue said.

The venue cited figures that 966,417 people visited Festival Centre events in 2007-08, up from 895,000 in 2006-07 and 713,253 in 2005-06.

Ticketed events last year attracted 542,724 people to 1,103 performances.

The AFC posted a trading surplus of $317,000.

 

Obits

Linda Gebar – one-time manager of Australian groups Frente! and the Blackeyed Susans and longtime booker at Melbourne’s Punters Club – died age 43 after complications from the birth of her second daughter.

Joan Ridgeway, one of Australia’s earliest female country music touring and recording stars, died age 86 in Queensland.

 

Short Notes

Frontier Touring Company announced eight arena/theatre dates Feb. 13-28 for The Veronicas with Metro Station opening, and two club dates for Franz Ferdinand in early January.

The Black Keys and Gomez are booked for nine dates for Love Police and Billions Australia for late December.
The Who will be announced to play Melbourne Grand Prix in March.

 

New Zealand

 

Short Notes

Frederic Guillemont has stepped down as chairperson of Auckland’s gay and lesbian Hero Festival after 18 months, as he got a new job abroad. He was replaced by board secretary Richard Kittelty.

Promoter Matt Crawley sold $9,000 worth of tickets through the Real Groovy music stores for Canadian band The New Pornographers’ early October visit, but the chain has since gone into receivership.

The Wairarapa Country Music Club in Masterton canned its awards after 21 years, citing a drop in entries and volunteers.
 

The NZ Music Manager Awards will take place Nov. 6 at Auckland’s Backbeat Bar. Categories include manager of the year, upcoming manager, four regional managers and “industry champion.” The major winner gets a $10,000 TV spot and ad space in magazines.