Australian News 03/01

KMW Bids To Overturn Liquidation Moves

Tour promoter KMW Productions was scheduled to be in court Feb. 25 to overturn liquidation moves by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.

The issue arose from a claim of $2,800. Managing director A.J Maddah says, “The company has sufficient cash in the bank to settle this matter several hundred times over.”

The problem was over a backstage catering dispute.

NSW Lockout Confusion

Confusion continues over 2 a.m. club lockouts in New South Wales as a way to stop assaults in clubs.

The state government is planning to drop the idea, agreeing that it has increased hostility toward venue staff.

Club operators reported that a resultant 40 percent loss of business forced them to trim their security teams by 40 percent. But the city of Sydney is independently looking at shutting clubs by midnight or 2 a.m.

 

Men At Work Feud

A long-simmering feud between members of Men At Work spilled over in early February when ex-guitarist Ron Strykert was arrested for making criminal threats against singer Colin Hay.

On a previous MySpace posting, Strykert’s side of the story was that Hay made a pact with Sony Music to use royalties from Men At Work’s hits album to pay off losses from one of his solo albums.

 

Short Notes

Crossroads Touring Company has relocated offices to Factory 2,31 Winbourne Road, Brookvale NSW 2100. Phone is 61-2-9939 3483 and fax 61-2-9939 4265.

The Killers and Aussie expatriate Sia will perform in Sydney at the MTV Australia awards March 27, while Kings of Leon will be beamed in from New Zealand, performing via satellite from Wellington’s TSB Arena. Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy will host.

Australian U2 fans got a treat when Universal Music Australia accidentally started selling the Irish act’s new album, No Line On The Horizon, a week before release. The mistake was discovered two hours later and the songs were quickly shared through P2P programs.

U.K. singer Lily Allen will do three theatre shows for Lees & West June 8-12.

Michael Coppel Presents will bring Snow Patrol back for three arena dates March 30 to April 2, with Jenny Lewis on the bill.

Sia will expand her appearance at the MTV awards with four club dates March 25-31 through Civil Society.
The Queensland government is active in getting its acts abroad.

It funded folk acts Chris Pickering and Cloudstreet showcase at the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance festival in Memphis, and classical/jazz performer Anthony Garcia’s first visit to Japan.

Five years ago, the government chose Musexpo in Los Angeles as its gateway to the North American scene. This year Wolfmother, Operator Please, Pete Murray, Yves Klein Blue and Dead Letter Circus, and Chris Pickering will play the April 26-29 event.