TEG strikes alliance with Empire Touring, announces Sydney rock fest

TEG has struck a strategic alliance with Empire Touring to co-promote tours and events across Australia, including a run of dates in Sydney later this year.

Established by Marc Christowski and general manager Isobel Lanesman, Empire Touring has built its name on rock ‘n’ roll.

Christowski and Lanesman have been in business since the early ‘80s, producing and promoting live shows with the top guns from the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Over the years, but the pair have worked with the likes of Paul Kelly, Midnight Oil, Kasey Chambers, John Williamson, Missy Higgins, Tim Finn, Grinspoon, Spiderbait, Richard Clapton and Ian Moss, and they’ve created the Pure Gold Live, Spring Loaded and Rock at the Races festival brands.

According to a statement issued Tuesday from TEG, both parties will co-promote a huge slate productions through a multi-year arrangement.

Bookings are already locked in.

The first through the alliance will take place at Sydney Coliseum on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th December 2020 for the 101.7 WSFM presents Pure Gold Live.

One of the city’s first major multi-performer lineups in the post-COVID era, the fest will feature the likes of veteran Aussie rockers Richard Clapton, Dragon, Thirsty Merc, Radiators, Choirboys, Shannon Noll, Mi-Sex, Wendy Matthews, Steve Kilbey of the Church and Mark Callaghan of GANGgajang.

Thirsty Merc at Studios 301 launch

As part of the ongoing arrangement, TEG will lend financial support, marketing and expertise in promotion and analytics to help Empire Touring prosper and expand.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

“Marc and Isobel have built a business with a storied history and a great future, particularly given their clever pivot to focus on Australia’s wealth of homegrown talent,” TEG CEO Geoff Jones explains.

“TEG has a proud track record of supporting Australian artists and we are thrilled to be working with Marc and Isobel to deliver more festivals and concerts to Australian audiences.”

The partnership provides Empire Touring “a platform to step up our ambitions by working with TEG to produce a very busy calendar of events that will help to reinvigorate Australia’s live entertainment scene for fans, who are champing at the bit to get out there and see their favourite acts,” Christowski adds.

TEG, the Sydney-based live entertainment, ticketing and tech giant, last month unveiled a restructuring of its leadership team ahead of global expansion plans.

Prior to the pandemic, TEG’s Ticketek company in Australia delivered 30 million tickets annually for over 30,000 events, from concerts to theatre, musicals, festivals and more.

In the right conditions, Ticketek is prepared to roll out into several major live music territories.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.