Australia News: Tourism And Music Business Partner, Xavier Rudd & More

Aussie Music Biz Teams With Tourism Sector To Fuel Recovery

Australia’s music and tourism – two sectors among the hardest hit in the pandemic – are working together to fuel recovery.

The Queensland Music Festival rebranded to QMF and changed format to Queensland Music Trails. Under this road journey/ concerts concept, patrons will over a number of weeks drive to out-of-the-way locations where acts wait to play. 

The first, late June, starts on the estate of 1870s stately manor Jimbour House for two days of opera, wine and cheese. A secret World War II base for US servicemen hosts an under-the-stars concert inspired by astrological arrangements and aboriginal navigation with singer Kate Mille-Heidke and didgeridoo player William Barton.

The remote town of Quilpie hosts Echoes In The Dust for Topology’s music and large-scale prehistoric puppets with a backdrop of magnificent boulders. After chill-out sets by singer songwriters in the red sandhills of Windorah, the trail ends at the Big Red Bash festival in Birdsville in the Simpson Desert with major names Paul Kelly, Ian Moss and Tim Finn.

QMF CEO Joel Edmondson told Pollstar that aside from the music and tourism experience, “it is a way for different communities to work together, and bring visitors in to regional areas to make an all-important economic impact.” By 2025, there will be seven Music Trails a year, generating A$295 million ($228.5 million) and over 3,000 jobs.

Festivals Adelaide and South Australia’s Tourism Industry Council will jointly promote the state as an arts and cultural destination via its events as WOMADelaide, Adelaide Fringe and Adelaide International Guitar Festival. They will also work with government to shape policies relating to business development and growth in culture tourism, promote investment and update infrastructure.

New South Wales promoters Mark Spillane and Andrew Roper initiated Chant Du Vin (“The Song of Wine”) as a team-up with tourism bodies. The first 16 dates from April 29 sees a double decker bus of tourists taken to wineries to partake in wine tasting and listen to music by major names.

Parrtjima, the April 8 to 17 festival of light in Alice Springs, in the red center, combined music with sunrise hot air balloon rides to sunset camel rides and under-the-stars dining. 

In 2021 it drew 23,200 people over ten days, up from 17,000 last year when 80% tourists spent A$1.8 million. It followed a A$230,000 ($178,221) ad campaign promoting the Northern Territory as “the beating heart of First Nations culture” and sold out all hotel rooms.

Michael Chugg and Andrew Stone’s Chugg Music signed its first act in two years. Melbourne indie-pop outfit Teenage Dads joined its management and label divisions, alongside pop band Sheppard and electro-duo Lime Cordiale, both who have a global live, sync and chart presence. 

Teenage Dads came to the attention of the firm at the urging of Lime Cordiale who took them out on tour. “They’re a band that loves being onstage and entertaining,” Chugg said.

The Alanis Morissette-inspired musical Jagged Little Pill opens at Sydney’s revamped Theatre Royal in September. 

The local production, by Trafalgar Entertainment and GWB Entertainment, is the first international staging since the Broadway run was closed due to the pandemic.

Morissette will help select the Australian cast and hopes to attend the premiere.

With plans for tours through Australia, North America, Britain and Europe in the pipeline, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd has set up a new business structure. 

He assigned management to Michael Parisi’s Right Hand Management, Australian and New Zealand bookings to Select Music agency for repping by Stephen Wade, and a global recording deal with Virgin Music Australia.

Rudd, as equally known for his work as animal rights activist and nature conservationist, said in a statement:  “It has been a time to stop and reset in the world and we have all been tested.  For me to have this time to form new alliances with people who are passionate and ready to help me spread a new vibration around the world through my music.”

Parisi told Pollstar he’d long admired Rudd from afar for the way his touring over the last decade made him a platinum artist through Australia and Europe, generating half a billion streams and selling out concerts in 20 global markets.

While working on two recordings – a solo album and a long term project of collaborations with his favorite artists – there are plans for regional and metro runs in Australia this year. 2022 will see a return to festivals and headliners in North America, where he’s repped by Rob Zifarelli at Paradigm Talent, and Europe and Britain where he’s with Nigel Hassler at CAA London.

Major New Zealand live drawcard SIX60’s inaugural concert at Auckland’s Eden Park to 50,000 was broadcast outside NZ. 

Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited’s Pasifika TV service broadcast the April 24 show live to eleven Pacific islands to a potential 10.5 million viewers, while markets as North America can access it via Veeps’ videos on demand service.

The Pacific date, through Eccles Entertainment, reached countries including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

An early project of New South Wales (NSW)’s new 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues is a free 24 Hour Party. Hospitality group Solotel hosts it through eleven of its 19 Sydney venues 8am May 15 to 8am May 16, in conjunction with club promoters Motorik, Heaps Gay, Picnic and Fruit Bowl. 

“People want to party,” said Solotel CEO Elliot Solomon. “Similarly, the excitement among the music and entertainment industry to get back out doing what they do best is palpable.”

Solotel is focusing on local and female talent including Jezabels singer Hayley Mary, alt-pop Banoffee, DJs KLP and Claire Morgan, and bands Megafauna and I Know Leopard. Venues include Kings Cross Hotel, The Bank, The Golden Sheaf, Tokyo Sing Song and The Clock.

Queensland’s Blues On Broadbeach can stage May 20-23 after health officials ticked its COVID Safe Plan. It offers free entertainment through Broadbeach’s streets, parks, bars, beaches and restaurants. In 2019 it drew a record 200,000 but cancelled 2020 due to COVID-19.

This year’s safety plan sees the Park Stages enclosed, with daily check in and wrist banding, limited seating available, food and licensed bar areas, and a dedicated entry and exit.

Dine & Watch precincts are set up where partnering restaurants and bars are extended on the roads so patrons can dine and watch acts.