Former Live Nation U.K. managing director Stuart Galbraith has resurfaced at the helm of a new promoter/festival organizer, entitled Kilimanjaro Live Ltd. The company’s first major promotions will be a run of shows from the Eagles at London’s O2 Arena in March.
The live music stalwart, who split with Live Nation late in 2007 after 23 years in various capacities with different incarnations of the group, officially launched his new London-based company today (Jan. 14) through a partnership with AEG Live.
“It’s a partnership that will enable us to be small, nimble, and move as an independent promoter, but also draw upon capital resource and the network infrastructure that AEG has on a global basis,” says Galbraith.
In the U.K., Kilimanjaro will work in the contemporary rock and indie festivals market, and will have other strategic focuses on touring and the development of new artists.
The first festival announced is a partnership in the annual music and wakeboarding event Wakestock. The three-day festival will take place this year for the first time on two sites, in North Wales and at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.
Artists with 2008 U.K. tours being promoted by Kilimanjaro will include Simply Red and kd lang. The Eagles dates were announced today; and the four nights at London’s O2 arena (March 20, 22, 23 and 26) will kick off the band’s “Long Road Out Of Eden” world tour following the success of their comeback album of that name.
Galbraith says he is working closely with Goldenvoice principal Paul Tollett, creator of the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals, to develop a selection of projects.
“Hopefully,” says Galbraith, “this will give AEG an involvement in the creation and promotion of international festivals, which is something they haven’t had. They’ve certainly got a good footprint in the U.S., with Coachella, Stagecoach and New Orleans Jazz. Outside the U.S. they haven’t got any involvement in festivals. And that is one of the primary functions of Kilimanjaro.”
Galbraith, who created the Download, Wireless and London Hyde Park Calling festivals in Britain, was dismissed as managing director of Live Nation U.K. for “breach of contract,” amid chatter that he was in talks with AEG on a new venture.
For more on Galbraith/Kilimanjaro, see the current issue of Billboard magazine.
