The saga over the future of the Perth leg of the Big Day Out continues, and despite requests from promoters, Environment Minister Bill Marmion is refusing to reconsider the curfew for the touring festival at the Claremont showgrounds.
As previously reported, the local council in the Town of Claremont have had a long-running feud with live music events in Perth, and a rejection of the Big Day Out’s application left the decision up to the Environment Minister leading to hour earlier starting and finishing times, as well as be subject to strict noise level monitoring throughout the day.
As The Western Suburbs Weekly reports, Minister Marmion will not reconsider the changes in time for the Big Day Out, which could jeopardise the festival because of contracts with international acts to perform at specific times, two man acts in particular were contracted nationally to play under lights, but this would be made very difficult by the rescheduled 10pm finish.
According to Peter Cooper, commercial manager for the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) who run the Claremont Showgrounds, they had asked the State Government to reconsider the time changes because it was not feasible for concert promoters to honour their commitments under the new 10pm close.“The last thing we want is for up to 30,000 people to leave the venue at once.” – Peter Cooper, Royal Agricultural Society
The main acts affected are obviously the two headliners, Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Killers, who are set to play at 8:30pm and 7:05pm respectively, but the shift in times would push both sets back an hour and increase the chances of both acts playing under daylight, a situation that could affect other night performances from Animal Collective, Sleight Bells, Foals, 360, and The Bloody Beetroots.
Mr Marmion said that the final decision was reached after consultation between the Department of Environment and Conservation and Town of Claremont and City of Nedlands. Approving “a balanced set of conditions that allow the event to proceed, but provide for an earlier closing time to reduce the impact on the residents of the Town of Claremont.”
“It is important to note that the length of the event hasn’t been reduced,” said Mr Marmion, who approved a 10pm closing time for the Big Day Out last year on January 28.
However, Mr Cooper says that he and the RAS were not consulted by the Department of Environment Conservation and was “surprised” they had not contacted the promoter.
“The last thing we want is for up to 30,000 people to leave the venue at once,” says Mr Cooper. “This causes pressure on the train system and as we found with the recent Stereosonic concert crowds stream to the Claremont train station, which is not geared up to handle large events,” he said.
In related news, the Gold Coast leg of the Big Day Out is also looking for a new home for 2014 after being evicted by the Queensland State Government who are transforming the festival’s regular site at the Parklands showground into an athletes’ village for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Big Day Out CEO Adam Zammit confirmed that promoters were already scouting for new possibilities. Unlike Perth’s Claremont however, local Queensland towns have started a proverbial bidding war for the right to host the touring festival.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said they had contacted event organisers about their interest, while Mayor of Townsville Jenny Hill had been in consultation with the Big Day Out about relocating. Even promoters of the Woodford Folk Festival have been in discussions about using their 365 acre Woodfordia site to host the one-day event.“We’ll work our backsides off to get [the Big Day Out].” – Warren Polgalse, Tweed Heads Council
Tweed Heads has also thrown its hat into the ring as a contender, with local council saying they’re hoping to snag the one-day event, with Councillor Warren Polglase telling the Daily News, “we’ll work our backsides off to get it.”
“The Queensland Government pinches things off us, why shouldn’t we pinch something off them?” he continued, adding that Tweed Heads “have a lot to offer” while also benefiting from the exposure and increased tourism from the Big Day Out.
According to Cr Polglase, the whole community would likely feel the benefits of the festival and subsequent rise in tourist numbers. “It’d bring stimulus to traders… and visitations by thousands of people could lead to further opportunities in the shire.”
Big Day Out’s Adam Zammit said that promoters were still in talks with the State Government. “We’re continuing to look at all options and Far North Queensland towns like Cairns, Townsville, and Mackay are all possibilities, though we wouldn’t say they’re proximate opportunities for us in 2014,” said Mr Zammit, who ruled out the possibility of Big Day Out appearing in Brisbane.
“There is plenty of stuff in Brisbane already and our info tells us Brisbane is happy to travel,” he said, as well as disregarding the possibility of taking the festival further south to Byron Bay. “We haven’t had a serious conversation about Byron Bay; I don’t think they need another music festival,” he said.
Big Day Out 2013 Lineup
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS (Exclusive Australian Shows) / THE KILLERS / YEAH YEAH YEAHS / VAMPIRE WEEKEND / BAND OF HORSES / THE BLOODY BEETROOTS (LIVE) / KASKADE / ANIMAL COLLECTIVE / B.o.B / SLEIGH BELLS / FOALS / ALABAMA SHAKES / 360 / CRYSTAL CASTLES / PRETTY LIGHTS / OFF! / GRINSPOON / AGAINST ME! / GARY CLARK JR / NICKY ROMERO / MORGAN PAGE / LOGO / EVERY TIME I DIE / DELTA SPIRIT / CHILDISH GAMBINO / ME / HUNTING GROUNDS / JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD / DEATH GRIPS / ADVENTURE CLUB / JAGWAR MA / HOUSE VS HURRICANE / AVALANCHE CITY / TOUCAN / HELENA / NINA LAS VEGAS / SAMPOLOGY (AV / DJ SHOW)
Big Day Out 2013 Sydney Lineup Announcement
The Medics * Something With Numbers * Urthboy * Thy Art Is Murder * Deep Sea Arcade * Royal Headache * Bob Log III * Chance Waters * Good Heavens * Stereogamous * The Griswolds * Fishing * The Gooch Palms * Donny Benet * triple j unearthed winners: Jackie Onassis
Big Day Out 2013 Gold Coast Lineup Announcement
The Medics * Dead Letter Circus * I Heart Hiroshima * Paul Mac * The Cairos * Bob Log III * Hey Geronimo * We All Want To * Evil Eddie * Skinwalkers * Dave’s Pawn Shop * Lily Rouge * The Vernons * Sneeky Picnic * triple j unearthed winners: Jakarta Criers
Big Day Out 2013 Adelaide Lineup Announcement
The Medics * The Beards * Paul Mac * Grey Ghost * The Killgirls * Full Tote Odds * Messrs * Allday * Lady Strangelove * Steering By Stars * Sincerely, Grizzly * Stab Capital * Gemini Downs * Archers * Dr Piffle & The Burlap Band * triple j unearthed winners: The Aves
Big Day Out 2013 Melbourne Lineup Announcement
The Medics * Bodyjar * Seth Sentry * Chicks On Speed DJ Show * Bob Log III * The Smith Street Band * Kingswood * Yung Warriors * Money For Rope * Jackson Firebird * Split Seconds * For Our Hero * Generik * Zanzibar Chanel * The Stiffys * triple j unearthed winners: Apes
Big Day Out 2013 Perth Lineup Announcement
The Medics * Sugar Army * Chicks On Speed DJ Show * Emperors * The Chemist * Sons of Rico * Further Earth * Arts Martial * Rainy Day Women * Boys Boys Boys! * The Love Junkies * Skank MC * Dead Owls * Tomàs Ford * triple j unearthed winners: Foam
Big Day Out 2013 Event Dates
Friday 18th January – Sydney Showgrounds – SOLD OUT!
Sunday 20th January – Gold Coast Parklands
Friday 25th January – Adelaide Showgrounds
Saturday 26th January – Melbourne Flemington Racecourse
Monday 28 January – Perth Claremont Showground
Big Day Out 2013 tickets are on sale through www.bigdayout.com at the all-inclusive price of $165, or $265 for the Like A Boss ticket.
