Australasia News: Juicy Fest, Mundi Mundi Bash; Canberra Juiced; Adelaide Oval Hires; NZ: Aotearoa Music Awards

AUSTRALIA

Festivals: Juicy Fest Returns, Mundi Mundi Sells Out

Retro-urban festival Juicy Fest confirmed a 2025 return, with four dates around New Zealand Jan. 8-12 and four in Australia Jan. 15-19.
The bill includes Ludacris, Akon, Tyga, Keyshia Cole, Omarion, Fat Joe, SWV, Blackstreet and Jacquees.

Outback Music Festival Group’s remote three-day Mundi Mundi Bash in the Red Earth area near Broken Hill (Aug. 15-17) sold out its 14,000 tickets.

Featured are James Reyne, Jon Stevens, Ian Moss, The Living End, Daryl Braithwaite, Tim Finn, Diesel, Baby Animals and Vanessa Amorosi.

Gold Coast record label Dead Heat Music announced How’s Here? for October, keeping ticket prices at the 2015 levels of A$80 ($52.25) to overcome “punter dissatisfaction and (distrust)” that’s brought down other events this year.

With Adelaide City Council investigating $1.3 million ($849,286) of savings from its $7.6 million ($4.9 million) grant, sponsorship and partnerships programs, the city’s festivals have expressed alarm at how difficult it will be if they lose its funding.

The Sunday Mail reported WOMADelaide has a contract to receive $75,000 ($48,997) in 2024-25 and injects $23.1 million ($15 million) to the city economy each year.

Adelaide Festival gets $360,000 ($235,187) while Adelaide Fringe said it badly needs its $300,000 (195,989) sponsorship as its costs have risen by 30%.

New Faces At Adelaide Oval Team

Joining the sales and events team at the 53,500-seated capacity Adelaide Oval are Jo Thomson as general manager of partnerships and sales, Emily Stearne senior events manager and April Stringer senior business development manager.

Adelaide Oval became the first major Australian stadium to welcome cryptocurrency to pay for purchase of food and drinks at the venue.

Boost For Canberra Night Time Economy

The Australian Capital Territory passed new legislation to boost capital city Canberra’s $3.8 billion ($2.48 billion) night time economy with “a more flexible and responsive regulatory environment.”

It gave small and medium-sized venues the chance to diversify their business models and attract new clientele, stay open later and cut red tape to help new businesses launch quicker.

It allowed cafes and restaurants to pay less fees for liquor licenses if they put on live music shows.

ACT minister for government services and regulatory reform, Tara Cheyne, said, “Canberra is building a reputation as Australia’s arts capital and a destination of choice for business and tourism alike.”

“A strong, vibrant, and diverse night-time economy is essential to the continued growth of our tourism and visitor economy.”

NEW ZEALAND

Aotearoa (NZ) Music Awards Revived

R&B singer Stan Walker and jazz-influenced, politically active rapper Tom Scott lead the nominations for the revived Aotearoa (New Zealand) Music Awards.

They took a break in 2023 following a review the previous year and returned with a new format which includes two connected opening and showcase ceremonies and 20 trophies in total.

Scott received eight for two of the three bands he plays in, Avantdale Bowling Club and Homebrew.

Pop-alt band The Beths had three, including best group, a category shared with psychedelic rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra, hip-hop trio Home Brew, indie folk act Tiny Ruins, electronic music project LEISURE and art-pop band Mermaidens.

R&B singer Marlon Williams was nominated four times and classically trained pianist, singer songwriter, producer and visual artist Princess Chelsea had three mentions.
The awards take place May 30 at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.