Australia: Maroon 5, Lily Allen, Phil Collins, KFC, Spotify

Jeff Spicer / Getty Images for Malibu – Lily Allen
at the Sir Lloyd Sound Stage at Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2018 in London, England.

Maroon 5, Phil Collins, Lily Allen Confirmed For Summer

Live Nation confirmed Maroon 5’s Red Pill Blues World Tour lands in Australia for three shows. These are Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre Feb. 19, Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena Feb. 21 and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena Feb. 22.

Phil Collins’ return had a strong start for TEG Dainty. He initially was to do five arenas Jan. 19 to Feb. 1. But with a surge in presale tickets, a sixth show was added Sept. 3, a second date for Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena Jan. 22.

Frontier Touring has Lily Allen at five theatres Feb. 2-12. The British singer-songwriter last toured Australia four years ago.

Now back in cool spaces after Weezer’s cover of “Africa,” Toto was an eye-raising addition to Falls, the four-state touring festival over December/January. The band shares the bill with Chvrches, Interpol, Anderson .Paak and the Vaccines and Aussie names Vance Joy, Hilltop Hoods, Amy Sharkm Tkay Maidza and DMA’s.

When Nicki Minaj delayed her North American tour some weeks ago, she asserted she would still be in Australia in January. The traveling FOMO Festival bill, announced Sept. 3, had her listed alongside Mura Masa, Rae Sremmurd, Anna Lunoe and Carmouflage Rose. The outdoor festival plays four East Coast cities Jan. 5-13.

Car Drives Into Brawlers Outside Club

A car ploughed at top speed into a group of 200 brawlers outside Melbourne’s The Gasometer club Sept. 2, putting an 18-year-old in the hospital with serious leg injuries after he was pinned against a parked car.

The driver fled but was later apprehended. “He was going at a blistering pace and he was f***ing aiming for people straight at them,” one witness told the Herald Sun. “Everyone was screaming. I didn’t see the moment of impact but it was clear he had just one agenda, to annihilate people.”

Six others were injured during the fight which began inside the club during a showcase by 66 Records, a hip hop label with mostly African Australian artists, and spilled outside. Police stated that the fight began between groups of Pacific Islanders and African Australians. Media reports suggested that the seriously injured man had been charged with fatally stabbing 19-year old woman Laa Chol in July and this was a payback. Police refused to comment on these claims. A 66 Records rep said the label held talks with police the day before the event, expecting trouble, and also hired extra security.

KFC Launches ‘Bucket. Why Not?’ Music Series

KFC’s “Bucket. Why Not?” TVC has expanded into a live music series, partnering with Universal Music Australia’s associated creative agency BRING. The first one of the series, Aug. 29, featured British band Rudimental.

On the morning of the show, Rudimental posted a video on its Facebook page urging fans to meet at a KFC outlet in Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach by 1 p.m.. The 250 fans who assembled were transported by bus to the famous Bondi Icebergs pool where the band played in the emptied pool. Angela Richards, CMO of KFC, said, “It marks a first for KFC as we enter new territory and reward fans who are bold enough to say Bucket. Why Not? in the spirit of seizing the moment, KFC is very excited to uncover more surprise events to allow fans to live this mantra with us.”

Viva Changes Name To Mark New Additions

Melbourne boutique artist touring and booking agency Viva Artists announced a rebrand Sept. 3 to Viva Music Group. This coincided with the company dividing itself into three departments for more specialized treatment of its roster. Vita will house all contemporary acts, Vita Electronic after DJ and electronic-based artists and Vita Alternative for heavier groups.

Lachlan Monty and Matthew Whiting of alt-rock PR and management company Friends Like Us have joined Viva in the latter division. They join Viva founder Guven Yilmaz and agents Jon Hanlon, Shelley Liu and Cameron Mackinnon. Best known on Viva’a roster are electronic act Peking Duk who’ve toured the globe behind a record deal with RCA/Sony.

Spotify Announces First Playlist-Based Concert

Spotify Australia stages its first playlist-themed concert in the Asia-Pacific at a mystery location in Sydney Oct. 11. It is based on the music of its indie playlist Front Left.

The bill for Front Left Live includes electro duo Cosmo’s Midnight, indigenous hip-hop acts Baker Boy and Dallas Woods, singer-songwriter Hatchie and emerging pop singers Kota Banks and CXLOE. An international name will be added closer to the date, the streaming service said, along with a number of domestic acts.