An article about the upcoming Red Hot Summer Tour gig with Hunters and Collectors headlining in Bendigo.

Author:  Chris Pedler, Bendigo Advertiser.

Date: 2 January 2020.

Original URL: https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/6563731/red-hot-summer-tours-plans-to-keep-bendigo-crowd-cool-on-saturday/

Article Text

Organisers of the Red Hot Summer Tour have done everything they can to make sure Bendigo crowds are comfortable this weekend.

Australian acts Hunters and Collectors, James Reyne, The Living End, The Angels, Baby Animals, Boom Crash Opera and Killing Heidi will arrive in Bendigo on Saturday for the show.

Initial forecasts earlier in the week said Bendigo could expect temperatures up to 44 degrees – the Bureau of Meteorology has since predicted a top of 35 degrees on Saturday ahead of a cool change and top of 20 degrees on Sunday.

Regional Touring owner Duane McDonald, who is organising the tour, said they had held meetings with the CFA and Victoria Police in preparing for Saturday’s show.

“Last Sunday the forecast was 44 degrees, so we were already in conversation with the CFA and Victoria Police at that point,” he said.

“The Bureau of Meteorology was involved and we were aware temperatures were going to be wound back and that a cool change was to come through on Sunday.

“Sunday is only forecast for 20 degrees and 35 degrees is pretty reasonable (for this time of year).”

RELATED: Red Hot Summer Tour 2020 Bendigo line-up

Mr McDonald said if a situation arose where the show had to be cancelled, the decision would come from a stakeholder meeting with emergency services.

“If the site becomes too dangerous or looks like it will then we will put our emergency plan in place. But that is highly unlikely (this weekend),” he said.

“We’ve had a couple of cancellations in the last 10 years and both were flooding related and were up in Queensland.

“We have thousands of pages of evacuation and emergency manuals and emergency services get all our plans early in the piece.

“We had an on site meeting on Tuesday – New Year’s Eve – and everyone was happy. We’re right to go.”

Too help keep crowds cool this weekend, Mr McDonald and his team have bought in three large misting fans.

“When the 44 degrees forecast came out, we sourced some misting fans that throw a fine mist 45 to 50 metres over the crowd and drops temperature,” he said.

“We have got three of those units in as well as extra drinking water stations. We have done everything we can to make it comfortable for the crowd.”

Mr McDonald said the stage structure could handle winds of up to 120km/h.

“The thing we look for during the day is obviously wind ,” he said. “With high winds of 80 to 90km/h, we would drop the viewer screens. We also keep a really close eye on lightning.

“The Bureau said with the cool change winds would be 25 to 30km/h. Our stage structure can handle 120km/h winds, so wind is not an issue.

“It might be a concern if fires are in the area but at this point they’re not – touch wood.”

Overall, Mr McDonald was looking forward to another successful show at the Bendigo Jockey Club.

“Bendigo has always gone well and is a brilliant venue,” he said. “There’s not many venues we can walk into in January with lush green grass.

“All the facilities are there and it’s one of easiest venues we have done.

“It sold out well in advance, the forecast has come back to 35 degrees, by the time Hunters and Collectors go on, it could be 20 degrees.”

The Red Hot Summer Tour is on Saturday, January 4 from 1.30pm.

For more details visit www.redhotsummertour.com.au or find the Red hot Summer Tour on Facebook.

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