Bushfire Fundraisers Reach U.S.

Expatriate Australians in the U.S. are holding bushfire benefits as the human death toll rises to 28 and wildlife population to 1 billion. The EDM community including Nina Las Vegas, What So Not, Vassy and PNAU are set for Make It Rain Jan. 28 in LA’s Academy.

Economic, cultural and technology exchange body G’Day USA is holding events on both sides of the coast for the Australian Bushfire Relief Fund established by G’Day USA partner the American Australian Association (AAA). Its annual gala Jan. 26 at 3Lab In Culver City, Calif., features 5 Seconds of Summer, Delta Goodrem, Thelma Plum, John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Paul Hoagn and Hugh Sheridan. The AAA Arts Award Jan. 30 at Skylight Modern, NYC, will honor author Peter Carey, singer Kylie Minogue and actor Jacob Elordi.

To promote the importance of tourism spend in driving bushfire recovery, Tourism Australia will hold media and industry briefings starting in LA January 27 with other US cities to follow.

At home, the Aussie music and wider community have raised multi-million dollars for relief of humans and animals. Visiting celebrities have also cast their line in. As reported in Pollstar, Queen and Alice Cooper are among the first acts for TEG’s Fire Fight Australia February 16 at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium while Elton John is heavily rumored for Sound Relief.

A charity BBQ Gift For Good in Melbourne January 12 by Mac DeMarco and Aussie music friends raised $210,000 (US$144,517) for First Nation communities and wildlife.

Billy Idol auctioned off meet and greets and donated parts of merchandising sales at his late January Riverstage Brisbane and Sydney Hordern Pavilion shows, for which the venues and promoter Frontier Touring will match dollar for dollar. Tickets were given to firefighters.

Lizzo dropped by at Foodbank Victoria’s warehouse in Melbourne and helped pack emergency supplies.

In addition to its involvement in the multi-city Sound Relief shows, Live Nation Australasia donated A$500,000 ($344,088).

Laneway Festival’s five shows Feb. 1 to 9 will donate 50 cents from each beer sold and will turn its after-parties into benefits.

A two-date fund raising reunion by The Wiggles’ original lineup in Sydney was marred when former member Greg Page (Yellow Wiggle) suffered a heart attack onstage and attended to by an off-duty nurse in the crowd.