Australia: Eminem, Greta Van Fleet Announce Dates, Lorde Cancellation Fallout

Eminem leads the latest round of summer tours, returning for a stadium run in five cities – two he is playing for the first time. The Detroit rapper’s most recent treks, 2014’s Rapture Tour and 2011’s Lose Yourself Australia Tour, were instant sellouts. Promoter TEG Dainty noted, “He’s no stranger to selling out stadium shows in less than 30 minutes in this country.”

The Rapture 2019 Tour, announced Oct. 15, begins Brisbane at QSAC (Feb. 20), then at Sydney ANZ Stadium (Feb. 22) and the Melbourne Cricket Grounds (Feb. 24). He plays his first ever show in Perth at Optus Stadium (Feb. 27).

The sole New Zealand show saw Wellington make a more successful pitch over Auckland, landing Em for March 2 at Westpac Stadium. In the past two years, Ed Sheeran, Pink and Adele bypassed Wellington for Auckland or Dunedin. Westpac Stadium chief executive Shane Harmon suggested it could be Wellington’s biggest show to date, exceeding Robbie Williams’ 42,500 draw in 2000 at the venue. Warrick Dent at Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency predicted a massive financial windfall for the city: with 20,000 of the crowd forecast to come from out of town.

Of other summer tours, Secret Sounds has George Ezra at five outdoor and arena stops, Jan 25 to Feb 2.

SBM Presents has They Might Be Giants returning after sellouts in 2015, this time at six theatres Feb. 22 to March 2.

Greta Van Fleet makes its Australian debut, with three theatre dates along the East Coast Jan. 29 to March 5, through Live Nation.

John Prine visits for the first time in 25 years, joined by Kentucky singer/songwriter Tyler Childers. Frontier Touring and Love Police booked two theatres in New Zealand (Feb. 28 and March 2) and three in Australia (March 5 to 9).

Frontier Touring has British breakthrough act Anne Marie returning for five Australian theatres (March 30 to April 6) and making her New Zealand debut at Auckland’s Spark Arena March 28.

Victoria Police are hot in pursuit of a scammer who sold close to 150 fake tickets at the Sept. 22 Melbourne stop of EDM festival Listen Out, and made a profit of A$26,000 ($18,493). The fraudster sold the same ticket to the 149, leaving all but one unable to enter the venue. A Melbourne college student revealed his identity was stolen after he bought two tickets online for Kendrick Lamar some months before. The tickets never materialized but his identity was used by the fraudster.

Two New Zealand activists who were fined NZ$12,000 ($7,810) for apparently behind Lorde’s decision to cancel her December 2017 show in Tel Aviv, Israel, have announced they will not pay and instead raise money for a charity in Gaza.

Late last year, Justine Sachs and Nadia Abu-Shanab, sent an open letter to the New Zealand hit maker appealing for her to cancel her visit to Israel, citing human rights violations of the Palestinian community. Lorde subsequently cancelled the show. Three fans filed suit claiming emotional distress. When an Israeli court announced the fine Oct. 12, the fans’ lawyer, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, said the ruling sends a message that boycotting Israel carries a price. Calling for a boycott of Israel carries a civil penalty.

Sachs tweeted Oct. 12,  “We’ve been overwhelmed with offers of financial support from New Zealand and around the world. We will not be paying the court ordered amount. Instead, we would like to use the publicity surrounding Israel’s stunt to return the attention to Palestine. We’re launching a crowdfunding campaign aiming to raise $12,000 (or more) for The Gaza Mental Health Foundation which financially supports the work of incredible grassroots organisations such as The Gaza Community Mental Health Programme.”

Two Australian women who were among the first to achieve global success were lauded at the inaugural Women In Music Awards (AWMA), at Brisbane’s Powerhouse Oct. 10. Helen Reddy, famed for her worldwide 1972 hit “I Am Woman” – one of her three U.S. chart toppers – was inducted to the AWMA Honour Roll while the late Divinyls frontwoman Chrissy Amphlett was posthumously made a patron alongside indigenous troubadour and activist Ruby Hunter.

“Tonight, for the first time in Australian music history, women will go home with all the awards,” said singer Katie Noonan, who co-hosted the awards with singer and actor Christine Anu. 

 The 15 categories included talents behind and in front of the stage, and also swung the spotlight in achievements by the female indigenous community. Among the winners were current buzz makers, Gordi for songwriter, singer-songwriter Amy Shark and punk outfit Camp Cope tied for international breakthrough, while Courtney Barnett’s Milk! Record co-founder Jen Cloher took the leadership gong. 

Lifetime achievement awards went to soul singer Renee Geyer, folk activist Margret RoadKnight and ’60s surf-rock singer Little Pattie, real name  Patricia Amphlett, and cousin of The Divinyls singer. The awards ceremony was preceded by two days of discussions, panels and keynote speeches.