Dave Faulkner, frontman of Aussie rock outfit the Hoodoo Gurus, has taken to the band’s official Facebook page to announce that the Dig It Up! event, a recently launched series of invitational concerts curated by the band and featuring acts like Tumbleweed, will not go ahead in 2014.
Over the last few years, Dig It Up! has seen lineups featuring The Sonics, The Fleshtones, Blue Oyster Cult, and the reformation of Australian post-punk group The Sunnyboys, just to name a few, as well as the Hoodoo Gurus themselves bringing one of their classic albums to life onstage, in full.
Faulkner addressed the event in a Facebook post summarising the band’s recent and upcoming activities, which includes an Australia Day show, writing, “As for the rest of the year, we are still formulating plans but one thing I can definitely say: we WON’T be doing another series of Dig It Up!”
No explanation was given for why the event will not be going ahead. Faulkner instead urged Brisbane fans to attend the band’s Australia Day gig this weekend at the Eatons Hill Hotel in Eatons Hill, Queensland, where they’ll be joined by You Am I, Busby Marou, Jebediah, and more.
“For everyone else, I hope we’ll have something VERY COOL to announce soon for later in the year but, for now, mum’s the word,” added Faulkner. The Hoodoo Gurus have been announced as the headlining act for The Gum Ball 2014, playing alongside Jinja Safari, Wolf & Cub, and more.
Dig It Up! ran into some trouble last year, after organisers had to cancel the Adelaide leg, citing lacklustre ticket sales as a result of a plethora of competing events such as “A Day On the Green, Nick Cave, Neil Young, Dinosaur Jr, Bruce Springsteen, and Adelaide Festival.”
Hoodoo Gurus’ Dave Faulkner Facebook Statement
WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN?!
Well may you ask, ladies and gentlemen, well may you ask!
First things first, happy new year to you all. All of the Gurus spent time with families over Christmas s you would expect (they no longer disown us) and in my case that meant a few weeks in Perth. I made it through all the festivities relatively unscathed save for a bit of extra weight around my midriff. My only resolution for the new year is to do a lot more work in 2014.
Well, my wish is already starting to come true: THIS THURSDAY NIGHT I am making a guest appearance at the ENMORE THEATRE as part of the huge BIG STAR’S THIRD concert (part of the Sydney Festival). Link: http://www.au.timeout.com/sydney/music/events/37139/sydney-festival-2014-big-stars-third
KEN STRINGFELLOW (The Posies) and original Big Star drummer JODY STEPHENS reformed Big Star with ALEX CHILTON a few years before before Alex’s untimely death. Since then they have played only a few shows under the Big Star banner to honour Alex’s legacy. Helping fill out the band will be celebrated Big Star superfans MIKE MILLS (R.E.M.), CHRIS STAMEY (The dBs), MITCH EASTER (Let’s Active) and more. There will also be quite a few other celebrity guest vocalists: CAT POWER, KURT VILE, KIM SALMON, EDWYN COLLINS, TIM ROGERS (and more)… I can hardly believe it myself! These are some of the most influential musicians ever, all gathered in one place to pay tribute Alex Chilton’s celebrated masterpiece. I feel very honoured to be included in such stellar company and I’m really looking forward to sinking my teeth into a couple of the late-great Alex’s classics. Don’t miss it.
No rest for the wicked! This weekend I get my feet wet for 2014 with the always-great HOODOO GURUS (though I say it myself, it’s true)! We’re appearing as part of a huge bill in Brisbane on AUSTRALIA DAY (yes, THIS SUNDAY!!) at EATONS HILL HOTEL playing outdoors, very much like our recent A Day On The Green concert in Kings Park. Link for tickets: http://www.eatonshillhotel.com.au/index.php?pg=43&title=event-details&event_id=157
Also playing with us on are the redoubtable YOU AM I (we’re making a habit of this lately, happily) along with relative-newcomers (though they’re already making a big mark) BUSBY MAROU. Kevin Mitchell is temporarily putting aside his Bob Evans alter ego and allowing JEBEDIAH to make a welcome return to the big concert stage. Need I say more? Well, there is more! Check the links for all the details.
It’s gonna be a huge day and an even H-U-U-U-U-G-ER NIGHT! Gates open THIS SUNDAY at 12:30PM. P.S: the tickets are ridiculously cheap (I really don’t know how the promoters are able to do it?!)
As for the rest of the year, we are still formulating plans but one thing I can definitely say: we WON’T be doing another series of Dig It Up! concerts this year (do you hear that, Brisbane? Come on down on Sunday)!
For everyone else, I hope we’ll have something VERY COOL to announce soon for later in the year but, for now, mum’s the word.
Later, my friends!
Dave
