Venues: Showground’s Best Year, Victoria Reviews Live Rules, Snoop Dogg's Aussie Show Investigated, Meltdowns, & More

Fridayz Live, Pearl Jam, Green Day Behind Sydney Showground’s Best Year

The Fridayz Live touring festival, Pearl Jam, and Green Day were behind Sydney Showground reaching its best gross and attendance highs in the last financial year, its General Manager Darryl Jeffrey said.

The venue drew 2 million patrons to 160 major events between October 2024 and September 2025.

MG Live’s Fridayz Live set a record in October 2025, drawing 44,000 for a R&B bill headed by Mariah Carey and Pitbull, making it the biggest concert ever held at ENGIE Stadium. Pearl Jam and Green Day had similar figures.

Coming up are the Hypersonic (November 29th) and Good Things (December 6th) festivals, and Bad Bunny dropping in on February 28th.

20,000-Seat Concert Venue For Moore Park

After opening up to expressions of interest from developers in October for Moore Park’s Entertainment Quarter, Music and Night-time Economy Minister John Graham this week revealed a 20,000-seat concert venue would be its main feature.

Graham complained “Sydney is crying out for a new large live music and performance space” since the closure of the Sydney Entertainment Centre in 2016.

He said the new venue is “a preferred outcome” of the revamp as it would fill the gap between the ICC Sydney which could fit in 9,000 guests and the 21,000-seat Qudos Bank Arena at Homebush.

The Sackville Returns With New Look

Roselle’s The Sackville, in Sydney’s Inner West, is back in action after a major revamp. Featuring live music and DJs over the weekends, major changes are a new street bar, an updated sports bar with multi-screens, redesigned drinks menu, outdoor seating for 40, and a new layout for the main bar to flow between booths, high tables and large windows facing the street.

RAC Arena Retains Naming Rights

As Perth’s RAC Arena celebrates its 13th year, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) renewed its naming rights partnership until 2030.

RAC was a founding partner in 2013 and became inaugural naming rights partner in 2018. 

Among the exclusive benefits introduced by RAC is the RAC Local Lounge, a welcoming space where ticket holders can enjoy food and drinks 30 minutes before the main doors open.

RAC members also enjoy half-price bottled water across venue outlets, and access to the Designated Driver Bar at selected events, where members receive a free non-alcoholic beverage.

Victoria Reviewing Rules For Live Music Precincts

The Victorian Government has announced two major reviews designated Live Music Precincts requirements for live music and outdoor events.

Minister for the Environment Steve Dimopoulos explained that in these areas where live music was designated as a priority, red tape will be cut and councils will find it easier to set up their own precincts.

The Government “will also review existing noise control rules within designated Live Music Precincts, to create more opportunities for Victorian artists to perform while ensuring they meet community expectations.”

Victorians are asked for feedback “on how we regulate and manage music noise from outdoor events so we can continue hosting vibrant cultural events in our cities and towns while respecting local communities.”

The Minister said, “Victorians love live music, so we are making it easier for artists to play throughout Victoria from bars in inner Melbourne to pubs in regional Victoria, I encourage everyone to have their say.”

City Sounds Put Cairns Venues In Spotlight

Four Cairns venues and a laneway were in the spotlight on the weekend (Saturday November 8) when punters flocked into the CBD as part of the free City Sounds.

These were Three Wolves, Coral Coast Brewing Co., Mexicairns, The Chambers, and Bank Lane. Performing acts included Pauly P, Candice Bliss, The Joker Pokers, Bobby Longstaff, and Tullara.

It was presented by Cairns Regional Council in partnership with the Live Music Office, OneMusic Australia, and APRA AMCOS.

It was part of the 2025 Cairns Music Industry Gathering weekend celebrating Far North Queensland’s live music scene with networking sessions, workshops and panels, connecting artists, venue operators and industry professionals, and strengthening production and technical skills across the region.

It was agreed Cairns has a strong music scene, with growing EDM, First Nations, and hip hop hubs, and supported by a young live audience. But ongoing issues were dominance of cover acts, volume and noise complaint issues, and council venues being too expensive to be hired for gigs.

NSW Awards

At the Australian Hotels Association NSW Awards for Excellence for 2025, Best Live Music Venue went to Finnian’s Tavern in Port Macquarie for the wide range of acts that it puts on. Next up is Felipe Baldomir (November 14th) followed in coming weeks by Dice and Regurgitator.

Highly commended in the category was Park Beach Hotel Motel in Coffs Harbour for regular live music in its beer garden.

Seven nights a week LGBTQI+ entertainment hub Universal Sydney in Darlinghurst took Best Late Night Venue, Chris Cheung’s Coogee Bay Hotel received Heart of the Community for second year in a row while Newcastle’s Rolly and Helen De With got a standing ovation when inducted into the AHA NSW Hall of Fame.

The awards were held at Royal Randwick before 1,400 guests, this year receiving 881 nominations for 47 categories. AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said, “NSW hotels directly employ 72,000 people, raise millions of dollars for charity and drive the NSW tourism and hospitality economy.”

Safety Concerns Over Snoop Sydney Show

Did a venue that hosted a Snoop Dogg show in September breach safety regulations? The Hills Shire Council in Sydney is investigating claims, reported The Daily Telegraph.

Snoopy did some DJ sets in Melbourne and Sydney. One of these was the Bella Vista, in the Hills area. According to a Hills Shire Council regulatory services report, the stage and bar built for the performance was done so without developmental consent, 800 patrons were let in contrary to the 400 permitted, and the fire alarm system had been turned off.

Council staff, NSW Licensing Police and FireNSW allegedly discovered these during an inspection.

“The detection system would not have been able to detect smoke or fire, activate the automatic opening of exit doors, or notify the fire service provider responsible for alerting Fire and Rescue NSW,” the council records read.

Bella Live denied the allegations, adding the event was produced in full compliance with safety regulations, and was working with Council in its investigation.

Wool Store Hosting Sole RÜFÜS DJ Set

Untitled Group’s industrial space Wool Store plays host to RÜFÜS DU SOL’s only DJ set during their arena run. The steel wheels-a-thon takes place on Friday November 28.

The band’s Jon George and James Hunt will explore the darker edge of their music and their underground roots, joined by disco, house, and electronica DJ SG Lewis, and emerging talent Samantha Loveridge, who recently released her debut EP Moon Child on RÜFÜS’ Rose Avenue Records.

ALMBC AGM

The Australian Live Music Business Council is holding its Annual General Meeting 2025 on Thursday November 20th at 3pm AEST. Register to attend here.

Adelaide Loses Two Bars

The lights have been turned off at two Adelaide bars. Distill on Rundle Street went into liquidation owing 30 creditors $120,000 including landlords the Raschella family, which is looking for a new operator to keep it in its current format. 

Yellow Matter in Brooklyn Park closed permanently, months after its sister business, a café, went into voluntary liquidation owing over $700,000.

40 New Camping Sites For Woodford Folk

Woodford Folk Festival has added 40 new powered campsites. They’ll be located in Season Camping “in an area we fondly call the Outer Barcoo. This location is right beside the shuttle that runs regularly to the festival entrance, so it is very convenient for those back to camp trips.”

Work has started on the Woodfordia site, the first pegs marking out grounds and the venues installed. “With a village the scale of Woodford Folk Festival, we certainly need to start early. It is always a special moment each year when the festival starts to take physical shape.”

Live Nation Expands NZ Portfolio

Live Nation New Zealand’s expanding its venue portfolio in NZ, this time the Waikato Regional Theatre in Hamilton. The 1,300-capacity venue opens soon, and will program diverse music, comedy, theatre and family entertainment, as well as community access for cultural organisations and institutions as kapa haka, orchestras, ballet, and local performing arts.

In NZ, Live Nation also runs Spark Arena in Auckland, the Tuning Fork in Auckland, and San Fran in Wellington.

Live Music Part Of New Townsville Precinct

Live music is part of Townsville’s new $30 million Flinders Street Wharves (FSW) waterfront hospitality and entertainment precinct, to be unveiled on December 11.

The precinct is in the 19th century former Burns, Philp and Company building, a 2600sqm space with capacity for up to 1000 guests

There are six bar and dining outlets over two levels operating seven days a week, including the first floating pontoon bar The Docks and pontoon and jetski tourist trips to nearby islands.  

On the second floor The Rooftop will offer panoramic views and live entertainment until 2am on the weekends and midnight weekdays.

The precinct will create 120 local jobs, and in its first year expects to attract over 350,000 locals and tourists, and inject an estimated $6 million into the local economy according to a Townsville Enterprise economic assessment.

The precinct, reflecting the lifestyle and climate of Far North Queensland, is owned by publican Grant Morgan (ex Boundary Hotel, Shafston Hotel) and Andrew Hooper-Nguyen, a developer with a background in company management and investment banking,

“It’s a new destination for the area, and something that Townsville has been calling out for a very long time,” according to Morgan.

Lorde Of The Deep (Pockets)

The US leg of Lorde’s Ultrasound World Tour has kicked off to a steady start in the United States. The first concerts reported so far to Pollstar for its box office scores were a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 1st, which sold 13,740 tickets, grossing $1.6 million.

Two nights at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., on October 4th and 5th, which sold a total of 12,000 tickets, grossing a total of $1.9 million.

Since launching her career in 2013, Lorde has sold a total of 575,358 tickets, making a total gross of $37.1 million. Pollstar noted: “On average, the singer sells 6,056 tickets per night, with an average gross of $391,103.”

Closer to home, Frontier Touring announced this week that opening for her on her ANZ shows in February is Kevin Abstract is a rapper, singer, and songwriter, a founding member of genre-blending hip hop collective Brockhampton.

Musical Chairs

* Entertainment stadium and resort developer Winarch Group expanded its executive lineup, with Blake Vanderwoude as Head of Winarch Live to expand its venue portfolio (he was most recently Event Acquisition Manager at Venues NSW) and Adam Slattery as Head of Winarch Music to grow its music retail division, which includes Musos Corner in Newcastle and The Guitar Lounge in Sydney.

* Joanne Kee, champion of Western Sydney music, is new Artistic Director for Sydney’s Seymour Centre at University of Sydney.

* Tasmania’s Festival of Voices appointed as Artistic Director Shaun Rennie, multi-award winning director from opera, theatre, musical theatre and large-scale live events.

* Two senior venue executives, one time CEO of the Darwin Entertainment Centre (now AANt Centre, Darwin) Georgia Hendy, and Heidi Irvine, Head of Audience and Arts Development at Frankston Arts Centre in Melbourne, have joined the board of PAC Australia, the national peak body for performing arts.

* Bec Martin returns from London where she ran VAULT Festival, to take up the Festival Lead role for the Sunshine Coast’s Horizon 2026 (May 1st – 10th) covering live music, First Nations culture, and the visual and performing arts.

Amp Maker Marshall Helps Grassroots Venues

Aside from its formidable presence on stages around the world, amp maker Marshall has moved in to help the UK grassroots scene. In a partnership with the Music Venue Trust, it has launched Marshall Nights, a nationwide series of 20 gigs shining a spotlight on 60 emerging acts.

Marshall has long committed to grassroots music. In 2024, co-founder Terry Marshall and his wife Leslie personally donated £100,000 (AU$ 201,438) to support MVT’s Own Our Venues campaign to protect financially strapped venues by getting them community ownership.

Marshall also donates backline equipment to more than 20 grassroots music spaces.

In the meantime Fender (not the guitar brand, but the British singer Sam) donated his £25,000 (AU$50,417) Mercury Prize win to the MVT.

After Dark Concerts For Blitz Golf Debut

Diesel, Taxiride feat. Jason Singh, neo-soul singer Natasha Pinto, local Yarrawonga artist Jade Gibson, and DJ Grand Master Baitz are providing the after-dark entertainment at the Australian debut of the global professional short-form golf league.

It is held on Sunday, January 25th at the spectacular Black Bull Golf Course in Yarrawonga, Victoria, at Silverwood’s Resort. Fans from Victoria and NSW are expected to attend, as will sports identities and celebrities.

Co-promoter Gary Pinto, a multi-platinum R&B singer, will announce more dates around the country.

Restored Maryville Focus On Music

The Maryville Tavern in Newcastle has returned after a restoration where modern day touches were made to the venue’s past as a steelworker’s gathering place with miner’s lamps and local artwork. 

Owner Ty Burford also ensured the tradition of live music continues, on Friday nights and lazy Sunday sessions.

Adelaide Venues Host Gaza Fund Raiser

The Exeter in the East End, Somewhere House in Pulteney Street, and Interim Studios in Gunson Street banded together last Saturday (November 8th) to host Solidarity Sounds, a fundraiser to help Palestinians rebuild in Gaza.

It was organised by Musicians For Palestine Kaurna Yarta – which initially formed to protest Israeli electronic duo Infected Mushroom performing in Adelaide last month – with sets by 15 acts including Effie Isobel, Jordi Hall, Bianca Feher, The Squalor, Jackulson, and Ella Ion.

Comiskey Group Project For Public Feedback

Part of Queensland hoteliers Comiskey Group’s ambitious Coochin Creek festival and camping grounds project on the Sunshine Coast is thrown to public feedback until November 17th.

The Comiskeys are behind music venues as Sandstone Point, The Doonan, and Eatons Hill.

The Coochin Creek plan was to split the 150 hectares into a festival-for-hire site for 35,000, and a separate camping ground to include 75 cabins and 75 campsites and a 1,000 m² recreation building, waterslide and firepits.

Ten environmental and residential groups opposed the development to such a degree that the State Government stepped in five months ago overriding the Sunshine Coast Council in making a decision.

The festival site would be used six times a year and bring in an annual $95.1 million to the local region.

Meltdowns!

* 33-year old Kyren Michael Roberts-Osborne, operator of food trucks and mobile bars, was sentenced to two years’ jail (suspended for 12 months) by the Southport Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to a number of charges including assaulting a cop after getting heavily drunk at the Touch Bass festival at the Eaton’s Hill Hotel, north of Brisbane, and told to leave.

* “Self-proclaimed Comanchero” bikie Jesse Kamper heads to Gosford Local Court (NSW) on November 26th for sentencing after pleading guilty to stomping on a man’s head during a brawl at the Pocket Bar at Terrigal.

* A drunken prank which involved setting off a fire extinguisher to add to the dry ice and smoke machine effects during a male revue show at the Banana Bender Pub, saw Bell Park cleaner Melanie Jade Alderson, 36, land in Maroochydore Magistrates Court. The court heard she punched a woman who yelled at her for the stupidity of her actions, and bit the bar’s duty manager who intervened.