Features
Australia: Future, Young Thug, Wonderlick, Kesha, Sydney Opera House
Future and Young Thug added to Sydney and Auckland, City Limits
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Future and Young Thug are the latest international acts added to the inaugural Sydney City Limits, Feb. 24 at Centennial Parklands and Auckland City Limits, which takes place March 3 in Western Springs and made its debut in 2016 to 25,000.
The lineups already share Justice, Phoenix, Grace Jones, Beck, The Libertines and Thundercat,
The Sydney event features local names including Flume, Vance Joy, The Avalanches, the ARIA Awards dominating Gangs of Youth. Auckland’s Australian and New Zealand acts include Katchafire, SWIDT, Tash Sultana, Peking Duk and up-and-comers Alien Weaponry and JessB.
Wonderlick Opens New York Office
Sydney-based Wonderlick Entertainment celebrates its 10th anniversary by opening an office in New York. Originally set up by artist managers Gregg Donovan and Stu MacQueen, it went on to represent major acts including Amy Shark, Airbourne, Grinspoon, Pete Murray, Boy & Bear, Josh Pyke, The Paper Kites, Holy Holy and Montaigne, all of whom have made a global splash. It has since expanded to include a record label and publishing company as a joint venture with Sony Music and Sony/ATV.
Donovan says that the New York office will drive more direct engagement with overseas markets, especially North America and Europe, and with its Sony partners. “Our artists perform far more shows overseas than they do in Australia, and many artists on our roster are releasing music with label partners internationally.”
Synchronisation and streaming service playlisting are considered a priority for the office, which will be handled by Donovan and MacQueen, although Donovan told Pollstar that a label/product manager will be hired early 2018.
She’s A Rainbow: Kesha Returns After Six Years
In the wake of her headliner North American run, Kesha returns Down Under after six years. Already announced in Bluesfes’s Dec. 8 third artist announcement – which also included the addition of Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge, among others – Select Touring has her at three theatres and two arenas March 26 to April 5.
Live Nation and Unify have Limp Bizkit following their March 24 appearance at the inaugural Download Festival in Melbourne with shows at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion and Riverstage Brisbane with Of Mice & Men and Australian hard rock band Ocean Grove.
Live Nation has Beck following his Sydney City Limits set with late February headliner shows at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena and Canberra’s Royal Theatre, joined by Australian singer-songwriter Meg Mac.
Following his debut in Australia with his rap posse Ratking Frontier Touring has NYC rap prodigy Wiki making solo club appearances in Sydney and Melbourne Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
Frontier, Illusive and A Day On The Green’s inaugural R&B Vine Days created enough of a strong consumer response (the show at Yarra Valley in Victoria sold out) for a fourth winery to be added. Boyz II Men, TLC, Shaggy, DJ Horizon and YO! MAFIA now also head to Leconfield Wines at McLaren Vale, South Australia, Feb. 11.
A second Sydney show for a Boyz II Men and TLC co-headline was added, while extra TLC dates were scheduled for Hobart and Perth.
SWV (Sisters with Voices) make their Australian and New Zealand debut for Abstract Entertainment and Delta Bravoas part of their 25th anniversary, with three club dates February 1 to February 3. They’re joined by NYC’s Allure, returning after seven years.
The I Love The ‘90s March 2018 tour – with Naughty By Nature, Sisqo, Blackstreet and Montell Jordan – was canceled Dec. 9 due to “international scheduling issues” promoter MJR Presents said.
Attendance Growth Leads To Name Change For Gold Coast Festival
Following a 77 percent rise in attendance to 50,000 this July, the Gold Coast’s three-day free Broadbeach Country Music festival is changing its name to Groundwater Country Music as part of a growth strategy.
The new name signifies the spiritual and economic importance of groundwater to the Aboriginal and farming communities.
Jan McCormick, CEO of organiser Broadbeach Alliance, says that while the event will stay true to its country roots, the plan is to widen the style of acts to draw a wider and younger demographic. We have been watching this musical genre closely on a global landscape and felt now is the right time to introduce a new brand signifying that we are ready to take the strength of this festival even further.”
Broadbeach Alliance was set up by local businesses to generate tourist activity in the quieter winter months. The country music festival was launched six years ago, while Blues On Broadbeach set up 2002 now draws 120,000.
Sydney Opera House Opens Online Store
AP Photo / Rob Griffifth, File – Sydney Opera House
One of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks among tourists has seen its gift store go online to provide international delivery of merchandise, homewares and souvenirs.
These include drinking glasses by Jørn Utzon who designed the Opera House as well as themed LED lamps, monopoly set and Lego, the Sydney Daily Telegraph reported.
More than 8 million people visit to the landmark each year and its two bricks-and-mortar stores turn over 150,000 sales.