Gold Coast music: Headline acts overlooking the city because of no dedicated music hub

Headline acts are overlooking the Gold Coast to play in other regions because the city does not have a dedicated music hub, industry insiders say.

HEADLINE acts are overlooking the Gold Coast to play in other regions because the city does not have a dedicated music hub, industry insiders say.

Entertainment bosses and political leaders such as Kate Jones want a “boutique” 10,000-seat stadium similar to Brisbane’s Riverstage so the city can consistently lure top performers.

“I feel like we are missing out on a lot of acts because we don’t have a venue,” entertainment king Billy Cross said.

“We are missing the touring. They go down south to Sydney, Melbourne and up to Brisbane when they should be touring the Gold Coast.”

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The crowd for the Foo Fighters at Metricon Stadium on December 2011.

He said he had been vocal about the city securing a unique, character-filled venue such as Brisbane’s Riverstage, which has a capacity of about 9500 that attracts the likes of Ed Sheeran, Florence and the Machine, Powderfinger and The Chemical Brothers.

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“There are so many acts touring at the moment, but because of our venues, someone like Rufus (Du Sol) isn’t going to play at a small 300-seat venue. Rufus did two sold out shows in Brisbane — each sold out to 9000 tickets.

“They are successful artists and they want to play at a 6000 to 8000 venue. They could have stopped here and done a gig if we had a venue.

“When you start having these bands, it brings an economic impact because all of a sudden you have thousands of people congregating in the area.

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Rock band Arctic Monkeys performing at Riverstage. Photo: Lisa Clarke

Lorde performs her Melodrama World Tour at Brisbane Riverstage, on Thursday, November 23rd 2017. AAP Image/Steve Pohlner

Violent Soho performing at Riverstage for the Brisbane Festival Closing Party.

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“And what do they do before and after? They spend money at retailers, they go to restaurants and bars. There’s definitely an economic boost.”

Mr Cross said the our large stadiums such as Metricon and Cbus were not attracting musicians as managers believed they were not music venues.

The last large-scale gig on the Gold Coast was the Foo Fighters in 2011, when they sold out Metricon Stadium. Queen will perform there in February next year.

Bon Jovi snubbed the city for Brisbane in 2018 after exorbitant charges at Metricon. Sir Elton John and Fleetwood Mac are others who have sidestepped the Coast.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said a 10,000 boutique music venue would boost the city’s live music industry.

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Billy Cross. Photo: Glenn Hampson

State tourism minister Kate Jones.

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“I know Gold Coasters are sick and tired of driving up the M1 to go to concerts at Boondall. I’m sure they feel like they’re missing out,” she said.

“Tourism cities around the world that have integrated resorts have these kinds of facilities.

“While Metricon Stadium is a great venue for up to 25,000 people, what we’re hearing more and more is that there is a market for a boutique, multipurpose venue seating up to 10,000.

“That’s why we’re going through a process to see if we can partner with a major developer to deliver an integrated resort on the Gold Coast.

“A mid-range venue that ticks these boxes would logically be developed in partnership for an integrated resort.”

Mayor Tom Tate said he welcomed the idea of a boutique stadium, but stopped short of committing council to building the venue.

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Kram. Picture: Supplied by Live Nation

“Live music is the lifeblood of a cosmopolitan economy and essential to any destination serious about showcasing its culture and identity,” he said.

“I welcome the idea of a boutique stadium for crowds of up to 10,000 to ensure international acts don’t miss out city.”

Drummer and lead singer of Spiderbait, Kram said he wished the Gold Coast had more venues.

“Spiderbait grew up in a very small town (Finley). It was so small we couldn’t play there so we had to go to Melbourne,” he said.

“But to live in a place that’s so populated and not have many venues would be frustrating because there is so much potential here.

The Fortitude Music Hall opening in Brisbane, Friday, July 26, 2019 — (AAP/Photo Steve Pohlner)

“In some places it’s sadly more profitable to have more pokies than a band room. But what are we trying to do — make money or make culture?”

However, city councillor Glenn Tozer, who said he was a passionate music advocate, felt the Coast already had “some great venues”.

“I saw Mumford and Sons at the (Gold Coast) convention centre and there would have been about 10,000 people there,” Cr Tozer said.

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Amy Shark performing at Broadwater Parklands for the Gold Coast’s 60th birthday. Photo: Richard Gosling

Musician Lily Allen performs at the Tivoli Theatre in Brisbane. (AAP/Image Sarah Marshall)

“There is also Cbus. I think you could get 7000 to 10,000 people. Maybe there’s the capacity of that being a venue.”

Cr Tozer said the council was working hard to sell the Coast as a music destination.

“How do we solve this problem on bypassing the Gold Coast is remembering that there is great venues on the Gold Coast and that people will turn up to? (Council) is doing a very committed job to communicate that message.”