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
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