Audience 210

For the International Contemporary Live Music Industry ISSUE 210 JULY 2017 UK £6.25 EUROPE €9.40 ROW $12.25

Climbing mountains

Venue titans in stand-off

The continued rise of Biffy Clyro

10,000 Ed Sheeran tickets cancelled Festival postponed after rape reports

One of my fondest memories is of people crying with happiness…because they couldn’t believe they were seeing them [Depeche Mode] live Laura Coroianu of Emagic in Romania

Essential reading for live music industry professionals across more than 80 countries worldwide

Perspective

Contents

14

Industry news from around the globe

14-18 Market Focus: Sweden

Review of a touring market for international artistes

21 Industry Events

24-34 Feature: Success In The Spirit World The team behind Depeche Mode and the band’s biggest tour yet

24

Developments in live show equipment and infrastructure

Artistes, tour periods, agents

46 Festival News International festival activity

36

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To add to the equation, AEG, which owns the larger and longer-established Staples Center in LA, also manages the vigorously ambitious Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, which must irritate MSG.

The trouble is, both side’s threats are tantamount to blackmail, trying to force artistes, their managers and agents to play venues that, for a variety of reasons from routing to availability, are not what they want at that time.

39-44 Tour Plans

The trials and tribulations of tour manager Terry Tucker and his crew

Madison Square Garden Company and sidekick Irving Azoff were miffed that not enough artistes were playing their Los Angeles arena, so it was suggested that if they declined to grace The Forum in favour of its rival’s venue, then finding a date at the iconic Madison Square Garden might become more difficult.

So AEG stepped in and upped the stakes, don’t play our Staples Center and you might find getting dates at The O2 in London becomes more challenging, it announced.

36-37 Production News

46 Healthy Lifestyle Worries

As one American observer put it rather aptly, ‘no-one ultimately wins a p*****g contest – everyone runs out at some point’.

And yet, the contest got started, then escalated and now seems to have run out of steam, or that other substance.

4-12 World News

22 City Focus: Zürich, Switzerland

Who would have thought that two parties, each with potentially so much to lose, could get themselves into a duel.

Hopefully the contest is over, as neither party can win and the potential damage to wider relationships would be huge. Either that, or someone needs to drink a lot more.

ISSUE 210: July 2017 AUDIENCE is published monthly from the UK by: Audience Media Ltd, 26 Dorset Street, London W1U 8AP, United Kingdom T: +44 (0)20 7486 7007 F: +44 (0)20 7486 2002 info@audience.uk.com www.audience.uk.com The opinion expressed by contributors to this publication are not always a reflection of the opinions or the policy of the publishers. Information on services or products contained within editorial sections does not imply recommendation by AUDIENCE. No responsibility can be accepted for errors or omissions. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without the written authority of Audience Media Ltd.

AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

4 • World News

Bravalla organisers feel ‘crushed’ by rape reports SWEDEN

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ailed as the country’s largest music festival, the 45,000-capacity Bravalla will not take place next year after a string of rapes and sexual assaults were reported for the second year running.

Police in Östergötland, where the festival is held from 28 June to 1 July, say they received reports of four rapes and 23 sexual assaults during the event. No arrests have been made.

Last year five women were allegedly raped at the four-day festival, something which owner FKP Scorpio Konzertproduktionen, the German pan Europe festival organiser, believes contributed to a drop in attendance from 52,000 in 2016.

Now the organisers say the festival will take a break in 2018.

“We began to think about this last year after the

FKP Scorpio’s Bravalla Festival

crimes that were reported then,” says FKP Scorpio MD Folkert Koopmans.

“My colleagues at FKP Scorpio Sweden struggle and work very hard to create something amazing,

but after last year’s festival both they and I were crushed. If we lose the passion and the joy, we cannot create what we want.

“When I heard that more crimes were reported this year, I instinctively felt that Folkert Koopmans this was a decision I needed to take.”

Acts performing at the festival included The Killers, Håkan Hellström, Martin Garrix and System of a Down.

Among other festivals owned by FKP Scorpio are Finland’s Provinssi (65,000), the Netherlands Indian Summer (25,000) NuForms (7,000) in Austria and Germany’s Hurricane (75,000) and Southside (60,000).

Promoters cancel 10,000 Ed Sheeran tickets bought by touts UNITED KINGDOM

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outs attempting to resell tickets for Ed Sheeran’s upcoming UK tour for inflated prices on unauthorised sites have seen 10,000 tickets cancelled.

Co-promoters Kilmanjaro Live, DHP Family and AEG Presents have stipulated tickets for the stadium tour can only be resold on ethical resale site Twickets at face-value or below.

More than one million tickets have been sold by the tour’s official primary ticket sites See Tickets, Kilimanjaro’s myticket, DHP’s alt.tickets, Gigantic, and Ticketmaster (TM), and although Stuart Camp resale platforms including eBay’s StubHub and TM-owned Seatwave and GetMeIn! have complied with the terms and conditions, Viagogo has not.

In a breach of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, Viagogo has listed tickets that will be invalid if resold at up to £1,060, while other sites including edsheerantickets2018.com and ticket-selection. com have also listed.

Promoters are working with the National Trading Standards Cyber Crime team to monitor sales AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

and any which are listed for resale on sites other Victim of Viagogo after being duped in similar than Twickets are being cancelled. These are then fashion (see Audience issue 205) has linked with returned to the market through Twickets. anti-touting campaign group FanFair Alliance to Sites contravening the law are being report- create a step-by-step guide on how to seek a reed to the Competition and Markets Authority, fund. Turnham has already helped victims recoup which is currently investigating the secondary more than £56,000 ($65,000). ticketing sector.

“Everyone who has got a refund “Viagogo are operating has really had to fight for it,” she completely in breach of the tells Audience. newly updated Consumer Meanwhile search engine Google Rights Act,” says Sheeran’s has been accused of promoting unusmanager Stuart Camp at able Sheeran tickets by listing Viagogo Rocket Music. “They fail as the top search result. to provide information on “Its hugely frustrating that Google original face value, precise Stuart Galbraith is allowing Viagogo to masquerade as seat details and seller, and an official seller,” says Kilimanjaro CEO that makes it harder for the promoter to invalidate Stuart Galbraith. tickets being offered for resale.”

“We tried our hardest over weeks and weeks to It is also reported that a number of customers persuade them not to allow Viagogo to advertise have once again fallen victim to Viagogo’s hid- these tickets and now hundreds of people are den charges for tickets, with Kerry West from Kent pursuing Viagogo for money back after being spending £1,889.23 for four tickets to see Sheeran ripped-off.” at Wembley Stadium (cap. 90,000). West told the The Sheeran tour will plays venues such as Sunday Times newspaper she believed she was Manchester’s Etihad Stadium (55,000), Glasgow’s paying £352 for the tickets.

Hampden Park (52,000) and Cardiff’s Principality Claire Turnham who set up Facebook group Stadium (74,500) next May and June. www.audience.uk.com

World News • 5

Venue titans in stand-off tough business”.

However AEG Europe CEO and presiop artistes and promoters could be dent Tom Miserendino says he wants denied the freedom to play the venue the dispute resolved. of their choice in three major cities if they “We want to get back to simply workdon’t give in to demands of two major ing with artistes and agents,” he says. venue operators.

No-one at Azoff-MSG was availThe dispute appears to have been able to comment and no artistes apignited by the company that runs New Tom Miserendino pear to have been barred from any York’s 19,000-capacity Madison Square of the venues involved, as Audience Garden and its offshoot Azoff MSG Enwent to press. tertainment (AMSG), and arch rival AEG, Meanwhile MSG and the 17,500-cawhich owns the 20,000-capacity Staples pacity Prudential Center in Newark, Madison Square Garden Center in Los Angeles and London’s The New Jersey have entered into a bookO2 (cap. 21,000) in the UK. been forced by MSG’s actions and ing and marketing partnership that is AMSG’s Irving Azoff suggested that if AEG will now coordinate bookings intended to attract more concerts to New Jersey, an artiste plays AEG’s Staples Center inbetween The O2 arena and Staples two hours drive from AEG’s Barclays Center. stead of MSG-owned The Forum (17,500) Irving Azoff Center,” says AEG in a statement.

“We look forward to leveraging MSG’s unique in the city, then the act may have difficulty The fall out is thought to have begun last year stature and strong, long-standing relationships getting a date at the prestigious Madison Square with Neil Diamond moving two concerts from with industry leaders … to help bring an exciting Garden arena. the Staples Center to The Forum, while Roger array of events to the Prudential Center, while also In response, AEG attempted to “level the play- Waters and Chance the Rapper played Brooklyn’s serving the market with more options,” says MSG ing field” by threatening similar retribution if an AEG-managed Barclaycard Center (19,000) rather Live executive vice-president Darren Pfeffer. artiste plays The Forum instead of its Staples Cent- than MSG. Upcoming shows at the Center feature Lionel er, but with The O2 linked in.

US entertainment industry publication Va- Richie, Mariah Carey, Roger Waters, Paul McCart“After exhausting all avenues, our hand has riety claims Azoff says the policy is “good, ney (two nights), Katy Perry and Lorde.

WORLD

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A captain’s performance WORLD

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resh from a headline slot at the 50,000-capacity TRNSMT in their Scottish homeland, Biffy Clyro are continuing their trek around the European festival circuit.

Formed in 1995, the three-piece have released seven albums, the latest of which is Ellipsis, released in July 2016.

Known for their energetic, shirtless performances, the band’s biggest hits include Mountains, Many of Horror, Machines and The Captain.

Having already played on The Pyramid Stage at the UK’s Glastonbury (140,000) and Spain’s FIB Benicassim (30,000), the band will also appear at Sweden’s Grona Lund (20,000) in Stockholm, and Germany’s Highfield Festival (25,000) in Erfurt.

“Not many bands have been able to headline or sub-headline the main stages of [major UK festivals] Reading/Leeds, Download and Glastonbury within the same year, and word has been spreading fast beyond the UK with the band now playing arenas and headlining festivals on mainland Europe,” says the band’s international agent Steve Zapp COVER ARTISTE at ITB in the UK. “Biffy Clyro truly do have the vary rare talent of being able to blend some of the heaviest music that you’ll hear with amazing melodies.”

Paul Craig at Nostomo Management and Dee Bahl at 1554 Management, both also in the UK, co-manage the band.

www.audience.uk.com

Lokeren - Belgium

Headliners of previous editions

Neil Young & Crazy Horse • The Cure The Beach Boys • Massive Attack • New Order Morrissey • Interpol • Sex Pistols • Sonic Youth Blink-182 • N.E.R.D. • M.I.A • Grace Jones Faithless • Christine & The Queens • Slayer Van Morrison • and many others www.lokersefeesten.be AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

6 • World News

Zedeck returns to his roots UNITED STATES

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avid Zedeck, formerly Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) executive vice-president and president of Global Talent and Artist Development since 2012, has returned to his agency roots.

He has joined United Talent Agency (UTA) as global head of UTA Music and special advisor to the board of directors. Zedeck will be based in the com-

pany’s Los Angeles headquarters and report to UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer.

Prior to joining LNE, Zedeck worked at CAA, where his artistes included Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Justin Bieber, One Direction, Ciara, Jonas Brothers and II Divo.

LNE president/CEO Michael Rapino tweeted, “Thanks David for a great five years and best wishes on the next chapter as you return to your roots.”

Zimmer says, “David’s track record colleagues - David Klein, who joined of developing artistes, his passion UTA in April after 12 years at CAA for music, and his underand Jbeau Lewis, who standing of how to use all was there for 11 years the resources of an agenbefore moving across cy make him the perfect in 2014. leader for our future.”

Both are members UTA, which acquired of UTA’s music leaderNeil Warnock’s The ship team along with Agency Group (TAG) in Natalia Nataskin, who 2015, reunites Zedeck is also head of US Music with two former agent Jeremy Zimmer Operations.

Warner acquires Songkick talent discovery business WORLD

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ARNER MUSIC Group (WMG) has acquired Songkick’s concert discovery platform, including its app and website, along with the company trademark, although the direct-to-fan ticketing part of the business will remain a separate entity.

A number of Songkick employees which form the team running the discovery app will move to WMG, with the Songkick app operating Matt Jones

as its own brand under WMG’s artiste and label division, Warner Elektra Atlantic (WEA).

Songkick merged with white label ticketing company Crowdsurge in 2015, having previously been best known for compiling show listings and recommending events to users.

WMG’s parent company Access Industries was a backer of Crowdsurge and provided financial support to the companies after the merger.

“Bringing together Songkick’s discovery platform and worldclass technology with our existing ecommerce expertise and global reach represents a powerful step in strengthening and evolving our direct-to-fan capabilities,” says WEA president Tony Harlow.

Songkick is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Live Nation Entertainment-owned Ticketmaster in the US, which it has accused of anti-competitive behaviour. As this involves the ticketing side of the business WMG will not be affected. The next court hearing is in August.

TEG makes further moves into Asia MALAYSIA

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UNITED KINGDOM

The London Stadium (cap. 80,000) hosted two sell-out dates with Guns N’Roses as the band continued their Not in This Lifetime tour. Pictured at the stadium are the band’s North America agent Ken Fermaglich of United Talent Agency, manager Fernando Lebeis of Team Brazil and the band’s international agent Rod MacSween of ITB in the UK. AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

ustralia-based ticketing, touring and data analytics company TEG has completed the acquisition of ticketing platform TicketCharge.

As part of the agreement TEG, which owns Australia’s biggest ticketing agency Ticketek, is setting up a new division in Singapore, part of TEG’s plans to expand across Asia, (see Audience issue 198).

“TEG is the largest diversified entertainment company in Asia-Pacific and we have a track record and accumulated expertise in the entertainment industry,” says CEO Geoff Jones.

“We see huge opportunities in many offshore markets and our strategy puts us on course to becoming a truly international promoter and service producer.”

Founded in 1991, TicketCharge had established itself as the couintry’s leading ticket provider, with offices in Kuala Lumpar and Penang.

As well as promoting division TEG Live, the company merged with veteran Austrlian promoter Paul Dainty’s Dainty Group to form TEG-Dainty last July and also owns the Qudos Bank Arena (cap. 21,000) in Sydney.

“On behalf of the many artistes and fans we’ve served over the last decade, we are committed to continuing our litigation against Live Nation and Ticketmaster independently,” says Songkick founder and CEO Matt Jones.

Hailed as the UK’s richest man, Russian-born Sir Leonard ‘Len’ Blavatnik bought Warner Music Group in July 2011 for $3.3 billion, through his investment company Access Industries, which also has $15 million invested in Songkick.

Blavatnik has estimated personal wealth of £17.1bn, as of April 2015.

NEWSBITES UK Telecoms company O2 has renewed its sponsorship of 19 venues across the country, including London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (cap. 2,000), O2 Academy Glasgow (2,500) and O2 Apollo (3,500) in Manchester, in a deal reported to be worth £70 million ($91.2m), over the next 10 years. The deal agreed with venue owners Live Nation Entertainment and its majority-owned Academy Music Group will be worth around £7m ($9.1m) a year. O2 renewed its naming rights agreement with AEG-owned The 02 (21,000) in February (see Audience issue 206) in a deal worth £125m ($162.6m), until 2027.

COSTA RICA A 22-year-old Colombian man was arrested after making threats to attack a concert by Ariana Grande at the Parque Viva (cap. 15,000) in Alajuela. The threats were made online ahead of a show which went ah ead on 9 July, with attendees going through three security checks before being allowed admission. In May, 22 people were killed by a suicide bomber as fans left a Ariana Grande concert at the UK’s Manchester Arena (15,000 for concerts) www.audience.uk.com

World News • 7

Illegal resellers fined $4m UNITED STATES

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ew YORK State Attorney General Eric Schneideman has cracked down on illegal ticket brokers with $4.19 million in settlements with six companies that illegally bought and resold hundreds of thousands of tickets to concerts and other events in New York.

Among them was Prestige Entertainment, which bought 1,012 tickets to a U2 concert at New York’s 20,500-capacity Madison Square Garden in 2014 in one minute.

Five of the companies regularly utilised illegal software (known as bots) to acquire tickets for resale on sites such as StubHub and Vivid Seats since 2011.

Renaissance Ventures LLC (trading as Prestige Entertainment) of Connecticut, and Ebrani Corp (t/a Presidential Tickets), Concert Specials,

Fanfetch and BMC Capital Partners – all based in New York, violated the city’s ticket laws by using bots to purchase large numbers of tickets on websites such as Ticketmaster before the tickets could be obtained by consumers.

“We will continue to fight to make ticketing a more fair and transparent marketplace” Eric Schneideman All the companies, with the exception of Ebrani Corp, sold tickets to events without first obtaining the required license.

The settlements require that the companies and their executives maintain reseller licenses if they

wish to continue working with New ticketing a more fair and transparYork events, abstain from using bots, ent marketplace, so fans have the and pay penalties totalling $4.19m opportunity to enjoy their favourite for having operated illegally. shows and events.

The Attorney General also settled “Anybody who breaks the law will with Componica LLC of Iowa, who pay a steep price,” he says. developed software libraries used The investigation found that Presby ticket bots to get tige Entertainment ran around tests used by one of the largest ticket websites to determine purchasing and reselling if a user is a human operations in the US usor a machine. Coming at least two different ponica has agreed to bots and thousands of not develop or use credit cards and Ticketsoftware to bypass master accounts to pursecurity measures on chase tickets to New York Eric Schneiderman ticketing websites. shows. It also bought IP “Unscrupulous tickaddresses from online IP et resellers who break the rules and proxy services to evade detection of take advantage of ordinary consum- its bots by retail ticket marketplaces. ers are one of the major reasons why An Attorney General’s office ticketing remains a rigged system,” broader investigation into the says Schneiderman. secondary ticketing industry “We will continue to fight to make remains ongoing.

Pages 14-18: Market Focus: Sweden

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AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

8 • World News

MPs tell Viagogo to stop hiding UNITED KINGDOM

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wo MPs were ‘threatened with arrest’ after visiting secondary ticketing company Viagogo’s new London office, in search of answers about the company’s “shady” practices.

Co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Ticket Abuse Sharon Hodgson MP and Nigel Adams MP visited the office in Fenchurch Street, after sending a letter informing the company it needs to be more responsive to its customers.

However the MPs, accompanied by promoter Stuart Galbraith of Kilimanjaro Live, Music Managers Forum CEO Annabella Coldrick, Adam Webb of anti-touting campaign group FanFair Alliance and Victim of Viagogo group founder Claire Turnham,

Performer dies at Mad Cool SPAIN

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rganisers of Madrid’s 45,000-capacity Mad Cool festival say they chose not to cancel performances after the death of an acrobat on stage, in the interests of safety.

Pedro Aunion Monroy, 42, from Brighton in the UK, fell from a cube which had been hoisted 30 metres above the stage as part of a stunt on 7 July. He was treated by paramedics, but died at the scene.

Monroy was performing during a break between Alt-J and Green Day. Despite the accident the festival continued with Green Day claiming they had not known about the death until coming off stage.

“The decision to not stop the festival immediately was made between the state and local security forces, as well as our security management,” says festival director Javi Arnaiz.

“It was deemed unsafe to have a large mass of people moving all at once, with the possibility of violent reactions, due to a sudden cancelation.”

were turned away by security. previous London office shortly before it failed to apHodgson tells Audience the group was told com- pear at the government’s Culture Media and Spot pany bosses did not want to see them and if they committee hearing into ticket abuse (see Audience did not leave the building, police would be called. issue 207).

“Hopefully, the action we took Viagogo switched will take us one step closer to its headquarters ending Viagogo’s business pracfrom London to Getices which rip-off genuine fans,” neva in Switzerland she says. in early 2012, after Adams adds, “I’m astounded losing a court case Viagogo would be so obstrucbrought by the Rugtive. I hope they will get the mesby Football Union in sage that we won’t let them hide an attempt to discover from either the public or from Nigel Adams MP, Sharon Hodgson MP, Stuart Galbraith, the names of touts Parliament with shady practices.” Adam Webb, Claire Turnham and Annabella Coldrick selling tickets against at Viagogo’s office The company moved from its its rules.

Swiss festival addition for Live Nation SWITZERLAND

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lobal giant Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) has taken a majority stake in the 50,000-capacity Openair Frauenfeld Festival.

The deal will see festival founder Wolfgang Sahli, chairman of organiser First Event, continue to produce the event, held in Allmend, along with MD Rene Götz.

LNE has more than 90 festivals in its global portfolio including Australia’s Splendour Festival (cap.

35,000), Bonnaroo (75,000) in the US, Sweden’s Way Out West (30,000) and the UK’s Creamfields (60,000) and Isle of Wight Festival (45,000).

“This partnership demonstrates the strong commitment and substantial presence of Live Nation in the Swiss market,” says Live Nation Switzerland MD Ralph Schuler.

Having started out as Out in the Green in 1985, the event was rebranded in 2004 as Openair Frauenfeld and switched to a line-up focused on urban, hip-hop and R’n’B acts such as Eminem, Drake and Jay-Z.

Sahli adds, “We believe joining forces with Live Nation has given us a strong and innovative partner with which to continue to grow and evolve.”

This year’s event featured The Weeknd, Usher & The Roots and Casper.

Openair Frauenfeld Festival

+44 1293 558080 fly@premieraviation.com

Over 130 music tours Quite simply, our experience counts AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

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10 • World News

Speculators ‘hurt fans’ and exploit artistes M

Concert shooting leaves 25 injured UNITED STATES

SPAIN

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adrid-based ticketing company Ticketea has found one in four people (26 per cent) has resold tickets for an event online.

As part of a survey of 12,000 people, Ticketea also discovered that 69 per cent were attempting to achieve a profit on the original price paid, with an average mark up of 147 per cent being achieved.

“The problem is speculators who buy large numbers of tickets and resell them for a premium of as much as 1,000 per cent,” says Ticketea found- Neo Sala

er and CEO Javier Andrés.

“They hurt the fans, and they take advantage of the talent of artistes and the risk assumed by promoters and organisers of events.”

The survey compared the resale price of 80 concerts, festivals and stage shows. In all 75 per cent of the tickets were for music concerts or festivals.

“The problem is more serious than the survey,” says Neo Sala, CEO of one of the country’s top two promoter Doctor Music. “We also have to think about Google which has an ethical code that it is skipping

by allowing certain sites to advertise at the top of its searches.”

Doctor Music is currently taking legal action against eight secondary ticketing sites, including Viagogo and Live Nation Entertainmentowned Seatwave (see Audience issue 195) over highly-priced tickets listed on resale platforms for concerts by acts such as Adele and Bruce Springsteen.

Barcelona-based The Project is also continuing legal action against Viagogo in relation to a concert by Joaquin Sabina, while the president of Bruce Springsteen’s Spanish fan club, Joan Colet, has launched a petition against resale websites.

Crack-down on booking fees NETHERLANDS

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nline ticketing providers have been ordered to cleanup their act and stop adding extra costs to tickets throughout the booking process.

The Autoriteit Consument & Markt (Authority for Consumers and Markets, ACM) is giving companies until 1 October to comply with regulations

stating all “unavoidable” costs must be included in the base ticket price.

“Consumers cannot be confronted with additional costs that they were always required to pay during the booking process,” says ACM consumer department director Bernadette van Buchem.

“Clear prices are not just important for consumers, but also for business owners that compete with each

other. ACM wants prices to be transparent for consumers.”

The watchdog says it has received a string of reports from customers encountering additional costs, including service fees and print costs. In some cases this led to tickets costing 20 per cent more than anticipated.

If websites do not adjust prices accordingly before the deadline, ACM will force them to do so.

Promoting and managers high on Summit agenda UNITED KINGDOM

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he risks faced by promoters and all levels of the industry will be in sharp focus at this year’s LIVE UK Summit, when the conference and networking event returns.

Set for Thursday 12 October at the Radisson Blu Portman hotel in London’s West End, the first conference sessions announced include The Risk Factor, covering the world of promoting, and The Next Stage, which will focus on the challenges audience • issue 210 • July 2017

facing the venue sector.

The increasingly complex role of the artiste manager will also come in for special attention, coupled with a report from the manager-backed anti-ticket touting campaign group FanFair Alliance.

“Discussions will keep pace with the speed of change in the industry, as well as covering regular issues such as artiste development, the grassroots live sector and sponsorship,” says Summit executive producer Steve Parker, who is also man-

aging editor of Audience.

Other sessions announced include Fields of Dreams, on the festivals sector, and The Winning Ticket (primary ticketing).

The special registration rate of £115 + VAT (a total of approximately €154 or $180) is still available for a limited period online at www.liveuksummit.com. The LIVE UK Summit is followed by the Live Music Business Awards (www. livemusicawards.co.uk), held at the same venue.

ultiple shooters are believed to have been responsible for injuring 25 people at a concert in Power Ultra Lounge (cap. 300) in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The in-house-promoted show by rapper Finese 2 Tymes was taking place when the shooting occurred around 2.30am on 1 July. One element of the concert’s promotion was a poster which displayed a man holding what appears to be gun.

Police believe the shooting was gang related. No-one was killed.

“Some sort of dispute broke out between individuals that were inside, and an exchange of gunfire took place,” says Little Rock police chief Kenton Buckner.

“This does appear to be a continuation of disputes from some of our local groups.”

Newsbites WORLD U2’s The Joshua Tree Tour has generated an overall gross of $123.7 million with more than one million tickets sold for its first 20 dates, according to US music industry publication Billboard. Having started the tour in May, the band is in Europe for the second leg playing venues such as Ireland’s Croke Park (cap. 73,500), the Netherland’s Amsterdam Arena (53,052) and France’s Stade de France (81,338) in Paris.

UK Plans have been announced that could see Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena (cap.

11,250) moved, as part of a £200 million ($259.3m) development being considered

by Gateshead Council, property developers Ask Real Estate and investment manager Patrizia UK, along with venue operator SMG Europe. Proposals are in place to create a 12,500-capacity arena in Gateshead Quays. The new complex would include a conference and exhibition centre.

USA eBay-owned resale site StubHub has named Olivier Ropars as vice-president and chief marketing officer. Ropars spent six years at eBay as the head of global performance marketing. Meanwhile, the company has opened a retail ticket store in midtown New York, with an interactive area, photo booth and live event space. www.audience.uk.com

World News • 11

VTB Arena offers best of both worlds

Former culture minister slams US corporations FRANCE

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RUSSIA

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oscow’s VTB Arena will become one of the few venue complexes in greater Europe to compromise two performance spaces that can operate simultaneously, when it opens next year.

It will comprise of a 35,000capacity stadium, which will be the home ground of football team Dinamo Moscow, and a multi-purpose arena with a capacity of 15,000.

Officially opening in May, the venue will cost 89.36 billion roubles ($1.5bn) and be operated by Arena Park Events (APE).

“It will be possible to run simultaneously both international level sport events and concerts using state-of-the-

Moscow’s VTB Arena

etyevo Internaart technologies,” says tional Airport, APE general manager the Belorussky Olga Miagkikh.

Railway Station A key element of and subway the venue, which has a station. naming rights sponsor“Our audiship deal with VTB Bank, ence will be will be its location, less families and than 10 minutes drive Olga Miagkikh from the centre of Moscow, the new generation of mediwith links to the city’s main um-income level Muscovites,” transport hubs, the Sherem- says Miagkikh.

he country’s former Minister of Culture Jack Lang has claimed American multinationals are putting independent promoters and festivals at risk due to their dominance in the market.

Ahead of Live Nation Entertainment’s first French edition of festival brand Lollapalooza (cap. 70,000), held in Paris at Longchamp racecourse on 22-23 July, Lang told newspaper Le Monde the invasion of the company and AEG was having a detrimental impact.

“Live Nation extends its empire on the organisation of concerts in France and in particular through the Lollapalooza festival,” Lang says.

“AEG, already scandalously present in the capital of Bercy [the theater] buys Rock en Seine [30,000] while benefiting from local subsidies.

“The taking of power by these groups may kill diversity, putting at risk the independent festivals to promote a destructive price inflation and encourage speculation in the art of music in all its forms.”

Live Nation France deputy general manager Matthias Leullier says the company had local interests at heart and does not receive any public subsidies.

Lollapalooza also takes place in Germany, Brazil and Chile (80,000).

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audience • issue 210 • July 2017

12 • World News

Fyre fest co-founder arrested for fraud BAHAMAS/UNITED STATES

T

he co-founder of the disastrous Fyre Festival, Billy McFarland, has been arrested and charged with scheming to defraud investors in his company, Fyre Media. It is alleged the tech entrepreneur misrepresented the financial status of his business to attract investment.

Newsbite UK The 8,500-capacity Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) will be known as the BHGE Arena, after its sponsor changed its name. General Electric the oil and gas business which sponsors the venue has merged with oilfield services company Baker Hughes to become Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE). A new 12,500-capacity BHGE Arena is due to open in 2019, as part of a £333 million ($434.4m) development.

audience • issue 210 • July 2017

According to a statement from the US attorney’s office in New York, McFarland is accused of persuading two investors to input $1.2 million into Fyre Media, based on misrepresentations about its revenue and income.

“McFarland told investors that Fyre Media earned millions of dollars of revenue from thousands of artiste

bookings from at least July 2016 until April 2017,” it says.

“In reality, in that period, Fyre Media earned less than $60,000 in revenue from 60 artiste bookings.”

Fyre was billed as a luxury event on the island of Grand Exuma, with headliners including Blink-182, but was cancelled as attendees began arriving. The site appeared to still be un-

der development with little shelter or provisions. Tickets cost up to $12,000 for a four-person package.

Lawsuits from festival-goers, suppliers and ticket provider Tablelist (see Audience issue 209) to recover money from the event are stacking up.

McFarland has been released on bail, while Fyre Media co-founder, singer Ja Rule, has not been arrested.

Oak View Group acquires Pollstar united states

A

rena development and investment company Oak View Group (OVG) has acquired live music industry magazine Pollstar, after months of negotiation.

The deal sees OVG take full ownership of Pollstar’s print and online publications as well as its conference Pollstar Live! President

and editor-in-chief Gary Bongiovanni and CEO Gary Smith will both continue in their roles.

Launched in 2015 OVG, is run by former AEG CEO Tim Leiweke and former Live Nation Entertainment chairman and artiste management legend Irving Azoff, who is also chairman of Azoff MSG Entertainment.

“Pollstar has served our

industry as a trusted and invaluable resource during an era where music and ticketing have evolved dramatically,” says Azoff.

“Their insights and analysis are fundamental to the success of our business and we’re looking forward to growing the brand’s influence and impact.”

OVG also owns trade magazine Venues Today,

which it acquired last December, and venues group Arena Alliance, which counts New York’s Madison Square Garden (cap.

19,000), The Forum (17,500) in Los Angeles and Boston’s TD Garden (17,500) among its members.

OVG is planning to build a 17,500-capacity live music venue in Las Vegas (see Audience issue 198).

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audience • issue 210 • July 2017

Language: Swedish

ormally known as the Kingdom of Sweden, the country includes thousands of coastal islands, with its capital Stockholm alone boasting 14 islands and more than 50 bridges forming the infrastructure.

The majority of the population lives in the south, where the climate is milder and there is easy access to mainland Europe, although there are also significant clusters along the Baltic coast in the east, with cities such as Sundsvall and Umea.

Its much vaunted welfare system, based on high taxes to provide quality health care, education and pensions for all, has been placed under strain by a recent influx of immigration, but the economy remains prosperous, with timber, hyrdropower and iron as valuable resources.

Having produced its fair share of homegrown talents from Abba, Roxette and Europe to The Cardigans, Avicii and Zara Larsson, the country continues to be an important stop on the global touring circuit. It also has a strong festival scene.

The country’s dominant promoter is Live Nation Sweden (LNS), which forms the hub for Live Nation Entertainment’s regional activity across Scandinavia and the Baltic States.

LNS is led by Thomas Johansson who united

GDP per capita (US$): 56,319

Currency: Swedish Krona (SEK)

US$ exchange rate: 0.11886

the top promoters in Finland, Norway and Denmark under what became the Live Nation banner more than 15 years ago.

Shows promoted by LNS this year include Guns N’Roses and Depeche Mode, both at the Friends Arena (cap. 65,000) in Stockholm, KISS at Tele2 Arena (40,000) and Drake and the Weeknd, both at Ericsson Globe (16,000).

“Depeche Mode came in incredibly strong and it was amazing to see them start off their world tour by selling more tickets than ever before in Sweden,” says LNS head promoter Anna Sjolund.

“Guns N’Roses was also a huge success - and a great show. The market is healthy and tickets are generally selling very well. Maybe we are seeing a slight over-saturation for mid-tier acts, but that is all.”

On average LNS stages 300 shows a year with international and local artistes, with its domestic agency division booking around 2,000 concerts in the Nordic region.

“On the arena and stadium shows we often see a demand that is much higher than the capacity of the venues and we see there that people are willing to pay much higher ticket prices than we charge to get in to the show,” she says.

Broadband households: 5.3m

Internet users: 9.2m

(Source: IFPI)

Umeå

Its arenas and stadiums are thriving with a regular influx of international acts complementing home-grown stars, but at lower levels a lack of venues has promoters concerned while the festival sector is being tainted by reports of rapes and sexual assaults. Neil Bracegirdle reports

www.audience.uk.com

Market Focus • 15

Ullevi Stadium

over the last 12 months.

“Some ticket prices may feel too high, but these ones are almost always selling,” says Broquist, who admits, “The risk may be that the customers get less money left to buy tickets to the smaller or not so expensive shows, if the big ones get too expensive.”

Promoting around 400 shows a year, Luger also runs a number of festivals, the biggest being Way Out West (30,000), which this year features Lana Del Rey, The xx and Major Lazer, along with Stockholm Music & Arts (13,000) and Popaganda (10,000).

“There is a bigger festival audience to reach compared to 15 years ago,” says Broquist. “Three generations of people are going to festivals now.

“The heavy competition over that past few years may have made it more difficult for some of the smaller event organisers, as the risks are getting huge. Then again, we do see a bunch of interesting micro festivals taking form, which should be good for the future.”

Upcoming Luger shows feature Sleaford Mods at Debaser Strand (700), with tickets at 275 krona ($33), Lorde at Stockholm Annexet (3,400), priced at 550 krona ($66) and The Kooks at Nobelberget (1,700), with tickets at 395 krona ($48).

“Being a country that’s not in the euro also impacts us, as it was much easier to keep ticket prices down when the US dollar cost 30 per cent less four years ago.”

LNS also has a significant role to play in the festival market, with a recent acquisition being Sweden Rock, more of which later, while it bought Stureplansgruppen Live in March last year, taking on its twin EDM festivals Summerburst at Gothenburg’s Ullevi Stadium (configured for 31,000) and Gardet (28,000) in Stockholm.

“We Swedes have such a strong music community and the interest for both local and international acts just seems to keep growing every year,” says Sjolund. “It’s really a fun and vibrant environment to be a part of right now.”

Forthcoming shows include Robbie Williams at Tele2 Arena, Lady Gaga at Ericsson Globe and Volbeat at Friends Arena.

Pricing it right

Founded in 1991 and based in Stockholm, LNS-owned event organiser and domestic artistes agency Luger’s head promoter Ola Broquist says the two sold-out shows with Coldplay at Gothenburg’s Ullevi Stadium (cap. 65,000) were Ola Broquist the company’s biggest

Making waves

Since entering the market in 2011 with an office in Stockholm, German pan-Europe promoter FKP Scorpio has developed into a major player.

It has concerts with the Rolling Stones at Friends Arena, with tickets 695-2,595 krona ($84-313), Ed Sheeran at Ullevi Stadium and Friends Arena, priced at 645-845 krona ($78102), as well as Gorillaz at Hovet (8,000) in Stockholm and The Amazons at Kägelbanan (650) in Södra Teatern.

FKP Scorpio promoter Rickard Nilsson says the terror attack at the UK’s Manchester Arena

“On the arena and stadium shows we often see a demand that is much higher than the capacity of the venues” Anna Sjolund

has meant tightened security, but this hasn’t deterred audiences.

“People are still buying tickets and are understanding towards any queuing time or inconvenience caused by extra safety precautions at the bigger venues,” he explains.

Of perhaps more pressing concern is a perceived lack of venues for artistes on their way up, with the closure of Stockholm’s Debaser Medis (850) last year, adding to the problem.

“Good, mid-sized venues with a capacity of 500-1,000 are missing all over Sweden,” says Nilsson.

There’s much more to an Audience subscription T h e Wo r l d ’s B e s t S t a d i u m s F o r C o n t e m p o r a r y L i v e M u s i c

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Arena closed until September after attack

Fyre fest organiser

s ‘overwhelmed’ paradigm takes stake in X-ray Live Nation’s record Q1 revenue

Lighting the way Dagny aims to conquer Europe McManus escapes jail and vows to rebuild Viagogo scrutiny intensifies Malaysia to get ‘game-changer’ venue

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Calls for legislation to end resale ‘robbery’

Asia • Australia • Latin America Middle East • New Zealand North America • South Africa Part 1: Europe

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We have to be careful to not go crazy with the and be sure we ticket provide shows that are artistically prices, technically at a and level audiences expect alfredo alonso

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audience • issue 210 • July 2017

“This is a big issue here, with a lot of forces working for a wider range of venues, and we hope to see many new venues pop up over the next few years.”

FKP Scorpio also runs Rickard Nilsson what it claims is the country’s largest festival in Bravalla (60,000), launched in 2013. The event, featuring The Killers, Linkin Park and Alesso this year, will take a self-imposed break next year after reports of numerous cases of rape and sexual assault (see page 4).

Despite this, Nilsson is adamant there remains a place for festivals of this type.

“We can see that festivals compete with the big stadium shows with international artistes and that the more comfortable city festivals are growing more and more popular,” he says.

“But then there will always be festival enthusiasts who prefer to stay in a big field in the middle of nowhere, with all their friends and great music for five days.”

Big year

Staging between 50 to 100 shows annually is promoter David Maloney, who set up Maloney Concerts four years ago and has high hopes for this year.

Oskar Omne

16 • Market Focus

FKP Scorpio’s Bravalla festival

“The majority of the headline shows are doing very well and there seems to be far more interest in going to these shows than last year,” he says.

“The number of shows and festivals has also reached an all time high, so the competition is big.”

This may have something to do with the emphasis being put on pricing tickets correctly.

“Ticket prices are high but sensible,” says Maloney. “We try to have premium prices along with very cheap tickets and that has proven to be a hit.

David Maloney “There are more in

depth discussions with agents now to figure out exactly what the right ticket prices are, as if you are a few euros too high it will affect ticket sales in a negative way.”

Maloney Concert’s biggest show this year saw Justin Bieber sell-out two nights at Tele2 Arena (40,000), and the company also had Green Day at Scandinavium (10,000), Celine Dion at Tele2 Arena (configured for 25,000) and Mary J Blige at Gothenburg’s Lieberg Tivoli (15,000).

Growth challenge

After spending 17 years as a LNS promoter, Edward Jenson left to establish his own Triffid Productions in 2012, merging with Danger Music and Media to form Triffid and Danger

Live Nation are proud to have the best team in Sweden.

Thanks to Thomas,Tor, Anna & the whole team. audience • issue 210 • July 2017

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Market Focus • 17 Concerts (T&DC) in early last year.

Staging around 100 shows a year, Jenson is another who feels the market is missing smaller venues.

“There are a lot of good venues in Sweden but there’s a lack of small venues where you can do new bands for a low cost,” he says. “This makes it difficult to break new bands. If you need to sell 150 tickets just to cover the venue rent then it’s difficult to pay any decent guarantee to a new act.

“Also tickets to the popular acts always sell well but it’s difficult to sell tickets to the newer acts.”

T&DC is promoting 13 shows with WASP across Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark in venues ranging in capacity from 600 to 1,800.

Tele2 Arena

It also has Helloween at Partille Arena (5,000), with tickets at 450 krona ($54), and Mr Big at Trädgårn (1,100) in Gothenburg, priced at 425 krona ($51).

“It’s a fact that the ticket prices have become higher, but so far I don’t see any big problems,”

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Jenson says. “As long as there is a demand for the act then people are prepared to pay a rather high ticket price. We are doing a lot of shows where tickets cost around 700-800 krona [$8597], but as long as it’s a good act in a nice venue, then it works.”

T&DC also staged the second edition of Gefle Metal Festival (5,000) in Gävle in mid-July, with acts including Amon Amarth, Opeth and Heaven Shall Burn.

Janson admits he was apprehensive about entering the festival sector, but is happy with the outcome.

“The festival market is changing,” he says.

“It looks now like FKP Scorpio won’t do any summer festival next year and Live Nation has bought Sweden Rock Festival and Summerburst, so they are getting stronger and stronger.

“Having said that, there is a lot of small and medium-sized independent festivals which are doing well, such as Skogsröjet [6,000], Gefle Metal Festival, Stadsfesten and Skellefteå.

“There’s always room for another festival if you find your niche. The audience can be picky and they have high demands, but that is a good thing.”

Moving his focus slightly away from concerts, Julius Malmstrom veteran operator Julius

Malmström of Julius Production’s has been in the business for more than four decades having started out working with Thomas Johansson on acts including Wings and Santana.

Although he still dabbles in promoting

“It’s a fact that the ticket prices have become higher, but so far I don’t see any big problems” Edward Jenson

concerts, with Diana Kroll among the artistes, Malmström is now mainly involved in theatrical productions and counts Spamalot the Musical and The Swanlake among recent best-sellers.

“There are too many artistes on the road as they don’t sell CDs and can’t stay in the studios,” says Malmström.

“I have a feeling the market will rise, but the main problem is that middle age audiences prefer to visit restaurants or watch Netflix.”

Staying solid

In November last year LNS announced it was buying a majority stake in Sweden Rock (see Audience issue 202), an event launched in 1992 and which has sold-out for the last 12 years.

audience • issue 210 • July 2017

18 • Market Focus As part of the deal, LNS and the Sweden Rock team will work together on the event with Martin Forssman continuing to organise the festival, which charges 2,690 krona ($325) for a four-day ticket.

“At the moment there is a big media focus and social media debate about, sex offenses at festivals,” says Forssman.

“According to a new report, about two per cent of sex offenses can be linked to different kinds of big public events, such as festivals. But the same report also said about 60 per cent of Ericsson Globe Malmö Arena the media reports about sex offenses lately have when 70,144 people attended a show at Ullevi (10,000), with tickets at 630-680 krona ($76-82), been linked to festivals.

Stadium. Hellström returns later this year, with Clutch at Stockholm Annex (3,000), priced at “So even though this is a problem that tickets at 425-470 krona ($51-57), while Cats, 350 krona ($42), and a 15-date tour with Danko concerns society as a whole, and that exists all In Flames and Scorpions play Scandinavium.

Jones and Mando Diao, including a show at over the world, it is very much being linked to “We are currently upgrading our indoor arena Stockholm Cirkus (1,700). festivals here at the moment.”

Scandinavium with a new restaurant, higher Despite this and airing concerns accessibility and also a new flexible audience that the absence of Bravalla next Gathering friends platform allowing more people [14,500] at year could leave a “bit of a vacuum”, A division of international venue concerts,” says Got Event CEO Lotta Nibell.

Forssman is positive about the future operator AEG, Stockholm Live runs of Sweden Rock.

Tele2 Arena, Ericsson Globe, Hovet “Festivals come and go, but the best (9,000) and Annexet (3,500), all Close competition ones remain and I believe there is still in Stockholm.

Since opening in November the 15,500-capacroom for more if they are done right,” In March AEG also took over the ity Malmo Arena has been reaping the rewards he says. operation of Friends Arena, which is of its close proximity to Denmark. In fact “The players that are still around are Martin Forssman capable of hosting live music with Copenhagen is only 12 minutes away from the starting to cooperate more, which will capacity from 5,000 to 65,000. venue by road or rail and there are direct links to hopefully lead to better guest experi“The demand for live events has the city’s airport. ences too.” been growing for some time in Unsurprisingly Malmo Arena welcomes just Aerosmith, Scorpions, Alter Bridge Sweden and still is,” says Stockholm as many Danish visitors as it does Swedes, and In Flames were among the acts Live’s Daniel Stålbo. although the Royal Arena (16,000) which playing Sweden Rock this year.

“With the new arenas that were opened in Copenhagen in February has brought built a couple of years ago, Friends new competition.

Arena and Tele2 Arena, we also see “The number of concerts and attendance will Developing acts a growing demand for the bigger be a little less this year than in 2016,” says CEO Tobbe Lorentz who heads the United Tobbe Lorentz events. The new multi-arenas in Karin Martensson.

Talent Agency (UTA) office in Malmo Stockholm have been so important Among acts performing at the venue include is well placed to comment on the supfor the market development in Cats and Thastrom. posed lack of smaller venues, as the Stockholm and Sweden which today Further north Goransson Arena (13,000) is company puts on 500 shows a year is a great live event market.” located 190kms from Stockholm and hosts worldwide, 70 in Sweden.

In all the company hosts around around eight concerts a year. The venue, “We are missing affordable 350 events a year at its five venues, opened in 2009, can accommodate shows from small and mid-range venues where with acts including John Legend and 1,000 to its 13,000 capacity limit. up-and-coming acts can develop,” Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at Ericsson Having previously staged shows with says Lorentz.

Globe, Robbie Williams at Tele2 Arena Bryan Adams, 50 Cent and Scorpions the “We’ve got lots of big arenas, every Daniel Stålbo and J Cole at Hovet. venue is solely hosting Swedish acts in 2017, small city now has a huge arena, they “The Swedish music scene is great due to a large volume of sport and are multi purpose venues which they try to fill at the moment with strong acts and corporate events. with hockey and music, but it’s the developing a huge demand for local artistes,” This may be an indication of the clubs that are seriously lacking. Stockholm in says Stålbo. sheer strength of the domestic market particular desperately needs mid-range venues “In December we had the Swedish which is being well complemented by in the 800-2,000 capacity.” band Kent selling-out three events in the international acts filling its arenas, The scarcity of certain venues combined with stadiums and festivals. a thriving live music scene can lead to problems. a row at Tele2 Arena with its capacity of 40,000. At the same time we see the “The live music scene in Sweden “We have a very healthy domestic touring Lotta Nibell will continue to be healthy,” says scene, which, along with all the international traf- newer artistes selling-out the smaller venues and in need of expanding their T&DC’s Janson. fic, creates an oversaturation,” explains Lorentz. shows into bigger venues.”

“There is a very strong local “The domestic touring circuit in this market is Gothenburg-based Got Event scene with many acts that can sell huge compared to many other European counmanages 10 venues, including Ullevi out stadiums and the interest for live tries, therefore the competition for bookings is Stadium (65,000), Gamla Ullevi music seems to stay at a high level. high. Additionally, the closure of venues adds to (18,400) and Scandinavium (14,000).

There is also a lot of good and profesthis situation creating a tough climate in finding Last year Swedish singer Håkan sional promoters and venues places for acts to play.”

Hellström broke the Nordic record in Sweden.”

Impending UTA shows include In Flames Karin Martensson for the largest concert capacity What more could you ask for. at Globe Arena (12,000) and Scandinavium audience • issue 210 • July 2017

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Events • 21

Events 19-21 Jul

Mediatech Africa

South Africa, Johannesburg www.mediatech.co.za Presents the latest in AV technologies and trends for live events, broadcast and film.

23-25 Aug

Pop-Kultur

Germany, Berlin www.pop-kultur.berlin Comprising three elements, Live, Pop-Kultur Nachwuchs and Networking.

14-17 Sept

Music Moscow

Russia, Moscow www.musicmoscow.ru The largest exhibition of music instruments, professional audio and lighting equipment and technologies in Russia and surrounding territories.

17-19 Sept

PLASA 2017

UK, London www.plasashow.com Trade event focusing on products and equipment for the live event, corporate, architectural and installation sectors.

20-23 Sept

Reeperbahn Festival & Campus

Germany, Hamburg www.reeperbahnfestival.com Germany’s largest club festival and conference for the live entertainment Industry.

26-28 Sept

International Festival Forum UK, London www.iff.rocks Showcases, workshops, conference sessions and Q&As aimed at festival promoters and booking agents.

5-7 Oct

Music & Media

Finland, Tampere www.musiikkimedia.fi Seeks to draw into focus the energy and innovation of the music industry, both internationally and within Finland with influence from and towards the Baltics and Russia.

10 Oct

Event Safety & Security Summit UK, London www.e3s.world

A security focused conference bringing together venues and sports security professionals and safety experts.

12 Oct

LIVE UK Summit

UK, London www.liveuksummit.com The UK’s only comprehensive live music industry conference, bringing together promoters, festival organisers, venue operators, agents, managers, brands and much more.

12 Oct

Live Music Business Awards

UK, London www.livemusicawards.co.uk The only event presenting awards across the spectrum to the business people who drive the country’s contemporary live music industry.

15-17 Oct

IEBA Conference USA, Nashville www.ieba.org

International Entertainment Buyers Association conference and showcases for live entertainment industry professionals, featuring live performances and panel discussions.

17-19 Oct

PROLight + Sound Middle East

UAE, Dubai www.prolightsoundme.com Trade fair for lighting, spotlighting innovative product development, current design trends.

18-22 Oct

Amsterdam Dance Event

Netherlands, Amsterdam www.amsterdam-danceevent.nl A club festival and conference for electronic and dance music. Aimed at European labels, publishers, agents, managers, artistes and DJ’s.

25-27 Oct

BIME Pro 2017

Spain, Bilbao www.bime.net/bime_pro A conference dedicated to the music, tech and gaming industries; with panel discussions and artiste performances.

25-29 Oct WOMEX

Poland, Katowice www.womex.com A conference, trade fair and showcase festival exclusively dedicated to world, roots, folk, ethnic, traditional, local and Diaspora music of all kinds.

17-25 Nov

Melbourne Music Week

Australia, Melbourne mmw.melbourne.vic.gov.au A week long conference made up of over 110 events, featuring 250 contributing artists with input from more than 60 dedicated event partners.

The details shown above have been compiled from information provided to Audience and whilst we make every reasonable effort to ensure accuracy, we cannot be held responsible if data is incorrect.

www.audience.uk.com

audience • issue 210 • July 2017

22

C i t y Fo c u s Zurich, Switzerland Audience takes a look at the world’s major cities and venues most used by international artistes

Hallenstadion

Samsung Hall

Kaufleuten

Hallenstadion

Kaufleuten

Plaza

A: Wallisellenstrasse 45, 8050 Zürich T: +41 44 316 77 77 E: frei@hallenstadion.ch W: www.hallenstadion.ch Principal Contact: Felix Frei Policy: Hire only Capacity: 13,000 In-house Concert Sound System: No In-house Concert Stage Lighting: No Past/forthcoming shows: Adele, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, Green Day, Katy Perry, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Muse, Bruno Mars, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Lady Gaga, James Blunt, Shakira

A: Pelikanplatz, 8001 T: +41 44 225 3300 E: info@kaufleuten.ch W: www.kaufleuten.ch Principal Contact: Marc Brechtbühl Policy: Hire and self-promote Capacity: 1,000 standing + 100 seated In-house Concert Sound System: Only PA speakers In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Small house system Past/forthcoming shows: Corinne Bailey Rae, Macy Gray, John Cale, Walter Trout, Daughter, Jamie Lidell, Ayo, Mando Diao, Valerie June

A: Badenerstrasse 109, 8004 T: +41 44 542 90 90 E: info@plaza-zürich.ch W:www.plaza-zurich.ch Principal Contact: Olivia Deppe Capacity: Hire and self-promote Policy: 500 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: The Dandy Warhols, Halestorm, Glass Animals, Temples, Alex Clare, X-Ambassadors, Timber Timbre

Samsung Hall A: Hoffnigstrasse 1, 8600 Dübendorf T: + 41 43 501 02 02 E: info@samsunghall.ch W: www.samsunghall.ch Principal Contact: Annina Tzaud Policy: Hire only Capacity: 5,060 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Sting, Queens of the Stone Age, Kodaline, John Legend, Sigur Ros, J Cole. Marylin Manson, Lukas Graham, Korn

Volkshaus A: Stauffacherstrasse 60, 8004 T: +41 44 241 64 04 E: info@volkshaus.ch W: www.volkshaus.ch/ Principal Contact: Dominic Decasper Policy: Hire only Capacity: 1,800 In-house Concert Sound System: No In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Skunk Anansie, Foals, Ziggy Marley, Texas, Frank Turner, Tori Amos, Kodaline, Billy Talent, Parkway Drive, Beth Hart audience • issue 210 • July 2017

Rote Fabrik A: Seestrasse 395, 8038 T: +41 44 485 58 68 E: music@rotefabrik.ch W: www.rotefabrik.ch/de/musikbuero/ Principal Contact: Evelyn Curnis Policy: Self-promote Capacity: 900 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Peaches, Warpaint, Michael Franti, Tarrus Riley, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Raging Fyah, Morgan Heritage

Dynamo A: Wasserwerkstrasse 21, 8006 T: +41 44 415 76 60 E: info@dynamo.ch W:www.dynamo.ch Principal Contact: Vera Egloff Capacity: Hire and self-promote Policy: 700 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Wolf Alice, You Me At Six, Jeremy Loops, KRS-One, The Districts

Moods A: Schiffbauplatz, 8005 T: +41 44 276 80 00 E: info@moods.club W:www.moods.club Principal Contact: Carine Zuber Capacity: Self-promote Policy: 500 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: Dub Pistols, the New Power Generation, Moonchild, Yasmine Hamdan, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Mike Stern & Dave Weckl band, James Gruntz

Papiersaal A: Kalanderplatz 6, 8045 T: +41 44 201 18 88 E: www.papiersaal.ch/kontaktformular W: www.papiersaal.ch Principal Contact: Johannes Sieber Capacity: Hire and self-promote Policy: 400 In-house Concert Sound System: Yes In-house Concert Stage Lighting: Yes Past/forthcoming shows: The Coronas, Joshua Radin, Stu Larsen, My Baby, , Broken Back, Charlie Cunningham, Patrick Wolf, JP Cooper www.audience.uk.com

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24.07.17 16:40

24 • Feature

Success in the spirit world

Depeche Mode at London Stadium

It is always reassuring to see an artiste continue to build on a reputation established across several decades, visiting new markets and drawing massive audiences along the way. It is also gratifying to see a band such as Depeche Mode retain many of their original promoters and tour suppliers, as Johnny Black reports AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

B

ack in 1982, with a handful of successful singles behind them, Depeche Mode were barely out of their teenage years still living in their parents’ homes in Basildon, Essex, UK. I interviewed them at the time and at one point in our generally light-hearted conversation, frontman Dave Gahan told me, “One thing that keeps our feet on the ground, is that when we play gigs, we meet roadies and some of them say things like, ‘See you on the way down, lads’.”

For Gahan, it was a sobering thought that although they were then rising stars, in all likelihood, their success would last just a few years before they’d be heading

back down the ladder again.

Happily for Depeche Mode, it turned out that the only way was up. This year’s Global Spirit tour sees Basildon’s finest 50-somethings playing to over 1.5 million fans at stadiums in 32 cities across 21 countries in Europe, North America and South America.

They announced this latest outing at a press conference in Milan on 11 October, 2016 with tour PR manager Barbara Charone of MBC in the UK, noting, “Media from all over Europe attended the conference, which was the brainchild of their amazing manager Jonathan Kessler.

“The band also announced that a new album was coming and www.audience.uk.com

Feature • 25 teased with a snippet. You always need to front-load press and we were able to do [UK national press] The Telegraph and a Sun weekend magazine cover in New York City to have them run at launch of Spirit.

“When they are touring, for obvious reasons, most of the emphasis is on live reviews,” says Charone.

Things started moving into high gear when the album was released last March to almost universal acclaim.

March was also the month in which the band’s promo assault for the tour opened with an intimate 40-minute show for two dozen randomly-selected fans at the band’s Madison Avenue, New York City, rehearsal studio.

This determinedly low-key event stood in sharp contrast to another of their innovative promo activities - the creation of a limited edition Depeche Mode watch by Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot.

Sales of the $26,000 watches raise funds towards providing safe drinking water for the millions who currently have none.

Suggestions that such an expensive item might be vulgar in this context are dismissed, with the argument that it’s a way of targeting the rich to ensure they are helping the underprivileged.

By April, serious rehearsals were underway at the UK’s LS-Live in Wakefield, before moving for four days in early May to Sweden’s Friends Arena (cap. 50,000) in Stockholm, where the tour began on 5 May.

Stage break

Tony Gittins, who has been the band’s production manager for 12 years, has welcomed the

involvement of the Belgium-based Long of SRae Productions. is great being involved with a band Stageco, whose three identical “Anton wanted an industrial look who have always been cutting steel systems are leapfrogging on and that extended to the fixtures edge with the use of video on their 12 trucks to keep the show on in the rig,” says Routhier. “Robert shows,” says CT head of music and the road. and I were looking for entertainment Graham Miller.

“Having Stageco on fixtures that could fit our “The tour started with two imag the tour gives us confiscenic element, since screens - one landscape and one dence,” says Gittins. “We we were working with a portrait - but then we asked to add have a few shows in the static, rectangular LED more screens to make them both itinerary that are less prevideo wall.” large landscape screens.” dictable, but it’s always One fixture that fitted CT also provided a large upstage smooth when Stageco is the bill was the recently screen and a fascia screen made onboard. Everything is in introduced Philips from Roe MC7, along with five HD Barbara Charone great shape and on time.

Vari-Lite VL6000 Beam lu- cameras and three robocams.

Since first working minaires, which Routhier “These give great return shots with Depeche Mode describes as “a massive of the band looking back out into in 2006, Stageco has presence in the design, the audience,” adds Miller. Project undertaken 50 shows our main workhorse in manager was Jim Liddiard. with them. Its founder, the rig”.

Hedwig De Meyer “The mirror face and Sound foundations reports, “Things have not reflector look of the Global Spirit’s first exposure to changed much comVL6000s really fit the the public, at Stockholm’s Friends pared to the last tour. bill - they resemble large Arena, drew enthusiastic reviews, Bryan Grant “There was already searchlights, and the next show, in mutual understanding of what but they also give us all Amsterdam’s Ziggo the band’s production team the modern amenities Dome (17,000) was would demand to make their of newer moving light hailed by a reviewer as design work. So to work out the fixtures,” she adds. one of the band’s “most stage design was a pretty much Jordan Hanson, project passionate and celebrastraightforward process.” manager of UK productory gigs in a very long The design features an upstage tion rental company HSL time”. walkway with a long runway at Group rates the VL6000s One man intimately stage left extending into the audias “incredible”. acquainted with how Phil Bowdery ence, plus a shorter one on stage “They are just one eleDepeche Mode likes right. This raw, stylish, industrial ment in the full lighting, video and to sound is Brian Grant, MD of production design came courtesy rigging packages we’ve supplied Britannia Row in the UK, who of creative director Anton Corbijn, for all shows,” he says. “There’s estimates his team has done over who has worked with Depeche also Robe BMFLs, with Clay Paky 1,000 shows with the band.

Mode for three decades, and has Sharbar and GLP X4 LED units.

“They’ve made several sigalways pioneered video as an esRigging comprises a mixture of nificant changes this time out,” he sential aspect of live production. over 100 new Litec Exe Rise and reveals, “upgrading to LA12X amps Unsurprisingly, then, the stage Lodestar hoists.” which are much more powerful, is dominated by a 15.6m wide by Audio Visual specialists Creative and to MIDAS PROX for monitors, 6.6m high video wall.

Technology (CT), also based in the but the reality is that no single Corbijn’s design directly imUK, is providing the screens for element is responsible for their pacted on another vital element in the tour. onstage sound. It’s the whole the tour’s look - the lighting design “This is the first time we have system, and the way that system

by Sooner Routhier and Robert worked with Depeche Mode and it is designed and put together,

We will help revolutionize your business. www.audience.uk.com

AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

26 • Feature which gives them the sound they want.”

Phil Bowdery, Live Nation Entertainment’s head of international touring, can barely contain his enthusiasm.

“This has been the first time I worked with Depeche Mode and it was a joy from start to finish,” he says. “Their manager, Jonathan Kessler, and the whole team are terrific, and the sold-out show at London Stadium to 68,000 people was absolutely brilliant.

“I can’t wait to have them back again for the three dates at Manchester, Birmingham and London’s The O2 in November.”

However, that early June London Stadium gig was not without its challenges.

“One of the trucks containing tools and other crucial equipment was held up at Calais and arrived late,” remembers Stageco crew chief Kevin De Meyer.

Thus, lacking the proper facilities, his 11-person team, assisted by local crew, were facing the construction of a four-tower stage, 26m wide by 22m high with a

AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

Creative Technology screens for Depeche Mode

www.audience.uk.com

Feature • 27 16.5m deep playing area, synergistic relationship, two front of house risers of which he can say, “I and VIP platforms plus now consider myself canopy roofs for the PA not only a promoter, but and video wings. a close ally, friend and Despite that delayed confidant, and I enjoy truck not showing up a trusted part in the until 15.00 hours the next launching of their day, they completed the world tours.”

Hedwig de Meyer build an hour ahead of Steven Todd of Live schedule.

Nation in Poland has The Global Spirit Tour looked after all of remained in Europe Depeche Mode’s Central through May, June and Eastern European and July, with a large shows since 1988 and is proportion of the dates understandably proud of in Germany, one of the the 1.2m tickets they’ve band’s strongest markets. sold in that time.

“I first worked with “They’re extremely Marek Lieberberg Depeche Mode in 1990, strong in Eastern Europe,” since then we have done he states, “because 125 shows together,” says they’ve worked it since Marek Lieberberg of Live their very early days.

Nation Germany. “The This summer we’ve had dates in June and July Coldplay, Guns N’Roses, went better than ever Aerosmith and Bruno with a record-breaking Mars, but I’d say Depeche 500,000 fans attending.” is No 1 out here by miles.

Lieberberg’s long as“We’ll do 55,000 tickets Steven Todd sociation with the band for them in Warsaw and has blossomed into an unusually we could in fact have played a much

www.audience.uk.com

bigger venue if one had been available,” says Todd.

June, having generated $46.5m in box office revenue from 613,701 Come rain or shine tickets sold at the first 17 Despite some punishing venues on the tour. weather during the The first European leg tour, fans turned out ended on 23 July, with a in droves. The show in virtually sold-out concert Greece on 17 May at Terra Laura Corianu at Romania’s Cluj Arena Vibe Park (20,000) (30,000), where tickets in Athens, was typical. averaged 205 leu ($52).

“We had to deal with “Depeche Mode has extreme rainy conditions, meant a lot here since something that we are the ‘80s, when we asnot used to,” says Nana sociated them with an Trandou of DIDI Music. attitude of opposing the “The band assured me communist regime,” from early in the mornsays local promoter ing that no matter the Laura Coroianu of Nick Farkas weather, the show was to Emagic. be done and I should not worry.

“Dressing like them was “The rain stopped just five minespecially infuriating to the comutes before they went on stage and munist censors. One of my fondest began again five minutes before memories is of people crying with their set was over. It was like magic. happiness at the 2006 concert, The show was amazing, with great because they couldn’t believe they atmosphere and positive energy.” were seeing them live. This has Regardless of the weather, continued up to this year’s single the Global Spirit Tour hit No 1 in Where’s the Revolution? which the Hot Tours chart of US music struck a chord with another industry magazine Billboard in late young generation.”

AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

28 • Feature

The view from the crowd at London Stadium

To the Americas

and events at Evenko. “We pretty The tour’s second leg kicks off in much sell-out every time they the US at the ANA Amphitheatre play the market, and expect to do (20,000) Salt Lake City’s on the same this time.”

23 August and will Another encouraging continue through the indicator for their North end of October with 31 American assault is their shows in arenas and four mid-October shows amphitheatres across at the Hollywood Bowl the USA and Canada.

(17,500) in Los Angeles.

Among the earliest Even manager Jonathan of these dates will be Kessler admits to having the Air Canada Centre been “shocked at how Carlos Geniso (19,800) in Toronto and quickly the first three Centre Bell (21,200) shows sold out”. in Quebec with tickets between “They actually could have $44.75 and $169.50. done six nights,” states Bill Silva, “Our company has been working who is promoting the shows for with them since the ‘80s,” says Nick his Andrew Hewitt and Bill Silva Farkas, vice-president of concerts Presents company.

Providing news, features and tour information to companies and individuals in more than

80 countries

worldwide T: + 44 (0)20 7486 7007 AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

Staging the show – key elements Bussing Jorg Philipp, Beat The Street, Austria “We have worked with Depeche Mode for more than 10 years now and they’re always fantastic runs with happy people. We are supplying the four crew buses for the Global Spirit tour. Two of these are Van Hool Superhigh-deckers and the other two are Setra Double-deckers.”

Accounts – Ronnie Harris, Harris And Trotter, UK

Jorg Philip

“As well as working with Depeche Mode since 1991, any large tour needs careful monitoring and a close relationship with management and the tour manager. In this case, we are lucky to be working with their tour accountant, Alex Pollock, who is excellent in everything he does. We find that extra attention is needed these days for the local performance royalty deductions and we work closely with PRS For Music in the UK to enable a smooth operation in this regard.”

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Headoffice Austria: joerg@beatthestreet.net | klaus@beatthestreet.net | hannes@beatthestreet.net Office UK Buses: tim@beatthestreet.net | garry@beatthestreet.net Office UK Cars & Vans: ian@beatthestreet.net | mark@beatthestreet.net www.beatthestreet.net

Feature • 31 The tour’s third leg will see them return to Europe for a further 32 dates, many of which are already sold out, before it winds to a close with its fourth leg, consisting of seven dates in Latin America, starting on 11 March at Foro Sol (26,000) in Mexico City.

Guillermo Parra Riveros, director of international events at Mexico’s OCESA Presents, says that his first show with Depeche Mode was in 2006.

“On that occasion we sold 100,000 tickets, but this time we will get to 120,000 because the

Foro Sol stadium now has an increased capacity.”

After Mexico they will come under the care of regional promoter Phil Rodriguez at Move Concerts, who has them for shows in Colombia, Peru and Brazil, all of which he is predicting to be sell-outs.

“On this tour Jonathan Kessler decided to do something unheard off in our region … go on sale one year prior to the dates,” he reveals. “It’s a testament to the strength of the band that we have sold over 50

Staging the show – key elements Insurance Bob Taylor, Integro, UK “We started working with [manager] Jonathan Kessler 25 years ago and one of the major risks we look after is health. Dave Gahan, for example, had a very nasty illness in the last tour, which resulted in a lot of lost shows. Fortunately the insurance company stepped up and dealt with the whole issue.

“Also on the last tour, they had a big problem going into Kiev which was then a war zone. We had the band sitting outside Kiev trying to decide if they could go in, or if the potential dangers were too great. And, of course, terrorist activity is becoming an increasing risk, but it’s something we just have to handle.”

Freight Alan Durrant, Rock-It Cargo, UK & US

Performing in the Stade Charles-Ehrmann in Nice

“We’ve worked with Depeche Mode since the early ‘80s, so we’re used to seeing their touring cargo rig go up and down, but this current one is relatively large. Much of our time involves planning the various freighting options with the band’s production manager Tony Gittins. On this particular tour we’ve gone for primarily sea-freighting in the short-term, which is normally the most cost effective approach.”

Alan Durrant

IF YOU CAN IMAGINE IT, WE CAN BUILD IT.

Photography • Amanda Rose, Mark Cunningham, Ralph Larmann

WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT DEPECHE MODE’S GLOBAL SPIRIT TOUR 2017

CO N C E R T S TAG E S I N A L L S I Z E S . T E M P O R A RY S T R U C T U R E S F O R E V E RY E V E N T.

W W W. S TAG E C O.C O M

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AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

32 • Feature

per cent of the capacity In Argentina, the 24 in the three markets March show in Estadio we’re co-promoting with Unico de la Plata Live Nation.”

(53,000) in Buenos Carlos Geniso, president Aires sees Depeche of DG Medios in Chile Mode re-united with still vividly remembers Daniel Grinbank, CEO of the first time he DG Entertainment, who promoted Depeche has worked with them Daniel Grinbank Mode, which was in since 1994.

1994 at the Estadio Nacional “The show has sold amazingly (60,000) in Santiago. well, despite Argentina’s economic Unfortunately a major football crisis,” says Grinbank. game was being played earlier “They are going to have a the same evening, and the sold-out show for sure in La Plata police handling the match were Stadium, with ticket prices varying providing security for the concert. from 1,250 pesos [$72] for the field “At the end of the match,” he tickets to 2,800 pesos [$165] for the recalls, “the fans from the soccer best locations.” game tried to sneak in to the gig, At the moment, all appearso the police ended up chasing ances are that Global Spirit could be them all over the venue trying to Depeche Mode’s best-performing throw them out before the show tour thus far and they haven’t yet started.” ventured to Asia or Australia.

Geniso is confident that the If the Spirit is truly Global, surely 21 March concert at the same Jonathan Kessler and agent Rob stadium will go off more smoothly Markus at William Morris Endeavor for the 60,000 expected to attend.

Entertainment in Los Angeles “It will be a sell-out, I’m certain,” already have those territories he says. under consideration.

What others say…

Eugene Finkelshtein, PMI Corporation, Russia “We brought Depeche Mode to Russia for the first time in 1998. It was during the financial crisis, and we incurred losses. The local infrastructure was not developed Eugene Finkelstein with Dave Gahan enough to host shows at that level. We had problems transferring their equipment through the border, and security during the show was performed by uniformed police officers.

“Nevertheless, that concert was where the story of PMI Corporation began, it was our debut. Since then we have brought Depeche Mode here seven times and this year’s show sold with tickets at 3,500 roubles [$58].”

Jana Mudrikova, Agency VIVIEN, Slovakia “The show at Stadion Pasienky [11,500] in Bratislava on 20 May was our first with Depeche Mode. Ticket prices were from €45 up to €80 [$52-93] and the show was virtually sold out.”

Experts in worldwide touring with over 75 years’ experience

Harris and Trotter are extremely proud to have represented Depeche Mode for over 25 years and we know ' Everything Counts' Onwards to many more Best Wishes Ronnie, Charlotte and all at Harris and Trotter

AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

www.audience.uk.com

Feature • 33

Dave, Andy, Fletch & Jonathan Congratulations on an incredible tour From all your friends at Live Nation www.audience.uk.com

AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

34 • Feature

Depeche Mode Tour Dates 2017/8 DATE COUNTRY CITY

VENUE

5 May Sweden Stockholm

Friends Arena

50,000

02 Oct USA

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara County Bowl

4,562

7 May Netherlands Amsterdam

Ziggo Dome

17,000

06 Oct USA

San Diego

Mattress Firm Amphitheatre

20,500

23,000

08 Oct USA

San Jose

SAP Center

17,496

9 May Antwerp Belgium Sportpaleis

CAPACITY

DATE COUNTRY CITY

VENUE

CAPACITY

12 May France

Nice

Stade Charles Ehrmann

8,000

10 Oct USA

Oakland

Oracle Arena

19,596

14 May Slovenia

Ljubljana

Dvorana Stozice

12,480

12 Oct USA

Los Angeles

Hollywood Bowl

17,500

17 May Greece

Athens

Terra Vibe Park

20,000

14 Oct USA

Los Angeles

Hollywood Bowl

17,500

20 May Slovakia

Bratislava

Stadion Pasienky

11,500

16 Oct USA

Los Angeles

Hollywood Bowl

17,500

22 May Hungary

Budapest

Groupma Arena

22,000

18 Oct USA

Los Angeles

Hollywood Bowl

17,500

Eden Arena

21,000

21 Oct

Seattle KeyArena

17,459

40,000

23 Oct USA

Portland

19,980

24 May

Czech Republic Prague

27 May Germany Leipzig Festwiese

USA

Moda Center

29 May France Lille

Stade Pierre Mauroy

27,000

25 Oct USA

Vancover

Rogers Arena

13,259

31 May Denmark Copenhagen

Telia Parken

38,000

27 Oct USA

Edmonton

Rogers Place

13,979

03 June UK

London

London Stadium

68,000

15 Nov Ireland

Dublin 3Arena

12,500

05 June Germany

Cologne RheinEnergieStadion

50,000

17 Nov UK

Manchester

Manchester Arena

15,000

07 June Germany

Dresden Ostragehege

59,600

19 Nov

Birmingham

Barclaycard Arena

15,892

09 June Germany

Munich Olympiastadion

69,250

22 Nov UK

London

The O2

21,000

11 June Germany

Hannover

UK

HDI Arena

49,000

24 Nov Germany Frankfurt Festhalle

13,500

18 June Switzerland Zurich

Letzigrund Stadion

30,000

26 Nov Belgium

23,000

20 June Germany

Frankfurt

Commerzbank Arena

51,500

28 Nov Germany Stuttgart Schleyerhalle

15,500

22 June Germany

Berlin Olympiastadion

74,475

30 Nov Germany Mannheim

SAP Arena

15,000

25 June Italy

Rome

72,000

03 Dec France

Paris

AccorHotels Arena

19,000

27 June Italy

Milan

San Siro

80,000

05 Dec France

Paris

AccorHotels Arena

19,000

29 June Italy

Bologna

Stadio Renato Dall’Ara

38,279

07 Dec Spain

Barcelona

Palau St Jordi

20,000

01 July France

Paris

Stade de France

81,338

11 Dec Italy

Turin

Pala Alpitour

18,500

Velitins Arena

54,746

13 Dec Italy

Bologna

Unipol Arena

11,000

Madrid

04 July Germany Gelsenkirchen

Stadio Olimpico

Antwerp Sportpaleis

06 July Spain

Bilbao

BBK Live Festival

40,000

16 Dec Spain

WiZink Center

17,400

08 July Portugal

Lisbon

NOS Alive Festival

50,000

11 Jan Germany Hamburg

Barclaycard Arena

15,000

13 July Russia

St Petersberg SKK

20,000

13 Jan Netherlands Amsterdam

Ziggo Dome

17,000

15 July Russia

Moscow

Otkritie Arena

45,360

15 Jan Germany Cologne

Lanxess Arena

18,000

17 July Belarus

Minsk

Minsk Arena

15,000

17 Jan Germany Berlin

Mercedes Benz Arena

17,000

19 July Kiev

Ukraine

Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex

70,000

19 Jan Germany Berlin

Mercedes Benz Arena

17,000

21 July Poland

Warsaw

PGE Narodowy

55,000

21 Jan Germany Nuremburg

Arena Nurnberger

10,200

23 July Romania Cluj Napoca

Cluj Arena

30,000

24 Jan France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux Metropol Arena

11,300

23 Aug USA

USANA Ampitheatre

20,000

27 Jan Italy

Milan

Mediolanum Forum

11,000

Milan

Salt Lake City

25 Aug USA Denver

Pepsi Centre

13,539

29 Jan Italy

27 Aug USA

Detroit

DTE Energy Music Theatre

15,274

31 Jan

30 Aug USA

Chicago

Hollywood Casino Ampitheatre

28,739

2 Feb Hungary Budapest BSA

11,390

01 Sept USA

Connecticut

Mohegan Sun Arena

6,946

4 Feb Austria Vienna Stadhalle

16,152

03 Sept Canada

Toronto

Air Canada Centre

19,800

7 Feb Poland

Krakow

Tauron Arena

20,400

05 Sept Canada

Montreal

Centre Bell

21,200

9 Feb Poland

Lodz

Atlas Arena

13,000

07 Sept USA

Washington

Verizon Center

13,445

11 Feb Poland

Gdsank

Ergo Arena

13,500

09 Sept USA

New York

Madison Square Garden

21,000

20 Feb Latvia

Riga

Arena Riga

13,844

11 Sept USA

New York

Madison Square Garden

21,000

22 Feb Lithuania Vilnius

Siemens Arena

12,500

13 Sept USA

Tampa

MidFlorida Credit Union Ampitheatre

20,000

11 Mar Mexico

Mexico City

Foro Sol

26,000

15 Sept USA

Miami

AmericanAirlines Arena

21,000

13 Mar Mexico

Mexico City

Foro Sol

26,000

18 Sept USA

Nashville

Ascend Amphitheater

6,800

16 Mar Columbia Bogota

Simon Bolivar Park

14,250

20 Sept USA

Austin

Austin360 Amphitheatre

14,000

18 Mar Peru

Lima

Estadio Nacional

17,250

22 Sept USA

Dallas

Starplex Pavilion

20,000

21 Mar Chile

Santiago

Estadio Nacional

60,000

24 Sept USA

Houston

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

16,500

24 Mar Argentina Buenos Aires

Estadio Unico de la Plata

53,000

27 Sept USA

Phoenix

AK Chin Pavilion

20,000

27 Mar Brazil

Allianz Parque

35,800

30 Sept USA

Las Vegas

T Mobile Arena

15,000

AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

Czech Republic Prague

Sao Paulo

Mediolanum Forum

11,000

O2 Arena

20,000

www.audience.uk.com

36

Production News Newsbites

ER unleashes laser fanfare for Metallica

USA Nashville-based Tour Supply, which works with artistes including Korn and Earth Wind & Fire, has launched a new playback system that it says allows artistes to demonstrate and run an entire production with minimal operator input.

The system, Playback Control, incorporates all the features of a live music production including audio, video, pyrotechnics and lighting, and works automatically, without management, during a live show. “We can program all effects to occur without any effort on the performer’s part, and without an expert technician to closely manage it,” says Tour Supply’s software designer Viggy Vignola.

UNITED STATES

SOUTH AFRICA Johannesburg-based Gearhouse South Africa has purchased two Venue S6L-32D mixing systems by audio manufacturer Avid, which the company’s head of audio Llewellyn Reinecke describes as “comprehensive” and “exceptionally versatile”. He says the new desk features more processing power and tracks than previously, while engineers who have mixed on its predecessor the Avid Profile can transfer their show file to the S6L. “The Venue S6L-32D seems to have become the desk choice for a range of touring artists such as Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Lumineers, R Kelly and Paul McCartney,” says Reinecke.

RUSSIA Seeking to create a “cool club” effect, My Michelle, a band from the eastern city of Blagoveshchensk, deployed the Sharbar LED multi-beam fixture by Claypaky for its show at the 1,500 capacity Volta Club in Moscow.

Consisting of a moving bar of six 30W Osram Ostar RGBW LED luminaires, the SharBar has a 240-degree tilt range and beam which narrows to two degrees. “The SharBars held their own against the intensity of the Mythos fixtures and LED screen,” says lighting designer David Misakyan.

M

etallica opened its WorldWired tour with a fanfare of lasers and lighting, and wanted a different visual look for each song, according to Marc Webber of British laser specialist ER Productions.

Webber worked with lighting designer Rob Koenig on a production with no stage roof and “gargantuan” screens, which needed to be adaptable to venues including Detroit’s Comerica Park (cap. 41,000), Pasadena’s Rose Bowl (95,000) and Seattle’s CenturyLink Field (67,000).

“A lot of custom work has gone into the laser production,” says Webber.

“We created white covers for fixtures

so they blend into the white stage and fabricated u-shaped metalwork to enable easy mounting of fixtures onto the towers. Shows performed in-theround have different cabling and laser placements to festivals, so we’ve had to ensure the right gear is paired with the right system in advance.”

He adds that, because of the lack of a fixed roof structure and the different styles of event the band played at, he specified two complete laser

ER Productions at work with Metallica

rigs comprising 100 Beambursts, 16 Phaenon 30000s and a smoke and haze package.

Among the effects is a laser war scene achieved by rigging 30 Beambursts across the stage and 20 onto the delay towers, all time coded to deliver a consistent show each night.

Martin’s unexpected guests fit in SPAIN

A

s a judge on the TV singing show The Voice, Ricky Martin has welcomed a number of contestants to sing, unannounced, on his touring show, which consequently requires a large quantity of inputs and outputs (I/O) on the audio system, according to monitor engineer Steve May. He ensures extra channels are available in case an unexpected performer joins the show, at venues including Mallorca’s Palma Arena (cap. 6,000), Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi (17,000) and Plaza de Toros de Valenica (10,500).

“I specified the Digico SD7 for Ricky

Ricky Martin in action with Digico

because of the number of inputs and outputs it has available,” says May, who likes to be able to switch easily between different desks in the range.

“There isn’t much rehearsal on this tour, so having a familiar board is a big help. Ricky likes to do duets so it’s re-

ally useful to have enough capacity to leave scope for guests on the show.”

May uses around 95 inputs and 64 outputs for vocals – both main and backing - drums, guitars, bass, percussion and keyboards, as well as effects, his Pro Tools rig, and communications.

Mobile stages | Platform stages | Risers | FOH structures | Front of stage barriers

+44(0) 1560 600271 | www.fmx-ltd.com audience • issue 210 • July 2017

www.audience.uk.com

Production News • 37

Theatrical look keeps it real for Crow USA

N

ewly appointed lighting director for Sheryl Crow’s Be Myself tour, Jeremy Roth, aimed for a theatrical look, with softer, scenic elements than the artiste’s previous productions.

Working with Crow herself, who wanted to highlight how social media distracts from “real” interactions between people, Roth created a theatrical set featuring an old railway station with stained glass windows and a tunnel of rusty pipes.

“Sheryl wanted to create a regal performance space that looked to have become distressed over time,” says Roth.

He used a range of lighting fixtures including 22 Spiiders and eight BMFL Spots by Czech Republic-based manufacturer Robe to achieve the soft scenery look, while the stained glass effect was created with coated gauze and a selection of dynamic back-lit effects.

“The BMFLs have a fabulous set-up for animating gobos,” says Roth. “They do all the surface texturing of the portal windows and tunnel backdrop. The dual animation discs create a stunning moiré effect which is rare in a moving light.”

Crow visits venues including New York’s Lake View Amphitheatre (cap.17,500), Pennsylvania’s Hersheypark Stadium (30,000) and Blossom Music Centre (23,000) in Ohio.

Sheryl Crow opted for a soft, theatrical look

Couleur measures up with Nexo

Warpaint sculpt their sound

BELGIUM

WORLD

W

A

ith the 25,000 capacity Couleur Café Festival relocating to a new, slightly smaller site beside Brussels’ internationally recognised Atomium sculpture it was vital to use a sound system which could be quickly installed and calibrated to meet new noise requirements.

The system needed to be scaled down for the smaller stages, says Christophe Loncour of rental company Arto, without compromising on quality or system format. To achieve this a modular STM Series line array system by French audio manufacturer Nexo was used for the event, featuring artistes including Patrice, Emir Kusturica, Toots and the Maytals and Alpha Blondy.

On the main stage, 15 sets of STM M46 and B112 per side were flown with four S118 subs per side, above a further 20 STM S118s on the ground (per side) in cardioid (heart-

The STM at Couleur Café Festival

shaped) mode. The smaller STM main cabinets (M28) were used for downfill and frontfill. Arrays of nine GEO S12 per side were deployed for outfills.

“It was essential that we could get the system up as quickly as possible,” says Loncour.

“STM allows us to fly the PA very fast, plug in and switch on. We spent very little time tuning.

More important, the system performed precisely as the original NS-1 prediction software told us it would, both in terms of coverage and tonal response.”

switch in front-of-house (FOH) and monitor desks has allowed Warpaint more control over their onstage audio mixes as well as improving the sound, according to FOH engineer Hanford Pittman.

The US band is using two Allen & Heath dLive S5000 supplied by Wigwam Acoustics in Europe and Rat Sound in the USA for shows including Canada’s Rogers Arena (cap. 18,000) in Toronto, Australia’s Arts Centre (2,650) in Melbourne and China’s Hong Kong’s Convention & Exhibition Centre (8,000).

Monitor engineer Maxine Gilmore is also using the system to enable remote mixing by Warpaint vocalist and guitarist Emily Kokal.

“The desk should allow you to sculpt what you want in the sound, and that’s what the dLive does,” says Pittman.

“It provides a blank slate and you can add effects and ‘dirty it up’ as much as you want or keep it as clean as you want.

With four singers, it’s really nice to be able to add or take away the dry signal to help whoever’s singing lead at the time.”

Warpaint uses a mix of in-ear and wedge monitors and Gilmore provides 15 mixes to the band and technical crew.

Kokal mixes her own monitors using a dLive IP6 Remote Controller and Pittman is considering adding three further IP6s for its three other musicians.

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audience • issue 210 • July 2017

Europe’s arenas: the definitive report World’s Best Arenas For Live Music

32 countries 133 arenas WORLD’S BEST

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ARENAS

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FOR LIVE MUSIC

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REPORT 2017

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Comment | Profiles | Survey | Directory

Free to Audience/LIVE UK subscribers or available at £20 from www.audience.uk.com For more information contact Sean O’Connor +44 (0)20 7486 7007 | sean@audience.uk.com

www.audience.uk.com

39

Tour Plans Artistes

Period/Territory Contact details

Alice Jemima Nov Zac Peters, DMF Music Ltd

Europe T +44 1392 437744 zac@dmfmusic.co.uk

A guide to Artistes, Tours and Agents Subscribers to Audience can submit their artistes for free listing in Tour Plans, subject to available space and at the discretion of the publisher. Send your info to: Lindsey@audience.uk.com

Ape Shifter Nov Jeff Aug, Maximum Booking

Worldwide T +49 8324 933 851 info@maximumbooking.com Aron Ottingnon Nov-Dec Clotaire Buche, Junzi Arts

Worldwide T +33 6 17 15 35 39 clotaire@junzi-arts.com Atari Teenage Riot Feb-Mar Jeff Aug, Maximum Booking

Worldwide T +49 8324 933 851

info@maximumbooking.com Banarama

Nov-Dec Albert Samuel, Mission Control Worldwide T +44 789 984 3212 albert@missioncontrol.net

Ben Glover

Dec-May Nigel Morton, Money Penny Agency Europe T +44 7977455882 nigel.morton@moneypennymusic.co.uk

Bernie Marsden Nov-Dec Alec Leslie, Consolidated Artists

Europe T +44 1829 730 488 alecconsol@aol.com Blue Rose Code Nov Chris Wade, Strada Music

Europe T +44 1377 217662 chris.wade@stradamusic.com Boomtown Rats May-June 2018 Alan Cottam, Alan Cottam Agency with Bob Geldof Europe T +44 1254 668 471 alan@alancottamagency.co.uk

Elle Exxe

Artistes

Period/Territory Contact details

Brian Blade & Jan 2018 The Fellowship Worldwide Band

Gunter Schroder, The Kurland Agency T +1 617 254 0007 gunter@thekurlandagency.com

Cecile McLorin May 2018 Gunter Schroder, The Kurland Agency Salvant Europe T +1 617 254 0007 gunter@thekurlandagency.com Chick Corea Nov Gunter Schroder, The Kurland Agency

Europe T +1 617 254 0007 gunter@thekurlandagency.com Damien Dempsey Dec David Farrow, DMF Music

Europe T +44 1392 437744 david@dmfmusic.co.uk Dan McCafferty Nov (ex Nazareth) Europe/ Russia with Razamanaz

Alan Cottam, Alan Cottam Agency T +44 1254 668 471 alan@alancottamagency.co.uk

Dan Reed Network Nov Martin Jarvis, Fresh Start Agency

Europe T +44 141 416 5753 freshstart.mj@gmail.cm Dave Mason Nov Wayne Forte, Entourage Talent Associates

Mexico T +1 212 633 2600 booking@entouragetalent.com

Atari Teenage Riot

“We love it when a plan comes together!”

Elle Exxe Nov-Dec Debra Downes, Dawson Breed Music

Worldwide T +44 20 7733 0508 debra@dawsonbreedmusic.com

CaLL now For a Quote

For more inFormation: CaLL 0141 954 4641 / 07737 929381 or go to www.bandrunner.Com www.audience.uk.com

audience • issue 210 • July 2017

40

Tour Plans Artistes

A guide to Artistes, Tours and Agents

Period/Territory Contact details

Epica Mar 2018 Nick Peel, Miracle Artists

South America T +44 20 7935 9222 nick@miracle-artists.com Ewan Dobson Nov Jeff Aug, Maximum Booking

Europe T +49 8324 933 851 info@maximumbooking.com Father John Misty Nov James Alderman, Free Trade Agency

Europe T +44 203 700 3377 info@freetradeagency.co.uk Fleet Foxes Nov-Dec James Alderman, Free Trade Agency

Europe T +44 203 700 3377 info@freetradeagency.co.uk Graham Bonnet Nov-Dec Alan Cottam, Alan Cottam Agency Band Europe, Asia T +44 1254 668 471 alan@alancottamagency.co.uk Hawklords Nov Martin Jarvis, Fresh Start Agency

Europe T +44 141 416 5753 freshstart.mj@gmail.cm Inner Circle Nov Michael Genrich, Georg Leitner Productions

Europe T +43 1 914 861511 mgenrich@glp.at James Alderman Nov

UK & Europe

Amanda Maisonnave, Free Trade Agency info@freetradeagency.co.uk T +44 20 3700 3377

James Blunt Nov Paul Boswell, Free Trade Agency

Europe info@freetradeagency.co.uk

T +44 203 700 3377

James Blunt

Artistes

Period/Territory Contact details

Jools Holland & May-Jun 2018 His Rhythm & Europe Blues Orchestra

Nick Peel, Miracle Artists T +44 20 7935 9222 nick@miracle-artists.com

King Pleasure & Nov-Dec Tim Jennings, Big Bear Music The Biscuit Boys Europe T +44 121 454 7020 tim@bigbearmusic.com Linda Lewis Nov-Dec Mark Lundquist, MLM

T +44 1483 224118 mark@marklundquist.com Lo’Jo Nov-Dec David Flower, Sasa Music

Europe rab@sasa.demon.uk

T +44 207 359 9232 Luis Fonsi Nov Harald Buechel, Georg Leitner Productions

Europe hbuechel@glp.at

T +431 914 8615 Maggie Reilly Nov-Dec Debra Downes, Dawson Breed Music

Worldwide T +44 20 7733 0508 debra@dawsonbreedmusic.com Manfred Mann’s Nov-Dec Alec Leslie, Consolidated Artists Earth Band Europe T +44 1829 730 488 alecconsol@aol.com

Graham Bonnett Band

audience • issue 210 • July 2017

Manny Charlton Band

Nov-Dec Alan Cottam, Alan Cottam Agency Europe, T +44 1254 668 471 South America alan@alancottamagency.co.uk

www.audience.uk.com

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43

Tour Plans Artistes

Period/Territory Contact details

McNally-Waters Nov-Dec Alan Cottam, Alan Cottam Agency Band Europe T +44 1254 668 471 alan@alancottamagency.co.uk Mila Mar Nov-Dec Jeff Aug, Maximum Booking

Europe T +49 8324 933 851 info@maximumbooking.com MISIA Nov-Feb 2018 Henry McGroggan, Central European Organisation

Europe T +49 8324 933 851 henry@centraleuro.org Molly Hatchet Nov-Dec Alan Cottam, Alan Cottam Agency

Europe T +44 1254 668 478 alan@alancottamagency.co.uk Morbid Angel Nov/Dec Nick Peel, Miracle Artists

Europe T +44 20 7935 9222 nick@miracle-artists.com My Dying Bride Mar-Apr 2018 Nick Peel, Miracle Artists

Europe T +44 20 7935 9222 nick@miracle-artists.com

My Dying Bride

Orbital Nov Dan Silver, Value Added Talent

Worldwide T +44 20 7704 9720 dan@vathq.co.uk

Artistes

Period/Territory Contact details

Pat Metheny Nov-Dec Gunter Schroder, The Kurland Agency

Europe T +1 617 254 0007 gunter@thekurlandagency.com

Pauper Kings Nov-Dec Alec Leslie, Consolidated Artists

Europe T +44 1829 730 488 alecconsol@aol.com

Raul Rodriguez Nov-Dec David Flower, SASA Music

Europe T +44 20 7359 9232 rab@sasa.demon.co.uk Renaissance Nov-Dec Wayne Forte, Entourage Talent Associates

Worldwide T +1 212 633 2600 booking@entouragetalent.com Ricky Cool & Nov-Dec Tim Jennings, Big Bear Music The In Crowd Europe T +44 121 454 7020 tim@bigbearmusic.com Roberto Fonseca Nov-Dec David Flower, SASA Music

Europe T +44 20 7359 9232 rab@sasa.demon.co.uk Rock Goddess Nov Martin Jarvis, Fresh Start Agency

Europe T +44 141 416 5753 freshstart.mj@gmail.cm Sam Amidon Nov Paul Boswell, Free Trade Agency

Europe T +44 203 700 3377 info@freetradeagency.com

Luis Fonsi

TEN YEARS AFTER

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST JOHN LEES’

50th ANNIVERSARY Tour

THE BLUES FOUNDATION WINNER

JOE LOUIS

WALKER & BAND

50th ANNIVERSARY TOUR

BEST OF CLASSIC BARCLAY

www.kultopolis.com • agentin@kultopolis.com www.audience.uk.com

audience • issue 210 • July 2017

44

Tour Plans Artistes

A guide to Artistes, Tours and Agents

Period/Territory Contact details

Sam Kelly Nov-Dec Chris Wade, Strada Music

Europe T +44 1377 217662 chris.wade@stradamusic.com Sean Taylor Feb 2018 Nigel Morton, Money Penny Agency

Europe T +44 7977455882 nigel.morton@moneypennymusic.co.uk Sidestepper Nov David Flower, SASA Music

Europe T +44 20 7359 9232 rab@sasa.demon.co.uk Steve Hacket Jan-Feb 2018 Wayne Forte, Entourage Talent Associates

Europe T +1 212 633 2600 booking@entouragetalent.com 10cc

Nov-Dec, Steve Parker, Miracle Artists May 2018 T +44 20 7935 9222 Worldwide steve@miracle-artists.com

The Kentucky Headhunters

Artistes

Period/Territory Contact details

Terry Bozzio Nov Jeff Aug, Maximum Booking

Europe T +49 8324 933 851 info@maximumbooking.com

Tipitina Nov-Dec Tim Jennings, Big Bear Music

Europe T +44 121 454 7020 tim@bigbearmusic.com

The Kilkennys Nov-Dec Bauke Algera, Diba Int. Concerts

Europe T +31 5154 205 10 bauke@diba.nl

The Horrors Nov-Dec Steve Beckham, Primary Talent

UK & Europe T +44 20 7400 4500 stevebeckham@primarytalent.com

The Kentucky Nov Martin Jarvis, Fresh Start Agency Headhunters Europe T +44 141 416 5753 freshstart.mj@gmail.cm

The Osmonds Nov Bennie Edwards, Tony Denton Promotions

Europe T +44 20 8447 9411 bennie@tdpromo.com The Skull Mar-Apr 2018 Jeff Aug, Maximum Booking

Europe T +49 8324 933 851 info@maximumbooking.com Tinariwen Nov-Dec David Flower., SASA Music

Europe T +44 20 7359 9232 rab@sasa.demon.co.uk Unleashed Nov-Dec Nick Peel, Miracle Artists

Europe T +44 20 7935 9222 nick@miracle-artists.com White Cowbell Nov Jeff Aug, Maximum Booking Oklahoma Europe T +49 8324 933 851 info@maximumbooking.com Xander and the Nov-Dec Alec Leslie, Consolidated Artists Peace Pirates Europe T +44 1829 730 488 alecconsol@aol.com

R Q

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audience • issue 210 • July 2017

Q

The details shown above have been compiled from information provided to Audience and whilst we make every reasonable effort to ensure accuracy, we cannot be held responsible if data is incorrect.

Orbital

T: +44 (0)1904 777 217 (UK) F: +44 (0)1904 77 172 E: info@Travel4Tours.com W: www.Travel4Tours.com

www.audience.uk.com

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE VENUE OF THE NETHERLANDS The Amsterdam ArenA is one of the leading Stadiums within Europe. Being the host for AFC Ajax, the Dutch National Team, concerts of world’s leading artists, EDM events Sensation & Amsterdam Music Festival and four games of the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.

The dynamic ambience, retractable roof, HD WiFi & 4G network, central location, good accessibility and sufficient parking space make the Amsterdam ArenA a unique location for any event. The spacious ArenA can be divided in many smaller areas to make it suitable for all kinds of events, concerts and festivals. We can host between 10.000 and 68.000 visitors in various settings.

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46

Festival News

Stage changes improve the flow FINLAND

A

N EXPANSION of its site and alterations to various stages will allow visitors to navigate their way around Flow Festival (cap. 25,000) more easily, say organisers.

Set in Helskini’s Suvilathi the festival, founded in 2004, is increasing its site area by 15,000 square metres and is moving its Backyard area to a new location, while switching its focus from club music to DJs, yoga, raw food and art.

The Bright Balloon 360° stage is also getting a new area of its own and a venue for electronic music, Resident Advisor Front Yard, has been created.

“Even though Flow has grown massively from 4,500 people when we started, the idea is still to make a festival we at Flow and our friends would love to attend ourselves, and to choose and curate all performers, food vendors and art carefully,” says Flow’s Sini Tiainen.

“The biggest change this year is relocating Bright Balloon 360°. The circular seating will fit more people than previous years, doubling its capacity, and getting in and out of the stage will be easier.”

© Samuli Pentti

Flow Festival

Acts performing from 11-13 August include Frank Ocean, Lana Del Rey, The xx, Aphex Twin and London Grammar. Tickets cost €175 ($200).

East meets west at Clockenflap Neopop consolidates growth CHINA

© Kitmin Lee

T

I

NTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL and local artistes will be brought together at the 10th edition of the 30,000-capacity Clockenflap Music and Arts Festival.

Held on the West Kowloon harbourfront the festival, which started out as a 1,500 capacity event, takes place from 17-19 November.

This year the main stage area will see its capacity rise with immersive art being added to the site in the centre of Hong Kong.

“Clockenflap is a festival which has always been about the collective whole being greater than any individual part,” says festival founder and music director of promoter Magnetic Asia Justin Sweeting.

gies for the audio and visual aspects of the festival.

HE 10,000-CAPACITY Ne“Viana do Castelo is the peropop festival in Northern fect surrounding for our festival Portugal is looking to consoli- with a beautiful blend of coundate recent growth tryside and coast with an event celwith seafood that will ebrating the best of make you fall to your what the region has to knees,” says founder offer and international Gustavo Pereira. influences.

Among those playFounded in 2006 the ing the festival, taking electronic music festiplace from 3-5 August, val in Viana do Castelo Gustavo Pereira are Kraftwerk, Moderbegan life as AntiPop before be- at, Dixon, Loco Dice and Planetary coming Neopop.

Assault Systems.

Last year the capacity was in“We hope that with this year’s creased from 8,000 to 10,000 for edition, we have a festival with the first time and a second stage, an international appeal, as well as the Anti Stage added. This time the crossover fusion between the around the organisers are work- different approaches of the elecing on developing new technolo- tronic scene,” adds Pereira.

PORTUGAL

Clockenflap

“Our genre-neutral, east meets west approach to programming, including the best of hotly tipped newcomers as well as legendary artistes which have pioneered relevant careers over generations, gives us an event which very much mirrors the city.”

Acts performing at the festival include Massive Attack, Feist, Blossoms, Supper Moment and Tinariwen.

Three-day tickets currently cost HK$1,620 (US$208), increasing to HK$1,940 (US$248) on the door.

Tour Manager Terry Tucker’s Touring Tribulations by Newman-Parker

AUDIENCE • Issue 210 • July 2017

www.audience.uk.com

SWEDEN

TOUR GLOBAL THINK LOCAL

2017: The Rolling Stones, Green Day, Celine Dion J. Cole, Bryson Tiller, Mary J Blige, All Time Low, James TW, Véronic DiCaire, SZA, Macy Gray, Dragonforce, Public Service Broadcasting, Royal Republic, Stu Larsen, Slick Rick, CMA Songwriters series feat Levi Hummon, Brandy Clark, Michael Tyler, Angaleena Presley, Marcus Hummon Shawn Mendes, Sebastian Ingrosso, Lindsey Stirling, Jon Bellion, Sabaton, Steve Hackett, En VoGUe, George Clinton, Lucky Chops, Airbourne, Machine Gun Kelly, Rancid, Toto, Accept, Twilight Force, Marc E. Bassy, Natalie Imbruglia ,Justin Bieber, Morrissey, Kanye West, All Time Low,Bryan Adams, Sabaton, Bombay Bicycle Club, Craig David’s TS5, Don Diablo, J.Cole, Maxwell, Mary J Blige, Michael Bublé, Ms Lauryn Hill, Primal Scream, Saxon, Lana Del Rey, Public Service Broadcasting, The Offspring, Backstreet Boys, The Game, Machine Gun Kelly, Adam Cohen, Jack & Jack, Otto Knows, Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons, John Mayall, Status Quo, Rufus Wainwright, Tinie Tempah, Lindsey Stirling, Anastacia, Jean Michel Jarre, Suede, Steve Hackett, Living, Colour, Lucky Chops, Joshua Radin, Dragonforce, DAD, Cary Brothers, Luke Thompson, Maceo Parker, Manfred Manns Earth Band, Luke Christopher, Rickie Lee Jones, MiC Lowry, Adrian Belew Power Trio, Amaranthe, Antilop, Avatar, Before You Exit, Billy Momo, Blitz Kids, Childhood, Christina Grimme, Dark Horses, Dynazty, Felix Tani, Halcyon Way, Hopsin, Jay Samson, Joan As Policewoman, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Luke Christopher, Maskin, Mogwai, Moilor Superum, Naturally 7, Nelly, Nova Miller, Pop Evil. Pye Corner Audio, Raubtier, RO James, Sharon Robinson, Skid Row, Steve O, Stu Larsen, The Exchange, The Knocks, The Last Band, The Wailers, U.D.O, Truckfighters, The Ramona Flowers, Valley Of The Sun, White Miles, The Grand Minnows, The Graviators...

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