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LOCKED IN
After much debate and protest, the Queensland Government has rejected proposed new trading hours for clubs and bars to curb alcohol-fuelled violence. Rather, Premier Anna Bligh has unveiled a $4.2m plan that will include three ‘Drink Safe Precincts’ - Fortitude Valley, the Gold Coast and Townsville - where extra police will patrol and taxi zones will be better supervised. New laws introduced will also allow known troublemakers to be banned from designated areas via court orders.

NO MORE BAM!
The inaugural Bam! Festival has been forced to cancel due to inadequate ticket sales. A run of bad publicity - which included a piece on Mess+Noise that compared aspects of Bam! to the failed Blueprint and Lost Weekend festivals - help to derail the music event that was slated to be held at Ivory’s Rock, west of Brisbane, October 8-10. Although the pin has been pulled on the 2010 event, Scene salutes the crew behind Bam! for having a go at running an event in arguably one of the most competitive markets. Full refunds can be obtained from the point of purchase.

NEW WORK
Before the sudden death of Charles Haddon at a music festival in Belgium two weeks ago, the band he fronted - Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - had completed work on the group’s debut album, ‘The Golden Year’. The two remaining band members, Joe Hutchinson and Caan Capan, have announced the album will be released in Australia October 1, with lead single ‘Jackson’s Last Stand’ hitting shelves September 10.

SEEING SOUND
By the time you read this, it’s possible that you will no longer be able to buy tickets to Soundwave. That means you’re going to miss out on Iron Maiden, QOTSA, Slayer, Primus, Slash, 30 Seconds To Mars, Avenged Sevenfold, Rob Zombie, Social Distortion, Pennywise, The Gaslight Anthem and a deluge of other incredible acts across the metal/ punk/ hardcore spectrum. So there’s no point in going to the RNA Showgrounds on Saturday February 26 next year. None at all.

WHICH FESTIVAL?
That Festival. You know? The one that features acts including You Am I, Regurgitator, Little Red, Ash Grunwald, Funkoars, Space Invadas, Bang Gang, Itch-e & Scratch-e, Tenzin, Surecut Kids, Canyons, Purple Sneakers, Mourning Tide, Calling All Cars and plenty more at Cabarita Beach on November 20. That Festival.

GUIDING LIGHT
Ministry Of Sound’s Clubbers Guide series has provided many a modern electronic music lovers introduction to dance music over the years. See exactly why this has been such an important part of the clubbing landscape in Australia when John Course, Anna Lunoe, Goodwill and Sam La More smash it silly at The Met on Friday September 10.

MUSIC TALKS
With BIGSOUND, it’s not all about the music. Well kinda. Of course, there are a load of local and interstate acts who’ll be hitting the boards to entertain you throughout the two-day event (Sept. 8-9). But the other half of BIGSOUND is the talks by keynote speakers on a wide-range of subject matter relevant to the music industry. The likes of Richard Kingsmill, Michael Gudinski, Bill Hauritz, Jake Stone, Robert Forster and many others will be in town to discuss all the nuances of the music business. bigsound.org.au

BIRTHDAY WISHES
Twelve months ago Alloneword landed on the Brisbane clubbing scene, providing local punters with an alternative boutique nightspot. Fusing cutting edge sounds with an open-aired location, Alloneword will be blowing out the first birthday candles this Thursday, September 2, with performances from Judy Dolls and Scene favourites, Desmond Cheese. Congrats guys.

GLAMOUR PUSS
What are you doing this Thursday evening? Well Ashley Roberts certainly does. Member of The Pussycat Dolls, Ashley will be performing at Zuri Lounge (Sept. 2) as part of Glamorou$. Resident DJs Stupified, Bossy and Mr Sparkles hold down the support duties for a night of hot R&B.