Power 50 - #21: Danny Rogers

BACKGROUND CHECK

In his 20s, Danny Rogers landed a job at a music venue called The Living Room in New York City. After returning to Australia and going on the dole, Rogers did a New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) course to help him get a small business started and Lunatic Entertainment was launched in 2002. Discussions about what would become St Jerome's Laneway Festival took place over a few beers at St Jerome’s (a now-defunct Melbourne bar) in 2005.

THE YEAR THAT WAS

In 2018, St Jerome's Laneway Festival continued to focus on introducing exciting local talent (Alex Cameron, Cable Ties, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever) while also booking exciting emerging international talent (Loyle Carner, Moses Sumney, TOKiMONSTA). Last year was a big year for Laneway Presents as well, with sideshows including Mac DeMarco, Dream Wife, Slowdive and The Internet as well as Billie Eilish who is now well on her way to world domination. After working tirelessly with Maribyrnong City Council for the past three years, it was announced in September that the Melbourne edition of St Jerome's Laneway Festival would move to a new site, Footscray Park, in 2019 (just in time for the festival's 15th birthday). At the end of the year, Rogers was also announced as one of the five founding board members of the Australian Festival Association (AFA), which sees some of the Australian music industry's leading figures and festival promoters joining forces with the collective aim of delivering safe and well run events. Rogers' Lunatic Entertainment management company has continued to grow as well, with new co-management partnerships including Gang Of Youths, Middle Kids and Skegss.

2018'S CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT?

"Working with PLUS1. St Jerome's Laneway Festival, Gang Of Youths, Chvrches, Florence & The Machine and so many other great artists and events were introduced to PLUS1 and raised significant funds for charities of their choice."