Rock legend John “JC” Collins joins Brisbane Economic Development Agency
One of our best known musicians is swapping the bass for the boardroom, joining the Brisbane Economic Development Agency where he will promote the city’s live music scene.
Rock legend John “JC” Collins is swapping the bass for the boardroom.
Collins, the former bass guitarist for Powderfinger, has been appointed a director of the Brisbane Economic Development Agency where he will help build the city’s global profile as a live music mecca in the lead up to the 2032 Olympics.
“I am not an accountant or a developer so I will stick to my lane (promoting music in Brisbane),” says Collins, who since leaving the hit band has gone on to found several music venues including the Triffid and The Fortitude Music Hall.
“There are a lot of opportunities for the Brisbane music scene over the next decade and I want to make sure the industry is well represented.”
Collins says that since his days with Powderfinger the number of live music venues has expanded in the city allowing local bands bigger platforms to attract an audience.
“Bands previously tended to leave Brisbane, but now they are sticking around to build their career here,” he says.
Collins says he has been promoting Brisbane since his days touring the world with Powderfinger and it was an honour to join the board of the BEDA to continue that role in a more formal way. “As a local Brisbane boy, it is an honour to be able to combine my passion for music and play a part in the city as a vibrant, energetic and global destination,” he says. “Brisbane is arguably the best location for live music in Australia and I want to see that recognised nationally and globally and put Brisbane on the map.”
Collins certainly has runs on the board in terms of music promotion. Since opening the Triffid in 2014, the venue has gone on to win numerous awards and become a crowd favourite.
A few years back, Collins joined forces with music industry powerbrokers Secret Sounds and Live Nation to open the Fortitude Music Hall in the heart of the Brunswick Street Mall. Collins was instrumental in the design, fit out and delivery of the project.
Collins says the importance of live music to not only the economy but people’s well being was underscored during the pandemic.
He says that thankfully live music is coming back but challenges around staff recruitment remained. While a busy man these days as a venue operator, Collins still plays in an outfit called The Predators that feature other founding members of Powderfinger. As for another reunion of Powderfingers itself, Collins says that is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
BEDA chief executive Anthony Ryan says Collins will play an important role in driving growth in the music and arts economy.
“Brisbane is a city with unstoppable momentum and a thriving arts and night-time economy,” Ryan says. “JC will play an important role in supporting our ongoing work to drive sustainable economic growth for the city.” Collins joins Gadens Queensland boss Paul Spiro, Gallus Partners managing director John Shepherd, 4BC presenter Sofie Formica and Rowland Group senior executive Helen Besley on the BEDA board.
Collins is not the only Brisbane business leader throwing the global spotlight on the city. Business and community heavy weights including Queensland Ballet director Li Cunxin, ASM Global boss Harvey Lister, jewellery designer Margot McKinney and VALD co-founder Sam James are backing a new BEDA initiative, called the Brisbane Brief, to sell Brisbane on the world stage in a bid to attract multi-million-dollar investment, business opportunities and major events for the future.
The Brisbane Brief has been developed by BEDA in consultation with over 150 local industry leaders, highlighting the city’s unique strengths, to support local businesses, industry and global partners on international trade missions and investment pitches.
The document showcases a city that’s “alive with opportunity”, with a fast-growing population, $14 billion infrastructure pipeline, direct access to Asian export markets and natural assets and liveability attracting record levels of migration.
The business leaders will star in a video being developed as part of the Brisbane Brief. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said there has never been a greater opportunity to supercharge Brisbane’s economic growth as the city enters what he calls a “golden era.”
Pub Sale
The “for sale” sign has been slapped on Meadowbrook Hotel in Logan as investors continue to scout for pub acquisitions in the tightly held south-east Queensland market.
A syndicate led by Sydney-based Gallagher Hotels is seeking to offload the leasehold interest in the pub via an expression of interest campaign managed by JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group. Gallagher purchased the hotel back in 2018 for an estimated $6m and it is considered one of the top gaming venues in the state with 40 pokie machines. The hotel also features a sports bar, bistro, beer garden as well as 20 motel rooms. The venue, located 35 minutes from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast, underwent a multi-million dollar renovation recently. The sale is being handled by Tom Gleeson and John Musca via an expression of interest that closes on October 27. The Meadowbrook investment was Gallagher’s first foray into the Queensland pub market and has been a rewarding one.
Talk Fest
Olympics speaking gigs seem to be becoming a growth industry. The Brisbane Club has Australian Olympic Committee boss Matt Carroll speaking next Wednesday, October 5 , which by chance is the same day as The Queensland Media Club hosts Andrew Liveris, the president of the 2032 Brisbane Organising Committee.
City Beat hears there is strong demand for tickets to the Carroll event given his career as sports executive spans over 24 years, taking in all aspects of administration.
Carroll has held positions including general manager for Australian Rugby Union and the 2003 Rugby World Cup, chief executive of the Waratahs and NSW Rugby Union, Australian Sailing, and currently for the Australian Olympic Committee.
No doubt one of the questions directed towards Carroll at the lunch will be the role of the Gabba in the Games. Courier Mail columnist Peter Gleeson reported last week that the demolition and rebuild of the Gabba as the 2032 Olympic Games’ main venue may be abandoned as the state government conducts a “project validation’’ report into why it would spend a fortune on a new stadium for just 8000 extra seats.
Government sources say the original cost estimate of $1bn for the Gabba’s demolition and rebuild was “laughable’’ and it may well double, or even be as high as $2.5bn.
Nice Cuppa
Australian tea company Origin Tea boasts it is “starting a tea revolution” aimed at making tea more fun and flavourful.
In its latest innovation, Origin Tea, which is run by Brisbane brothers Chris and Lawrence Seaton, has launched four industry-first flavour syrups designed for tea, which cafes can add to tea products to diversify tea flavours and add a new dimension to tea drinking.
Similar to flavours currently available to coffee drinkers - that were originally made famous by coffee chain Starbucks - the caramel, vanilla, hazelnut and chai tea syrups have been designed to boost the flavour profile of chai lattes, a popular coffee alternative at Australian cafes. Chris Seaton says the syrups take Origin Tea’s own chai to the next level, after the company recently launched its cult Sticky Chai in new flavours such as turmeric, peppermint and raw cacao. “Why should coffee drinkers have all the fun? Around 10 million Australians regularly drink tea and we can’t see why half the population should miss out on the complexities permeating in our coffee culture,” he says.
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