The Power 50: Owen Orford

Owen Orford joined booking agency Harbour Premier following the split of his band Contraband. In 1989, he left the agency to establish Trading Post Agency (TPA), which worked with acts like Midnight Oil, Savage Garden, The Living End, Silverchair and more. Orford joined New World Artists (NWA) as Managing Agent in 2012. Orford has also served as chairperson of MusicNSW and played a role in the Federal Government’s Contemporary Music Touring Program. 

Owen Orford and Grinspoon were a perfect match in 2019. The Lismore group drew in crowds across the country for their Chemical Hearts greatest hits tour, selling out rooms in Melbourne, Hobart and more ahead of the run. Orford also laid the groundwork for the band to headline this year's Spring Loaded festivals after the event's sold-out 2019 debut. Tours and appearances orchestrated by Orford featured Sneaky Sound System, Spiderbait, Allday, Mallrat, Northlane, Hands Like Houses, In Hearts Wake, Slumberjack, Thy Art Is Murder and more. 

Signings for the year included Melbourne artist JXN, comedian Nat’s What I Reckon (who has since risen to fame with his quarantine cooking Facebook series), Sydney 12-piece The Regime and Brisbane group The Butterfly Effect, with the band confirming their appearance on Good Things Festival as part of the multi-territory deal announcement.

"Grinspoon playing the best shows of their career to 25,000 fans nationally on the Chemical Hearts tour with The Heart Aches and Bugs!"