Australia: Optus Stadium, Peter Noble, Gene Simmons, Destroy All Lines

Perth’s New $1.6B Optus Stadium Finally Opens

– Optus Stadium

After 10 years of location debates, budget blowouts and delayed production, Perth’s new A$1.6 billion ($1.28 billion) sports and entertainment Optus Stadium finally opened to the public Jan. 21. Over 110,000 people went through the gates on the day, allowed in as part of eight sessions.

With 60,000 seats for sports events – and up to 70,000 for concerts if the stage is set mid-pitch – it’s the third-largest stadium in Australia, after the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Stadium Australia in Sydney.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8 a.m., the venue was put through its paces, with the acoustics of local gigs, 15,000 LEDs as part of what is claimed to be the largest sporting lighting system in the world, 1,000 TV screens and two of the largest screens in the southern hemisphere, security precautions and some offerings of the precinct’s 71 beverage and food outlets.

One-time state premier Colin Barnett, who kickstarted the project, said,  “The stadium has become almost the focal point of the city, it’s an entry statement for people coming in to Western Australia through the airport, and it’s become a dominant feature of Perth. That’s testament to both the architect and the design that went into it, it’s a striking building both from the outside and inside.” Barnett pushed for the venue’s name to be Perth Stadium to brand-link the city. But the naming rights to technology giant Optus will generate an estimated A$50 million ($40 million) over 10 years.

The first event Jan. 28 is a one-day cricket match between Australia and England. The first concerts are March 2-3 shows by Ed Sheeran. Taylor Swift follows Oct. 19 and Rihanna late 2019.  The BHP Amphitheatre in the Stadium Park precinct provides 1,000 seating for outdoor movies, children’s plays and intimate concerts.

Bluesfest’s Peter Noble Honoured By Blues Foundation

Byron Bay-based promoter Peter Noble was one of 12 recipients of the Memphis, Tenn.-based The Blues Foundation’s Keeping the Blues Alive Award. Noble founded Bluesfest three decades ago. Its 100,000-strong annual crowd attendance and premier bills have seen the festival acknowledged as taking the blues to younger audiences.

In his acceptance speech, Noble recalled his time promoting blues and jazz acts in the United States. His first concert was B.B. King at the Paramount Theatre in Portland, Ore., where “His sound system blew up during his first song.”

Noble also spoke of travelling the Australian interior in small vans with the likes of John Mayall, Canned Heat, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Dr Feelgood, Johnny Copeland and Albert King. An emotional moment for Noble was visiting slave forts during a trip to Ghana in 2017 and experiencing the birthplace of blues and jazz.

MMF New Zealand Launches Music Managers Awards For 2018

The 14th Music Managers Awards return in 2018 May 9 to the Tuning Fork club in Auckland. They are organised by the Music Managers Forum NZ with the NZ Music Commission, a government agency briefed to grow the local music industry, and Recorded Music NZ.

Nominations opened Jan. 22 for the manager, breakthrough manager, self-managed artist, emerging manager and international achievement of the year, along with best independent tour, small venue, large venue and industry champion. In 2017,

In 2017 Alastair Burns was voted manager of the year for his work with country soul singer Marlon Williams and singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin, both of whom toured globally. The international achievement gong went to Julie Foa’i for her work with Te Vaka who was hired by Disney for the “Moana” soundtrack.

Destroy All Lines Gains Global Representation

A new partnership struck by promoter Destroy All Lines with newly established UK-based Twin V Ltd will give the 15-year old company greater global representation, digital marketing and greater access to agents and managers. Twin V was set up by Alexander Milas, former editor in chief of Metal Hammer magazine. Since former Soundwave GM Chris O’Brien joined Destroy All Lines as GM of touring in 2016, the acts booked have included Deftones, AFI, Primal Scream and All Time Low. Upcoming tours include Simple Plan, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Stray From The Path, Deez Nuts and Cattle Decapitation.

Gene Simmons Delays Visit

Jim Hill – Gene Simmons of KISS
Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Gene Simmons’ visit for TEG [Live] was delayed to Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre (Aug. 28), Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne (Aug. 30), Enmore Theatre, Sydney (Aug. 31) and Tivoli Centre, Brisbane (Sept. 1). No reason was given for the delay, but it allows Simmons to spotlight the 40th anniversary of the Sept. 18 release of his first solo album, which was released simultaneously with solo records by Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.

Yoga Festival Promoter In Insolvency, Owes $1.6M

Yoga Events, the company licensed to operate the Wanderlust festival in Australia and New Zealand since 2013, has filed for insolvency, according to New Zealand’s Stuff site.

This is despite the local festival enjoying its biggest crowds yet last November. According to a Jan. 22 report in Australia’s Sunshine Coast Daily (https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/failed-company-collapsed-owing-16-million/3316206/) the initial liquidator’s report has revealed debts in the order of A$1.6 million ($1.28 million).