Lend us your ears


Lend us your ears, by Bellinda Kontominas and Alexa Moses - 24th November 2006
(Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)


April is the cruellest month, particularly for Australian music promoters. On Monday, Richard Branson's Virgin corporation, in cahoots with the local promoter Michael Coppel Presents, will launch the Australian version of the British V music festival. V will take place in Sydney on March 31 and on the Gold Coast on April 1 and is rumoured to be featuring the Pixies and the post-punk band Kaiser Chiefs. (For further details of the line-up see Metro.)

It's chin-up for promoter Michael Chugg, who follows with the East Coast Blues and Roots Festivals in Byron Bay. His event takes place from April 5 to 9. Both festivals cater to slightly older audiences, aged between 25 and 35. Earlier this year, Chugg was in fighting mode over the festival clash but yesterday the veteran promoter was more circumspect. 'I think there's room for these major festivals," he said. "Sydney's a long way from Byron Bay."

The Blues and Roots Festival director, Peter Noble, said the events catered to different audiences. "V won't cut into us," he said. "We try to present types of music that are not seen in the main...we're not trying to do a festival which depends upon whether or not you have a record in the top 10."

If that wasn't enough music, the younger Great Escape Festival also launches on Monday and is expected to take place in Sydney from April 6 to 8. Add those to the Big Day Out in January, Good Vibrations in February, Splendour in the Grass in July, and Homebake in December, and 2007 is a year in which fans will have a hard time deciding how to spend their $140.

Profiles

Virgin

V Music Festival

Michael Coppel Presents

Michael Chugg