Image: ANU Bar / Facebook

ANU Union Goes Against Controversial Promoter, Calls For Acts Of All Genders To Join ‘Finale’ Lineup

The student union at Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra has contradicted the promoter of a controversial ‘Finale’ concert and its all-male lineup by calling for acts of all genders to come forward and perform at the show.

Yesterday, the promoter at the centre of the controversy, Garry Peadon, told Music Feeds that no other acts would be added to the ANU Finale show after headliners Regurgitator and local band Slow Turismo pulled out of the event.

Today, the ANU Union says in a statement that “in order to address the concerns raised by our members and students”, it will now be “re-opening the offer for acts to perform at the ANU Bar Finale Concert which will be held before the Bar is demolished at the end of June”.

“We strongly encourage performers across all genres, nationalities and genders, especially Canberra-based performers, to engage with the Bar and consider performing at the ANU Bar.”

The ANU Union notes that Garry Peadon, who works under the company name Greenroom Canberra, “is a third-party booker and is not attached to the ANU Bar”.

“The ANU Union want the final gigs at the ANU Bar to be a celebration that is inclusive and a showcase representative of all the community,” the union says. Read their full statement, below.

Peadon’s ‘Finale’ show lineup was called into question by punters on Facebook after the promoter made what some have called a “gross” comment after being questioned about the concert’s all-male roster.

Since then, the show’s former headliners Regurgitator have said Peadon’s comment “runs against all we support”, while Peadon has defended his lineup decisions, saying, “I don’t sit there and go, ‘I need to put a female band on.’”

The ANU Bar Finale show is still set to take place on 17th June.

ANU Union Statement (12/04/2017)

The ANU Union wishes to provide an update regarding the line-up for the ANU Bar Finale concert being held at the end of June.

The ANU Union, and the ANU Bar, have a proud history of providing a unique concert venue and have hosted a wide variety of acts with performances crossing genres and nationalities and demonstrating gender diversity.

Our proud history of performances and events have included hosting a large number of all female acts, including Liz Stinger, Ladyhawke, Suicide Girls, Glitoris, Little May, Asta and Holly Throsby.

The ANU Union has listened to the legitimate concerns of students regarding the preparations for the ANU Bar Finale concert and the line-up that has been proposed by Greenroom Canberra. It is noted that the Greenroom Canberra is a third-party booker and is not attached to the ANU Bar.

In order to address the concerns raised by our members and students, the ANU Union will be re-opening the offer for acts to perform at the ANU Bar Finale Concert which will be held before the Bar is demolished at the end of June.

We strongly encourage performers across all genres, nationalities and genders, especially Canberra-based performers, to engage with the Bar and consider performing at the ANU Bar.

Interested acts should contact the ANU Union at bar.manager@anu.edu.au.

The ANU Union want the final gigs at the ANU Bar to be a celebration that is inclusive and a showcase representative of all the community.

The ANU Union remains committed to working with promoters to ensure variety and diversity for performances hosted at the ANU Bar.

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