Hanging Rock Looks To Re-Sign Frontier Touring Deal

The Mushroom Group's Frontier Touring appear likely to sign a new long-term deal with the Hanging Rock venue after a number of successful events at the regional Victorian site.

A possible new deal was on the agenda of last night's Macedon Ranges Shire Council meeting following four international shows in the past last three years – including two Bruce Springsteen dates plus Rod Stewart and Leonard Cohen – which were promoted by Frontier.

The Council's agenda indicates that “Frontier Touring have expressed interest in staging events at Hanging Rock over 2013/14 and securing a longer term (5 years) exclusive partnership agreement and have recently provided a proposal.”

According to Macedon Ranges Shire's Deputy Mayor Russell Mowatt, the council was unanimously supportive of a new deal being struck.

“Where we're up to now is that the CEO is going to explore [a new long-term exclusive deal with Frontier], and he'll have to report back to council,” Mowatt told theMusic.com.au today.

He described the impact of the concerts as “fantastic” on the region, saying that the two Springsteen gigs “generated a lot of tourism dollars with people coming into the region and staying here. It's a huge boost to the region.”

According to council figures, 16.75 percent of the Springsteen tickets – 34,000 over two nights – were sold to interstate visitors while over 9 percent of the region's adult population attended the shows, buying a total of 2,804 tickets.

Mowatt said that the councillors agreed with the agenda's statement that, “Frontier Touring and their contractors have been professional to deal with. They have shown continued care and respect for Hanging Rock and the community, attracted world class artists and presented professional and well organised concerts.”

Mushroom Group Chairman Michael Gudinski was unable to comment to theMusic.com.au today.

The council are now hoping for Federal Government funding to redevelop the site's infrastructure, but Mowatt said Hanging Rock's future wouldn't depend on it. He said that they had already received funding to redevelop the main road into the site.