Our latest venues roundup found that some parts of the live sector are thriving beyond expectations.
Stadiums and arenas in three Australian cities reported better-than-expected attendances in their latest reports. Festivals were also pulling some strong numbers while one iconic event sold out in 42 minutes.
Canberra could see a stadium that could cater for 36,000 concert goers. A new 900-seat theatre is addressing Sydney’s much-lamented lack of mid-sized venues.
Why is there any issue with Powderfinger dates in Perth? Why are Oasis suing their sound engineer? Which three new pubs on the scene have live music at the centre of their appeal? Which venues have gone under? Keep on reading!
Canberra To Get New Stadium For 36,000-Seat Concerts?
Canberra could get a new covered stadium that seats 36,000 for concertgoers and a capacity of 25,000 for sports fans,
A private consortium led by the operators of Canberra Airport, the Snow family, pitched the proposal to business and political leaders. Canberra Airport will not be involved in its operation but will contribute its design.
It would be built at Regatta Place, adjoining Commonwealth Park, with easy access to the light rail, 7,000 nearby parking spaces and 13 hotels, 26 restaurants and bars in Civic.
It will also be walking distance to the CBD.
It would also be home to the Canberra Raiders NRL team and ACT Brumbies Super Rugby franchise.
The site is currently leased to the Catholic Church to occupy Archbishop's House.
Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron said Canberra deserves a stadium to be proud of.
“This is about creating a better experience for fans and visitors, supporting local jobs and businesses, and ensuring Canberra can compete for the major events that currently pass us by.”
The sentiment was echoed by Property Council ACT Executive Director Ashlee Berry that Canberra had outgrown its existing facilities.
“We have consistently called for a modern, world class, multi-purpose stadium that can support elite sport, major events, concerts and entertainment while helping drive activity, investment and jobs in the heart of the city.
“Today’s vision is an exciting contribution to that conversation – it’s exactly the type of big-picture thinking Canberra needs.”
Cost and delivery time would be available within six months.
The Civic stadium idea would be an alternative to what’s game-planned for the Bruce precinct. It would involve redeveloping the ageing GIO Stadium, or build a new venue on the site of the Canberra Institute of Technology campus.
The debate about a new Canberra stadium goes back to 2022 when a business consortium proposed a 30,000-seat roofed stadium at the Civic Olympic Pool site, together with a convention centre and hotel. The ACT Government shunted to the Bruce options.
900-Seat Theatre For Sydney
Sydney’s gasp for more different sized theatres to stop more productions heading down the Hume to Melbourne, could have a solution. Moves are afoot for the opening of a 900-seat theatre in Potts Point in the Kings Cross district.
Behind the push is billionaire philanthropist Gretel Packer who this week revealed plans to revitalise the derelict art-deco Metro-Minerva Theatre to its former glory.
Her company Sacred Firebird bought it from developers in July 2024 for $26 million.
At the time, the 86-year-old pad had been at the centre of a firestorm battle between developers and arts groups about preserving its entertainment heritage.
In 1969 it hosted a two-year run by hippie musical Hair. It’s also been music venue Metro Theatre, and housed film & TV production company Kennedy-Miller who made Mad Max, Babe, and Happy Feet.
Packer fired the starter's gun on pow-wows with residents, business and the arts community, and hired Hannah Tribe of Tribe Studio Architects to lead the redevelopment.
Record Year For Adelaide’s Top Venues…
It has been a record-breaking year for three of Adelaide’s bigger venues. A report from Adelaide Venue Management covering 2025/26 found more than 1.25 million people attended events at Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, and Coopers Stadium.
They delivered a record of 1,200 events, of concerts, international conferences and major sporting clashes.
The Entertainment Centre hosted 320 events (up 13% on the previous year) had 760,000 through the turnstiles. Entertainers included Lewis Capaldi, Teddy Swims, Hilltop Hoods, Tool, Kesha, Oprah, Alex Warren, Keith Urban, Rob Thomas, Yungblud, and Jimmy Carr.
…And VenuesWest Stadiums & Arenas…
VenuesWest’s 2025–2026 annual report showed that its seven venues drew a record 6,888,080 patrons to its sports and entertainment programs – a rise of 10.4% and over its targeted 6.5 million.
Optus Stadium sets a new bar in attendance, with 2.2 million in attendance.
AC/DC, Metallica, and Ed Sheeran were among its strong concert performers. Independent sources put AC/DC as drawing 120,000 over two shows, Metallica had 65,000, and Sheeran reached 73,091.
The venues generated $278.5 million – higher than the $208.7 million the group forecast.
… And Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park had a record 12.3 million visitors in 2025-26. A report noted it was a 2.5% growth on the previous year, and “the highest attendance in the Park's history, including during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.”
Its venues include Accor Stadium, Afterpay Arena, and Sydney Showground. Sporting crowds were up by 310,000 people (up 18%) while more Sydneysiders were also discovering activities in its vast parklands. These were up 2% with an extra 60,000 visitors.
Big Bash League Continues Live Music At Gabba
Live music will continue at Big Bash League games at the Gabba in Brisbane, thanks to promoter TEG and cricket team Brisbane Heat formally extending their relationship this week for four more years.
This is great exposure for live acts, as Heat games at the Gabba draw about 30,000. The last Big Bash League series drew over 150,000 over five home games at the Gabba.
Baker Boy plays at the flagship New Year’s Bash when the Heat face the Hobart Hurricanes.
Past acts performing at the NYB included The Presets, PNAU, Peking Duk, Ball Park Music, Eves Karydas, Stace Cadet, KLP, and Example.
TEG’s Chief Executive Cameron Hoy said, "TEG has been part of Australian cricket for nearly five decades. Extending our partnership with the Brisbane Heat is a milestone we're thrilled about.
“We take incredible pride in delivering full event experiences – from fan insights and content to the latest ticketing technology. Powering a great fan experience is at the heart of what we do. Bringing that together with powerhouse entertainment like Baker Boy will make the New Year's Bash unmissable.”
Festival Round Up #1: Savannah In The Round
The four-day Savannah In The Round in the Mareeba Rodeo Arena in Far North Queensland had its third highest attendance yet, with 23,405.
Festival Director James Dein said the number included 5554 campers across 1640 campsites. The bill included US country star Tyler Braden, American Pie legend Don McLean, and Canadian country rockers The Road Hammers.
Savannah’s highest turnout, as reported by our colleagues over at Countrytown was 32,000 in 2025. 202 had 24,000, a 25% growth from the previous year. When Savannah began in 2020, crowds were around 11,000.
Festival Round Up #2: Deni Ute Muster
Over 19,000 music and ute fanatics landed in Deniliquin, NSW, for what Deni Ute Muster organisers called two days of “mud, music and mateship.”
Ute count for the year saw 8,869 while 4,116 were sporting blue singlets.
Among the acts were Lee Kernaghan, Ian Moss & Troy Cassar-Daley, Sheppard, Tori Darke, Taylor Moss, Amber Lawrence, Tones And I, Casey Barnes, Furnace and The Fundamentals, Austin Mackay, Bella Mackenzie, The Ultimate Superstars of Country, Jimmy Rees, 360 Allstars, and Trash Test Dummies.
Making their Deni debut were Zac & George, Tyler Braden (US), and Ethan Miller (Canada).
Festival Round Up #3: Bleach
The Gold Coast’s Bleach celebrated both its 15th and final year over eleven days. Appropriately, The Farm put on a dance theatre work that looked at Death.
Official attendance figures were not immediately available. But organisers were expecting 58,000. Now that is one large wake!
Musical Chairs
Green Music Australia CEO Berish Bilander is to step down in 2027. He joined a decade ago and spent seven years as CEO.
He led the Australian chapter of No Music On A Dead Planet, launched Sound Country that gave musicians tools to make touring and recording more sustainable, co-founded Creative Australia’s Creative Climate and worked with Jack Johnson’s team to globally cut down single-use plastics at festivals and shows around the world.
Leighroy Merrick, one time Executive Producer at promoter Secret Sounds, set up a pop-up “restaurant for music lovers” The Neighbourhood Bar in Byron Bay. After a three week run, he will decide if it’ll become permanent.
Star Entertainment made redundant the role of Gold Coast Convention Centre GM Nick Jeffrey. He held the position for two years.
Maxine Casson is new Chair of the Venue Management Association’s Institute of Venue Safety and Security Committee.
The Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals appointed Katrina Sedgwick OAM its new Chair. With extensive experience in arts and cultural leadership, she was most recently inaugural Director and CEO of Melbourne Arts Precinct since 2022.
Shadows Goes Dark
Canberra nightclub Shadows, in Civic, closed abruptly after two years. Owner Andrew Heaney blamed a downturn of attendances in winter, lack of late night public transport, limited parking and ongoing rail construction works that hit foot traffic and looks like being an issue until 2028.
“We fought hard to keep it going but sadly we have lost the fight.” A number of operators have been in contact to take over, he said.
A Few Things From Overseas
Glastonbury Festival 2027 sold out in 42 minutes. It returns in June after a “fallow year”, with tickets prices at their highest at £408 (AU$774.42) plus a £5 ($9) booking fee. This was an increase of £29.50 (almost $56).
Headliners have yet to be announced. But owner Emily Eavis emphasised Oasis aren’t one.
Speaking of Oasis, they are suing Huw Richards, their sound engineer between 1995 and 2001. He put up for auction 63 shows, soundchecks, 100 hours of rehearsals and “unfiltered dialogue” between Noel and Liam Gallagher that he taped.
They were priced at £1.2 million ($2.27 million) and £1.6 million ($3 million) by Littleton Auctions. These have been withdrawn until the legal kerfuffle is sorted out.
Russian event producer Say Agency is not going ahead with Kanye West’s two sold out shows in St. Peterberg on October 10 and 11. Shows were announced in August at the 70,000 capacity Gazprom Arena but the venue said it had no deal with the event promoter.
Spark Arena in Auckland is the first arena in NZ to introduce AI company Mashgin’s self-checkout scanners. By using cameras instead of barcodes, fans can quickly buy their drinks and food and race back to the show. These are used in Australia by Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, Perth’s Optus Stadium, and Adelaide Oval.
Southern California desert EDM festival Head Trip had to cancel its first night after a rare thunderous storm. The second day had Calvin Harris and Swedish House Mafia. SHM started late and finished 33 minutes past the midnight curfew – leading to promoter Goldenvoice copping a $48,000 fine.
UK MPs are investigating why their Eurovision song choices by the BBC have a dismal record. This year Look Mum No Computer’s Eins, Zwei, Drei finished last place with just one point. 2023’s Mae Muller made second from bottom. 2021’s James Newman was last and had no points.
Swedish pop star Zara Larsson lashed out at the White House for using Midnight Sun in a social media video depicting raids on migrants – riffing her line "never-ending midnight sun” with the caption "never ending deportations".
Calling the vid “dehumanising”, she joins others such as Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande, who have told the Trump administration to back off their songs.
SA Government To Review 3am Lockout
South Australia’s Consumer And Business Affairs Minister Michael Brown has indicated there will be a statutory review of the 3am lockouts this year.
It will consult with venue operators, law enforcement and health care providers.
He said the Late Night Trading Code of Practice “seeks to strike the right balance to ensure people can enjoy a fun night out while maintaining community safety. Notably, late-night alcohol related presentations to the Royal Adelaide Hospital had more than halved since the code was introduced.”
Meantime music venues and nightclubs continue to hammer away at lockouts through the SA Alliance For Night-Time Industries (SAANI) which formed earlier this year.
The SA chapter of the Australian Hotels Association has also in the past been critical of the laws’ adverse impact on Adelaide’s night time economy, and point to how NSW after-dark scene has thrived since abandoning them.
The bans on entering venues after 3am was introduced in October 2013 as a reaction to anti-social behaviour and boozed-up behaviour.
They were reviewed in 2023, but the Government opted to keep them. Its reasoning was that stats showed they were working.
This time, SAANI President Antonio Tropeano and other venue operators have been campaigning hard for their removal.
They also want a Night-Time Economy Advisory Committee to be set up, and for the bans’ removal to be followed by a 12-month monitoring period which will give a better understanding of the sector through tracking of violent incidents, emergency dashes to hospitals, and the amount of card transactions in after-dark establishments.
Tropeano earlier told The Music venue owners were furious that while they were “choking”, Adelaide Casino escaped the 3am barrier.
Focus On Live Music For The Saint, The Epping & The Observer
Live music is the focus for three pubs as they start to make their mark.
Refinery Group, which formed in 2025 as part of the hospitality arm of Kokoda Property Group, already made a splash reimaging The Angel of Malvern earlier this year. Multi-level The Saint in St Kilda Melbourne (54 Fitzroy St) which it bought for $8.4 million has been totally reimagined before it trades in November.
The idea is to be a stand-out hangout, with a changing lineup of late night DJs, new bars and a wide range of drinks including its own Saint Lager) and dining areas with one serving Detroit pizzas, and a wide terrace. The building was a State Saving Bank in 1914.
Former Wallaby turned publican Bill Young’s plan for The Epping in Northern Sydney is regular live music until 3am in the public bar. The pub was built in 1928 and owes much of its popularity to being opposite Epping Station.
The Observer Hotel at The Rocks in Sydney (69 George Street), relaunched as a British pub after a three year restoration by new owners Julian Train and Mikey Enright. It includes imported beer, Brit pub fare and live music every Friday and Saturday.
It was established in 1844 opposite the colony’s morgue and its still-active basement served as a coroner’s court.
10 Meltdowns!
Vulture Beat: pity those Perth folk who’re both Powderfinger and Fremantle Dockers fans. Their events could clash when they get to WA September 24 and 25. In any case, expect rail chaos on the nights.
Incidentally, the rumour around the music industry is that the ‘Finger are making $5 million for each of their shows.
The first 18 shows announced this week over six cities are roughly estimated to reach 234,000 punters. But with speculation there’ll be more dates added, especially in the regionals, will the 2027 run beat the 300,000 who turned up hankies in hand for their farewell tour 16 years ago.
The new superannuation rules for the live sector has claimed its first victim. The Port Noarlunga Music Festival in South Australia has cancelled all ticketed shows as ticket sales were low and made only $1,500.
Artists playing the Port Noarlunga Arts Centre would have cost $11,390. They would now have to be paid after each show rather than a lump sum at the end. So since they didn’t have the money upfront, out went the ticketed shows. But the free ones were safe.
A row in New Zealand over making it mandatory to have NZ support acts on international tours has seen Australia – and Australians – dragged in. The NZ Labor Party has promised to introduce the rule if elected in the national elections next month.
Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith rejected the notion. When told on radio it was on the cards in WA and NSW, Goldsmith sniffed, “Australians love rules, and they love telling people what to do. We don’t.”
A Wagga Wagga hospitality group has gone into liquidation after its director allegedly firebombed The Birdy Bar for financial gain. According to the Daily Telegraph police investigating the August 27 arson then charged Recess Hospitality Group director Christopher Robert Hawe.
After that, a squiz through ASIC corporate records found that Recess “was subject to a creditors’ voluntary winding up, with liquidator Anthony Lane of Beacon Advisory in Canberra appointed.”
Justin Hemmes’ $19 million acquisition of a RSL building on Sydney’s Barracks Street as part of his planned entertainment and dining precinct in the CBD just might have hit the brakes.
Many RSL members said they had been deliberately blanked out by RSL execs over the sale, and accusations of branch stacking were made. The Sydney Morning Herald revealed that at two meetings, members turned up in strength to sabotage the completion of the sale by voting against the RSL custodian being appointed among the trustees, which was a condition of the sale contract.
Dhir Kakar, who ran controversial Melbourne nightclubs Love Machine and Lux – both which went down after being set alight – is now based in Nagpur, India and popped up on the website of a local recruitment firm seeking a senior management role where “I can leverage my international experience, leadership expertise and strategic vision.”
A legal report announced that two companies Beetlejuice Australia Pty Ltd and Beetlejuice International Pty Ltd have gone into administration. Michael McCann and Graham Killer of the firm Grant Thornton are serving as administrators.
It relates to when runaway production costs of Michael Cassel Group’s Beetlejuice The Musical saw it go belly-up midway through a national run. It left $14 million in debt, with creditors of Beetlejuice Australia Pty Ltd including Cassel’s own MCG Investment Group ($6.3 million), Sydney’s Capitol Theatre ($2.7 million), and QPac entities ($1.78 million). Creditors with queries relating to the companies should contact Estelle Newsome.
In a double whammy Spinifex Hotel in Derby in country WA allegedly caught flaunting COVID era restrictions. In two separate legal decisions.
The Director of Liquor Licensing ordered the pub pay back $25,000 estimated to have been made during the alleged contravention, and the State Administrative Tribunal fined the company and its director a total of $9,000.
Former Innisfail RSL Club duty manager, Dylan Kane McLaren, 28, was given a jail term after pleading guilty in Cairns District Court to fraud. He issued dozens of fake poker machine payouts worth more than $100,000 and kept a substantial amount of money for himself to apparently feed a gambling addiction.
McLaren was sentenced to four years imprisonment, suspended after serving 12 months in custody. A conviction was recorded, according to the Cairns Post.
The Adelaide Advertiser reported on the woes of rapper SkuX. While awaiting a court appearance over aggravated robbery charges, he was on strict home detention bail conditions.
He was granted a pass out to attend the Willaston football oval but the prosecutor contended, “He has instead attended the car park of the Big W and Woolworths, and then the carpark of Aldi and then McDonald’s in Gawler.” He was granted home detention bail again.
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
