Australia: Lockout Demonstrations, Earthcore Festival Founder Dies, Bryan Ferry, Slash, Florida Georgia Line

New South Wales and Queensland appear to be having a rethink of controversial legislation introduced in recent years to combat alcohol-fueled violence in entertainment precincts.

The NSW Legislative Council is debating a bill Oct. 25 that the 2014 rules – which stop new patrons from 1:30 a.m. and last drinks at 3 a.m. – be relaxed for some precincts. Media reports suggest deputy premier John Barilaro, who is leading the push, has eight cabinet ministers on side. 

Lobby group Keep Sydney Open is holding a rally outside Parliament during the debate. Spokesperson Tyson Koh said, “This is our chance to reinforce at this crucial time how deeply despised these laws are and how they have crippled Sydney. With an NSW election in March next year we need to send our message loud and clear: enough with the lockout laws!”

In the meantime, a report about the effectiveness of ID scanners introduced June 2017 at late-night venues has left the Queensland government embarrassed. The idea of the scanners was to red-flag potential troublemakers banned by courts from entering licensed venues. But a report on the federal government-run ABC found that of 2.8 million IDs scanned since the start of the program, only 488 were on the banned list. It pointed out, “That means just 0.004% of the IDs scanned were of patrons on banning orders.” 

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath argued that the low number of pick-ups showed the system worked as a deterrent. D’Ath since announced a final review, initially due October 2018, would now be delivered April 2 to allow the consideration of further key data. Queensland Hotels Association CEO Bernie Hogan told the ABC, “Right from the very beginning, we had members who would say it was a 25 – 30% downturn in the first month. This hasn’t recovered and this continues across the state to experience those sorts of downturns.”

Spiro Boursine, founder of the Earthcore dance music festival, died in police custody.  According to Victoria Police, officers were called to Melbourne’s Antique Bar in the early hours of Oct. 20 where a 45-year-old male had been assaulting patrons and had been pinned down by other patrons. Boursine, who reportedly had a history of heart issues, was in handcuffs when he died.

Earthcore began in 1992 as the first of what Australians call “bush doofs,” staged in natural habitats, with an accent on progressive dance music, environmental issues and alternate lifestyles. It soon expanded from Victoria to around the country to overseas to New Caledonia. But last year’s event encountered financial problems, and the festival contracted to one state. The 25th instalment is still set to stage Nov. 22. Jimmy Barber, managing director of event company Dark Riddims, called Boursine “a polarising icon. Love him or hate him, he was still an icon.”

Bryan Ferry, Slash and Florida Georgia Line are the latest major names added to the growing Australian and New Zealand summer tour circuit.

Ferry returns after eight years for Frontier Touring, for seven shows Feb. 21 to March 7. These include four indoor arenas in Melbourne, Sydney, Wellington and Auckland and four A Day on the Green winery dates with ‘80s Australian hitmakers I’m Talking, Died Pretty and The Models.

TEG Dainty has Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators for six arena dates, with two in New Zealand Jan. 25-26, and around Australia Jan. 28 to Feb. 3.

Florida Georgia Line, which has been slowly translating its U.S. success Down Under since 2016, headlines the sold-out CMC Rocks Queensland festival. Its promoters, Chugg Entertainment and Rob Potts’ Entertainment Edge, have extended FGL’s visit, along with Statesiders Rhett Walker and Morgan Wallen, with arenas in Cairns, Sydney and Melbourne March 15-20.

Eighties UK pop duo Bananarama is returning after its last visit three years ago for seven theatre stops Feb. 17-28. Frontier Touring and Arena Touring have booked Tiffany (US) and Amber (Germany) to open.

Taio Cruz was added as the final addition to a jam-packed RNB Fridays Live, a successful series for Illusive Presents and Frontier Touring. The Sydney and Melbourne stops of five national stadium shows Nov. 9-17 sold out, not surprising with a bill that features Usher, Lil Jon, Salt N Pepa, T-Pain, Trey Songz, Eve, Naughty By Nature, Ginuwine, Estelle, Next, Horizon, Yo! Mafia, and Fatman Scoop.

The Eagles play a second show at Auckland’s Spark Arena, now at the venue Feb. 26-27.

New Zealand breakthrough act Alien Weaponry makes its North American debut opening for Ministry – one of the bands they grew up listening avidly to.

 The 22-date tour begins Nov. 21 in San Francisco and wraps Dec. 21 in Los Angeles. The three, aged 16 to 18, deliver thrash-metal riffs in the Maori language and this year made its live debut in Australia, the UK and Europe.  At the Vodafone NZ Music Awards at Auckland’s Spark Arena Nov. 15, they are up for best album, best group, best rock artist and best Maori artist.