The fallout from Bluesfest’s collapse dominated the Australian live sector.
But things were moving for venues, including steps forward for the Gold Coast Arena and Newcastle’s Special Entertainment Precinct, renovations, a summit in Brisbane on grassroots venue ownership options, and grants for NSW all-ages gigs and Victorian festivals.
Latest Step For Gold Coast Arena…
The prospect of the 12,000 to 15,000-seat Gold Coast Arena at Carey Park in Southport took another step forward. The City of Gold Coast voted unanimously to start negotiations with a preferred private sector partner.
The vote emphasised that negotiations will only be held to find more details, and that there will be no binding funding or construction agreements assumed as a result. A number of investors submitted Expressions of Interest late last year.
The $480 million indoor venue, expected to hold 80-100 music, entertainment, and sporting events a year, will start construction in 2027 to open by 2030. The arena will be partially funded by a private investor, and partly with government money. The arena would be important for the Coast to get a NBL team.
…And For Newcastle Special Entertainment Precinct
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The City of Newcastle has endorsed a feasibility study into the benefits and implications of setting up a Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) in midtown Newcastle.
One of the main supporters is Labor councillor Declan Clausen, a candidate for the city’s Lord Mayor position. Clausen insists that the process must be thorough, and community consultation with residents, local businesses, venue operators, and the broader community happen before any final decisions are made.
He emphasised in a social media post, “I won’t let Newcastle go the way of Sydney where the night-time economy has been sacrificed to accommodate noise complaints for wealthy residents who can afford to live close to the CBD.
“I want Newcastle to be a place where young people and families can enjoy the best night time venues. Cities that thrive in the future will be cities that support live music, creativity and local entrepreneurs. Midtown shows what’s possible when the community and small businesses work together.”
Midtown centres around Steel and Union streets between King and Hunter. It is home to Charlie’s Rooftop, Bernie’s Bar, Rogue Scholar, Mad Poet, Koutetsu, and the King Street Hotel.
Residents and community advocate for alcohol harm prevention, Tony Browns, called the push “a dangerous move” as they would face more noise, violence and declining property values.
“The local residents living in the mid part of Newcastle, will be really victimised by council and the state government to deal with more noise, violence and a loss of their rights to the peaceful enjoyment of their properties,” he said.
Bluesfest’s Date To Liquidate Tip Of Iceberg
Not surprisingly, Bluesfest’s demise was a major talking point, equal sorrow for its passing and equal anger that its calling in the liquidators left ticket holders, stall holders and Byron businesses severely with brakes off.
But it was just a few incidents in recent weeks. In February, The Music revealed creditors of the company behind R&B touring festival Souled Out forced it into liquidation. It went into voluntary administration in January with $1.1 million in debts despite selling $12 million worth of tickets in 2024.
In the meantime, high profile Gold Coast cabaret nightclub operator Tony Rigas (best known for The Pink Flamingo) bankrupted himself over $1.5 million of debts associated with his former clubs.
Rigas says he was forced to file for bankruptcy in November 2025. Among those gunning for him were the Australian Tax Office ($428,763), ACP Builders ($419,599), and Volkswagen Financial Services ($222,977). The waterfront house and top-of-the-range Mercedes are gone, but Rigas said, “Right now, my focus is moving forward, learning from the experience and continuing to contribute positively to the industry I care deeply about.”
A Victoria-based company behind The Mill Echuca nightspot officially went into liquidation, with the liquidator confirming it owed creditors $350,000.
Documents lodged during the process showed that Pecomi Enterprises Pty Ltd, founded 14 years ago, had been relying on credit and loans as costs rose and revenue dropped over the past two years.
The Mill closed last year with Pecomi owing staff $15,800 in unpaid annual leave as well as $189,000 to Westpac, $127,000 to the ATO and $12,700 to Worksafe Victoria compensation agency DXC Services Victoria.
It is inevitable the dragging-on of the current Middle East skirmish is going to put more pressure on Australian festivals, venues and touring acts. Rising fuel costs will affect budgets, artist and crew fees, and food and beverages.
Bluesfest’s unexpected collapse, and a reported $23 million owed to ticket holders, is only going to intensify a nightmare most promoters have to deal with since COVID – the drift by customers to delay buying tickets even more.
Makeover For Brisbane Jazz Club
The Brisbane Jazz Club has relocated temporarily from its Kangaroo Point headquarters until April 30th, which also marks International Jazz Day.
During the eight-week move, events will be at Officers Mess, 50 Oxlade Drive, New Farm while Kangaroo Point enlarges its cramped stage area, raises the back roof, and updates the green room and office spaces.
The club opened in April 1972, with flooding forcing the Lord Mayor Clem Jones to make his way over in a rowboat to do the honours. Another flooding in 2011 saw numerous volunteers turn up in trucks and vans to take the equipment away to store in Radio 4EB’s studio.
Summit: Ownership Options For Grassroots Venues
Following the recent closures of regional Queensland live music venues, The Australian Live Music Business Council and QMusic are holding a summit in Brisbane on ownership models for grassroots venues.
It is held in person on Wednesday March 25 at 1 pm at Blutes, Valley Mall in Fortitude Valley or online, with registration available now.
Speaking are Tyla Dombroski (Crow Bar Brisbane & Sydney/AMVF/LMVA), Kris Stewart (QMusic), Howard Adams (ALMBC), John Collins (Qld Night-Life Economy Commissioner), Sam Whiting (RMIT Victoria), Brad Hynds (Oztix/East West Presents), and Sky Rixon (Elixir Music House Cairns).
In a recent article, researchers Whiting and Megan Sharp (Uni of Melbourne) commented, "...The answer is not government ownership of grass roots live music venues to ensure their survival. But nor is it to move every venue into the not-for-profit space."
In 2024, The Music looked at various models. Read its conclusions here.
Grants For NSW All-Ages Gigs
The NSW Government is offering grants of up to $100,000 to dedicated live music venues with a track record of delivering all-ages music events, and committed to collaborate with young people to program events that build new audiences.
To apply, go to the NSW Government website.
Penrith Stadium Says Hello To Name
The redeveloped stadium to open in 2027 in Penrith, in western Sydney, has a name. Operator Venues NSW signed a five-year naming rights deal with Helloworld Travel, a travel company with the largest network of 2000 independent franchise travel agents.
The former Penrith Park is being upgraded with steeper grandstands to bring spectators closer to the field of play, video boards and digital sound systems, more food and beverage outlets, additional restrooms, and enhanced safety and security infrastructure.
The newly-named Helloworld Stadium will hold 30,000 for concerts and large scale entertainment, and 25,000 for sports events.
‘See-Through Roof’ For Accor, Macquarie Point Stadiums
Concert promoters facing issues with unpredictable weather are breathing huge sighs of relief that Sydney’s Accor Stadium and Hobart’s Macquarie Point Stadium are looking at the possibilities of a see-through roof.
By covering them with a translucent ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) membrane, it allows natural light in while keeping 90% of heat out, keeping the venue cool.
Accor Stadium has been thinking about it since 2024 when sports and stadium identities, and Sports Minister Steve Kamper, went to Las Vegas to see the first NRL Premiership games at the 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium.
They returned raving about the 195-foot high roof, a fixed lens-shaped 100-strong cable net structure, and the see-through self-cleaning covering.
Minister Kamper asked Venues NSW for a confidential feasibility study. Last week, The Daily Telegraph reported that the Government’s bean counters had concluded that the benefits of the roof “far outweighed” the $300 million cost. But things are still far from being approved for the project to go ahead.
With a capacity of 82,000, Accor Stadium is the biggest in Sydney.
Meantime, $1.13 billion Macquarie Point Stadium has also been testing the translucent ETFE after concerns from cricket authorities it would create shadows on the grounds. The tests so far have been positive.
Minister for Macquarie Point Urban Renewal Eric Abetz said, “Our roofed stadium has been the talk of the sporting world.
“The ability for year-round play and entertainment is ground-breaking. Hobart might be the second driest capital city in the nation, but ironically, we have the most rain days.”
The decision whether to go ahead with the see-through roof doesn’t have to be made immediately.
After early indications the 23,000-seat Hobart stadium would open by 2029, last week the Macquarie Point Development Corporation suggested it would be more likely 2030 to get everything right without rushing.
Musical Chairs
Jackie Antas, one of the longest running executives at Live Nation Australia and New Zealand, is promoted to Senior Vice President, Communications. Antas is the only Australian entry in Pollstar’s newly published Women Of Live list acknowledging women in the global live sector making significant contributions.
Tamworth Regional Council hired Joel Ulbricht as the new Manager, Events, and the General Manager of the Tamworth Country Music Festival. He replaces Barry Harley who held that position for eleven years.
Ulbricht has planning, commercial partnerships and execution of festival experience in Northern Territory, Queensland, ACT, and NSW, including Parkes Elvis (2024, 2025), Garma (2024).
As part of nine promotions in a reshuffle of AEG International’s Global Partnerships division, Australian-based Matthew Zweck assumes the role of Senior Vice President with responsibility for partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region as well as oversight of the Middle East.
He has helped secure partnerships across several of AEG’s venues in the region, including IG Arena in Japan, UOB Live in Thailand, and Mercedes‑Benz Arena in Shanghai, China.
Sam Conway, musician, venue operator (Gang Gang Café) and co-founder of Sundowner Festival, is one of five new members of the ACT Arts Minister’s 10-person Creative Council. It acts in an arts advisory capacity to the ACT Government.
Tom Morrey of Fatcat Music Group has joined Lucky Agency as Senior Agent, leading its team which now also includes as Junior Agents, Oliver Stitt (Astra Events, Stamina Nightclub) and DJ Charlton Tran.
An update from Lucky Group also revealed Alex Tate and Charley Pope of Fatcat joined as artist managers, bringing with them their roster of PhaseOne, Ekko & Sidetrack, Just A Gent, HVDES, and Flowidus. The roster already has Will Sparks, Conrad Sewell, 360, Masked Wolf, CYRIL, Drest, and Tyron Hapi.
Reno Plans Finalised For Leichhardt Oval
Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval, which the Inner West Council is trialling as a music venue, has finished plans for its $40 million renovation which include concert-friendly facilities.
These include new seating throughout, modern hospitality and media facilities and upgraded changing rooms. A new northern grandstand with 1,500 seats will go ahead with its roof postponed due to budget. Building will start this spring, with plans to open in 2028.
Is Kylie Minogue Getting $3m For a Private Party?
The Australian media is reporting that Kylie Minogue had been locked in to perform at a private party at cardboard billionaire Anthony Pratt’s Melbourne residence Raheen. Reports say 350 guests were on the invite list. The mansion’s ballroom seats 150 and has standing room for 400.
Reports have Minogue pocketing $3 million for the 90-minute gig. With musicians in their ranks, the Pratts are renowned for generous treatment of artists.
Katy Perry was flown in and out on the family jet for a pay packet of $1.5 million. When trumpeter James Morrison decided to fly into Melbourne on his private jet, the Visy company chipped in for his fuel as well as his fee.
In November 2008, Minogue was paid the equivalent of AU$4.4 million to sing three songs for a $35 million party in Dubai to celebrate the opening of the Atlantis Hotel.
Three years ago, The Music reported she turned down an $1 million Australian Football League offer to do a three-song set at their Grand Final.
Apparently a preppy corporate family wagged a $10 million cheque for a private soirée. But her manager stomped over it: the party was on the same night she was on Hey Hey It’s Saturday to plug a new single, and thought its 1.2 million viewers more important. She should be so lucky.
SA Country Festival Bend Classic To Grow Its Presence
Adelaide’s Podium Park is hosting country music festival Bend Classic on Saturday October 3 as part of the three-day Bend 500 motor race. It is expanding its vibe, with Lee Kernaghan and James Johnston headlining, Saddle & Stomp’s line dancing, camping, BBQ precinct and a ute muster.
Last year’s race attracted an aggregated 47,023, for the festival to build on. Kernaghan’s gone on the record that the SA festival “has all the ingredients to become something really special” and it “has the potential to grow into the Tamworth of the South.”
Minor Changes To Cochin Creek Site
While the Cochin Creek festival site and adjoining campsite were approved by the Queensland state government this year, operators The Comiskey Group have asked for some minor changes to 29 approval conditions of the campsite.
These include allowing louder music, having more than 600 people on the site, helicopters to land not just during an emergency, more than 60 car spaces and removing the requirement any structures to have a 50m setback from native vegetation.
Can I Have The Envelope Pur-Lease
At the March 6th Australian Tourism Awards in Fremantle, Adelaide Fringe took silver in the Major Festivals & Events category.
Finalists included Blues On Broadbeach, Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash, Darwin Festival, WA’s Fringe World, and Lightscape in Victoria.
In Festivals & Events, SA’s Streaky Sounds won bronze. Finalists included NSW’s Crank It Up.
Renovations Start On World Theatre
Far North Queensland’s Charters Towers Regional Council has started renovating the World Theatre. It has been closed since February 2025 after water damage during flooding made it unsafe.
Securing $2.3 million of funding will see work on roofing, air conditioning, seats, furnishing and flooring. Mayor Liz Schmidt said, “We are confident the Theatre will once again serve as a hub for arts and entertainment.” The theatre has a 660-seat auditorium for live shows, three movie screens and a gallery for art exhibitions.
These Just In From Abroad…
The debut edition of Tomorrowland Thailand sold out its 150,000 tickets within hours… even before the bill was announced.
Three people were arrested over a bombing of Peru nightclub Dali which injured 41. It was in the city of Trujillo in the gold producing La Libertad region. It is rife with extortion and illegal mining, with 286 explosions in 2025.
The Coachella site in Indio, California, is hosting a one-off two-day EDM bash in October with Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, Dom Dolla, Peggy Gou, and Four Tet.
Nigerian events company Dapper Live set a Guinness World Record for having the largest orchestra (80 members) at an Afrobeats show.
Live Nation reached a settlement with the US Dept. of Justice in its monopoly case, staving off the possibility it might have had to cut ties with its ticketing subsidiary Ticketmaster. LN will pay around $200 million (AU$ 286.4 million) in damages to the 40 states involved in the lawsuit.
As part of the deal, Ticketmaster will open up to rival firms, place limits on exclusivity contracts with venues, put a cap on service fees, and get rid of some of its US amphitheatres.
Astor Theatre Hosts X-Press Book Launch
Perth’s Astor Theatre is hosting the Wednesday March 18th launch of Bob Gordon’s 200-page coffee table Rewind – 40 Years Of X-Press. Gordon first came aboard the WA street magazine in the early ‘90s when studying media in university, and did three stints as editor.
Covering 1985 to 2025, in those pre-internet days, Perth was an alien planet for those on the East Coast. X-Press captured what set the likes of Eskimo Joe, John Butler, and The Waifs apart and why they made an impact when they started crossing the Nullarbor to expand their careers.
Mardi Gras Raises $440k For LGBTQIA+SB Communities
The 2026 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras raised about $440,000 from donations and fund raising for year-round programs for LGBTQIA+SB communities.
These included community engagement in metro and regional areas; inclusion programs across Festival events; volunteer recruitment and training; partnerships with health, advocacy and cultural organisations; and strategic investment as Mardi Gras approaches its 50th anniversary.
It is inviting the broader community to help reach a new fundraising target of $550,000 before the end of this financial year. If 500 people commit to a recurring donation of $50 a month between now and June through Mardi Gras’ donation platform, that alone generates an extra $100,000.
Newcastle’s Lucky Hotel On Market
Five years after it changed hands for $20 million, Newcastle's The Lucky Hotel is back on the market.
The three-storey inner city venue on Hunter Street, which has a full-blown music program on the weekend, has multiple bar areas including an internal beer garden, a bistro, a gaming room and 30 accommodation rooms.
Grants For Victorian Festivals
The Victorian State Government has launched a new round of the Live Music Festivals Fund – “designed to support local events, create jobs, and keep major live shows accessible across the State.” It offers up to $50,000 for operators staging events that draw over 1,000 patrons.
Applications close by Tuesday March 31st at 2 pm, via the Music Victoria website.
The first two rounds of the program in 2024 and 2025 supported 32 festivals, including established favourites such as Riverboats (Echuca-Moama), Queenscliff Music Festival, and Port Fairy Folk Festival, and newer events like Gateway in Bulleen.
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
