Greece’s international market is going from strength to strength, according to Ejekt Festival director Giannis Paltoglou.

Indeed, Paltoglou has landed Green Day’s first-ever performance in Greece, headlining the 20th anniversary of Ejekt this summer.

“If a new band comes to Greece and plays on the first record, they will keep coming back with every record because the Greek audience is really warm, and also the weather, the food and the hospitality are renowned,” Paltoglou explains. “But when bands are at the level of Green Day, it’s tough to convince them to visit because we are not a big market.

“We have around 5.1 million people living in Athens but we have a lot of tourists and the economy is much better than in previous years – that’s why we can afford to spend more money, increase ticket prices and bring bigger bands here. We’re growing up slowly.”

Green Day is the first act to be announced for the milestone edition of Ejekt, which will take place across three days in early July at Athens Olympic Stadium.

The festival moved to the 35,000-capacity stadium last year to facilitate the growing supply of – and demand for – international artists in Greece.

“The economy is much better now – that’s why we can afford to spend more money, increase ticket prices and bring bigger bands”

“It’s near to the train station, has better facilities for disabled people, more parking,” Paltoglou lists the benefits of the new venue. “And, of course, it has bigger infrastructure… it’s a stadium experience now.”

In another major coup, Paltoglou has secured Robbie Williams for a special, standalone performance at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens in October, under the Ejekt Festival banner.

“His tour is in October so we didn’t want him to perform during the festival’s normal days,” explains Paltoglou. “We wanted him in an iconic stadium with his production, not a greenfield.”

While Greek artists continue to dominate the market, demand for international stars has been increasing year on year according to Paltoglou.

“All the international shows we did last year were really good,” continues Paltoglou. “We had more than 78 international artists across our festivals and two venues in Athens.”

And it’s not just Ejekt Festival that is doing good business with overseas acts. “Over the 90 days of summer, we had almost two international shows from various promoters every day,” he claims. “People are thirsty for international acts.”

While Greece’s festivals are poised to supply the demand, the country’s touring circuit still has a way to go. Mid-size venues (with caps of 10-15,000) are sorely lacking, limiting the range of acts Greece could attract.

“All the international shows we did last year were really good”

“We don’t have any indoor venues at 3,000 capacity,” says Paltoglou. “The smallest arena is 6,000 capacity and then it jumps to 9,000 and then 16,000.”

“Also, the Acropolis Theater (4,100), a venue that has been operating every summer for the last 70 years, is closing for renovations until 2027. This will be a big loss for us. We have promoted many artists at the venue including Florence and the Machine, Herbie Hancock, Kraftwerk, Brian Eno and others.”

“We are waiting for some new venues to open, but nothing is happening. We’re discussing with the government, private companies and stadiums to see what they can do… it will slowly happen.”

In addition to a shortage of venues, Greece’s location in Europe has always been a hurdle for touring acts.

“We are at the bottom of Europe,” Paltoglou explains. “So a band from England needs a travelling day, one day to play, one day to leave. Logistics are tough for them and that’s why we try to collaborate with other markets like Bulgaria and Turkey and create a tour of the eastern Balkans to attract newer bands.

“We are doing a lot of shows there in Thessaloniki,” he adds. “But the economy is not as strong as in Athens – it doesn’t have as many tourists – so we can’t charge the same ticket prices.”

That said, Paltoglou is optimistic that Greece will continue to establish itself as a worthy market for international acts.

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Tickets for Good, a social profit organisation that offers healthcare workers affordable access to music and sports events, theatres and museums, has expanded into the Netherlands following successful launches in the UK and the US.

Companies including ID&T, Mojo Concerts, Greenhouse Talent and This is Live have supported the Netherlands launch, alongside ambassadors Robbie Williams and Hans Brouwer (founder MassiveMusic, Founding Partner A’DAM Toren).

Williams has also donated tickets to the cause, alongside artists such as Pixies and IDLES.

With more than 30 healthcare institutions joining the new platform, Tickets for Good NL reaches more than 150,000 healthcare workers. Meanwhile, the platform’s international network comprises more than 300,000 members and over 500 event partners.

Last year, Ticketmaster partnered with Tickets for Good to simplify the process for live event organisers to donate their tickets to non-profit workers, healthcare providers and teachers.

“Tickets for Good values ​​and supports healthcare workers, who play an indispensable role in society”

The Dutch branch is led by Simone van Hövell (former HR Manager Amsterdam UMC) and Linda Holleman (former Mojo, ESNS).

In a joint statement, the pair said: “Tickets for Good values ​​and supports healthcare workers, who play an indispensable role in society. Especially in times of tight labour markets, it is important to cherish them. The platform offers them the opportunity to escape the daily hustle and bustle and enjoy sports, music, theatre and entertainment, for a small administrative fee of up to 8 euros. At the same time, we create access for a broader and more diverse audience, which also strengthens these sectors.”

“This is a powerful way to show appreciation for their indispensable efforts,” say Van Hövell and Holleman.

Williams adds: “Promoting accessibility to the arts is something close to my heart. The magic of live entertainment is something everyone should be able to experience. I’m proud to work with Tickets for Good to make this possible for healthcare workers who mean so much to society.”

Brouwer, who played a key role in the launch and growth of Tickets for Good in the Netherlands, comments: “Live events bring so much joy and connect people in a unique way. As a musician and entrepreneur, I strongly believe in the mission of Tickets for Good. I am proud to contribute to this.”

Tickets for Good is a social partner of ESNS 2025, which takes place between 15–18 January in Groningen, the Netherlands.

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Robbie Williams has performed a free pop-up concert in Melbourne – the city where his new biopic Better Man was filmed.

The British singer played a nine-song set at 5pm local time today (2 January) in Federation Square, hosted by iHeartLIVE and GOLD104.3. The show followed his New Year’s Eve performance outside Sydney Opera House, which was televised by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

The 50-year-old is currently on the promotional trail in Australia following Better Man‘s Boxing Day release. The film, which sees Williams portrayed as a chimpanzee in CGI form, was made by Australian filmmaker Michael Gracey, who directed The Greatest Showman.

Williams is set to embark on a mammoth European stadium tour later this year

Better Man was shot in the state of Victoria in 2022 with financial support from the government-backed Victorian Screen Incentive.

According to the city of Melbourne, the production created 2,920 jobs and generated A$142 million (€86m) for the state’s economy, leading Williams to be awarded the key to the city by the Lord Mayor on stage during today’s 8,000-cap gig.

Williams, who is represented by X-ray Touring’s Ian Huffam, will play three concerts in South Africa later this month before embarking on a mammoth European stadium tour from May to October. The star last toured Australasia in 2022 as part of his XXV outing.

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Belgium’s TW Classic sold out in 90 minutes following the announcement of Robbie Williams and Bryan Adams as headliners.

Williams will top the festival’s lineup for the first time since 2015 as part of his highly anticipated Robbie Williams Live 2025 outing.

The billing was met with high demand when around 60,000 tickets priced at €133 flew off the shelves in 90 minutes last Friday (15 November).

It marked a spectacular comeback for Rock Werchter’s sister event which was called off last year along with Werchter Boutique.

At the time, organisers said they had failed to put together a top line-up for each of the day festivals. “Our bar is high and we always aim for the best. Mediocrity is not an option,” they added.

Last Friday, around 60,000 tickets priced at €133 flew off the shelves within an hour and a half

Established in 2022 as a “tribute to the early days of Rock Werchter,” the festival has previously featured artists such as Bruce Springsteen, P!nk, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Florence + The Machine, Placebo, The Kid Laroi, The Smile and more.

The Live Nation Belgium-promoted event will return on Saturday 28 June 2025 to Festivalpark in Werchter, which is also home to Rock Werchter and Werchter Boutique.

Werchter Boutique is also set to make a comeback on Saturday 12 July 2025, with a headline set by Imagine Dragons and support from Declan McKenna among others.

Meanwhile, the lineup for the 50th edition of Rock Werchter (3–6 July) is shaping up, with Olivia Rodrigo, Green Day, Linkin Park and Sam Fender topping the bill.

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Pop legend and former Take That member Robbie Williams has announced a mammoth 2025 tour of the UK, Ireland and Europe.

Robbie Williams Live 2025 will make 28 stops at an assortment of stadiums, arenas, festivals and parks between 31 May and 20 September 2025.

The outing kicks off in the UK with concerts at Edinburgh’s Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, London’s Emirates Stadium, Manchester’s Co-op Live and open-air venue Royal Crescent in Bath.

The European leg will kick off on 19 June at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen (DK) and wrap up on 20 September at Olympiastadion in Helsinki (FI). In addition to the tour stops Williams will also perform at Werchter TW Classic in Belgium on 28 June.

The 50-year-old, who is repped by X-ray’s Ian Huffam in Europe, last toured in 2022 with his XXV outing, which visited the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

He still holds several records for live performances including the Guinness World Record for his 2006 world tour, which sold more than 1.6 million tickets in a single day, and the record attendance of 375,000 fans over three nights at his legendary Knebworth shows in the UK. More recently, Williams returned to BST Hyde Park in London this summer for a critically acclaimed and sold-out headline show.

“This tour is going to be my boldest yet – I can’t wait to see you next year”

The tour announcement comes a month before the release of Williams’ musical biopic film ‘Better Man’ which hits UK cinemas on 26 December. Based on the true story of Williams’ life and directed by Michael Gracey (‘The Greatest Showman’), the film sees him portrayed as a CGI monkey throughout.

‘Better Man’ follows his journey from childhood to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That to his achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that fame and success can bring, according to an announcement.

“This tour is going to be my boldest yet – I can’t wait to see you next year,” says Williams in a statement. “There will be songs from the movie ‘Better Man’, and some new music too…but more on that soon.”

In the meantime, Williams is set to perform at the open-air series Saadiyat Nights in Abu Dhabi this December, and in South Africa in January.

The popstar will deliver a headline set at Calabash festival in Cape Town, as well as two solo headline shows at SunBet Arena, Time Square, Pretoria – marking his first shows in the country since 2006.

Tickets for Robbie Williams Live 2025 go on general sale Friday 15 November. The tour is sponsored by cat food brand FELIX from Purina, with which Williams has had a long-standing partnership. See the full list of dates below.

31 May – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, UK

6 June – Emirates Stadium, London, UK

11 June – Co-op Live, Manchester, UK – with special guests Lottery Winners

13 June – Royal Crescent, Bath, UK

19 June – Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark

22 June – Johan Cruyff ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands

25 June – VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

28 June – Werchter TW Classic, Belgium

30 June – Heinz von Heiden Arena, Hanover, Germany

2 July – La Défense Arena, Paris, France

5 July – RCDE Stadium, Barcelona, Spain

9 July – Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany

12 July – Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria

17 July – Stadio Nereo Rocco, Trieste, Italy

21 July – Waldbühne, Berlin, Germany

22 July – Waldbühne, Berlin, Germany

26 July – Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany

1 August – Darius and Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas, Lithuania

3 August – Mežaparks, Riga, Latvia

7 August – Stockholm Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden

10 August – Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt, Germany

13 August – Forus Travbane, Stavanger, Norway

16 August – Granåsen, Trondheim, Norway

23 August – Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland

7 September – O2 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic

9 September – TAURON Arena, Kraków, Kraków, Poland

12 September – MVM Dome, Budapest, Hungary

20 September – Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland

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Ticketmaster is launching a new partnership with Tickets for Good aimed at simplifying the process for live event organisers to donate their tickets to non-profit workers, healthcare providers and teachers.

Sheffield-based platform Tickets for Good provides free and discounted tickets for live events to NHS and charity sector workers, along with cost of living payment recipients, and currently has more than 300,000 users in the UK.

Through Ticketmaster’s Distributed Commerce API, any artist, sports team or other event organiser in the US, UK and Canada using Ticketmaster can allocate a portion of their tickets to Tickets For Good at their discretion.

“By launching this partnership to both the United Kingdom and the United States, we create a seamless and secure way for event organisers to do more good for the community,” says Dan Armstrong, EVP, distributed commerce at Ticketmaster. “Our technology makes it easy for events to make their tickets available for a great cause.”

“This represents a significant step forward in our commitment to helping those who contribute to our communities”

In addition to collaborating with LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment) in the UK, Tickets for Good has also attracted the support of singer Robbie Williams, who has become both an advisor and investor in the company.

“We are delighted to be expanding our partnership with Ticketmaster,” adds Tickets for Good CEO and founder Steve Rimmer. “This represents a significant step forward in our commitment to helping those who contribute to our communities get to their favourite live events. By combining our passion to drive social impact with Ticketmaster’s technology and resources, we are poised to unlock new opportunities to share the joy of live experiences.”

Current collaborators include Live Nation, Blue Man Group, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Atlanta Vibe, and Charlotte FC.

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World Touring Melbourne (WTM) has won its multi-million dollar claim against the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) over the last-minute cancellation of a Robbie Williams concert in 2020.

AGPC has been ordered to pay A$2.84 million (€1.74m) to the promoter for loss of earnings after a judge found it to have provided misleading health advice that prompted the show’s cancellation.

Williams was set to headline the first World Tour Melbourne event at Lakeside Stadium on 14 March 2020 as part of the Formula 1 weekend, but the Grand Prix and surrounding events were called off the day before amid the looming threat of Covid-19.

WTM sued AGPC for breach of contract, seeking $8m in damages, after alleging it had been deceived by the organisation when it compelled the cancellation of the show by citing health advice supposedly mandated by Victoria’s chief medical officer Brett Sutton.

The case went to trial in May, with Justice Clyde Croft delivering his ruling this morning (30 August).

An email sent to promoters by organisers of the Formula 1 race claimed that Dr Sutton had advised Williams’ concert should not go ahead. However, evidence presented during the trial confirmed that no such directive had been issued.

“There was no reason to suppose that a concert of this nature could not otherwise proceed in any other part of Victoria”

According to the North West Star, Dr Sutton had texted AGPC officials to say that while he supported cancelling the gig, it was ultimately a decision for the organisers.

The pandemic state of emergency declaration, which restricted non-essential mass gatherings, did not come into effect until 16 March – two days after the scheduled show – with many other events proceeding as planned across Australia that weekend.

The court found that AGPC unlawfully prevented WTM from proceeding by depriving its access to the event site.

“There was no reason to suppose that a concert of this nature could not otherwise proceed in any other part of Victoria,” said Justice Croft.

Becky Artmonsky, co-CEO of WTM, says the company is “delighted” the case has been resolved in its favour.

“While the cancellation caused massive issues for our business and investors, this outcome clearly demonstrates that we were right to pursue this claim,” she says. “We had spent years and millions developing our partnership with AGPC to bring major talent to Melbourne and the investment we made in our business to support their goals needs repaying.

“We are grateful to the Right Honourable Justice Croft, the court, and our dedicated legal team for their relentless pursuit of justice in this matter.”

“Today’s ruling by Justice Croft affirms that we were treated unfairly, and we are grateful for his careful consideration and diligence”

Richard Beck, director of global touring for World Touring, adds: “We spent over four years planning our event series with AGPC and invested millions of dollars to produce this show, only for it to be wrongfully cancelled. The stage was set, the venue was ready, and Robbie Williams, along with his band, dancers, and crew, were all in town and eager to deliver an unforgettable performance for the Australian public.

“Today’s ruling by Justice Croft affirms that we were treated unfairly, and we are grateful for his careful consideration and diligence. This decision serves as a reminder that those in positions of authority must exercise greater care when making decisions that impact the live music industry and beyond.

“I’d also like to thank our promoter partner in Australia Paul Dainty, whose support throughout was unending and unparalleled. We look forward to returning soon with our global event series to deliver the incredible shows that were meant to be.”

An AGPC spokesperson said it acknowledged the court’s decision and would review the judgment to determine next steps.

WTM is now exploring further legal action against AGPC regarding the frustration of its exclusive five-year contract with the organisation.

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Robbie Williams and Green Day have been revealed as Calabash South Africa’s headliners for the touring festival’s second edition, set for January 2025.

Landing in both Johannesburg and Cape Town, the touring event is stretching to two days across two weekends next year, doubling from its single-day programme in the same cities.

The Big Concerts-promoted outing is set to visit Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium (94,736-capacity) — Africa’s biggest stadium — from 18-19 January 2025 and Cape Town’s DHL Stadium (55,000) from 22-23 January 2025. The festival announced the 2025 event aspires to etch “a new chapter in South Africa’s rock ‘n’ roll legacy.”

UK superstar Williams’ headlining set marks his first gigs in the country since 2006, when he opened his Close Encounters world tour with three sold-out stadium shows in Pretoria, Cape Town, and Durban.

The festival will mark Green Day’s inaugural show in the country. In May, the Grammy-award-winning group will embark on The Savior Tour, performing across US stadiums and UK/European festivals throughout the year.

American punk band The Offspring and local rockers Fokofpolisiekar are set to join the Calabash bill with Green Day, with additional acts to be announced for both days.

“We expeect touring to expand across Africa, with new markets and new venues being added to the touring circuit”

Earlier this year, Maroon 5 led the debut of the festival and was joined by local and international artists including Will Linley, Keane, and Ava Max, among others.

The expansion of the festival could signal a new era for international acts visiting the African nation, with Big Concerts CEO Justin Van Wyk telling IQ the future looks bright for the African market.

“We anticipate a boom in new venue development and also expect touring to expand across Africa, with new markets and new venues being added to the touring circuit to bolster the economics for tours,” he says.

Big Concerts, which was acquired by Live Nation in 2016, is promoting shows by James Blunt, Kool & The Gang, and Cigarettes After Sex within the next year.

A new two-day country music festival, the ‘biggest outside the US’, will also take place in Cape Town’s DHL Stadium this October.

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A woman has died in hospital following a fall at the end of a Robbie Williams concert in Sydney, Australia.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Robyn Hall, who was in her 70s, fell down six floors of stairs on the upper level of the Allianz Stadium on 16 November.

She was treated at the scene for injuries to her face and head before being taken to hospital in a critical condition, but passed away yesterday after being in an induced coma for several days.

A spokesperson for Venues NSW, which operates the stadium, says the incident took place at around 10.15pm, when the sold-out 40,000-cap show finished and people started to leave.

This is a terribly sad incident and our thoughts and wishes are with the patron and their family during this time”

“Rather than use stairs, the woman attempted to step over seating rows,” says the spokesperson. “She lost her footing and fell. This is a terribly sad incident and our thoughts and wishes are with the patron and their family during this time.”

It is the second tragedy involving a major concert over the past few days after 23-year-old Taylor Swift fan Ana Clara Benevides Machado fainted during Swift’s performance at Estádio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro last Friday, in the midst of Brazil’s record-breaking heatwave. She was rushed to hospital, where she died after suffering a reported cardiac arrest.

Williams, who is currently the subject of a four-part Netflix documentary, was performing in Sydney as part of his Australian XXV Tour, promoted by Chugg Entertainment and Frontier Touring.

The tour, which is celebrating Williams’ 25th anniversary as a solo artist, is due to continue this week with two nights at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.

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This weekend’s Summer in the City festival in Romania has been relocated just days before it was due to begin.

Headlined by Robbie Williams – who last performed in the country in 2015 – and Jason Derulo, the 18-19 August event was set to be held at Bucharest’s Piata Constituției (Constitution Square), but will now take place at Romexpo, according to a Facebook post by organisers that shows the stage being constructed. No reason has been given for the switch.

The festival, which will also feature the likes of Editors, Calum Scott, Abby Roberts and Nicole Cherry, is being staged by D&D East Entertainment and veteran promoter Marcel Avram. Day tickets start at 369 leu (€75), and weekend passes from 499 leu.

Speaking before the venue change, D&D manager Denise Săndulescu said more than €3 million had been invested in the event, with around 30,000 people expected to attend for each of the two days.

“I hope that we will have a two-day urban festival that will remain in the souls of Bucharest residents and other visitors to the city,” she tells Romania Libera. “I firmly believe that every quality event should be embraced by politicians, public administration and should be seen as an opportunity for fun, relaxation, motivation of citizens.

“Marcel Avram has been in this industry for 55 years. He is a Mohican of the event industry”

“In addition, it should be understood that these are opportunities that have a ‘time limit’; no one knows how long an artist will be at our ‘disposal’, the public’s, or a new pandemic, a war or another global event may occur that will rob us of this privilege of seeing live international entertainers as important as Robbie Williams.”

Săndulescu praises the influence of Avram, who pioneered global touring with the likes of Rod Stewart and Michael Jackson.

“Let’s not forget that our partner Marcel Avram has been in this industry for 55 years,” she says. “He is a Mohican of the event industry, he knows both the old and the new generation and he has never lost his spirit, but he can’t to forget the true values ​​of music. He wants to invest his power, his will, his credibility to bring the artists who still exist on this earth and mean something to the music and the audience.”

Summer in the City was originally announced for 3-4 June before original headliner Sam Smith cancelled their slot alongside a number of other shows, citing technical and logistical problems.

“Geographically, Romania is a difficult market, but it is recognised as a country with a warm, music-loving, welcoming audience,” adds Săndulescu. “D&D East Entertainment has other events planned and we want to cover all the possibilities to bring all the artists who would love to entrust us with this Romanian market.”

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